# I fear we'll need a rule clarification for insulting people using \[del\] **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 28, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-well-need-a-rule-clarification-for-insulting-people-using-del/310246 "2005-06-28T19:11:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-well-need-a-rule-clarification-for-insulting-people-using-del/310246/1 "2005-06-28T19:11:09Z")
Greetings [del]jack-booted[/del] Mods! I’ve noticed more and more threads where people are using the [del] tag. Bear in mind I have not seen a specific example of this being used inappropriately [del]yet [/del], but I’m concerned that once this catches on [del]being the mimicking monkeys that we are [/del] soon I’m going to see something in a non-Pit thread along the lines of: "[del]You’re an idiot[/del] Great question! I think you’ll find that if you do a Google search, [del]moron[/del], you’ll see that this [del]nonsensical bullshit[/del] theory has been disputed many, many times. In conclusion, although it’s a [del]ridiculous[/del] good point, it’s simply not true." I’m assuming this is still considered an insult, regardless of the ol’ “You were supposed to ignore that, I used strikethrough” defense. ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-well-need-a-rule-clarification-for-insulting-people-using-del/310246/2 "2005-06-28T19:51:46Z")
Wow, I never knew that’s how it worked. Thanks for the hint. I will now be using this device [del]to ridicule the posters I disagree with[/del] [del]to make stupid posts for my own amusement[/del] as respectfully and appropriately as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-well-need-a-rule-clarification-for-insulting-people-using-del/310246/3 "2005-06-28T22:06:46Z")
I saw a mod call someone on this recently, but I have no idea where I saw it. Basically, the mod said something along the lines of, “Any halfwit knows that strikethrough doesn’t cancel an insult which would otherwise not be allowed outside of the Pit.” ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-well-need-a-rule-clarification-for-insulting-people-using-del/310246/4 "2005-06-28T22:45:09Z")
It may have been me. I pretty much said Pubs, as in republicans, then crossed it out, and put in pugs, as in a kind of small dog. I was warned for it, and since I thought that it is no big deal too refer to a group rather then a person, I emailed for clarification and the position was clarified for me. They are a mod, and I am not. ::shrug:: Personally, I think it is very useful for things like: "I don’t see how the arguments doesn’t apply to [del]persecuted group from along time ago[/del] newer persecuted group.” ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-well-need-a-rule-clarification-for-insulting-people-using-del/310246/5 "2005-06-28T23:04:39Z")
I think that the prime directive=“don’t act like a jerk” would cover the use of the _del_ to insult someone. And since we mods are nothing more than glorified parents, we can say “because I said so” as long as it’s a matter of interpretation. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-well-need-a-rule-clarification-for-insulting-people-using-del/310246/6 "2005-06-28T23:12:09Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > And since we mods are nothing more than glorified parents, we can say “because I said so” as long as it’s a matter of interpretation. [del]You can’t tell me what to do!![/del] Makes sense to me. Thanks for the clarification. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-well-need-a-rule-clarification-for-insulting-people-using-del/310246/7 "2005-06-29T00:42:52Z")
[del]test[/del] Cool! ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-well-need-a-rule-clarification-for-insulting-people-using-del/310246/8 "2005-06-29T05:16:56Z")
I think we should definitely [del]destroy all people who use the strikethrough[/del] all just try to get along. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-well-need-a-rule-clarification-for-insulting-people-using-del/310246/9 "2005-06-29T06:02:52Z")
> [@Scott Plaid](#): > > I pretty much said Pubs, as in republicans, then crossed it out, and put in pugs, as in a kind of small dog. I was warned for it, and since I thought that it is no big deal too refer to a group rather then a person, I emailed for clarification and the position was clarified for me. As a matter of actual fact, this is what you posted: > [@Scott Plaid](#): > > Just what I thought the [del]little barking pugs[/del] pubs would say, as I pointed out in post 18. in [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=321995&page=1&pp=50) thread. ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-well-need-a-rule-clarification-for-insulting-people-using-del/310246/10 "2005-06-29T06:57:34Z")
> [@Scott Plaid](#): > > It may have been me. Oops. Sorry for the implied insult. And I didn’t even have the decency to use strikethrough! ---
**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:** [June 29, 2005, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-well-need-a-rule-clarification-for-insulting-people-using-del/310246/11 "2005-06-29T11:57:03Z")
If I may leap to the 30,000 foot level. We do not want, and have never wanted, to have a flurry of rules as if we were a legal system. We don’t have the time to write them up, and we’d just have [del]smart-ass[/del] bright lawyer-types trying to find loopholes to justify evasion. So, we don’t address specifics unless we have to. The general rule about no public insults outside the Pits mean no insults. We don’t feel the need to add regulation 17(b)(ii) to cover insults hidden by delete lines, or regulation 17(b)(iii) to cover insults hidden in a spoiler box, or 17(b)(iv) for whatever else. So, we understand **Dooku** ’s fears that the delete line may be used as an attempt to evade the rules, we’re not really concerned. The first time that someone tries it and gets whomped on the head by a Moderator… well, it’s like the British Army of the 1700s, where miscreants were shot to be example to the others. And, of course, as always, we rely on your diligence if you find such evasion attempts, to please hit the REPORT POST button (the little exclamation point in the upper right corner or each post) to call it to our attention. If you are the target of such an insult, please, please, do NOT respond in kind, but use the REPORT POST button. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-well-need-a-rule-clarification-for-insulting-people-using-del/310246/12 "2005-06-29T12:17:03Z")
“but use the REPORT POST button.” Yeah, be a [del]dirty rotten squealer[/del] good citizen. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-well-need-a-rule-clarification-for-insulting-people-using-del/310246/13 "2005-06-29T12:46:29Z")
> [@Sophistry and Illusion](#): > > I saw a mod call someone on this recently, but I have no idea where I saw it. Basically, the mod said something along the lines of, “Any halfwit knows that strikethrough doesn’t cancel an insult which would otherwise not be allowed outside of the Pit.” Everyone knows the “I take it back” defense is a perfectly reasonable and valid defense. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-well-need-a-rule-clarification-for-insulting-people-using-del/310246/14 "2005-06-29T13:08:33Z")
[del]test[/del] ---
**Author:** ![Genghis\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/45deac/32.png) [@Genghis\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genghis_Bob)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-well-need-a-rule-clarification-for-insulting-people-using-del/310246/15 "2005-06-29T13:17:04Z")
This thing[del], if this works, is very very cool.[/del] If it does not work, I’m [del]a moron [/del] mistaken. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-well-need-a-rule-clarification-for-insulting-people-using-del/310246/16 "2005-06-29T14:03:46Z")
This might sound like a really wacky idea, but how about we treat one another with consideration and respect? It’s possible to disagree with someone without resorting to throwing things at them, calling them names, etc. your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![Genghis\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/45deac/32.png) [@Genghis\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genghis_Bob)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-well-need-a-rule-clarification-for-insulting-people-using-del/310246/17 "2005-06-29T14:32:20Z")
Man, my last post [del]sucked[/del] [del]was not as successful as I had hoped it would be [/del] sucked. I’m putting myself on ignore. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-well-need-a-rule-clarification-for-insulting-people-using-del/310246/18 "2005-06-29T16:34:57Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > This might sound like a really wacky idea, but how about we treat one another with consideration and respect? Gasp!! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2005, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-well-need-a-rule-clarification-for-insulting-people-using-del/310246/19 "2005-07-17T18:02:28Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > This might sound like a really wacky idea, but how about we treat one another with consideration and respect? We all should, shouldn’t we? ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-well-need-a-rule-clarification-for-insulting-people-using-del/310246/20 "2005-07-19T02:16:59Z")
[RodneyKing]Please, we can get along here.[/RK] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-well-need-a-rule-clarification-for-insulting-people-using-del/310246.md?page=2)