# Hijacking

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hijacking/808147>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [February 4, 2018, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hijacking/808147 "2018-02-04T03:09:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 51

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**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hijacking/808147/51 "2018-02-05T04:51:34Z")

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> [@D\_Anconia](#):
>
> Based on what, your own politics, right? :rolleyes:
> 
> There was a blatant example of a poster ignoring moderator instructions in this very thread. No action was taken. Why is that?

The reasons are at least 3 fold.

[ol]  
[li]I’m not a moderator of ATMB. From time to time, the entire staff will step out of our lanes when the need arises, but typically we avoid doing so if possible.[/li][li]My post in #28 was not in my capacity as a moderator. I and all the staff will offset those posts with tags, etc. to clearly indicate where we are moderating. Beyond that we’re just regular posters.[/li][li]You’re assessment that #31 was relitigating one of the underlying catalysts for this thread doesn’t seem on point. It was specifically about hijacking - what this thread is about, not the unrelated issues about prescriptions, etc.[/li][/ol]

> [@D\_Anconia](#):
>
> Fair enough.
> 
> But my question is why are accusations of hijacking not considered junior modding?
> 
> ISTM, it would be with any other rule.
> 
> “Stop posting personal insults outside of the Pit”.
> 
> “Stop violating the standards of Fair Use”.
> 
> “Stop advocating illegal actions.” All of the above would be junior modding.
> 
> Somehow, though, “Stop hijacking the thread” is OK? I’m not trying to argue with you, I just don’t get the distinction.

The primary reason we recommend against making such accusations is that on one end of the spectrum they tend to derail threads - they aren’t productive in discussion so we eschew them, and on the other end of the spectrum they tend to be done in a way that’s violative of other rules against insults. But if a person does merely say that they find something insulting, that’s not necessarily Jr. modding. I think you misunderstand what Jr. Modding is. We did[talk about it last March.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=822488) Here is what I said at the time:

> [@What constitutes Junior Modding?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-junior-modding/783056/3):
>
> _“I don’t wish to continue this line of discussion in this thread but will be glad to in a different one that is more subject specific.”_ - No problem, stating personal preference.
> 
> \*“You may not discuss this further in this thread on penalty of official sanction.” \*- Junior modding.
> 
> Things in between are context dependent. Generally a poster expressing their own desires without hint or implication they are imposing or enforcing some rule on other posters is okay. Even making requests is perfectly acceptable and common,\* “can we keep this thread about red hens, and not yellow or white ones, please?”\*

That sounds right to me.

> [@D\_Anconia](#):
>
> Based on what, your own politics, right? :rolleyes:

While we all aspire to be our best selves, I and others are but one person as a whole. We bring the entirety of our person into the role. It would be quite silly to deny that we each have our own experiences we draw from. I’m biased, but I think we’re quite successful in being as objective as possible. I will say that I always appreciate feedback. Evidence based feedback even more so.

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