# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/41 "2015-04-02T17:48:20Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > What was my complaint about their moderating? You were complaining about them abusing their moderator status by ignoring the rules with impunity then being protected by fellow moderators. ---
**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, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/42 "2015-04-02T17:52:17Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Saying that they enlist their mod buddies to pull their chestnuts out of the fire. They gang up _as posters._ ---
**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, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/43 "2015-04-02T17:53:26Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > 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. As posters. ---
**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, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/44 "2015-04-02T17:53:57Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > They gang up _as posters._ If you said “That jsgoddess always attacks me and then the moderators don’t do anything about it” you are commenting on me AND the moderators. ---
**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, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/45 "2015-04-02T17:54:51Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > You were complaining about them abusing their moderator status by ignoring the rules with impunity then being protected by fellow moderators. As posters. ---
**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, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/46 "2015-04-02T18:01:46Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > As posters. True, as posters, but you ALSO commented on their modding. Please understand that people are trying to help you understand the rule here. No one is out to crucify you. ---
**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, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/47 "2015-04-02T18:02:32Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > If you said “That jsgoddess always attacks me and then the moderators don’t do anything about it” you are commenting on me AND the moderators. But I didn’t say, “the moderators don’t do anything about it.” Its irrelevant anyway; that comment received a mod note. The warning was for the comment in the OP. Because conditional clauses aren’t conditional, or something like that. ---
**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, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/48 "2015-04-02T18:03:18Z")
“Posters.” You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. ---
**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, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/49 "2015-04-02T18:08:30Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > Its irrelevant anyway; that comment received a mod note. > > The warning was for the comment in the OP. Because conditional clauses aren’t conditional, or something like that. It’s completely relevant. You made a complaint about moderation (despite your protestations), therefore the conditional clause was true. ---
**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, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/50 "2015-04-02T18:11:40Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > But I didn’t say, “the moderators don’t do anything about it.” > [@](#): > > 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 do more than say they don’t do anything about it. You say that they HELP each other get away with breaking the rules. You said, paraphrased “Those people break the rules, and then their friends help them get away with it. Those people are mods and their friends are mods.” Being a mod is the only way they can do any of this alleged chestnut pulling. If you accused me of nefarious doings, then said that TroutMan and John Mace were pulling my chestnuts out of the fire, it would not make sense because TroutMan and John Mace do not have the power to pull anyone’s chestnuts out of the fire. ---
**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, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/51 "2015-04-02T18:21:50Z")
So, when their mod buddies are pulling their chestnuts out of the fire, are they doing it purely by posting as regular people, or are they doing it with **Mod Notes** and **Mod Warnings**? If the former, then you’re saying that there are a bunch of people posting here who gang up on you when they disagree with you. That’s allowed. If the latter, they _are not posting as posters,_ no matter how many times you say it. ---
**Author:** ![Emiliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/52 "2015-04-02T18:36:41Z")
In any case, only one mod was in the thread, right? So you couldn’t have been complaining about the two who weren’t as posters. You’re new here so you may not realize that many, many people have complained about moderators and modding. It’s pretty much a board sport. So when every poster disagrees with your take on things, you can assume you, not a mod or the mods, are wrong. ---
**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, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/53 "2015-04-02T18:38:53Z")
Again, where are these examples of Mods breaking the rules? Where are the examples of rule-breaking moderators getting “saved” by other Mods? I have never seen such a thing. ---
**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, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/54 "2015-04-02T18:58:00Z")
I think we can safely say that the horse has been led to water. Whether he chooses to drink or not is completely up to him. Our work is done. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2015, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/55 "2015-04-02T19:05:38Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > True, as posters, but you ALSO commented on their modding. > > Please understand that people are trying to help you understand the rule here. No one is out to crucify you. Except maybe that guy over there dressed as Pontius Pilate. ---
**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, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/56 "2015-04-02T19:09:39Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > You do more than say they don’t do anything about it. You say that they HELP each other get away with breaking the rules. > > You said, paraphrased “Those people break the rules, and then their friends help them get away with it. Those people are mods and their friends are mods.” > > Being a mod is the only way they can do any of this alleged chestnut pulling. If you accused me of nefarious doings, then said that TroutMan and John Mace were pulling my chestnuts out of the fire, it would not make sense because TroutMan and John Mace do not have the power to pull anyone’s chestnuts out of the fire. The contortions you have to put my words through to find a mod complaint demonstrate how innocuous the comments were. Yeah, “pulling chestnuts…” is a vicious attack on the mods IF it means “maniacally abuse their fascistic mod powers,” but it’s no attack on moderating as I used it to mean they gang up as posters. Moreover, I don’t think every reference to moderating constitutes a “complaint” that has to be brought to ATMB. If I write, " the mods never ban the right people, anyway," it’s clear from this thread that people would freak out about how that constitutes a “complaint.” It doesn’t. It’s my opinion. It’s not a request for further discussion, or action, or resolution. Similarly, my comment to **tomndebb** was not introducing some new topic of conversation (a hijack) or asking for any action, clarification, or resolution; it was an explanation TO HIM of why I wasn’t discussing the topic with him. ---
**Author:** ![Emiliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/57 "2015-04-02T19:25:06Z")
So have you been enjoying your time at the SDMB so far, Grotonian? You weren’t by any chance court ordered to attend these meetings were you? ---
**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, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/58 "2015-04-02T19:27:14Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > The contortions you have to put my words through to find a mod complaint demonstrate how innocuous the comments were. Too soon, the cry of aaohoahowka will resound over the countryside. ---
**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, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/59 "2015-04-02T19:42:04Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Except maybe that guy over there dressed as Pontius Pilate. We’re still going to need 2 thieves though. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/60 "2015-04-02T19:45:07Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > The contortions you have to put my words through to find a mod complaint demonstrate how innocuous the comments were. Looks to me like those contortions were an attempt to help you understand the situation. Much simpler explanations were given but you didn’t seem to follow the logic. > [@](#): > > Yeah, “pulling chestnuts…” is a vicious attack on the mods IF it means “maniacally abuse their fascistic mod powers,” but it’s no attack on moderating as I used it to mean they gang up as posters. It’s definitely a criticism > [@](#): > > Moreover, I don’t think every reference to moderating constitutes a “complaint” that has to be brought to ATMB. I agree with you here. If you were commenting on the mechanics of moderation (example, " I think the mods might move this thread to another forum") but if you are criticizing how the mods are acting you should bring it here. You could have easily stated in the other thread that you addressed a mod issue in ATMB. > [@](#): > > If I write, " the mods never ban the right people, anyway," it’s clear from this thread that people would freak out about how that constitutes a “complaint.” It is a criticism which is understandably seen as a complaint. > [@](#): > > It doesn’t. It’s my opinion. I haven’t found an opinion is this thread that agrees with yours. That could be a clue. > [@](#): > > It’s not a request for further discussion, or action, or resolution. Just because you shut the door after criticizing, doesn’t mean that it’s not criticism. > [@](#): > > Similarly, my comment to **tomndebb** was not introducing some new topic of conversation (a hijack) or asking for any action, clarification, or resolution; it was an explanation TO HIM of why I wasn’t discussing the topic with him. And that explanation was a criticism of the moderators. You could have said - “Tom, I’m addressing this issue in ATMB” and then criticized him the moderators, the rules etc to your heart’s content in this forum. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585.md?page=4)