# Mods, clarification regarding Milum
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-clarification-regarding-milum/251846
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [June 23, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-clarification-regarding-milum/251846 "2004-06-23T18:36:41Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-clarification-regarding-milum/251846/1 "2004-06-23T18:36:41Z")
Over in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=262725&page=1&pp=50) started by \*\*Milum \*\* regarding Bill Clinton’s book “My Life”, I quickly followed up his substanceless and debate free OP with “Dnftt”. I was then (correctly) reprimanded by **Gaudere** :
> [@](#):
>
> Guys, if you want to discuss at length a poster’s shortcomings while adding nothing substansive to debate, do it in the Pit. Munch, do NOT call posters a troll. Milum, did you actually have something to debate? If you just want to annouce that Bill Clinton’s book got a bad review, that should be in Cafe Society.
I admit that my troll accusations were misplaced in Great Debates.
But now that we’re in the Pit, how exactly can \*\*Milum \*\* not be defined as a troll? He crapped out a particularly worthless OP in the middle of Great Debates, offered no discussion points, has ignored any attempt at rational discussion on multiple occasions, misrepresents viewpoints, and generally looks to stir shit up.
Not everyone on the Dope contributes a massively positive amount - most are lucky to just break even (myself included). But it seems to me that \*\*Milum \*\* offers nothing to the larger picture, other than as a major source of annoyance, misinformation and bullshit. Is he the Amtrak of the Straight Dope, destined to be subsidized forever by an administration too reluctant to pull the plug?
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### Author:  [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-clarification-regarding-milum/251846/2 "2004-06-23T18:38:42Z")
> [@](#):
>
> But now that we’re in the Pit, how exactly can Milum not be defined as a troll?
Irrelevent, really. Troll or not, you’re not supposed to call him that. Leave that to the mods.
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### Author:  [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-clarification-regarding-milum/251846/3 "2004-06-23T18:40:01Z")
> [@SPOOFE](#):
>
> Irrelevent, really. Troll or not, you’re not supposed to call him that. Leave that to the mods.
True, point taken.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-clarification-regarding-milum/251846/4 "2004-06-23T19:03:34Z")
The guy’s an attention slut. You all just keep responding to his nonsense and he’ll continue to hang around because of the little thrill he gets from annoying people. Threads like this one just feed his ego.
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### Author:  [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-clarification-regarding-milum/251846/5 "2004-06-23T19:22:02Z")
Yeah, he (and his Little Sir Echo **Starving\_Artist** ) are pretty obnoxious, but I’d say it’s probaly better to stay clear and just let him hang himself, as he has already been warned more than once about his posting habits, as recently as a couple of days ago.
Sometimes it’s necessary, to refute factual points made by posters who behave like jerks, but in this case, it’s probably not worth the effort. His posts to GD have little more content than “if it ain’t Republican, it’s CRAP!” and responses just give him the unwarranted impression that someone takes his nonsense seriously.
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### Author:  [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-clarification-regarding-milum/251846/6 "2004-06-23T19:53:19Z")
Uhh, what mean “Dnftt”?
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### Author:  [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-clarification-regarding-milum/251846/7 "2004-06-23T19:55:47Z")
> [@Munch](#):
>
> But now that we’re in the Pit, how exactly can Milum not be defined as a troll? He crapped out a particularly worthless OP in the middle of Great Debates, offered no discussion points, has ignored any attempt at rational discussion on multiple occasions, misrepresents viewpoints, and generally looks to stir shit up.
Huh? I clicked the link, and he states his debate topic in bold. With color. Just because it isn’t a debate that interests you, or just because he holds a point of view that annoys you, why is there a problem with him rather than with you? Meanwhile, you break the rules twice in two different forums and open a thread for no purpose other than to break a rule. And your complaint is about _him_?
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### Author:  [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-clarification-regarding-milum/251846/8 "2004-06-23T19:59:14Z")
> [@dnooman](#):
>
> Uhh, what mean “Dnftt”?
Do Not Filet The Trout.
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### Author:  [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-clarification-regarding-milum/251846/9 "2004-06-23T20:22:22Z")
> [@dnooman](#):
>
> Uhh, what mean “Dnftt”?
Do not feed the troll = don’t respond to X, because then X will go away.
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### Author:  [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-clarification-regarding-milum/251846/10 "2004-06-23T20:58:02Z")
> [@Liberal](#):
>
> Huh? I clicked the link, and he states his debate topic in bold. With color. Just because it isn’t a debate that interests you, or just because he holds a point of view that annoys you, why is there a problem with him rather than with you?
Sorry, Lib, but "_And the debate is… Have scales fallen from the eyes of the New YorkTimes or do they have advanced notice of the second comming?_ 🙂 " simply isn’t a debate. If he was serious about the topic, why include a smilie? If he wants discourse, why not include an actual position? No, this was just another in a series of shittings.
> [@](#):
>
> Meanwhile, you break the rules twice in two different forums and open a thread for no purpose other than to break a rule. And your complaint is about _him_?
Did I break the rules? Yes - and both\* times I acknowledged my misstep. The day **Milum** does the same is the day someone’s cracked his password.
\*And not calling someone a troll outside of GD is merely a guideline, AFAIK. ([cite](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=2670336&postcount=13))
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### Author:  [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-clarification-regarding-milum/251846/11 "2004-06-23T21:12:44Z")
> [@Munch](#):
>
> \*And not calling someone a troll outside of GD is merely a guideline, AFAIK. ([cite](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=2670336&postcount=13))
Your cite seems to be more than a guideline:
> [@](#):
>
> Q: What does DNFTT mean?
> A: Do not feed the troll.
>
> Q: What is a troll?
> A: “Troll,” in the context of message boards and the like, describes somebody who is posting just to be confrontational or to raise hackles.
> See Staff Report: What is a troll? (14-Apr-2000)
>
> Q: What should I do when I see a user “trolling” at the SDMB?
> A: Do not publicly accuse someone of trolling at the SDMB. Use the “Report this post to a moderator” facility below the “trolling” post. Do not reply to the troll in any way in the thread, that will only encourage the troublemaker.
>
> Q: What if I’m not sure if the person is a troll?
> A: Treat the person as a user in good standing. Respond to the post if you have something useful to add, otherwise say nothing.
So: you can’t accuse someone of trolling at the SDMB.
Oddly enough, though, you can say that another poster should be banned, which I found out by being on the receiving end of such an accusation. So you can say that someone ought to be kicked off the boards, but you can’t say why, if the reason is that they’re trolling.
Sometimes the rules here need a Talmudic scholar to thread through the seemingly conflicting details.
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### Author:  [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-clarification-regarding-milum/251846/12 "2004-06-23T21:14:13Z")
I’m just wondering why he’s still around at all…
He’s had a few warning in the last week or so, for some pretty egregious infractions, including the disgusting quip “[Now be a good little Arab and apologize](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=4966755&postcount=49)”.
WTF?? If someone had said, “Now be a good little Jew…”, they’d be gone. Especially after all the other steaming bullshit he seems to spread everywhere.
Oh well. I suppose he’s a fun playtoy for the liberals in GD…
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### Author:  [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-clarification-regarding-milum/251846/13 "2004-06-23T21:18:55Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#):
>
> Your cite seems to be more than a guideline:
Well, the title of the thread is “FAQ - guidelines for posting at the SDMB”. In any event, I’ll refrain from the practice from here on out. Though you do raise a good point - hopefully if a mod comes by to post here they might offer some insight, or add an addendum to that thread in ATMB.
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### Author:  [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-clarification-regarding-milum/251846/14 "2004-06-23T21:58:42Z")
Well, I certainly think **RTFirefly** should be band.
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### Author:  [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-clarification-regarding-milum/251846/15 "2004-06-23T22:12:33Z")
**andros** should be branded.
and **Munch** should be brandied.
I think the DNFTT is not allowed because it upsets the feltching goats, trolls being fond of a little goat for supper.
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### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-clarification-regarding-milum/251846/16 "2004-06-23T22:22:53Z")
I was sure this was going to be about **Milum’s** [The Latest Beheading by Terrorists](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=262357) “debate”.
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### Author:  [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-clarification-regarding-milum/251846/17 "2004-06-23T22:44:08Z")
So you can say that you think someone should be banned? Can you start a “petition” thread in the Pit collecting votes for a person’s banning? Would the mods ban the guy assuming he had enough people saying he should be? Would the thread be ignored or shut down? Should I be asking these questions in ATMB?
I’ll answer that last one. Yes.
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### Author:  [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-clarification-regarding-milum/251846/18 "2004-06-23T23:04:04Z")
Personally, I don’t wish for anyone to be banned. Or band. Or banded.
I do, however, think some people need a swift kick in the ass – preferably in the form of a clear explanation as to why their behavior is intolerable, and what they need to do to change.
Quite often this is precisely what the mods do. (_applause_) Other times, though, it seems a bit vague and simplistic – e.g., “shape up or ship out” – which might remedy the current problem, but does less to help folks become better members of the community.
[/end cheese-fest]
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### Author:  [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)
#### Post date: [June 24, 2004, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-clarification-regarding-milum/251846/19 "2004-06-24T00:05:06Z")
**Cecil’s** column may be a little misleading because he says that DNFTT _is_ used as code at SDMB.
With **Milum** there is this other possibility to be considered. Again, from **Cecil’s** column:
> [@](#):
>
> “Troll” is often flung about too casually. If somebody is simply ignorant or obtuse, it’s incorrect to call him a troll.
BTW, **El\_Kabong** , it is my opinion that **Starving Artist** is very passionate about his views. I often disagree with him, but I think he is earnest.
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### Author:  [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [June 24, 2004, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-clarification-regarding-milum/251846/20 "2004-06-24T00:59:26Z")
> [@Zoe](#):
>
> BTW, **El\_Kabong** , it is my opinion that **Starving Artist** is very passionate about his views. I often disagree with him, but I think he is earnest.
I think you’re being generous. I would describe him as Milumesque. Besides, can’t one be earnest _and_ obtuse or ignorant?
If nothing else, he certainly likes to proclaim himself a “winner.” Not a trait I equate with many positive qualities. For some reason, I see his room very much like the young man’s room in _About Schmidt_, lined with “Participant” ribbons.
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