# Chronos, this is the wrong call **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 8, 2021, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251 "2021-08-08T20:41:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251/102 "2021-08-09T16:48:04Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > # [SNIP] > > No sense of “Helena, you were right. I gotta ding you for arguing it here, though” Mod noting _is_ dinging. Ugh, I’m so upset about this miscarriage, I left the snips out of my previous posts ! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251/103 "2021-08-09T16:49:10Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > Since the Mods take giving out a (formal) warning so terribly serious. I do not feel the warning for @Helena330 is in proportion to the offence. The warning and rude swipe were bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251/104 "2021-08-09T16:49:18Z")
OK, it wasn’t retaliatory, I’m not sure if anyone really wanted to give her that warning. But it is pretty much a do this and you’re going to get a warning situation. But hey, I was just wrong about “snipping” so I’m willing to be proved wrong again. Why don’t you check with Helena and see if she is even upset over it? As a poster I supported Helena’s post, Dale has been overdue for a wider topic ban. I’m one of several mods that got the ball rolling on this and there was no dissent which is unusual. * * * In the short time I’ve been modding we pretty much hand out warnings for disputing moderation in thread unless it is a new poster. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251/105 "2021-08-09T16:49:25Z")
Sure, but you get my point. Having had to issue warnings myself on principal in the past, there are ways of doing it that don’t sound like this one did. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251/106 "2021-08-09T16:51:12Z")
I’m confused, all **Chronos** wrote was “As requested, here’s your Warning.” Did I miss something else? The warning in the thread says: > [@Best and worst Olympic events to watch](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-olympic-events-to-watch/948175/39): > > Further, @Helena330 , while I understand your reasons for disagreeing with my decision, you also know that this was not the place to dispute it. Disputes of moderator actions go in ATMB or private messages. Since you wish to receive a Warning, you’ve got it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251/107 "2021-08-09T16:52:08Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Why don’t you check with Helena and see if she is even upset over it? I’m betting she’s so upset about the blatant misogyny that she doesn’t really care. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251/108 "2021-08-09T16:53:07Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > No, I’m arguing that you should at least put points on the licence. Fwiw, a topic ban is “points on his license.” A lot more points than the average warning, too. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251/109 "2021-08-09T16:54:09Z")
He wrote: > [@Best and worst Olympic events to watch](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-olympic-events-to-watch/948175/39): > > Since you wish to receive a Warning, you’ve got it. She did not ask for it or wish to receive a warning. That is the petty part. She said she take it, and she felt Chronos’ threat to warn people who complained was bad form, but she wasn’t “wishing for a warning”. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251/110 "2021-08-09T16:54:48Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > OK, it wasn’t retaliatory, I’m not sure if anyone really wanted to give her that warning. > > # [SNIP] I thought mods were free to mod their forums as they liked? Wasn’t that why **tomndebb** refused to mod hate speech, and **Miller** scrupulously followed the letter of the old bullshit Pit language rules but didn’t often warn for them? So one can only conclude that **Chronos** wanted to warn **Helena**. if not as retaliation, then what? > [@What\_Exit](#): > > # [SNIP] > > Why don’t you check with Helena and see if she is even upset over it? > > # [SNIP] Why does that matter? I’m not objecting to white knight one poster, but because I want to know the rules will applied not just robotically, but _justly_ - because they apply to me, too. > [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Sure, but you get my point. Having had to issue warnings myself on principal in the past, there are ways of doing it that don’t sound like this one did. Sure, no, I totally get what you’re saying. > [@Miller](#): > > Fwiw, a topic ban is “points on his license.” A lot more points than the average warning, too. Is it recorded somewhere other than that mod note and a sticky thread? It used to be that only warnings were actually preserved. If it is, then OK, yeah, no other warning necessary. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251/111 "2021-08-09T16:58:22Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Fwiw, a topic ban is “points on his license.” A lot more points than the average warning, too. Isn’t it really a “broadening” of a preexisting topic ban? So, like a license restriction of “no driving at night” broadened to “no driving at night or if it is raining”? Meanwhile, you’re free to keep driving, even though you’ve totaled seventeen cars. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251/112 "2021-08-09T16:58:32Z")
It is preserved and remembered. Also if he violates it, the suspensions start and not a 1 day. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251/113 "2021-08-09T17:00:02Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I’m confused, all **Chronos** wrote was “As requested, here’s your Warning.” > > Did I miss something else? Yeah. That warning is blatant tone policing. People get to be enraged about the status quo being upheld over common decency, even if they break the rules to express it. It was retaliatory, even if that wasn’t the intent. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251/114 "2021-08-09T17:15:06Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > But hey, I was just wrong about “snipping” so I’m willing to be proved wrong again. For the love of god, can you repost this in yellow so MrDibble can stop with the 250-point-font SNIPS already? > [@What\_Exit](#): > > Could you maybe cut us a little slack here please. Are you asking me to cut you a little slack for not cutting Helena any slack? Because that’s a hard request. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251/115 "2021-08-09T17:18:18Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > In the short time I’ve been modding we pretty much hand out warnings for disputing moderation in thread unless it is a new poster. I’ve been here 12 years. In that time, I’ve only seen people moderated for discussing moderation if they persisted or had also violated another rule. I’m sure of it. I’m not going to do an exhaustive search. But I can look for all mentions of “ATMB” by a mod made outside of ATMB itself. The first relevant results I found was this one: > [@The morality of draft avoidance/dodging during Vietnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-morality-of-draft-avoidance-dodging-during-vietnam/927194/142): > > **Modnote** : Any questions about mod action need to go to ATMB please. That was to Paul\_in\_Saudi, who is not a new poster. Here’s the relevant part of another post: > [@The morality of draft avoidance/dodging during Vietnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-morality-of-draft-avoidance-dodging-during-vietnam/927194/142): > > **Modnote** : Any questions about mod action need to go to ATMB please. mordecaiM is not a new poster. > [@Minnesota trial of Derek Chauvin (killer of George Floyd) reactions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/344): > > **Modnote** : Take questions about moderation to ATMB or via PM (to the mod that you’re questioning). Do not question moderation in thread. > > _This is just a guidance, not a warning. Nothing on your permanent record._ This was apparently to Mallard, who is not a new poster (been here since 2013). These were the top three I found. Not a single one gives out a Warning. It seems your memory on this is faulty. Note: do to how search is set up, I found it easier to pick a mod and a forum. So I chose @What_Exit, since his claim was specifically that he usually gave Warnings. I then looked at GD first, then IMHO. These were the top results that actually were relevant. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251/116 "2021-08-09T17:20:59Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > For the love of god, can you repost this in yellow so MrDibble can stop with the 250-point-font SNIPS already? It’ll stop now: > [@Quoting rules](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quoting-rules/948188/24): > > I thought this was resolved and did not realize it was not. Mea Culpa: I was instructed my interpretation of the rules is incorrect. We will not be modnoting for a lack of snipping or ellipses as long as the quote has the expansion button still intact or in fact in any cases except those where the quote is completely taken out of context to change the meaning. Hopefully this concludes it. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251/117 "2021-08-09T17:25:05Z")
Ok, you caught me. I tend to try not to give out warnings. Sorry about that. I’m going to leave now as I probably should have just stayed out of here completely. ---
**Author:** ![tricoteuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tricoteuse/32/4334_2.png) [@tricoteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tricoteuse)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251/118 "2021-08-09T17:33:07Z")
I get that she broke a rule and earned the warning, but I and I think others think that Chronos was way too nasty in the way he did it. It’s “Helena330 also violated a rule and I am issuing a warning for that” vs. “Since you want a warning I’m giving you one.” It sounds like he’s more annoyed with her for calling out the problem than he is with the jerky post that started all of it in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251/119 "2021-08-09T17:38:06Z")
I’ve been accused of having some baseless animus and hostility over the moderation style and/or mods on the board. After reading this thread I kinda insist the “baseless” part is, well, fucking baseless. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251/120 "2021-08-09T17:38:33Z")
While I’m happy to criticize the mods when they do bad, I frankly think they handled this one well. I think given dale’s pattern of behavior, which I’ve seen in a few threads, the Topic Ban is more than warranted. It’s obvious he has some sort of issue with female athletes and is compelled to be nasty about it anytime a thread gives him even a minor opportunity to post about it. Quibbling about whether he deserved an in-thread warning vs mod noting, I think is kind of ehhh, it’s a discretionary call. Plus as they noted he had gotten warned during all this for misogny in another thread, so I can see the argument about not doing two warnings. He ate a warning for misogny and is banned from discussing female athletes going forward. That to me feels like the mods built ground for him to continue as a non-disruptive poster in other contexts, or to hang himself with the rope he’s already drawn if he can’t control himself. I think that’s basically a balanced way to have gone about it. Helena’s warning seems like a close call to me, I’ve received a few warnings over the years FWIW and I don’t think they are a big deal. I’ve never seen non-socks get banned without receiving multiple warnings and usually a very clear “final warning”, and AFAIK long ago warnings kind of fall off your permanent record in terms of whether they hold it against you. Like I don’t think someone who ate 3 warnings in 2007 and then a 4th in 2021 is typically getting banned for it. One warning is not that egregious unless you’re doing things that are going to generate more in rapid succession, which usually the mods do give you a pathway away from doing that if you follow their notes. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251/121 "2021-08-09T17:42:54Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > Helena’s warning seems like a close call to me, I’ve received a few warnings over the years FWIW and I don’t think they are a big deal. There’s a selfish reason for me. I like reading Helena’s contributions to the board, and I know that an ill-aimed warning can leave a bad taste in one’s mouth. If she doesn’t give a shit about the warning, I don’t really, either. But I’d hate for this to be something that made a good poster not feel like posting here as much. If it were an unambiguous situation, it’d be different; but this is a situation where slack can be, and often is, cut. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-this-is-the-wrong-call/948251.md?page=7)