# 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:** 12
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/222 "2018-06-12T13:54:06Z")
Well, OK, it’s proof that Chimera has a point - Morgenstern declaring in advance that he was going to bring something up and was just waiting…waiting… for the opportunity does, to my mind, qualify as stalking. I see no reason to contribute to the problem by quoting Morgenstern. And yeah, I wish people would stop quoting him but I can only control what I do here, not what anyone else does. ---
**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 12, 2018, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/223 "2018-06-12T13:58:19Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > This is a thread **Chimera** started because they felt harassed by **Morgenstern** and were quitting. How is **Morgenstern** posting about **Chimera** _not_ relevant? > > And you better hope Chimera also has **mad** on ignore…:smack: Because what he posted about Chimera isn’t relevant to this thread; was intended to harm; and creates a hostile posting environment. I hadn’t thought of the quoting stuff but ill stop. ---
**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 12, 2018, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/224 "2018-06-12T14:00:37Z")
At this point Morgenstern’s behavior in this thread is a mod call; I worry that going back and forth with him about it is going to contribute to getting the thread closed, which is not IMO what should happen. ---
**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 12, 2018, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/225 "2018-06-12T14:05:22Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Well, OK, it’s proof that Chimera has a point - Morgenstern declaring in advance that he was going to bring something up and was just waiting…waiting… for the opportunity does, to my mind, qualify as stalking. In _any other thread_, you’d be right. But _this_ thread is really just a backdoor pitting of **Morgenstern** by **Chimera**. You want to deny Morgenstern any right of reply (shitty as it might be?) in a thread that’s about them? “Stalking” is not accurate. “Harassment” may or may not be, I’m uncertain. Now if I were mod, I’d have closed this or moved it to the Pit by now, since the “criticism of the moderation” part in the OP seems to be over. But I’m not, they know their own minds best. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/226 "2018-06-12T14:08:34Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Because what he posted about Chimera isn’t relevant to this thread; was intended to harm; and creates a hostile posting environment. > > I hadn’t thought of the quoting stuff but ill stop. No, background is always important. Without algebra, there is no calculus. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/227 "2018-06-12T14:11:37Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Yes, I do not see how what Morgenstern brought up in his most recent post is relevant, except to ask the mods why they allow him to continue to proclaim his intention to take digs at another poster in future without saying anything. … Because it’s the pit. shit happens there. As you well know. It’s a fair place to ask someone to explain what they meant by beating someone to an inch of their life. It wouldn’t be fair to hijack someone’s thread with it, but when Chimera mentions violence or women issues again, it’s fair to ask him to explain. ---
**Author:** ![Tee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@Tee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tee)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/228 "2018-06-12T14:14:24Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > In _any other thread_, you’d be right. But _this_ thread is really just a backdoor pitting of **Morgenstern** by **Chimera**. You want to deny Morgenstern any right of reply (shitty as it might be?) in a thread that’s about them? “Stalking” is not accurate. “Harassment” may or may not be, I’m uncertain. > > Now if I were mod, I’d have closed this or moved it to the Pit by now, since the “criticism of the moderation” part in the OP seems to be over. But I’m not, they know their own minds best. It’s all about someone who gets a lot of enjoyment out of causing people grief, looks for opportunities do it, and feels 100% justified in doing so. This is not a single incident, it’s a pattern. If the powers don’t want to disturb the haven of people like this, that’s fine, I’m just glad it’s up here front and center so everyone knows. ---
**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 12, 2018, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/229 "2018-06-12T14:15:43Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > But _this_ thread is really just a backdoor pitting of **Morgenstern** by **Chimera**. I don’t think that’s accurate. Morgenstern’s behavior is a focal point of the thread, but really the discussion is about whether and how such behavior should be moderated. That’s necessarily an ATMB discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/230 "2018-06-12T14:22:07Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I don’t think that’s accurate. Morgenstern’s behavior is a focal point of the thread, but really the discussion is about whether and how such behavior should be moderated. That’s necessarily an ATMB discussion. I’m sure there will be Chimera rule. But I’m expecting that someone threatening to beat a woman to near death will be an exception to that rule in the pit. Sort of dilutes your claim when it appears people reap what they sow. In the fucking PIT. ---
**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 12, 2018, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/231 "2018-06-12T14:31:46Z")
FTR Chimera never threatened anyone with violence. He had an impulse that never materialized verbally or physically. See how someone with bad intent can twist words out of context… ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/232 "2018-06-12T14:33:39Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > FTR Chimera never threatened anyone with violence. He had an impulse that never materialized verbally or physically. > > See how someone with bad intent can twist words out of context… Maybe to you this is perfectly normal… _fucking idiot woman cowered in the back of the elevator staring at me with her mace in her hand. I was young and very angry about this and if she had maced me for no reason but her fear, I’d have likely beaten her within an inch of her life_ …to me, not so much. I’ve never had such a thought, have you? ---
**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 12, 2018, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/233 "2018-06-12T14:35:04Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I don’t think that’s accurate. Morgenstern’s behavior is a focal point of the thread, but really the discussion is about whether and how such behavior should be moderated The OP wasn’t looking for a discussion - they were announcing their departure. The rest of the discussion is what we’ve made it - and quite a bit of it _has_ been about **Morgenstern**. But maybe you’re the OP or a secret mod, to tell me what the discussion _really_ is about? I mean, this being my first post in this thread and all… ---
**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 12, 2018, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/234 "2018-06-12T14:40:45Z")
As to post 228 We don’t know what thought you have had and anyone who has driven much has had a homicidal thought or two. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/235 "2018-06-12T14:51:48Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I don’t think that’s accurate. Morgenstern’s behavior is a focal point of the thread, but really the discussion is about whether and how such behavior should be moderated. That’s necessarily an ATMB discussion. I agree with this 100%. We’re having a discussion and I’ll leave it at that. I’m closing this thread for now. ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/236 "2018-06-12T19:54:30Z")
We reviewed the posts Chimera finds objectionable at the time they were initially reported to us, and we’ve now done so again. We’ve also reviewed posts by the relevant parties in the Pit. We find no evidence of a campaign of harassment. Morgenstern, it’s fair to say, doesn’t think much of Chimera and has made this plain in a couple threads where the two were on opposite sides of an argument. This isn’t against our rules. Arguably if Morgenstern were to disparage Chimera repeatedly in threads having nothing to do with the original disagreement, that would constitute harassment, but that’s not what’s been happening here so far as we can tell. Please note: 1. Insults are allowed in the Pit. Some of the insults are funny; some are vicious. It’s always been that way. If you don’t want to be insulted, don’t post in the Pit. 2. Be aware that information you post about yourself on this board may be used against you. Doing so may be a dick move. It’s not against our rules. 3. Our mistake was in leaving this thread open after it had ceased to be a discussion of board rules and had degenerated into bickering. We’ve not going to make that mistake again. We’ll leave this thread open briefly in case anyone has a point to make about our rules, enforcement, etc. If you want to rehash an old argument, take it to the Pit. ---
**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 12, 2018, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/237 "2018-06-12T20:02:12Z")
> [@Ed\_Zotti](#): > > 1. Be aware that information you post about yourself on this board may be used against you. Doing so may be a dick move. It’s not against our rules. Not really seeing daylight between “a dick move” and “being a jerk,” nor am I seeing how allowing this sort of dick move in any way makes the board a better place. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/238 "2018-06-12T20:04:19Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Not really seeing daylight between “a dick move” and “being a jerk,” nor am I seeing how allowing this sort of dick move in any way makes the board a better place. You have to squint your eyes and hold your mouth just rignt. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/239 "2018-06-12T20:09:18Z")
Thanks for your response, **Ed**. Still hoping **Chimera** reconsiders. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/240 "2018-06-12T20:10:39Z")
I’d characterize this dick move as a, “Below the belt attack.” Most aggressors instinctively avoid this, but a few do not. For those who do not, the rest of us have to figure out a way of dealing with them. Not speaking for the mods, but to LHoD I’d note that this board prefers semi-objective criteria over subjective application of the jerk rule. Subjective application is always an option. But they don’t like to do that. Skilled line dancers can game the system. In practice they get caught after long periods of time if they cause sufficient reason for perpetual mod attention. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/241 "2018-06-12T20:15:20Z")
> [@Ed\_Zotti](#): > > 1. Be aware that information you post about yourself on this board may be used against you. Doing so may be a dick move. It’s not against our rules. > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Not really seeing daylight between “a dick move” and “being a jerk,” nor am I seeing how allowing this sort of dick move in any way makes the board a better place. Especially when one evidently feels the need to _alter_ information provided by another in order to attack the other. Repeatedly doing that should be branded as trolling, no mater what forum it’s in. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870.md?page=13)