# Explain please. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 17, 2017, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-please/786875 "2017-05-17T22:22:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-please/786875/1 "2017-05-17T22:22:35Z")
Post # 21: Jonathan Chance Domo Arigato Mister Moderato Moderator The Moderator Clears His Throat \*DrDeth, two things. 1. Bringing Bricker into this is not best practices. This is a mod note to not do anything similar in the future. 2. We are NOT going to see you go around and around again about the definition of impeachment. Doing so in the future - in any thread not specifically about the definition of the word - may earn you warnings. Stop it.\*" What does " not do anything similar in the future" mean? Can I say, “this is the sort of legal question **Bricker** excels at”? Can I mention other poster’s names? What exactly is the issue here? Does this mean other posters cant mention **Bricker** s name? is it just Bricker or is it all posters? If they mention _my_ name in a thread, do I report it? Whose name can be mentioned? Whose name can not? Bricker has indeed weighed in on this issue with a fairly well known public opinion. In fact he publicly made a bet about it. Did _he complain about this? I count a good number of threads where Brickers name was brought up on this topic, and not a hint of Mod action. Ok, this is thread #2, and in both cases, the threads were_ about impeachment. Why am I now told I cant ask about this? _Two whole threads_? It is a issue which comes up. It will keep coming up. Do we now have a new rule? bring up a issue twice and that’s it? This note makes no sense at all. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-please/786875/2 "2017-05-17T23:03:02Z")
Thank you for so helpfully telling us that this was Post #21. Without that piece of information, we’d have no hope of knowing what thread you’re talking about. Now, though, we can simply check every thread on the Board with 21 or more replies. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-please/786875/3 "2017-05-17T23:07:48Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Thank you for so helpfully telling us that this was Post #21. Without that piece of information, we’d have no hope of knowing what thread you’re talking about. Now, though, we can simply check every thread on the Board with 21 or more replies. It’s the one about Trump. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-please/786875/4 "2017-05-17T23:12:08Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > It’s the one about Trump. > > 😃 You’re fired! ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-please/786875/5 "2017-05-17T23:25:13Z")
[A little search found it.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=20214643&highlight=bricker#post20214643) ---
**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:** [May 17, 2017, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-please/786875/6 "2017-05-17T23:25:20Z")
This thread, apparently: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=826400](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=826400) ETA: Damn ninjas. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-please/786875/7 "2017-05-17T23:37:09Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Thank you for so helpfully telling us that this was Post #21. Without that piece of information, we’d have no hope of knowing what thread you’re talking about. Now, though, we can simply check every thread on the Board with 21 or more replies. Me culpa, you are absolutely right, I thought I had included a link. :smack: my apologies. ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-please/786875/8 "2017-05-17T23:41:12Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Ok, this is thread #2, and in both cases, the threads\* were\* about impeachment. Why am I now told I cant ask about this? _Two whole threads_? It is a issue which comes up. It will keep coming up. Do we now have a new rule? bring up a issue twice and that’s it? You’ve brought this up in [at least](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18930907&postcount=15) [four](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19915252&postcount=56) [separate](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20082644&postcount=14) [threads](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20213823&postcount=11) that I’m aware of. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-please/786875/9 "2017-05-17T23:44:25Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Ok, this is thread #2, and in both cases, the threads\* were\* about impeachment. Why am I now told I cant ask about this? _Two whole threads_? It is a issue which comes up. It will keep coming up. Do we now have a new rule? bring up a issue twice and that’s it? > > This note makes no sense at all. It only comes up because you bring it up. And it will only keep coming up if you keep bringing it up. Everybody else understands what is meant by impeachment. ---
**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:** [May 18, 2017, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-please/786875/10 "2017-05-18T00:13:44Z")
As to the first point - If someone hasn’t participated in the thread to that point, mentioning another poster is by itself okay - it’s only the act of taking a shot at that non-participant that would be not okay. Granted, the restriction against personal insults is always in play outside of the Pit, however I would judge more critically if the shot was at a non-participant. So what may be borderline in a back and forth exchange, bringing up another poster sans their prior participation will be examined more critically. I saw your comment about Bricker to be neutral at best. As to the second point - It’s strange you continue to bring up your non-standard definition of the word impeachment. I see this as a reminder to not bring up unrelated tangents in threads not about the actual definition. That thread did involve discussion of impeachment, though not at the level of minutiae you introduced, thus the reminder. ---
**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:** [May 18, 2017, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-please/786875/11 "2017-05-18T00:19:43Z")
Indeed. And you have a habit of getting too involved in minutiae and I thought it best to not see this pop up again and again and again. Also, why bother to PM me if less than 10 minutes later you open an ATMB thread? Did you want a private answer or a public disagreement? I’m OK either way, the duplication seems odd, though. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-please/786875/12 "2017-05-18T01:36:25Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Indeed. And you have a habit of getting too involved in minutiae and I thought it best to not see this pop up again and again and again. > > Also, why bother to PM me if less than 10 minutes later you open an ATMB thread? Did you want a private answer or a public disagreement? I’m OK either way, the duplication seems odd, though. He was looking for an argument, but figured the PM was sent to Room 12, not Room 12A. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-please/786875/13 "2017-05-18T02:13:01Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Indeed. And you have a habit of getting too involved in minutiae and I thought it best to not see this pop up again and again and again. > > Also, why bother to PM me if less than 10 minutes later you open an ATMB thread? Did you want a private answer or a public disagreement? I’m OK either way, the duplication seems odd, though. What the fuck? Since when do mods have the authority to tell a Doper they can’t get “too involved in minutiae”? If he wants to continue pointing out the definition of impeachment that everyone actually uses as a defense against those who want to be pedantic about it, why can’t he? Literally everyone on this board does it. Stop playing favorites. I already caught you Warning me for something you only gave a Note to someone else over, after you twisted a rule so you could punish me. If you hate this board and its rules so much, resign. ---
**Author:** ![splatterpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@splatterpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/splatterpunk)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-please/786875/14 "2017-05-18T02:57:26Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > If you hate this board and its rules so much, resign. Physician, heal thyself. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-please/786875/15 "2017-05-18T03:28:29Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I already caught you Warning me for something you only gave a Note to someone else over, after you twisted a rule so you could punish me. ??? Link? Cite? ---
**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:** [May 18, 2017, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-please/786875/16 "2017-05-18T03:32:25Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > What the fuck? Since when do mods have the authority to tell a Doper they can’t get “too involved in minutiae”? If he wants to continue pointing out the definition of impeachment that everyone actually uses as a defense against those who want to be pedantic about it, why can’t he? As a general matter, mods have the authority and often exercise it to direct traffic keeping threads on topic. There is no directive to avoid getting too involved in minutiae, the comment was much more specific in the Note. > [@](#): > > Literally everyone on this board does it. Stop playing favorites. I already caught you Warning me for something you only gave a Note to someone else over, after you twisted a rule so you could punish me. This thread isn’t about any particular issue _you_ have with the moderation. If you’d like to discuss that topic feel free to open a separate thread. ---
**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:** [May 18, 2017, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-please/786875/17 "2017-05-18T03:33:15Z")
> [@splatterpunk](#): > > Physician, heal thyself. Knock it off, this is not appropriate for this forum. > [@Fenris](#): > > ??? > > Link? Cite? Let’s not hijack this thread. ---
**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:** [May 18, 2017, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-please/786875/18 "2017-05-18T04:11:03Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > What the fuck? Since when do mods have the authority to tell a Doper they can’t get “too involved in minutiae”? If he wants to continue pointing out the definition of impeachment that everyone actually uses as a defense against those who want to be pedantic about it, why can’t he? From the Registration Agreement: > [@](#): > > Please remember that you are our guest here, and that we reserve the right to exclude you at our whim, for any or no reason whatsoever. …By registering and using the board you acknowledge this right and agree to abide by our rules and to submit to their interpretation and enforcement by our moderators and editors. Basically, we have the authority to do anything we feel is beneficial to the functioning of the board. When you agreed to the Registration Agreement, you agreed to that. It seems to me that in the case in hand, the instruction was intended to prevent the thread from being hijacked into ground that had been very well trodden already. > [@](#): > > Literally everyone on this board does it. No they don’t. 😉 > [@](#): > > Stop playing favorites. I already caught you Warning me for something you only gave a Note to someone else over, after you twisted a rule so you could punish me. > > If you hate this board and its rules so much, resign. As **Bone** said, dragging in some unrelated beef you have is not really relevant to this thread. Stick to the specific issue at hand. ---
**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:** [May 18, 2017, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-please/786875/19 "2017-05-18T04:38:32Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Ok, this is thread #2, and in both cases, the threads\* were\* about impeachment. Why am I now told I cant ask about this? _Two whole threads_? It is a issue which comes up. It will keep coming up. Do we now have a new rule? bring up a issue twice and that’s it? > > This note makes no sense at all. If you’re talking about the definition of impeachment, this was the 3rd thread, not the 2nd one. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-please/786875/20 "2017-05-18T06:37:06Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > From the Registration Agreement: > > Basically, we have the authority to do anything we feel is beneficial to the functioning of the board. When you agreed to the Registration Agreement, you agreed to that. I do not think it does the Board or its moderators much good to assert the idea that moderators can do whatever they want in moderating the Board. That way lies an unhappy chaos. One of the most basic feelings people have is a desire for fairness in the application of rules, etc. As a teacher in high school, I daily had to “moderate” my classroom with an eye towards this tendency in people. The assertion by **Jonathan Chance** here that “you have a habit of getting too involved in minutiae” was probably not a well-thought-out statement. I presume that what the moderator is trying to communicate is that people are getting annoyed with the fact that he’s making this same argument that some view as specious in multiple threads where the argument is not germane to the thread. But responding to **BigT** ’s objection to the statement by asserting, in essence, “We can do whatever we damn please, as you should know” is not particularly helpful, in my opinion. I certainly don’t recommend you try to run a classroom with that sort of comment. 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-please/786875.md?page=2)