# Billy Joel (And later, questions on moderator actions) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 9, 2001, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213 "2001-01-09T20:51:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213/81 "2001-01-19T06:28:45Z")
If I was accused of calling for the extermination of Jews, I probably wouldn’t just give a one word answer. I would let them know I was deeply offended by the accusation. I would have little respect for someone who would say something like that to me and I would not kowtow to them by obeying their attempt to dictate how I should answer. I think moderators should have the right to ban people for breaking the forum’s rules. I don’t believe they have the right to tell us what to say and threaten us with banning if we don’t follow their orders. Apparently somebody realized that these threats were unreasonable, because G.Nome was NOT banned, even though the moderator told them they would be if the next thing she said was more than one word. Good. ---
**Author:** ![Krispy\_Original](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ec9cab/32.png) [@Krispy\_Original](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krispy_Original)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213/82 "2001-01-19T06:36:44Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t believe they have the right to tell us what to say and threaten us with banning if we don’t follow their orders. …heck, that’s nothin’… **Coldfire** once forced me to say “Sally sells sea shells down by the seashore” three times fast! ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213/83 "2001-01-19T06:40:55Z")
Dude… Are you dumb, a liar, or both? **Manhattan** didn’t say that. He said G.Nome would be hearing from an administrator. Stop making shit up, or start reading the thread. ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213/84 "2001-01-19T06:44:18Z")
oh and that comment was directed to **Shatz Mardu** I found K.O.'s comments hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213/85 "2001-01-19T06:48:11Z")
OK, I admit that I misremembered it (there is an option besides stupidity or dishonesty). ‘Shatz Mardu’??? Sheesh… ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213/86 "2001-01-19T06:54:00Z")
I’m shocked to discover I’m in disagreement with **manhattan**. Not about the disrespectful non-answer to the pointed question, I agree with him about that. But the anger about the original statement surprises me. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213/87 "2001-01-19T07:07:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Badtz Maru \* > \*\*I believe that he WAS given an answer. How can you read G.Nome’s response and believe it was ambiguous in any way? \*\* :rolleyes: Okay, I’m going to try this one more time. Let’s suppose I meet someone fictional named, oh, \*\* Shatz Mardu\*\* (thanks, oldscratch). And I ask ol’ Shatz, “What does 1+1 equal?”. If Shatz answers, “My god, I can’t believe you would even suggest I wouldn’t know the answer to that question. I majored in mathematics in college, for crying out loud!”. Guess what? Shatz HAS NOT ANSWERED THE QUESTION. It’s as simple as that. Yeah, in casual conversation, one could probably assume that the response means that Shatz does indeed know the answer. But, G. Nome was asked – say it with me now, kids, – for A VERY SPECIFIC YES OR NO ANSWER by a moderator (hey, wait a minute… “moderator”… “moderate”… wow, it’s right in the word… I wonder if that means anything?). And that answer WAS NOT GIVEN. The question was not answered. I can’t make it any plainer than that. If you still don’t understand that, then it’s a lost cause. ---
**Author:** ![Profane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@Profane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profane)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213/88 "2001-01-19T07:17:31Z")
Hey, I still love you **manny**. In fact, I’m still waiting for that bottle of bath water you’ve been promising 😉 To the newbies, maybe you should read up before you start accusing the mods of being facists. Things are not always as they seem. ---
**Author:** ![PinkBikini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@PinkBikini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PinkBikini)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213/89 "2001-01-19T08:56:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\ ***Sweet Thundering Fuck.** > \*\* [hijack] Coldfire, I’ve never heard that before. Love it. My new sig. Thank you… Incidentally, I actually liked hearing Mr. Joel sing in French… Borderline is the best song on the ‘Glass Houses’ album, though. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Danielinthewolvesden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Danielinthewolvesden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielinthewolvesden)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213/90 "2001-01-19T09:21:53Z")
AFAIK, despite the claim by that link- “pink sidewinders” are those sunglasses that wrap around your face, and are narrow. Wearing those in pink- was 'cool" for a while. About the other half of the controversy. I did think Mannie over-reacted somewhat. BUT- G Nome did make things worse by failure to co-operate. However, we do not always see all the private email that goes on- so mannie should have emailed gnome 1st and asked what was up. If he did so, and got no answer, or a flippant answer, perhaps his reaction is understandable. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213/91 "2001-01-19T09:42:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by PinkBikini \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > > \*\ ***Sweet Thundering Fuck.** > > \*\* > > [hijack] > > Coldfire, I’ve never heard that before. Love it. My new sig. Thank you…[/hijack] \*\* Errrr… well, you’re welcome. I’d strongly advice against using it as a sig though. You see, it’s not the sort of language that’s really appreciated outside of the Pit. In fact, any moderator would ask you to change it immediately should you ever use it anywhere else. So you might as well do that now. ---
**Author:** ![G.Nome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c89c15/32.png) [@G.Nome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.Nome)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213/92 "2001-01-19T09:47:47Z")
Thank you jayjay, Badtz Maru, kyomara and Railroadshorty and anyone else who has given me support. I had no intent to slur gay people. It’s not for me to say whether I did or not - I just had NO INTENT to do it. My “bread in the jar” thing was a Julian Clary rip-off - something I said just because I felt like it. If you haven’t heard of Julian Clary, he is a young, English camp comedian whose whole career seems built on those kinds of metaphors and innuendoes. When he came to this country, for instance, he was amused by a certain ice cream company’s advertisements. The company’s signs have pictures of little boys eating ice creams on them. The surrounding words say: “Always licked, never beaten”. And also, to Julian Clary certain meat products mean only one thing. So, you know, I just assume that if a gay person can say make such references anyone can. I will apologise though because maybe I have begun to see Humphrey’s political correctness as a necessary counterbalance to the frequency with which you still hear the word faggot and to gaybashing generally. So I apologise. And I’m sorry for any trouble I have caused. All this attention should have been given to GRIENSPACE whose treatment by Humphrey and co would keep Scully and Mulder happy for hours. It’s just so X-Files. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213/93 "2001-01-19T10:19:56Z")
[ul][li]Thanks for apologising, although it apparently couldn’t be done without yet _another_ stab at the administration. :rolleyes:[/li][li]You still didn’t explain why you were temporarily unable to answer a question with “yes” or “no”.[/li][li]Why do you refer to **manhattan** as _“Humphrey”_? I don’t get it.[/li]X-Files? Damn straight. _One_ of us appears to be stuck in a parellel universe alright.[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213/94 "2001-01-19T10:50:13Z")
Well Coldie, I know your knowledge of English ‘culture’ is worryingly comprehensive but let me hazard a couple of suggestions for our New Zealanders ‘Humphrey’ reference. Kiwi’s are pretty attuned to UK culture. One – it’s connected to the character in ‘Yes Minister’ (a 1980’s sitcom), Sir Humphrey something who was accomplished at scheming and manipulation in general. G.Nome might be referring to a power tripper, as well. Or, Two – it’s just considered a bit of a silly name. Difficult to take anyone too seriously if they’re called ‘Humphrey’ so it might be a stab at ‘disrespecting’. Sort of thing a naughty child does in relation to the authority of a teacher. I’d go with two. ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213/95 "2001-01-19T10:55:35Z")
Humphrey’s the name of a big bear character who advertises biscuits/cookies. Charming as always my compatriot :roll eyes: ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213/96 "2001-01-19T11:11:52Z")
Sir Humphrey Appleby, played by Sir Nigel Hawthorne. Although, that’s probably not the reference she was using. ---
**Author:** ![G.Nome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c89c15/32.png) [@G.Nome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.Nome)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213/97 "2001-01-19T11:14:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*Why do you refer to **manhattan** as _“Humphrey”_? I don’t get it. > \*\* Ask the person who reads the Straight Dope for you - they might know. Or read page one yourself - there’s another idea. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213/98 "2001-01-19T11:28:41Z")
G. Nome. Can you post at least once with out spitting at someone? Everytime someone asks you something that you deem a threat you come running with claws out and teeth gnashing. What you dont realise is that you just appear like the guy from the [monster.com](http://monster.com) adverts. This aint no character, folks. This is the real deal. Anthracite- there’s someone in my head but its not me. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213/99 "2001-01-19T11:33:15Z")
Well, this IS The Pit… ---
**Author:** ![G.Nome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c89c15/32.png) [@G.Nome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.Nome)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213/100 "2001-01-19T12:03:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TwistofFate \* > \*\*G. Nome. > > Can you post at least once with out spitting at someone? Everytime someone asks you something that you deem a threat you come running with claws out and teeth gnashing. What you dont realise is that you just appear like the guy from the [monster.com](http://monster.com) adverts. > This aint no character, folks. This is the real deal. > Anthracite- there’s someone in my head but its not me. > \*\* Coldfire hadn’t read the thread - nor had Primflora or London Calling. I bring this to their attention and you call it spitting and clawing and gnashing? Get a life. You stupid Irish pillock. Wow! I feel so good. Believe it or not that’s the worse thing I have said in nearly one year of contributions to the Straight Dope. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-joel-and-later-questions-on-moderator-actions/49213.md?page=6)