Moderation of sdmb

The BBQ Pit
1

I’m fairly new to this site, having read my first SD book less than two weeks ago. When I first got here, I really enjoyed the message board. In the last day I have become a bit disenchanted with the moderation of this board. A lot of other sites are being loose with their enforcement of topic discussion, considering the circumstances. Here, worthwile conversations are being lockdown. The recent events in NYC and DC are not topics soley destined for the pit and GD. I think I’m going to take some time off from http://www.sd.com and decide if this is actually someplace I want to spend my internet time. I am sometimes failing to see the logic in the choices of moderators for locking down and
moving threads.

I understand that the higher level of moderation here keeps things civilized compared to other boards. The moderators here seem to be a bit on the overcontrolling side, in my humble opinion.

2

Golly, we sure will miss ya.

:rolleyes:

3

opinion noted.

Thank god people can still get worked up about message board moderation at a time like this! :rolleyes:

4

Bon Voyagee! Have a nice trip! Write if you get work!

5

Yeah.

:rolleyes:

6

Far be it from me to interrupt a good old-fashioned pile-on, but do keep in mind that circumstances here, like everywhere else, have been a little odd the last couple of days. You’re not seeing us in normal mode.

7

I appreciate your sentiments, Jibby, but there are a few things to keep in mind. (I am not a mod or an admin, so this is one member talking to another.)

First, you’re right. These are extraordinary times. Many of the threads locked and deleted were inflammatory comments made in the heat of passion. The Straight Dope Message Board members pride themselves on being able to carry on a civilized debate. Sadly, some of the people making these statements have not been able to do so, so the mods close the threads before things really get out of hand.

Second, and most importantly, this message board is not owned and operated by an individual. It’s owned by a company that happens to run a paper called the Chicago Reader, which in turn, publishes and owns the rights to The Straight Dope by Cecil Adams. (See the copyright notices at the bottom of the page.) They operate this board for our use and enjoyment. Therefore, they make the rules, appoint administrators and moderators to see that the rules are followed, and to ensure the smooth operation of the various fora. Furthermore, the Reader is the one putting itself at risk for litigation. Many of the statements made in the closed thread may be construed as libelous by an aggrieved party, and may sue the Reader accordingly. Since this board operates at a financial loss, the Reader doesn’t wish to defend itself in such a suit, because of the legal costs and because it has no financial incentive to do so. The vast majority of the membership does not want this board to go away because of such a thing.

If you choose to leave the board, you may do so. No one forces you to post here. But please keep in mind these things, and that once things go back to normal, normal operation of this board will likely resume.

Robin

8

Welcome to the boards Jibby.

In case you haven’t realized it yet, the mods here are all Nazi, facist, McCarthyist, and any other bad ist you can think of.
Why just yesterday UncleBeer spent all day moderating in his usual facist manner. Deleting and closing threads that did not belong in MPSIMS. Imagine that! Doing his job.

Yes, the mods here moderate their respective forums very, very well. No they are not loose with forum descriptions. Why should they be? The descriptions are there for a reason.

It can be more than a little intimidating here for a newbie (Not for me, I jumped right in-- but I did read the forum descriptions and followed the simple rules there), but this is the reason why we have the smartest, nicest, most opinionated membership in all of the web.
P.S., the people here are quite protective of the mods. They get attacked with dismaying regularity. Please don’t take what some may say in this thread too much to heart. Or, listen to the constructive criticism and ignore the flames you may see.

9

Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out!*

*[sup]I’ve been waiting, like, A YEAR to be able to use that line. Thanks, Jibby, for the opportunity.[/sup]

10

I’m not going to be flippant in my response to you Jibby7.

First, I think that we’re all a little on edge around here about everything.
Second, I think that the moderators have been some of the most rational around here.
Third, that the moderators are still willing to volunteer their time and services in a time when they might actually have pressing FAMILY obligations means something.
Fourth, there are, right now, literally over 100 threads on the subject of the World Trade Center. To call our moderators too strict is laughable, at best.

11

Well, I asked UncleBeer to close my thread because a couple of others had popped up with the same information. It seemed redundant to me and since no one had responded, lock it up, says I. Why spread relevant responses all over the place instead of concentrating them in one or two threads?

He did his job and I for one am grateful. Thank you UncleBeer!

12

You bastard. I’ve been waiting a year and a half to say it.

…y’know what? I’ll say it anyway:

Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out, Jibby!

Dammit. It’s just not the same

:: pouts ::

Fenris

13

You know damn well I’m a girl. I’m a BITCH, thankyouverymuch.

14

Y’know what? I think that must be a real popular phrase because I, too, have been waiting like a year to use it. But I won’t because Green Bean and Fenris already did and I like to be different. So…

LET the door hit you in the ass on your way out!

Who knows? You might like it…

15

Anyone else wonder what Innoveda, Inc., owners of http://www.sd.com have to do with this?

Oh, and Jibby7, there are over 15,000 other opinions here who like these boards and choose to stay. You are but a drop in a pond.

16

Funny, I’ve been waiting a year and a half to say “Farfle narfle boo boo cheese.”

Sadly, it seems that my day will never come. :frowning:

17

I just find it deliciously terrible that after endless intejerctions preaching tolerance of people with viewpoints other than “our” own, so many are showing up to collectively bash this new person for voicing an opinion that they don’t like.

Good job, folks. A shining example to the rest of the board.

18

You mean, like, Abstract Expressionist? Cubist? Impressionist? Blech - evil, one and all.

[sub]Sorry, couldn’t help myself. I’ll be quiet now.[/sub]

19

Well, excuse me for losing it, but I freely admit that I have. Lost it, that is.

Jibby7?

A) People en masse died in this country yesterday. The rest of us are trying to deal with this the best way we can.

B) We LIKE the way the moderators take very good care of this board. If you don’t, the door is available and no one is going to hit you on the butt as you leave. We won’t even cheer, we will just carry on the way we always do. I have to say, I mostly LIKE the way we carry on.

C)If you don’t like the way we live here, you can go elsewhere. It is very simple, really. Find a place you feel comfortable, and stay there. I am not suggesting you do so, because I don’t think you are a jerk. But I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable, and you seem to be uncomfortable here. Easy out…leave.

Now…I have no patience, tolerance or kindness at this point in my life. People have died. People have lost loved ones. I have little patience for anyone who is not in grief. I assume you are NOT in grief, or you wouldn’t be so concerned with locked threads, but I allow the possibility that you may be in grief and sublimating. If so, you have my permission to stay, and I will welcome you.

Listen, dear. This is a good place, with good people. You will never meet a better bunch. I have made lifelong friends here, and you will do the same if you stay.

Well, that is the end of my lecture. Welcome, dear. I hope you either stay and enjoy, or leave and enjoy.

Scotti

20

All I have to say is that the moderation of this board has kept the discussion of the WTC tragedy remarkably civil and intelligent under the most difficult of circumstances.

It’s great to have a place on the net to come to where people can actually discuss these events, instead of just raging out of control. Thank you, Moderators, for keeping the SDMB together.