# Moderation approves personal harassment by silence **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 11, 2018, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870 "2018-06-11T13:49:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/1 "2018-06-11T13:49:28Z")
(Extended campaign of personal harassment across the Pit and AMTB) Me (Repeatedly): Hey moderators, could you do something about this? Moderators: \ Even direct PM’ing only resulted in ¯\_(ツ)\_/¯. So since that sort of thing has moderator approval by silence and a refusal to do anything about it, I see no further need to remain a member of this board. Very shameful that pit rules allowing personal insults are being translated by weak moderation and a refusal to act into approval of harassing other posters. Between that and losing board admins and longtime members because of the refusal to moderate hate, I don’t see a future here. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2018, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/2 "2018-06-11T13:53:58Z")
You’re flouncing out of here? Cool. Mods, can I strongly recommend that you revive the TVeblen/Lynn rule that when you say “I quit the boards” you take the person at their word and insta-ban them? (I’m putting this here because it’s about moderation which goes in ATMB) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/3 "2018-06-11T13:56:29Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > (Extended campaign of personal harassment across the Pit and AMTB) > Me (Repeatedly): Hey moderators, could you do something about this? > Moderators: \ > > Even direct PM’ing only resulted in ¯\_(ツ)\_/¯. > > So since that sort of thing has moderator approval by silence and a refusal to do anything about it, I see no further need to remain a member of this board. > > Very shameful that pit rules allowing personal insults are being translated by weak moderation and a refusal to act into approval of harassing other posters. Between that and losing board admins and longtime members because of the refusal to moderate hate, I don’t see a future here. I think the only insults that are off limits in the Pit are saying “Fuck you,” and calling someone a cunt or a cocksucker. So unless someone is saying those things to you, you don’t have a leg to stand on. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2018, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/4 "2018-06-11T14:03:03Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > (Extended campaign of personal harassment across the Pit and AMTB) Links? ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/5 "2018-06-11T14:06:15Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Links? Yuuuuuummmmmm…links… ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/6 "2018-06-11T14:06:46Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > … > > So since that sort of thing has moderator approval by silence and a refusal to do anything about it, I see no further need to remain a member of this board. > > … I’d like to be the [del]first[/del]third to wish you well in your new life. Bye. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/7 "2018-06-11T14:07:59Z")
Well, one can simply avoid the Pit. “Silence is golden”, as they say. One can “ignore” offending posters and thus their missives. One can stop their personal messages from getting through. Don’t let stuff like that dictate what you will or will not do. Toughen up and control the negative circumstances and stay here. Leaving is what any enemy would want you to do so, by doing so, you are letting them manipulate and control you to their benefit. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/8 "2018-06-11T14:14:20Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > So since that sort of thing has moderator approval by silence and a refusal to do anything about it, I see no further need to remain a member of this board. > > Very shameful that pit rules allowing personal insults are being translated by weak moderation and a refusal to act into approval of harassing other posters. Between that and losing board admins and longtime members because of the refusal to moderate hate, I don’t see a future here. I don’t know why anyone ‘needs’ to remain here. It’s always been this way that I recall, once the mob starts shouting, wrong as they may be they gain their courage from hiding in the crowd. It includes moderators as well. And the offense may be real or just simply disagreeing with the majority. Being loyal opposition, being objective on emotionally charged issues, or simply offering a different point of view is a thankless task here as it is in the real world. So don’t go, stick around and annoy them, even if only by your mere presence reminding them that they failed in their goal of driving you away. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2018, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/9 "2018-06-11T14:18:13Z")
I think this would be worth addressing–I’ve disagreed with Chimera openly here on many issues, but I also think that off-board coordination of harassment is a pretty creepy/shitty thing to have happen. I understand the idea that we don’t want cross-board drama and that mods here can’t address what others do elsewhere, but I disagree with it, and I think it’s worth revisiting whether the behavior we’ve seen from some board members toward Chimera and others is conducive to a good board culture. The snippery toward Chimera in this thread alone is pretty gross. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/10 "2018-06-11T14:24:54Z")
If you have a problem in the Pit you probably should have sent your PM to the moderator who handles the Pit. As you were informed your PM was forwarded but Miller is on his own there and may not always be able to respond immediately. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/11 "2018-06-11T14:26:45Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I think this would be worth addressing–I’ve disagreed with Chimera openly here on many issues, but I also think that off-board coordination of harassment is a pretty creepy/shitty thing to have happen. I understand the idea that we don’t want cross-board drama and that mods here can’t address what others do elsewhere, but I disagree with it, and I think it’s worth revisiting whether the behavior we’ve seen from some board members toward Chimera and others is conducive to a good board culture. > > The snippery toward Chimera in this thread alone is pretty gross. Apparently you have been traumatized by this off board troupe of evil alien mind control experts. I really feel your pain here. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/12 "2018-06-11T14:26:55Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I think this would be worth addressing–I’ve disagreed with Chimera openly here on many issues, but I also think that off-board coordination of harassment is a pretty creepy/shitty thing to have happen. I understand the idea that we don’t want cross-board drama and that mods here can’t address what others do elsewhere, but I disagree with it, and I think it’s worth revisiting whether the behavior we’ve seen from some board members toward Chimera and others is conducive to a good board culture. > > The snippery toward Chimera in this thread alone is pretty gross. I couldn’t agree more and I’d add that one poster in this thread has made some ugly and vicious posts about Chimeras divorce. It is truly cowardly to post things from the safety of your library that you would be afraid to tell someone to their face. ---
**Author:** ![expectopatronum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/expectopatronum/32/173_2.png) [@expectopatronum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/expectopatronum)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/13 "2018-06-11T14:31:49Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > I couldn’t agree more and I’d add that one poster in this thread has made some ugly and vicious posts about Chimeras divorce. It is truly cowardly to post things from the safety of your library that you would be afraid to tell someone to their face. I think it’s fair to point out that when that was said to Chimera, several posters in the snark thread told Morgenstern “not cool, man” and suggested he dial it back. Including myself. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/14 "2018-06-11T14:33:08Z")
Mom they were mean to me in the pit? Come on, it’s the pit. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/15 "2018-06-11T14:35:22Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I think this would be worth addressing–I’ve disagreed with Chimera openly here on many issues, but I also think that off-board coordination of harassment is a pretty creepy/shitty thing to have happen. I understand the idea that we don’t want cross-board drama and that mods here can’t address what others do elsewhere, but I disagree with it, and I think it’s worth revisiting whether the behavior we’ve seen from some board members toward Chimera and others is conducive to a good board culture. > > The snippery toward Chimera in this thread alone is pretty gross. Critique on a bulletin board in response to things you post on that board is not harassment by any reasonable definition of the word. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/16 "2018-06-11T14:37:38Z")
> [@expectopatronum](#): > > I think it’s fair to point out that when that was said to Chimera, several posters in the snark thread told Morgenstern “not cool, man” and suggested he dial it back. Including myself. I agree. That’s why I specified a poster. 99% of the people on both boards are decent and mature. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/17 "2018-06-11T14:41:26Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Mom they were mean to me in the pit? Come on, it’s the pit. The Pit is for ranting and insulting based on a persons positions on issues or their posts. Its not for personal insults about a posters personal life. This behavior is stalking. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/18 "2018-06-11T14:42:06Z")
Its very true that there are a cohort of posters who have never let a mob pass them by, who pop up like ducks in a row whenever there is a likely victim and who very cowardly do most of their snide work off this board. Generally you only see them when there is bitching to be done, at which point they copy and paste the bitching they have already been working upon elsewhere. Its cowardly, it really is. ---
**Author:** ![Covfefe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Covfefe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covfefe)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/19 "2018-06-11T14:43:58Z")
I know I’m not exactly president of your fan club, **Chimera** , but I would never make personal attacks. I am sickened by the ones I saw and hope you don’t leave over it. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/20 "2018-06-11T14:51:23Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > The Pit is for ranting and insulting based on a persons positions on issues or their posts. Its not for personal insults about a posters personal life. This behavior is stalking. Let me help you here a bit. **For rants about the world or beefs with another poster.** - from the first page, you know the purpose of the pit… That’s what the pit is for. He does it again, commenting to me while pointing out that he has me on ignore and can’t see what I say. He’ll probably get kicked in the nuts again. It’s the pit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870.md?page=2)