# Don't dare ask a moderator what "political" means **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 2, 2005, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058 "2005-02-02T22:15:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058/121 "2005-02-08T20:03:58Z")
> [@](#): > > The funny thing is that I got an email this morning from someone who was banned from here claiming that something like that is pretty much the case and encouraging me to hold my ground. Give Alde my regards. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058/122 "2005-02-08T20:05:42Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > You seem to be doing pretty good with this one thread. But I’m directly involved in it, and in many cases people have asked me questions directly; some of the posters piling on the insults have been doing just that and adding nothing else to the discussion. Otherwise I’ve never posted to the Pit before. Don’t see what people get out of it, but to each his/her own. ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058/123 "2005-02-08T20:07:38Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Give Alde my regards. 😉 That’s not the handle I was given. If you’re curious I’ll email it to you, if that isn’t violating some rule. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058/124 "2005-02-08T20:10:45Z")
(Smartassed remark.) I am sure it was not Aldebaran. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058/125 "2005-02-08T20:10:45Z")
> [@Crandolph](#): > > The funny thing is that I got an email this morning from someone who was banned from here claiming that something like that is pretty much the case and encouraging me to hold my ground. Interesting… Wow, that _is_ interesting! Make sure you take his advice and hold your ground – he clearly knows the best way to fit in around here. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058/126 "2005-02-08T20:13:25Z")
My last reply looks screwy. What I had intended was that my “alde” comment was a smartassed remark. I really do not know who e-mailed you, I do not believe it was Aldebaran, and I have no need to know who it was. ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058/127 "2005-02-08T20:14:00Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > Wow, that _is_ interesting! Make sure you take his advice and hold your ground – he clearly knows the best way to fit in around here. Yeah, a lot of this seems to be more about “fitting in” than discussing perspective. How that helps people “fight ignorance” is also beyond me. ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058/128 "2005-02-08T20:25:21Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > The point of the “no politics” rule (“actually, it’s more of a guideline”) is to prevent _debates_ in **GQ**. > > If a matter is not likely to be perceived as political \*_by the customary readership of **GQ** _, (thus, being unlikely to incite a debate), then it is likely to stay below the Moderator radar of “political” discussion. > > A casual reference to the accuracy of the _Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion_ will prompt immediate condemnation on this board, but probably pass unremarked on the storm front message board. > > The issue is one of reducing debate, and the issues that will prompt debate are very clearly tied to the expectations and “culture” of the board, not to some objective rating under the careful eye of the watching Vorlons. OK. thank you. This is very practical advice for poting on here. Thus “political” is very much being defined from a majoritarian perspective, which is what I’ve been postulating ad nauseum. And hey, as long as we all know, and people stick to that, it’s good to know. A big difference with the Storm Front analolgy, however, is that that’s a marginal group in America, whereas the people I’m talking about are very much mainstream within their own societies in the 94% of Earth population who aren’t Americans. For the umpteenth time I don’t think the mods here are puposefully being difficult in determining what’s political (although some have been difficult in addressing the issue once raised), and that in an international forum like this one, especially in the world’s most popular language, this sort of thing is likely to come up more and more in the future. It’s an interesting challange to deal with. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058/129 "2005-02-08T20:31:33Z")
> [@Crandolph](#): > > Do you see no irony in the fact that you responded to what I had to say just now in 9 minutes? Nope I sure don’t, my reply wasn’t a hijack. Do you not see the irony that it took you over the weekend to craft your reply to Bryan Ekers? ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058/130 "2005-02-08T20:36:46Z")
> [@Crandolph](#): > > Yeah, a lot of this seems to be more about “fitting in” than discussing perspective. How that helps people “fight ignorance” is also beyond me. Yes, being forced to discuss perspective in the forums specifically designated for that purpose is harsh and cruel, isn’t it? Truly, we must not care about fighting ignorance if we impose such strict, unforgiving rules. As an aside, in general playing the “so much for fighting ignorance!” card after getting your ass handed to you in the Pit is embarrassing. Fighting ignorance is not synonymous with “infinite tolerance for idiots”. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058/131 "2005-02-08T20:40:37Z")
This thread makes baby Jesus cry. Why do you all hate baby Jesus? ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058/132 "2005-02-08T20:45:21Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Nope I sure don’t, my reply wasn’t a hijack. Do you not see the irony that it took you over the weekend to craft your reply to Bryan Ekers? I never made the claim that people don’t respond slowly and it didn’t do it over a 3 day period. You did make the claim that wouldn’t respond to a post within 30 minutes within 9 minutes. Do the math. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058/133 "2005-02-08T20:51:12Z")
> [@Crandolph](#): > > I never made the claim that people don’t respond slowly and it didn’t do it over a 3 day period. You did make the claim that wouldn’t respond to a post within 30 minutes within 9 minutes. > > Do the math. What on God’s green earth are you talking about? I’ll be generous and simply suggest that you completely misread my post. _sigh_ Try again. ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058/134 "2005-02-08T20:55:58Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > Yes, being forced to discuss perspective in the forums specifically designated for that purpose is harsh and cruel, isn’t it? Truly, we must not care about fighting ignorance if we impose such strict, unforgiving rules. > > As an aside, in general playing the “so much for fighting ignorance!” card after getting your ass handed to you in the Pit is embarrassing. Fighting ignorance is not synonymous with “infinite tolerance for idiots”. This forum isn’t for “discussing perspective,” it’s for ranting about how you hate things, preferably with the vocabulary and restraint of a petulant 14 year old trying to sound like a trucker. Let’s not elevate it. Apparently my post didn’t belong in ATMB, which is where I thought it might fit. If getting called a crybaby and an idiot by people with little or nothing else to add is your idea of “getting your ass handed to you” I’d suggest you stick to the cyberworld because the real one would be pretty scary for you. ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058/135 "2005-02-08T21:02:24Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Try again. If you insist: There is high irony in stating that people don’t respond to comments that bug them within 30 minutes when you take only 9 to do it. There is no irony in me taking 3 days to post something when I never made the claim that “people don’t take more than 2 days to post” or something similar. Better? ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058/136 "2005-02-08T21:25:44Z")
Lookit everyone! Lookit! Lookitlookitlookit! Lookit me! Lookit me! Lookit me!!! See what I can do? See? Seeseeseeseesee??? Lookit! And if you don’t believe I deserve attention, I have a whole bunch of completely anonymous email saying I’m Mommy’s special little guy!! Lookit!! ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058/137 "2005-02-08T21:31:01Z")
**Crandolph** , dude . . . there is no “good fight” here to be waged. You’re not a freedom fighter seeking intellectual liberation. You’re not an oppressed martyr to truth. It’s. A. Message. Board. And. You. Are. My. Entertainment. I wish some folks roun’ heah would stop feeding you the attnetion you’re craving, but as long as they are, I’ll keep on laughing at you. You’re cute. You add nothing at all to any exchange of ideas, but you’re cute nonetheless. So peace out now, and keep peacing out. Full throttle to the bottle and full, full clout. And I’m out. ---
**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:** [February 8, 2005, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058/138 "2005-02-08T21:34:43Z")
> [@andros](#): > > And if you don’t believe I deserve attention, I have a whole bunch of completely anonymous email saying I’m Mommy’s special little guy!! Anonymous email is probably better than [hearing it from a disembodied voice](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5814282&postcount=12). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058/139 "2005-02-08T21:36:53Z")
Damn, the hamsters ate my post. > [@Crandolph](#): > > There is high irony in stating that people don’t respond to comments that bug them within 30 minutes when you take only 9 to do it. See, here’s where your failure to communicate is excellently exhibited, for I didn’t say or suggest any such thing. Here’s what I said: > [@Me](#): > > And to think that any possible comment that could ever be crafted to your original political hijack post \*\*would have to \*\* take place inside of that 30 minutes is absolutely absurd. Emphasis mine. The point being that people can take any amount of time to respond - one minute, ten minutes, an hour, a day, a week, etc. I’m \*not \* arguing that discussion doesn’t take place within that 30 minutes. It seems that you were the one placing some arbitrary time limit on how long one has to respond - all disccusion must take place within a 30 minute window, or else it’s irrelevant to the discussion (except when you need the weekend to respond to Bryan Ekers). > [@You](#): > > There is no irony in me taking 3 days to post something when I never made the claim that “people don’t take more than 2 days to post” or something similar. Sure there is! Especially when you’ve been so kind as to provide us with the following quote, mere hours ago: > [@You](#): > > No flamefest started as a result of my comment, which was up for 30 minutes before a mod commented on it, So if you don’t think there is some unwritten, arbitrary time limit on outrage, why did you need to type that sentence? Is pointing out that no one called you out on your intial rabble-rousing within a span of 1800 seconds some sort of justification for letting your comment stand? Are you trying to say “my comment wasn’t a big deal, because it took 30 minutes for a Mod to notice it - if it had truly been a ‘political hijack’ the mods would have jumped immediately” or am I misinterpreting your meaning? And I’m going to echo Giraffe’s inquiry of “what insults?!?” You’ve mentioned several times that you were insulted by the mods in their reprimand. What you received were mild remarks, if that. Your outrage is, in my opinion, entirely out of place. ---
**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:** [February 8, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058/140 "2005-02-08T21:43:18Z")
> [@Crandolph](#): > > There is high irony in stating that people don’t respond to comments that bug them within 30 minutes when you take only 9 to do it No, actually there’s nothing ironic at all about that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-dare-ask-a-moderator-what-political-means/288058.md?page=8)