# I know, here's my hat... uneven modding **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 6, 2020, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268 "2020-05-06T14:49:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268/21 "2020-05-06T17:23:13Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I have not brought you up in the mod loop, even after your very strange PMs, nor has there been any other discussion of you there. I have not discussed you with **Jonathan Chance** or **Chronos** at any point. So unless **JC** is telepathic, his warning had absolutely no relation to mine. > > With all due respect, your PMs to me and your complaint here appear to be due to some kind of paranoia or a persecution complex. There is no conspiracy against you on the part of the mods. Like me, I doubt most of us have had any idea who you were before your complaints. > > We’re more often accused of being biased against conservative posters, so I guess a complaint by someone who says they’re left-leaning is a change of pace. But as I said, I had absolutely no idea what your politics were when I warned you. I’m saying the culture here is to come down hard on differing views. You don’t need to have mod discussions for that to be part of the way things are naturally handled. I’ve no problem if you want to chalk me up as someone with a persecution complex and paranoia. I was well aware that is what would happen when I posted. But you would think after dozens of other posters make very similar complaints in very similar circumstances the powers that be might reflect on that instead of continually insisting they are right and it is really just all those other people making things up. I broke the rules and have been admonished for it. The mods did nothing wrong and were well within their rights to do so. For the last time. You are being given an opportunity to try and understand how your handling of my situation looks from this side, and how it will result in at least 1 more person being unwilling to offer differing opinions. Feel free to stand behind, “You broke the rules! This is your own damn fault! You are just paranoid!” all you want. The result is going to be fewer voices around here. ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268/22 "2020-05-06T17:25:25Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > It wasn’t really a minor “technical violation” either. If you had made a small alteration to the text, that would have been a technical violation. But you changed the text in a way that insulted the poster. You could just have well been warned for insults or being a jerk, even if we didn’t have a rule against modifying quotes. That post violated multiple rules. Did you read the post I linked to by Miller??? Seriously, did you? “It’s also a very minor, largely technical violation of the rule. There was obviously no intent to deceive, and there was no ambiguity about who had written the editorial text. Consider these two alternative posts:” ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268/23 "2020-05-06T17:32:41Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > So, you acknowledge that it was a punishment available under the circumstances? > > And even if, for the sake of argument, it were the case that you’ve been moderated more harshly than the typical board member, that still doesn’t prove that it’s because of your opinions, or because the mods have specifically targeted you, or for any other particular reason. Where did I ever argue the punishment wasn’t justifiable under the rules? Seriously Chronos, do you bother reading what I write or do you just jump to what you want my posts to say? There is no way to prove why the punishments were happening. I have demonstrated that the punishments were uneven. One mod calling that kind of action being an asshole. Another mod who rightly acknowledges slight violations in an emotional discussion needing nothing but a note. I’m sure you have a better explanation for why my post was handled more sternly than others. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268/24 "2020-05-06T17:40:55Z")
> [@cmosdes](#): > > I’m sure you have a better explanation for why my post was handled more sternly than others. Literally the only other post you’ve compared yours to was one in the Pit. You’ve explicitly refused to look for any other similar posts. I offered you one other comparison–the one for which I received a (rescinded) warning–and explained why they were different, why even my much milder alteration of a quote was considered warning-worthy by a mod at first. You got nothin, man. ---
**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:** [May 6, 2020, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268/25 "2020-05-06T17:51:20Z")
> [@cmosdes](#): > > I’m saying the culture here is to come down hard on differing views. You don’t need to have mod discussions for that to be part of the way things are naturally handled. You weren’t warned because you had “differing opinions,” but because you acted like a jerk. If you don’t behave like a jerk, you won’t receive warnings, regardless of your ideology. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268/26 "2020-05-06T17:51:36Z")
> [@cmosdes](#): > > And he’s right. I’ll be pointed to the door, told to take my opinions elsewhere, and that will be that. Have you been told to take your opinions elsewhere yet? Just checking. ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268/27 "2020-05-06T17:53:25Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Literally the only other post you’ve compared yours to was one in the Pit. You’ve explicitly refused to look for any other similar posts. I offered you one other comparison–the one for which I received a (rescinded) warning–and explained why they were different, why even my much milder alteration of a quote was considered warning-worthy by a mod at first. > > You got nothin, man. Yeah, nothing. Except for the part where another mod calls it being an asshole to do that. ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268/28 "2020-05-06T18:00:11Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > You weren’t warned because you had “differing opinions,” but because you acted like a jerk. > > If you don’t behave like a jerk, you won’t receive warnings, regardless of your ideology. While true, that part you are missing is that posters with conforming opinions are far less likely to be warned. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268/29 "2020-05-06T18:03:12Z")
> [@cmosdes](#): > > If you ever wonder why people stop coming here, one reason could be the fact this has turned into an echo chamber where unpopular opinions are told to take their hat and leave. The only thing I wonder why people admit they’ve broken the rules, and then claim they’re being sanctioned because of unpopular opinions. The only thing I can conclude is that they revel in persecution fantasies and relish the attention, because these people are some of our most energetic and long-lived posters we have. I’m glad we’re able to help you with your hobby! ---
**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:** [May 6, 2020, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268/30 "2020-05-06T18:05:48Z")
> [@cmosdes](#): > > While true, that part you are missing is that posters with conforming opinions are far less likely to be warned. No they are not. You’ve provided exactly zero evidence that this is the case. You say that you were warned for altering text in a quote box because you are left leaning (or something), while another poster was not. But the poster who was not warned is one of the most extreme leftists on the board. ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268/31 "2020-05-06T18:13:49Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > No they are not. You’ve provided exactly zero evidence that this is the case. > > You say that you were warned for altering text in a quote box because you are left leaning (or something), while another poster was not. But the poster who was not warned is one of the most extreme leftists on the board. No, I said I was warned because I hold differing opinions, not because I lean left. Although to many I appear to be right leaning. You did see the post I linked to with engineer\_comp\_geek moderating, yes? That isn’t zero evidence. ---
**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:** [May 6, 2020, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268/32 "2020-05-06T18:21:50Z")
Show of hands, here: Does anyone in this thread even know what **cmosdes** ’ differing opinions are? I mean, aside from his opinion that he’s being persecuted. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268/33 "2020-05-06T18:28:06Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Show of hands, here: Does anyone in this thread even know what **cmosdes** ’ differing opinions are? I mean, aside from his opinion that he’s being persecuted. I was thinking this was a pretty typical conservative soccer-flop, i.e. “DO YOU KNOW WHY PEOPLE DON’T COME HERE? I WILL NOW TELL YOU! IT’S BECAUSE OF WHY I WAS MODERATED” If not, we may have identified a new species of martyr. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268/34 "2020-05-06T18:31:07Z")
No idea. Other than the differing opinion of “the moderation here is biased against me”! ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268/35 "2020-05-06T18:32:31Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Show of hands, here: Does anyone in this thread even know what **cmosdes** ’ differing opinions are? I mean, aside from his opinion that he’s being persecuted. Here, let me help you with that. You can mock me, call me paranoid, whatever makes you feel better. If you find this place better without differing opinions, keep doing what you’re doing. If you feel this place encourages discourse and open discussions with varying opinions, then I am exactly as you say. If you look around and notice how narrow the discussions have become, how limited opposing views are to be found, perhaps you can stop for a moment think maybe, just maybe, some of these people saying these things have a point. Maybe. ---
**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:** [May 6, 2020, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268/36 "2020-05-06T18:32:36Z")
> [@cmosdes](#): > > No, I said I was warned because I hold differing opinions, not because I lean left. Although to many I appear to be right leaning. You say you are left leaning, but people think you are right leaning. I agree that is…different. So could you explain what exact “differing opinions” you hold? Because I now don’t have the slightest idea of what they are. > [@](#): > > You did see the post I linked to with engineer\_comp\_geek moderating, yes? That isn’t zero evidence. Mods sometimes will issue notes for rules violations instead of warnings. You’ve provided zero evidence that any political considerations were involved in making that a note instead of a warning. And you’ve provided zero evidence that your own warnings were due to your politics or opinions, whatever they might be. ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268/37 "2020-05-06T18:47:56Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > You say you are left leaning, but people think you are right leaning. I agree that is…different. So could you explain what exact “differing opinions” you hold? Because I now don’t have the slightest idea of what they are. There are a couple of issues which I tend to very much differ from the mainstream left platform. Ending the lockdown is one. But in most other areas, I’m very left leaning. Healthcare, gun control, abortion, removal of Trump, etc. are all areas I’m in agreement with the left. > [@Colibri](#): > > Mods sometimes will issue notes for rules violations instead of warnings. You’ve provided zero evidence that any political considerations were involved in making that a note instead of a warning. And you’ve provided zero evidence that your own warnings were due to your politics or opinions, whatever they might be. No mod is going to moderate and put, “I’m doing this because I don’t like your stance.” So no, I can’t prove it. I can demonstrate how moding is being handled unevenly. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268/38 "2020-05-06T18:54:58Z")
> [@cmosdes](#): > > No mod is going to moderate and put, “I’m doing this because I don’t like your stance.” So no, I can’t prove it. I can demonstrate how moding is being handled unevenly. i just made my first Google Forms multiple-choice quiz (yay online learning!) so here’s how I’d phrase this one. Reread this thread. Based on the evidence in the thread, what’s the **most likely** explanation for uneven modding? a) Different mods have their own unique approaches to moderation and are encouraged to use their best judgment. b) Different forums have different norms for behavior and are moderated differently. c) Different posts have different characteristics that result in different moderation, even when they have superficially similar characteristics. d) Moderators are singling cmosdes out for his views, which are either left-leaning or right-leaning or something else, and are either conspiring to moderate him differently or else are all deciding independently to moderate him differently. Serious question, cmosdes. Which of these do you choose? ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268/39 "2020-05-06T19:02:00Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > \superficially similar characteristics.\ If you really think that is a fair characterization of what Miller posted and what I posted, it is clear we have no basis for any discussion. None. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268/40 "2020-05-06T19:03:26Z")
> [@cmosdes](#): > > If you really think that is a fair characterization of what Miller posted and what I posted, it is clear we have no basis for any discussion. None. That’s not how multiple choice works. You apparently don’t think C is the right answer. Cool. What DO you think is the right answer? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-heres-my-hat-uneven-modding/853268.md?page=3)