# Complaint about a warning

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/complaint-about-a-warning/638776>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [October 24, 2012, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/complaint-about-a-warning/638776 "2012-10-24T23:40:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 1

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**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/complaint-about-a-warning/638776/1 "2012-10-24T23:40:12Z")

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This is what started it.

> [@](#):
>
> Originally Posted by Ludovic  
> It’s impossible for him to have grown anything. Do this thought experiment. Take a paper towel roll tube and…
> 
> Moderator Note
> 
> Ludovic, let’s refrain from jabs at other posters from unrelated threads. No warning issued.
> 
> Colibri  
> General Questions Moderator

Ludovic did not complain and it’s not my place to complain for him but it does have some bearing on my warning. Question: how exactly is this a jab at another poster? I think the person that thought up the paper towel tube/Sandusky thing was Starving Artist but I’m not 100% sure of that. Either way, that person from that mesmerizing thread is never mentioned or alluded to. If I had read this before my post I would have thought it was an allusion to a recent Straight Dope meme and not the original poster of said meme.

So here was mine:

> [@](#):
>
> Since this case involves someone named Sandusky, should we be discussing if a lid of pot fits in a paper towel tube?
> 
> ETA: Damn Ludovic! I missed that the first time I read the thread.

and the warning

> [@](#):
>
> Moderator Warning
> 
> Since I’ve already given instructions about remarks about the “paper towel” issue, I’m going to make this an official warning for failure to follow moderator instructions.
> 
> Colibri  
> General Questions Moderator

So besides the fact the I admit I missed the whole paper towel quote the first time I also missed the moderator note that came after it. When I scanned through the rest of the thread and saw ludovic’s post I thought "Holy crap, I only have 5 minutes to mention his post and skipped the rest of the posts including his warning.

Now Colibri could say that it is my responsibility to read all posts before posting to avoid this situation of missing moderator instructions but that misses the bigger question which is:  
Is talking about “paper towel tubes” now not allowed since according to a moderator that knows our intentions it indirectly and unintentionally jabs at another poster? Has anyone else besides us ever been warned for discussing the “paper towel tube”? I’ll also note that neither ludovic nor I even talk about a “paper towel tube” in a negative light that could give a penumbra of ridiculing the “PTT poster”. I once saw a post from a liberal member of the Dope that used “Regards,” and then their name. Was that poster warned for making a jab against Shodan?

If Colibri wants to be pedantic and keep the warning since technically I did violate the (IMO ridiculous) instruction then so be it. Just be warned all dopers that using the words “paper towel tube” is now verboten on SD.

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