# Heavy-handed hijack moderation **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 29, 2023, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303 "2023-06-29T18:10:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303/41 "2023-06-30T01:29:29Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Lastly, as @puzzlegal mentioned, P&E/GD are the 2 forums that are tightly moderated for hijacks. We’ve got numerous other forums where we aren’t held to these strict standards. You’ll almost never see me moderate hijacks in my other assigned forums (IMHO, MPSIMS or QZ). The standards are much different in those forums. So head on over to one of your choice and go crazy! Link back to the P&E thread, even. This part is worth repeating. I will be supporting this and already do. Sorry, I’ve been busy today and it looks like it got a little crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303/42 "2023-06-30T01:51:55Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > That was closed in large part because the thread had been a moderation nightmare. There was a great deal of tension between those who enjoy gallows humor and those who believe in being respectful to the dead. (Read "we got an awful lot of reports.) And the “gallows humor” tended to veer into jokes about “eat the rich”, which is getting political. > > When we closed it, we thought the topic had run its course, and that closing it was, frankly, less “heavy handed” than moderating lots of posters. But it turned out the news was still developing. So… new thread. Mea culpa. I have no problems with putting a train back on the tracks but I’m a bit confused on the category" [Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share". How does it morph into “breaking news”? Yes, the Titan Sub disaster was about something that recently happened in the news but it wasn’t necessarily something relegated to news-only posts. I’m confused on why MPSIMS is the keeper of the news flame. It seemed like a good place to speculate on what happened without citing anything. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303/43 "2023-06-30T01:56:33Z")
Breaking news threads live in MPSIMS. Perhaps they could be elsewhere, but that’s their current home. We have special rules for breaking news threads. And a special tag to indicate which threads ARE breaking news threads. > [@Reorganized SDMB rules](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reorganized-sdmb-rules/968857/1): > > **No jabs in breaking news threads in MPSIMS.** Breaking news threads in MPSIMS can be a valuable resource, with links from many sources and occasional eyewitness accounts or local insight. However, since these threads commonly involve hot-button issues, they often fall prey to hijacks and rants. Please refrain from such commentary in breaking news threads. If you wish to use such a thread as a springboard for commentary, please start a new thread in Great Debates, Politics & Elections, or the Pit with a link to the breaking news thread. And it’s fine to speculate as to what happened, with our without cites. It’s not fine to talk about how the rich people who died deserved it _in that thread_. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303/44 "2023-06-30T02:06:05Z")
I’m okay with the modding, just chagrinned that I didn’t notice which thread/forum I was in. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303/45 "2023-06-30T02:08:02Z")
That happens. Please don’t chagrin yourself further over it. I got my one and only warning because I lost track, too. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303/46 "2023-06-30T02:10:53Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Breaking news threads live in MPSIMS. Perhaps they could be elsewhere, but that’s their current home. We have special rules for breaking news threads. And a special tag to indicate which threads ARE breaking news threads. I don’t see a Breaking News category on start-up. If someone starts a new topic in MPSIMS how do they choose Breaking News as a sub category? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303/47 "2023-06-30T02:16:12Z")
When you click New Topic, You’ll see the the Category pull down and then the Optional Tag pull down. In the Tag field, type Bre and only breaking-news will come up. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303/48 "2023-06-30T02:28:52Z")
And often the mods will tag something as breaking news. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303/49 "2023-06-30T02:30:25Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > When you click New Topic, You’ll see the the Category pull down and then the Optional Tag pull down. > > In the Tag field, type Bre and only breaking-news will come up. So the Op has to deliberately choose this. Thanks to both for explaining. I can see making Breaking News a separate category. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303/50 "2023-06-30T02:32:40Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > And often the mods will tag something as breaking news. Ah, that’s what I thought originally. Seems like it’s making extra moderating work. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303/51 "2023-06-30T03:04:50Z")
Tagging is very easy. Though moderating Breaking News threads can be extra work. It would be a very small category, I don’t think we would ever break it out to its own forum. There are only 49 #breaking-news threads so far. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303/52 "2023-06-30T03:47:20Z")
It’s not really making more work, it’s trying to help the posters keep breaking news separate. A lot of the breaking news threads are very popular, and i think that’s partly because they are focused and fairly conflict-free. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303/53 "2023-06-30T05:28:16Z")
> [@susan](#): > > I’m okay with the modding, just chagrinned that I didn’t notice which thread/forum I was in. I got my hand slapped for making fun of how a political candidate was wearing his flag. It was totally justified because of course that post should have been in the Cafe Society due to the fashion aspect. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303/54 "2023-06-30T06:20:11Z")
It is not about the number, it is about them being a special category of threads with their own unique rules. ---
**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:** [June 30, 2023, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303/55 "2023-06-30T09:15:31Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > being a special category of threads with their own unique rules That’s not unique. QZ threads tagged with “Factual” are moderated with more strict FQ rules instead of the normal, more relaxed rules of QZ. It wouldn’t make sense to break these tags out into their own categories/forums. They just don’t get enough posts. Breaking News threads in MPSIMS and Factual threads in QZ both had special rules before we started using tags. The tags were just added to make it easier for everyone to distinguish when these special rules apply. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303/56 "2023-06-30T09:54:05Z")
It is a matter of perspective: I tend to see the different forums as the “natural” groupings of threads with similar rules or subjects. Apparently you see even more categories grouped by tags. (Which is perfectly valid off course) I would argue you shouldn’t separate by subject but by moderation, making the rules simpler to grasp. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303/57 "2023-06-30T10:09:35Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > You might note that hijack-moderating is different depending on the topic being moderated. Be as fun-loving as you like in some topics, follow the rules in others. It’s terrible how we’re not allowed to have any fun in the Ukraine war breaking news thread. SUCH a downer. > [@Cervaise](#): > > A couple jokes are fine. A repetitive riff that adds dozens of posts in short order to a thread that’s supposed to be devoted to a major evolving news story is annoying. I broadly agree with the moderator action here. As someone who often inserts quips into heavier threads, I don’t mind if a mod pops in to draw a line somewhere. That’s entirely their role. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303/58 "2023-06-30T11:51:52Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > I would argue you shouldn’t separate by subject but by moderation, making the rules simpler to grasp. We do. The hijack rules are strictest in GD, P&E, and breaking news threads within MPSIMS. A hijack needs to be really disruptive before I’ll moderate it in Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303/59 "2023-06-30T12:14:40Z")
For the record, I was one of the called-out, and I don’t feel offended over it. I was responding to Atamasama’s quip, and it didn’t occur to me it would be a hijack. The mod was just doing their job. It was actually kind of nice to be recognized for something. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303/60 "2023-06-30T13:27:52Z")
#breaking-news in #Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share (MPSIMS) and #factual in #The Quarantine Zone are the only special rules tags that I’m aware of. The Breaking News tag replaces the OP or a Mod putting [BREAKING NEWS] in the thread title. Some of the few cross forum tags are #ukraine-invasion and #ai, no special rules for it though. Most tags are for #Cafe Society & #The Game Room. As @puzzlegal said, The Hijack Rules are most strongly enforced in GD and P&E, then FQ then working down to lightly in MPSIMS except #breaking-news and not at all in the Pit, though other pit posters may tell you to drop the hijack. I do so in the Troll thread, not as a poster and many other do to. The Pit is odd, I guess I don’t really understand its rules but it has the least rules. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-handed-hijack-moderation/986303.md?page=4)