# Is there any recourse for dubious modding? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 4, 2010, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248 "2010-03-04T05:46:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248/21 "2010-03-05T06:19:44Z")
I suggest the OP bitch and moan about the mods. I don’t think anyone has tried that one yet, might be nice to see new ground tread for once. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2010, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248/22 "2010-03-05T12:58:47Z")
I know some people seem to hate the following but as far as I can tell, it’s _not_ against any rules anywhere since Lynn’s rules in The Pit were rescinded/unstickied and it’s certainly not against the rules in ATMB and I just gotta. Ambushed–who posts multiple two-billion word long posts because someone used a word or two he didn’t like the nuances of…three weeks after the word was used…and hasn’t found one single sympathetic poster who agrees with him after all that wordage…is ATMBing Tomndebb _and_ Marley? At the same time? I’m pulling up a goddamned lawnchair, cracking open a beer, getting some popcorn and settling in to watch the fireworks. This is gonna be good. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248/23 "2010-03-05T13:39:56Z")
> [@statsman1982](#): > > “If someone can’t understand what I’m saying, even when I try to say it different ways, it _must_ be their problem. I am perfectly clear and coherent in my writing, after all. No one with a brain could fail to understand anything I write.” > > “While I appreciate the enthusiasm of this cute little moderator [patting the mod on the head], I don’t think he’s quite up to snuff intellectually with the rest of us Great Debators. If he but understood a modicum of our brilliance, he would certainly not rule against me.” > > I don’t think you intend your posts to come off like that, but, as I said, interpretation sometimes defies logic. Have to say I agree with **statsman** ’s paraphrase of **ambushed’s** mini-rant. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248/24 "2010-03-05T13:59:14Z")
To be honest I don’t think I even got a pat on the head out of all that. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248/25 "2010-03-05T16:14:12Z")
Well, that answers the question of whether or not he realized he should put it away. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248/26 "2010-03-05T16:30:00Z")
> [@ambushed](#): > > Is there any recourse for dubious modding? Nuke them from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248/27 "2010-03-05T16:45:37Z")
I demand a rule be made that when people make a mysterious complain about an unnamed moderator, such moderator cannot come in post #2 and out himself. It totally ruins the suspense. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248/28 "2010-03-05T16:53:18Z")
> [@Sapo](#): > > I demand a rule be made that when people make a mysterious complain about an unnamed moderator, such moderator cannot come in post #2 and out himself. It totally ruins the suspense. [Carly Simon]“And I bet you think this bitch is about you, don’t you, don’t you, don’t you?”[/Carly Simon] ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248/29 "2010-03-05T17:54:29Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [Carly Simon]“And I bet you think this bitch is about you, don’t you, don’t you, don’t you?”[/Carly Simon] Quiet there. Remember not everyone knows I am a mod’s sock. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248/30 "2010-03-05T19:06:04Z")
**ambushed** , you have a few intelligent things to say. However, the culture around here values tone over content, so if you want your content to be acknowledged, the simple, though not entirely just, truth is that you must learn to conform your tone to the received Doper style. There’s no alternative: you can’t chest pound your way into the dialogue. You have to sniff a few butts and lower your gaze. And no, there is essentially no recourse for biased moderation. Moderators are effectively self-policed; only the most egregious moderator transgressions have ever been addressed by a third party. Besides those extremely rare exceptions (I am only personally aware of two such instances), the moderator in question is allowed to choose whether to reconsider his opinion or not. At least that’s all that is ever seen of whatever backroom procedure that follows complaints against moderators. It’s an extremely opaque process. And human being, as you point out, human, the likelihood of a monitor taking a poster’s side against another monitor is unlikely enough to be discountable as a possibility. As far as wagons go, these tend to remain fixed to a circular path. In addition to that, mods are often given an artificial impression of the general poster consensus of their actions, because the usual brown-nosers are drawn to any thread about moderators like flies to shit. The obsequy in such threads can be physically revolting, but most mods have little trouble getting it down. So take a break, **ambushed** , and come back when you’re ready keep to your place. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248/31 "2010-03-05T19:21:05Z")
> [@](#): > > the culture around here values tone over content You never seem to tire of saying this, but I’m not seeing it. I’m just saying, that it’s not going to get any less untrue just because you repeat it a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248/32 "2010-03-05T19:26:30Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > **ambushed** , you have a few intelligent things to say. However, the culture around here values tone over content, so if you want your content to be acknowledged, the simple, though not entirely just, truth is that you must learn to conform your tone to the received Doper style. You could put it that way. Or you could say you’re expected to use a little politeness, and that if you show off a superior attitude, it’s going to offend people. That’s true in any form of communication. That’s been the problem for **ambushed**. The issue with **orcenio** was not the tone **ambushed** used, it was that he was condescending and insulted him repeatedly. In other posts, tone has been a problem. Those posts showed the same attitude but were a little more subtle. They expressed the same view of his reading audience. > [@](#): > > And no, there is essentially no recourse for biased moderation. Particularly when there’s no bias in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248/33 "2010-03-05T20:09:54Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > **ambushed** , you have a few intelligent things to say. However, the culture around here values tone over content, so if you want your content to be acknowledged, the simple, though not entirely just, truth is that you must learn to conform your tone to the received Doper style. There’s no alternative: you can’t chest pound your way into the dialogue. You have to sniff a few butts and lower your gaze. This gets more poignant with each retelling. You’re only one player short of a Passion Play, provided you gents can ever agree on who’ll take center cross. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248/34 "2010-03-05T20:36:24Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > You never seem to tire of saying this, but I’m not seeing it. > > I’m just saying, that it’s not going to get any less untrue just because you repeat it a lot. Is that what he’s saying? I disagree. We value _both_. (Thanks for quoting the germane part.) ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248/35 "2010-03-05T20:48:47Z")
**lissener** said: > [@](#): > > And no, there is essentially no recourse for biased moderation. Well, first you have to establish there is biased moderation. Of course, learning the rules is a good way to realize most complaints about moderation are by people thinking they should be allowed to do things their way regardless of the rules. > [@](#): > > In addition to that, mods are often given an artificial impression of the general poster consensus of their actions, because the usual brown-nosers are drawn to any thread about moderators like flies to shit. That’s funny, I was going to say that the mods are often given an artificial impression of the general poster _dissent_ with their actions, becuase the usual bitch-n-moaners are drawn to any thread about moderators like flies to shit. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248/36 "2010-03-05T22:29:31Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > …There’s no process by which the poster can remove a mod or exclude a mod from commenting on his posts. **Ed** , not sure if you are reading this but, based on threads I see in ATMB, this is a feature people would probably pay for. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248/37 "2010-03-05T22:43:27Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > You never seem to tire of saying this, but I’m not seeing it. > > I’m just saying, that it’s not going to get any less untrue just because you repeat it a lot. The Straight Dope. Fighting poor tone since 2010. It might take a lot longer than we think. (and that’s even before we start to work on poor muscle tone) ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248/38 "2010-03-05T22:48:19Z")
I’ve had my complaints with moderation, and certain moderators, but I’ve also noticed two things. In general, the moderation is pretty good. I see much worse moderation when it is my ox being gored. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248/39 "2010-03-06T00:37:52Z")
I’m still not sure why my OP about declawing cats in my moving SUV while I was talking on my cellphone and then throwing the cats at fat people didn’t go over well. What’s with the SDMB always worrying about tone over substance? Fascists. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248/40 "2010-03-06T05:59:01Z")
If I had to make a guess, the “tone” that lissener is implying is that you must pay deference to the mutual brilliance of everyone participating in a discussion even when you KNOW most of them are idiots. I’m sure he feels those chains in many a thread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-recourse-for-dubious-modding/531248.md?page=3)