# Moderator double standard? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 16, 2003, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-double-standard/188948 "2003-07-16T18:57:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-double-standard/188948/61 "2003-07-18T03:13:59Z")
I don’t feel particularly “persecuted” here, if that was directed at me, though I do feel that there is a sizable contingent who don’t like me. Hopefully there is a larger one that does, and probably a much larger one that doesn’t give a crap one way or the other, if they even know who I am. However, I’ve been a part of this community for almost… what… 7 years? There are a lot of people around here that I really care about and like to consider friends. That is why I post here. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-double-standard/188948/62 "2003-07-18T05:17:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Weirddave \* > I think a better analogy would be if all your friends were at a bar where the bartender and waitstaff wasn’t too crazy about you. You go because it’s got cheep drinks, good music and lots of friends and put up with the slow service and glares from the bouncer. ( From the hypothetical “You’s” POV ) To extend the analogy to the SDMB - the drinks are free, and the bartender lets you come to his bar even though you sometimes call him an asshole to his face. ---
**Author:** ![whatami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85f322/32.png) [@whatami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatami)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-double-standard/188948/63 "2003-07-18T05:35:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by alohaaloha \* > \*\* > And by the way, **whatami** , I intentionally went out of my way not to mention the Administrator by name in my post… \*\* Yeah… sure made it difficult to find out who it was when you linked to the post. Besides which, I think you should properly attribute the quote anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-double-standard/188948/64 "2003-07-18T06:20:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Arnold Winkelried \* > \*\*To extend the analogy to the SDMB - the drinks are free, and the bartender lets you come to his bar even though you sometimes call him an asshole to his face. \*\* _ **ASSHOLE!** _ [sub]hee hee hee 😉 😛 [/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-double-standard/188948/65 "2003-07-18T13:47:11Z")
Here’s what I don’t understand: If a person is going to do something “questionable,” why not just email an admin to ask if it’s okay? When I ran the past two SDMB Secret Santa threads, I emailed Tuba to check. Collecting and distributing peoples’ home addresses definitely falls into the “questionable” range. And next year, I’ll check again–things can change a lot in a year. **Opal** knew damn well that posting that link was “questionable” because she stood to make money off of it. And to the people asking why **Opal** is treated differently–well, this is just my best guess, but I’ll offer it up for discussion: Opal is a person who makes her living by making money off of the internet. Over the years, she has tried over and over to use the SDMB as a conduit to making money. Naturally, any thread started by her will be examined closely. Her statement that a lot of the time she has just posted “looking for feedback” on t-shirt designs is disingenuous at best. People post asking for feedback on stuff all the time. But they are asking about a one-time thing or a brand-new venture. They are not soliciting feedback on products of an ongoing business concern. The SDMB is not a consulting firm that you get to use for free. And of course, she was probably hoping that people would contact her asking to buy something with the design she was asking about. It’s natural that some people have found some financial benefit as a result of their association with the SDMB, just like it’s natural that people have found romantic relationships here. For example, I received one of **Eve** ’s books for Christmas. I may not have known about Eve’s books if not for our association with the board. But Eve is not here to make money. She’s here to participate in the board. Therefore, I certainly don’t begrudge her a few extra cents in royalties. I don’t know what Opalcat’s primary purpose for participating here is, but there is enough history there for me to be somewhat suspicious when she starts a thread. ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-double-standard/188948/66 "2003-07-18T15:16:08Z")
They don’t call me Sunshine for nothing, but…maybe **Opal** was just trying to share something with other Dopers that she thought might be beneficial to _them_ and had no thought whatsoever about making money for herself. That’s what I thought when I read her OP. Why do people see **Opal’s** request for feedback on t-shirt designs as “disingenuous?” Why can’t she ALSO be just one of the “People post[ing] asking for feedback on stuff all the time?” Why single her out? I understand she may have crossed the line in the past but it seems to me she’s made it clear she understands where the line is now and has no intention of crossing it again. Why continue to paint her with the same brush forever? I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-double-standard/188948/67 "2003-07-18T15:57:43Z")
Thank you Sunshine. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-double-standard/188948/68 "2003-07-18T19:57:48Z")
You’re welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-double-standard/188948/69 "2003-07-18T20:50:10Z")
_But I paid for the big salad! **Lib** just carried it!_ You’re welcome, Opal. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-double-standard/188948/70 "2003-07-18T21:05:53Z")
However, I see no reason why member preferances would not be taken into account, Coldfire & Dantheman. Of course, the Staff makes the final decision. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-double-standard/188948/71 "2003-07-18T21:44:04Z")
Well, in my clumsy way, that was my point, **DrDeth**. I didn’t mean to imply they did whatever popular opinion said, but my guess is that such opinion probably is taken into account to some extent. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-double-standard/188948/72 "2003-07-18T22:46:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sunshine \* > \*\*_But I paid for the big salad! **Lib** just carried it!_ > > You’re welcome, Opal. \*\* 😃 You’re a gem. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2003, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-double-standard/188948/73 "2003-07-20T03:03:33Z")
> [@](#): > > I understand she may have crossed the line in the past but it seems to me she’s made it clear she understands where the line is now and has no intention of crossing it again. And she says that _every single fucking time_. Get it yet? ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2003, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-double-standard/188948/74 "2003-07-20T16:57:33Z")
:rolleyes: It has been a different situation every time. I didn’t think this was across the line, or I wouldn’t have posted it. Now I know how the administration perceived it, and so I wouldn’t post anything about earning money in any way ever again–obviously. But please, feel free to assume the worst of my motives. I’m used to it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-double-standard/188948.md?page=3)