# Is this considered Junior Modding **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 26, 2016, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907 "2016-09-26T03:49:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907/21 "2016-09-26T17:57:54Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > … > > So, my inclination here is to not intervene in that thread, and let the posters sort it out themselves, in the tradition of the forum. But I’m open to arguments for why the junior modding rule would be helpful in the Pit, if someone wants to make them. Excellent modding right there. About not modding. Or something. Whatever. I agree. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2016, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907/22 "2016-09-26T18:04:28Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Emphasis added-- that is exactly what happened. It was not all in the OP, as I already noted above. Sorry – I’ve read the first post two more times and I’m just not seeing it the way you do. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907/23 "2016-09-26T18:30:52Z")
I think the back and forth about whether something is junior modding in that thread has about zilch to do with maintaining the integrity and order of the forum, and one hundred percent to do with the political opinions of the various participants on the topic. Since this junior modding controversy is just a facade for a political disagreement, I think **Miller** is doing the right thing by just letting it play out. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907/24 "2016-09-26T18:39:23Z")
Miller is like the Dos Equis guy. He doesn’t write very much very often, but when he does, it’s usually great. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907/25 "2016-09-26T19:31:55Z")
I haven’t had someone scrutinize something I’ve written this closely since I retired from grant writing. Thanks for letting an old lady know that you’re paying attention. Didn’t mean to piss y’all off, but I’m a little bit flattered. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2016, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907/26 "2016-09-26T19:32:18Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a report for junior modding in the Pit before. This is a bit of a novel situation. Obviously, the OP’s instructions in that thread have absolutely no force, and everyone is free to ignore them. But should posting diktats about what people can and cannot post in your Pit threads something that should be moderated? In the general spirit of the Pit, I feel like this is something that’s better handled by the posters at large. I’d expect a Pit OP that specifically admonishes people not to insult each other to be met with nothing but a steady stream of mockery and invective, and frankly, I’m a little disappointed in you people that that did not happen. > > Of course, that’s what sets the Pit apart from other forums, and why a rule against junior modding (much like a rule against threadshitting) maybe doesn’t make as much sense there. We have the rule about junior modding because we don’t want to have GD threads that turn into fights over what people are and are not allowed to post in that thread. In the Pit, we’re generally less concerned with the idea of keeping threads “on topic,” and the possibility of a thread careening out of the OP’s control is one of the draws of reading and posting there. > > There’s also an issue of drawing a distinction between junior modding, and some types of behavior that are generally considered acceptable in the Pit. Implicitly, a lot of posting in the Pit is about telling other people how they should behave on the boards. Is telling someone to “Shut up and go away” a form of junior modding? “You’re too stupid to post in this thread?” “Anyone who thinks X can piss off, I don’t want to hear your bullshit?” The thread in question is pretty clear cut, but if the rule against junior modding is going to be enforced in the Pit, I think there’s going to be a fairly significant gray area around what does and does not break the rule. > > So, my inclination here is to not intervene in that thread, and let the posters sort it out themselves, in the tradition of the forum. But I’m open to arguments for why the junior modding rule would be helpful in the Pit, if someone wants to make them. Makes sense. No rule against Jr Mod’ing in the Pit, then. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907/27 "2016-09-26T19:40:59Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Makes sense. No rule against Jr Mod’ing in the Pit, then. That’s not what he said. \*So, my inclination here is to not intervene in that thread… \*Quoting Miller. Key words are “inclination” and “that thread.” The door is still open. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907/28 "2016-09-26T19:42:31Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I haven’t had someone scrutinize something I’ve written this closely since I retired from grant writing. Thanks for letting an old lady know that you’re paying attention. > > Didn’t mean to piss y’all off, but I’m a little bit flattered. I’m still hope we (most of us?) get some of the cashew fudge. That’s still in the works right? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907/29 "2016-09-26T19:57:42Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I’m still hope we (most of us?) get some of the cashew fudge. That’s still in the works right? Yeah, baby. 😉 Everyone can have some. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2016, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907/30 "2016-09-26T20:04:51Z")
I agree with Miller here. My longest Pit thread, I think, is one I use specifically to tell another poster to hush up, and I’ve bumped it over the years to repeat the instruction to that poster. I do it in the pit because it’s not allowed elsewhere. That’s what the pit is for. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907/31 "2016-09-26T20:14:24Z")
I’m going out on a limb and say that the OP of a thread should be able to junior mod to keep the thread on the intended track. If I start a thread of which marsupial would make the best pet and someone talks about manatees in their bathtub, I should be able to remind the poster to limit themselves to marsupials. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907/32 "2016-09-26T20:17:32Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I’m going out on a limb and say that the OP of a thread should be able to junior mod to keep the thread on the intended track. If I start a thread of which marsupial would make the best pet and someone talks about manatees in their bathtub, I should be able to remind the poster to limit themselves to marsupials. There are three approaches to this: 1. “Manatees are awesome, but I’d really love to stay focused on marsupials in this thread, and unless you know something about manatees that I don’t, they’re not marsupials.” Good form. 2. “No. Do not post about manatees in this thread. This is only for marsupials.” Bad form. 3. “What kind of inbred unibrow halfwit are you, anyway, posting about manatees in this thread? Do you not know what a marsupial is, you cretinous circus reject? Shut the fuck up with your shitty natterings about fucking manatees!” Good form in the pit, bad form elsewhere. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2016, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907/33 "2016-09-26T21:07:57Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I’m going out on a limb and say that the OP of a thread should be able to junior mod to keep the thread on the intended track. If I start a thread of which marsupial would make the best pet and someone talks about manatees in their bathtub, I should be able to remind the poster to limit themselves to marsupials. That’s not really junior modding. I don’t consider that an OP reminding posters of the kind of information wanted is junior modding, as long as it is done politely. Where it becomes a problem is when someone starts giving other posters orders or accusing them of violating the rules. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907/34 "2016-09-26T21:47:33Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Makes sense. No rule against Jr Mod’ing in the Pit, then. There’s a hard line here … if Junior Modding crosses this line then it become _impersonating_ a mod … and that’s _really_ bad. Even in the Pit, we can’t tell other posters what they can or cannot post. If there’s a problem, then report it to a real mod and let them take care of it. We are always out-of-line telling other posters what to do. However, we can call other posters dirty names in the Pit … we just can’t pretend to be mods in the Pit ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907/35 "2016-09-26T22:27:37Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > There’s a hard line here … if Junior Modding crosses this line then it become _impersonating_ a mod … and that’s _really_ bad. Even in the Pit, we can’t tell other posters what they can or cannot post. If there’s a problem, then report it to a real mod and let them take care of it. We are always out-of-line telling other posters what to do. > > However, we can call other posters dirty names in the Pit … we just can’t pretend to be mods in the Pit In my comments that pissed everyone off, I told people what to post or not post on my thread, but even while doing it I knew, and everyone else knew, that I had absolutely NO WAY of enforcing it. No matter how strongly worded, if you’re not a mod, it’s only a request with no teeth in it. So I don’t see what the big deal is. The people reading the thread are free to agree to the request or completely ignore it, and _I’m fine with that._ Why? Because that is reality. OTOH, when a mod says post/don’t post or “this is unacceptable,” a mod can warn you and eventually ban you. A mod is all-powerful in the SDMB world, and that is as it should be, as I said in [this post.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19652437&postcount=49) A board like this needs to be moderated or it deteriorates into chaos and 10,000 post threads that no one can navigate. So, in practice, the difference between so-called “junior modding” and real modding is infinite, like the difference between 0 and 1. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907/36 "2016-09-26T22:38:17Z")
That slope need not be slippery if it is vertical … ---
**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:** [September 27, 2016, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907/37 "2016-09-27T00:32:18Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > In my comments that pissed everyone off, I told people what to post or not post on my thread, but even while doing it I knew, and everyone else knew, that I had absolutely NO WAY of enforcing it. No matter how strongly worded, if you’re not a mod, it’s only a request with no teeth in it. So I don’t see what the big deal is. The people reading the thread are free to agree to the request or completely ignore it, and _I’m fine with that._ Why? Because that is reality. > > OTOH, when a mod says post/don’t post or “this is unacceptable,” a mod can warn you and eventually ban you. A mod is all-powerful in the SDMB world, and that is as it should be, as I said in [this post.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19652437&postcount=49) A board like this needs to be moderated or it deteriorates into chaos and 10,000 post threads that no one can navigate. > > So, in practice, the difference between so-called “junior modding” and real modding is infinite, like the difference between 0 and 1. No. What you did in the Pit would and should be moderated as Jr Mod’ing had you done the same in GD. You were Jr Mod’ing, it’s just that we’ve decide that’s OK in the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907/38 "2016-09-27T11:26:24Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > So, in practice, the difference between so-called “junior modding” and real modding is infinite, like the difference between 0 and 1. No, the difference between 0 and 1 isn’t infinite; it’s 1. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907/39 "2016-09-27T12:36:00Z")
It’s a qualitative difference, not just a quantitative difference. It’s “all the difference in the world.” ---
**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:** [September 27, 2016, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907/40 "2016-09-27T14:32:04Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > It’s a qualitative difference, not just a quantitative difference. It’s “all the difference in the world.” It depends on what you’re counting. The difference between zero universes and one universe is almost infinite. The difference between zero bananas and one banana? Not so much. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-considered-junior-modding/766907.md?page=3)