# Moderator, mod thyself.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-mod-thyself/704673>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [November 15, 2014, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-mod-thyself/704673 "2014-11-15T03:26:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**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:** [November 15, 2014, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-mod-thyself/704673/1 "2014-11-15T03:26:24Z")

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**Tomndebb** mod-noted the following posts for, let’s see, “continued dancing around your efforts to call each other a liar”:

> [@Is it okay for government to decieve the public to get laws passed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-for-government-to-decieve-the-public-to-get-laws-passed/704548/85):
>
> Boehner’s statement is a lot more accurate and less misleading than your post.

> [@Is it okay for government to decieve the public to get laws passed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-for-government-to-decieve-the-public-to-get-laws-passed/704548/100):
>
> your sweet sweet prevarications about Boehner are far easier to take.

> [@Is it okay for government to decieve the public to get laws passed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-for-government-to-decieve-the-public-to-get-laws-passed/704548/101):
>
> I’m merely responding to your distortions.  
> But if you can misrepresent Boehner you can misrepresent yourself too - either you use that MO or you don’t.

> [@Is it okay for government to decieve the public to get laws passed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-for-government-to-decieve-the-public-to-get-laws-passed/704548/107):
>
> . . . and contrary to your false claim. . .  
> . . . lets you feel good about yourself despite your lack of integrity when such is helpful to your side.  
> . . . Left Hand of Dorkness distortions, they all have their points of interest.

Okay, first off, since when is it against the rule to suggest that the other person is being dishonest in GD? I’ve advocated for such a rule in the past and been told that terms such as “disingenuous” are copacetic. But “prevarications\*” is somehow off-limits? This appears a novel ruling.

Second off, I’m thrilled if this is the way it goes forward. I apologize for suggesting **FP** was prevaricating.

Third, I see another post–one that came **immediately before the mod post** , that ought to be considered:

> [@Is it okay for government to decieve the public to get laws passed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-for-government-to-decieve-the-public-to-get-laws-passed/704548/117):
>
> But pretending that only one side lied to get their way is ludicrous.

If “prevarications” is off-limits, surely nobody ought to suggest that the other side is “pretending” anything–such dancing around efforts to call other posters a liar really ought to stop now.

- Just in case I was wrong, I looked up “prevaricate” to make sure I was using it correctly. Yes, while “lie” is one meaning, it has different connotations, including other meanings such as “speak misleadingly, create a false impression.” If I’d thought the word “lie” was the right word to use, I would’ve posted that in the pit.

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**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:** [November 15, 2014, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-mod-thyself/704673/2 "2014-11-15T03:33:11Z")

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Okay, just reread the GD sticky; a statement listed as being against the rules is “That’s not true and you darned well know it isn’t true.” Well, fair cop: that’s six years old, we all should be familiar with it.

Again, my apologies for the word “prevaricate.” I’d love to see this rule enforced, including against posters who suggest others are “pretending” something. Such conduct–mine included–does not help advance debates.

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**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-mod-thyself/704673/3 "2014-11-15T14:05:45Z")

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> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#):
>
> \*\*Third, I see another post–one that came **immediately before the mod post** , that ought to be considered:
> 
> If “prevarications” is off-limits, surely nobody ought to suggest that the other side is “pretending” anything–such dancing around efforts to call other posters a liar really ought to stop now.
> 
> - Just in case I was wrong, I looked up “prevaricate” to make sure I was using it correctly. Yes, while “lie” is one meaning, it has different connotations, including other meanings such as “speak misleadingly, create a false impression.” If I’d thought the word “lie” was the right word to use, I would’ve posted that in the pit.

**Tom** was not referring to posters on this MB.
