# Inappropriate moderator post **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 2, 2020, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594 "2020-11-02T22:02:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594/81 "2020-11-03T18:49:21Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Right! A right winger like yourself can allege that democrats want to chop off people’s heads He didn’t say Democrats want to chop off people’s heads. He said that the American left’s attitude towards freedom of expression was closer to the Muslims who were violent in that incident, than the free-speech crowd. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594/82 "2020-11-03T19:02:03Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > He said that the American left’s attitude towards freedom of expression was closer to the Muslims who were violent in that incident, than the free-speech crowd. In other words, he made > [@Babale](#): > > a factually untrue and extraordinarily hyperbolic assertion made only to illicit outraged responses, ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594/83 "2020-11-03T19:23:54Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > So I took his statement to mean “this is the sort of _ **extreme** _ statement that might look like trolling. But I believe it’s actually true, so I suppose the poster probably does, too, and therefore it is probably not trolling” You misspelled “provocative.” The statement itself wasn’t even controversial. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594/84 "2020-11-03T19:32:33Z")
As for the post by our esteemed psychohistorian, I’ll preface my remark by admitting that I wouldn’t be a moderator even if I lost a bet. But at the risk of teaching my grandmother to suck eggs, I wouldn’t recommend bringing up one’s moderator title in a post that is not, in itself, moderation. Also, **mike curtis**? _cachet_. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594/85 "2020-11-04T04:40:20Z")
> [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](#): > > And if it were in a single sentence of a post that defended the proposition of the GOP as a violent, white nationalist organization, it would be fine. But as the entirety of a post, it serves no purpose other than to rile up conservative posters and virtue-signal to everyone else that madmonk is on our side. I’m not sure that’s valuable in GD. Ah, but the topic in question belongs to the _Politics & Elections_ forum. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594/86 "2020-11-04T04:54:37Z")
In response to post #1, I believe **Hari\_Seldon** ’s post was _ultra vires_, but not for any of the reasons mentioned thus far. My logic is simple: - **Hari\_Seldon** was not acting in his capacity as a moderator - In P&E, it is inappropriate for a non-moderator to comment on whether another poster is trolling. - Therefore, in P&E, it is inappropriate for **Hari\_Seldon** to comment on whether another poster is trolling, unless he is acting in his capacity as a moderator. It is also possible that **Hari\_Seldon** was referring to the incident itself (cars literally “trolling” the Biden campaign bus), but that’s a stretch. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594/87 "2020-11-04T05:39:32Z")
In response to concerns of a double standard expressed by **Lance\_Turbo** , **Octopus** , and **Velocity** , I do think those concerns are justified by the literal text of **Hari\_Seldon** ’s post in the Biden topic. I do not think **Hari\_Seldon** actually believes it is impossible for him to agree with a troll. (That would be the literal implication, trivially disproved). I prefer to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that the post does not accurately represent **Hari\_Seldon** ’s thinking on the matter. Given that assumption, I do _not_ see a double standard between censuring **Macgiver** ’s post (on the basis of trolling with a “bald-faced lie”) and letting **madmonk28** ’s post go. There is a line of thinking to connect the two - **Hari\_Seldon** ’s personal opinion of the Republican party may very well have been a _factor_ when he judged **madmonk28** ’s honesty. I don’t think there is anything wrong with it being a factor, or even the deciding factor in this particular case. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594/88 "2020-11-04T16:28:16Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > Ah, but the topic in question belongs to the _Politics & Elections_ forum. Whatever. The same logic applies to P&E, and AFAIK, there aren’t any differences in standards between the two fora. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594/89 "2020-11-04T16:31:02Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > I prefer to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that the post does not accurately represent **Hari\_Seldon** ’s thinking on the matter. It would be nice if @Hari_Seldon cleared up any doubts about his thinking on this matter. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2020, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594/90 "2020-11-04T16:48:09Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > He didn’t say Democrats want to chop off people’s heads. He said that the American left’s attitude towards freedom of expression was closer to the Muslims who were violent in that incident, than the free-speech crowd. A couple of weeks ago he suggested that if American leftists gained power, they’d murder the babies of Republicans in Idaho and torture JK Rowling to death. He absolutely refused to back down from the hyperbole of his claims. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594/91 "2020-11-04T16:56:12Z")
Meanwhile I get a warning for a post that compared his views to the Nazis’. I didn’t call him a nazi; I didn’t say he approved of any of the Nazis’ heinous policies, like antisemitism or murder or invading Poland. I just pointed out that, much like the nazis, he brings up the threat of leftists very often. I didn’t dispute that warning and I’m not doing so now; I’m also not asking for Octopus to be warned for comparing liberals to Islamists or for claiming that liberals want to kill conservative babies. Not a hyperbolic description of abortion, mind, but literally bayoneting babies. I’m not asking for him to be warned for his hateful posts. I’m just bringing this up so that any rational person would be able to make their own determination as to whether there really is a double standard in moderation here, and if so, which way it leans. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594/92 "2020-11-04T16:58:36Z")
Actually I didn’t say that. You made that up. Just because I don’t refute every bizarre and fictitious assertion doesn’t make the bizarre and fictitious assertion true. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2020, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594/93 "2020-11-04T17:01:08Z")
Exchange, talking about “the woke” and “the left”: > [@octopus](#): > > The zealots and inquisitors of today are actually just as dangerous as their historical counterparts. I’m not sure how you can defend that. > [@me](#): > > This is very true. I saw a torture chamber organized by some social justice warriors. JK Rowling was stretched on a rack, and I heard her screams as her body was torn apart. Louis CK was in the iron maiden, and his blood pooled on the floor and ran toward the drain. And out front, the SJWs were building an actual pyre around a stake to which they’d lashed a local Blue Lives Matter activist; and soon we knew that his fat would bubble from his flesh as he screamed for mercy. > > But none of this compared to the literal crusade they were organizing against the entire state of Idaho, where they planned to dash the heads of unbelievers’ babies against the cobblestones in an effort to reclaim the state for their leftist gods. > > I’m so glad you made this incredibly important and accurate point. > [@octopus](#): > > If they had more real power then they currently do LHOD’s attempt at satire would be a reality. It goes on and on with me pressing you to back away from your hyperbole. You never did. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594/94 "2020-11-04T17:08:48Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > It would be nice if @Hari_Seldon cleared up any doubts about his thinking on this matter. To clear up any doubt, what I said was idiotic and I sincerely apologize. I can only plead that I was in the full throes of Trump Derangement Syndrome. To repeat, it was wrong and I apologize. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594/95 "2020-11-04T17:10:16Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > To clear up any doubt, what I said was idiotic and I sincerely apologize. I can only plead that I was in the full throes of Trump Derangement Syndrome. To repeat, it was wrong and I apologize. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594/96 "2020-11-04T17:13:33Z")
You realize that broad based characterizations of ideology has long been mostly allowed here and personal insults of _posters_ not? Claiming conservatives want to do x, y, z is exceedingly common and never considered remarkable or worth acting on. Claiming liberals aren’t saintly on the other hand causes much consternation. Furthermore, insults directed at off board individuals typically was not modded. Now they are but in a very inconsistent manner. So the topic of this thread isn’t really that octopus does what the majority does but targets a different subset. It’s that comments that would be ignored if directed at Trump or many on the right are sanctioned if directed at Biden. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594/97 "2020-11-04T17:34:51Z")
I didn’t insult you. Do you dispute that you believe leftists are a huge threat to the country? Do you consider the statement “Octopus believes Leftists are a threat to this country” is an inherently insulting one? ---
**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:** [November 4, 2020, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594/98 "2020-11-04T18:14:01Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > You realize that broad based characterizations of ideology has long been mostly allowed here and personal insults of _posters_ not? Claiming conservatives want to do x, y, z is exceedingly common and never considered remarkable or worth acting on. Claiming liberals aren’t saintly on the other hand causes much consternation. > > Furthermore, insults directed at off board individuals typically was not modded. Now they are but in a very inconsistent manner. So the topic of this thread isn’t really that octopus does what the majority does but targets a different subset. It’s that comments that would be ignored if directed at Trump or many on the right are sanctioned if directed at Biden. > [@Babale](#): > > I didn’t insult you. Do you dispute that you believe leftists are a huge threat to the country? Do you consider the statement “Octopus believes Leftists are a threat to this country” is an inherently insulting one? **Moderating** This thread is for the purpose of discussing a particular moderator post, which the moderator has apologized for. We have had a more general discussion many many times before, and I don’t think re-hashing that for the umpteenth time is going to be productive. Let’s drop this. Colibri ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594/99 "2020-11-04T18:59:25Z")
Personally I enjoyed the comment, got a little grin out of it, and heartilly approve. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594/100 "2020-11-05T09:05:30Z")
Well, yeah, as I noted above, the statement he agreed with isn’t even controversial. Now if someone had actually reported it as trolling, **Hari\_Seldon** would have been perfectly justified in declining to moderate it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-moderator-post/924594.md?page=6)