# Holy crap! No more Dio? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 15, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416 "2011-09-15T18:01:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416/321 "2011-09-16T14:49:24Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > The admin. have found him guilty of one type of prohibited behavior, yet the Teeming Millions are complaining about a different type of behavior while many of them are taking cheap shots at him. Certainly staff has to to draw the line somewhere, but 6 out of 60,000 posts isn’t really that many. It wasn’t 6 out of 60,000. It was a lengthy pattern including suspension, 15 warnings by 10 different staff members, and some unknown (but large) number of mod notes, private messages, and gentle corrections. I don’t even know how many times people have said, both publicly and privately, that he was getting special treatment; that he should have been banned long ago; that others weren’t allowed to push the envelope as he did. If rules aren’t enforced, why have them? We tried to work with Dio. Really we did. But it was ultimately his decision not to work within the rules and guidelines that govern the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416/322 "2011-09-16T14:49:33Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > His posting was in fact the opposite of that, mean but full of novel content. But it wasn’t _usually_ mean. What I don’t think some people in this thread are getting is that **Dio** wasn’t banned because of the way he _usually_ posted, but because of the relatively few times (compared to his overall posting history) he stepped over a line (e.g. by egregiously insulting other posters outside the Pit). At least, that’s my impression; if that’s not the case, I’d join you in protesting his banning. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416/323 "2011-09-16T14:51:24Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > No it doesn’t. I thought this was abuse, and that arguments were down the hall. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416/324 "2011-09-16T14:53:51Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > But it wasn’t _usually_ mean. > > What I don’t think some people in this thread are getting is that **Dio** wasn’t banned because of the way he _usually_ posted, but because of the relatively few times (compared to his overall posting history) he stepped over a line (e.g. by egregiously insulting other posters outside the Pit). > > At least, that’s my impression; if that’s not the case, I’d join you in protesting his banning. Yes, that’s correct. As I tried to imply in my last post. Althought “relatively few” is a relative term; it was actually fairly many on an actual count basis, but “relatively few” as a percentage of his posts. ---
**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 16, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416/325 "2011-09-16T14:54:10Z")
Well, I seem to recall his oldest daughter is 11. In two years, she could have a membership, and we’d get to see the practical results of Dio’s child-rearing philosophy. Here’s hoping. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416/326 "2011-09-16T15:00:38Z")
Sorry if I’ve missed it in this thread and in the years of interactions with **Dio** , but people keep talking about his valuable contributions in areas he had knowledge and expertise in. Legitimate question: Could someone tell me what areas those are, so I can understand why I never saw any of it? ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416/327 "2011-09-16T15:03:26Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Keep in mind, our version of “counseling” involves a tazer and a rubber hose. … well, that explains why I woke up with bruises and smoking hair … ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416/328 "2011-09-16T15:04:49Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > Considering that \*\*Dio \*\*posts on Giraffeboards… He does? That’s nice to know. I think I’ll be spending more time over there from now on. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416/329 "2011-09-16T15:06:45Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > … well, that explains why I woke up with bruises and smoking hair … Why were you smoking hair? ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416/330 "2011-09-16T15:12:37Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > If someone pees about 4 ounces in a 10,000 gallon swimming pool, is that okay? Sadly, Dio was the same way. He peed in the pool several times. He wasn’t peeing in a swimming pool. He was peeing in a punch bowl. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416/331 "2011-09-16T15:15:04Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > I thought this was abuse, and that arguments were down the hall. Yeah, the Dio Show frequently put me in mind of that sketch. An argument could be made for that style of uncited, bald assertion, posting if the poster is right 99% of the time. In my experience that was not the case with Dio. Sorry to see him go, but it will probably be good for him, and while a bit of rule bending is okay for special posters, there has to be some hints of evenhandedness as well. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416/332 "2011-09-16T15:18:07Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > What does it say about this board that you felt obliged to ban a poster whom several other longtime posters (other than me, that is) would cheerfully nominate as this board’s all-time best overall poster? Maybe it says that this isn’t a popularity contest, and even if lots of people like you, the rules still apply and you need to follow them. Or maybe it says some other thing. You tell me. 😉 ---
**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:** [September 16, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416/333 "2011-09-16T15:21:13Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Whine, whine, whine. I like **Dio** , but he did it to himself. Nobody hunted him down and forced him to continually flaunt the rules. Nobody held his kids for ransom and demanded that he insult people in every single forum of the board. He did this on his own, the Mods bent over backwards to get him to change his behavior, and when he proved that he had no intention of ever doing so, banned him. To blame the Mods for this is asinine. Absolutely. But please, it’s “flout” not “flaunt”. Sorry, pet peeve. 🙂 ---
**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:** [September 16, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416/334 "2011-09-16T15:23:36Z")
I missed that gem from PRR. Surely it was made in jest? No one could think it was rational? Either the premise that several nominated members vote who stays or goes or that that would serve the purposes of the other members? ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416/335 "2011-09-16T15:24:55Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Sorry if I’ve missed it in this thread and in the years of interactions with **Dio** , but people keep talking about his valuable contributions in areas he had knowledge and expertise in. > > Legitimate question: Could someone tell me what areas those are, so I can understand why I never saw any of it? He had a lot of knowledge on the New Testament and the Old Testament. He also knew some Koine Greek. He clearly knew a lot with regard to those subjects - was he an expert, _a la_ Bart Erhman? No - but on this board he would be a ‘go-to’ with regard to these subjects. As to why you didn’t see it - did you frequent Christian threads in GD? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416/336 "2011-09-16T15:26:54Z")
I’ve gone back and forth on whether I should participate in this thread or not. Think I’ve typed and deleted half a dozen different comments. Finally, I’ve boiled it down to two points: 1. I think the mods are fully justified in banning **Dio**. He was given multiple warnings, a suspension, and then more warnings. The pattern of insulting others outside of the Pit continued. 2. While I understand that this case involves a particularly high profile poster, and some degree of a post-mortem was needed, I think this thread has run its course. Some people liked him and/or appreciated his contributions to the board. Other people did not. **Dio** is not able to defend himself here, and I really don’t know what else needs to be said on the matter. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416/337 "2011-09-16T15:29:57Z")
> [@Meatros](#): > > He had a lot of knowledge on the New Testament and the Old Testament. He also knew some Koine Greek. He clearly knew a lot with regard to those subjects - was he an expert, _a la_ Bart Erhman? No - but on this board he would be a ‘go-to’ with regard to these subjects. > > As to why you didn’t see it - did you frequent Christian threads in GD? Thank you, **Meatros**. That explains perfectly why I never had any cause to think of **Dio** as a valuable resource. Almost any time I’m in GD at all, it’s because I clicked on the wrong link. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416/338 "2011-09-16T15:36:03Z")
I deeply regret that he behaved in such a way as to make this necessary. When he chose to contribute to the board, he did so very well. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416/339 "2011-09-16T15:48:37Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > You tell me. Now, there’s an invitation you really don’t want to make. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416/340 "2011-09-16T15:52:58Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > To the best of my knowledge, only one person has been reinstated after a ban: **lissener**. It was not a successful experiment and I doubt it would be repeated Not successful? He hasn’t been banned again since then, although I see that he was suspended later and hasn’t posted since sometime last year. But saying that it wasn’t successful seems a bit unfair, given that he is (in theory) still here. Of course, **lissener** ’s ban came before the policy of suspensions was established, so that’s why the experiment probably won’t be repeated. I believe other posters were reinstated after a ban, but shortly rebanned, but I couldn’t give you a name. It’s just something I heard. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-no-more-dio/596416.md?page=18)