# 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:** 16\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/81 "2015-04-03T01:17:46Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > This: > > > [@](#): > > > > Quote: > > enlist their mod buddies to pull their chestnuts out of the fire > > is a complaint about moderator action, pure and simple, regardless of how moderators were posting in the thread prior to that. > > Saying otherwise is like saying “I didn’t pull the cat’s tail; I just held it. The cat pulled.” Exactly. This was clearly about moderator actions, and hence inappropriate for GQ. ---
**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:** [April 3, 2015, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/82 "2015-04-03T01:27:03Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Given that I’ve seen people get a mod note for indicating that someone was not particularly bright Shit. My only warning in sixteen years was for saying that [i.e., that someone wasn’t particularly bright] in what I thought was a facetious light that nobody would take seriously. But I knew that there was a probability it would be read as a serious insult, and I took the risk. I should have known that Chance wouldn’t favor me. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/83 "2015-04-03T01:27:05Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > Why not two or three warnings for the same comment? Hell, **samclem** should’ve just given me 8 warnings for it banned me. That would’ve fixed me good. I am intrigued by your ideas and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/84 "2015-04-03T01:33:53Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > When made a mod(sounds like the mafia eh?), we get very specific standard responses we should make. He just pulled that one out of our playbook. Pay no attention to the laminated card taped to my wrist. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/85 "2015-04-03T01:41:45Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Shit. My only warning in sixteen years was for saying that [i.e., that someone wasn’t particularly bright] in what I thought was a facetious light that nobody would take seriously. But I knew that there was a probability it would be read as a serious insult, and I took the risk. I should have known that Chance wouldn’t favor me. Oooo. I should give you another just for that. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/86 "2015-04-03T02:52:26Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > **Tomndebb** , as a poster, chooses to ignore the rules regarding personal insults: > > > [@](#): > > > > The nonsense is not his use of rthe word, but your perseveration that it bothers you. > > (Perseveration being a pathology caused by brain damage.) > > > [@](#): > > > > You might want to withdraw that argument before someone confuses you with Todd Starnes of Fox News. I am afraid that one scores no points for going out of one’s way to seek the worst possible construction of a phrase in order to choose to be insulted. Perseveration had a non-psychiatric meaning long before psychiatrists chose it to identify one specific malady, which is the reason that 100 years ago they chose this 350 year old word as a label for one type of condition. The non-medical meaning preceded the medical meaning. I am not sure why you consider the Starnes reference an insult. I noted that your argument corresponded pretty much exactly to his. I did not say “you are as [_insert derogatory adjective, here_] as Todd Starnes for expressing that argument.” If you agree with Mr. Starnes, it is no insult, at all. ---
**Author:** ![Grotonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c2a13f/32.png) [@Grotonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grotonian)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/87 "2015-04-03T05:44:40Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Exactly. This was clearly about moderator actions, and hence inappropriate for GQ. Which actions? ---
**Author:** ![Grotonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c2a13f/32.png) [@Grotonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grotonian)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/88 "2015-04-03T05:49:14Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > I am afraid that one scores no points for going out of one’s way to seek the worst possible construction of a phrase in order to choose to be insulted. > > Perseveration had a non-psychiatric meaning long before psychiatrists chose it to identify one specific malady, which is the reason that 100 years ago they chose this 350 year old word as a label for one type of condition. The non-medical meaning preceded the medical meaning. > > I am not sure why you consider the Starnes reference an insult. I noted that your argument corresponded pretty much exactly to his. I did not say “you are as [_insert derogatory adjective, here_] as Todd Starnes for expressing that argument.” If you agree with Mr. Starnes, it is no insult, at all. Dude, don’t worry about it; you’re golden. The rules don’t apply to you and you don’t have to worry about oblique insults. ---
**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 3, 2015, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/89 "2015-04-03T06:14:20Z")
You’re digging. Digging very deep, in fact, Grotonian. ---
**Author:** ![Emiliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/90 "2015-04-03T11:12:59Z")
I’m enjoying the juxtaposition of “Does This Post Break a Rule” and “Why are So Many SDMB Users BANNED?” I can see them colliding before too, too long. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/91 "2015-04-03T12:54:01Z")
Based on this thread, things seem lenient to me. I can’t believe the back and forth here is still going on. I’d be all “Off with his head” 30 posts ago. ---
**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 3, 2015, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/92 "2015-04-03T12:57:44Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > We’re still going to need 2 thieves though. Just check the Elections Forum? Bound to be lots of them over there. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/93 "2015-04-03T13:00:22Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > Dude, don’t worry about it; you’re golden. The rules don’t apply to you and you don’t have to worry about oblique insults. If I may (and I have no dog in this fight, so to speak), I’d like to give you some advice that my father relayed to me before he died (cuz it would be creepy if he did this afterwards): > [@my father](#): > > If at first you don’t succeed, try again. If you fail that second time, just quit. There’s no use in being a goddamn fool about it. Later, after his death, I learned that he stole this from WC Fields. That doesn’t diminish the wisdom in the sentiment, however. Essentially, Groto, you’re still ahead. Quit while you remain there. As another poster has already said, the horse has been brought to the water. Please stop beating it before a Sarah McLachlan song starts playing. ---
**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 3, 2015, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/94 "2015-04-03T13:05:32Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > Dude, don’t worry about it; you’re golden. The rules don’t apply to you and you don’t have to worry about oblique insults. Which rules? The board rules that he obviously didn’t break or the rules that you are imagining he did? Is there anyone in this thread that agrees with you? By the way, I’m not a mod nor am I particularly fond of them. ---
**Author:** ![Emiliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/95 "2015-04-03T13:11:17Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > Based on this thread, things seem lenient to me. I can’t believe the back and forth here is still going on. I’d be all “Off with his head” 30 posts ago. It’s the new world order. I’m enjoying it, myself. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585/96 "2015-04-03T13:24:10Z")
**Moderator Action** **Grotonian** , as has been explained to you numerous times, you were told to take the discussion to ATMB and you didn’t. You therefore failed to follow moderator instructions, and that was what you were warned for. This really isn’t that complicated. The next time you are given a moderator instruction, follow it. Thread closed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-post-break-a-rule/716585.md?page=4)