# 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:** 2
**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:** [June 11, 2018, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/21 "2018-06-11T14:51:26Z")
> [@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. Among the rules I found this: “The BBQ Pit is the forum for rants about the outside world or quarrels between posters - often the first turns into the second. . . .”, so I don’t think you are correct. The Pit is overflowing with personal insults, and(outside the use of certain words and/or phrases) the line is usually drawn when personal information that can be used to identify is posted. ---
**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, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/22 "2018-06-11T14:55:16Z")
I agree that anything hurled at a person should be about their board behavior and not their personal life. But Morgenstern was taken to task for crossing that line and I didn’t see anyone defend it. So much for coordinated. ---
**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, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/23 "2018-06-11T14:56:11Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > 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. I have never had anyone on ignore. And where in the rules does it say that you can reveal personal real life issues about posters and insult them based on that? Its against the rules on both boards. ---
**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, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/24 "2018-06-11T14:57:47Z")
> [@tnetennba](#): > > I agree that anything hurled at a person should be about their board behavior and not their personal life. But Morgenstern was taken to task for crossing that line and I didn’t see anyone defend it. So much for coordinated. I agree with you and I have not been one to claim any larger conspiracy. ---
**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, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/25 "2018-06-11T14:59:44Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > I have never had anyone on ignore. And where in the rules does it say that you can reveal personal real life issues about posters and insult them based on that? Its against the rules on both boards. No one but the OP ever revealed personal details about his life. ---
**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, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/26 "2018-06-11T15:02:09Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > No one but the OP ever revealed personal details about his life. You took what likely few read and most forgot and twisted it into a very personal real life insult. Own 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, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/27 "2018-06-11T15:04:19Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > You took what likely few read and most forgot and twisted it into a very personal real life insult. Own it. If I do, will he still flounce? ---
**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, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/28 "2018-06-11T15:08:32Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > If I do, will he still flounce? Sometimes you are your own worst enemy. ---
**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, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/29 "2018-06-11T15:11:09Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Sometimes you are your own worst enemy. We’ll meet again. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/30 "2018-06-11T15:11:28Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Sometimes you are your own worst enemy. The Dope-tombstone should read “It was Lit fam”. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/31 "2018-06-11T15:20:36Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Mom they were mean to me in the pit? Come on, it’s the pit. Ha ha ha…oh, my…ha ha ha Your post is really something. ---
**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, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/32 "2018-06-11T15:41:20Z")
**Chimera** , seriously, a little word of advice. You mention that your _“repeated”_ reports to mods were ignored. (I think that means more than one) You mentioned that your PM was dismissed. Then you post your dissatisfaction in ATMB for the world to see. You know what you really did here? You’ve just told everyone where your BIG button is. Most people won’t push it, but they will all be there, in the pit, watching, waiting, wondering if someone will. The air will be thick with suspense. Bad move on your part. IMHO. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2018, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/33 "2018-06-11T15:44:47Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Links? I could look but I’m just not that into it. And as others have said I hate seeing anyone leave or get banned but when this isn’t any fun anymore maybe its time to walk away. ---
**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 11, 2018, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/34 "2018-06-11T15:46:08Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > **Chimera** , seriously, a little word of advice. You mention that your _“repeated”_ reports to mods were ignored. (I think that means more than one) You mentioned that your PM was dismissed. Then you post your dissatisfaction in ATMB for the world to see. You know what you really did here? You’ve just told everyone where your BIG button is. Most people won’t push it, but they will all be there, in the pit, watching, waiting, wondering if someone will. The air will be thick with suspense. Entertaining oneself by deliberately pushing another’s buttons. You know that’s called “trolling”, right? ---
**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, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/35 "2018-06-11T15:52:54Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Entertaining oneself by deliberately pushing another’s buttons. You know that’s called “trolling”, right? It might be. I’ll bet it’s context sensitive. ---
**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 11, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/36 "2018-06-11T16:03:00Z")
> [@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. Without more to go on, I can’t tell if you’re reading more into the outcome than is there. This thread is about moderation, and since you reference ATMB and the Pit, each having different rules and moderators, it’s important to distinguish the different fact patterns and not conflate them. I do tend to make a practice of reading through all reports, but outside my forums not as timely and don’t act on them outside my areas. This is the case for all mods - we typically stay in our own lanes. In general, “approval by silence” isn’t really a thing. Often times I can see a report, and simultaneously think that it could be something worth acting on, but can’t craft a way to give guidance that applies discreetly or is clear, or can’t be applied to a general audience. For the Pit: > [@Morgenstern](#): > > Mom they were mean to me in the pit? Come on, it’s the pit. > [@Morgenstern](#): > > No one but the OP ever revealed personal details about his life. While of course insults and such are permitted in the Pit, we each as individuals draw our own line on what is acceptable behavior. If a person posts in MPSIMS that their pet got hit by a car and died, there is no rule that says you can’t say in the Pit that the pet probably jumped in front of the car so they wouldn’t have to live with that poster anymore and the pet is better off dead. It would be a pretty dick move though. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/37 "2018-06-11T16:08:59Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > It might be. I’ll bet it’s context sensitive. In the context of this board, I’ll bet it is trolling. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/38 "2018-06-11T16:15:12Z")
It’s a shame **Chimera** needs to leave the boards - I wish him well and hope he reconsiders. I thought the rule was that you put personal details out there at your own risk. Using those details to attack another poster may not be jerkish, but it is dickish. IMO. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/39 "2018-06-11T16:18:01Z")
**Chimera** you have been very supportive as we work through building and maintaining a more diverse atmosphere here. I hope you stay. ---
**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 11, 2018, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/40 "2018-06-11T16:20:59Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > In the context of this board, I’ll bet it is trolling. [Word.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12612283#post12612283) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870.md?page=3)