# Moderators changing thread titles **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 10, 2022, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-changing-thread-titles/965980 "2022-06-10T14:31:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2022, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-changing-thread-titles/965980/41 "2022-06-10T23:18:57Z")
Some may not realize that many of those threads are documenting her serious and ongoing health issues and attempts to get back home from the hospital/rehab. So while they may be good titles or bad ones, and reflect good modding or poor modding, maybe this isn’t the time to make her feel too bad as she’s really leaning on and being supported by us during this time. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2022, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-changing-thread-titles/965980/42 "2022-06-10T23:38:15Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Of course, since I don’t read them, I guess the clarity of the title isn’t really of any importance to me, but still. It’s always nice when the rules are consistent. Since you don’t read **Beck** ’s threads, you have no basis for complaint. As for the “niceness” of consistency in applying rules, it’s also nice when rules are not applied robotically, but with an understanding of context and the history and intent of the poster, as well as allowing latitude for creative expression. This is a message board, not the front page of the _The Times_ ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2022, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-changing-thread-titles/965980/43 "2022-06-11T00:37:55Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Since you don’t read **Beck** ’s threads, you have no basis for complaint. That’s patently false and frankly rather insulting. The funny thing is, you’re telling me I have no basis for complaint since I don’t read those threads. But the reason I don’t read those threads is _because_ of the titles. Remember when there was a change to remove swears from pit thread titles, because people might see them? Did the people that weren’t going to read those threads also have no basis for complaint? Even if I’m not reading the threads, I’m still reading the titles. > [@wolfpup](#): > > This is a message board, not the front page of the _The Times_ Literally no one has suggested otherwise. All people are asking for is descriptive thread titles. > [@wolfpup](#): > > As for the “niceness” of consistency in applying rules, it’s also nice when rules are not applied robotically, but with an understanding of context and the history and intent of the poster, as well as allowing latitude for creative expression. Be that as it may, it’s still helpful to have some idea as to what a thread is about. Besides which, that’s a pretty specific example of some rules not applying to some posters. > [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > With the first four, and knowing Beck, yes I have a pretty good idea of what I would be clicking on. You might…other people don’t. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2022, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-changing-thread-titles/965980/44 "2022-06-11T00:50:57Z")
You’re rather dramatically overreacting. I’m just saying that if you don’t like **Beck** ’s threads, don’t read them. Problem solved. A great many of us do read them and consider **Beck** to be a great asset to the board. This is also getting to be a major hijack from the thread topic so I’m done. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2022, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-changing-thread-titles/965980/45 "2022-06-11T00:54:27Z")
Leave Beck’s threads alone. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2022, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-changing-thread-titles/965980/46 "2022-06-11T01:09:32Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > You’re rather dramatically overreacting You’re the one who unilaterally decided I’m not allowed to have an opinion on the matter. I was simply reacting to that. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2022, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-changing-thread-titles/965980/47 "2022-06-11T01:18:54Z")
It’s not about one particular poster. Board rules should be enforced evenly, regardless of who the poster is, or how popular the poster may be. And if a rule isn’t going to be enforced for everyone, it should be removed from the rules. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2022, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-changing-thread-titles/965980/48 "2022-06-11T02:41:32Z")
On the one hand, it is quite obvious to the disinterested observer that Beck’s thread titles are being given more than a little leeway in regards to the “no vague titles” rule. It would be better for the mods to just say, “Yeah, we give them some leeway because they add some character to the board.” If they didn’t have all the “bad, bad, bad” stuff, they would just be boring vague titles and would likely be edited. But ya know what? I’m OK with that. Rules are rules, but the stakes are pretty feckin’ low on this, so let your freak flag fly, I say. “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” (Note: I am not saying anyone in this thread has a little mind.) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2022, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-changing-thread-titles/965980/49 "2022-06-11T03:23:06Z")
That’s enough Beck bashing. We’re done here. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2022, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-changing-thread-titles/965980/50 "2022-06-11T03:23:08Z")
---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-changing-thread-titles/965980/51 "2022-07-18T15:05:57Z")
I realize this thread has been closed, but I missed it, and I am an MPSIMS mod, and want to make a serious reply as a MPSIMS mod who changes a lot of titles. > [@Joey\_P](#): > > Can you guess what any of these threads might be about? > > - Bad, bad, bad Comatose mistaken ideas > - BIG, bad bad bad ways to go home (yes, you can go home again!) > - Wait just a dang minute. Bad bad bad Ms. Beck-brain, we gotta talk > - Bad, bad, bad Beck-da-wrek is on (as in dependent on) Goof-o-da-balls. Uh-oh! > - Hey! There’s this thing I really really really love Yes. I can guess from the titles that it will be a thread started by Beckdawrek and will be general and rambly. “Bad, bad bad” is pretty much her catch phrase, and “really really really love” is close enough. I would have considered changing that last one if it had been reported (I might have added something in her style, like “NOT bad, bad, bad”) but for me, yeah, I knew what would be in the thread. No one familiar with the site is going to open any of those posts expecting a specific discussion of a narrow topic. Except that anyone familiar with Beck might know that she’ll likely give us an update on her health, in her own style. Which is signaled by her choice of thread titles. > [@Riemann](#): > > Indeed. Can a Mod please explain the difference between the thread title “Guess What?” that is explicitly prohibited in the rules, and the thread title “Hey! There’s this thing I really really really love” that is fine? Sure. I have absolutely no idea what will be in a thread titled “Guess what?”. And as stated above, I have an excellent idea of what will be in all the threads that Beck starts. As does every regular reader of MPSIMS. I take changing thread titles fairly seriously, and try to do it in a transparent way that respects the OP. Also, if I’ve changed your title in a way you don’t like, please DM me (or just report your own post and state your objection) and we’ll come up with a mutually acceptable title. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators-changing-thread-titles/965980.md?page=2)