# No admins now? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 9, 2014, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340 "2014-01-09T05:10:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340/141 "2014-01-15T02:23:44Z")
I just got one of the “Internal Server Error” messages that have happened regularly from time to time during the years I’ve been here. I clicked to load a thread and the error appeared. As noted this is not unusual, but the admin email address in the error message seems to have changed. > [@](#): > > Internal Server Error > > The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request. > > Please contact the server administrator, [sysadmin-straightdope@desert.net](mailto:sysadmin-straightdope@desert.net) and inform them of the time the error occurred, and anything you might have done that may have caused the error. > > More information about this error may be available in the server error log. > > Apache/2 Server at [boards.straightdope.com](http://boards.straightdope.com) Port 80 ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340/142 "2014-01-15T02:26:32Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > I just got one of the “Internal Server Error” messages that have happened regularly from time to time during the years I’ve been here. I clicked to load a thread and the error appeared. > > As noted this is not unusual, but the admin email address in the error message seems to have changed. > [@](#): > > …and anything you might have done that may have caused the error. I like that even their Internal Server Error blames the victim. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340/143 "2014-01-15T03:14:06Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > You know who used to threaten people who asked too many questions? > Hitler. > [@buddha\_david](#): > > I would’ve guessed Nixon… > [@Loach](#): > > I was going to guess my mother but whatever. There’s a difference? > [@hajario](#): > > I’m not suggesting that they tell us the actual name of the phantom admin account, obviously. What harm is there is revealing that one exists? Anyone savvy enough to make use of that information wouldn’t need to be told that information anyway. I’m guessing there are possible legal ramifications that have been warned about. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340/144 "2014-01-15T03:41:14Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I’m guessing there are possible legal ramifications that have been warned about. I highly doubt that but if there were they could just say that their “legal team” advised them against giving any detail at this time. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340/145 "2014-01-15T03:42:26Z")
In that case, I got nuttin’. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340/146 "2014-01-15T20:39:27Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > It wasn’t a threat. I don’t do that unless someone threatens me/SDMB first. Didn’t happen in this case. > > And, yes, new registrants/returnees might have trouble finding an Admin. I provided a list of them to help. I didn’t even catch a whiff of a threat. You just sounded tired. But, altho there seems to be a problem with Admin as a title, why not as a custom? Instead of “Gormless Wienie” it could be Admin. Hope this all works out. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340/147 "2014-01-15T20:44:03Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But, altho there seems to be a problem with Admin as a title, why not as a custom? Instead of “Gormless Wienie” it could be Admin. My WAG would be that, because doing such is presently against the rules of what can be used as a custom title, some jackass would immediately raise a stink asking why they aren’t following the same rules we have to. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340/148 "2014-01-15T20:57:27Z")
I hope not, because that would be a really stupid bit of reasoning. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340/149 "2014-01-15T20:57:45Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > My WAG would be that, because doing such is presently against the rules of what can be used as a custom title, some jackass would immediately raise a stink asking why they aren’t following the same rules we have to. This is just silly. ---
**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:** [January 15, 2014, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340/150 "2014-01-15T21:16:49Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I hope not, because that would be a really stupid bit of reasoning. You’re new here, aren’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340/151 "2014-01-15T21:19:54Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > This is just silly. About as silly as posters complaining when mods and admins give warnings for trolling because _we_ aren’t supposed to use that word outside of the BBQ Pit? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340/152 "2014-01-15T21:20:35Z")
What gave it away, the camera around my neck or the fanny pack and shorts? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340/153 "2014-01-15T21:21:35Z")
Perhaps it’s simply that the system doesn’t allow “admin” to be used for a title by anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340/154 "2014-01-15T21:24:54Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Perhaps it’s simply that the system doesn’t allow “admin” to be used for a title by anyone? That’s probably it. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340/155 "2014-01-15T21:27:48Z")
I’m not familiar enough with vB to hazard a guess. Regardless, it would not be beyond the bounds of reason to create either a usergroup sans administrator privileges or a usertitle that could denote those with access whether through a phantom account or some other means for the benefit of those who do not remember or never knew who used to claim the title of administrator. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340/156 "2014-01-15T21:34:38Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I’m not familiar enough with vB to hazard a guess. Regardless, it would not be beyond the bounds of reason to create either a usergroup sans administrator privileges or a usertitle that could denote those with access whether through a phantom account or some other means for the benefit of those who do not remember or never knew who used to claim the title of administrator. I don’t know if any/all of that is possible…but I’m guessing that any such fixes are probably on hold for the time being until things get sorted out from On High. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340/157 "2014-01-15T21:43:55Z")
You create a new user group and where it asks if they can access the admin CP, you choose No. Titles are even easier as it’s a character field in their profile in the user manager. If it’s true that it’s on hold, then that’s just bad procedure, especially for something that’s charging money. A new member, as opposed to a guest, should not have to guess as to which people have the capacity to solve an issue they’re having. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340/158 "2014-01-15T22:13:44Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > My WAG would be that, because doing such is presently against the rules of what can be used as a custom title, some jackass would immediately raise a stink asking why they aren’t following the same rules we have to. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > About as silly as posters complaining when mods and admins give warnings for trolling because _we_ aren’t supposed to use that word outside of the BBQ Pit? Oh for fuck sake. Of course someone could complain about anything. It’s silly that that’s the reason why they aren’t doing it. As if worrying about some of the user base complaining over something has ever stopped management from doing something. As **Dewey** said, the system won’t allow the custom title of Administrator but that’s certainly not the reason either. They’re certainly creative enough to come up with a different custom title that gets the idea across and it’s trivial to block anyone else from taking up that title. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340/159 "2014-01-16T02:26:41Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Perhaps it’s simply that the system doesn’t allow “admin” to be used for a title by anyone? That’s it exactly. I just now tried to change my custom title to “Admin,” “Administrator,” “Mod” and “Moderator,” and none of them would appear. This has come up before. One poster tried to changes his custom titled to “BANNED,” but the system would not allow it. A rather irresponsible poster who, er, shall not be named (:o), suggested adding an extra N to make “BANNNED.” It took, and hilarity ensued. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340/160 "2014-01-16T02:33:49Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > A rather irresponsible poster who, er, shall not be named (:o), suggested adding an extra N to make “BANNNED.” It took, and hilarity ensued. A lady boy? 😕 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-admins-now/678340.md?page=9)