# Manhattan's Mass Banning Fucking Power Trip **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 12, 2003, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740 "2003-03-12T04:16:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740/101 "2003-03-13T13:02:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monty \* > \*\*And yet someone who tells someone to go kill himself doesn’t get banned. > > Well, that was in another forum. \*\* morrison’s lament maybe? ---
**Author:** ![donkeyoatey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@donkeyoatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donkeyoatey)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740/102 "2003-03-13T13:40:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > \*\* > Why are you bothered by the fact that she’s familiar with the software that the Board operates on and is willing to share it? > > \*\* I’m not bothered by the fact that she’s familiar with the software that the board operates on and is willing to share it, I’m bothered by the fact that she so often responds in a condescending manner. She made a list of posting styles that bother her, I took issue with her style, which appears in this thread. And **Anthracite** , I wasn’t editing your post to support my point, I quoted the piece of it that was relevant . And I am well aware the rest of it is still there, on the second page of the thread. To me the second sentence reads like this – \*no you don’t have a copy or run your own board but I do so this is the way it is. \* ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740/103 "2003-03-13T13:46:00Z")
> [@](#): > > she so often responds in a condescending manner She knows her stuff. It’s ridiculous to expect her to grovel about that before the unwashed masses. Grow yourself a thicker skin. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740/104 "2003-03-13T14:37:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Squink \* > \*\*Welcome back, but I’ve got to know: Vampire, or JavaZombie ? > Where’s lekatt ? He should be in on this. 😉 \*\* Ooh, ohh…that’s cool. You just helped me decide, and it’s an important decision, for I want this name to stand at least as long as Javaman did. (Off to email Lynn…) ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740/105 "2003-03-13T14:45:39Z")
Really though, vB, UBb and many, many other types of forum software work in remarkably similar ways, and at least with vB and UBb, it’s not necessary to know anything about code hacking to create topics that are only accessible to certain user groups. It’s right in the admin control panel options when you create a member group to decide which topics that group has access to, and you can decide whether or not those topics are even _visible_ to each member group straight from the same control panel. It’s a point-and-click checkbox operation for the most part, and it can be set up to automatically change a user group at a certain post count or after a certain amount of time with most board software. When I was a forum admin at another site, user groups were set up such that the user’s group name (here it’s Member, Moderator or Admin) would change on those markers. Most of them meant nothing, but were just cute little slogans that we set up for different milestones. As an example, if someone had 10,000 posts they were automatically changed to group ‘Sir Posts A-Lot’ and when they had under 30 posts their user group would be ‘Newbie’. The capabilities of vB and UBb software are to be able to do those things without hacking _any_ actual code, and there are many many more things admins can do without hacking code. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740/106 "2003-03-13T14:50:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by javaman \* > \*\*Ooh, ohh…that’s cool. You just helped me decide, and it’s an important decision, for I want this name to stand at least as long as Javaman did. > > (Off to email Lynn…) \*\* Or rather, TubaDiva. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740/107 "2003-03-13T17:01:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by donkeyoatey \* > \*\*And **Anthracite** , I wasn’t editing your post to support my point, I quoted the piece of it that was relevant . And I am well aware the rest of it is still there, on the second page of the thread. To me the second sentence reads like this – \*no you don’t have a copy or run your own board but I do so this is the way it is. \* \*\* No, I disagree. The post loses its relevance without the key part that shows I was in the mindset of trying to type out quick pointers to how it would be done if you did own the software. You cannot with honestly parse out my post like you have and decide to ignore the rest. And since the rest supports my assertion, and not yours, does it not appear fairly obvious why you consider only that first sentence “relevant”? But even then - after I explained to you what I meant, what’s your continued beef? I said I wasn’t trying to be condescending. I really don’t know you at all, or remember any run-in’s with you on this Board. And I don’t think you’re one of those cowardly pieces of subhuman scum who were so “brave” to flame me from a banned member’s LiveJournal. Are you going to go after everyone else on this message board who posts in any sort of manner you believe is “condescending”? To be honest about this, you either have to go after them as well with the same intensity, or else you need to say what is the precipitating factor which is bringing us to this Missing of the Minds. (no, that’s not an insult nor is it “condescending”, it’s the opposite of a “Meeting of the Minds”) What is it - the topic matter? Is the person I responded to earlier a friend of yours? Me in general? There are solutions to all of those things, you know, most of them amicable and with mutual respect for the others’ position and beliefs. And you still have not responded at all on my point of: > [@](#): > > And so what if I do post about how things work in vBulletin? At least I’m trying to help from a knowledge base of some experience. Look at ATMB once in a while. People pop in to post all sorts of things about what vBulletin can or can’t do, many of them incorrect. Why would people continue to do this? What is this need to post at all cost, regardless of whether one is right or wrong, regardless of whether or not one has experience, or any familiarity with the software? What really goes through someone’s head when they say “Hmm…now, I don’t have this software, and have never actually used it, but I think I’ll post on whether or not a specific feature can be added to the Board. Hey, why not, it’s a slow day at work anyhow.” That sort of behaviour is more acceptable to you? I haven’t seen you call out anyone who does those things, nor did you decry them when I brought it up. Why not? In addition, I admitted that I get things wrong. You refused to acknowledge that. I admitted that not only **did I not know all the answers** , just a lot of them, but that **I had learned things from others on this Board** posting about vBulletin. Surely you don’t believe those are “condescending” behaviours as well? ---
**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 14, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740/108 "2003-03-14T01:52:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by donkeyoatey \* > \*\*I’m not bothered by the fact that she’s familiar with the software that the board operates on and is willing to share it, I’m bothered by the fact that she so often responds in a condescending manner. She made a list of posting styles that bother her, I took issue with her style, which appears in this thread. \*\* To each their own, I suppose, but that’s not my experience. I’ve been reading **Anth’s** posts for years and I’ve never heard her be anything but helpful in matters like this. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740/109 "2003-03-14T04:19:41Z")
“ **Spectre of Pithecanthropus** ”? :eek: 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740/110 "2003-03-14T05:44:33Z")
Ragging on Anthracite is a silly thing to do… ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740/111 "2003-03-14T06:37:44Z")
**javaman** is now **Spectre of Pithecanthropus**? ::revises impression of **javaman** to deëmphasize computer programming and focus instead on human anthropology:: ---
**Author:** ![donkeyoatey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@donkeyoatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donkeyoatey)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740/112 "2003-03-14T06:45:42Z")
I wish I didn’t have to put this under your post **gusnspot**. Troll here often? My behavior here has been mis-guided at best and appears mean-spirited and malicious. I apologize to you **Anthracite**. I didn’t mean to imply you don’t know what you are talking about or that you think you know it all. And, no, we don’t have a history. I know of the LJ incident you refer to, and had no part in it. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740/113 "2003-03-14T07:00:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by donkeyoatey \* > \*\*I wish I didn’t have to put this under your post **gusnspot**. Troll here often? > \*\* Hah! **GusNSpot** is practically a founding member of the current incarnation of SDMB. He has member number 33. There’s only a tiny number of active posters with lower member numbers: 2: **Lynn Bodoni** 6: **Ed Zotti** 14: **Monty** 18: **Ian Rey** 19: **C K Dexter Haven** 22: **Eutychus** 31: **Cecil Adams** 32: **TubaDiva** ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740/114 "2003-03-14T19:39:55Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by donkeyoatey \* > [BMy behavior here has been mis-guided at best and appears mean-spirited and malicious._\* I think in reality we’ve simply miscommunicated. I _do_ have a history of sometimes posting in an overly brusque manner, or in a way that appears condescending, and it is likely you felt that what I was doing here was a continuation of the same. That’s understandable. Whereas I misinterpreted your attempt to call me on that perceived behaviour as being an attack on me, or my overall posting style, or even attempt to contribute on a particular topic, because I did not feel that I had been posting in a condescending or insulting manner on the subject of vBulletin here. Or, I wondered if there was some sort of bad blood here, although I could not remember at all. I think we just needed better communication, and more asking what the other meant exactly. For my part, I know and recognize that I do respond to things too quickly sometimes, and am in a “stirke back” defensive mode, which is not a good thing. I know that I likely misinterpreted you, and I feel that you did the same with me. I don’t think this makes either of us any lesser. Peace? ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740/115 "2003-03-14T22:09:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Amok \* > \*\*How is that a factual answer to the question asked? Does the U.S. require people to be Christian, or outlaw other books? No? Then it’s not a fucking answer. \*\* And it wasn’t much of a fucking question in the first place. Some questions have a _factual_ answer in yes or no terms, but practically beg for discussion by their very nature. By the GQ rules in force, there should have been exactly one one post after the OP consisting of the word “no”. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740/116 "2003-03-14T22:38:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AHunter3 \* > \*\ ***javaman** is now **Spectre of Pithecanthropus**? > > ::revises impression of **javaman** to deëmphasize computer programming and focus instead on human anthropology:: \*\* Loath though I was to lose the connection to programming, I’ve always thought _Spectre_ was a cool word for some reason, and in this case somewhat appropriate. The " of Pithecanthropus" bit enables me to recall the old name and also use both capitalization and embedded spaces–two things I didn’t even know were possible when I registered. Of course I’m still a programmer, but all programmers in my neck of the woods do these days is configure and install packaged solutions. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740/117 "2003-03-14T22:46:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anthracite \* > \*\*“ **Spectre of Pithecanthropus** ”? > > :eek: 🆒 \*\* yeah…but you can call me Spectre, or you can call me Pithecantropus, or you can call me… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![donkeyoatey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@donkeyoatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donkeyoatey)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740/118 "2003-03-15T03:11:35Z")
Well said **Anthracite**. Peace. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740/119 "2003-03-15T21:18:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anthracite \* > \*\*I don’t know what else the SDMB Staff can do. They warn, and warn, and warn, and post sticky notes, and warn, and warn, and people keep either blatantly ignoring the warnings or get carried away and disregard them. What else can they do besides ban? They have to do something of last resort, because GQ is a forum which is out of control. \*\* How about a temporary banning or disciplining? As Manhattan said in the emails, he really didn’t intend for us to be banned completely, but wanted to enforce the forum rules. You know, something where the member wouldn’t be able to post for a few weeks or a month, and under their name would appear “Under Board Discipline”, or something like that. It’s hard when all they can do is ban, especially when they don’t really intend to permanently expel the member, as in this case. Just an thought. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740/120 "2003-03-26T07:06:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Spectre of Pithecanthropus \* > \*\*How about a temporary banning or disciplining? \*\* Double secret probation? PS should I start a “manhattan is a fuck” thread? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattans-mass-banning-fucking-power-trip/160740.md?page=7)