# Colibri, moving threads, or not, and names for rules **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 9, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790 "2011-02-09T19:01:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790/21 "2011-02-09T23:09:01Z")
Maybe I’m too hopeful, but this amusing teapot tempest has dragged on so long that I’m starting to suspect the whole thing is some elaborate [brick joke](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BrickJoke). ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790/22 "2011-02-09T23:18:25Z")
I don’t have a dog in this fight, but it disturbs me that rigid rules seem to take precedence over “fighting ignorance,” and that is not a good thing on this particular board. Apparently, even if something is well-known to be fraudulent, and links can be provided that substantiate that, we can’t tell anyone because it might be interpreted as a “religious jab.” So religion – and frauds – once again, get a free ride. :dubious: I guess fighting ignorance is not the holy grail we once hoped for. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790/23 "2011-02-09T23:23:03Z")
I surprisingly agreee with the OP. I don’t think giving carte blanche to the perpetually butthurt is a worthwhile endeavor. Legislating language is short-sighted. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790/24 "2011-02-09T23:49:50Z")
**Musicat** , no one has said you can’t prove something is fraudulent. No one is protecting frauds. What they said was to have the conversation in the appropriate thread in the appropriate forum, just like every other topic on this board. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790/25 "2011-02-09T23:52:52Z")
Oh come _on_. I’m on record about hating it when mods make up rules and apply them retroactively, but the “no religious jabs” thing is so obviously included in the primary GQ rule “No politics, dammit” that it’s stunning that you wouldn’t get it. You should be really, really glad that it’s Colibri and not Manhattan who’s modding. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790/26 "2011-02-10T00:05:17Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > **Musicat** , no one has said you can’t prove something is fraudulent. No one is protecting frauds. What they said was to have the conversation in the appropriate thread in the appropriate forum, just like every other topic on this board. It seems like the rules of “no religious jabs” take precedence over exposure of fraud on one or more forums. If so, I’m not sure that is in keeping with our reason for existence. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790/27 "2011-02-10T00:18:48Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > It seems like the rules of “no religious jabs” take precedence over exposure of fraud on one or more forums. If so, I’m not sure that is in keeping with our reason for existence. Ignoring the purposes of the various forums is your reason for existence? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790/28 "2011-02-10T00:37:32Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Ignoring the purposes of the various forums is your reason for existence? I always thought SDMB was a higher cause than a sub-forum. guess I was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790/29 "2011-02-10T00:47:35Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I always thought SDMB was a higher cause than a sub-forum. guess I was wrong. Gosh, that _does_ sound dramatic, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790/30 "2011-02-10T00:48:48Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I always thought SDMB was a higher cause than a sub-forum. guess I was wrong. You are correct, Sir! ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790/31 "2011-02-10T01:32:38Z")
> [@not\_alice](#): > > So, is the upshot that as a result of all that, TPTB got together and created a succinct name for the rule (maybe I missed the announcement on the threads that were related at the time)? 1. No. 2. It’s a description, not a name. Its name is Rule 2 of the General Questions Rules. I call it number two for short. > [@](#): > > If there was no announce, and the rule now has a name, perhaps there can be an announcement and explanation, and maybe a sticky since it seems to come up a lot lately? That’s a great suggestion. Thanks! I wrote a sticky about that in 2008. It’s a rule that’s specific to the General Questions forum, so that’s where the sticky is. [Factual Questions Rules & FAQs - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=466202) > [@](#): > > why wasn’t it simply dropped as casually as it was in the current thread? I dunno, but let me personally assure you that there was no moderator conspiracy to conceal the rule’s desciption from you. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790/32 "2011-02-10T01:50:14Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I don’t have a dog in this fight, but it disturbs me that rigid rules seem to take precedence over “fighting ignorance,” and that is not a good thing on this particular board. > > Apparently, even if something is well-known to be fraudulent, and links can be provided that substantiate that, we can’t tell anyone because it might be interpreted as a “religious jab.” > > So religion – and frauds – once again, get a free ride. :dubious: > > I guess fighting ignorance is not the holy grail we once hoped for. Sorry, this is just nonsense. This is just an issue of which forum, and which thread, that particular discussion goes in. I have said repeatedly that anyone who wishes to discuss the issue of fraud in relation to Scientology may do so in Great Debates. If the fraud had been the main issue of the original thread, I would simply have moved it to GD. But it was a side issue, and one that was not appropriate for continued discussion in GQ. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790/33 "2011-02-10T02:02:56Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Gosh, that _does_ sound dramatic, doesn’t it? Just because you scoff doesn’t make it less true. We mock what we are to become. Seriously, I don’t believe that a minor rule in a sub-forum should take precedence over our main target, that’s all. Following a protocol shouldn’t override truth, education or the dissemination of either, and neither shouldn’t be brushed aside because it’s in the “wrong” forum. There is no right forum for misinformation. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790/34 "2011-02-10T02:12:32Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Seriously, I don’t believe that a minor rule in a sub-forum should take precedence over our main target, that’s all. Following a protocol shouldn’t override truth, education or the dissemination of either, and neither shouldn’t be brushed aside because it’s in the “wrong” forum. There is no right forum for misinformation. Whatever. That’s just not the way this board is organized. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790/35 "2011-02-10T02:14:22Z")
How are you not getting this? Nobody is “overriding truth”. They are just requesting that truths be placed in the appropriate forum by type. I can’t believe anyone mods this place for free. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790/36 "2011-02-10T03:15:13Z")
I agree with the OP, it’s a conspiracy and I can show you some evidence: > [@](#): > > Political, religious, or professional jabs, hijacks, and trolling prohibited Notice no parenthesis leaving the order of operator precedence a little ambiguous. Do we apply the OR first or the AND. Normally it would be the AND, but those commas were clearly thrown in for the sole purpose of giving the mods flexibility in applying the rule. Very clever. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790/37 "2011-02-10T03:28:09Z")
Well, that…and **Colibri** is a cylon. **Marley** is a V. **Gfactor** is just an old school Grey, **Czarcasm** works for the Shadows, **Samclem** has a Keeper symbiote controlling his actions, and **Giraffe** …well, the dude has a 14 inch prehensile tongue. 'Nuff said. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790/38 "2011-02-10T04:09:59Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > I can’t believe anyone mods this place for free. Me either, some days. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790/39 "2011-02-10T04:13:06Z")
And **Twickster** is one of those Leather Goddess of Phobos babes… ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790/40 "2011-02-10T04:31:42Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > I can’t believe anyone mods this place for free. I wouldn’t do it for free! They gave me a coffee mug. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-moving-threads-or-not-and-names-for-rules/570790.md?page=3)