# Marley--here we go again. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 14, 2013, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321 "2013-05-14T16:00:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [May 14, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321/41 "2013-05-14T18:02:10Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > What I also find appalling is that some people apparently want to turn the SDMB into a Ladies’ and Gentlemen’ s Afternoon Tea. FWIW, I see your appalling and raise you a supercilious monocle glare. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321/42 "2013-05-14T18:08:05Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > I did not interpret that as Marley saying he WAS threadshitting just that Oakminster seemed to be heading in that direction, but not there yet. Marley said wandering into, not heading towards. Which I disagree that Oak was, in either sense. Into. Not, nearby. Not in the vague direction of. Into. Whatever Marley’s intention, “into” can reasonably be interpreted as saying that Oakminster has passed into threadshitland. But either way it was unnecessary to take mod action in my opinion. It’s better in these minor at worst situations to not mod but let the community handle it. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321/43 "2013-05-14T18:12:50Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > FWIW, I see your appalling and raise you a supercilious monocle glare. 😃 I do appreciate the humor. But I’d rather hang at the pub, with all the profane inanities, great wit, and everything in between. You can keep your Tea Time crumpets and, you know. Do something clever with them. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321/44 "2013-05-14T18:16:19Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > It’s better in these minor at worst situations to not mod but let the community handle it. I agree there are times that that’s best, and I try to let those go. Other times, “let the community handle it” means an argument gets more personal or a thread gets hijacked by an argument about the rules. That’s not so good, so it’s better to try to head those off. I’m not sure what to say about the British Parliament. Parliament is its own institution with different rules, and it can be entertaining but it’s also known for its flamboyant, open hostility. You can do that kind of stuff in the Pit, but booing and hissing people doesn’t exactly encourage discussion, does it? ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321/45 "2013-05-14T18:21:47Z")
No, it doesn’t, but as a non-moderator I don’t see how that warrants a mod note. If you intervened after every post that didn’t exactly encourage discussion, well, the Elections Forum would be overwhelmed with Marley23 mod notes. ---
**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:** [May 14, 2013, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321/46 "2013-05-14T18:33:29Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > No, it doesn’t, but as a non-moderator I don’t see how that warrants a mod note. If you intervened after every post that didn’t exactly encourage discussion, well, the Elections Forum would be overwhelmed with Marley23 mod notes. For awhile–and then maybe it’d become a place filled with interesting conversation backed up with cites. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321/47 "2013-05-14T18:42:04Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > For awhile–and then maybe it’d become a place filled with interesting conversation backed up with cites. I really doubt it. Stifling speech restricts ideas. Which obviously can be the right choice if the ideas are inappropriate for the Forum. But while Oakminster’s parliamentary bellowing of “Boo, hiss!” and “First Amendment!” isn’t exactly lofty and creative, it does belong in the Elections forum. Where else would it go? I suppose you might want argue it should just go away, but to me it’s a component of political debate in the real world and is entirely appropriate for the Elections forum. (By the way, to be clear, I’m on Marley’s side about the rules violation report.) ---
**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:** [May 14, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321/48 "2013-05-14T18:46:54Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > I really doubt it. Stifling speech restricts ideas. Which obviously can be the right choice if the ideas are inappropriate for the Forum. But while Oakminster’s parliamentary bellowing of “Boo, hiss!” and “First Amendment!” isn’t exactly lofty and creative, it does belong in the Elections forum. Where else would it go? I suppose you might want argue it should just go away, but to me it’s a component of political debate in the real world and is entirely appropriate for the Elections forum. The real world has a lot of inane and useless crap passing for political debate. I think that sort of “boo, hiss” can show up in the Pit if it’s really necessary, or of course he’s welcome to shout it at his computer, that’s fine. But communicating it doesn’t improve the board–it actively hurts the board by irritating others and tempting them to respond in similar fashion instead of responding substantively–and that’s the standard I’d like to be used. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321/49 "2013-05-14T18:47:59Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > Stifling speech restricts ideas. What idea was restricted here? it was a mod note for tone. > [@](#): > > But while Oakminster’s parliamentary bellowing of “Boo, hiss!” and “First Amendment!” isn’t exactly lofty and creative, it does belong in the Elections forum. Where else would it go? It wouldn’t get a second glance in the Pit, but I think you’re working backward here. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321/50 "2013-05-14T18:48:31Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > As much as I disagree with **Oakminster** ’s political point of view, but agree that his post could have been considerably more substantive than it was, I cannot agree that this was a justifiable mod action\*. It certainly is not remotely “thread shitting,” or anything close to that. Appalling that **Marley23** really felt the necessity to intervene. > > The modding around here really is becoming increasingly heavy-handed, and to no particularly good purpose. > \*Referring to the post in question in the OP, not the report of rules violation. It does appear to me that there is some merit to your post. I’ve seen accusations of hijacking or thread-shitting from mods for comments that were, in my opinion, directly related to the OP. I think the mods listen to far too many cry babies who find hitting the report button to be the high point of their day. 2013 is turning out to be a shitty year for the dope. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321/51 "2013-05-14T19:08:12Z")
So, Oakminster is a misogynist?😕 ---
**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:** [May 14, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321/52 "2013-05-14T19:08:43Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I think the mods listen to far too many cry babies who find hitting the report button to be the high point of their day. 2013 is turning out to be a shitty year for the dope. What’s interesting is that you and I both perceive a surfeit of crybabies on the Dope these days, but I suspect we completely disagree about who the crybabies are :). ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321/53 "2013-05-14T20:03:15Z")
In a thread that’s chok a blok full of unconstitutional ideas, pointing out the fact that some are currently unconstitutional is not “reasoned critique”. The very first ideas in the OP are: Abolish the Electoral College Add seats to the House to prevent particular types of results Change House terms Change the purpose of the Senate Repeal term limits for the President Remove spending responsibility from the Legislature One doesn’t need to be a legal whiz to think that implementing these might require an Amendment or two. Implementing them without changing the Constitution is not implementing them at all, so what is the purpose of critiquing THAT? Reasoned critique is discussing WHY these ideas are bad ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321/54 "2013-05-14T20:04:45Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > What’s interesting is that you and I both perceive a surfeit of crybabies on the Dope these days, but I suspect we completely disagree about who the crybabies are :). “…Oh, Lord, kumbaya.” ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321/55 "2013-05-14T20:18:17Z")
I’m not sure that “Boo, hiss” in itself raises to the level of needing moderation. But the remark about “Didn’t you once teach civics?” seems to be headed into personal territory, and the overall tone of Oak’s responses in that thread was a consistent pattern of casual dismissal of other solicited opinions without substantive rationale or proposal of his own ideas. His overall participation in that thread had the attitude of “your ideas stink” to just about everyone. Seems a bit threadshittery. However, Oakminster, you made accusations that Marley was ignoring a thread report you made on the grounds of personal favoritism rather than merit. At that point, it is totally appropriate for Marley to reveal the nature of the thread report and his rationale for not agreeing with your report. He was defending himself from your accusations. Don’t want him to reveal your thread report, don’t accuse him of ignoring it out of bias. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321/56 "2013-05-14T20:20:53Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > No, it doesn’t, but as a non-moderator I don’t see how that warrants a mod note. If you intervened after every post that didn’t exactly encourage discussion, well, the Elections Forum would be overwhelmed with Marley23 mod notes. Apparently Marley wants it to be nothing but a liberal echo chamber, where no one dares post a substantive comment he doesn’t like. He routinely allows his fellow lefties to get away with much more snark, and outright hostility, than he is allowing me…or other conservatives at times. All I want is a level playing field…which currently does not exist here. ---
**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:** [May 14, 2013, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321/57 "2013-05-14T20:24:09Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Apparently Marley wants it to be nothing but a liberal echo chamber, where no one dares post a substantive comment he doesn’t like. He routinely allows his fellow lefties to get away with much more snark, and outright hostility, than he is allowing me…or other conservatives at times. Obviously. That’s why you’re still here making silly accusations at him, while Dio et al have been banned. That’s why there are still conservative posters on the board. That’s why, when ITR Champion proposes some completely wrongheaded educational proposal, he never faces a mod note, whereas you do. There’s not a level playing field, but it’s not political opinons that make it bumpy: it’s civility. Treat people in a courteous manner, and you won’t face modding. This isn’t that hard. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321/58 "2013-05-14T20:27:46Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Apparently Marley wants it to be nothing but a liberal echo chamber Would you say **Qin Shi Huangdi** and **WillFarnaby** are liberals? > [@](#): > > where no one dares post a substantive comment he doesn’t like. These are substantive comments, in your view? > [@What Would Your Ideal Political Party Platform Be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-ideal-political-party-platform-be/658213/16): > > You do remember that from Con Law I, right? > [@What Would Your Ideal Political Party Platform Be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-ideal-political-party-platform-be/658213/31): > > Boo Hiss > [@What Would Your Ideal Political Party Platform Be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-ideal-political-party-platform-be/658213/31): > > Boo Hiss > [@What Would Your Ideal Political Party Platform Be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-ideal-political-party-platform-be/658213/31): > > Don’t you teach civics? Or did at one time? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321/59 "2013-05-14T20:32:06Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > There’s not a level playing field, but it’s not political opinons that make it bumpy: it’s civility. Treat people in a courteous manner, and you won’t face modding. This isn’t that hard. I’d be glad to do that, if lefties were held to the same standard. They aren’t. Lefties can snipe away at any and all things conservative…and Marley will either look the other way, or get a few licks in himself. I refuse to fight with one hand tied behind my back. If lefties can snipe at me, then I can give it back. That’s only fair. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321/60 "2013-05-14T20:32:21Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > All I want is a level playing field…which currently does not exist here. It sounds like this message board may not be what you’re looking for, and you’d be happier posting elsewhere. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marley-here-we-go-again/658321.md?page=4)