# Is a Moderator allowed to attack a poster like this? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 30, 2016, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-moderator-allowed-to-attack-a-poster-like-this/770090 "2016-10-30T04:52:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-moderator-allowed-to-attack-a-poster-like-this/770090/1 "2016-10-30T04:52:46Z")
Miller just attacked me out of the blue in a post after I had commented on his using the term “Democrat Party” after calling himself a Democrat. I pointed out that Democrats use the term Democratic Party. He went ballistic right after that, and then came up with this gem: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19738504&postcount=132](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19738504&postcount=132) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-moderator-allowed-to-attack-a-poster-like-this/770090/2 "2016-10-30T05:01:23Z")
He sure is. It’s in the Pit and he was posting as a poster, not as a mod. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-moderator-allowed-to-attack-a-poster-like-this/770090/3 "2016-10-30T05:02:59Z")
You’ve been here since March 1999 and you still don’t know the answer to this question? He was not acting as a moderator; he was giving his opinion as a poster. The thread was in the Pit, where insults are allowed. Case closed. ---
**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 30, 2016, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-moderator-allowed-to-attack-a-poster-like-this/770090/4 "2016-10-30T05:03:35Z")
Yes. Yes I am. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-moderator-allowed-to-attack-a-poster-like-this/770090/5 "2016-10-30T05:19:26Z")
It’s one of the rules of the Straight Dope Messaging Board. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-moderator-allowed-to-attack-a-poster-like-this/770090/6 "2016-10-30T05:25:03Z")
As many others have said already, of it’s in the Pit, mods are allowed to insult you and other posters, yes. ---
**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:** [October 30, 2016, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-moderator-allowed-to-attack-a-poster-like-this/770090/7 "2016-10-30T05:27:31Z")
Lace those gloves, op, and hit back. ---
**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 30, 2016, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-moderator-allowed-to-attack-a-poster-like-this/770090/8 "2016-10-30T05:27:57Z")
I suppose I should give an actual explanation. It’s Halloween, after all, and I guess my costume this year is a competent moderator. The moderators are expected to follow the same general rules as the other posters on the board. This includes not insulting posters outside the Pit - but, just like any other poster, also includes the ability to insult other posters so long as it’s in the Pit - and, of course, it’s within the specific guidelines of the BBQ Pit forum. So long as a moderator is posting as a poster, you are free to respond to them in kind. If you want to go back in that thread and call me an asshole, you are absolutely free to do that, and you will receive absolutely no sanction or punishment for sassing me just because I’m a mod. The exception, here, is that if I am posting as a mod, you can’t back talk me. (Well, you can, but that’s when I start handing out warnings.) The flip side of this, obviously, is that I can’t insult people when I’m acting as a moderator, which is something I _almost_ never screw up. I make a point to use [Moderating] tags for anything I post as a moderator, so you know when it’s safe to call me an asshole or not. I’m aware that there’s an argument out there that moderators should sacrifice some of their freedom as members when they become moderators. Pit mods shouldn’t get to insult users, GD mods shouldn’t take side in debates, and so forth. The logic there’s really strong. One problem: finding people willing to take the job under those conditions. We’re all volunteers, here - except **Idle Thoughts** , who’s technically a sort of indentured servant. I got placed as the Pit mod because that’s one of my favorite forums on the board. If a condition of being a mod there is that I can’t participate in the forum, then I don’t want the job. And the fact that it’s my favorite forum is part of what makes me most suitable to moderate that forum. It’s been suggested that maybe mods don’t mod forums they like, but I think I’d be a horror show if placed in charge of MPSIMS, and I hate to think what having to mod the Pit would do to poor **IvoryTowerDenizen**. So, you get the present situation, where mods are allowed to be just as socially unaccpetable to you in the Pit, as you get to be to everyone else. It’s a bit of a hack but it’s served us pretty well since… ever, really. Anyway, if you have any other rules-related questions, I’m happy to answer them here. If you’d prefer to resort to swearing at each other, I am at your service in the thread in question. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-moderator-allowed-to-attack-a-poster-like-this/770090/9 "2016-10-30T12:53:57Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I hate to think what having to mod the Pit would do to poor **IvoryTowerDenizen**. So do I. Denizen is a monster in human form and, given a forum like the Pit, would unleash a thousand years of darkness and blood would run in the threads. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-moderator-allowed-to-attack-a-poster-like-this/770090/10 "2016-10-30T12:54:52Z")
Sheeple. Sheeple. Shee ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-moderator-allowed-to-attack-a-poster-like-this/770090/11 "2016-10-30T12:59:08Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > So do I. Denizen is a monster in human form and, given a forum like the Pit, would unleash a thousand years of darkness and blood would run in the threads. :eek: You say that like it’s a **bad** thing. You will all love me and despair! ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-moderator-allowed-to-attack-a-poster-like-this/770090/12 "2016-10-30T13:15:11Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Miller just attacked me out of the blue in a post after I had commented on his using the term “Democrat Party” after calling himself a Democrat. I pointed out that Democrats use the term Democratic Party. He went ballistic right after that, and then came up with this gem: > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19738504&postcount=132](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19738504&postcount=132) Ha ha. Miller owned you in that post you little butt hurt baby. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-moderator-allowed-to-attack-a-poster-like-this/770090/13 "2016-10-30T13:23:19Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Ha ha. Miller owned you in that post you little butt hurt baby. Shit. I thought that this thread was in the Pit for some stupid reason. I apologize for this misplaced post. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-moderator-allowed-to-attack-a-poster-like-this/770090/14 "2016-10-30T13:55:38Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > You say that like it’s a **bad** thing. > > You will all love me and despair! Galadriel? Is that you? ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-moderator-allowed-to-attack-a-poster-like-this/770090/15 "2016-10-30T14:04:38Z")
The other exception is that when a mod gives you a ration of shit in non-mod mode, you can’t put them on ignore. Well, I guess you could, but doing so would probably bite you in the ass later on. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-moderator-allowed-to-attack-a-poster-like-this/770090/16 "2016-10-30T14:05:17Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > As many others have said already, of it’s in the Pit, mods are allowed to insult you and other posters, yes. And I should know this off the top of my head by now — we can insult them as posters just not for being Mods/their moderation, right? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-moderator-allowed-to-attack-a-poster-like-this/770090/17 "2016-10-30T14:07:30Z")
Yep. Let 'em have it, provided it’s not about moderation or moderator decisions. Such belongs here in ATMB. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-moderator-allowed-to-attack-a-poster-like-this/770090/18 "2016-10-30T14:10:09Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > The other exception is that when a mod gives you a ration of shit in non-mod mode, you can’t put them on ignore. > > Well, I guess you could, but doing so would probably bite you in the ass later on. The settings here prevent you from putting a moderator on ignore. ---
**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:** [October 30, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-moderator-allowed-to-attack-a-poster-like-this/770090/19 "2016-10-30T15:48:46Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Yes. Yes I am. I have to agree with **Swiller** on this one. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-moderator-allowed-to-attack-a-poster-like-this/770090/20 "2016-10-30T19:10:25Z")
THAT’S your idea of “ballistic”? I’d call it dismissive, more than anything. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-moderator-allowed-to-attack-a-poster-like-this/770090.md?page=2)