# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Tee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@Tee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tee)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/41 "2018-06-11T16:30:38Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Using those details to attack another poster may not be jerkish, but it is dickish. IMO. :dubious: ---
**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, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/42 "2018-06-11T16:53:49Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > **Chimera** you have been very supportive as we work through building and maintaining a more diverse atmosphere here. I hope you stay. With all due respect, Sunny (quite a lot in your case). I have to disagree with this. Chimera was all over the Skald pit thread defending him to the bitter end. When I mentioned in that thread I was female, Chimera [responded](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20976977&postcount=285) very dismissively and brushed aside my concerns. He continually handwaved away the concerns of all the female posters in that thread. It was only when the tide seemed to turn and the new rule was made that he was suddenly Mr. Enlightened Male, saying “we did it!” as if he did a single thing to help the process along, inviting female posters to PM him if they feel ganged up on in a thread by sexism, etc. etc. So I’m not really inclined to call him a supporter. I understand people can change their stance on things, but his was more like a complete 180 once the vocal minority became larger. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/43 "2018-06-11T16:58:49Z")
Chimera, you have to recognize a couple things. They are playing a game. You can’t let them under your skin. And whatever happened to Idle Thoughts? ---
**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, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/44 "2018-06-11T16:59:01Z")
This does not mean that his change of mind was not sincere. Quite a lot of people have indicated that their understanding has broadened as the discussion has continued, and I am glad to take them at their word. I have seen nothing from Chimera to indicate this isn’t the case. If I didn’t believe that people could reach a different understanding of the world around them, then there wouldn’t be much point to having discussions about diversity at all. Call me an optimist. ---
**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, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/45 "2018-06-11T17:05:49Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Chimera, you have to recognize a couple things. They are playing a game. You can’t let them under your skin. And whatever happened to Idle Thoughts? Since this is off topic, I’ll just post a link. [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=842900](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=842900) ---
**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, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/46 "2018-06-11T17:12:12Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > This does not mean that his change of mind was not sincere. Quite a lot of people have indicated that their understanding has broadened as the discussion has continued, and I am glad to take them at their word. I have seen nothing from Chimera to indicate this isn’t the case. If I didn’t believe that people could reach a different understanding of the world around them, then there wouldn’t be much point to having discussions about diversity at all. Call me an optimist. Whether or not he’s a good person is definitely relevant in terms of a personal hope that he’ll stay. (and I know that’s what you were talking about) But in terms of the broader discussion–whether behavior like what he’s talking about in the OP is okay–what kind of person he is is beside the point. The point is that building up a head of steam off-site to come attack people here is kind of shitty. And using the most painful periods of a person’s life to craft nasty things to say about a person is profoundly shitty behavior, like way-beyond-normal-usage-of-the-Pit behavior. And allowing folks to get away with these activities (especially the latter) is going to result in a worse board, as people will be less willing to post honestly about their own lives because they know anything they say can be used against them without repercussion. I’ve disagreed with Chimera a lot, but that has nothing at all to do with thinking that the behavior he’s talking about is terrible. I would say the same thing if it were directed at any other poster. ---
**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, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/47 "2018-06-11T17:13:54Z")
You need to get this “off site” think buried dude. You lurk there every day, you more than anyone should know that most people dismiss that as ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Emiliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/48 "2018-06-11T17:15:47Z")
Morgenstein’s taunts about Chimera’s divorce and mental health were inexcusable. They may not have violated rules, but they sure said a lot about Morgenstein. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/49 "2018-06-11T17:16:39Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > For the Pit: > 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. But there should be. That would be-\* being a jerk\*, by any definition. This idea that harassment and bullying is Ok if it is in the PIT is wrong. ---
**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, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/50 "2018-06-11T17:23:29Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Whether or not he’s a good person is definitely relevant in terms of a personal hope that he’ll stay. (and I know that’s what you were talking about) > > But in terms of the broader discussion–whether behavior like what he’s talking about in the OP is okay–what kind of person he is is beside the point. […] > [@Emiliana](#): > > Morgenstein’s taunts about Chimera’s divorce and mental health were inexcusable. They may not have violated rules, but they sure said a lot about Morgenstein. I agree: Mocking another poster about mental health issues is not acceptable. This is one instance where I would suggest that we treat it the same as we would treat any other health issue. Would we allow the mocking of a poster with cancer, or a neurological disorder, or a wheelchair? No, I’m guessing. Mental health should be off the table. I think it falls under the “not being a jerk” rule, if nowhere else. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/51 "2018-06-11T17:26:15Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > But in terms of the broader discussion–whether behavior like what he’s talking about in the OP is okay–what kind of person he is is beside the point. > > The point is that building up a head of steam off-site to come attack people here is kind of shitty. And using the most painful periods of a person’s life to craft nasty things to say about a person is profoundly shitty behavior, like way-beyond-normal-usage-of-the-Pit behavior. And allowing folks to get away with these activities (especially the latter) is going to result in a worse board, as people will be less willing to post honestly about their own lives because they know anything they say can be used against them without repercussion. Right. Look, when the people at another board, decide to come over here and start harassing a member here, it isnt good enough to just say “well it’s in the PIT”. Crossing over from board to board, etc, could very well be considered Internet harassment and Bullying. And they have nothing to lose if their provider shuts that down, but the SDMB does. You guys really need to get out of the idea that Internet Bullying, Stalking and Harassment is OK if it is in the PIT. That is totally false. ---
**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, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/52 "2018-06-11T17:26:50Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > I agree: Mocking another poster about mental health issues is not acceptable. This is one instance where I would suggest that we treat it the same as we would treat any other health issue. Would we allow the mocking of a poster with cancer, or a neurological disorder, or a wheelchair? No, I’m guessing. Mental health should be off the table. I think it falls under the “not being a jerk” rule, if nowhere else. In addition to the health issue, I believe that Chimera went through a pretty trauma-filled, abusive relationship, and **Morgenstern** decided that’d be fun times to mock him for. I hadn’t considered that it might be against the rules, or I would’ve reported it. Certainly that sort of stuff is out-of-bounds as far as I’m concerned, and I’d be very happy to have the board shut it down going forward. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/53 "2018-06-11T17:30:21Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > who very cowardly do most of their snide work off this board. Would you agree that people who post snide work on a message board towards someone who does not post on that message board is also very cowardly? Because there is a lot of snide work posted toward Trump on this board. ---
**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, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/54 "2018-06-11T17:30:31Z")
Mods - can we have a ruling on whether mocking someone’s mental health issues is within the rules? Please see post 50, and 52. ---
**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, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/55 "2018-06-11T17:31:52Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Right. Look, when the people at another board, decide to come over here and start harassing a member here, it isnt good enough to just say “well it’s in the PIT”. Crossing over from board to board, etc, could very well be considered Internet harassment and Bullying. And they have nothing to lose if their provider shuts that down, but the SDMB does. > > … I’d love to see proof of your claim, could you provide anything at all? If you’re afraid to post it, PM it to me. I’ll accept 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, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/56 "2018-06-11T17:33:27Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > Mods - can we have a ruling on whether mocking someone’s mental health issues is within the rules? Please see post 50, and 52. Please see Bone’s post. He already did. ---
**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, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/57 "2018-06-11T17:43:20Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Please see Bone’s post. He already did. [ol] [li]No I didn’t.[/li][li]I’m not a Pit mod.[/li][li]If anything close to what is being discussed occurred in forums I moderate, I would not allow it to continue.[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/58 "2018-06-11T17:43:43Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I’d love to see proof of your claim, could you provide anything at all? If you’re afraid to post it, PM it to me. I’ll accept it. Oh, I dont think that is necessary at all, and you know why. ---
**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, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/59 "2018-06-11T17:45:37Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > You need to get this “off site” think buried dude. You lurk there every day, you more than anyone should know that most people dismiss that as ridiculous. “Most people?” Cite? I know that there are a few people who go to great lengths to dismiss that. They are all among the most active participants in a certain sub-forum at another board. ---
**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, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870/60 "2018-06-11T17:51:15Z")
All due respect, I don’t plan to get into a back-and-forth with Morgenstern here. That’ll inevitably go into Pit thread territory, and I don’t think there’s really a whole lot of confusion about what’s being discussed here such that a back-and-forth will do any good. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-approves-personal-harassment-by-silence/815870.md?page=4)