# Modding for content **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 11, 2011, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187 "2011-01-11T03:22:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187/61 "2011-01-11T17:21:43Z")
I eagerly await you putting that skill to use. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187/62 "2011-01-11T17:24:11Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Conversation with other people of similar levels of education and interests. People join discussion boards in order to have discussions with the other members, not because the moderators are just so, well, very very awesome. Here’s a question for you: How many youtube-style threads do the moderators kill on any given day? 50? 100? I’m guessing a great many less than that. Nobody here brought up the word “awesome” except you, so you can keep that strawman. While you’re guessing without evidence as to how many threads are closed by moderators on different boards, how many do you think _we_ kill on an average day(not counting obvious spam threads, of course)? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187/63 "2011-01-11T17:34:04Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Nobody here brought up the word “awesome” except you, so you can keep that strawman. While you’re guessing without evidence as to how many threads are closed by moderators on different boards, how many do you think _we_ kill on an average day(not counting obvious spam threads, of course)? I already noted that I believe it to be an awful lot less than 50. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187/64 "2011-01-11T17:35:10Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > …My general impression is that a majority here are no younger than mid-to-late twenties with an awful lot of people older than that. We also seem to have a goodly number of professional people who are highly educated. Just like the Tea Party then; although I daresay that semi-advanced age does not necessarily preclude incoherence. However in board management all sales are final: whether or not a mod has made a decision people dislike is beside any point other than the fact he has the right to make that decision. Nor are mods babysitters, expected to nurture the misdirected talent of their charges into creating more fruitful threads like publishers’ editors. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187/65 "2011-01-11T17:45:53Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And what do you think attracts them here? I was “attracted” to the board by Cecil and his columns. I didn’t know anything about the style of the moderation of the board before I got here, and I don’t really see how I could have. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187/66 "2011-01-11T17:51:02Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > I was “attracted” to the board by Cecil and his columns. I didn’t know anything about the style of the moderation of the board before I got here, and I don’t really see how I could have. You are correct, of course. I meant to ask what _keeps_ people such as you here. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187/67 "2011-01-11T17:51:34Z")
Perhaps the OP should post the idea as a game in the Game Room. I believe they did a “greatest person” or something like that that started out as 100 people to choose from and whittled it down by weekly votes. This way the OP can have all 75 choices presented, and those deemed worthy of discussion would be discussed, and those less interesting would be left alone to wither away. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187/68 "2011-01-11T18:07:26Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > You are correct, of course. I meant to ask what _keeps_ people such as you here. I’m not sure the indirect approach is going to get you the response you’re looking for. Try something like this: “No, what thing that isn’t the columns or the other posters _that rhymes with ‘poderators’_ makes this board awesome?” Also, those pants don’t make you look fat at all. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187/69 "2011-01-11T18:19:05Z")
You know what, I want to apologize for that last post – I was in a silly mood and thought it would be funny, but I think it just came out as dickish and rude. Sorry, **Czarcasm**. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187/70 "2011-01-11T18:21:12Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > You know what, I want to apologize for that last post – I was in a silly mood and thought it would be funny, but I think it just came out as dickish and rude. Sorry, **Czarcasm**. Not appreciated at all-those pants were a present from my mother. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187/71 "2011-01-11T18:23:52Z")
Well, some people can wear double-knits and some can’t. You’re just \*poured \*into those. Busy later? ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187/72 "2011-01-11T18:24:32Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > What thing of substance can result from threads like > [Do you ask people their age? Do you not like to answer that question yourself?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=371634) > or > [What is the time between you getting out of bed and the first firm commitment of the day?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=592579) > or any of the numerous other threads that are currently in IMHO but aren’t discussing anything of substance? > > Why are you letting those remain open? Why don’t you close them if they fail the “substance” test? **Czarcasm** , as long as you’re here, mind answering why the above threads have substance and can thus remain open? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187/73 "2011-01-11T18:28:42Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > **Czarcasm** , as long as you’re here, mind answering why the above threads have substance and can thus remain open? As to the subject of “substance” please reread post #11. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187/74 "2011-01-11T18:31:31Z")
If we’re voting (as we seem to be) put me down for “should have left it open”. It may not have been a great OP but it should have been allowed to live or die on its own merits not be condemned by moderator fiat. Moderators should close threads for rules violations not as judgements of their quality. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187/75 "2011-01-11T18:34:50Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If we’re voting (as we seem to be) put me down for “should have left it open”. It may not have been a great OP but it should have been allowed to live or die on its own merits not be condemned by moderator fiat. Moderators should close threads for rules violations not as judgements of their quality. So a thread consisting of nothing but rows of the letter “Q” should be left open? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187/76 "2011-01-11T18:36:10Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > However in board management all sales are final: whether or not a mod has made a decision people dislike is beside any point other than the fact he has the right to make that decision. Nor are mods babysitters, expected to nurture the misdirected talent of their charges into creating more fruitful threads like publishers’ editors. Well, “management” have reversed rulings around here often enough, so that first line is off. Other than that, what exactly are you saying? We don’t need a babysitter to guide threads, but we do need one to delete the less fruitful threads? Your point seems self contradictory. As far as what kind of moderation keeps posters here, I doubt it has a lot to do with deleting dumb threads as it does with keeping things civil.That poll was pretty godawful, but I have a feeling that most people come and stay here for the generally skeptic yet inquisitive nature of the boards, which is of course related to the SD articles’ nature - not the lack of stupid threads. ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187/77 "2011-01-11T18:36:35Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Leaving aside the rhetoric in your second sentence, what do _you_ think makes this board different from youtube, if it isn’t the style of moderation? Based on your phrasing above, it looks like you think that the _only_ thing that keeps the SDMB from being like YouTube is the moderation. If so, you are profoundly wrong. Second, if you believe that this style of modding is necessary to prevent us from becoming like Youtube, you are again wrong. There are other boards without this style moderation that still have discourse way above YouTube. Third, even if the type of modding done on the SDMB was a large percentage of the reason why the level of discourse is what it is, it still doesn’t mean that the particular type of modding you did for the thread mentioned in the OP is what is keeping the SDMB humming along nicely. There are tons of threads in IMHO that lack substance and are allowed to remain open and the SDMB had not turned into YouTube yet. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187/78 "2011-01-11T18:37:16Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > So a thread consisting of nothing but rows of the letter “Q” should be left open? How many threads like that did you close today? How many on a typical day? ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187/79 "2011-01-11T18:41:12Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > As to the subject of “substance” please reread post #11. Can you clarify? I just re-read your post and I can’t see what about “substance” that thread lacked vs tons of others in IMHO. (If it were in GD I might agree with you) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187/80 "2011-01-11T18:44:05Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > Based on your phrasing above, it looks like you think that the _only_ thing that keeps the SDMB from being like YouTube is the moderation. If so, you are profoundly wrong. And based on your response above some might assume that you are more into “reading into” than “reading”, but I won’t make that assumption based on such a small sample. In my opinion, moderation is one _several_ factors that make this board what it is today. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modding-for-content/567187.md?page=5)