# OK, so why the hell did Cajun Man close the Xmas exchange thread? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 3, 2005, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-the-hell-did-cajun-man-close-the-xmas-exchange-thread/333937 "2005-12-03T20:15:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-the-hell-did-cajun-man-close-the-xmas-exchange-thread/333937/1 "2005-12-03T20:15:51Z")
I’m not really Pitting anyone here, but I do want a reason. We now have to ask permission everytime we want to do something like this? Why on Earth? This isn’t new, and it doesn’t say anywhere in the rules (as far as I know) that we must always ask permission. We do this every year! [Cajun Man, what gives?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6860350&postcount=84) And now we have to start a new thread, even though we were almost ready. You need to put it in the rules or point me to the place in the rules where it says “All exchanges must be cleared with staff” and not just “The Chicago reader is not responsible for exchanges, blah, blah.” And why do we have to start a new thread? COuldn’t you just scold \*\*OmegaGlory \*\*and leave it at that? Making him come to you for permission now seems like the height of arrogance. ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-the-hell-did-cajun-man-close-the-xmas-exchange-thread/333937/2 "2005-12-03T20:19:04Z")
Not to mention the fact that it wasn’t Omega Glory who started the thread - s/he just volunteered to organize it. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-the-hell-did-cajun-man-close-the-xmas-exchange-thread/333937/3 "2005-12-03T20:22:05Z")
Strictly speaking, even though we do this every year – the first step every year is to get staff okay. Which is always forthcoming. When I did the T-shirt exchange last spring, step 1 was to email **TubaDiva**. I was kind of surprised they waited two weeks – or however long it was – to notice we were doing the exchange – and that the reaction was to close the thread, and not just remind us to get approval – but whatever. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-the-hell-did-cajun-man-close-the-xmas-exchange-thread/333937/4 "2005-12-03T20:22:27Z")
I posted this in the thread I started about the moderation: Adding to my list: > [@Cajun Man](#): > > Omega Glory . . . I don’t wanna be Ebenezer Scrooge, but in the future, please clear it with the staff before starting a thread of this nature. > > Also, since this is now underway, please start a new thread . . . I’m gonna close this one. > > Mention in your OP that you were given staff approval. > > Cajun Man > for the SDMB You must be joking. First off, the thread was over two weeks old and has 84 posts. Thats way too long for a thread to go if there is in fact a problem with it. Second, several white elephant threads have taken place without mod intervention why is this SS business any different. Lastly, you close the thread with all of the discussion has taken place so far but tell them that they can open the exact same thread? Hello? Why not just leave the thread open and edit in mod approval to the first post? ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-the-hell-did-cajun-man-close-the-xmas-exchange-thread/333937/5 "2005-12-03T21:24:27Z")
That would seem to make more sense… ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-the-hell-did-cajun-man-close-the-xmas-exchange-thread/333937/6 "2005-12-03T21:34:53Z")
he may not be a Scrooge - but he is certainly a Grinch ---
**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:** [December 3, 2005, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-the-hell-did-cajun-man-close-the-xmas-exchange-thread/333937/7 "2005-12-03T22:02:58Z")
I’m sorry I didn’t see this earlier – like when it started. It is quite possible that the mods that did see it thought it had been cleared by me or one of the other administrators already – usually they are, though in this case no one bothered to do so, NOBODY. So don’t blame Cajun Man for doing his part, it’s what we ask of him. Please do what we ask of you: Clear the group things you want to ask Dopers for before you ask. This is a longstanding rule here and mostly people work with us. But we can’t have people just starting this stuff up without us checking it out first, it’s meaningful and important that you do so. It’s not unreasonable of us to ask and mostly people get what they want, you just got to work the steps. TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-the-hell-did-cajun-man-close-the-xmas-exchange-thread/333937/8 "2005-12-03T22:04:29Z")
Awww, someone’s heart is three sizes too small! Get 'im some Who Roast Beast and Who Hash! ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-the-hell-did-cajun-man-close-the-xmas-exchange-thread/333937/9 "2005-12-03T22:13:08Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Clear the group things you want to ask Dopers for before you ask. This is a longstanding rule here and mostly people work with us. But we can’t have people just starting this stuff up without us checking it out first, it’s meaningful and important that you do so. Why is it so important that “group stuff” be cleared through staff first? What interest does the board staff have in members’ desires to do gift exchanges? I don’t participate and wouldn’t have known of this rule had the thread not been closed (inspiring me to see what could have gone so horribly awry in a Secret Santa thread to warrant lockdown), so I’m genuinely curious as to why, if permission is routinely granted, the extra step of asking for permission is imposed. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-the-hell-did-cajun-man-close-the-xmas-exchange-thread/333937/10 "2005-12-03T23:07:15Z")
Okay, my mistake on not emailing someone before setting up an email account. I’ve never participated in one of these threads before, so I didn’t know. Plus, as \*\*Avarie \*\* said, it’s not like I started the thread. Like others, I really don’t know what the purpose of closing the thread was, but it’s no big deal. I’ll start a new one in a couple of minutes. > [@](#): > > It is quite possible that the mods that did see it thought it had been cleared by me or one of the other administrators already – usually they are, though in this case no one bothered to do so, NOBODY. Well it’s not like I’d planned some sort of scheme to purposefully leave you out of the loop. I’m sure SD has its reasons for needing to approve these kinds of things, and I’d be curious to know what they are too. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-the-hell-did-cajun-man-close-the-xmas-exchange-thread/333937/11 "2005-12-03T23:13:55Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > I’m sorry I didn’t see this earlier – like when it started. > > It is quite possible that the mods that did see it thought it had been cleared by me or one of the other administrators already – usually they are, though in this case no one bothered to do so, NOBODY. > > So don’t blame Cajun Man for doing his part, it’s what we ask of him. Please do what we ask of you: Clear the group things you want to ask Dopers for before you ask. This is a longstanding rule here and mostly people work with us. But we can’t have people just starting this stuff up without us checking it out first, it’s meaningful and important that you do so. It’s not unreasonable of us to ask and mostly people get what they want, you just got to work the steps. > > TubaDiva Whoops! I didn’t get clearance when I started the White Elephant thread a couple of years ago. You can go ahead and close it. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-the-hell-did-cajun-man-close-the-xmas-exchange-thread/333937/12 "2005-12-03T23:17:00Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > I’m sorry I didn’t see this earlier – like when it started. > > It is quite possible that the mods that did see it thought it had been cleared by me or one of the other administrators already – usually they are, though in this case no one bothered to do so, NOBODY. > > So don’t blame Cajun Man for doing his part, it’s what we ask of him. Please do what we ask of you: Clear the group things you want to ask Dopers for before you ask. This is a longstanding rule here and mostly people work with us. But we can’t have people just starting this stuff up without us checking it out first, it’s meaningful and important that you do so. It’s not unreasonable of us to ask and mostly people get what they want, you just got to work the steps. > > TubaDiva Whatever, its still simply daffy to close the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-the-hell-did-cajun-man-close-the-xmas-exchange-thread/333937/13 "2005-12-03T23:21:44Z")
Are we going to have to start sending our OP’s for approval before posting, soon? Even if we need official approval from above before starting an exchange-type thread (and someone will have to explain to me _why_ we need that, because it makes very little sense to me), why close a multi-page thread and then tell them to **start over with the same damn thing**? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_griffin-kentzel/32/14787_2.png) [@Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Griffin-Kentzel)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-the-hell-did-cajun-man-close-the-xmas-exchange-thread/333937/14 "2005-12-03T23:25:31Z")
The original (now closed) thread did _not_ begin as a Secret Santa thread. It was a discussion about possibly starting one. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by **Anaamika** _ > > We do this every year! And the organizer clears it with the staff, every year. > [@](#): > > Making him come to you for permission now seems like the height of arrogance. I did no such thing. I said: > [@](#): > > Mention in your OP that you were given staff approval. Get your facts straight. **Cajun Man** for the SDMB ---
**Author:** ![Xploder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a183cd/32.png) [@Xploder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xploder)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-the-hell-did-cajun-man-close-the-xmas-exchange-thread/333937/15 "2005-12-03T23:25:42Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > I’m sorry I didn’t see this earlier – like when it started. > > It is quite possible that the mods that did see it thought it had been cleared by me or one of the other administrators already – usually they are, though in this case no one bothered to do so, NOBODY. > > So don’t blame Cajun Man for doing his part, it’s what we ask of him. Please do what we ask of you: Clear the **group things** you want to ask Dopers for before you ask. This is a longstanding rule here and mostly people work with us. But we can’t have people just starting this stuff up without us checking it out first, it’s meaningful and important that you do so. It’s not unreasonable of us to ask and mostly people get what they want, you just got to work the steps. > > TubaDiva My bolding. I don’t recall anyone EVER having to get permission from staff to post a thread regarding a dopefest. If there’s anything more group related then I don’t know what it is. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-the-hell-did-cajun-man-close-the-xmas-exchange-thread/333937/16 "2005-12-03T23:34:29Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > But we can’t have people just starting this stuff up without us checking it out first, it’s meaningful and important that you do so. It’s not unreasonable of us to ask and mostly people get what they want, you just got to work the steps. > > TubaDiva It’s both meaningless and unreasonable. However I’ve long come to accept the fact that for whatever reason the SDMB administration seems to feel that only with draconian regulation can a message board be successfully operated (obviously this contradicts evidence at hand of large boards with less regulation that do just fine, but whatever.) The SDMB as an entity obviously has the right to run itself however it sees fit, and in general I put up with the overzealous and overregulated atmosphere created by the mods here, it’s just one of the few negative aspects about the forum. In all honesty the way this forum is ran reminds me of student council in high school. Two self-righteous members of the student council got their hands on a copy of “Robert’s Rules of Procedure” and honest-to-god tried to implement them in the council. Their “highly important” rules were only important to themselves and the generally insane idea of theirs to run something as trivial as a High School student council like one would a Board of Directors for a Fortune 500 company. My main point, however, is that while the administration here is both overzealous and unreasonable, it’s best not to complain about it. This isn’t a democracy and never will be, and if you’re going to post here I think you just have to accept the police-state atmosphere involved and move on, in the grand scheme of things being one of those people who nitpicks mod actions is almost as embarassing as being the type of person that would implement such draconian policies in a transitory and unimportant place such as an internet message board. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-the-hell-did-cajun-man-close-the-xmas-exchange-thread/333937/17 "2005-12-03T23:36:05Z")
I’ve been here several years and have participated in numerous exchanges, and I have never heard of this rule. Where is it posted? I ran the Doper Coffee Mug Exchange without permission and was never admonished. Now I’m running the Doper Ornament Exchange; I’ll promptly ask for permission. The rule needs to be posted, along with any restrictions that exist, e.g., “must be a member” or “no one under 18” (if those are indeed restrictions). ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-the-hell-did-cajun-man-close-the-xmas-exchange-thread/333937/18 "2005-12-03T23:50:06Z")
I’d also like to point out that if you are planning on instituting this get permission rule then you might want to modify the rules of the message board: > [@](#): > > Do not post spam, including but not limited to advertisements, chain letters, pyramid schemes, solicitations, or other messages primarily intended to promote a cause, venture, organization, **event (except Straight Dope-related events)**, website, or other entity or activity, whether or not money is involved. We allow exceptions for worthy causes (in our sole opinion) if you obtain prior permission from a moderator or administrator. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/rules.php](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/rules.php)? The rules specifically exempt Straight Dope related events. Now if a Straight Dope Secret Santa isn’t a Straight Dope event I don’t know what is. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2005, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-the-hell-did-cajun-man-close-the-xmas-exchange-thread/333937/19 "2005-12-04T00:00:40Z")
> [@Cajun Man](#): > > I did no such thing. I said: > > > [@Cajun Man](#): > > > > Mention in your OP that you were given staff approval. > > Get your facts straight. > **Cajun Man** > for the SDMB With all due respect, be careful you don’t trip over something as you back-pedal. You implied your approval by posting that. Otherwise, you would have said, “Be sure to get staff approval first, and when (if) you do, mention that in your thread.” Besides, it’s not like “arrogant” is the worst thing you’ve been called on this message board. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2005, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-the-hell-did-cajun-man-close-the-xmas-exchange-thread/333937/20 "2005-12-04T00:10:10Z")
The moderation of this messageboard was instrumental in its rise to status on the WWW. I hope it is not also, ultimately, its end. It’s just the fucking internet, for crying out loud. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-the-hell-did-cajun-man-close-the-xmas-exchange-thread/333937.md?page=2)