# Okay, who ratted out Lochdale? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 12, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-who-ratted-out-lochdale/284409 "2005-01-12T17:31:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-who-ratted-out-lochdale/284409/1 "2005-01-12T17:31:14Z")
Over in Cafe Society we’re having a pleasant little conversation > **[The Internet and the Comic Book Guy Mentality](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=296323)** > > What is it about the internet that seems to breed what I have dubbed “The Comic Book Guy Mentality”? That is, any time you read a message board devoted to a specific fandom, whether it be Star Trek, The Simpsons (from where the syndrome takes its... about web geeks. All of the sudden, **Lochdale** gets warned by **C K Dexter Haven** about flaming other posters. **Lochdale** apologized, stating that he had only been joking. **Dex** replied: \*Here’s the thing: Moderators do not have the time or the inclination to read every thread. Well, anyway, I don’t. If someone reports a post, I look at that post, possibly a few posts before it, but I ain’t gonna waste my time reading the whole thread to figure out if it’s satirical or not. \* Okay. I’ve never been warned – hell, I’m pretty sure I’ve never been pitted. And I’m not flaming **Dex** for doing his duty. But here’s my question. Who reported the post? Could it be that the mods have access to a tool that automatically reports flame-type language in a post, or could someone on that thread have possibly misinterpreted **Lochdale’s** obvious (to me and several other posters, at least) joke as being a personal attack? If some poster reported **Lochdale** , it’s time to admit it and apologize. If **Dex** is relying on some sort of bad language detector, then let the board know, so we can watch our language accordingly. And I just realized I used no profanity in this post. Gosh darn it. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-who-ratted-out-lochdale/284409/2 "2005-01-12T17:44:32Z")
I think **Dex** ’s sharp reaction to this comment: > [@Lochdale](#): > > Motley Crue rocking harder than Metallica? How stupid are you! One is glam rock pap (crue) and the other is thrash metal at its best. Damn you suck. was appropriate. **Lochdale** should have either thrown in one of the ubiquitious winkies 😉 or done something else in the post to indicate he was joking. Otherwise the mods have no choice other than to take posts like that at face value. They’re not psychic. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-who-ratted-out-lochdale/284409/3 "2005-01-12T17:47:48Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Who reported the post? Someone with no sense of humor. At all. **Lochdale** ’s post seemed like an obvious joke to me, and, given what the thread was about, perfectly topical. I was really surprised that **C K Dexter Haven** gave such a harsh warning over it… ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-who-ratted-out-lochdale/284409/4 "2005-01-12T18:12:33Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > You may consider this an Official Warning from a Moderator. Stop it. This is the second (or, arguably, the third) time that I’ve warned you not to insult other posters in Cafe Society. This is repeated mis-behavior, in the same forum, and that’s a habit that won’t last long… one way or the other. Personally, if someone’s already been warned a couple of times, I don’t have a problem with a mod having an itchy trigger finger. Sure, **Dex** was wrong this time, but if **Lochdale** hadn’t already pissed him off, this thread woudn’t be here. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-who-ratted-out-lochdale/284409/5 "2005-01-12T18:50:10Z")
People who report other’s posts are one rung below people who make posts that have to be reported. I’d love to see a list of who reports the most posts. I like to imagine the admins have a little “bitch list” they keep and laugh about during their glorious ceremonies. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-who-ratted-out-lochdale/284409/6 "2005-01-12T18:59:13Z")
> [@](#): > > Could it be that the mods have access to a tool that automatically reports flame-type language in a post Nope. We get to slog through every thread, one post at a time, same as the rest of the Teeming Millions. Is it possible that some other poster misread **Lochdale** ’s intent and reported it? Yes. Having been a Mod for a mere three weeks, I have already collected my fair share of reports to which my reaction was “Why did you bother to report **that**?”\*\*\*\*\* It is also possible that some poster correctly read **Lochdale** ’s comment as wholly inappropriate–we will never get a consensus on that point. There is plenty of room for judgment calls in these situations. Z’s post may mildly offend A yet seem to B to be quite within bounds. The same post may anger C to the point of quitting the Board while D would quit the SDMB if a Mod gently suggested to Z that the expression be toned down. (You (we?) _are_ a motley bunch.) And, as noted, a poster who has already been warned for similar infractions may be judged more narrowly on any single post. Whether that is Mods “picking on” posters they do not like or Mods “defending” the SDMB from disruptive posters you folks can argue out in this Forum. - I am not complaining about reports. I simply note that even Mods can take different views of the appropriateness of any given post. If someone reports a post and I do not immediately pounce on it, it could mean that: - I disagreed that _this post_ was a violation or in the wrong Forum (not that I disagree with the poster making the report on all occasions); - I agreed with the report, but that the thread had already moved on to a new internal page (or that the thread, itself, had rolled off the front page for the Forum) before I saw the report and I judged the hoopla of dragging the infraction back to the forefront to be a greater problem than letting it die unremarked; - I tepidly agreed that the reported action was a technical violation, but saw a later apology or clarification and decided that I prefer people policing themselves rather than planting my 13-D Moderator boots on their necks; - or some other combination of factors that I am not going to spend time trying to recall. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-who-ratted-out-lochdale/284409/7 "2005-01-12T18:59:49Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > People who report other’s posts are one rung below people who make posts that have to be reported. So we should never ever report posts? Please explain yourself. And this is coming from someone who has only reported one post since September. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-who-ratted-out-lochdale/284409/8 "2005-01-12T19:05:36Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > So we should never ever report posts? Please explain yourself. > > And this is coming from someone who has only reported one post since September. \ I’m baffled by your join date as shown above (November 2001). Didn’t you join a few months ago? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-who-ratted-out-lochdale/284409/9 "2005-01-12T19:08:03Z")
> [@](#): > > People who report other’s posts are one rung below people who make posts that have to be reported. Nah. People who write nasty e-mails to the staff demanding that Poster Z be banned _immediately_ or they will sue to recover their posting payment would be pretty low. However, reporting a post merely calls attention to an event on the board that should be considered by a Moderator. Not every report results in a reprimand and not every post that should have received a reprimand gets one. The Report function is simply a way for the Teeming Millions to provide input to the staff regarding what is perceived to be inappropriate. If you don’t want a moderated board, then go to an internet newsgroup. If you want the Moderators, alone, to review every word posted on the board for inappropriate behavior, then cough up another couple of hundred bucks and pay us for the effort. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-who-ratted-out-lochdale/284409/10 "2005-01-12T19:17:57Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > So we should never ever report posts? Please explain yourself. > > And this is coming from someone who has only reported one post since September. I think the point of “report this post to a moderator” is not to let the SDMB turn into a usenet group – and we’re in no danger whatsoever of having that happen. And also to point out when someone posts a NSFW link/advertisement/illegal activity. I suspect some people seem to think it’s for pointing out every single minor rule infraction. “He said something snarky in _Cafe Society_.” “He’s distributing medical advice.” “I think this Pit thread is a joke.” ---
**Author:** ![5que](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/3bc359/32.png) [@5que](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5que)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-who-ratted-out-lochdale/284409/11 "2005-01-12T19:23:54Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > If you want the Moderators, alone, to review every word posted on the board for inappropriate behavior, then cough up another couple of hundred bucks and pay us for the effort. I for one welcome our well paid Moderator overlords… ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-who-ratted-out-lochdale/284409/12 "2005-01-12T19:28:20Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > I suspect some people seem to think it’s for pointing out every single minor rule infraction. Yes, I believe it is. And your point? If I see a post that is breaking a rule, I will report it. I’ve probably reported 6 or 7 posts here at the Dope, but that is what the “Report this Post” button is there for. If you don’t like it… tough. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-who-ratted-out-lochdale/284409/13 "2005-01-12T19:37:54Z")
I’ve reported posts several times. Sometimes the mods do something and sometimes not and once I got a thankyou note from a mod for letting them know what was happening. I think it’s better to report post to a mod than to play Jr. Mod and post in the thread a “you shouldn’t do that”. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-who-ratted-out-lochdale/284409/14 "2005-01-12T19:44:37Z")
> [@Who\_me?](#): > > Yes, I believe it is. And your point? My point is that makes you a goody-two-shoes tattle-tale. And goody-two-shoes tattle-tales have been my sworn enemy since that “who peed on the toilet paper roll” incident back in Kindergarten. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-who-ratted-out-lochdale/284409/15 "2005-01-12T19:59:15Z")
By **tomndebb** : _“planting my 13-D Moderator boots”_ You wear 13-D’s? :eek: \*Files that under: “Needful Information” People that report posts to mods are the same ones that used to squeal to Teacher when you brought a snake to school in your lunch box. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-who-ratted-out-lochdale/284409/16 "2005-01-12T20:06:32Z")
> [@John Carter of Mars](#): > > You wear 13-D’s? :eek: Yeah. When I was wearing a 12-E in 7th grade, I had hopes that I would wear adult shoes when I grew up, but in my teens they stopped growing. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-who-ratted-out-lochdale/284409/17 "2005-01-12T20:12:07Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > People who report other’s posts are one rung below people who make posts that have to be reported. Since the moderation on this board is for the most part solid and considerate of both the rules, their Chicago Reader Overlords, and the users, I’m not sure where you get the idea that ‘report this post’ is somehow a tool of the debbil. Frankly, I could give a (… checks forum…) flying fuck about who reports posts or how often. How do you know when someone’s reported something or not? The Big Bad Mods aren’t going to step in unless they feel they should, and that’s their call, not the call of the poster who reported post. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-who-ratted-out-lochdale/284409/18 "2005-01-12T20:23:20Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > My point is that makes you a goody-two-shoes tattle-tale. > > And goody-two-shoes tattle-tales have been my sworn enemy since that “who peed on the toilet paper roll” incident back in Kindergarten. Perhaps the phrase, “grow the fuck up” is appropriate. We’re all adults (or at least not kindergarteners) here. We’re not trying to get out of being caught breaking the rules by the mods who are just trying to spoil our fun with silly rules. The rules generally are integral to the tone of the board, and all of us have a vested interest in maintaining that tone. If you’re going to fucking piss on the toilet paper in plain sight here, you bet it’s going to get reported. And rightfully so. You sound like a guy who’s pissed at the police officer who pulled him over for doing 60 in a 35. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-who-ratted-out-lochdale/284409/19 "2005-01-12T20:44:32Z")
**Eonwe** , I think that **Trunk** ’s post (the one that got you all up in arms) is in the same vein as The post that started this little debate. Not to speak for **Trunk** , but I suspect that he’s using a pretend incident to validate hyperbolic terms in the same spirit as Lochdale’s post re: Metallica vs. the Crue, in order to highlight his disdain for those who hit “report” because they suspect a joke Pitting or other such inane “teacher, teacher, look what Jimmy’s doing” behavior. I infer this from his previous post, which pretty much said just that, and **Who\_Me?**'s “itchy report-finger-and-proud-of-it” retort. I know, I know! I’ll report **Trunk!**** Truuuuuuuuunk**! I’m telllllllllllllling!!! That’s the behavior he’s tweaking- overly-sensitive, no-humor reactionism. Kind of… like yours. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-who-ratted-out-lochdale/284409/20 "2005-01-12T21:13:08Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > My point is that makes you a goody-two-shoes tattle-tale. > > And goody-two-shoes tattle-tales have been my sworn enemy since that “who peed on the toilet paper roll” incident back in Kindergarten. Well I’m glad to see that you’ve grown as a person over the years. Congrats to you. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-who-ratted-out-lochdale/284409.md?page=2)