# Protesting this warning to me and Smapti **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 2, 2026, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesting-this-warning-to-me-and-smapti/1027299 "2026-02-02T06:22:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesting-this-warning-to-me-and-smapti/1027299/1 "2026-02-02T06:22:45Z")
About the thread [The ICE shootings in Minneapolis (1/7/2026)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ice-shootings-in-minneapolis-1-7-2026/1026461) The thread has experienced some drift, and there have been repeated mod instructions to stay on-topic. MikeF posted a protest song written in 1969 having no connection to the recent ICE shootings, and was given a warning for it. I posted a protest song . The song I posted IS about the current situation and specifically references the killings. As far as I can see, this really is on-topic. Nevertheless, I was given a warning. I do not think this warning is justified. Smapti replied to my post, and was also given a warning. This is even less justified. I do not think his mention of Liam Ramos warrants a warning either, and I suspect it would have gone unnoticed without the first warning. > [@The ICE shootings in Minneapolis (1/7/2026)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ice-shootings-in-minneapolis-1-7-2026/1026461/1357): > > Moderating: This is an official Warning for failing to heed prior moderator instructions to stay on topic in this thread. As I said only yesterday: ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesting-this-warning-to-me-and-smapti/1027299/2 "2026-02-02T06:30:27Z")
As I explained to you in the PMs we exchanged, we had a discussion among P&E mods about how to proceed with your post. Yes, your song was about the shootings. But it was apparently generated by AI, wasn’t an original thought by you and added nothing to the discussion about the shootings themselves. And that’s what the thread is about: _The shootings themselves_. We had already just warned another poster for posting a protest song. We felt yours was also a hijack for the reasons stated above. As for @Smapti’s posts, again, the fact that it involved ICE and Minneapolis does not make his post about _the shootings of Renee Good and Alec Pretti by ICE agents_. That’s what the subject thread is about. We tried to make that clear with many, many mod notes to stay on topic. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesting-this-warning-to-me-and-smapti/1027299/3 "2026-02-02T06:35:59Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > We had already just warned another poster for posting a protest song. No you didn’t. You warned them for posting a protest song **that had nothing to do with the topic**. You did not indicate that protest songs per se are forbidden. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesting-this-warning-to-me-and-smapti/1027299/4 "2026-02-02T06:38:13Z")
No, I did not use that specific language. What I did say was this: > [@The ICE shootings in Minneapolis (1/7/2026)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ice-shootings-in-minneapolis-1-7-2026/1026461/1337): > > This thread is for the purpose of discussing _specifically_ the shootings of individuals by ICE agents in Minneapolis. Tangential discussions belong elsewhere. That makes it clear enough. Or it should have. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesting-this-warning-to-me-and-smapti/1027299/5 "2026-02-02T06:38:34Z")
[redacted] … ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesting-this-warning-to-me-and-smapti/1027299/6 "2026-02-02T06:41:34Z")
I understand you don’t get the distinction I’m making, but nothing you’ve said persuades me your post should be treated differently than it was. And again, the action was discussed among three P&E mods. We have spent far too much time on that thread trying to keep it on track. Your post was just an invitation to hijack further – which immediately happened, when @Smapti commented about it being AI-generated. I’ve nothing more to say on this. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesting-this-warning-to-me-and-smapti/1027299/7 "2026-02-02T06:50:27Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > No, I did not use that specific language. What I did say was this: You have selectively quoted yourself there. Let’s quote the whole thing, with the post you were responding to for context. > [@The ICE shootings in Minneapolis (1/7/2026)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ice-shootings-in-minneapolis-1-7-2026/1026461/1336): > > Maybe more suitable for CS but certainly relevant to current events. > > Peggy Seeger song written in 1969 - “Song of Choice” lyrics here > [@~Aspenglow](#): > > This may be relevant to current events in some way, but it is still an off-topic hijack of this thread. > > This thread is for the purpose of discussing _specifically_ the shootings of individuals by ICE agents in Minneapolis. Tangential discussions belong elsewhere. This one, as you noted, belongs in CS. > > There have been by my count 16 separate mod notes issued in this thread to stay on topic. Since you’ve decided they don’t apply to you, this is an official warning for disregarding moderator instructions. It looks to me very much that the issue there was that it was protesting something very different, many years ago. I agree that it was off topic, though a Warning is somewhat harsh. You didn’t give clear instructions against posting songs per se. If that’s what you meant you didn’t express it very well. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesting-this-warning-to-me-and-smapti/1027299/8 "2026-02-02T06:51:44Z")
I’m not one to second-guess the mods around here, but personally I think that getting a warning for merely **commenting** on a tangential post is a bit much, and with there not being a general “ICE in Minneapolis” thread in existence to discuss topics not directly related to the shootings, ISTM that it’s fair to bring up Liam Ramos in the discussion since it’s another case of ICE overreach in the area. If there is a better thread for the post I made on that topic, it also seems to me that it could have just been moved to that thread instead. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesting-this-warning-to-me-and-smapti/1027299/9 "2026-02-02T07:18:04Z")
@Peter_Morris, for whatever reason, posters have been unable to stop themselves from going off topic in that thread. I actually got tired trying to count from the beginning when there were over 10 in the first 100 posts (mostly Noem’s HAT of all things!). We also had doxxing, trolling, suggestions for illegal actions, personal attacks as well as multiple cases **in-thread** of moderation disputes. Threads spun off to to KEEP the topic from going off topic: > [@Is the US already post Democracy spin-off from Ice Shooting thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-already-post-democracy-spin-off-from-ice-shooting-thread/1026535): > > He’s probably the next leader when Trump finally dies and he’s much more dangerous, younger and smarter than Trump. He’s also completely amoral. What he says becomes the official party doctrine and thus our reality, so, like the statements made by mouthpieces in any authoritarian state, residents of that state have to take it seriously. > [@Not understanding the American system of government. Elected officials can just decide who to investigate or not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-understanding-the-american-system-of-government-elected-officials-can-just-decide-who-to-investigate-or-not/1026696/41): > > I’ll tease this out some more. Let’s get into the different types of prosecutors and where the authority flows from: Normal Prosecutor = Executive branch Independent Counsel = Legislative branch (1970s - 1990s) Special Counsel = Executive branch (created after Independent Counsel Act expired) I think the Independent Prosecutor is the closest solution to the problem of making norms stick since the DOJ/Executive cannot just pull the plug on them. They are laws. Everyone will have to decide… > [@Discussion regarding Democrats forcing a shutdown over ICE overreach (2026 ICE shootings)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058): > > Continuing the discussion from [The ICE shootings in Minneapolis (1/7/2026)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ice-shootings-in-minneapolis-1-7-2026/1026461/1121): I mentioned that I supported this in the above thread, but am spinning it off as to not hijack the parent. In short - ICE actions in MN have been extremely unpopular., despite endless lies from the Administration, propaganda by Fox, and sanewashing from mass-media. The House recently passed legislation to fund the government but it’s heading to the Senate. While I deeply care about the major losses of income and tric… > [@One of the signs of the great sickness of our society is that news and current event comedians are more honest and more real about what’s going on than any sort of news station or anyone else is in the mainstream public discourse](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-signs-of-the-great-sickness-of-our-society-is-that-news-and-current-event-comedians-are-more-honest-and-more-real-about-what-s-going-on-than-any-sort-of-news-station-or-anyone-else-is-in-the-mainstream-public-discourse/1027162): > > I watch very little TV news (only when clips make the sdmb or reddit, basically) and not much more in terms of talk shows or other sort of current events entertainment on TV. So I may be wrong about this. But I used to watch more TV and I suspect it’s only worse since years ago. One of the signs of the great sickness of our society is that news and current event comedians are more honest and more real about what’s going on than any sort of news station or anyone else is in the mainstream public… As for moderator notes and or warnings for just going off topic? > [@The ICE shootings in Minneapolis (1/7/2026)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ice-shootings-in-minneapolis-1-7-2026/1026461/410): > > Moderating: Trump’s election was driving by Biden’s open border policy which was not addressed by Harris’s campaign. Particularly since she was the “Border Czar”. Both of these points, especially the latter are going off topic. Drop this now. The thread is about the events of the shooting, not about Immigration control, except so far as the current administration is using ICE as law enforcement. This topic is closed but will reopen in ten minutes to make sure everyone has a chance to re… > [@The ICE shootings in Minneapolis (1/7/2026)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ice-shootings-in-minneapolis-1-7-2026/1026461/1020): > > Moderating: Thread is drifting off the topic of The ICE shootings in Minneapolis with the last several posts. Please get back on topic or spin-off your topic. Thank you. > [@The ICE shootings in Minneapolis (1/7/2026)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ice-shootings-in-minneapolis-1-7-2026/1026461/1028): > > I repeat: play_button How to Reply as a linked Topic Moderating: > [@The ICE shootings in Minneapolis (1/7/2026)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ice-shootings-in-minneapolis-1-7-2026/1026461/1054): > > Moderating: This thread won’t stay on topic any more. 3rd time: Warnings will have to be issued after this one. FYI: @Aspenglow, @ParallelLines [note - this is where @What_Exit made it clear that further off topic poster would invite Warnings] > [@The ICE shootings in Minneapolis (1/7/2026)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ice-shootings-in-minneapolis-1-7-2026/1026461/1066): > > Is this on-topic? No warning but awfully close. Stay on topic! Moderating: > [@The ICE shootings in Minneapolis (1/7/2026)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ice-shootings-in-minneapolis-1-7-2026/1026461/1170): > > Moderating: Once again, going off-topic. I’m hiding the above link. Enough with T-Monk and TACO stuff in this thread. Drop it or take it elsewhere. Looks like this was the start of this hijack: You should have seen my earlier modnotes with 29 posts in this thread. YOu want to compalin about an off-topic term, start a new thread. play_button How to Reply as a linked Topic > [@The ICE shootings in Minneapolis (1/7/2026)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ice-shootings-in-minneapolis-1-7-2026/1026461/1191): > > Moderating: @Duckster - your post continued a hijack that had already been moderated a mere 5 posts after the one you quoted. I’m giving the benefit of the doubt, that you jumped and replied without reading the rest of the thread, but that’s not a best practice either - especially a charged thread with a great deal of moderation to keep it on track. I’ve hidden the post in question, and repeat @What_Exit’s instruction to take discussion on alternate phrases for Trump’s actions to another or n… [that’s _three_ more hijacks after we said Warnings were coming, without actually giving one] > [@The ICE shootings in Minneapolis (1/7/2026)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ice-shootings-in-minneapolis-1-7-2026/1026461/1223): > > Moderating: The sidebar on Miller, who at this point in time shows no mention of being held liable for the ICE shootings is probably better suited to it’s own thread, the schadenfreude thread, or one of the other P&E Trump Administration threads. No warnings, but a strong suggestion until we see an actual link. [this is where we get our First ATMB thread on the subject, admittedly after too much moderation discussion in thread, and NOT for the first time, and I modified the guidance slightly to be a bit more open, which was possibly a mistake in hindsight] > [@The ICE shootings in Minneapolis (1/7/2026)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ice-shootings-in-minneapolis-1-7-2026/1026461/1248): > > Moderating: Off Topic, take it to a new thread or drop it. So many modnotes along this line in this thread. No warning but mostly as only your second post in this thread. I hid your post instead. > [@The ICE shootings in Minneapolis (1/7/2026)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ice-shootings-in-minneapolis-1-7-2026/1026461/1273): > > Moderating: Stop now. These comments aren’t related to the ICE shootings in any way. Time to take it to a different thread. > [@The ICE shootings in Minneapolis (1/7/2026)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ice-shootings-in-minneapolis-1-7-2026/1026461/1289): > > Moderating: And… this is enough discussion about whether or not to watch videos. @ThelmaLou, in future, either watch or don’t, but refrain from asking for summaries unless there is zero information about what the video shows. This is yet another useless hijack in this thread. > [@The ICE shootings in Minneapolis (1/7/2026)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ice-shootings-in-minneapolis-1-7-2026/1026461/1295): > > Moderating and debating if it is time for a warning. This thread won’t stop going off-topic. I’m going to stick to a moderator note and spin-off. And there’s, what 2.5 ATMB topics from this thread, not counting this one? And then we get to the warnings for @MikeF, @Peter_Morris, and @Smapti, because after ALL of the above, the hijacks continued. We kept offering notes in hope the posters would, if nothing else, follow the suggestions in the ATMB threads about the “reply as linked topic”, a parallel thread in a less restrictive forum (IMHO or the Pit), or just flag rather than contribute to the hijacks. I even linked the _existing_ Pit thread on ICE and their actions, but… For whatever individual reasons, different posters don’t want to stay on topic, and don’t want to spin off their own threads (oh wait, that’s _another_ ATMB thread from this one spark!), and in many forums (see paragraph immediately above) it’s fine and even enjoyed. But P&E/GD is specifically low tolerance for hijacks. We’ve sadly used all the available tolerance for it up, and at some point I’m wondering if we’ll just have to close the entire thread. Which would be a shame, there’s a ton of useful information as the investigation and efforts to thwart it continued, not to mention the additional killing and blatant legal overstep. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesting-this-warning-to-me-and-smapti/1027299/10 "2026-02-02T07:21:06Z")
Seems to me it’d be easier to change the title of the thread to something more general than spend this much time chiding and warning people for not sticking to a very narrow discussion topic about such a wide-ranging current issue. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesting-this-warning-to-me-and-smapti/1027299/11 "2026-02-02T07:23:20Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > But P&E/GD is specifically low tolerance for hijacks. I’d like, if I may, to interject a humble opinion on a larger perspective here. There is a sticky at the top of the P&E forum written by the late Colibri which among many other things makes the following statement: > “Hijacks. This is, perhaps, the single largest and most important change to the rules in Great Debates and Politics and Elections made in 2020. Staying on topic is a strong goal of Great Debates and Politics and Elections moving forward.” I don’t know if this came from Colibri or directly from Ed, but regardless, I would like to humbly suggest that this inflexible strictness has been the cause of a lot of grief lately. **Of course** we want all threads, everywhere, to stay reasonably on topic, out of respect for the OP, if nothing else, who obviously started their thread about some specific thing they wanted to discuss. But IMHO the “staying on topic” rule has become an obsession in P&E, causing frustration for both moderators and posters that would be relieved if things were loosened up just a bit, and would not detract from the usefulness of the conversation. Again, I appreciate that staying on topic is a reasonable goal everywhere, but I see no reason that P&E should be singled out for specially strict enforcement. > [@ParallelLines](#): > > … at some point I’m wondering if we’ll just have to close the entire thread. Which would be a shame, there’s a ton of useful information as the investigation and efforts to thwart it continued, not to mention the additional killing and blatant legal overstep. This is a good example of how a strict and inflexible interpretation of the “no hijack” rule can be directly counterproductive. Rather than tolerating some posts that drift off topic, we’ll just close down the whole discussion. How does this make sense? How does it serve the interests of the OP? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesting-this-warning-to-me-and-smapti/1027299/12 "2026-02-02T07:23:26Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > @Peter_Morris, for whatever reason, posters have been unable to stop themselves from going off topic in that thread. I actually got tired trying to count from the beginning when there were over 10 in the first 100 posts (mostly Noem’s HAT of all things!). … Yes, you have repeatedly given mod notes to stay on topic. I get it. You have not yet given an answer to a simple question. **How is a song that references the shootings off topic to a discussion about the shootings?** ---
**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 2, 2026, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesting-this-warning-to-me-and-smapti/1027299/13 "2026-02-02T07:35:48Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I appreciate that staying on topic is a reasonable goal everywhere, but I see no reason that P&E should be singled out for specially strict enforcement. It’s not the specific subject of this immediate thread (and should be taken up further elsewhere), but I would vehemently oppose any loosening of the rigorous no-hijack standard. It’s the only reason discussions in P&E are tolerable. Otherwise every single thread would inevitably drift back to the black hole of debating Trump’s psychology, the motivations of his followers, and the likelihood of America’s fascistic future. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesting-this-warning-to-me-and-smapti/1027299/14 "2026-02-02T07:39:16Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > … I would vehemently oppose any loosening of the rigorous no-hijack standard. It’s the only reason discussions in P&E are tolerable. Otherwise every single thread would inevitably drift back to the black hole of debating Trump’s psychology, the motivations of his followers, and the likelihood of America’s fascistic future. You appear to have overlooked the important role of the word “reasonable” in my suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesting-this-warning-to-me-and-smapti/1027299/15 "2026-02-02T07:39:17Z")
@Smapti - you’re frustrated, because you’re seeing a (I’ll give you) a fairly minor offense, but two off topic comments back to back, in such close proximately to the last actual Warning? And I’m pretty sure talking about your feelings about how AI work is automatically a fail to use is about as far from topical as I can imagine. Even so, I considered letting it go ( again ) but that’s exactly what I did after the last long ATMB thread, and this is where we are today. I’m not saying we’re ready for zero tolerance, but I don’t see what else we can do other than ask the OP to throw it in the Pit, or close it, which I’m extremely hesitant to do so. Because it did seem like leaving the post you commented on open to view would attract even more off-topic posts, I did hide it and yours after the flag to prevent it from happening again. * * * @wolfpup, you’ll note that I specifically quoted the section in question in one of the other 3+ ATMB threads, and even linked to an earlier thread exactly discussing the point if the rules should be relaxed. I _personally_ (modhat off) am part of the significant faction that wants news, analysis and updates with minimal (not no) joking around in “serious” forums (FQ, P&E, GD). And as a moderator (modhat back on) I often let a few off-topic posts go by. But this thread is way past that. A dozen or so off-topic posts initial posts most of which had many replies? It’s not sustainable. I mean, the easier option would be to consolidate into a more Pit-like everything goes option. We have TONS of productive conversations in the Pit, but I somehow doubt (!!!) people want that either. It’s like people want to post in whatever thread they like sometimes and there were a LOT of personal attacks in that very thread that would have been better in the Pit. Anyway, as I said, I’m exhausted and I’m going to get some sleep before I respond unprofessionally, and I’ll even promise to log back in tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesting-this-warning-to-me-and-smapti/1027299/16 "2026-02-02T07:42:44Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > I’m not saying we’re ready for zero tolerance, but I don’t see what else we can do other than ask the OP to throw it in the Pit, or close it, which I’m extremely hesitant to do so. Perhaps ask the OP if they’re OK with the scope of the topic being broadened? @nearwildheaven , it’s your thread. What say you? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesting-this-warning-to-me-and-smapti/1027299/17 "2026-02-02T09:03:58Z")
I’ll let the mods do their jobs. Obviously, I had no idea when that happened what a big story it would become. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesting-this-warning-to-me-and-smapti/1027299/18 "2026-02-02T09:41:20Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I don’t know if this came from Colibri or directly from Ed It came from the late **Jonathan\_Chance** and **TubaDiva**. > [@New Rules 2020: Discussion Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rules-2020-discussion-thread/845728): > > Now, as I’m sure you’ve notice, I’ve just stickied new rules for both Great Debates and Politics and Elections. Tubadiva and I have been working on these rules for a month or so as we took to heart the posts made in the ‘How Do We Make It Work’ threads in both fora. I realize there is no way the rules will make everyone happy. No way at all. But I do think they’ll move things in Great Debates and Politics and Elections in a significantly better way. While a lot of the rules remain the same … ~Max ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesting-this-warning-to-me-and-smapti/1027299/19 "2026-02-02T12:26:59Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > with there not being a general “ICE in Minneapolis” thread in existence That is an interesting bit — there is a general thread about ICE being abusive, and there is a specific-incident thread about the MN shootings. I’m not sure if we’re going to want the level of granularity that would then lead to a middle-tier “siege of Minneapolis” thread that may itself need to be threepeated as a breaking news + discussion + Pit threads, and same at every future location. Then again experience tells us that whatever thread it is the first that pops up on the screen at any given time, is the one where people will reply rather than search for whether there’s another more on-point one. Y’all are sturdy souls, Mods. You couldn’t pay me to do this. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesting-this-warning-to-me-and-smapti/1027299/20 "2026-02-02T12:41:14Z")
I’m afraid I started the tangent, by discussing a song sung at a protest of the shootings, and possibly exacerbated it by coming back and posting a video with the lyrics. TBH I worried about posting the video, did so because I’d misquoted the lyrics and wanted to correct myself, but worried that it’d lead to a tangent. And it did. Sorry for that. I assume that discussing protests of the shootings, and the details of the protests, is not off-topic? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesting-this-warning-to-me-and-smapti/1027299.md?page=2)