# Moderator Notes and Warnings
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-notes-and-warnings/649161
**Category:** About This Message Board
**Created:** [February 2, 2013, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-notes-and-warnings/649161 "2013-02-02T23:54:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2013, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-notes-and-warnings/649161/1 "2013-02-02T23:54:00Z")
Inspired by the tread: [“What’s the meaning of a moderator non-warning?”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=591758)
Anyways, **Little Nemo** complained that the moderator notes and warnings system was unclear because even though moderator notes are not really warnings, they still involve the moderator “warning” another poster. “Warnings” however involve the other poster facing consequences like getting points on their license.
So I thought about this and I was wondering why don’t they call moderator notes, “warnings”, and warnings, “infractions”, because that’s how they function.
It seems like a more logical system because moderator notes are technically “warnings” and I’ve seen other boards label what we call warnings here, “infractions”, which go on your record.
So I think **Little Nemo** does have a point. What he was trying to say was that it would be clearer if moderator notes were called warnings because that’s what they function like.
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2013, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-notes-and-warnings/649161/2 "2013-02-03T00:28:31Z")
Did you actually read the thread? It was explained at considerable length how and why the terminology we use developed here. While a system of warnings/infractions might be clearer (and is what our automated system is set up to do), the system we use here of mod notes/warnings is understood pretty well. We think that it would be much more trouble than it’s worth to change the established system at this point.
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### Author:  [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-notes-and-warnings/649161/3 "2013-02-03T00:31:02Z")
It’s actually even more counter-intuitive than that. Notes are warnings, but they don’t keep and notes of Notes; they do keep notes about Warnings, though. 😃
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2013, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-notes-and-warnings/649161/4 "2013-02-03T00:35:50Z")
It’s possible that other boards use different terms for these things and maybe our usage is unusual or weird. But we’ve called these things notes and warnings for a long time and most posters know what we’re talking about. Changing our terms is going to confuse more people than it helps. If you’re unsure about what we’re doing or what it means, you can ask us.
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### Author:  [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2013, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-notes-and-warnings/649161/5 "2013-02-03T01:54:32Z")
> [@Marley23](#):
>
> It’s possible that other boards use different terms for these things and maybe our usage is unusual or weird. But we’ve called these things notes and warnings for a long time and most posters know what we’re talking about. Changing our terms is going to confuse more people than it helps. If you’re unsure about what we’re doing or what it means, you can ask us.
I understand the system fine. What I was trying to say was, I think it would be a clearer approach to call them warnings and infractions, especially for new posters. Some posters like **Little Nemo** would appreciate it if the system was like that. They are puzzled by the fact that you are treating warnings like a punishment rather than a warning, and treating moderator notes like warnings instead.
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2013, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-notes-and-warnings/649161/6 "2013-02-03T02:14:29Z")
You could call them pretty much anything as long as posters know what the terms mean. And on the whole they do: **Little Nemo** wasn’t having trouble understanding the terms; he had a procedural and semantic question. One reason we didn’t call them infractions is that the infraction system - the tool that sends private messages and puts a note on your use profile - has been around for four or five years and the mods here have been using “warning” this way for more than 10 years. With no system, “warning” seems clearer to me.
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### Author:  [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2013, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-notes-and-warnings/649161/7 "2013-02-03T04:09:52Z")
> [@Anonymous User](#):
>
> They are puzzled by the fact that you are treating warnings like a punishment …
What “punishment”?
Banning? Suspension? Or is the punishment the public shaming?
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2013, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-notes-and-warnings/649161/8 "2013-02-03T04:29:10Z")
> [@Anonymous User](#):
>
> I understand the system fine. What I was trying to say was, I think it would be a clearer approach to call them warnings and infractions, especially for new posters. Some posters like **Little Nemo** would appreciate it if the system was like that. They are puzzled by the fact that you are treating warnings like a punishment rather than a warning, and treating moderator notes like warnings instead.
Do you actually have a point that was not addressed in the original thread?
We’ve made it clear that we aren’t going to change the terminology, because at this point we don’t think it’s worth the hassle. I don’t know why you have chosen to raise the issue again.
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### Author:  [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-notes-and-warnings/649161/9 "2013-02-03T15:17:33Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#):
>
> What “punishment”?
>
> Banning? Suspension? Or is the punishment the public shaming?
A tally on your permanent record.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-notes-and-warnings/649161/10 "2013-02-03T15:52:30Z")
> [@Colibri](#):
>
> Did you actually read the thread? It was explained at considerable length how and why the terminology we use developed here. While a system of warnings/infractions might be clearer (and is what our automated system is set up to do), the system we use here of mod notes/warnings is understood pretty well. We think that it would be much more trouble than it’s worth to change the established system at this point.
I agree with the OP and stand by what I wrote in the original thread. It’s ridiculous to issue messages you functionally regard as warnings while writing that they’re not warnings. Explaining that you’re doing this doesn’t make it less ridiculous. But regular posters are familiar with this idiosyncrasy and new posters presumably learn about it.
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-notes-and-warnings/649161/11 "2013-02-03T17:57:08Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> I agree with the OP and stand by what I wrote in the original thread. It’s ridiculous to issue messages you functionally regard as warnings while writing that they’re not warnings. Explaining that you’re doing this doesn’t make it less ridiculous. But regular posters are familiar with this idiosyncrasy and new posters presumably learn about it.
I’ll just quote what I posted in the original thread:
> [@What's the meaning of a moderator non-warning?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-a-moderator-non-warning/566457/33):
>
> If we were coming up with a system from scratch, we might in fact have used a different terminology (as the automated infraction system does). In fact, the present system has developed gradually over the past 11 years. So it is what it is.
>
> The main consideration I think are:
>
> 1. We have a long-standing system in place which doesn’t seem to create confusion for most people. (And we added the “no warning issued” phraseology specifically to clarify whether someone was receiving a warning or not.)
>
> 2. Changing the system at this point would undoubtedly cause confusion for some time.
>
> 3. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. 😉
Given that we’ve gone two years since the last thread on the subject, I think we can verify that most people understand the system here.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-notes-and-warnings/649161/12 "2013-02-03T18:20:12Z")
I’m finding it difficult to develop a burning hatred for mods when they have to address petty caviling over the use of terminology in a pretty simple system. Couldn’t we stick to characterizing them as jackbooted thugs hiding behind circled wagon in regards to the content of their moderation?
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2013, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-notes-and-warnings/649161/13 "2013-02-03T18:28:52Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> I agree with the OP and stand by what I wrote in the original thread. It’s ridiculous to issue messages you functionally regard as warnings while writing that they’re not warnings.
Sometimes we call them “formal warnings” or “official warnings,” which does make that distinction. But it also sounds kind of pompous and makes people wonder in what way these things are formal or official.
> [@TriPolar](#):
>
> I’m finding it difficult to develop a burning hatred for mods when they have to address petty caviling over the use of terminology in a pretty simple system.
Well you’ll never develop a burning hatred with _that_ attitude. Apply yourself, man!
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-notes-and-warnings/649161/14 "2013-02-03T18:32:12Z")
Think of it as an intelligence test. If you’re not smart enough to figure out the moderating system, then you shouldn’t be posting here. Not that the bar is set particularly high, mind you.
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### Author:  [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-notes-and-warnings/649161/15 "2013-02-03T18:36:49Z")
> [@Colibri](#):
>
> I’ll just quote what I posted in the original thread:
>
> Given that we’ve gone two years since the last thread on the subject, I think we can verify that most people understand the system here.
It’s not about most people “understanding the system here”. The problem is that the system is silly. Why are you calling a punishment a warning (and yes it is a punishment; it ruins your record)? Moderator notes are the real “warnings” and warnings are the consequences.
The reason most people understand is because they have been here. However, if a new poster comes and you give them a warnings, they won’t even know that they just got their license screwed.
Maybe changing the system so that notes become “warnings” and warnings become “infractions” isn’t so bad as you make it out to be, **Colibri**. All you’ll have to do is for the next couple of months, every time you are moderating, put in your post:
> [@](#):
>
> **New Moderating System:**
>
> Moderator Notes are now called “warnings”.
> Warnings are now called “infractions”.
When you’re giving someone an “infraction”. Title your post as, “Moderating - Infraction Issued.” But if you’re just giving someone a “warning” (as you now call it a “moderator note”), then just title the post as, “Moderator Warning”.
This is just an idea, obviously.
If you do that for a couple of months for each of your “moderating” posts, I think people adjust to the new system.
Like I and **Little Nemo** said, it’s silly that you have “warnings” and “WARNINGS”. It’s not logical.
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### Author:  [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-notes-and-warnings/649161/16 "2013-02-03T18:53:14Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#):
>
> Think of it as an intelligence test. If you’re not smart enough to figure out the moderating system, then you shouldn’t be posting here. Not that the bar is set particularly high, mind you.
I do understand it, easily actually.
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### Author:  [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-notes-and-warnings/649161/17 "2013-02-03T18:54:45Z")
Dude, go discover the wonderful world of masturbation. It would be a much better use of your time.
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-notes-and-warnings/649161/18 "2013-02-03T19:07:00Z")
> [@Anonymous User](#):
>
> The problem is that the system is silly. Why are you calling a punishment a warning (and yes it is a punishment; it ruins your record)?
It’s a warning that if you continue doing what you are doing, you may get banned.
> [@](#):
>
> However, if a new poster comes and you give them a warnings, they won’t even know that they just got their license screwed.
Your record means exactly as much as you want it to. You don’t get extra privileges for having no warnings, and you don’t get some kind of license. Even warnings don’t count for a whole lot unless you keep getting warned for the same thing.
> [@](#):
>
> If you do that for a couple of months for each of your “moderating” posts, I think people adjust to the new system.
Maybe people would adjust after a few months. Or we could do the same thing we’ve been doing for 10 to 12 years, and once every two years or so deal with a question about what the terms mean or a complaint that the words are not logical.
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### Author:  [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-notes-and-warnings/649161/19 "2013-02-03T19:12:53Z")
Just a lot of needless worry about names when there is no misunderstanding.
I guess if things were remade from scratch I would use the following levels of warnings.
A “Tickle Oopsy” would be administered for the lightest of warnings.
An “Oh no you di-n’t” will be sent through PM as the standard warning.
A “Say ‘what’ one goddamn more time” is the last warning you’ll likely get.
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2013, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderator-notes-and-warnings/649161/20 "2013-02-03T19:41:37Z")
> [@Anonymous User](#):
>
> Like I and **Little Nemo** said, it’s silly that you have “warnings” and “WARNINGS”. It’s not logical.
It’s also not logical to complain about something that you’ve said you understand, clearly isn’t a significant problem, and that we’ve made clear we don’t think is worth the hassle of changing. 😉
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