# Clarification about mod comment in 'Akward Erections' thread **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 11, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-about-mod-comment-in-akward-erections-thread/663231 "2013-07-11T16:09:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-about-mod-comment-in-akward-erections-thread/663231/1 "2013-07-11T16:09:55Z")
Uninteresting thread, until I saw this. > [@Awkward erections](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awkward-erections/663131/67): > > Let’s take care not to devolve into Penthouse Forum territory, shall we? Is that a moderator instruction, a request by a poster, or merely an expression of wishful thinking? If it’s the first, then I’d be curious to know specifically what rule of the boards was being implemented. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-about-mod-comment-in-akward-erections-thread/663231/2 "2013-07-11T16:33:31Z")
In **Ellen** ’s defense, her post was in response to: > [@](#): > > Originally Posted by Machine Elf > Do women ever suffer the analogous condition, i.e. arousal in a public setting that results in a glistening wet spot on their pants/shorts? And when I read her post, I knew to expect this thread. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-about-mod-comment-in-akward-erections-thread/663231/3 "2013-07-11T16:40:40Z")
I thought it was odd too. Not rage inducing, just odd. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-about-mod-comment-in-akward-erections-thread/663231/4 "2013-07-11T16:52:33Z")
I feel like the comment she was responding to probably would have been fine without the “glistening.” For whatever reason, that takes it right into creepy territory. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-about-mod-comment-in-akward-erections-thread/663231/5 "2013-07-11T16:59:45Z")
^Exactly. I’m all for adjectives, but ewww. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-about-mod-comment-in-akward-erections-thread/663231/6 "2013-07-11T17:00:40Z")
When I see something like :: Mod hat on :: Blah blah :: Mod hat off :: It’s immediately clear how to approach the post. It’s particularly enjoyable about SD that mods take part in threads as regular posters. You know, humanizes 'em. Also makes you respect their authoritah more because you respect their opinions and thinking acuity when you see them out off the office, so to speak. So maybe the usage of identifying themselves when they’re acting officially should be a requirement? (Unless it already is.) ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-about-mod-comment-in-akward-erections-thread/663231/7 "2013-07-11T17:09:31Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Is that a moderator instruction, a request by a poster, or merely an expression of wishful thinking? If it’s the first, then I’d be curious to know specifically what rule of the boards was being implemented. You know I am acting as a moderator when I put “Moderator Note” in the post. Some others use the “mod hat on” tags … I think the saying that it’s a Moderator Note or Moderator Warning makes it clear I am posting as a moderator and not just Ellen, the regular poster. That said, the rule that is being broken is that while discussions of sex are fine, we have always discouraged the “Penthouse approach,” it is in the FAQ: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=2341019#post2341019](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=2341019#post2341019) > [@](#): > > Sex > Sex: The medical approach is OK, the Penthouse approach is not. If you are not sure, err on the side of caution and/or contact a staff member before you post. Ask about women getting aroused and maybe having to deal with an embarrassing wet spot? Sure, ask away, fighting ignorance and all that. Modify that question with the details about “glistening?” That’s what we mean when we say Penthouse approach. It’s a little vivid. And please note that this was a caution — a “moderator note” to keep things at an adult-discussion level. Not a warning. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-about-mod-comment-in-akward-erections-thread/663231/8 "2013-07-11T17:12:57Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > You know I am acting as a moderator when I put “Moderator Note” in the post. > > … > And please note that this was a caution — a “moderator note” to keep things at an adult-discussion level. Not a warning. I’m confused now. I don’t recall “moderator note” being included in the post. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-about-mod-comment-in-akward-erections-thread/663231/9 "2013-07-11T17:13:41Z")
I see **Ellen Cherry’s** point. Note that the thread avoided such terms as “rock hard,” “throbing,” and “raging erection” also (except as necessary). ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-about-mod-comment-in-akward-erections-thread/663231/10 "2013-07-11T17:30:30Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I’m confused now. I don’t recall “moderator note” being included in the post. [Here it is. Take a look.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16462603&postcount=67) ---
**Author:** ![Mathematics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@Mathematics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathematics)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-about-mod-comment-in-akward-erections-thread/663231/11 "2013-07-11T17:56:34Z")
In the future it might be better to say what exactly the problem is. I, and I’m sure a few other naive readers, didn’t know what the “Penthouse approach” referred to in that post. But it’s no big deal. I don’t feel comfortable nitpicking the mods because they do good work, I feel. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-about-mod-comment-in-akward-erections-thread/663231/12 "2013-07-11T18:32:45Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > [Here it is. Take a look.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16462603&postcount=67) “Moderator Note” was the post title - not part of the body of the post. Is the title visible to all users? ---
**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:** [July 11, 2013, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-about-mod-comment-in-akward-erections-thread/663231/13 "2013-07-11T18:34:19Z")
Me neither. That rule has always seemed way too vague. I personally thought it referred to erotica, but, apparently not. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2013, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-about-mod-comment-in-akward-erections-thread/663231/14 "2013-07-11T18:35:18Z")
While I don’t have strong feelings on this either way, my gut didn’t really see a problem with the moderation. > [@Procrustus](#): > > I see **Ellen Cherry’s** point. Note that the thread avoided such terms as “rock hard,” “throbing,” and “raging erection” also (except as necessary). But then I see the point of the sarcasm in the above post, and I can’t help but think, “Hey, yeah, but…but…yeah. [shrug]” ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-about-mod-comment-in-akward-erections-thread/663231/15 "2013-07-11T18:37:21Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > “Moderator Note” was the post title - not part of the body of the post. Is the title visible to all users? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-about-mod-comment-in-akward-erections-thread/663231/16 "2013-07-11T19:35:02Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > [Here it is. Take a look.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16462603&postcount=67) > [@74westy](#): > > “Moderator Note” was the post title - not part of the body of the post. Is the title visible to all users? It is not visible in Tapatalk. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-about-mod-comment-in-akward-erections-thread/663231/17 "2013-07-11T19:43:18Z")
**Ellen Cherry** sure has been getting raked over the coals recently. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-about-mod-comment-in-akward-erections-thread/663231/18 "2013-07-11T19:59:49Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > It is not visible in Tapatalk. Sounds like you’ve got an issue with Tapatalk, then. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-about-mod-comment-in-akward-erections-thread/663231/19 "2013-07-11T20:05:17Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Sounds like you’ve got an issue with Tapatalk, then. Since the SDMB staff itself has encouraged the use of Tapatalk on mobile devices to access the boards, then I should think that the SDMB staff cares about that, and would care to do something about that. I’ll note that many moderators put “moderator note” and other such labels in the body of their moderating posts, so it’s not like I should be epected to know that I’m not seeing that when I use Tapatalk. And I’ll note the sarcasm with which my proposition was addressed—I can’t be considered an idiot for not seeing “Moderator Note” if it wasn’t actually displayed when I read the note. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-about-mod-comment-in-akward-erections-thread/663231/20 "2013-07-11T20:19:46Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > **Ellen Cherry** sure has been getting raked over the coals recently. **Ellen** is one of my favorites. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-about-mod-comment-in-akward-erections-thread/663231.md?page=2)