# Goddamnit, Aldebaran, Lynn Said No Such Thing **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 4, 2004, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205 "2004-04-04T18:09:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205/21 "2004-04-04T22:48:23Z")
> [@Aldebaran](#): > > If a moderator comes on the board to write publicly the accusation that I made repeatedly \*\*direct threats \*\* to other members; then even adds to this invention that I was **warned twice** for this, while nothing of what she claims is true ; adds to this that this **makes heer discuss my posting priviledges with the other members of the Staff** , I take that that she wants to make it appear that I am the greatest scumb she has ever seen. That is truly some stretch of the imagination. > [@](#): > > You may seek “a fight” as much as you want. I do not waste my time on your childish “flame wars”. Check again, because it looks like you are, with 4 posts and a point-by-point in here already. But when you make a statement that you’re not going to post until a certain condition is met, not following up on it makes you look somewhat comical. By last count there were 4 Admins and 13 Moderators here. Try someone else if no one answers the phone. You could also just keep continuing to be a Member here and continue in the discussions and debates until Lynn or someone else responds to you. Or maintain dignified silence. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205/22 "2004-04-04T22:52:47Z")
> [@Aldebaran](#): > > You may seek “a fight” as much as you want. I do not waste my time on your childish "flame wars. > [@Aldebaran](#): > > I’m sorry, but you are " a jerk" whatever that may mean. ``` :rolleyes: ``` ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205/23 "2004-04-05T00:18:09Z")
I just spent an instructive afternoon with a dial-up connection and the search function. I am sorry that time grows too short for me to link directly to the posts today (I will happily accommodate any requests for such tomorrow), but here is the scorecard thus far: **Lynn Bodoni** : two posts directed to **Aldebaran** ; the one cited by **Una** , above, and an admonition not to be a jerk. **Czarcasm** : no posts directed to **Aldebaran**. **Gaudere** : two posts directed to **Aldebaran** , one of which featured her in her Moderator Hat, saying, “Back Off.” **Coldfire** : Four posts directed to **Aldebaran** ; one, thanking him for his good wishes on the occasion of **Coldfire** ’s nuptials; one, popping into a GD thread to warn him on his posting style; one, in a Pit thread fifteen minutes later, warning him about his agressive responses (full disclosure: **Aldebaran** was the subject of the thread); and one that closed that thread, in which our esteemed **Clog-boy** notified **Aldebaran** that his banning was about to be recommended. _FTR, that thread was closed last June, and I have no idea what transpired with respect to the recommendation._ I have not yet completed my search for Moderator- **Aldebaran** interactions. However, I can state for a certainty that **Lynn** was not mistaken or misleading in stating that **Aldebaran** had received two posting-style-related warnings in the past. Indeed, she appears to have _under_stated the actual case. As to **Aldebaran** ’s complaint that there were not two warnings for making threats, I don’t think **Lynn** ’s post needs to be parsed in such a way as to require them. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205/24 "2004-04-05T00:23:02Z")
> [@](#): > > Until then: Bye. > Or it they find a “reason” to ban me: Goodbye. > > For all those who now enter this thread for the sole reason that they like to post somthing they wouldn’t say to others face to face: have fun. What utter bollocks. If the Mods wanted to ban you they’d just ban you and be done with it. In any event, you are so clearly in love with your on-line persona that I seriously doubt you’d ever willingly give up all the attention you’ve been getting here. I think you’ll be barking insults at the other members again inside a week. What a fucking drama queen. And, BTW, I’d cheerfully say that to your face. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205/25 "2004-04-05T01:08:30Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > As to **Aldebaran** ’s complaint that there were not two warnings for making threats, I don’t think **Lynn** ’s post needs to be parsed in such a way as to require them. No but her warning > [@](#): > > Aldebaran, you have been warned twice before about your posting style. Making direct threats against other posters is forbidden. implies Aldebaran had made a “direct threat” which I think is not a reasonable interpretation of the post which prompted the warning. Whatever Aldebaran’s past posting history may be, the fact is he was warned now about threats he did not make. And I’m not sure why one thread on this topic wasn’t enough. Please do not make me side with Aldebaran. I hate it. But fair is fair and the post which prompted the warning cannot be reasonably construed as a threat. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2004, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205/26 "2004-04-05T01:48:14Z")
> [@sailor](#): > > No but her warning implies Aldebaran had made a “direct threat” which I think is not a reasonable interpretation of the post which prompted the warning. Whatever Aldebaran’s past posting history may be, the fact is he was warned now about threats he did not make. I’d disagree to a point. When someone has been warned twice (or more) the “short leash” rule come into play: that person is considered to be walking on thin ice and hadn’t better even _consider_ going where other, unwarned posters might be able to tread. I know that if _I’d_ received a couple of warnings in a relatively short period of time, I’d be hesitant to start a thread in MPSIMS that said, say “I’m Suing The SDMB For All The Productive Time I’ve Lost!”. Suing the SDMB is a no-no. They are, quite understandably touchy about the topic. My thread would clearly be a joke, but it’s a joke on a _very_ sensitive topic–one I’d be hesitant to start even unwarned. And while an unwarned me _might_ be able to get away with it, if I’d already been warned twice? Not so much. I see warnings as second chances–if you’re warned, you’ve done something bannable but the Mods are being generous. You don’t demand more/get pushy when someone’s already giving more than you (not you in particular **Sailor** ) deserve. I can think of a couple of examples off-hand where this rule came into play, but we’re not supposed to mention banned posters…but think of all the threads where someone warned multiple times did something fairly minor, was banned and the usual suspects came out saying “But what s/he did wasn’t so bad!”. If you’re warned, it’s time to walk the straight-n-narrow path for awhile, IMO Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205/27 "2004-04-05T02:41:10Z")
**Aldebaran** is an idiot. His post is my cite. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205/28 "2004-04-05T02:41:32Z")
It is not a matter of degree. Either there is or there is not a threat contained in the post. What you are saying is that there was a threat and we can discuss how serious. What I am saying is there is no threat and I do not see how any reasonable person can find a threat. Any threat. I just can’t see it. If there is _no_ threat then the warning is not justified. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205/29 "2004-04-05T02:47:07Z")
Well if umm **Zenster** was it? Can get banned for saying he’d beat anyone that crosses a picket line with an axe handle then **Aldebaran** can get banned for saying he’d be waiting for any doper that invaded his country. I don’t see too much of a difference. Though I’m not sure if I agree at least there’s consistency there. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205/30 "2004-04-05T03:24:25Z")
> [@](#): > > Well if umm Zenster was it? Can get banned for saying he’d beat anyone that crosses a picket line with an axe handle then Aldebaran can get banned for saying he’d be waiting for any doper that invaded his country. > > I don’t see too much of a difference. I believe that the reference was to nuking his country. You really can’t see the difference in someone crossing a picket line and someone nuking your country? What a strange world! I just don’t see his remarks as a threat either. **Aldebaran** , it would be helpful if you would not twist Lynn’s words to mean something which she didn’t imply. _You inferred_ that from what she said and you are responsible for thinking that she was saying that you are scum – not she. She has probably given a thousand warnings. My understanding is that most warnings are discussed among the staff. That is not done out of a need to trash anyone or say vicious things. I would think that it is done to help keep a balanced view of what is happening and to make other moderators aware of what has transpired. You were not singled out for this treatment. It is SOP – Standard Operational Procedure (if I understand the process correctly.) **Note to mods** : It might be helpful if all warnings are labelled as warnings – if this is not already the practice. If a mod says, “Knock it off,” should that be considered an official warning? ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205/31 "2004-04-05T03:30:20Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > **Note to mods** : It might be helpful if all warnings are labelled as warnings – if this is not already the practice. If a mod says, “Knock it off,” should that be considered an official warning? Don’t they already do this? I don’t believe I’ve seen a warning where: [list=a] [li]The moderator hasn’t expclitly said that it was an official warning, or[/li][li]The moderator hasn’t wrapped the post with a “Moderator hat ON” statement, or[/li][li]The moderator hasn’t signed the post “SomeModerator, for the Straight Dope”.[/li][/list] Any one of those seems sufficient to to establish that the warning was official. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205/32 "2004-04-05T03:32:50Z")
> [@Aldebaran](#): > > **OP and DogFace:** > If you ever plan to take part of an invasion of my country - even in your dreams which I am sure you have -, please send me a note. I shall be waiting to welcome you and your co-invaders So if they even ‘dream’ of invading his country he’ll ‘welcome’ you. Seems pretty clear cut as a threat to me. Zenster wasn’t even as direct as that (if memory serves) I’m not saying I think people should be banned for saying “if you do X I will do Y as a response” but this would clearly be consistant with the policy so far. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205/33 "2004-04-05T03:33:53Z")
ps, I meant ‘direct’ as singling out specific posters. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205/34 "2004-04-05T04:01:03Z")
> [@Darkhold](#): > > So if they even ‘dream’ of invading his country he’ll ‘welcome’ you. Seems pretty clear cut as a threat to me. That is plain stupid. You can call it a promise but not a threat because it is conditioned to a violent act on the other side first. To be a threat a reasonable person has to feel threatened, has to feel fear. If anyone feels fear after hearing that either (a) he is planning on invading Aldebaran’s country (unlikely since we dont know which one it is) or (b) he is a complete idiot (more likely). That anyone saying he would defend his country from American invasion would be considered a threat is mind-boggling but I guess that is where things are these days. I expect we may be seeing in the registration agreement a clause swearing allegiance to the USA and promising to aid American forces should they choose to invade your country. Either accept that or you can’t register because “if you are not with us you are against us”. And click on the pledge of allegiance every time we sign in. In these times of so much terrorism you can’t be too careful. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205/35 "2004-04-05T04:08:44Z")
sailor, Are you deliberately misunderstanding my point or what? Zenster:Said he would beat someone with an axe handle if they crossed a picket line. Conditional statement:Do X I will do Y. Was banned for it. Aldebaran:If you dream of invading my country I will kill you (implied) Conditional Statement. Even pointed the finger at two posters in particular. What’s the difference between the two? And how many times do I have to say that I’m not personally supporting this just pointing out the obvious fact that it isn’t picking on Alderbaran if it’s been used to ban posters in the past? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205/36 "2004-04-05T04:25:56Z")
Una- what does SDSAB mean? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205/37 "2004-04-05T04:28:54Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Una- what does SDSAB mean? Either “Straight Dope Sapphic Asskicking Bitch” or “Straight Dope Science Advisory Board”. Which one applies is unclear to even myself at times… ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205/38 "2004-04-05T04:33:33Z")
**Darkhold** , I do not know what happened with Zenster nor do I care. I am judging this case by what I know of it and on its own merits. I have no idea what happened in the other case and I do not think I need to know that one to judge this one on its own merits. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205/39 "2004-04-05T04:38:10Z")
> [@Darkhold](#): > > sailor, > > Zenster: Was banned for it. \*Zenster \* was banned? Fuck. How did I miss that? ☹ But Darkhold- you should KNOW by now the “rules” are not written down- that "the line’ is invisible and is in a different place for each Staffer, and that “being a jerk” depends to a certain extent upon the poster, not only what they do. Of course- most bannings are just- they are blatant trolls, socks, or spamsters. And I commend the Staff for their excellent work in keeping them out. But such dudes are Satan & DITWD were apparently banned for offenses that didn’t even so much as get other posters warned. I say “apparently” as there certainly could have been private emails where dudes told Lynn & co to “go fuck yourself” or something. But from the posts still in the archive- there was no clear line of “jerkness” either one (or several others I don’t remember) crossed. Oh, don’t get me wrong- I am not saying either shouldn’t have been banned, but if their bannings were just, then many others should have gone with them. I liked Zenster. Weird guy, I’ll admit. Too bad. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205/40 "2004-04-05T04:41:33Z")
So you don’t care that the rule has been known and applied in exactly the same way? So in your mind it’s all an pro-American conspiracy to ban a poster well known for his antics and borderline behavior? Well ok…I think we’ll just have to agree to disagree on that part of it. As for the merits I do think it is slightly shady to jump on him because of that. However considering how he’s been treading the line for awhile now I’m not going to say the last straw simply wasn’t heavy enough. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamnit-aldebaran-lynn-said-no-such-thing/238205.md?page=3)