# Lame-ass pitting of Marley the Moderator **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 13, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580 "2012-10-13T01:04:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580/61 "2012-10-14T17:57:30Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Slackers1 37 posts and no mention of Hitler? -1 ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580/62 "2012-10-14T18:41:23Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It’s not equally pointless: sooner or later someone was going to actually ask the implied question about why we close stupid threads like the other one. I don’t think there is very much new to say about this issue because we’ve discussed it so many times, but people can ask. This is part joke thread and part discussion of the rules. So now we can put aside the sarcastic thanks and the concerns about hypocrisy and hipsterism. Yay, for making up shit to excuse obvious hypocritical behavior. This thread did not actually contain any questions. It only contained a question after someone pointed out that you were being hypocrites. But, even if this thread was an exception, there are several more that were not closed down, and allowed to run. Thus you are lying when you say that such threads are so pointless that you don’t allow them. You do allow them, except when you randomly don’t. I just can’t understand why it’s so hard for you guys to just get together, decide on what you’re going to moderate, and then do it, instead of just winging it and coming up with after-the-fact rationalizations. That’s something stupid people do because they lack the ability to perform any type of introspection. It’s not something moderators at a board claiming to be for smart people should do. Let alone having other people defend by such idiocies as “It’s just a message board,” like the venue in which you illustrated stupidity should matter, or “Why let something so small bother you?” like responding in words to people who screw up in words is somehow a disproportionate response. And like they don’t pit people for their idiocy that doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. I mean, I think closing stupid threads is stupid, since the software already has a mechanism to handle that things that people think are too stupid to respond to. But, if you’d just define what too stupid to live meant, and then, more importantly, actually always close threads like that rather than occasionally letting them live, I’d at least have respect your position. And it wouldn’t be so frustrating, posting on a board where the mods claim to want to be fair, but then randomly decide to not be fair for the hell of it. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580/63 "2012-10-14T19:53:55Z")
Concern trolling. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580/64 "2012-10-14T21:53:45Z")
even if there was only one mod, the act of modding would still be subjective. cut the mods some slack! ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580/65 "2012-10-14T22:27:49Z")
Obligatory complaint about the mod apologists and suck-ups. ---
**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:** [October 14, 2012, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580/66 "2012-10-14T22:49:08Z")
Can we take this down to the quarry and throw it in? ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580/67 "2012-10-15T00:00:41Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > See post 47 Alternatively, I would draw your attention to post number 73 ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580/68 "2012-10-15T14:09:42Z")
I think most people here (who haven’t just put me on ‘ignore’) know I’m “not quite right.” I’m not particularly proud of that, nor am I really even ok with it. Over time I have learned, partly with the assistance of a couple of moderators on this very board, to be better at pretending to be less “not quite right.” For their help, patience and insight I am truly grateful (as should all the rest of you be, trust me). There are things that make perfect sense to me that seem completely random to other people. I share the thoughts I find particularly amusing. Unfortunately, although I continue to learn some specific thoughts that warrant suppression, there are others that make it past the filter and a moderator is usually kind enough to strangle the resulting thread with its own umbilical cord. I presume this is done to spare me the pile on of insults which are sure to follow a non sequitur, and phrases such as “too stupid to live” are not insulting in the least and are intended only as a blunt instruction—the small words and brief sentences are to ensure I am not confused by the closure. This is a kindness for which I should be grateful, but the overall effect remains frustrating. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580/69 "2012-10-15T14:34:11Z")
Since this thread exists, and the forum-appropriate discussion is about why some threads are too stupid to live, yet others equally stupid are let go on and on, I guess I’ll point out one as an example of uneven moderation. [This thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=668173)was a spam thread about Peruvian hair, where mod action deleted the spammer and all posts in one go. Apparently someone else had posted before the Op went away, so the thread remains as a vestige of all the glory of Peruvian hair. [Here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15571725&postcount=8)is Colibri’s post to the thread: > [@Colibri](#): > > Apparently one of the other moderators removed all the posts of a spammer at the same time, one of which happened to be the OP of this thread. So we’re left with this enigmatic thread. > > Since this has had a few replies and all evidence of the spammer, who was selling hair extensions, has been removed, I’m going to move it to MPSIMS rather than sending it to the cornfield. > > Colibri > General Questions Moderator When this post was made, the posts that existed in that thread included: A post = “reported” as the OP (because the spammer post was gone). A post acting confused why the OP reported himself for not saying anything. A joke about guinea pig hair wigs. An explanation about the spammer OP. A joke about llamas. A pun. Another llama joke. So why is that thread not too stupid to live, and instead gets moved to MPSIMS to continue for another 24 (at my count) posts of jokes of varying degrees of funniness? There’s no real topic, because there’s no real OP. Now I’m not reporting it because I don’t care if it lives or dies. It just seems inconsistent that one thread gets shitcanned for stupidity, but another is threadspotted. Seems to me if people are enjoying themselves, then there’s no need to kill the thread. And if it’s really too stupid to live, the people will ignore it. Of course, that takes discipline on the part of the board members. This thread seems to show that threads that are too stupid to live, instead of getting ignored and falling into the abyss of time, get turned into a longrunning gag reel. So, what is the threshhold? What is the best policy? Why don’t my socks match?\* * * * \*Okay, my socks match. It was time for some levity. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580/70 "2012-10-15T15:03:40Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > I think most people here (who haven’t just put me on ‘ignore’) know I’m “not quite right.” I’m not particularly proud of that, nor am I really even ok with it. Over time I have learned, partly with the assistance of a couple of moderators on this very board, to be better at pretending to be less “not quite right.” For their help, patience and insight I am truly grateful (as should all the rest of you be, trust me). > > There are things that make perfect sense to me that seem completely random to other people. I share the thoughts I find particularly amusing. Unfortunately, although I continue to learn some specific thoughts that warrant suppression, there are others that make it past the filter and a moderator is usually kind enough to strangle the resulting thread with its own umbilical cord. I presume this is done to spare me the pile on of insults which are sure to follow a non sequitur, and phrases such as “too stupid to live” are not insulting in the least and are intended only as a blunt instruction—the small words and brief sentences are to ensure I am not confused by the closure. This is a kindness for which I should be grateful, but the overall effect remains frustrating. You seem to be sufficiently quite right to me, and the characterization otherwise by people who think themselves to be perfectly quite right IS something to be proud of. Keep up the good work. The inquisition will not last forever. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580/71 "2012-10-15T22:27:05Z")
nvm. ---
**Author:** ![Vita\_Beata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@Vita\_Beata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vita_Beata)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580/72 "2012-10-15T22:41:43Z")
…_.nervously fretting over possibility of Marley’s finger hitting the ‘Ban The Whole Board’ button again_… ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580/73 "2012-10-15T23:39:44Z")
See post 47 ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580/74 "2012-10-16T00:11:55Z")
Bitchy post about some posters seeming to have their own set of rules. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580/75 "2012-10-16T00:39:00Z")
Junior modding. ---
**Author:** ![Suil\_Dubh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Suil\_Dubh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suil_Dubh)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580/76 "2012-10-16T04:12:04Z")
I think this board would be a lot better if we could have avatars. _runs away_ ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580/77 "2012-10-16T06:04:03Z")
Where have all the memes gone? ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580/78 "2012-10-16T06:13:30Z")
I, for one, welcome our alien… ah crap, I just can’t do it. Sorry for the interruption. ---
**Author:** ![Molotok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Molotok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molotok)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580/79 "2012-10-16T06:40:10Z")
I burn your quarry, and throw dogs down there… ---
**Author:** ![Otara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Otara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otara)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580/80 "2012-10-16T09:06:29Z")
Naive newbie post pointing out things that everyone really knows already. Otara [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-ass-pitting-of-marley-the-moderator/637580.md?page=5)