# Chronos and Betting **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 25, 2020, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992 "2020-06-25T14:59:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992/62 "2020-06-26T17:51:48Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It doesn’t look like a clear statement that he knows it’s against the rules if you edit out the sentence immediately prior where he says that he knows it’s against the rules. His statement indicates that he thought that “Loser owes the winner $x” betting was against the rules, but that “Loser owes charity $x”, which he offered, was not. It turns out that neither was against the rules. So the warning is unreasonable and should be removed. And the right thing to do when you incorrectly punish someone is to apologize for your error. And, honestly, all the _other moderators_ who think that the warning should stand should apologize too, for being ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992/63 "2020-06-26T17:58:32Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > UltraVires clearly stated that it was his belief that it did apply. By engaging in behavior that he stated to be against board rules, he undermined the rules of the board and was unnecessarily provocative. Therefore, the warning stands. This is one large, steaming pile of bullshit. If the other moderators did, indeed, weigh in on this decision, then every one of you should be embarrassed. ---
**Author:** ![Hellestal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ab097/32.png) [@Hellestal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hellestal)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992/64 "2020-06-26T18:17:08Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > I’m not really interested in a board where people are trying to bully each other into submission by demanding that they put money behind anything they say. This was a “Reply” to one of my posts, so it’s worth a quick review of what I’ve actually written here. > [@Hellestal](#): > > If someone rejects an offer to bet, then just drop it. Give a warning if the hassling continues. > [@Hellestal](#): > > But that – again – is a justification for a rule against haranguing, > [@Hellestal](#): > > a general rule of “You can offer a bet, but don’t harass anyone about it” would be better than an outright ban. > [@Hellestal](#): > > Obviously, if an offer is rejected, it should be dropped immediately. I mean, the rule will not change. It is what it is, so the argument here is purely academic. But one reason I like explicit, falsifiable agreements is that they can help guide people to engage directly with the actual position that’s been offered, rather than hastily hitting the button in order to attack a position that literally does not appear in the post to which they are “Replying”. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992/65 "2020-06-26T18:18:51Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I had not addressed this yet because I wished to confer with the other moderators first. I have now done so. The relevant facts are that, first, the rule against betting does not, in fact, apply to the Game Room, but that second, in the post in question, UltraVires clearly stated that it was his belief that it did apply. By engaging in behavior that he stated to be against board rules, he undermined the rules of the board and was unnecessarily provocative. Therefore, the warning stands. This is quite possibly the single most absurd rationalization for a warning I think I’ve ever seen here. But I don’t know. When you come out with something this ridiculous - especially since it sounds like this is some sort of mod consensus - all one can do is laugh. I don’t think you will change this, but you should. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992/66 "2020-06-26T18:24:29Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > By engaging in behavior that he stated to be against board rules, he undermined the rules of the board and was unnecessarily provocative. Therefore, the warning stands. So, you’re saying that if I make up and Board rule and then violate it I’m going to get a warning. That is crazy. The fact that the other Mods agreed with you is worse. You admit he broke no rules and you can’t even both to contort yourself into saying he broke the don’t be a jerk rule. This is really bad moderation. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992/67 "2020-06-26T18:32:45Z")
> [@Oredigger77](#): > > This is really bad moderation. Agreed. Bad call all the way around. The proper response would have been a simple note correcting UltraVires that betting with a donation to charity was still betting and therefore forbidden. Followed after that by a mea culpa when it became clear that the no-betting rule didn’t apply in that forum. Personally I’m completely fine with a blanket ban on all betting, but this was handled poorly. Especially for such an inconsequential and basically inoffensive post. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992/68 "2020-06-26T18:42:48Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Personally I’m completely fine with a blanket ban on all betting, but this was handled poorly. Especially for such an inconsequential and basically inoffensive post.  I don’t care one way or another about whether betting is allowed on this board. I’ve always just rolled my eyes when some blowhard demanded that someone put up or shut up. > [@Chronos](#): > > By engaging in behavior that he stated to be against board rules, he undermined the rules of the board and was unnecessarily provocative. Therefore, the warning stands. But I am wholeheartedly against these sorts or rulings that thoroughly undermine both the actual rules of the board and the trust the membership places in the mods. Yeah, UV is UV. But if they can do this kind of crap to him, they can do it to me. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992/69 "2020-06-26T18:46:35Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I had not addressed this yet because I wished to confer with the other moderators first. I have now done so. The relevant facts are that, first, the rule against betting does not, in fact, apply to the Game Room, but that second, in the post in question, UltraVires clearly stated that it was his belief that it did apply. By engaging in behavior that he stated to be against board rules, he undermined the rules of the board and was unnecessarily provocative. Therefore, the warning stands Clearing moving the goalposts. Either it’s right or its wrong; you don’t get to change the rules to fit your warning. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992/70 "2020-06-26T18:47:22Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > By engaging in behavior that he stated to be against board rules This didn’t happen. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992/71 "2020-06-26T18:48:06Z")
> [@Hellestal](#): > > This was a “Reply” to one of my posts, so it’s worth a quick review of what I’ve actually written here. Not really. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992/72 "2020-06-26T19:08:32Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I had not addressed this yet because I wished to confer with the other moderators first. I have now done so. The relevant facts are that, first, the rule against betting does not, in fact, apply to the Game Room, but that second, in the post in question, UltraVires clearly stated that it was his belief that it did apply. By engaging in behavior that he stated to be against board rules, he undermined the rules of the board and was unnecessarily provocative. Therefore, the warning stands. This is the most pathetic post I’ve ever seen from a mod. @AdminModTubaDiva pls weigh in on this. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992/74 "2020-06-26T20:45:12Z")
There have been many mod calls that I disagreed with, but at least I could always squint hard and see how someone else might rule that way. But I have absolutely no clue how you ever came up with this ruling. Your rationale for upholding the warning is unbelievable. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992/75 "2020-06-26T21:36:01Z")
> [@Oredigger77](#): > > So, you’re saying that if I make up and Board rule and then violate it I’m going to get a warning. It’s even worse than that. It’s if you make up a board rule and try to _not violate_ it, but a moderator also doesn’t know the rules and won’t back down. I could _almost_ see the justification for requiring posters to abide by what they think the rules are, which is that if you _think_ you’re breaking a rule, then you’re not posting in good faith which generally falls under being a jerk. But that’s not what happened here! To think that, you’d have to wilfully ignore everything after the first comma in **UV** ’s post. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992/76 "2020-06-26T21:42:38Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > I could _almost_ see the justification for requiring posters to abide by what they think the rules are, which is that if you _think_ you’re breaking a rule, then you’re not posting in good faith which generally falls under being a jerk. But that’s not what happened here! Ya, that’s what I was referring to when I said Chronos couldn’t even bother to contort himself into saying it was a violation of the don’t be a jerk rule. It would have involved a lot of twisting but it wouldn’t have been insane. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2020, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992/77 "2020-06-27T01:12:15Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I had not addressed this yet because I wished to confer with the other moderators first. I have now done so. Who did you confer with, @Chronos? Which ones thought this is a good idea? @Colibri? @engineer_comp_geek? @gaudere? @gfactor? @Jonathan_Chance? @loach? @miller? @Rico? @tomndebb? ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2020, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992/78 "2020-06-27T03:42:24Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It doesn’t look like a clear statement that he knows it’s against the rules if you edit out the sentence immediately prior where he says that he knows it’s against the rules. Hi Mr. **Chronos**. Like others are saying, the warning was unjustified. And this justification is horrible and completely misleading. **UltraVires** wrote that betting to charity was possibly within the rules. You are the one misrepresenting the quote. And if other mods really support this argument you’re making, the most likely explanation is that they are all sleep deprived. Get some rest, wipe the egg off your face, and move on. Thank you for your service. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2020, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992/79 "2020-06-27T04:40:37Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > …I think what I’d really like to see is a forum devoted to predictions that embraces stating clear falsifiable predictions with a definite timeline… Do you mean “unfalsifiable”? ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2020, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992/80 "2020-06-27T05:59:10Z")
I think I mean “falsifiable”. In the sense of “capable of being tested or observed to be incorrect.” The idea is that you’d have to make testable predictions. Something that in the future could be measured and determined to be a correct or an incorrect prediction. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2020, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992/81 "2020-06-27T06:34:49Z")
This is possibly the most ridiculous thing I’ve seen on this board. If you all want to ban conservative and/or unpopular posters, then just do it instead of having these ridiculous contortions of the rules you want to apply. Chronos, did you miss the part where I specifically said that if this was against the rules then I retract? If you saw that, then how could you possibly conclude that I “knew” it was against the rules? And it turns out it wasn’t against the rules! It seems that I violated the “next guy who we want to ban so we will make up shit against him” rule. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2020, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992/82 "2020-06-27T07:37:15Z")
Could it be that in the move, all our moderators have been replaced by their mirror universe doubles? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-and-betting/912992.md?page=5)