# Please change the Pit tagline \[New Pit Rules\] **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 24, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-change-the-pit-tagline-new-pit-rules/487212 "2009-02-24T16:32:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9dc877/32.png) [@Wash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wash)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-change-the-pit-tagline-new-pit-rules/487212/1 "2009-02-24T16:32:34Z")
Apparently we’re not allowed to [complain about mod/admin decisions](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10867731#post10867731) in the BBQ Pit anymore. > [@](#): > > No complaints about SDMB administration in the Pit > > All comments or complaints about SDMB administration should go in the About This Message Board forum, not in the Pit. Pitting of SDMB staff is permitted for views they express as ordinary posters. As such you may want to consider changing the Pit’s tagline ASAP to remove the part about board administration or moderation, so as to avoid mixed signals. > [@](#): > > For topics or posters too heated for the more civilized forums (including board administration or moderation). ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-change-the-pit-tagline-new-pit-rules/487212/2 "2009-02-24T16:38:42Z")
To be fair to newbies, you should also change the “if you gotta flame, do it here” part, given the new rule: [QUOTE=New Pit Rule] **No abusive remarks directed at other posters** Don’t direct obscenities or vulgarities at other posters - this includes everything from “fuck you” on up. [/QUOTE] I think the generally accepted definition of flaming is assumed to include phrases like “fuck you” so I think this will also cause some mixed signals. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-change-the-pit-tagline-new-pit-rules/487212/3 "2009-02-24T16:43:34Z")
Which puts us squarely into bizarro-world. A Pit where you can’t say “Fuck you” to someone. Can I still talk about movies in Cafe Society, or has that been flipped on its head too? ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-change-the-pit-tagline-new-pit-rules/487212/4 "2009-02-24T16:44:24Z")
Oh dear. This isn’t going to go well. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-change-the-pit-tagline-new-pit-rules/487212/5 "2009-02-24T16:45:23Z")
Can I ask what the impetus is behind the new “No abusive remarks directed at other posters” rule? Was a higher-up at Creative Loafing insulted in the BBQ Pit or something? What an awful, useless rule for the BBQ pit. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-change-the-pit-tagline-new-pit-rules/487212/6 "2009-02-24T16:48:51Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Can I ask what the impetus is behind the new “No abusive remarks directed at other posters” rule? Was a higher-up at Creative Loafing insulted in the BBQ Pit or something? > > What an awful, useless rule for the BBQ pit. Sounds like a “We don’t want to scare off the paying customers” kind of rule. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-change-the-pit-tagline-new-pit-rules/487212/7 "2009-02-24T16:48:58Z")
> [@](#): > > No abusive remarks directed at other posters > > Don’t direct obscenities or vulgarities at other posters - this includes everything from “fuck you” on up. If you don’t like another poster, you’re free to make that plain. That doesn’t mean you can say anything you want. Creative insults are permitted; crude vituperation is not. We’ll be the judge of what constitutes abuse. You have **got** to be kidding me. I am not often one to predict the death of the SDMB as we know it. But I am considering making an exception. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-change-the-pit-tagline-new-pit-rules/487212/8 "2009-02-24T16:52:32Z")
> [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#): > > Sounds like a “We don’t want to scare off the paying customers” kind of rule. I would guess that it’s this type of rule that drives off paying customers, more so than people dropping an F-bomb in the BBQ. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-change-the-pit-tagline-new-pit-rules/487212/9 "2009-02-24T16:53:07Z")
> [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#): > > Sounds like a “We don’t want to scare off the paying customers” kind of rule. Problem is … they may end up chasing away the paying customers. Edit: See Above ( **Revtim** ) ---
**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, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-change-the-pit-tagline-new-pit-rules/487212/10 "2009-02-24T16:56:25Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > You have **got** to be kidding me. > > I am not often one to predict the death of the SDMB as we know it. But I am considering making an exception. > > Regards, > Shodan With idiotic rules like these, the Dope as we know it _is_ dead. Somebody stick a .22 behind its ear and put it out of its misery. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-change-the-pit-tagline-new-pit-rules/487212/11 "2009-02-24T16:57:43Z")
Wow. Just terrible. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-change-the-pit-tagline-new-pit-rules/487212/12 "2009-02-24T16:59:06Z")
Maybe instead of “BBQ Pit” it should be renamed to “George Foreman Grill On Lowest Setting” or “Solar-Powered Electric Smoker”. ---
**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, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-change-the-pit-tagline-new-pit-rules/487212/13 "2009-02-24T16:59:47Z")
“Sunny spot near a window”? ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-change-the-pit-tagline-new-pit-rules/487212/14 "2009-02-24T17:08:12Z")
If I didn’t need a financial incentive not to renew my subscription, this’ll do it for me. All The Pit needs is a sign on the door saying “If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the fucking kitchen. No prudes allowed!”. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-change-the-pit-tagline-new-pit-rules/487212/15 "2009-02-24T17:26:56Z")
**Giraffe** , can you tell us the reason behind this? I doubt that Ed suddenly got prude after ten years, is he getting pressure from Creative Loafing? Did one of their kids stumble onto pit thread and ask Daddy what a cuntwaffle is? ---
**Author:** ![Wash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9dc877/32.png) [@Wash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wash)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-change-the-pit-tagline-new-pit-rules/487212/16 "2009-02-24T17:34:04Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Maybe instead of “BBQ Pit” it should be renamed to “George Foreman Grill On Lowest Setting” or “Solar-Powered Electric Smoker”. If this was one of those godforsaken boards with a rep system, this post would so deserve it. I didn’t expect this thread to turn into the “bitch about the new rules” thread, which in hindsight was very dumb of me. For the record, I believe that the rule that inspired this thread and the whole “no ‘Fuck You’” thing are very, very poorly thought out, and I assume are the major reasons behind Giraffe and Fluiddruid stepping down. While the majority of Mod decisions are fairly obvious and necessary, there are some that just defy logic - sometimes it is almost impossible to calmly discuss something that defies belief, and it’s not like there haven’t been several such situations just recently. This is especially true when it appears like the Mods are circling the wagons around an apparently bad decision and appear not to understand the concerns of the posters. This decision worries me, as I think a lot of people will hold off with complaining in case they step over the invisible line Ed has crafted and get banned for it. If people are too scared to complain, this does not mean the admins are doing a good job. As for the no “fuck you”, sorry but some people just aren’t worth well-crafted insults. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-change-the-pit-tagline-new-pit-rules/487212/17 "2009-02-24T17:37:29Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > **Giraffe** , can you tell us the reason behind this? I doubt that Ed suddenly got prude after ten years, is he getting pressure from Creative Loafing? Did one of their kids stumble onto pit thread and ask Daddy what a cuntwaffle is? I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to share details from our private email discussions. Ideally, **Ed** will hold a discussion where people can ask questions and offer feedback. ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-change-the-pit-tagline-new-pit-rules/487212/18 "2009-02-24T17:38:23Z")
> [@](#): > > **No abusive remarks directed at other posters** Similar to the debate some time ago, “_Can you call someone a liar in GD_”; are we now not allowed to call someone a troll in the “BBQ Pit”? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-change-the-pit-tagline-new-pit-rules/487212/19 "2009-02-24T17:39:28Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to share details from our private email discussions. Ideally, **Ed** will hold a discussion where people can ask questions and offer feedback. Makes sense, thanks anyway. ---
**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, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-change-the-pit-tagline-new-pit-rules/487212/20 "2009-02-24T17:40:01Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > **Giraffe** , can you tell us the reason behind this? I doubt that Ed suddenly got prude after ten years, is he getting pressure from Creative Loafing? Did one of their kids stumble onto pit thread and ask Daddy what a cuntwaffle is? I personally wouldn’t ask that question of him - puts him in an awkward position. (just saw his answer on preview - I guess that answers that) Regarding the new rules. Why would anyone pit another poster? anything that resembles the new rules could go into any other forum as well. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-change-the-pit-tagline-new-pit-rules/487212.md?page=2)