# Mod note on the Ethics of Food Stamps thread **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 11, 2024, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-note-on-the-ethics-of-food-stamps-thread/1011503 "2024-12-11T17:54:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-note-on-the-ethics-of-food-stamps-thread/1011503/1 "2024-12-11T17:54:49Z")
I truly appreciate both the moderators and the moderation here. Truly. This may be my first time questioning a mod note, then. On the Ethics of Food Stamps thread, a poster described the way in which Food Stamps are funded by all of us, implying that we might, collectively, have a say in how that money is spent at the receiver level: > [@The ethics of food stamps (AITA?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-of-food-stamps-aita/1011457/109): > > I think the concern works something like this: If someone needs food stamps, that means they don’t have enough money to buy enough food to be healthy. Food stamps should allow them to be able to get enough food to live and be healthy. If they’re able to afford caviar and chocolate and still get enough to eat, food stamps is paying them too much. Lots of people not on food stamps can’t afford that stuff. If they’re buying it anyway, then any shortfall is coming out of someone else’s pocket, be… I invoked health care as an analogy to illustrate the innumerable ways that individual actions result in collective costs. While that’s true, my point was that singling out a food stamp recipient seemed a bit arbitrary and discriminatory: > [@The ethics of food stamps (AITA?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-of-food-stamps-aita/1011457/135): > > > **off-topic also.** > > > > When financially independent Americans eat unhealthy food and/or make unhealthy lifestyle choices, it increases the cost of health care for all of us. With whom should I speak about that? It was hidden as being off-topic. I simply don’t think it was. I didn’t get a warning. Nobody was mean to me. I’m just trying to understand if, and how, it strayed too far from the path. Any opinions? ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-note-on-the-ethics-of-food-stamps-thread/1011503/2 "2024-12-11T18:00:36Z")
I agree. You were replying to a post by **Bump**. That post was not hidden as off topic. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2024, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-note-on-the-ethics-of-food-stamps-thread/1011503/3 "2024-12-11T18:08:36Z")
I think that was way too heavy-handed moderation for IMHO. Everything marked off-topic was addressing the OP’s question of whether his behavior was ill-advised. Calling it a “hijack” would be questionable in P&E–but in IMHO? I disagree with that call completely. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2024, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-note-on-the-ethics-of-food-stamps-thread/1011503/4 "2024-12-11T18:17:02Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I think that was way too heavy-handed moderation for IMHO. Was it on topic specifically to the OP? No. But the mods often times will let threads grow organically and this thread was doing so. So I agree that in IMHO the mods should have left it alone. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2024, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-note-on-the-ethics-of-food-stamps-thread/1011503/5 "2024-12-11T18:19:00Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Was it on topic specifically to the OP? No. I reread the OP, and I kinda see what you mean. If the OP was meant to address a broad social issue, with the anecdote just illustrative, then yeah–the stuff I was talking about wasn’t strictly related to the OP (although you’re right that it was related to the path the thread had taken). But I read it as talking more about how broad social issues applied to the OP’s conversational partner–in which case, the context is definitely relevant. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-note-on-the-ethics-of-food-stamps-thread/1011503/6 "2024-12-11T18:42:38Z")
**LHoD’s** post was off-topic to the question if buying “luxury” items with food stamps is ethical, but it’s on-topic to the question “am I the asshole?” The OP (including the subject line) asked both, so I could see it being moderated either way. The back and forth had become counter productive, though, so I’d have cut it off for that reason, not because it was off topic. **DNR’s** post seemed on-topic to me. I think it was collateral damage because the thread was wandering at that point. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-note-on-the-ethics-of-food-stamps-thread/1011503/7 "2024-12-11T19:07:05Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > **DNR’s** post seemed on-topic to me. I think it was collateral damage because the thread was wandering at that point. It was more the timing, immediately after my Modnote and really on the topic. LHOD’s was off-topic and a hijacking. That is what someone flagged and it really was off-topic. What the Hurricane did not belong in the thread. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-note-on-the-ethics-of-food-stamps-thread/1011503/8 "2024-12-11T19:13:34Z")
I can live with “wrong place, wrong time.” Thanks. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2024, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-note-on-the-ethics-of-food-stamps-thread/1011503/9 "2024-12-11T19:30:00Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > LHOD’s was off-topic and a hijacking. That is what someone flagged and it really was off-topic. As I said in the thread, it was relevant to the question of whether the OP ITA. You hid the explanation of its relevance, but here it is. I disagree that it was a hijack–especially since the OP brought up Asheville, not me, and then kept insisting, not that it was irrelevant, but that his friend wasn’t affected by this context. > [@The ethics of food stamps (AITA?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-of-food-stamps-aita/1011457/126): > > > **Summary** > > > > It’s relevant because when someone’s in the middle of a disaster, it’s even worse to snark on them for their choices like this. It would be bad enough under normal circumstances, but it’s kicking someone when they’re down. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-note-on-the-ethics-of-food-stamps-thread/1011503/10 "2024-12-11T19:41:51Z")
I should clarify. I agree with **LHOD** in the discussion of ‘They were unaffected? Seriously?’. I politely disagree that it belonged in the thread. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2024, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-note-on-the-ethics-of-food-stamps-thread/1011503/11 "2024-12-11T19:52:17Z")
I don’t want IMHO to be moderated like P&E, and it feels like it’s moving in that direction, which is disappointing. But it’s not the end of the world, and I don’t want to go around in circles, so unless something new comes up, I’ll leave it there. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2024, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-note-on-the-ethics-of-food-stamps-thread/1011503/12 "2024-12-11T19:53:48Z")
You know what? Going back to the thread, I’m thinking LHOD _might_ be on-topic although that is an exercise for the reader. I would like to rephrase their argument even if it is not what they meant. The friend may be going through a tough time. I mean they’re broke-ass so their life ain’t easy to begin with. But maybe something has occurred in their life. Maybe not a hurricane, maybe just deciding what bills to pay that month but something and he craves comfort food (like caviar). ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-note-on-the-ethics-of-food-stamps-thread/1011503/13 "2024-12-11T19:54:04Z")
It isn’t. Step back and I think you’ll see you went very off-topic today. The back and forth was very non-productive. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2024, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-note-on-the-ethics-of-food-stamps-thread/1011503/14 "2024-12-11T19:54:56Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > The friend may be going through a tough time. I mean they’re broke-ass so their life ain’t easy to begin with. But maybe something has occurred in their life. Maybe not a hurricane, maybe just deciding what bills to pay that month but something and he craves comfort food (like caviar). That’s pretty close, yes. When circumstances are extraordinary, cut people extra slack. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2024, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-note-on-the-ethics-of-food-stamps-thread/1011503/15 "2024-12-11T20:11:01Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > It isn’t. Step back and I think you’ll see you went very off-topic today. I disagree. It boiled down to, “You don’t know his situation, so you can’t judge.” MAYBE it was over-specific re: the hurricane and I thought it was off-topic too but upon further review it was missing the forest for the trees. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-note-on-the-ethics-of-food-stamps-thread/1011503/16 "2024-12-11T20:13:30Z")
Maybe, but the back and forth made the decision easy for me to shut it down. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-note-on-the-ethics-of-food-stamps-thread/1011503/17 "2024-12-12T00:19:56Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Step back and I think you’ll see you went very off-topic today. Strongly disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Cee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cee/32/18345_2.png) [@Cee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cee)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-note-on-the-ethics-of-food-stamps-thread/1011503/18 "2024-12-12T18:36:48Z")
I think it’s on topic for food stamps but idk if it answers if it’s unethical or not.