# Free-for-all weekend discussion **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 2, 2008, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-for-all-weekend-discussion/461730 "2008-09-02T18:46:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-for-all-weekend-discussion/461730/141 "2008-09-03T16:25:00Z")
> [@neutron\_star](#): > > Are you serious? The fora for some of those languages would each consist of a mod and probably a dozen posters, if that. For now, yes. **clairobscur** makes a good point about how such fora _might_ bring in new posters. A bigger issue I can think of with foreign language fora is that there would be a need for at least two mods for each fora, rather than the single one that could be accepted by the PTB. Relying upon mechanical translations for spot-checking moderation in those fora would be futile - just look at how many problems we have, already, with disputed interpretations of things when everyone’s using English. At the moment the PTB can be assumed to have the ability to view a disputed modding, judge the merits (or lack of any) of the incident, and act in cases of egregious abuse. With a foreign language forum that wouldn’t be possible. So, at least two mods would be needed to open any such forum, and to keep it open. And a board of three might be even better. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-for-all-weekend-discussion/461730/142 "2008-09-03T16:48:44Z")
> [@neutron\_star](#): > > The link was titled “GWB endorses Obama,” or something ridiculous like that. How stupid do you have to be to think that’s a real link? I realize at this point it’s merely my word against yours, but the link was actually labeled something about Bush calling Obama “boy” in such a way that it was hard to see as anything but racial. Improbable, but at this point most folks on this board expect that kind of stupidity from Bush. It was pretty plausibly written, and the only reason I didn’t click on the link was that I usually read responses first, and the responses to that thread were unusual. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-for-all-weekend-discussion/461730/143 "2008-09-03T18:35:23Z")
Yeah I worded that poorly, I was worried you’d interpret “forum” that way so I used “board” to differentiate it. I guess I should have said “that forum” or “Knife Fight” or something instead. Sorry! ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-for-all-weekend-discussion/461730/144 "2008-09-03T21:58:17Z")
I enjoyed this weekend’s silliness but I think it would get old over time, I was already avoiding threads by the end, but on the other hand I didn’t leave the pit all weekend. I agree that the posts getting wiped are what really allowed the silliness not the lack of rules. But what I think really was the best thing about this weekend was I finally got to find out a lot of the back-story that I missed in my intermittent lurking; the B.A.T., the snarkboard, or any other stories that aren’t talked about. I don’t think another lost weekend will reveal anymore. It still might be fun to do once a year with it all being wiped so it doesn’t get old from year to year. ---
**Author:** ![Euthanasiast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Euthanasiast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euthanasiast)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-for-all-weekend-discussion/461730/145 "2008-09-03T22:12:13Z")
Why not just make it an annual Labor Day weekend thing? ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-for-all-weekend-discussion/461730/146 "2008-09-03T22:29:58Z")
I’ll add my agreement to those who have posted that it was fun but not something to do every day. With regard to NSFW stuff, yeah, IMO that’s never cool whether rules are suspended or not. Wasn’t that mentioned in the sticky? I’ve clicked on a few unlabeled things in here (from home) that I wish I hadn’t, even before the snark pit was a glint in your daddy’s eye. :eek: BTW what is the protocol, please…message a mod? Other stuff that was hokey or silly or whatever, if it wasn’t patently offensive, I didn’t mind. On any given day, I check out threads and find I’m not interested in them and just don’t return to them. But I suppose it could make it harder to follow threads that you’re interested in. I suspect that the fun of the weekend was from the “limited time only” appeal and that if we had a full-time snark pit, people wouldn’t post in it nearly as much. OTOH Rodin had his clay and Van Gogh his paint—perhaps someone would elevate snark to an art form. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-for-all-weekend-discussion/461730/147 "2008-09-04T00:08:43Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > I\OTOH Rodin had his clay and Van Gogh his paint—perhaps someone would elevate snark to an art form. I thought some posters were already doing that. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-for-all-weekend-discussion/461730/148 "2008-09-04T00:34:31Z")
These threads are always great for finding out who the humorless weenies are. On an unrelated note, this upgrade really _is_ sucking ass, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-for-all-weekend-discussion/461730/149 "2008-09-04T00:37:54Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > On an unrelated note, this upgrade really _is_ sucking ass, isn’t it? It was an _upgrade_?? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-for-all-weekend-discussion/461730/150 "2008-09-04T00:58:27Z")
Now, now. Let’s not go around slinging wild, unfounded accusations. It’s an _alleged_ upgrade. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-for-all-weekend-discussion/461730/151 "2008-09-04T01:30:12Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > These threads are always great for finding out who the humorless weenies are. I like to think of it as finding out whose sense of humor hasn’t advanced past third grade. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-for-all-weekend-discussion/461730/152 "2008-09-04T01:33:25Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > With regard to NSFW stuff, yeah, IMO that’s never cool whether rules are suspended or not. Wasn’t that mentioned in the sticky? I’ve clicked on a few unlabeled things in here (from home) that I wish I hadn’t, even before the snark pit was a glint in your daddy’s eye. :eek: BTW what is the protocol, please…message a mod? Use the “report this post” function. That’s the red triangle in the upper right of each post. That’ll send an email to all mods assigned to that forum. ---
**Author:** ![Second\_Star\_to\_the\_Right](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Second\_Star\_to\_the\_Right](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Second_Star_to_the_Right)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-for-all-weekend-discussion/461730/153 "2008-09-04T01:36:10Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Who do you think you are that you should be able to dictate the terms of how I use the Internet? > > Did you suddenly become my boss and change his policy on not caring what harmless diversions we may amuse ourselves with during our long days, so long as they are not patently offensive or obscene? > > Let me say this straight: your opinions have no say in the matter I raised. The administration of this board has consistently policed the members here in a reasonable manner, so that disguising obscene material as breaking political news was something that members wouldn’t do because they’d be banned, and in any case the material removed in a very rapid manner. > > The administration capriciously turned its back on a fundamental agreement with members on a matter that wasn’t one of taste, but of clear obscenity. And this incident wasn’t on a Saturday, it was a Friday morning. > > And aside from any concerns about losing one’s job, some of us plain don’t care to be ambushed by highly offensive material. If I was into that thing, I would frequent message boards where that is acceptable behavior. But I’m not, and due to a serious error by the moderators here, they changed their rules in a flat out moronic way, which they realized soon after the stupidity of their decision became apparent. > > Once again, I think the moderators owe a lot of people a better apology than what was given and subsequently deleted. Dude, lighten up. I wasn’t trying to “dictate the terms of how you use the internet”, just trying to make the point that if this issue is of such concern, you’d be better off using the internet for work related reasons. Your first post made it seem as though you could’ve been disciplined and/or fired for clicking on an offensive link. Apparently this isn’t the case. And let me get **this** straight. My opinion certainly has a say in the matter you raised. I also access the dope from work and thus could have been affected by the lack of rules over the weekend. Who are you, to say that since you were offended, the board is owed an apology? Why is your opinion the only one that you seem to think matters? You think the admins should apologize. I(and many others) do not. As it is, I also don’t care to view pornographic or offensive material such as goatsex or whatever it was, so I…don’t click the link. Yes, it was presented as something different. There are ways to see what you’re clicking before opening the page. Pay attention. Also what **Sleeps with Butterflies** and **WhyNot** said. ---
**Author:** ![Second\_Star\_to\_the\_Right](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Second\_Star\_to\_the\_Right](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Second_Star_to_the_Right)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-for-all-weekend-discussion/461730/154 "2008-09-04T01:57:40Z")
double post ---
**Author:** ![Second\_Star\_to\_the\_Right](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Second\_Star\_to\_the\_Right](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Second_Star_to_the_Right)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-for-all-weekend-discussion/461730/155 "2008-09-04T02:01:23Z")
nevermind ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-for-all-weekend-discussion/461730/156 "2008-09-04T02:02:14Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > I thought some posters were already doing that. 😃 Or trying to, anyway. If only “the man” would stop shutting them down before they could achieve full snark! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-for-all-weekend-discussion/461730/157 "2008-09-04T03:22:46Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Seriously - the Pit has blown some really stanky balls lately (and by “lately” I of course mean “the last 4-6 years”) - a huge increase in pathetic RO threads… Yeah, when Recreational Outrage became so common it got its own abbreviation, that was a hugely bad sign. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen an RO thread that warranted a response beyond “yeah, yeah, shit happens, get over it.” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-for-all-weekend-discussion/461730/158 "2008-09-04T05:12:45Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > Or trying to, anyway. If only “the man” would stop shutting them down before they could achieve full snark! Full snark aborted and left to die on the launch pad - so sad. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-for-all-weekend-discussion/461730/159 "2008-09-04T05:23:16Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > I realize at this point it’s merely my word against yours, but the link was actually labeled something about Bush calling Obama “boy” in such a way that it was hard to see as anything but racial. Improbable, but at this point most folks on this board expect that kind of stupidity from Bush. It was pretty plausibly written, and the only reason I didn’t click on the link was that I usually read responses first, and the responses to that thread were unusual. We might both be right. In the stickied thread at top, he put the same kind of goatse link disguised as a political article in one of the posts, then edited his post blank about two minutes later, but not before I saw it and responded to it. I think he must have used a different headline for each one and I didn’t read the one that was the OP of his thread as carefully as I read the one that got edited away. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-for-all-weekend-discussion/461730.md?page=7)