# Pit rules have been revised **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 24, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256 "2009-02-24T19:34:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256/181 "2009-02-24T22:17:53Z")
> [@wring](#): > > Several of us have even posted that we found the above comments to be insulting and abusive, doesn’t matter. Or at least uncommented on as yet. Well, really, what did you expect? Ed’s made it quite clear he doesn’t give a darn what anybody thinks. This is his sandbox, and he’ll do whatever he wants, whenever he wants. I figure the over/under on this thread being locked is 8 pages. Also expecting at least one random banning. Same pattern we’ve seen before…Ed makes a bad call, Ed gets flack, Ed gets defensive, poster gets banned. I can’t wait to check the nonny boards tonight. Should be some grade A Snark over there…and Ed can’t do a thing about it. ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256/182 "2009-02-24T22:21:21Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Two of his moderators quitting didn’t seem to tell him much. They just went away because he said they had to be civil. How upset can he really get about it? ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256/183 "2009-02-24T22:21:38Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Ed, this BBQ Pit change isn’t completely out of the blue. You’ve been referencing changes for awhile and I’ve seen you frequently refer to some instances in which things have gotten out of hand. Can you please link to those instances, and explain what was out of hand about them? If you’ve already done this, I apologize for missing it; can you please link to the post in which you did it? Thank you. There are some scabs I’d just as soon not pick in public, but we can discuss this in e-mail if you like. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256/184 "2009-02-24T22:23:32Z")
Every poster on my ignore list got there based on what I saw of them in the Pit, and I really don’t hang here much. Some people can be really mean. It’s one thing to say “your mother sucks cock in hell.” Who cares? No one takes that seriously. But there are others that just seem really mean. It’s a “I know it when I see it” kind of thing. That’s fine for me as an individual, but it’s going to rough when the mods have to play “I know it when I see it.” People are going to keeping track of who got away with a “fuck you” and who didn’t. That style of moderation is why I left a certain message board which will remain nameless but the initials of which are TWOP. I’m mostly in the “wait & see camp,” though. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256/185 "2009-02-24T22:25:48Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > THIS from someone who posts from OAKLAND??? :p:p:p Which should only go to show you how bad Fresno is. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256/186 "2009-02-24T22:27:31Z")
I am disappointed that Ed seems to think that the posters in this thread are silly children who can’t deal with some gentle parental guidance. For God’s sake, if your own moderators disagree with you (and they are the ones in the PIT, even), perhaps you should pay more attention. Gah. How frustrating. The only good thing that has happened in this thread is getting to relive the joy that was **Cervaise** ’s telemarketer thread- "I have a butthole, too, but that doesn’t imply I want a running jigsaw inserted into it. " Appropriate quote, I suppose… ---
**Author:** ![kellner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c2a13f/32.png) [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256/187 "2009-02-24T22:27:47Z")
> [@Ed\_Zotti](#): > > The question was raised: Was I told to do this? No. I _am_ trying to put things on a more businesslike basis. To the extent people think we’re running a biker bar here … well, let’s just say where I can see it would complicate my life. So I’d rather deal with the issue now rather than later. Why do you so often hide behind the “business” when you are imposing unpopular decisions on the readership while the board’s status a business doesn’t seem to have any impact on professionalism and quality of service? ---
**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:** [February 24, 2009, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256/188 "2009-02-24T22:27:49Z")
> [@wring](#): > > I believe it’s worse than this - apparently it’s fine to be abusive to outsiderss all we want, it’s just other posters we have to curb our language. So, random crap about the Octo mommy is okey dokey, but should she sign up here, she’d be off limits. I’m also curious as to how this rule applies to groups that are not board specific, but whose membership includes some number of posters. Politics provides the clearest example: can I say “Republicans are a bunch of fucking assholes?” I am, implicitly, calling any Republican who posts here assholes. Is that in or out? If it’s in, how are they supposed to respond to that? By rights, they should be as insulted as if I’d said it specifically about one of them, but the rules prevent them from responding to me directly. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256/189 "2009-02-24T22:30:17Z")
Lots of crying over nothing. In the end, I predict that there won’t be any significant changes to the new Pit rules, and the vast majority of those here crying foul will still be posting away, somewhat less content than before. Folks, go to bed, sleep on it, come back with a fresh approach. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256/190 "2009-02-24T22:31:14Z")
> [@Ed\_Zotti](#): > > The idea that rules are impossible is absurd. That’s not what we (well, most of us) are saying. We are saying that _this particular rule, as stated_, is nonsensical. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256/191 "2009-02-24T22:32:15Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Folks, go to bed, sleep on it, come back with a fresh approach. 🙂 No thanks. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256/192 "2009-02-24T22:33:12Z")
I rarely go into the Pit, so I really don’t have a dog in this fight. As far as I’m concerned, this isn’t even close to a serious issue of freedom of speech/free expression or anything like that, so I’ll comply with the rules whatever they may be. > [@Cisco](#): > > Piss off the entire membership and you will literally end up with the online equivalent of a ghost town. It seems unlikely the new rules will piss off the ENTIRE membership. I, for one, am not pissed off. The idea of not being abusive towards other posters _sounds_ good to me. But I don’t know how it’ll work out in practice, and I want to keep an open mind about it. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256/193 "2009-02-24T22:34:08Z")
I really disagree with the “can’t tell someone to fuck off” rule. At least 10% of the threads in the pit are PRECISELY to tell someone to fuck off. Admittedly I don’t read them, but when I see something entertaining in the thread title like “eat a bag of dicks”… that’s a sign there might be good readin’ inside. Maybe that falls under the heading of “creative insults” but that’s a slippery slope and one person’s creative insult is another’s fuck-off. (and this is from me - a poster who has, to my knowledge, never made this suggestion to any Doper nor had it made about me). No obscenities in titles? There goes another 10%. Quote tags only for actual quotes? Well hell, that’s no fun at all! That would seem to eliminate even the innocuous summations such as “quote = Ed {info clarifying rules} endquote” structure. I see that being a useful distinction in the other fora - but in the Pit, hell, that pulls the rug out from under a whole lot of dialogue. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256/194 "2009-02-24T22:34:55Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > The idea of not being abusive towards other posters _sounds_ good to me. Define “abusive.” ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256/195 "2009-02-24T22:36:51Z")
I wonder if Ed is deliberately trying to make it as unbearable as possible around here in hopes of cleaning house. Perhaps Creative Loafing just doesn’t like many of you personally and wants to rid you of its message board. There’s got to be a motive behind pissing off so many users, even if they are the vocal minority. ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256/196 "2009-02-24T22:37:51Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Define “abusive.” Can you please be nicer? Your direct language is off-putting. KTHX. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2009, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256/197 "2009-02-24T22:38:13Z")
> [@kellner](#): > > Why do you so often hide behind the “business” when you are imposing unpopular decisions on the readership while the board’s status a business doesn’t seem to have any impact on professionalism and quality of service? Excellent question. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256/198 "2009-02-24T22:40:05Z")
From post #65: > [@Ed\_Zotti](#): > > I don’t want to get into a protracted discussion of hypotheticals, but none of the above strikes me as abusive. > > 1, no. 2-5, offhand yes. From post #108: Post # : > [@Ed\_Zotti](#): > > A few comments: > > 1. First of all, relax. I read a lot of Pit threads. Posts I’d consider abusive are pretty rare. I’m con-foosed. You say that the majority of the pit threads you have read recently are reasonably ok, by “Go to hell, Giraffe, you asshole.” is abusive and out of line? Are you sure you were reading the pit? (Or is my impression of the pit being more “rough and tumble” incorrect?) ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256/199 "2009-02-24T22:40:50Z")
> [@Ed\_Zotti](#): > > Relax. Don’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256/200 "2009-02-24T22:42:36Z")
Several people have said that my comment about “we knew there’d be some overreaction” was read as condescending. I apologize, it wasn’t meant that way. I apologize and retract the statement. Condescention (however the heck it’s spelt) was certainly not intended. I also have to say that I’m delighted by this. A week ago, if I had posted in defense of board policy changes, I would have been attacked in the Pit, with comments made about my parentage and references to various improbable sexual practices. I would not have seen such comments, because I wouldn’t go to the Pit to read them, and thus I would not have even known that I had misspoken. So, I think, all in all, this is a very positive thing. Comments have been made in a civil manner, and I can respond to an error on my part and apologize. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-rules-have-been-revised/487256.md?page=11)