# Following Posters Around the MB **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 4, 2016, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140 "2016-01-04T07:44:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140/21 "2016-01-04T15:31:47Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > So, in context… Yeah, if context were so important, perhaps he shouldn’t have made such a general statement in response. I get that there is context, that he was speaking in response to whatever RO threads had gotten his knickers twisted. But the fact that he spoke so very generally makes the quotation fair game IMO. It’s the sort of thing that would simply be ribbing for someone with a different sense of humor. This is not an example of egregiously twisting someone’s words into a shape he did not intend, and it clearly isn’t, so that angle of argument ain’t gonna fly. AFAIC it should be shrugged off, ignored, or treated with humor. And, ideally, be cause for thought about one’s posting style. I fear instead, it may now be A Thing. There’s your Streisand Effect in action. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2016, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140/22 "2016-01-04T16:47:40Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > It looked like he was posting it only in cases where he perceived D’Anconia as being hypocritical to his own stated guidelines for behaviour. Bingo. Plus D’A has been whining that we’ve been doing the Internet wrong since, oh, around his third post. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2016, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140/23 "2016-01-04T16:55:56Z")
This isn’t the Pit so I’ll leave what newbie + whining about board culture equals as an exercise for the reader. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2016, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140/24 "2016-01-04T16:58:37Z")
Nonetheless, it’s kind of jerkish behavior and could cause one to get warned under the right or wrong circumstance. It certainly wouldn’t fall under best practices under any circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140/25 "2016-01-04T17:02:27Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > … > > And I didn’t state “This person is on my ignore list”. In fact, I even mentioned that I occasionally look at one of your posts (such as this time). Are you on my ignore list or do I simply ignore you? Ambiguous statement. Yes you did. [QUOTE=Broomstick] I solved my D’Anconia “problem” by putting him on ignore… [/quote] If you’re basing your defense on the fact you left the word “list” out, it\* doesn’t\* “fly.” ---
**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:** [January 4, 2016, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140/26 "2016-01-04T17:04:45Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I’d say no in these specific cases. It looked like he was posting it only in cases where he perceived D’Anconia as being hypocritical to his own stated guidelines for behaviour. It’d only be harassment if he posted it in non-relevant contexts. Whether it’s harassment or not, it’s still considered jerkish to post the same thing over and over again to the same poster. In this case, it’s 3 times over 4 months, so maybe not a big deal. But if continues, I’d say the moderators should ask him to stop. If he has a problem with D’Anconia, he should open a pit thread. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2016, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140/27 "2016-01-04T17:15:53Z")
**Moderator Note** I realize that some of these issues started in the Pit, but this is a reminder that you’re in ATMB now. Let’s keep everything ATMB appropriate. As **Colibri** already mentioned, all talk of ignore lists belongs in the Pit, not here. As ignore lists are not a part of the topic that is currently under discussion, there is no need to continue talking about them here. Let’s also not have any sniping or snarking at other users. ATMB posts are expected to be polite and civil. Let’s focus on the issue, and not vent our anger or displeasure at other posters in this thread. If you are pissed off at someone, feel free to make a Pit thread about them. The issue in this thread is following other posters around from thread to thread on the SDMB. Let’s all focus on that topic, please. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140/28 "2016-01-04T17:16:11Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > If he has a problem with D’Anconia, he should open a pit thread. Someone already did. Don’t feel like digging it up, though. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2016, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140/29 "2016-01-04T17:25:11Z")
I have only quickly looked at the posts that the OP refers to, and I don’t know enough of the context behind them to really comment on those. So let me just speak generally for the moment. We have moderated people before for following users around from thread to thread. If nothing else, this ends up breaking our “don’t be a jerk” rule. Again, speaking generally, stalking is most definitely not acceptable here. A small number of posts spread out over several months doesn’t really seem to me to be a case of following someone in a stalking sense. Obviously if the frequency goes up it will become a stalking issue. There’s no hard and fast rule for how many posts you have to make within a certain amount of time. That’s a judgement call that we mods are going to have to make. What forum the posts are in also matters. The rules for what is and is not acceptable in the BBQ Pit are a lot different than what is and is not acceptable in IMHO or MPSIMS, for example. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140/30 "2016-01-04T17:31:58Z")
2 out of 3 examples given in the OP were in the pit. I don’t see how pit posts count in the least when looking at a “harassment” issue. In fact, I don’t see how posting that comment in every pit thread, when addressing a particular poster, is violating a pit rule. Annoying yes, but a rule violation? If that comment was posted in every forum in response to that poster, then yes I get it. But certainly not the pit. I think the claim of “following” is premature and unfounded here. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140/31 "2016-01-04T17:46:20Z")
Pretty sure this topic exists because of me, because I modded **D’Anconia** in that thread and then he sent me a PM asking if **Skywatcher** didn’t deserve one as well for trolling, in which I said that he didn’t (IMO) right now…because I didn’t see his comment as trolling at the time and knew the other two times he did it were in the Pit. If it was a regular thing, now, I agree with the others that there should come a time when someone steps in, but in this case, I didn’t really feel the pressing need. Another Mod’s MMV. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2016, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140/32 "2016-01-04T17:58:23Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > 2 out of 3 examples given in the OP were in the pit. I don’t see how pit posts count in the least when looking at a “harassment” issue. In fact, I don’t see how posting that comment in every pit thread, when addressing a particular poster, is violating a pit rule. Annoying yes, but a rule violation? If that comment was posted in every forum in response to that poster, then yes I get it. But certainly not the pit. IANAM, but if someone did that in every Pit thread, it might be seen as trolling, and while calling people trolls is allowed in the Pit, actual trolling isn’t. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2016, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140/33 "2016-01-04T19:15:29Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > IANAM, but if someone did that in every Pit thread, it might be seen as trolling, and while calling people trolls is allowed in the Pit, actual trolling isn’t. **Miller** [has said](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=18940841) he doesn’t mod that kind of trolling in the Pit. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2016, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140/34 "2016-01-04T19:23:59Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > 2 out of 3 examples given in the OP were in the pit. I don’t see how pit posts count in the least when looking at a “harassment” issue. In fact, I don’t see how posting that comment in every pit thread, when addressing a particular poster, is violating a pit rule. Annoying yes, but a rule violation? If that comment was posted in every forum in response to that poster, then yes I get it. But certainly not the pit. > > I think the claim of “following” is premature and unfounded here. Oh, there’s a line in the Pit, too, although this particular instance isn’t anywhere close to it. If the same fight consistently breaks out over and over between the same two posters - or one poster and a group of other posters - to the extent that it’s regularly hijacking unrelated threads, that’s behavior that’s going to get shut down. The rule in question that’s being violated, though, is generally not the one against stalking other posters, so much as the one against being a one trick pony, or treating the SDMB like your personal blog. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2016, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140/35 "2016-01-05T03:08:46Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Someone already did. Don’t feel like digging it up, though. Then there’s your answer. Take your issue to that thread, lest you trip the “don’t be a jerk” rule. Posting the exact same thing in thread after thread is being a jerk. As noted, you’re not there yet. Why tempt fate? ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140/36 "2016-01-05T03:21:03Z")
Seriously, you don’t have to “follow people around” to see their posts, and comment on them. If you’ve noticed a poster (for good or bad) you’re gonna keep noticing them after that in the normal way of reading the board. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2016, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140/37 "2016-01-05T04:03:53Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Then there’s your answer. Take your issue to that thread Did that. Also suggested reposting that quote whenever he seems to be acting hypocritical. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140/38 "2016-01-05T05:34:44Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Also suggested reposting that quote whenever he seems to be acting hypocritical. Nope. That constitutes stalking. I would not consider three posts over the course of about three months to be stalking, _per se_, but if you kept it up that would look very much like stalking. This is particularly, (but not exclusively), true when you are not even engaged in an exchange with the “stalked” poster or have not been very active in the thread. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2016, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140/39 "2016-01-05T14:55:43Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Also suggested reposting that quote whenever he seems to be acting hypocritical. Excellent idea. Let us know how that works out for you. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2016, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140/40 "2016-01-05T14:58:30Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Nope. That constitutes stalking. > > I would not consider three posts over the course of about three months to be stalking, _per se_, but if you kept it up that would look very much like stalking. > > This is particularly, (but not exclusively), true when you are not even engaged in an exchange with the “stalked” poster or have not been very active in the thread. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > Excellent idea. Let us know how that works out for you. I didn’t mean only by me. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/following-posters-around-the-mb/742140.md?page=3)