# Engineer\_comp\_geek, are you \*aware\* how racist this moderation sounds? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 12, 2021, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineer-comp-geek-are-you-aware-how-racist-this-moderation-sounds/944129 "2021-06-12T16:53:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 85
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2021, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineer-comp-geek-are-you-aware-how-racist-this-moderation-sounds/944129/85 "2021-06-13T20:44:21Z")
OP is an example of what I’ve called out as paternalistic tone policing. I’m not a fan, which is why I started this thread: > [@Tone policing in moderation - it's bad](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tone-policing-in-moderation-its-bad/941161): > > Continuing the discussion from [Where can I find centrist discussion?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-centrist-discussion/941103/46): I’m gonna carp a bit about PuzzleGal’s moderation here. The first observation is fine… okay, they were looking for information, not criticism, and some of us couldn’t resist criticizing. We were wrong, we were on the jerk side, fair call. Speaking for myself, I’m chastened and will not repeat that performance. As to the other bits. I’m calling this out because Puzzlegal has in the past modded me for being “dripping wit… That one wasn’t specifically about racism, but the mod trend of “I don’t like your tone, mister” seems like a big departure from years past, and not for the better. Seems like OP has spotted another one. What I would want to see in situations like this is the old no-fault “everyone dial it back”, and "you in particular are close to crossing the line, followed by a direct PM assessing “this topic seems to send you over the line pretty easily. Others have noticed, we’ve noticed, you need to reel it in.” It’s pretty gross to say “hey buddy, you’re getting too angry, don’t be angry.” I wouldn’t say that to anyone at all, and I doubly would not say that to POC. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineer-comp-geek-are-you-aware-how-racist-this-moderation-sounds/944129)._