::sigh:: What I meant was, I didn’t want to see more hijackings as a way of insulting the OP. Hijacks happen, because one topic leads to another. However, there was quite a trend there for a while, where people were hijacking threads of people they didn’t like. I didn’t want this to continue. And it hasn’t.
I don’t hate organized sports fans, unless they INSIST on telling me every detail of their interest. But that’s because the sports fan involved is being a jerk, just as I’d hate someone who insisted on telling me EVERY subplot of his favorite soap opera/TV show/movie.
I have no intention of mixing my bias against sports with the administrating of this message board. It just happens that most of the hijacks were sports-related. I would have made the same ruling even if the hijacks were discussing classic science fiction stories.
I, too, like it when moderators specifically identify comments to us as “I’m telling you as a moderator–I have a problem with your behavior” versus “I have a problem with your behavior”. I’m under the impression that there have been times when posters have mouthed off or failed to respond appropriately because it wasn’t obvious to them that comments posted by a moderator were Moderator Comments and not the opinions of a a person who also happens to be a moderator.
Hmm,. must be I’m the exception. I don’t recall having a difficult time figuring it out.
EX:
“Moderator A” : Poster B your argument is a classic straw man, and your reasoning is faulty.
“Moderator A” : I find that when I mix chocalte with inflatables, the experience is enhanced exponentially.
“Moderator A” : I really can’t stand the Voyager Series, I feel that it’s gone way past what Rodenberry would have sanctioned.
“Moderator A” : I hate it when smokers don’t put their butts out properly and throw their trash out on the streets.
All of the above seem to me clearly Moderator acting as poster.
“Moderator A”: This OP is really more of an IMHO than not.
“Moderator A” : no personal insults in GD
“Moderator A” : We don’t appreciate folks trying to ‘out’ trolls, if you suspect some one is a troll, please email a mod or administrator.
“Moderator A”: Posting links to porn is a no-no. Don’t do it again.
IOW, when the moderator is talking about the posters actions and how they relate to board rules, I’d wager a bet they were talking as a moderator, even if they didn’t mention what type of chapeau they happened to have on.
If they’re posting about the OP, or their opinion as to the OP’s argument etc, then I’d assume that it’s as a poster.
I just don’t recall many instances of a moderator posting stuff about a posters actions that weren’t clearly either about the poster specifically doing something against board policy or just as obviously about the OP or something specifically not about board policy.
Humor me and pretend someone got called to the pit by a moderator about his/her actions, but states in an email that it is not done offically. In alternate case, moderator posts very stern remarks and again states in email that it was not offical. In neither case do they state it is not offical on the board.
Ain’t gonna happen, kniz. If we, as moderators, see an offense horrible enough to take action on, we’ll do it via e-mail with the offending poster, or by placing a warning post where the infraction occured. You’ll never see an OP in the Pit by a moderator taking someone to task for rules infractions; for simple stupidity perhaps, but that wouldn’t be done as a moderator, only as a poster. And even that is extremely unlikely. The Pit is not the place where we attempt to chastise violators or correct misbehavior.
. . . . Unlike various posters, who, apparently not having mastered e-mail themselves, continually start Pit threads to try to argue with/chastise/insult the mods.
kniz - that was my point. all of your ‘humor me, if this happened then this and this’ hasn’t happened (as far as I’ve seen in over a year). So, my point was that IME, the only times a mod posted stuff about some one’s board related infractions, it was as a moderator, and other times when they’ve posted points about a posters actions other than board related infractions it was clear to me that it wasn’t as a moderator.
“stern” remark over posting in wrong forum, swearing, personal insults in wrong forum, posting porn, threats against other posters etc. = moderator.
“stern” remark about logical fallacies, inconsistentencies in stance, poorly thought out positions etc. = poster.
Again, I’ve never seen a problem figuring out which is which.
I think that is true, that the moderators have generally not been opaque about it; but some posters of the prickly-skinned variety have on occasion appeared oblivious, as if moderator warnings from official capacity were blustery shouts from people who just happened to be moderators.
Of course that could be my own misappraisal, too. And some of them were in need of the application of the clue-by-four no matter what.
In the hypotetical case I’m proposing moderators are moderators are moderators. There is no doubt who is doing what the only question is what hat is on their head.
While we’re at it with the hypotheticals, what if an alien death ray hits Earth, and just barely misses Cecil, but destroys exacly that part of the boards.straightdope.com server which stores membership status? How are we supposed to know if folks are mods or not then?
We’ll know by passing down the oral tradition. Then, some centuries down the line we’ll write those traditions down. Then some centuries after that, we’ll be worshipping you as gods.
Oh wait, that’s been done already. Maybe Jesus was just the first century mod of a Jewish discussion group?