# Jonathan Chance, are you trying to drive new posters away? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 30, 2014, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-are-you-trying-to-drive-new-posters-away/699920 "2014-09-30T00:25:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-are-you-trying-to-drive-new-posters-away/699920/21 "2014-09-30T04:36:07Z")
[Engineer\_comp\_geek gives us a fine example of a clear and effective moderation post.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17773079&postcount=4) > [@The Most Weirdest Children's Show Ever Made](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-weirdest-childrens-show-ever-made/699918/4): > > **Moderator Action** > > I don’t see a factual question here. > > Moving thread from General Questions to the weird television show forum, er, Cafe Society. In only 23 words, he - Makes it clear he is acting as a moderator - Explains what action he is going to take - Explains why he is taking that action - Throws in a humorous comment too No weary sighs. No pronouncements from on high. No condescension. No self-aggrandizement. Just the facts, jack. ---
**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:** [September 30, 2014, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-are-you-trying-to-drive-new-posters-away/699920/22 "2014-09-30T05:09:50Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > [Engineer\_comp\_geek gives us a fine example of a clear and effective moderation post.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17773079&postcount=4) > In only 23 words, he > > - Makes it clear he is acting as a moderator > - Explains what action he is going to take > - Explains why he is taking that action > - Throws in a humorous comment too > > No weary sighs. No pronouncements from on high. No condescension. No self-aggrandizement. Just the facts, jack. I actually agree with everything here, and the other posts in this thread on a similar theme. **Jonathan Chance** , knock it off with that crap. That said, I have no problem with the actual moderation in that thread. Posters are expected to actually contribute in GD. If this dude shows up and doesn’t even bother to lurk long enough to learn that about the culture, best to put him on notice early. No need to bend over backwards trying to pretend it wasn’t a lame OP. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-are-you-trying-to-drive-new-posters-away/699920/23 "2014-09-30T08:36:58Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > “I acknowledge that I made an error” is not the same as “I am sorry for my error.” > > Nuances of dictionary definitions aside, in American English, “mea culpa” projects a lot less sincerity than “I’m sorry.” I hear it used sarcastically more than sincerely. Adding the “maxima” only makes it seem more like a throwaway line. Perhaps you should actually check the origin of the phrase. > **[Mea culpa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mea_culpa)** > > Mea culpa /ˌmeɪ.əˈkʊl.pə/ is a phrase originating from Latin that means my fault or my mistake and is an acknowledgment of having done wrong. The expression is used also as an admission of having made a mistake that should have been avoided and, in a religious context, may be accompanied by symbolically beating the breast when uttering the words. > The phrase comes from a Western Christian prayer of confession of sinfulness, known as the Confiteor, used in the Roman Rite at the beginning of Mass... Yes, it \*can \*be used sarcastically, like any phrase. But on this occasiuon at l;east it seems sincere. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-are-you-trying-to-drive-new-posters-away/699920/24 "2014-09-30T09:26:35Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > [Engineer\_comp\_geek gives us a fine example of a clear and effective moderation post.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17773079&postcount=4) > In only 23 words, he > > - Makes it clear he is acting as a moderator > - Explains what action he is going to take > - Explains why he is taking that action > - Throws in a humorous comment too > > No weary sighs. No pronouncements from on high. No condescension. No self-aggrandizement. Just the facts, jack. While I agree that is a good mod post, I have no issue with **Jonathan Chance** ’s moderation either, and personally I think it would be a shame if all the mods posted and moderated in the same style. I mean, the guy (JC) responds to this thread promptly, acknowledges an error (which only amounted to one sentence in what would otherwise have been a helpful and welcoming post), apologises to the OP, apologises to those who have expressed RO over the issue, and still you have a complaint to make. What do you want from him, blood? Get a grip and move on already. You are reading inferences in posts not intended by the writer, in my view - easily done online, goodness knows I’ve done it enough myself. ETA: your comment “Nuances of dictionary definitions aside, in American English, “mea culpa” projects a lot less sincerity than “I’m sorry.” I hear it used sarcastically more than sincerely. Adding the “maxima” only makes it seem more like a throwaway line” is excellent supporting evidence of my comment above. “I’m _so_ sorry” or “my sincerest apologies” can just as easily be used sarcastically as “mea maxima culpa” - or they can be very genuine expressions of regret. In the absence of tone of voice, it’s all in how you read it. Nothing personal, I just think you’re being a bit unfair here. **Peter Morris** ’s post is spot on. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-are-you-trying-to-drive-new-posters-away/699920/25 "2014-09-30T10:37:31Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Perhaps you should actually check the origin of the phrase. > > [Mea culpa - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mea_culpa) > > Yes, it \*can \*be used sarcastically, like any phrase. But on this occasiuon at l;east it seems sincere. Perhaps you should actually read your cite. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-are-you-trying-to-drive-new-posters-away/699920/26 "2014-09-30T11:13:43Z")
Jonathan, I want to commend you for owning up to your mistake and sending an apology directly to the poster. What bugged me about that post was partially the tone of “not up to our standards”, but also the manner you addressed his lack of making a Debate. Wouldn’t it have just been easier to send it to GQ or Elections or wherever his thread fit better? I see what you were going for - instruction on what the GD forum is for, but I don’t think this was the right approach for this post. But since you’ve already apologized, I’ll only poke you one or two more times before I let it go. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![callander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@callander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/callander)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-are-you-trying-to-drive-new-posters-away/699920/27 "2014-09-30T15:01:16Z")
This is the thing for me. Tone is lost in cyberspace as we all know. I saw nothing wrong with the welcome that was given, I didn’t hear it the way many did. One can say the word what and depending how they do so it can mean 40 different things, (okay I haven’t counted but you get the idea). I was given a clear my mouth thingy by a mod and I didn’t take it as a slight. I realized I had to look at what I did and why it didn’t fit. None of us are 12 here I presume. Also what is with the mod bashing, I don’t get it. I would have thought by this thread title, it would have been a re line for a personal email to a mod. I like having mods, rules and regs seems more civilized than chaos, if the goal is a community. ---
**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 30, 2014, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-are-you-trying-to-drive-new-posters-away/699920/28 "2014-09-30T15:18:46Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Wow, yes, That was snotty! “Not up to our standards” - indeed! :eek: > We have standards?! Of course. Just few principles and almost no morals. ---
**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 30, 2014, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-are-you-trying-to-drive-new-posters-away/699920/29 "2014-09-30T15:19:46Z")
I don’t think that OP was up to GD standards, so I’m not seeing the problem with what **JC** did. Maybe he should have moved it to IMHO or MPSISMs, but what’s wrong with letting new posters know that we expect more out OPs in GD? This same poster also posted a non-answer answer as the very first response in a GQ thread. Seems like it would do him well to read the registration agreement and posting rules. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-are-you-trying-to-drive-new-posters-away/699920/30 "2014-09-30T21:34:13Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > “I acknowledge that I made an error” is not the same as “I am sorry for my error.” > > Nuances of dictionary definitions aside, in American English, “mea culpa” projects a lot less sincerity than “I’m sorry.” I hear it used sarcastically more than sincerely. Adding the “maxima” only makes it seem more like a throwaway line. > > Besides, he’s getting reamed for acting all superior and stuff. If he genuinely understood the problem, would he be using Latin? > > Viridi Faba, > Latin Scholar. For 4 years in high school, anyway. > p.s. Semper ubi sub ubi! Seems like correct usage to me. He’s acknowledging his error here, to the third party that called him on it, and plans to apologize to the poster he was rude to. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-are-you-trying-to-drive-new-posters-away/699920/31 "2014-10-01T12:54:30Z")
This thread went to a weird place. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-are-you-trying-to-drive-new-posters-away/699920/32 "2014-10-01T14:30:10Z")
I didn’t know we had standards. Ignorance fought! ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-are-you-trying-to-drive-new-posters-away/699920/33 "2014-10-01T16:10:30Z")
Did they update the **registration agreement** and not tell us? There wasn’t anything about having to have standards when I signed up. I _may_ have to resign, as I refuse to belong to a Board that has standards so low I can join it. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-are-you-trying-to-drive-new-posters-away/699920/34 "2014-10-01T16:56:04Z")
Of course we have [standards](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standard) here, but without images, you can’t see them. > [@](#): > > 1: a conspicuous object (as a banner) formerly carried at the top of a pole and used to mark a rallying point especially in battle or to serve as an emblem > > 2 a : a long narrow tapering flag that is personal to an individual or corporation and bears heraldic devices > b : the personal flag of the head of a state or of a member of a royal family > c : an organization flag carried by a mounted or motorized military unit ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-are-you-trying-to-drive-new-posters-away/699920/35 "2014-10-01T17:22:34Z")
So not only do we have _standards_, there’s a\*\* flag/banner\*\* too? Next we’ll have half the Board singing _Onward Doper soldiers, marching off to war, with the flag of Knowledge marching as before_ While the other half chants _Hell no! We won’t go!_ and _Hey hey, Zotti hey, how much ignorance did you kill today?_ ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-are-you-trying-to-drive-new-posters-away/699920/36 "2014-10-01T22:51:39Z")
The guy acknowledged his error and sent a message to the OP. What more is expected? Should he wear a hair-shirt for a month, flagellate himself, prostrate himself before board members and beg their forgiveness? Enough already. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2014, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-are-you-trying-to-drive-new-posters-away/699920/37 "2014-10-02T02:55:40Z")
Personally, I’d like to see him apologize for offering such a silly apology. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-are-you-trying-to-drive-new-posters-away/699920/38 "2014-10-02T06:27:25Z")
Personally, he can clear his throat too. I enjoy our collective eccentricities. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-are-you-trying-to-drive-new-posters-away/699920.md?page=1)