# Defending Reeder **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 31, 2005, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969 "2005-07-31T04:10:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Ink\_a\_dink\_a\_dink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ec9cab/32.png) [@Ink\_a\_dink\_a\_dink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ink_a_dink_a_dink)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969/101 "2005-08-01T07:17:18Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Nope, the dumb thing was to ignore warnings. And they are cumulative; doing good posts does not clean the warnings unless there is a change in behavior. But how does one know “how close” you are to a definite banning? I mean, I made a mistake when I first started posting here - I wasn’t clear on a rule. Another thread was closed because it “seemed” to be asking for unhealthy advice, despite my protestations and clarifications otherwise. So…am I now on a hit list? Do I have to watch what I say to anyone? How far is too far? What subjects for ME are taboo? Evidently, for **reeder** it was Bush, and perhaps it was wrong forum posting. But now the “hit list” thing has me a little paranoid. **reeder** was actually one of those long-standing members that I felt I knew where it was going, but it didn’t seem _dangerous_. Now how can I know if it is? I don’t know, but wouldn’t it be nice to know where you stand in the “potential” list? Respectfully, Inky PS - I can’t vouch for this, but perhaps **reeder** posted in the wrong forae because he hoped the discussion wouldn’t train wreck. ANYTHING’s possible. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969/102 "2005-08-01T09:41:30Z")
I can’t believe that no one has posited a cabalistic clique, composed of the board’s elite, that uniformly ignores post from eveyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969/103 "2005-08-01T10:11:34Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > I can’t believe that no one has posited a cabalistic clique, composed of the board’s elite, that uniformly ignores post from eveyone else. Well, maybe we’re not stupid enough to see that as likely. Silly us. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969/104 "2005-08-01T12:23:16Z")
**Lib** , I politely remind you that the first rule of the cabalistic clique is that you do not talk about the cabalistic clique. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969/105 "2005-08-01T12:52:54Z")
Is that cabalistic or cannabilistic? ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969/106 "2005-08-01T13:09:00Z")
Both. That’s how I got my username. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969/107 "2005-08-01T13:59:02Z")
> [@Measure for Measure](#): > > I’ll start with Collounsbury (one of the best experts we’ve ever had) and Satan. I profoundly disagree, and that’s all that needs to be said on this Board. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969/108 "2005-08-01T15:15:38Z")
For those who continued to enjoy **Collounsbury** ’s expletive-strewn but clearly exceptionally well-informed and informative first-hand view of the Middle East in his [LiveJournal](http://www.livejournal.com/users/collounsbury/), note that it is moving elsewhere soon. ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969/109 "2005-08-01T15:25:12Z")
> [@Una Persson](#): > > I profoundly disagree, and that’s all that needs to be said on this Board. I profoundly and utterly disagree with you, and am probably in a far better qualified position to judge. ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969/110 "2005-08-01T15:26:25Z")
> [@istara](#): > > I profoundly and utterly disagree with you, and am probably in a far better qualified position to judge. Re the former, not the latter that is. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969/111 "2005-08-01T15:58:14Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#): > > **Lib** , I politely remind you that the first rule of the cabalistic clique is that you do not talk about the cabalistic clique. Damn. I thought that as second in command to Guinastasia, I could have a perk or two. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969/112 "2005-08-01T16:02:45Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Damn. I thought that as second in command to Guinastasia, I could have a perk or two. Hah. Next thing you know, you’ll be wanting to check those files about project mayhem. Oh, damn, I’ve said too much. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969/113 "2005-08-01T16:24:00Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Damn. I thought that as second in command to Guinastasia You’re top dog this morning. 23,899 to 23,830. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969/114 "2005-08-01T16:56:26Z")
> [@](#): > > So…am I now on a hit list? Do I have to watch what I say to anyone? How far is too far? What subjects for ME are taboo? There is no hit list. There is a record of cumulative warnings that are reviewed for frequency, egregiousness of violation, pattern of disruption, and willingness to respond to staff intervention. That is all taken into consideration when reviewing a member who has come to the staff’s attention because of particular recent behavior. Generally, when we review a history, if we find a single incident from a few years ago, we are liable to ignore it–particularly if it is different in context from more recent warnings (for example, an inappropriate link followed by years of good behavior followed by a series of raging outbursts in **GQ** ). There are no _subjects_ that are taboo to _you_ unless you have been explicitly warned to avoid them (as **handy** was warned to stop giving medical advice). Note that **Reeder** was not told he could not discuss President Bush. The general _topic_ was open to him. He was told to stop posting one-line snark about Mr. Bush with a link and no actual discussion. (Even there, you will note that his final thread did not get him banned immediately. Part of what was taken into consideration were his content free responses to the first couple of posters who responded to the thread. At any event, he was banned for a pattern of behavior, not for breaking a single rule.) Too far? A threat or an attempt to damage the board is too far, instantly. Beyond that, once you have posted enough to demonstrate that you are not here for the sole purpose of spamming or trolling, you will know what is “too far” because we will issue warnings asking you to pull back from the edge. **Reeder** was given several warnings and was provided a suspension before suspensions were part of policy and continued to repeat the behavior for which he was warned. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969/115 "2005-08-01T17:11:34Z")
> [@istara](#): > > I profoundly and utterly disagree with you, and am probably in a far better qualified position to judge. _You’re_ in a far better qualified position to judge whether or not those two posters were “exceptional”? Well. Never mind then; I’m certain I must be completely off-base. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969/116 "2005-08-01T17:21:03Z")
> [@Una Persson](#): > > _You’re_ in a far better qualified position to judge whether or not those two posters were “exceptional”? > > Well. Never mind then; I’m certain I must be completely off-base. That comment made me do a double take too–I believe **Istara** ment _geographical_ position and was specifically referring to **Collounsbury** ; check out his or her location field. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969/117 "2005-08-01T17:32:15Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > You’re top dog this morning. > 23,899 to 23,830. Woo hoo! All right, things are gonna change around here. First of all, no metacohesive nonrealities. And after that, Rolls Royce. No fucking Bentleys. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969/118 "2005-08-01T17:38:19Z")
> [@Ink a dink a dink](#): > > But how does one know “how close” you are to a definite banning? It’s difficult. You have to decode arcane, cryptic messages from moderators like the last one that \*\*Reeder \*\*got. I think it went something like: “this is your final warning.” I know that the word “final” can be very confusing. Many people apparently think it means “not final”. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969/119 "2005-08-01T17:47:06Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > No fucking Bentleys. I say, if two guys named “Bentley” want to get together … ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969/120 "2005-08-01T18:00:48Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > It’s difficult. You have to decode arcane, cryptic messages from moderators like the last one that \*\*Reeder \*\*got. I think it went something like: “this is your final warning.” I know that the word “final” can be very confusing. Many people apparently think it means “not final”. Luckily I had my secret decoder ring from Ovaltine[sup]TM[/sup] so the early warnings were interpreted properly. [http://home.teleport.com/~jrolsen/premiums/ovaltine.html](http://home.teleport.com/~jrolsen/premiums/ovaltine.html) Unfortunately, it seems there are no longer available so \*\*Ink a dink a dink \*\* is out of luck. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defending-reeder/314969.md?page=7)