# Bullshit modding in the IMHO avatar thread (yeah, you knew it was coming) **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 3, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393 "2011-08-03T23:23:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393/121 "2011-08-04T20:54:25Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > The last time “cooler heads prevailed” in a mod-poster dispute where the mod randomly started pulling rules out of their asses, Ed came crashing in and set up all the silly “C\*ntgate” rules. So…not entirely optimistic here. Well, there’s [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=559441). ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393/122 "2011-08-04T20:56:33Z")
Well now he’s closed the thread, so… problem solved! ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393/123 "2011-08-04T20:57:27Z")
> [@Beadalin](#): > > Well now he’s closed the thread, so… problem solved! And it only took direct questioning of his ability to moderate to do so! ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393/124 "2011-08-04T21:00:49Z")
Yeah, thank goodness any and all pesky discussion has been disabled! That’s the way to solve the problem! [/heavy sarcasm] ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393/125 "2011-08-04T21:04:34Z")
> [@the lone cashew](#): > > Yeah, thank goodness any and all pesky discussion has been disabled! That’s the way to solve the problem! [/heavy sarcasm] Yeah, there’s nowhere else on the board the avatar discussion is being held. [/countersarcasm] ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393/126 "2011-08-04T21:07:07Z")
> [@the lone cashew](#): > > Yeah, thank goodness any and all pesky discussion has been disabled! That’s the way to solve the problem! [/heavy sarcasm] Yes of course, **Czarcasm** ’s closed this thread, and instructed everybody not to discuss the modding, and also closed the avatar thread in ATMB, and told everybody that any mention of avatars will get them banned immediately. Oh wait, no he hasn’t. I originally thought **Czarcasm** ’s modding in the IMHO thread was over the top, but compared to what people are posting in this thread it’s the very model of restraint. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393/127 "2011-08-04T21:16:33Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > There was a more basic flaw in this entire situation that I’ve tried to point out a couple of times in other threads (including the one in question here but fortunately before any mod notes were issued). A poll shouldn’t have been presented as a means of deciding whether or not a group of users could have access to a feature of the board when it wouldn’t have any impact on other users not interested in using it. > > Putting the question in a poll keeps making it appear that everyone on the board has something at stake in the request, and invites them to make their opinions known even if it is stipulated that only “yes” or “no” is requested. > > I realize it was a user-created poll but IMHO a mod or admin should have weighed in on this issue early in the ATMB thread or the Poll thread to say “by the way a poll is here for informational purposes only, we would like know if anyone voting “no” has a genuine reason they believe their board experience might be changed by this so please post in ATMB, but we aren’t basing any decisions about board changes on the outcome of a poll.” But instead it was left as is as the only option being presented to those in favor of avatars to demonstrate their desire for the feature, with a mod even getting involved to help keep the ground rules established. Pro avatar people were put in a position of having to defend their reasons to a group of uninvolved bystanders, and those in opposition to the idea were invited to speak up about it despite having no actual stake in the question. > > In this manner, and again IMHO, the poll was bound to turn into a brew-ha-ha despite the OP’s and mod’s efforts to prevent that. It’s absolutely ridiculous to think that _anyone_ participating in _any_ of the plethora of threads on this subject isn’t already aware of the “but it’s opt-in!” side of the debate. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393/128 "2011-08-04T21:23:09Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > It’s absolutely ridiculous to think that _anyone_ participating in _any_ of the plethora of threads on this subject isn’t already aware of the “but it’s opt-in!” side of the debate. Then you are saying they are posting against it because it would change their board experience but they can’t be reminded that it wouldn’t? ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393/129 "2011-08-04T21:26:14Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > Then you are saying they are posting against it because it would change their board experience but they can’t be reminded that it wouldn’t? Obviously, a great many people disagree with you on whether or not it would change their board experience. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393/130 "2011-08-04T21:30:40Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > Obviously, a great many people disagree with you on whether or not it would change their board experience. I don’t want to drag the debate in here. My comments about the avatar issue in this thread are limited to how I believe they pertain to the moderation in question. Please do post in the avatar thread if you, or anyone you know, has a legitimate reason to believe their board experience would be changed. As a pro avatar person I would honestly like to know. But I’m not going to continue discussing it here because **Czarcasm** might (justifiably) open up a can o’ warning on us for debating it here too. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393/131 "2011-08-04T21:31:12Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Yeah, there’s nowhere else on the board the avatar discussion is being held. [/countersarcasm] Because it would be a terrible thing if the same topic were being discussed in two different threads at the same time.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393/132 "2011-08-04T21:32:56Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > I originally thought **Czarcasm** ’s modding in the IMHO thread was over the top, but compared to what people are posting in this thread it’s the very model of restraint. The old “someone is worse so **Czarcasm** ’s behavior is OK” defense. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393/133 "2011-08-04T21:47:07Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Because it would be a terrible thing if the same topic were being discussed in two different threads at the same time.:rolleyes: I think **Czarcasm** handled that poorly, but when there’s an open thread in ATMB, saying “any and all pesky discussion has been disabled” is more than a little histrionic. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393/134 "2011-08-04T21:56:48Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > There was a more basic flaw in this entire situation that I’ve tried to point out a couple of times in other threads The basic flaw in this entire situation is that for some reason people cannot seem to stop making the same points over and over again. We heard you all the first times. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393/135 "2011-08-04T22:02:14Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > The basic flaw in this entire situation is that for some reason people cannot seem to stop making the same points over and over again. We heard you all the first times. Couldn’t that have been said to you about starting another poll about avatars when all the votes had been tallied the first time already? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393/136 "2011-08-04T22:05:01Z")
> [@BoyoJim](#): > > Johnathan Chance got a warning?? He’s one of the most mild mannered and well-behaved people around. > [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > Yup. We’re talking unprecedented levels of ineptitude. And what really saddens me is that, not only does he not see it, nor does anyone apparently care who works here. OK, that’s enough. You will **not** use my presence or involvement to justify your own opinions or actions. Leave me out of it. I failed to see the mod instruction prior to my post. I saw it following my posting and then said to myself, “Self, you’re getting a warning for that one.” And I did. Below is my reply to the PM alerting me to the warning (I will not include any PM from another poster or mod without permission so don’t ask). > [@Jonathan Chance via PM](#): > > _sigh_ > > Yes, I expected that. I didn’t see the ‘cut it out’ post when I posted and figured I was up for one there. > > Well, if I didn’t get a warning every couple of years I’d be disappointed with myself. > > Best, > > Nate I posted. I saw the mod action. I knew it was coming and I took the warning like an adult. Unlike some of the people I see here who, frankly, disappoint me with their behavior. To simplify, **Czarcasm** was entirely appropriate in his/her actions and I accept my warning. This is called ‘Keeping some damn perspective’. I advise this to all. **Boyo Jim** , thank you for the kind words. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393/137 "2011-08-04T22:19:40Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > > [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > > > Because locking the thread closes the poll, and he didn’t want to end the poll. I would think that was obvious. > > Then that is a limitation of the board. A valid point, but then the point would better have been made, by making it directly, rather than asking a question with an obvious answer. I agree that some means of making polls where “no comments welcome” could be implemented, to prevent just your situation. However, under current rules combined with current board functionality, I suspect you’re just going to have to suck it up and accept the warning. They aren’t the end of the world. I have 3 over the course of my time here, all fair, and they haven’t negatively impacted me at all. Just don’t make a habit of accumulating them, and they are pretty meaningless, beyond their intended corrective purpose. ETA: I haven’t noticed you racking them up. I don’t think you have any real worries over this one. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393/138 "2011-08-04T22:20:05Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > This is called ‘Keeping some damn perspective’. I advise this to all. Yes, it is. And **Czarcasm** proved that he lacked such by issuing all four warnings within a span of a half hour, then failing to enforce his rule in the OP’s name (which the OP didn’t even want enforced) any further, as one would expect. ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393/139 "2011-08-04T22:20:48Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > OK, that’s enough. You will **not** use my presence or involvement to justify your own opinions or actions. Leave me out of it. I’m afraid that you’re a part of it whether you want to be or not. You may be content, but I don’t want to be the next guy **Czarcasm** sucker-punches. > [@](#): > > I posted. I saw the mod action. I knew it was coming and I took the warning like an adult. Unlike some of the people I see here who, frankly, disappoint me with their behavior. I would suggest that the most adult behavior would be an assertive protest against unjust Mod actions. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393/140 "2011-08-04T22:27:35Z")
I’m still confused about why debating in IMHO is such a problem in the first place. I [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-modding-in-the-imho-avatar-thread-yeah-you-knew-it-was-coming/591393.md?page=8)