# Moving threads to The Pit **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 17, 2018, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357 "2018-05-17T18:14:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357/21 "2018-05-17T19:15:10Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I don’t think threads started in IMHO, etc should be moved to the PIT. It means that posters who don’t like the PIT- or perhaps should never go to the PIT as they react badly- are sent willy-nilly to a place they don’t want to be. \ Could you explain what you mean by a poster “reacting badly” in the pit? While you’re at it could you expound on the idea of “willy-nilly”? ---
**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:** [May 17, 2018, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357/22 "2018-05-17T19:20:08Z")
Mods need a variety of tools in their mod toolbox. A thread that has become too contentious can be closed, heavily moderated, moved to the Pit, or closed and suggested a new thread is started (perhaps linking to the original). Closing a thread is not consequence free- other posters get upset that the effort they put into discussion is essentially undermined. Recommending to start the thread again and link to a new thread rarely results in the new thread being created, shutting down conversation. Handing out a ton of notes and warnings to get a thread back on track often stifles conversation and creates hard feelings as some people feel unjustly warned, while other posters only get a note. Moving to the Pit has the problems you’ve noted. So there is no one perfect solution and all possible approaches need to be available on a case-by-case basis. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357/23 "2018-05-17T20:02:31Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > . > > As for other posters insulting you in the Pit, that’s completely out of anyone’s control. There’s nothing stopping anyone from quoting your post in another thread. Posters are always free to insult you in the Pit, that’s part of life here on the SDMB. There’s no protections against being insulted in the Pit; moving a thread doesn’t change that one bit. But you see, they have forced me (or others) to post in the Pit, whether we want to participate in that nastiness or not. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357/24 "2018-05-17T20:06:41Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > If we had the option of deleting our posts, fine. But we don’t. You have, by moving the thread- a move which is entirely and 100% unnecessary-forced a poster into the Pit. No, the mods would have forced some of the poster’s _prior posts_ into the Pit. The consequences of this are so immeasurable that nobody’s ever bothered to measure them. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357/25 "2018-05-17T20:07:04Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > You are not forced to participate. If someone responds to your earlier post in a Pit-worthy way, ignore it. No need to have to respond. Yes, however your post before moving is still there, thus you have been forced into participating in a Pit thread. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357/26 "2018-05-17T20:08:13Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > No, the mods would have forced some of the poster’s _prior posts_ into the Pit. > > The consequences of this are so immeasurable that nobody’s ever bothered to measure them. Yes, still your posts _are_ in the Pit, a place that many of us choose to not participate in. To _you_, perhaps. _You_ willingly participate in the PIT. Others do not choose to do so. Should not their choice be honored also? ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357/27 "2018-05-17T20:14:58Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > thus your participation in the Pit has been forced on you. > [@DrDeth](#): > > rather than forcing them into the Pit. > [@DrDeth](#): > > you are forcing those that already posted in good faith there into the Pit. > [@DrDeth](#): > > But you see, they have forced me (or others) to post in the Pit > [@DrDeth](#): > > thus you have been forced into participating in a Pit thread. You keep saying this and its one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard, to the point that I am skeptical of your intentions. Frankly, I wish this thread was in the pit. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357/28 "2018-05-17T20:15:13Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, still your posts _are_ in the Pit, a place that many of us choose to not participate in. > > To _you_, perhaps. _You_ willingly participate in the PIT. Others do not choose to do so. Should not their choice be honored also? I still don’t understand why this bothers you so much. Are you afraid that, when you die and arrive at the Pearly Gates, St. Peter is going to check and see if there are any posts by you in the Pit? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357/29 "2018-05-17T20:15:42Z")
I agree with the OP. If a poster starts a thread on a polarizing issue like Trump, sexism, or whatever. And they happen to have an unpopular opinion, Mods shouldn’t be allowed to move the thread to the Pit just so the other posters can bag on him or her with impunity. Close the damn thread and let someone else start a pit thread if they feel they must. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357/30 "2018-05-17T20:20:11Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > If a poster starts a thread on a polarizing issue like Trump, sexism, or whatever. And they happen to have an unpopular opinion, Mods shouldn’t **be allowed to** move the thread to the Pit just so the other posters can bag on him or her with impunity. Bolding mine. Saying that mods shouldn’t move a thread in this sort of circumstance is different from saying that that’s not a tool that mods should have available to them in their toolbox (as per **IvoryTowerDenizen** ’s post). ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357/31 "2018-05-17T20:24:18Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, still your posts _are_ in the Pit, a place that many of us choose to not participate in. > > To _you_, perhaps. _You_ willingly participate in the PIT. Others do not choose to do so. Should not their choice be honored also? Yes, absolutely! Nobody will force you to follow your old posts into the Pit. The mods and admins, even the ones with jackboots ;), don’t have that power. You don’t even have to go to the Pit yourself to see your old posts that have been moved there. You can click on the ‘moved’ icon in the original forum, and re-read the part of the thread before the move. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357/32 "2018-05-17T20:39:02Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > You keep saying this and its one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard, to the point that I am skeptical of your intentions. Frankly, I wish this thread was in the pit. Actually, never mind. I’ll hold that thought until the thread is moved. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357/33 "2018-05-17T20:40:08Z")
Perhaps the OP could adopt the credo that “No Gentleman _would_ insult me. No man not a Gentleman _can_ insult me.” Otherwise this is coddling to the nth degree. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357/34 "2018-05-17T21:10:36Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > I agree with the OP. > > If a poster starts a thread on a polarizing issue like Trump, sexism, or whatever. And they happen to have an unpopular opinion, Mods shouldn’t be allowed to move the thread to the Pit just so the other posters can bag on him or her with impunity. > > Close the damn thread and let someone else start a pit thread if they feel they must. Exactly. It seems like the mods would rather not moderate the threads they move to the pit. Funny thing is the posts that would have been warned or noted but aren’t when the the thread is moved to the Pit were still made outside the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357/35 "2018-05-17T21:26:52Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, however your post before moving is still there, thus you have been forced into participating in a Pit thread. That’s not how linear time works. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357/36 "2018-05-17T21:34:34Z")
Guys? I think I’ve found next year’s April Fools joke. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357/37 "2018-05-17T21:49:15Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, still your posts _are_ in the Pit, a place that many of us choose to not participate in. This seems like a ‘if a tree falls in the woods does it make a sound’ problem. If you’re not actively posting in the thread after the move to the Pit and not reading threads in the Pit and not seeing people potentially insult you in the Pit, why would it matter? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357/38 "2018-05-17T21:54:23Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > This seems like a ‘if a tree falls in the woods does it make a sound’ problem. If you’re not actively posting in the thread after the move to the Pit and not reading threads in the Pit and not seeing people potentially insult you in the Pit, why would it matter? Ok, you sign your name to a petition to stop Nazis. Afterwards, the guy changes it to a petition to support nazis. I mean, since you are no longer actively participating in that petition, why does it matter? ---
**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:** [May 17, 2018, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357/39 "2018-05-17T22:18:50Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Ok, you sign your name to a petition to stop Nazis. > > Afterwards, the guy changes it to a petition to support nazis. > > I mean, since you are no longer actively participating in that petition, why does it matter? How is that even remotely analogous? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357/40 "2018-05-17T22:33:05Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > It means that posters who don’t like the PIT- or perhaps should never go to the PIT as they react badly- are sent willy-nilly to a place they don’t want to be. > [@kayaker](#): > > While you’re at it could you expound on the idea of “willy-nilly”? Will ye or nil ye. Whether you like it or not. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-threads-to-the-pit/814357.md?page=3)