# Is the Straight dope a Dictatorship? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 15, 2002, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999 "2002-08-15T11:49:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/21 "2002-08-15T23:39:03Z")
So _that’s_ why we never went subscription!. Then the mods would work for us. Including UncleBeer, and his damned list. 😛 BTW, **dantheman** , dictators _do_ have cronies. Couldn’t rule without them. Of course it’s a dictatorship. Imagine the chaos if we were to follow **lucwarm’s** (tongue-in-cheek) suggestion. I do agree that a “trials” might make for interesting reading. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![dal\_timgar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@dal\_timgar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dal_timgar)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/22 "2002-08-15T23:44:03Z")
i wouldn’t mind the dictatorship so much if they just explained the rules. i think i’ve had a couple of threads killed. is it wrong to speak to specifically about the stock market? Dal Timgar ---
**Author:** ![Dryga\_Yes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@Dryga\_Yes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dryga_Yes)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/23 "2002-08-15T23:58:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*Wouldn’t a dictatorship be comprised of one person forcing his or her will on many others? Or do I have the wrong definition? \*\* Yes you do. A country ruled by a small junta would be a dictatorship by any definition I’ve heard of. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*I think that people who honestly believe this is a dictatorship might not have the faintest idea what a dictatorship really is. Notice the newest forum, Cafe Society? Do you think your dictator put it there for his own amusement? Nope, it was for the members of this message board. In fact, look at all of the fora - think they’re there for the sole purpose of making the dictator feel good about himself? > > In what possible way is this a dictatorship? > > Yep, we’re all just repressed soul. Damn the man. Damn the man, I say. \*\* Nice straw man. It’s a dictatorship because the mods and admins have absolute power here, and they’re not elected. There’s nothing in the definition of dictatorship about how the ones in charge have to be evil or only looking out for their own good. ---
**Author:** ![shagadelicmysteryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ea924/32.png) [@shagadelicmysteryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shagadelicmysteryman)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/24 "2002-08-16T00:40:00Z")
You people complain about The Great Cecil too much!😃 Just think of all the wonderful things he’s done for us…more to the point, the one true kind act, so befitting of a…man in charge. He’s provided us with this wonderful forum board system, set in place by the Ministry of Communication…Oh heavens! I’ve said too much. _ **Eyes dart around** _:eek: Hurry up! Drink your Kool-Aid before they kick the door in!!! _ **drinks** _ That’s funny. I thought that Jim Jones Jr. guy at that shop said this would taste a bit funny… :smack: I knew I forgot to put something in this! _ **…as shagadelicmysteryman sat in the dark pub, he looked at the picture of Cecil on the wall and smiled to hisself inwardly. It was true…he really did love Big Cecil…** _ ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/25 "2002-08-16T01:10:02Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Dryga\_Yes \* > [@](#): > > It’s a dictatorship because the mods and admins have absolute power here, and they’re not elected. There’s nothing in the definition of dictatorship about how the ones in charge have to be evil or only looking out for their own good. \*\* Not exactly. They don’t have absolute power. If they did, then they’d never, ever be held accountable. I’ve seen them apologize for things they’ve done and said; just recently, **Tuba** posted a somewhat concilitory message. I’ve seen **manhattan** apologize for a certain unprofessional remark he made. Part of the reason both of these situations occured was that people like you and me said something about it in a thread. If they had this absolute power, they wouldn’t even have to respond. They did. You’re certainly right in that the “dictators” don’t have to be evil. According to [M-W](http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary) a dictatorship is “a form of government in which absolute power is concentrated in a dictator or a small clique”. However, that’s only the denotation. Not all governments in whiich the power is concentrated in one person or a small group are dictatorships - some kingdoms spring to mind. Dictatorship is a word that connotes bad behavior of some sort. Also, whereas they may not be elected by you or me, they may be elected by those already in that position - I don’t know. I don’t know what happens if you apply to be a moderator. **mangeorge** , I think ‘henchmen’ is an even better term. 🙂 PS: Besides, absolute power corrupts absolutely, right? Well, **you** try offering them a bribe to do some kinda mod thing for you. ;0 ---
**Author:** ![Sparc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Sparc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparc)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/26 "2002-08-16T01:16:54Z")
We already have trials; they take place in the steamy courtrooms of the BBQ Pit. There is usually a plaintiff, a number of prosecutors, some defense lawyers, a jury of peers, and somewhere in the background there are a few judges. Sparc ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/27 "2002-08-16T01:19:21Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Dryga\_Yes \* > [@](#): > > It’s a dictatorship because the mods and admins have absolute power here, and they’re not elected. There’s nothing in the definition of dictatorship about how the ones in charge have to be evil or only looking out for their own good. \*\* Not exactly. They don’t have absolute power. If they did, then they’d never, ever be held accountable. I’ve seen them apologize for things they’ve done and said; just recently, **Tuba** posted a somewhat concilitory message. I’ve seen **manhattan** apologize for a certain unprofessional remark he made. Part of the reason both of these situations occured was that people like you and me said something about it in a thread. If they had this absolute power, they wouldn’t even have to respond. They did. You’re certainly right in that the “dictators” don’t have to be evil. According to [M-W](http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary) a dictatorship is “a form of government in which absolute power is concentrated in a dictator or a small clique”. However, that’s only the denotation. Not all governments in whiich the power is concentrated in one person or a small group are dictatorships - some kingdoms spring to mind. Dictatorship is a word that connotes bad behavior of some sort. Also, whereas they may not be elected by you or me, they may be elected by those already in that position - I don’t know. I don’t know what happens if you apply to be a moderator. **mangeorge** , I think ‘henchmen’ is an even better term. 🙂 PS: Besides, absolute power corrupts absolutely, right? Well, **you** try offering them a bribe to do some kinda mod thing for you. ;0 ---
**Author:** ![RexDart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@RexDart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RexDart)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/28 "2002-08-16T01:38:20Z")
As a constitutional monarchist (yes, it fits very well with my libertarianism, no time for that now 😉 ), I love the idea of the board being a dictatorship if it’s run the way it is. It has a hierarchy useful for decision-making, but it allows great freedoms in discussion. It’s the perfect example of what a constitutional monarchy should be. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/29 "2002-08-16T01:46:47Z")
And here all along I thought it was an **anarco-syndiclist-commune!** ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/30 "2002-08-16T02:29:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > **Not exactly. They don’t have absolute power. If they did, then they’d never, ever be held accountable. I’ve seen them apologize for things they’ve done and said; just recently, Tuba posted a somewhat concilitory message. I’ve seen manhattan apologize for a certain unprofessional remark he made. Part of the reason both of these situations occured was that people like you and me said something about it in a thread. If they had this absolute power, they wouldn’t even have to respond. They did.** Another post of mine was eaten! Are you guys really buying that “hamster” story? They don’t _have_ to apologize, they _choose_ too. Even dictators do things to appease the masses (such as appearing magnanimous and providing enterntainment, the examples you cited) to prevent revolts. Of course, dictators are not truly omnipotent - there is always a possibility of a revolution. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/31 "2002-08-16T02:35:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anthracite \* > \*\* > You haven’t been around much, have you? It seems a not infrequent occurance to have someone complaining about their “First Amendment Rights being violated” by “censorship” on the SDMB - especially in the Pit. And that is what I’m referring to. \*\* People seem to get mixed up about their rights. A right, like those listed in the Constitution and Declaration of Independence are inalienable rights that cannot be given, nor really taken away. Yet some folks seem to think that when you fail to provide them with the means the deem necessary, you are then depriving them of their rights. Oh yeah, and HAIL LORD CECIL! Master of the knowable! Noble Sovereign of the SDMB! Protectorate of the High Holy Funk! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/32 "2002-08-16T03:45:18Z")
Of course, they’ll be the first against the wall when the revolution comes. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/33 "2002-08-16T03:59:59Z")
**Bryan** , are you crazy? Keep your mouth shut. We’re going to need the element of surprise if this is going to work. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/34 "2002-08-16T05:47:30Z")
I think there’s something to this, guys. After all, if anyone could make the trains run on time, it’d be Cecil. All hail, emperor Cecil. ---
**Author:** ![Genseric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Genseric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genseric)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/35 "2002-08-16T06:22:27Z")
I always took it as a benevolent religious oligarchy. Cecil is god. You never see him, but his presence, if you will, suffuses everything, and is the motive force for the entire enterprise. He may not, in all actuality, exist. Ed Zotti is the high priest. While technically in charge, and directly answerable to Cecil, he rarely gets his hands dirty with the rabble. Actual governing of the community is done by a small group of individuals with pretty much absolute power (The fabled **Administrators**. Luckily, they’re, by and large, nice people. The moderators are the Admin’s lackeys. They seemingly have input on governance issues, but not the final say. They have authority to act when necessary in their particular realm of influence, but are still answerable to those in command. They do the grunt work. Even considering their lowly station in the overall hierarchy, they are certainly far and above us, the common clay, the **Members**. Fortunately we can all get together and have some beers from time to time (except Cecil, of course). ---
**Author:** ![woolly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ebca7d/32.png) [@woolly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woolly)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/36 "2002-08-16T06:43:55Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Genseric \* I always took it as a benevolent religious oligarchy. [QUOTE] I prefer the term hagiocracy (or maybe hagiarchy) myself. ---
**Author:** ![Henry\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d78d45/32.png) [@Henry\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henry_B)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/37 "2002-08-16T07:41:53Z")
I take back the taking of the fift. I will speak: I have been in some other sites as well. And cencored. The thing is that the site located in e.g. U.S., can be procecuted. I do remember one guy explaining these US-laws (in another site). It was quite incredible. :eek: But so is the law in any country: There can be very ancient laws, still “in power.” The craziest example is Russia: - there is the old Russian laws (tzar-time laws) - there is the Soviet Union laws - and the new bandit-capitalism laws (It is the pre-stage of capitalism). And this country or its laws are totally anarcistic. You can do anything here, the freedom is maximazed and on the other hand if a judge look in these three laws carefully, You can’t do anything, just breath, slowly. Put a site here and nobody will give a shit about it, what ever is written there. Violate the copyright here and You are just smiled at. I know one shop in St Petersburg that sells original CD’s! Only one and I have earlier lived there a year! In my town, population 300.000, there is no-one that sells anything original when we speak about CD’s and clothes with a brand-name. Pee in the park and You get the militzia beating You up, robbing Your money (yes, they rob people, the salary is next to nothing) and taken before a judge. Bathing in a fountain in Moscow gave two Finns three months prison.:rolleyes: I just try to point out that the laws in US are incredible, so the site-owner should be checking what people are writing, but the laws in other countries are not better. (Just so that nobody will think I begin to interfiere how a democratic country is making or having its laws…). So I think that the mods has they rights - rightfully. Do they work rightfully, I do not know, maybe they never read my posts! 😃 Such a nice guys! Personally I have not been cencored here, but as I know, there would be very few sites where I could post what I’ve posted here. I try not to butter You up, I’m just licking Your asses. (You know the bunch). And please, do not use the “search” to find out what I have posted.:smack: Forget even to check this post. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/38 "2002-08-16T11:51:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chula \* > \*\*Another post of mine was eaten! Are you guys really buying that “hamster” story? > > They don’t _have_ to apologize, they _choose_ too. Even dictators do things to appease the masses (such as appearing magnanimous and providing enterntainment, the examples you cited) to prevent revolts. Of course, dictators are not truly omnipotent - there is always a possibility of a revolution. \*\* Heh. Good luck with that revolution, Che. 😉 Fine, it’s a benign dictatorship. Funny, the OP contradicted itself in a few sentences: > [@](#): > > If anyone raises a voice they are immediately scorned and subjected to ridicule, this in a way ensures the regularity and distraction from the darker side of the board. > > Personally I love this board, so don’t think this as me being annoyed with anyone or the people on this site but i still think it is a ditatorship a friendly one though. Ha! Which is it? A friendly dictatorship or one in which “anyone [who] raises a voice [is] immediately scorned and subjected to ridicule”? The thing is, the people who do this immediate scorning and ridiculing aren’t the ones in charge of this place. Who posts Pit threads about other members? The moderators? Uh-uh, never happen. Aside from the odd pithy comment, they certainly don’t go out of their way to make anyone’s life miserable. And besides that, if you have a genuine beef and you want it resolved, you can email them and state your case. Try that with a true dictator! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Montezuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@Montezuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montezuma)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/39 "2002-08-16T14:09:57Z")
We should all be learning the so called ‘economy of the gift’ as ‘Uncle cecil’ gives and presents us with all these gifts (cafe society, great debates the more colourful message boards) we thank him and offer our opinion and loyalty (yeah, to an extent) to the elite reprentatives of the people keep watch for our saftey as we cannot do it ourselves, as we are unable. And as for my ‘darker side’ in the OP, just kidding about thats all, I just liked adding a bit of humour to the post obviously someone took it seriously. Sorry if it was misleading. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/40 "2002-08-16T14:18:59Z")
Well…this _is_ **Great Debates** , you know. Seriosity is the norm! [I wonder if that’s a word. Norm might know.] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999.md?page=3)