# Does This Post Break A Rule? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 2, 2015, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585 "2015-04-02T03:27:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/21 "2015-04-02T16:07:43Z")
> [@How is it even possible that there are Jews in Iran?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-even-possible-that-there-are-jews-in-iran/716258/45): > > Yeah, I’m all set with responding to mods who pose as “regular posters” yet ignore the rules and then enlist their mod buddies to pull their chestnuts out of the fire. You, **Miller,** and **Johnathan Chance** should set up a cozy little echo chamber where you can impress the hell out of each other with your progressive views. I’m not taking the bait. > [@Grotonian](#): > > No it isn’t. It’s an accusation that **tomndebb** doesn’t follow the rules _as a poster._ Moreover, that comment already received a mod note, it was what I posted in the OP that received the warning. Your message that got a note is clearly complaining about moderation by implying that mods will treat other mods differently when they break the rules. Your comment not only refers to **tomndebb** ’s action as a poster, but also to **Miller** and **Johnathan Chance’s** actions as mods. And as has been explained by several others, your OP got a warning because it questioned a mod’s instructions and continued a hijack. It’s not a big mystery here. ---
**Author:** ![Grotonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c2a13f/32.png) [@Grotonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grotonian)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/22 "2015-04-02T16:11:40Z")
Stop with the nonsense of ignoring mod instructions. The '“instruction” contained the conditional clause, “If you have a complaint about moderation…” I had no complaint about moderation so I did not meet the condition for his instruction. My complaint was about posters not following the rules. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/23 "2015-04-02T16:17:02Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > Stop with the nonsense of ignoring mod instructions. The '“instruction” contained the conditional clause, “If you have a complaint about moderation…” I had no complaint about moderation so I did not meet the condition for his instruction. > > My complaint was about posters not following the rules. If you want to argue that the post where you called out **tom~** , **JC** , and myself wasn’t a complaint about moderation, fine. That wasn’t the post that got you the warning. The post that got you the warning was the one where you responded to **Colibri** , arguing that his note was incorrect because you weren’t complaining about moderation. _That_ post was unambiguously arguing against moderation, and that’s what got you warned. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/24 "2015-04-02T16:19:23Z")
That’s not really the case; now is it, Grotonian? You accused **tomndebb** _and the other moderators_ of ganging up on you to protect one of their own, a fellow moderator. You’re conveniently ignoring the facts in that thread and this one, ISTM. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2015, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/25 "2015-04-02T16:25:23Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > Stop with the nonsense of ignoring mod instructions. The '“instruction” contained the conditional clause, “If you have a complaint about moderation…” I had no complaint about moderation so I did not meet the condition for his instruction. > > My complaint was about posters not following the rules. You’re absolutely right, and should continue that exact same behavior in the future. Everyone else posting in this thread, including the moderators, are wrong. Is that what you want to hear? ---
**Author:** ![Grotonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c2a13f/32.png) [@Grotonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grotonian)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/26 "2015-04-02T16:38:06Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You’re absolutely right, and should continue that exact same behavior in the future. Everyone else posting in this thread, including the moderators, are wrong. > > Is that what you want to hear? “If it’s snowing out, go to the Pit.” “Well, it’s not snowing out, so I have a question.” “WARNING ISSUED: IGNORING MOD INSTRUCTIONS!” I can’t help it if people don’t know how English works. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/27 "2015-04-02T16:44:33Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > Stop with the nonsense of ignoring mod instructions. The '“instruction” contained the conditional clause, “If you have a complaint about moderation…” I had no complaint about moderation so I did not meet the condition for his instruction. > > My complaint was about posters not following the rules. I’ve read over that thread several times now and I’m just not seeing it that way. It all looks well within the rules until we get to post #45. The short version as I see it is either #45 was 1. A personal issue with **tomndebb** and others and belongs in the Pit 2. A complaint against a mod as a mod in which case it belongs here. Maybe there are other incidents that lead up to this but I’m just not finding them. **Tomndebb** made a valid post opposite your viewpoint (just as he/she/they have against my point of view several times). Instead of offering debate or other information you made #45 not only calling out **tomndebb** but dragging in two other posters who aren’t in that thread. OK - it’s not the greatest violation I’ve ever seen but it deserved the warning it got. To go from there and question the warning? Not the best move I’ve seen here. In other words, if “posters” haven’t followed the rules here, I need better evidence than the one post **Tomndebb** made in that thread. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/28 "2015-04-02T16:57:02Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > “If it’s snowing out, go to the Pit.” > “Well, it’s not snowing out, so I have a question.” > “WARNING ISSUED: IGNORING MOD INSTRUCTIONS!” > > I can’t help it if people don’t know how English works. > [@](#): > > Look like nothin’s gonna change > Everything, still remains the same > I can’t do what ten people tell me to do > So I guess I’ll remain the same, yes This is NOT supposed to be good advice for you to follow. It’s from a man wastin’ his life away. If every single person in a thread is telling you that you’re wrong, take a step back and acknowledge that you’re wrong. This also applies to the dozens of others who pull this nonsense in dozens of threads. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/29 "2015-04-02T16:57:33Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > “If it’s snowing out, go to the Pit.” > “Well, it’s not snowing out, so I have a question.” > “WARNING ISSUED: IGNORING MOD INSTRUCTIONS!” > > I can’t help it if people don’t know how English works. Bad analogy. Anytime you reply to a moderator about their moderation within a thread\*, you are complaining. “I was just asking a question” is the same as “complaining”. That’s the way it works around here. If you don’t accept that, you are on the road to being banned. It’s your choice. You can try really hard NOT to understand it, or you can accept it and move on. \*Other than something like: OK, I undertand. Won’t do it again. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/30 "2015-04-02T16:59:10Z")
Please enlighten us on how commenting on **Miller** and **Johnathan Chance** ’s behavior as mods was not a complaint about moderation. This whole English language thing must be tricky, because to me and the other people in this thread, it’s pretty clear that it was. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/31 "2015-04-02T16:59:41Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > “If it’s snowing out, go to the Pit.” > “Well, it’s not snowing out, so I have a question.” > “WARNING ISSUED: IGNORING MOD INSTRUCTIONS!” > > I can’t help it if people don’t know how English works. That thread was not the place for your question to a moderator. It doesn’t matter if the moderator said “aaohoahowka!” which is hard to say but I wouldn’t put it past 'em, you come to this forum to clarify. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/32 "2015-04-02T17:02:53Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > “If it’s snowing out, go to the Pit.” > “Well, it’s not snowing out, so I have a question.” > “WARNING ISSUED: IGNORING MOD INSTRUCTIONS!” > > I can’t help it if people don’t know how English works. Mods are the final arbiter of the weather here. If they say it’s snowing, it’s snowing. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/33 "2015-04-02T17:06:01Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > It doesn’t matter if the moderator said “aaohoahowka!” which is hard to say I just wasted 5 minutes trying to figure out how to say that. Thanks. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/34 "2015-04-02T17:07:31Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > I just wasted 5 minutes trying to figure out how to say that. Thanks. :mad: It’s Hawaiian I think. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/35 "2015-04-02T17:07:45Z")
Can you give an example of a Mod (or specifically, Tomndebb) not following the rules in their capacity as a poster? There must be some history here, because I certainly didn’t see it in the thread where you were complaining. (Or are you of the opinion that disagreement is not allowed in General Questions?) ---
**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:** [April 2, 2015, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/36 "2015-04-02T17:09:52Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > That thread was not the place for your question to a moderator. It doesn’t matter if the moderator said “aaohoahowka!” which is hard to say but I wouldn’t put it past 'em, you come to this forum to clarify. > [@Morgenstern](#): > > It’s Hawaiian I think. It’s Hawaiian for: “We banning your dog”. ---
**Author:** ![Grotonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c2a13f/32.png) [@Grotonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grotonian)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/37 "2015-04-02T17:27:43Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Please enlighten us on how commenting on **Miller** and **Johnathan Chance** ’s behavior as mods was not a complaint about moderation. This whole English language thing must be tricky, because to me and the other people in this thread, it’s pretty clear that it was. What was my complaint about their moderating? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/38 "2015-04-02T17:31:26Z")
Saying that they enlist their mod buddies to pull their chestnuts out of the fire. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/39 "2015-04-02T17:35:43Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > It’s Hawaiian for: “We banning your dog”. And if you wanna complain about it, complain in ATMB! ALOHA! ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/40 "2015-04-02T17:37:05Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > What was my complaint about their moderating? Here. _… mods who pose as “regular posters” yet ignore the rules …_ (from your post) That’s pretty clearly criticizing their modding (or lack of modding) with respect to your complaint. You in essence said that mods ignore the rules. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585.md?page=3)