# county banned? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 17, 2004, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572 "2004-05-17T11:55:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2004, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572/121 "2004-05-19T18:14:14Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Do you recall if what was said was as mild as what **county** got whacked for? I do not recall any specifics, only that people have been banned for being a jerk in the Pit. > [@](#): > > If he was such a bad guy, then wait until he _really_ fucks up. And if he doesn’t fuck up, all the better; he learned his lesson. > > And if what he did before was so bad, ban him for that. No need to wait and ban someone over something so ridiculously mild as that post. He was warned - repeatedly - and rather than make a concerted and visible effort to change his ways, he kept it up at the same rate he had before. The fact that it was compounded over a long period of time simply made it easier - and more irritating - to notice that he had made no effort to change whatsoever. Again, what you consider the straw and what the Admins consider the straw are different; so be it, but based on all of the information presented, I wholeheartedly agree with their interpretation, and, of course, their ruling takes precedence in such matters. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2004, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572/122 "2004-05-19T21:16:06Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Really? Yes really. > [@](#): > > Let’s take a look at two high-profile examples, december and Collounsbury. Collounsbury was before my time but **december** is exactly who I was thinking of when I posted > [@Darkhold](#): > > Even the thinnest veil of civility protects you like a suit if armor. > [@Merijeek](#): > > december, love him or hate him, was a fucking troll. Whether or not people came out and actually said it, it was true. He was also a jerk, just not on the directly abusive way like Collounsbury. Instead, he set the standard for the now ofen-used “skirt the edge of trolling and then respond to people dismantling near-your troll with lalala I can’t hear you or oh, you misunderstand, now watch with amazement how I contradict half the stuff in my OP and pretend that it doesn’t invalidate everything I’ve said so far.” Either way, still a jerk. Just not in the same mold as Collounsbury. Yes all that was part of my point. Now if you clarified the jerk rule we’d have even more people proudly skirting the edge of the law. I don’t know if you watched the whole **Alderbaran** vs **Zenster** implied vs direct insults debate I was involved in but that’s exactly what will happen if you clarlify the jerk rule. > [@](#): > > Don’t call it the “don’t be a jerk” rule when it’s really the “Mod/Admin fiat” rule. So you don’t want anyone being banned for being a jerk? Or only a narrow definiation of being a jerk? If I was a mod and I warned someone about a behavior I would expect them to be on their best behavior for at least a little while after I warned them. Why? It shows a desire to obey the rules of the board. However if they instantly went back to playing in the ‘gray’ areas that means they don’t really want to clean up their act they just want to be as assholish as they want without being banned. Do you really think the mods had some personal desire to see him go? Other then “I’m tired of dealing with this guy he clearly just wants to fuck around until he gets banned. Well wish granted already” ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572/123 "2004-05-19T22:35:16Z")
> [@Darkhold](#): > > If I was a mod and I warned someone about a behavior I would expect them to be on their best behavior for at least a little while after I warned them. Why? It shows a desire to obey the rules of the board. However if they instantly went back to playing in the ‘gray’ areas that means they don’t really want to clean up their act they just want to be as assholish as they want without being banned. Do you really think the mods had some personal desire to see him go? Other then “I’m tired of dealing with this guy he clearly just wants to fuck around until he gets banned. Well wish granted already” Not to cast aspersions on you, **Darkhold** , but a while back in this thread I posted a quote of **Lynn** saying pretty much the same thing. Though with not as much eloquence. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572/124 "2004-05-20T00:12:04Z")
**Jeff Olsen** my apologies if I stepped on one of your points. I was just responding to **Merijeek** with stuff off the top of my head any similarities are unintentional. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572/125 "2004-05-20T00:22:27Z")
So, if **county** learns his \* lesson and convinces the mods, via e-mail, that he has changed his ways, he could be re-instated, right? Would he have pay the full fee again? \*I know that I am assuming **county** is a he. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572/126 "2004-05-20T00:26:05Z")
> [@Nametag](#): > > . But given a choice between “hostile and insulting” and “supportive and thoughtful,” **county** invariably went for the former. Because he’s a jerk. (Banned name! :D) But that was the fucking PIT goddamit. And you can be “hostile & insulting” in the PIT. In fact, that is one of it’s purposes. This was simply wrong. Of course, that’s just my own damn opinion… ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572/127 "2004-05-20T00:38:27Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > \Too bad the Mods don’t even pretend to be accountable for their actions. > > -Joe Why should they? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572/128 "2004-05-20T01:13:21Z")
> [@Darkhold](#): > > **Jeff Olsen** my apologies if I stepped on one of your points. I was just responding to **Merijeek** with stuff off the top of my head any similarities are unintentional. Not a problem, after all I did give you a compliment. 🙂 Just wanted to point out that **Lynn** had said pretty much the same thing. > [@DrDeth](#): > > But that was the fucking PIT goddamit. And you can be “hostile & insulting” in the PIT. Yes, but it’s not a requirement. All he had to do is lie low for a while. He chose not to. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572/129 "2004-05-20T08:05:15Z")
> [@Jeff Olsen](#): > > Not a problem, after all I did give you a compliment. 🙂 Just wanted to point out that **Lynn** had said pretty much the same thing.Yes, but it’s not a requirement. All he had to do is lie low for a while. He chose not to. But that doesn’t do any good. They can ban you even if your last warning was 2 years ago- or even if you were never warned at all. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572/130 "2004-05-20T09:37:25Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But that doesn’t do any good. They can ban you even if your last warning was 2 years ago- or even if you were never warned at all. That’s true as long as you have moderators with the power to ban people. So what? The fact that something could happen doesn’t mean it will. I’ve never seen a member in good standing banned without warning, or someone without a history banned for something as ticky-tack as what you suggest. Even if you think banning **county** was wrong, it was HIS choice to skirt the edge, and he’d still be on thin ice if he was here. Banning was inevitable for him. It’s not that hard to keep yourself out of the position he was in; he decided to be stupid and not listen to warnings. Perhaps this message board is a (very, very) enlightened monarchy instead of a democracy, but I can deal with it. This thread probably should’ve been closed after the **Esprix** quote, because I don’t think anybody can put it any better than that. ---
**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:** [May 20, 2004, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572/131 "2004-05-20T13:01:40Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But that doesn’t do any good. They can ban you even if your last warning was 2 years ago- or even if you were never warned at all. They sure can. And you knew that when you paid your five bucks. If you visit my house, I can kick you out for any reason whatsoever. You’re in their house. Don’t like it? Hold the next party at your own house. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572/132 "2004-05-20T14:48:08Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > They sure can. And you knew that when you paid your five bucks. > > If you visit my house, I can kick you out for any reason whatsoever. You’re in their house. > > Don’t like it? Hold the next party at your own house. > > Daniel Yes, that’s very deep. My whole point was that with the two previously mentioned examples (two raging assholes who had far passed the level of “jerk”) the mods _waited_ to pull the trigger until they had a real rule to nail them with. Apparently that is no longer the case. You think defining the “jerk” rule will cause people to dance on the line of demarcation…but it has happened. Constantly. And unless you’re blind you’ve already seen that. -Joe ---
**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:** [May 20, 2004, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572/133 "2004-05-20T15:04:46Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Yes, that’s very deep. No, it’s NOT deep. It’s blindingly fucking obvious. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572/134 "2004-05-20T15:05:48Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > My whole point was that with the two previously mentioned examples (two raging assholes who had far passed the level of “jerk”) the mods _waited_ to pull the trigger until they had a real rule to nail them with. Still waiting for you to explain why Gaudere referred to **Coll** being unable to “tone things down” and not personal attacks in GD. No matter how many times something is repeated doesn’t make it true. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572/135 "2004-05-20T15:17:07Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > They can ban you even if your last warning was 2 years ago [No shit](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=4870037&postcount=14). > [@](#): > > _or even if you were never warned at all._ [Not bloody likely](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=4665313&postcount=8). ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572/136 "2004-05-20T15:53:47Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > My whole point was that with the two previously mentioned examples (two raging assholes who had far passed the level of “jerk”) the mods _waited_ to pull the trigger until they had a real rule to nail them with. > > Apparently that is no longer the case. -Joe Well, not really. County wasn’t banned because of one PARTICULAR post. He was banned because he was warned several times, and continued to act like a jerk in several more posts. We looked at his warning record, then we looked at his posts SINCE his warnings, and it was apparent to us that he wasn’t going to tone it down. For whatever reason, he apparently thought he could keep on racking up warnings indefinitely. This isn’t just my opinion, it’s the opinion of SEVERAL moderators. So he got banned. Three mod/admins voted for a banning, and possibly more would have voted for it had we waited a day or so for everyone to check in. We’re still discussing this issue in mod email, but so far NOBODY on the mod staff wants him back. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![Aldebaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572/137 "2004-05-20T17:53:12Z")
> [@Darkhold](#): > > I don’t know if you watched the whole **Alderbaran** vs **Zenster** implied vs direct insults debate I was involved in but that’s exactly what will happen if you clarlify the jerk rule. What? Care to clarify that insulting remark? Thank you. Salaam. A ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572/138 "2004-05-20T19:26:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Care to clarify that insulting remark? What in the world do you find insulting? **Darkhold** is referring to a thread in which _he_ participated in a debate regarding insults and threats, implied and explicit, in which posts by you and **Zenster** were held up as _examples_ of the threats or insults that were being debated. This is a simple statement of fact (although **Darkhold** would have been clearer had he substituted “threats” for “insults” in the statement you’ve quoted). You are not being insulted, here, so it almost appears that you are looking for a fight where none is offered. The thread in question _was_ initiated to pit you, but the thread took a different turn (as many do) and the portion of the debate referred to by **Darkhold** is not a swipe at you. I’m sure we can arrange to insult you if you feel a need for abuse, but that was not the intention of **Darkhold** ’s comment. [Goddamnit, Aldebaran, Lynn Said No Such Thing](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=249084) ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572/139 "2004-05-20T19:30:32Z")
> [@Aldebaran](#): > > What? Care to clarify that insulting remark? Thank you. > > Salaam. A Sorry I should have said direct vs. implied threats debate. I was heavily involved in it. I drew a parallel between how **Zenster** was banned for a implied threat and how you were warned and being threatened with being banned. A couple people vigorously disagreed with my analogy. It turned into a hairsplitting argument that went on for pages and pages on what exactly constituted a threat and what didn’t and if there was a difference between conditional threats, direct threats, implied threats, and how each is categorized by the context. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572/140 "2004-05-20T19:32:40Z")
I see while I was chatting **tomndebb** explained it. :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-banned/245572.md?page=8)