# Mod rewrites an OP and tells us to respond to the re-write, not the OP? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 16, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-rewrites-an-op-and-tells-us-to-respond-to-the-re-write-not-the-op/725335 "2015-07-16T16:30:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [July 16, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-rewrites-an-op-and-tells-us-to-respond-to-the-re-write-not-the-op/725335/1 "2015-07-16T16:30:37Z")
[Here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=762300), Rune asks if homosexuality can be “cured”. And then further suggests it’s a disease by saying he didn’t want to debate whether or not it **should** be cured, only whether it is **possible**. People were understandably upset and provided snarky replies. And then tomndebb swoops in at post 19 and re-writes the OP’s question and tells us all to reply the the new version of the OP. I’ve never seen this before, and I don’t think it’s right. The OP needs to stand or fall on its own merits, not a laundered version written by someone else to make it less offensive. If it’s that bad (and I think it is), then maybe the thread should be closed, or the mods need to discipline anyone who crosses the line of an acceptable response. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-rewrites-an-op-and-tells-us-to-respond-to-the-re-write-not-the-op/725335/2 "2015-07-16T16:49:07Z")
If the tread title had been “Can homosexuality be changed?” would the replies still be snarky? ---
**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:** [July 16, 2015, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-rewrites-an-op-and-tells-us-to-respond-to-the-re-write-not-the-op/725335/3 "2015-07-16T16:55:52Z")
The thread title is repeated in the body of the text, so probably yes. But that’s only my guess. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-rewrites-an-op-and-tells-us-to-respond-to-the-re-write-not-the-op/725335/4 "2015-07-16T17:11:27Z")
Now, if the OP had asked the staff to change the title, then fine. But he didn’t. Thus he should stand and fall by it. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-rewrites-an-op-and-tells-us-to-respond-to-the-re-write-not-the-op/725335/5 "2015-07-16T17:22:42Z")
Somebody used a bad word in GD. Fetch my smelling salts while I lie down with a cool cloth over my eyes! Regards, Shodan Fainting Dead Away in a Fit of the Vapors at the Very Idea since 2000 ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-rewrites-an-op-and-tells-us-to-respond-to-the-re-write-not-the-op/725335/6 "2015-07-16T17:38:45Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Somebody used a bad word in GD. Fetch my smelling salts while I lie down with a cool cloth over my eyes! > > Regards, > Shodan > Fainting Dead Away in a Fit of the Vapors at the Very Idea since 2000 Wait, are you arguing that **tomnddebb** should not have revised the OP to change the wording? That would put you in agreement with the OP, but the tone of your post suggests otherwise. Do you even know what you are arguing? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-rewrites-an-op-and-tells-us-to-respond-to-the-re-write-not-the-op/725335/7 "2015-07-16T17:41:44Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Wait, are you arguing that **tomnddebb** should not have revised the OP to change the wording? That would put you in agreement with the OP, but the tone of your post suggests otherwise. > > Do you even know what you are arguing? Yes, his post makes no sense to me. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-rewrites-an-op-and-tells-us-to-respond-to-the-re-write-not-the-op/725335/8 "2015-07-16T17:47:54Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Somebody used a bad word in GD. Fetch my smelling salts while I lie down with a cool cloth over my eyes! > > Regards, > Shodan > Fainting Dead Away in a Fit of the Vapors at the Very Idea since 2000 Snark so snarky it’s not even in reference to the OP! Meta-snark, perhaps? Bravo! ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-rewrites-an-op-and-tells-us-to-respond-to-the-re-write-not-the-op/725335/9 "2015-07-16T17:52:48Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Snark so snarky it’s not even in reference to the OP! Meta-snark, perhaps? Bravo! The Harlem Globetrotters had Meadowlark Lemon. We have Meta-snark Shodan. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-rewrites-an-op-and-tells-us-to-respond-to-the-re-write-not-the-op/725335/10 "2015-07-16T17:53:24Z")
Apparently politically correct over-sensitivity can’t be cured either. Good thing too - it’s damned entertaining. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-rewrites-an-op-and-tells-us-to-respond-to-the-re-write-not-the-op/725335/11 "2015-07-16T18:00:18Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Apparently politically correct over-sensitivity can’t be cured either. Good thing too - it’s damned entertaining. > > Regards, > Shodan Could you state clearly whether you agree with the OP here? Seems like you are somehow fearful to fully express your opinion on this. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-rewrites-an-op-and-tells-us-to-respond-to-the-re-write-not-the-op/725335/12 "2015-07-16T18:04:04Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > The OP needs to stand or fall on its own merits, not a laundered version written by someone else to make it less offensive. If it’s that bad (and I think it is), then maybe the thread should be closed, or the mods need to discipline anyone who crosses the line of an acceptable response. > > That is all. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-rewrites-an-op-and-tells-us-to-respond-to-the-re-write-not-the-op/725335/13 "2015-07-16T18:05:32Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Apparently politically correct over-sensitivity can’t be cured either. Good thing too - it’s damned entertaining. > > Regards, > Shodan How about anything to do with **Boyo Jim** ’s OP? ---
**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:** [July 16, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-rewrites-an-op-and-tells-us-to-respond-to-the-re-write-not-the-op/725335/14 "2015-07-16T18:11:31Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > [Here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=762300), Rune asks if homosexuality can be “cured”. And then further suggests it’s a disease by saying he didn’t want to debate whether or not it **should** be cured, only whether it is **possible**. People were understandably upset and provided snarky replies. > > And then tomndebb swoops in at post 19 and re-writes the OP’s question and tells us all to reply the the new version of the OP. I’ve never seen this before, and I don’t think it’s right. > > The OP needs to stand or fall on its own merits, not a laundered version written by someone else to make it less offensive. If it’s that bad (and I think it is), then maybe the thread should be closed, or the mods need to discipline anyone who crosses the line of an acceptable response. > > That is all. I come down on the side of **tomndebb** on this one; I’m just not reading the “disease” thing in the same manner you are; as a deliberate move by the OP to inflame us. “Cure” to an American may automatically mean disease but for a lot of others it basically means change. Clearly the OP is not from the US and for all I know English could be a second language for him/her so to make any implication on intent wouldn’t be something I would want to do. And the version given by Post 19 isn’t any less offensive really; just a little more readable to “our” eyes and use of the vernacular. PS – the only time I’m surprised by snarky in GD is when it _doesn’t_ happen. So that aspect I’ll just write off to local customs. ---
**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:** [July 16, 2015, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-rewrites-an-op-and-tells-us-to-respond-to-the-re-write-not-the-op/725335/15 "2015-07-16T18:29:51Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > … “Cure” to an American may automatically mean disease but for a lot of others it basically means change… I know of one other meaning for “cure” – a prepartion for barious cuts of meat. Does anyone elso know of other places where cure is used for meaings other than this or related to disease treatment. Also, I don’t necessarily believe it was intended to inflame us. It could simply be what that OP believes. I know somthing of the OP’s history, and I wouldn’t find it surprizing that it’s a simple statement of “truth” as the OP sees it. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-rewrites-an-op-and-tells-us-to-respond-to-the-re-write-not-the-op/725335/16 "2015-07-16T18:38:35Z")
Does it make any difference that the OP has not returned to the thread to weigh in? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-rewrites-an-op-and-tells-us-to-respond-to-the-re-write-not-the-op/725335/17 "2015-07-16T18:39:44Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I know of one other meaning for “cure” – a prepartion for barious cuts of meat. Does anyone elso know of other places where cure is used for meaings other than this or related to disease treatment. In contract language, it can mean to fix an error or a failure to live up to the terms of the contract. Not a better usage. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-rewrites-an-op-and-tells-us-to-respond-to-the-re-write-not-the-op/725335/18 "2015-07-16T18:43:29Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > I come down on the side of **tomndebb** on this one; I’m just not reading the “disease” thing in the same manner you are; as a deliberate move by the OP to inflame us. “Cure” to an American may automatically mean disease but for a lot of others it basically means change. Clearly the OP is not from the US and for all I know English could be a second language for him/her so to make any implication on intent wouldn’t be something I would want to do. And the version given by Post 19 isn’t any less offensive really; just a little more readable to “our” eyes and use of the vernacular. > > PS – the only time I’m surprised by snarky in GD is when it _doesn’t_ happen. So that aspect I’ll just write off to local customs. If there is a question about the meanings of terms that a person uses, wouldn’t the better resolution be for the person to respond to inquiries and explain on their own what they meant? ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-rewrites-an-op-and-tells-us-to-respond-to-the-re-write-not-the-op/725335/19 "2015-07-16T18:43:50Z")
Rewriting an OP without the consent of the poster to bring the wording more into line with majority thinking on the SDMB, that should be a nono. I think it’s quite clear the original poster knew exactly what he was saying. If the mods think it was unacceptable then they should delete the thread. I think tomndebb’s action indefensible. Why not just invent palatable questions from imaginary posters? It’s in the same territory. ---
**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:** [July 16, 2015, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-rewrites-an-op-and-tells-us-to-respond-to-the-re-write-not-the-op/725335/20 "2015-07-16T18:44:32Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I know of one other meaning for “cure” – a prepartion for barious cuts of meat. Does anyone elso know of other places where cure is used for meaings other than this or related to disease treatment. I’ll put five bucks on Denmark. I knew someone from there who thought all Americans were ignorant louts; but a long serious of exchanges with a wide range of people cured him of that idea. 😃 I can’t speak to the OPs history or yours for that matter. But I do know I’ve made the same kinds of poor word choices myself when operating in other languages. I give it a pass and my thinking is the mod made a good move on this one. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-rewrites-an-op-and-tells-us-to-respond-to-the-re-write-not-the-op/725335.md?page=2)