# I pit the SDMB! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 20, 2006, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267 "2006-10-20T19:08:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267/21 "2006-10-20T21:04:27Z")
[QUOTE=Giraffe] Your concerns are noted. And stupid. Are you seriously worrying about a hypothetical abuse of power on an internet message board? Have you considered not being such an idiot? [/QUOTE] Fine. Dismiss me. Cast me aside like a piece of used tissue. Step on my feelings and call me a fool. You’ll miss me when I’m gone and if anything happens to me it will be on your heads! Don’t try to stop me! :mad: I’m sorry. Please take me back. I didn’t mean it. Whip me, beat me, make me write bad checks, but please tell me you love me! OK, so I’m a slut. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267/22 "2006-10-20T21:04:33Z")
[QUOTE=fluiddruid] How else do we Moderators know which people get to abide by the Special Charter Member Extended-Privilege Rules and who must be strictly held to the Regular Member Barely-Above-An-Indentured-Servant, Independent-Thoughts-Must-Be-Crushed Rules? [/QUOTE] Hey! I’m still waiting for those extended privileges. Who do you have to bribe / sleep with / use the special handshake on to get them? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267/23 "2006-10-20T21:04:59Z")
[QUOTE=Giles] Such a pity: I would have liked to read your reply. [/QUOTE] I can’t even read this thread to see what you guys are talking about, it being still between 1-4 PM Central. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267/24 "2006-10-20T21:07:33Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] So, you’re the _one_ Doper who admits to owning an Escalade, huh? [/QUOTE] I need it to haul around all my Real Dolls. Anything smaller and some of them have to go in the trunk, which is just no good. People look at you like you’re some sort of creep when they see you stuffing a bunch of limp human forms into your trunk. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267/25 "2006-10-20T21:07:33Z")
What’s that? The boards are slow? WHY HAS NO ONE BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION BEFORE NOW???! ---
**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:** [October 20, 2006, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267/26 "2006-10-20T21:13:11Z")
I’m still waiting for me “Charter Member” to be replaced with “Goddess of the Night.” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267/27 "2006-10-20T21:22:08Z")
[QUOTE=erie774] I’m sure the mods here would never abuse their privileged status by doing something unsavory, but I get a little squeamish about people in positions of power. You know, “Power corrupts, absolute power **fucking rocks!** ” Or words to that effect. I would like to see a distinction between, for example, moderator **Giraffe** posting to a thread and member **Giraffe** posting. (No, **Giraffe** I have nothing against you or any of the mods. It’s just that your name had the most recent entry on this thread) Sure, you can tell us “moderator hat on” or words to that effect, but it still gives me a slightly queasy feeling, like when Congress investigates itself. Sure, you expect them to do the right thing but there is always the chance… [/quote] How would this prevent a mod from being “corrupted” by all their “power?” They still have all the same abilities and responsibilities. How would a secret identity make them less prone to corruption? If anything, it would be worse: if you get in a knockdown, drag-out fight with **Giraffe** , and he starts hassling you as a mod because of it, then you can make a pretty good case that he’s abusing his rank. If you get in a fight with regular poster **Giraffe** , who unbeknownst to you is also **Necky the Mod** , how do you prove (or even know) that he’s hassling you as **Necky** because of what you said to him when he was **Giraffe**? This way, at least, mods are responsible for everything they say both as mods and as posters. If the idea still makes you queasy, I suggest you take some Pepto and get over it. > [@](#): > > I just believe there should be some distinctions for clarity sakes and no possible appearance of impropriety. What’s unclear about how things currently work? How is secrecy going to make things clearer? What specific incidents of impropriety do you think would be remedied by this change? > [@](#): > > Oh, since I mentioned “distinctions”, why do we have a class system on what is arguably a relatively liberal board? OK, you have guests, members, SDSAB and moderators. That makes sense. But do we need to have Charter Members? “OOOHHHH! He’s a Charter Member! He’s been here since Cecil was enlightening the Mesopotamians!” So what! You are a member with no more rights or privileges than me. Then it’s not really a class system, is it? Charter Membership was floated as a minor perk when the board first went pay-to-post. Since, as you say, it doesn’t give the poster any special priviledges, it’s a pretty stupid thing to be whining about. > [@](#): > > It’s like saying you are a member of the DAR or your ancestors came across on the Mayflower. Who gives a rodent’s rectum? Why are you asking me? You’re the one complaining about it. You tell me why you give a shit. > [@](#): > > We have 5 billion threads about how such and such group shouldn’t be oppressed or some other facet of society shouldn’t be given preferential treatment. Well hello kettle, this is the pot. And guess what? If you really believe in what you are saying, put your money where your mouth is and ask to have your status changed from Charter Member to a lowly Member to prove that you don’t think you are better than anyone else. Since charter members aren’t given preferential treatment, and regular members aren’t being oppressed, I’m not entirely certain where you’re coming from in your accusation of hypocrisy. Charter Members aren’t given preferential treatment. Non-Charter Members aren’t being oppressed. So how exactly does it make me a kettle if I decry political and social discrimination while holding a meaningless title on an internet message board? Oh, and for the record, there are a _lot_ of people I think I’m better than. There’s a difference between equality of opportunity and equality of outcome. I wasn’t born better than anyone else, but I sure as hell have turned out better than some. ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267/28 "2006-10-20T21:30:15Z")
[QUOTE=Giles] Hey! I’m still waiting for those extended privileges. Who do you have to bribe / sleep with / use the special handshake on to get them? [/QUOTE] _raises hand_ Uh, at least on the first part. I’d need a picture first for point number two. ---
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267/29 "2006-10-20T21:32:22Z")
Do we have proof that **Necky the mod** does not exist? What if he does but is just lurking, waiting for the opportune moment… ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267/30 "2006-10-20T21:33:13Z")
Actually, Charter Member means we get to be abused by the jack-booted Mods for half-price! ---
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267/31 "2006-10-20T21:33:49Z")
[QUOTE=fluiddruid] _raises hand_ Uh, at least on the first part. I’d need a picture first for point number two. [/QUOTE] In the interests of anonymity, I can’t. You know her 😉 ---
**Author:** ![rayh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@rayh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayh)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267/32 "2006-10-20T21:34:17Z")
[QUOTE=Giraffe] I need it to haul around all my Real Dolls. Anything smaller and some of them have to go in the trunk, which is just no good. People look at you like you’re some sort of creep when they see you stuffing a bunch of limp human forms into your trunk. [/QUOTE] And someone has to carry the goat around. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267/33 "2006-10-20T21:40:14Z")
[QUOTE=Greenback] Do we have proof that **Necky the mod** does not exist? What if he does but is just lurking, waiting for the opportune moment… [/QUOTE] Note for any lurkers; now would be an interesting time to join. ---
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267/34 "2006-10-20T21:45:24Z")
You are not helping **Revenant Threshold**. Does this foil hat bring out my eyes? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267/35 "2006-10-20T22:00:34Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Actually, Charter Member means we get to be abused by the jack-booted Mods for half-price! [/QUOTE] I stand corrected. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267/36 "2006-10-20T22:28:17Z")
**Necky the Mod** is a class act, and the mod I most want to be like. Here’s to you, **Necky**. You’re a cut above. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267/37 "2006-10-20T22:34:10Z")
Moderators, the rebellious attitude displayed by this “member” displeases me. I order you to dispose of erie774 lest his/her (I do not bother to pay heed to the genders of lowly members) attitude spread to the rest of the members. You must obey the commands of the charter members, or you shall feel the wrath of the first dopers aboard the Mayflower. Now that that has been taken care of, fetch me a flagon of mead and a member to play the lute for me. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267/38 "2006-10-20T22:39:32Z")
[QUOTE=tomndebb] I have no idea whether we on the staff are trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, or clean,… [/QUOTE] Wow. A clean sweep. I am none of these. I am reverent, but it is reserved for Robert Heinlein, Humphrey Bogart, and pre-1990 or so Elvis Costello. > [@Miller](#): > > Also, remember that the mods all started out as posters here, and if forced to choose between being a moderator or being a poster, I suspect most (if not all) of them would rather post than moderate. If I couldn’t be a regular poster too, I would FedEx my jackboots back to Chicago so fast it would make your head swim. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267/39 "2006-10-20T22:45:22Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] Wow. A clean sweep. I am none of these. I am reverent… [/QUOTE] I’m reverent, and so’s my wife. Well, close enough… ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267/40 "2006-10-20T23:06:57Z")
[QUOTE=Harborwolf] Moderators, the rebellious attitude displayed by this “member” displeases me. I order you to dispose of erie774 lest his/her (I do not bother to pay heed to the genders of lowly members) attitude spread to the rest of the members. You must obey the commands of the charter members, or you shall feel the wrath of the first dopers aboard the Mayflower. [/QUOTE] Hah! You’re merely a “June '99er”. I don’t take orders from a mere Junie. Go find someone with seniority if you want to order Mods around. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-sdmb/377267.md?page=3)