# Gukumatz, a word, please. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 3, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901 "2012-12-03T21:30:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901/41 "2012-12-05T04:20:42Z")
> [@](#): > > **Munch** : And you should learn what a warning is in this context. Oh, do tell! Should I really? This is all so new to me. (snip) > [@](#): > > And while there clearly wasn’t anything wrong with Oakminster’s large “go tide”, he also shouldn’t get so clearly riled up about getting the piss taken out in a thread designed for fans to poke fun at each other. How perceptive of you to agree that _clearly_ Oakminster did nothing wrong when he posted as he did! Therefore, no warning was necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901/42 "2012-12-05T04:25:24Z")
Damn, that skeptical smiley looks like Vivien Leigh. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901/43 "2012-12-05T04:26:38Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Oh, do tell! Should I really? This is all so new to me. > > (snip) > > How perceptive of you to agree that _clearly_ Oakminster did nothing wrong when he posted as he did! Therefore, no warning was necessary. Nobody got warned, not even me. Get a grip, people. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901/44 "2012-12-05T04:34:20Z")
For a moment there, I thought that **Airman Doors** said, “Get a gripe, people.” ---
**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:** [December 5, 2012, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901/45 "2012-12-05T04:52:22Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Nobody got warned, not even me. Get a grip, people. Warning schmarning. No moderation action should have been taken. And notice that there is no “circle the wagons” in this thread where other mods come in and defend the action. It’s very simple: a mistake was made, and the mod in question should admit and move on. What’s so hard about that? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901/46 "2012-12-05T04:53:10Z")
I think it’s the “admit” part. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901/47 "2012-12-05T04:58:24Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > For a moment there, I thought that **Airman Doors** said, “Get a gripe, people.” Doesn’t everyone have enough of those already? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901/48 "2012-12-05T05:21:40Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Warning schmarning. No moderation action should have been taken. Reported for use of red text. It made my casio internet wristwatch screen overheat. ---
**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:** [December 5, 2012, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901/49 "2012-12-05T12:39:45Z")
> [@crazyhorse](#): > > reported for use of red text. **Is** [size=“4”]this [/size]true??[COLOR=“cyan”][SIZE=“5”]?!?![/color][/size]??! ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901/50 "2012-12-05T13:43:41Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > How perceptive of you to agree that _clearly_ Oakminster did nothing wrong when he posted as he did! Therefore, no warning was necessary. Nor was there a warning given. Lighten up. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901/51 "2012-12-05T15:01:34Z")
I think a much bigger issue that everyone is missing is that we have a moderator in the game room based out of Norway that’s commenting in a thread about American college football, a heated topic that might melt all the snow in Norway. He should stick to threads about skiing, soccer and curling. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901/52 "2012-12-05T15:15:16Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I think a much bigger issue that everyone is missing is that we have a moderator in the game room based out of Norway that’s commenting in a thread about American college football, a heated topic that might melt all the snow in Norway. He should stick to threads about skiing, soccer and curling. I normally agree with your suggestions, but not this time. Following this, Ellen Cherry or Twickster should not moderate threads about cricket. I mean- how would they know what it is like to get hit in the balls by a bumper? 😃 In other words, I’m not convinced you need to be a technical expert on the topic to moderate a thread. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901/53 "2012-12-05T15:17:26Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > I normally agree with your suggestions, but not this time. > > Following this, Ellen Cherry or Twickster should not moderate threads about cricket. I mean- how would they know what it is like to get hit in the balls by a bumper? 😃 > > In other words, I’m not convinced you need to be a technical expert on the topic to moderate a thread. OK, he can comment about hockey too then. ---
**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:** [December 5, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901/54 "2012-12-05T15:20:27Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Warning schmarning. No moderation action should have been taken. > > And notice that there is no “circle the wagons” in this thread where other mods come in and defend the action. It’s very simple: a mistake was made, and the mod in question should admit and move on. What’s so hard about that? **John** , you should know better than this. The fact that other mods have not commented indicates absolutely nothing about what our position might be on it. Speaking for myself I haven’t commented because **Oakminster’s** complaint is so absurdly trivial it hardly warrants a response. While we haven’t discussed this, I imagine other mods feel more or less the same way. We aren’t defending it because it doesn’t really need any “defense.” **Gukumatz’s** action in reducing the size was entirely appropriate if the text was so large it interfered with reading the rest of the thread. **Airman Doors** made an insulting comment, which was only mod-noted, and did not receive an official warning. He himself is not complaining about it. I don’t see that any mistake was made. Basically, **Gukumatz** summed up the situation earlier in the thread. I concur. [QUOTE=Gukumatz] As to your rules lawyering, give it a rest. The Rules are for big deals that will affect people’s posting privileges. This was just janitor work. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901/55 "2012-12-05T15:23:58Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > OK, he can comment about hockey too then. That’s more like it. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901/56 "2012-12-05T15:49:07Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Speaking for myself I haven’t commented because **Oakminster’s** complaint is so absurdly trivial it hardly warrants a response. And, as usual, your contribution is worthless, condescending, and unprofessional. Par for the course. Guess certain mods are still butthurt about things that happened long ago, huh? ---
**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:** [December 5, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901/57 "2012-12-05T15:57:06Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > **John** , you should know better than this. The fact that other mods have not commented indicates absolutely nothing about what our position might be on it. Speaking for myself I haven’t commented because **Oakminster’s** complaint is so absurdly trivial it hardly warrants a response. While we haven’t discussed this, I imagine other mods feel more or less the same way. We aren’t defending it because it doesn’t really need any “defense.” Sure, absence of evidence isn’t evidence of absence, but it generally is the case that other mods will come into threads like this and defend the moderation. In this case, I’m glad you did, and if my post prompted that, then I’m glad I posted it. > [@](#): > > **Gukumatz’s** action in reducing the size was entirely appropriate if the text was so large it interfered with reading the rest of the thread. See, now we’re getting to the crux of the matter: that statement simply isn’t true. And even if it were true, the proper action would be to eliminate that font. Had **Oak** posted a wall of text in 7-point font, a case could be made. But 2 words? > [@](#): > > **Airman Doors** made an insulting comment, which was only mod-noted, and did not receive an official warning. He himself is not complaining about it. I don’t see that any mistake was made. I don’t have any issue with that part of the mod action, and I don’t think anyone is complaining about that in this thread. I also don’t agree with the OP’s claim that his alleged infraction lessened the mod action taken concerning **Door’s** post. Now, the mods are free to do as they please, and I agree that this is a minor nit to pick, but the mods of all people should know that on this board, if you try and slip something past people you are going to be called on it. I don’t think any one is really concerned about reversing the action on this particular case, since no warnings are involved, but it would be nice to know that, going forward, we won’t see a repeat of what seems to be completely arbitrary and unnecessary moderation. Anyway, your input is much appreciated, and I’ll let the issue I have with this action die with this post. We’re all just repeating ourselves at this point anyway. ---
**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:** [December 5, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901/58 "2012-12-05T16:18:33Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Sure, absence of evidence isn’t evidence of absence, but it generally is the case that other mods will come into threads like this and defend the moderation. No necessarily. If the mod who made the call has come into the thread and given an explanation of his action, there may not be any reason for additional comment unless some relevant additional points have been raised. (Especially since we sometimes get the “circling the wagons” nonsense.) I don’t see any in this thread. > [@](#): > > See, now we’re getting to the crux of the matter: that statement simply isn’t true. How do you know what **Gukumatz** saw on his tablet? He says the large font made it difficult to read the rest of the thread. > [@](#): > > And even if it were true, the proper action would be to eliminate that font. While I don’t know about the options myself, upthread **Giraffe** says the only option would be to eliminate all size tags. I personally wouldn’t mind eliminated the large fonts, but the small ones are useful for footnotes etc. > [@](#): > > Now, the mods are free to do as they please, and I agree that this is a minor nit to pick, but the mods of all people should know that on this board, if you try and slip something past people you are going to be called on it. While I wouldn’t say anyone tried to “slip something past people,” we are well aware that there is no complaint too trivial that someone won’t make it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901/59 "2012-12-05T16:28:24Z")
And the rest of us are aware that there is no complaint that can’t be stone walled. 🙂 Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901/60 "2012-12-05T16:30:17Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > How do you know what **Gukumatz** saw on his tablet? He says the large font made it difficult to read the rest of the thread. Other posters with a variety of devices reported no such problem. Whatever problem Gukumatz allegedly encountered seems to be peculiar to his device. And, as mentioned up thread, the exact same font/color has been used in multiple other threads in the Game Room without any problem or even comment from any mod. There is no rule against using large fonts/colors occasionally. I will likely do it again when I feel so inclined, such as when Alabama wins the BCS Title. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gukumatz-a-word-please/642901.md?page=4)