# Ok, I'll do it (Twickster thread closing thread closed) **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 15, 2012, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963 "2012-05-15T03:49:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963/61 "2012-05-15T19:59:53Z")
Why is a moderator allowed to break the rules and then get out of it by moderating themself? If long-term posters are held to a higher standard because they “should know better” then moderators should be held to a higher standard again, shouldn’t they? This question has been asked somewhere around a dozen times now, mostly in a calm manner, by a number of different people. Why is it being ignored? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_With_The_Golden_Gun)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963/62 "2012-05-15T20:00:56Z")
While the moderation here isn’t perfect, it is certainly a few miles ahead of every other message board I’ve ever been on. Seriously, go over to Something Awful and try complaining about the mods there. You’ll be lucky if getting ignored is all that happens to you. I know saying “It could be worse” isn’t an excuse for the moderators here not being perfect, but I think it is an excuse that while they aren’t perfect, they’re doing as well as can be reasonably expected for an Internet message board. Are some mods here better than others? Hell yeah. This isn’t ideal, but it’s about as close to it as we can get. There is room for improvement even with the mods here, but I’d say most of the things I’ve read about in ATMB are pretty insignificant. The moderators here are human, they will drop the ball sometimes, even fairly often, but that’s going to happen no matter what board you’re on. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963/63 "2012-05-15T20:01:25Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > It says right on the front page: > > So this is the place. > > We don’t always respond to the complaints so readily. The reasons are varied, including not seeing the thread or the individual post. > > Sometimes people just want to vent and we try to allow that. Posts that look like rants are best left alone. Nothing any of us can say to some of those posts would be suitable and would just open the door to more complaining. This includes postings that might usually draw a note or a warning – in the heat of anger people say things they don’t always mean and we try to give house room to that too. > > If you have a grievance with a moderator this is the place to air that grievance. You’ll have a much better chance of getting a response if you come in and speak in a civil manner. If you come iin all hot and pissy we’re most likely to give you and the situation time to cool down. > > Just because you have a perceived grievance does not mean that you can call up a moderator for a beating and they are obliged to show up for it. That’s not how this works. > > Moderation is a human job, done by humans who have to look at the entire situation and make the best call they can based on what they see. I think mostly we get it in the sweet spot. Sometimes we’re off the mark. Occasionally we totally blow it. “Don’t shoot the piano player; he is doing his best.” So, if “this is the place”, would you care to dive into the actual subject we’re here to discuss instead of continually offering your vagueness? For the third (or fourth, or fifth) time? Please? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963/64 "2012-05-15T20:02:50Z")
So, still not willing to even address the issue that started 5 days ago? Is that the take away here? > [@](#): > > I think mostly we get it in the sweet spot. Sometimes we’re off the mark. I would suggest that twickster is holding the bat upside down. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963/65 "2012-05-15T20:03:50Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > I’m sorry you feel we’re not sufficient to your needs. Any apology that starts with “I’m sorry you feel” or “I’m sorry if” is worse than no apology at all. Really. I tell my kids this. It seems to me that a lot of this entire mess could have been avoided with some early responses from the moderation team here, rather than radio silence for pages and days, followed by a non-apology and continued failure to actually respond to the questions being asked. I think most of the mods here do a generally decent job, but stuff like this is just frankly bewildering. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963/66 "2012-05-15T20:04:17Z")
> [@Garfield226](#): > > So, if “this is the place”, \ No, see - this is the place for “questions”. It doesn’t say anything about “answers”. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963/67 "2012-05-15T20:07:25Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > It says right on the front page: > > . . . > Just because you have a perceived grievance does not mean that you can call up a moderator for a beating and they are obliged to show up for it. That’s not how this works. > > . . . I think if you took a minute to appreciate the view from the bottom floor you’d see the situation differently. When a mod is allowed to hide from a thread, even sheltered from it, we see a double standard. No one has asked for a ritual seppuku here. A simple claim of ownership and an apology might have put this fire out three threads ago. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963/68 "2012-05-15T20:11:42Z")
> [@Zeriel](#): > > Also, if your children are able to point out examples of unfairness in your parenting that you are unable to reasonably explain, then perhaps it’s not their complaints that are the real problem. Jimmy, is that you?? I already told you that when your sister ate the cookie before dinner and there were no consequences, I had just gotten a great (and I mean Grrrrrrrreat) pounding from Dad, so it didn’t bother me much. I was in a good mood, sue me. But when _you_ ate the cookie, I was PMSing and had just gotten off the phone with my that deranged Grandmother of yours . Besides, your room was mess, so the ‘no dessert’ thing was justified imo. And btw, when you’re a mother, _you_ can be mean. In fairness, you may have missed my edit: ETA: I am no way comparing people who complain about mod action to school children. The intent was to show that it is often impossible, unreasonable to expect rules to be applied exactly the same every time. Circumstances and human nature come in to play. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963/69 "2012-05-15T20:12:08Z")
The first thread was closed because I thought the situation was resolved and the OP was done with it. The second thread was closed because it had degenerated into uncivil behavior and nothing more. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963/70 "2012-05-15T20:13:07Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I think if you took a minute to appreciate the view from the bottom floor you’d see the situation differently. When a mod is allowed to hide from a thread, even sheltered from it, we see a double standard. No one has asked for a ritual seppuku here. A simple claim of ownership and an apology might have put this fire out three threads ago. Who is hiding from what? I’m answering your questions. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963/71 "2012-05-15T20:14:13Z")
I don’t think it’s impossible or unreasonable to ask that moderators have their actions overseen as the rest of us do, and that they not be able to get away with breaking the rules with impunity if it’s shortly followed up by a “Oh dear, I was so naughty, wasn’t I. Don’t do that again me” post, when other posters have been explicitly told they’re being warned or modded because they’re long-term posters and should know better. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963/72 "2012-05-15T20:15:14Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Who is hiding from what? I’m answering your questions. No, you’re not. You’re still ignoring the question that lead, even indirectly, to this situation in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963/73 "2012-05-15T20:16:18Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > The second thread was closed because it had degenerated into uncivil behavior and nothing more. Since you didn’t address my question the first time: Do you think that when this sort of thing happens again in the future, you could, you know, _moderate_ the discussion so that it doesn’t “degenerate into uncivil behavior” and those of us who actually want to discuss things reasonably can do that? Is that a reasonable request? I reported one of Quasi’s posts. I don’t, necessarily, think he needs to be warned or banned, but that sort of behavior isn’t acceptable no matter who it’s coming from or why. It derails the discussion and _unless you rein it in_, your only recourse is to close the thread. So, given that the purpose of a message board is for discussion, how about you take the action that promotes discussion rather than shuts it down? ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963/74 "2012-05-15T20:18:31Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Who is hiding from what? I’m answering your questions. Is it acceptable for a moderator to officially moderate his/her own posts? ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963/75 "2012-05-15T20:19:33Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > We don’t always respond to the complaints so readily. The reasons are varied, including not seeing the thread or the individual post. > > Sometimes people just want to vent and we try to allow that. These threads have moved far afield of the original issue - Twix’ behavior. I didn’t agree that she should continue to act with distain towards posters nor be able to wave it away when she does. That said, since I was one of the posters in the original thread I’d like to go on record as saying I do believe the board is moderated well overall and don’t believe the administration is a joke. Even though I have occasionally grumbled, I have started a mod appreciation thread too. I have nothing against the other mods and Tuba has always been fair and courteous to me. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963/76 "2012-05-15T20:19:51Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > The first thread was closed because I thought the situation was resolved and the OP was done with it. That assumption was erroneous. Let’s back up and address the first thread’s OP. You may find that this whole matter will dissolve once you do that. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963/77 "2012-05-15T20:21:26Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Who is hiding from what? I’m answering your questions. For that matter, who closed the second thread? Why was there no explanation of why the second thread was closed when it was closed? ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963/78 "2012-05-15T20:28:47Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Actually I’m here intermittently because I have an actual active messy real life and I’m also trying to earn a living. I’m not on this board 24/7 or anywheres near it. Tuba, you’ve had time to address multiple issues that AREN’T the initial issue that started this kerfluffle. It is therefore nigh-impossible to believe that you lack the time to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Myrnalene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@Myrnalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrnalene)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963/79 "2012-05-15T20:31:57Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Who is hiding from what? I’m answering your questions. This is so patently untrue as to be laughable. You have ignored the same questions, asked multiple times, and have only addressed tangential issues or responded to those posts that allow you to practice your martyr act. Please see posts 30, 49, 61, 70, 71, 73, 74, and 77 for a start. I’m not even going to go back into the other _two threads_ to look for other examples of questions that have been ignored, because that’s your fucking job. If not yours, then someone’s. We understand that you and the other modemins may have real life or other issues that preclude a quick resolution to issues like this. However, if those issues don’t preclude you coming in here and posting cryptic non-responses, then that excuse becomes a little implausible. **Just say you don’t give a fuck what the posters here think** , fer crying out loud. It would still be crappy moderation but at least it would be honest. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963/80 "2012-05-15T20:37:23Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Who is hiding from what? I’m answering your questions. I’ll give you credit: you’re very good at hanging around and explaining why you don’t have time to hang around and explain. You’re just not very good at addressing the actual issues people have raised about moderation on these boards. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-ill-do-it-twickster-thread-closing-thread-closed/621963.md?page=5)