# Forbidden Thread - Mafia: The Mob is Recruiting

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-mafia-the-mob-is-recruiting/438737>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [February 22, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-mafia-the-mob-is-recruiting/438737 "2008-02-22T17:30:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\
**Post date:** [February 29, 2008, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-mafia-the-mob-is-recruiting/438737/61 "2008-02-29T16:35:50Z")

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[QUOTE=CapnPitt]  
I don’t like **Pleo’s** role claim at all. I’m not changing my vote just yet, but now I’m worried that **Menocchio** is right and **Pleo** is the guilty one. I’m not sure which, but I think one of them is definitely scum.  
[/QUOTE]

How? The case against Pleonast is marginal at best. The case against Menocchio is even less substantial.

I’d be surprised if either Pleonast or Menocchio were scum. The probability of one being scum is actually quite small. Though now that I think about it more, I’d say that scum would actually be less likely to make the Statement that CapnPitt made. hmmm. Perhaps I was hasty about CapnPitt. I think Town is generally hasty on Day One (and this is Day One, despite it being Day Two).

I would be suspicious of the cautious players. Unfortunately, so many Townies play cautiously, that doesn’t seem to work either. Caution allows scum to be cautious too. My current guess is that the Boss is a low poster.

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**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\
**Post date:** [February 29, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-mafia-the-mob-is-recruiting/438737/62 "2008-02-29T16:44:31Z")

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Non-voters/non-voted so far:  
NAF  
Hockey Monkey  
chrisk  
MHaye  
Santo Rugger  
Koldanar  
Hotflungwok  
Darth Sensitive  
OneCentStamp  
sinjin  
Hal Briston

Which is a rather long suspect list to have, but I gotta start somewhere. Town often focuses on Town on Day One because scum are really cautious on Day One, while Town feels free to say whatever they want, and get in trouble for it.

People I think are Town:  
Menocchio  
Pleonast  
Freudian Slit  
HazelNutCoffee  
bufftabby

Precisely because others have found reason (poor reasons) to suspect them. With only 1-2 scum, this list is easier to make 😉

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**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\
**Post date:** [February 29, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-mafia-the-mob-is-recruiting/438737/63 "2008-02-29T17:03:57Z")

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I’m surprised at the lack of substantial play by **Hal Briston**. He’s meeting the posting requirements, but he’s really only doing drive-by posts.

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**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\
**Post date:** [February 29, 2008, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-mafia-the-mob-is-recruiting/438737/64 "2008-02-29T17:11:20Z")

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[QUOTE=sachertorte]  
How? The case against Pleonast is marginal at best. The case against Menocchio is even less substantial.

I’d be surprised if either Pleonast or Menocchio were scum. The probability of one being scum is actually quite small. Though now that I think about it more, I’d say that scum would actually be less likely to make the Statement that CapnPitt made. hmmm. Perhaps I was hasty about CapnPitt. I think Town is generally hasty on Day One (and this is Day One, despite it being Day Two).

I would be suspicious of the cautious players. Unfortunately, so many Townies play cautiously, that doesn’t seem to work either. Caution allows scum to be cautious too. My current guess is that the Boss is a low poster.  
[/QUOTE]

I also think that the odds of either **Pleo** or **Menocchio** being scum are very small.

I have no doubt that the Boss is a low poster. Early on it is almost always noisy Townies who get lynched on the flimsiest of evidence, so it’s really in her 😃 best interest to stay quiet.

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**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\
**Post date:** [February 29, 2008, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-mafia-the-mob-is-recruiting/438737/65 "2008-02-29T17:12:51Z")

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[QUOTE=USCDiver]  
I’m surprised at the lack of substantial play by **Hal Briston**. He’s meeting the posting requirements, but he’s really only doing drive-by posts.  
[/QUOTE]

Doesn’t surprise me at all, based on the games I have played with him here.

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**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\
**Post date:** [February 29, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-mafia-the-mob-is-recruiting/438737/66 "2008-02-29T17:18:16Z")

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[QUOTE=sachertorte]  
Non-voters/non-voted so far:  
NAF  
Hockey Monkey  
chrisk  
MHaye  
Santo Rugger  
Koldanar  
Hotflungwok  
Darth Sensitive  
OneCentStamp  
sinjin  
Hal Briston

Which is a rather long suspect list to have, but I gotta start somewhere. Town often focuses on Town on Day One because scum are really cautious on Day One, while Town feels free to say whatever they want, and get in trouble for it.

[/QUOTE]

**sinjin** has had some good participation, even if he didn’t vote, so he wouldn’t be on my list. Same with **Santo** (although maybe he deserves automatic suspicion 😃 )

**NAF** is way too quiet for my taste, as he is normally more active. But maybe he’s burned out from modding.

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**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\
**Post date:** [February 29, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-mafia-the-mob-is-recruiting/438737/67 "2008-02-29T17:21:18Z")

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I’m really surprised that the townies aren’t going after lurking more ruthlessly. It’s very important in this game to get a base reading on people.

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**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\
**Post date:** [February 29, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-mafia-the-mob-is-recruiting/438737/68 "2008-02-29T17:25:42Z")

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An interesting suggestion by **Menocchio**. If the Vig is in doubt about **Pleonast** ’s role-claim, Vig targets him tonight. Best case scenario, **Pleo** is scum and gets killed. Worst case scenario, **Pleo** is a Priest, gets killed and the Vig takes his spot. Net loss of the Vig, which may not be so bad for Town.

> [@ShadowFacts](#):
>
> Doesn’t surprise me at all, based on the games I have played with him here.

For some reason, I remembered him being fairly vocal in Sekham (the only game I was a participant), but from other games I’ve watched, you’re right.

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**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\
**Post date:** [February 29, 2008, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-mafia-the-mob-is-recruiting/438737/69 "2008-02-29T17:34:17Z")

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[QUOTE=fluiddruid]  
I’m really surprised that the townies aren’t going after lurking more ruthlessly. It’s very important in this game to get a base reading on people.  
[/QUOTE]

Especially anyone involved in the You-Solve-It game. Allowing people to lurk lost the game for the Town.

Well, that and pressuring me to stop lurking. 😉

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**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\
**Post date:** [February 29, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-mafia-the-mob-is-recruiting/438737/70 "2008-02-29T17:56:02Z")

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[QUOTE=ShadowFacts]  
**sinjin** has had some good participation, even if he didn’t vote, so he wouldn’t be on my list. Same with **Santo** (although maybe he deserves automatic suspicion 😃 )

**NAF** is way too quiet for my taste, as he is normally more active. But maybe he’s burned out from modding.  
[/QUOTE]

I have no doubt that my suspect list is casting a wide net (obviously).

With 23 players alive, picking out 2 is a losing proposition. Scum aren’t going to announce themselves, so process of elimination is my next choice.

I feel bad for **One And Only Wanderers**. He’s really been screwed early in these SDMB games. Day One lynch in Conspiracy; Day Two outing by dossier in YST; and now killed on Night One.

Save **One And Only Wanderers**!

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**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\
**Post date:** [February 29, 2008, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-mafia-the-mob-is-recruiting/438737/71 "2008-02-29T23:33:40Z")

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[QUOTE=sachertorte]

I feel bad for **One And Only Wanderers**. He’s really been screwed early in these SDMB games. Day One lynch in Conspiracy; Day Two outing by dossier in YST; and now killed on Night One.

Save **One And Only Wanderers**!  
[/QUOTE]

It’s a conspiracy I tells ya!

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**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2008, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-mafia-the-mob-is-recruiting/438737/72 "2008-03-01T19:26:12Z")

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I wonder if the Boss tried to recruit **Pleonast** on the first Night and, finding him unrecruitable, is now one of the players trying to get him lynched.

That may be just a little too convenient.

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**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-mafia-the-mob-is-recruiting/438737/73 "2008-03-02T00:19:02Z")

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I would swear that **Hawkeyeop** is scum if not for the fact that he’s pinging my scumdar exactly the same way he did in the You Solve It game.

Seriously, the Detective should investigate **Pleo** and try and leave a clue tomorrow? Only if the Detective wants to die!

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**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-mafia-the-mob-is-recruiting/438737/74 "2008-03-03T20:14:03Z")

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I agree with Rysto. The whole thinking that the Detective should investigate Pleonast is crazy wrong. The Detective should investigate someone who is opaque and hasn’t given out any information yet. Pleonast’s case will shake out one way or another. Wasting the investigation on a prime candidate for lynching, vigging, AND scum-kill is counterproductive.

But at the same time, I don’t think scum would say what Hawkeyeop said. I think this will be a search by process of elimination.

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**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-mafia-the-mob-is-recruiting/438737/75 "2008-03-03T21:05:07Z")

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Blaster Master is being exceedingly reasonable.  
On one hand, he’s saying pretty much what I’m thinking.  
On the other hand, I think he lacks the paranoia usually associated with Town. I’d keep an eye on him. He might be too reasonable.

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**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-mafia-the-mob-is-recruiting/438737/76 "2008-03-03T21:26:13Z")

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Tomorrow may be a good time for the town to start putting some pressure on the lurkers.

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**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-mafia-the-mob-is-recruiting/438737/77 "2008-03-04T04:41:11Z")

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[QUOTE=USCDiver]  
Tomorrow may be a good time for the town to start putting some pressure on the lurkers.  
[/QUOTE]

That does not seem to be in the game plan for some reason. If I was in there, I would be all over lurkers at this point (\<24 hours to go).

On another note, I’m surprised that Pleo is still in the lead. Every game I’ve played, the vast majority of players have been very deferential to role claims (sometimes too much, IMO), to the extent that posters who vote for role-claimed individuals often garnered suspicion themselves. That’s not happening this game - I wonder why. Sure, there have been people saying they will give him the benefit of the doubt, but no one is making a strong argument.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-mafia-the-mob-is-recruiting/438737/78 "2008-03-04T05:14:18Z")

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[QUOTE=ShadowFacts]  
That does not seem to be in the game plan for some reason. If I was in there, I would be all over lurkers at this point (\<24 hours to go).

On another note, I’m surprised that Pleo is still in the lead. Every game I’ve played, the vast majority of players have been very deferential to role claims (sometimes too much, IMO), to the extent that posters who vote for role-claimed individuals often garnered suspicion themselves. That’s not happening this game - I wonder why. Sure, there have been people saying they will give him the benefit of the doubt, but no one is making a strong argument.  
[/QUOTE]

I wonder if both of these issues can be explained by the players falling into two categories: some are newbies in their first game and don’t want to draw much attention to themselves and the rest played in the You-Solve-It and have forgotten how to treat power roles and role claims.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-mafia-the-mob-is-recruiting/438737/79 "2008-03-04T05:19:28Z")

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Woah and for some reason this post from **Millet the Frail**

> [@](#):
>
> Sigh. I also feel like unvoting Pleonast now, mainly because I can see the reasons against. I’m also scared to death of lynching a townie. And odds are, he’s a townie. We’re almost all townies. That’s kind of awesome, it means the odds are very much in our favor for winning right now.

majorly pinged my scumdar. I’ll be watching him/her closely from now on. Good ole confirmation bias, or whatever bias it is that makes you see what you already think is there!

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**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-mafia-the-mob-is-recruiting/438737/80 "2008-03-04T14:39:46Z")

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I totally think **CapnPitt** is Town now.  
I fell into the same trap as **NAF** , but I never label my suspicions as “classic scum tell” so I wasn’t as critical of my own thinking. Seeing it labeled as such makes mistrust the ‘tell’ all the more.

So given the events of Today… who will Scum recruit next?  
If he wasn’t recruited already, I think **Blaster Master** would be a good choice.

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