# Question about Pit language rules **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 14, 2017, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934 "2017-06-14T14:38:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934/41 "2017-06-16T13:10:39Z")
> [@Tom\_Terrific](#): > > I spend little time in the Pit, but it appears that he is consistent in the application so there really should’t be too much question about what the rules are. Again, I am not questioning what the rules ARE. I simply wanted to know why those are the rules. Like the difference between “What is the policy?” and “Why is that the policy” The reason I asked in the first place is because I saw a bunch of “Fuck off!” in the Pit, and I thought that was forbidden. When I looked at the sticky thread, it said that “Fuck you!” was forbidden but didn’t mention “Fuck Off” I was just curious why that was. And the answer of “Well it’s that way because it’s in the sticky thread” is not an answer to the question of “Why is it in the sticky thread?” If the answer is “Not sure, but nobody wants to ask to avoid any more rules creep” then fine. It doesn’t matter that much to me, just there has been a lack of interesting topics recently so I thought I would ask. No big deal. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934/42 "2017-06-16T14:21:11Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > No, he retired last November. > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=810173](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=810173) Then he needs to be removed from the moderator list for MPSIMS. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934/43 "2017-06-16T14:22:52Z")
You’re not going to be satisfied with any answers here, so best thing to do is just avoid the murky area lest you get stuck in it. There’s less vulgar ways to tell somebody to fuck off, so do something creative. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934/44 "2017-06-16T14:25:51Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Again, I am not questioning what the rules ARE. I simply wanted to know why those are the rules. > > Like the difference between “What is the policy?” and “Why is that the policy” > > The reason I asked in the first place is because I saw a bunch of “Fuck off!” in the Pit, and I thought that was forbidden. When I looked at the sticky thread, it said that “Fuck you!” was forbidden but didn’t mention “Fuck Off” > > I was just curious why that was. And the answer of “Well it’s that way because it’s in the sticky thread” is not an answer to the question of “Why is it in the sticky thread?” > > If the answer is “Not sure, but nobody wants to ask to avoid any more rules creep” then fine. It doesn’t matter that much to me, just there has been a lack of interesting topics recently so I thought I would ask. No big deal. Why not send **Ed** a PM and ask him directly? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934/45 "2017-06-16T14:32:18Z")
The teenager test: In the middle of an argument your teenager says “Fuck you!” to you. As you are about to tell him how many years he going to be banned from using the family car, he claims “That’s not fair! I didn’t say ‘Fuck you!’-I said ‘Fuck U!’-the _letter_ U!” If you wouldn’t buy that bullshit from your kid, why do you think the Mods would buy it from you? Unless the conversation revolves around sheep or trees, it’s pretty obvious what you mean to say when you say “Fuck ewe” and/or “Fuck yew”. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934/46 "2017-06-16T14:34:09Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The teenager test: In the middle of an argument your teenager says “Fuck you!” to you. As you are about to tell him how many years he going to be banned from using the family car, he claims “That’s not fair! I didn’t say ‘Fuck you!’-I said ‘Fuck U!’-the _letter_ U!” > If you wouldn’t buy that bullshit from your kid, why do you think the Mods would buy it from you? Unless the conversation revolves around sheep or trees, it’s pretty obvious what you mean to say when you say “Fuck ewe” and/or “Fuck yew”. Good job for continually missing the point. You clearly don’t understand what I’m asking, so you don’t need to bother with your useless answers anymore. Might save you some time throughout your day. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934/47 "2017-06-16T14:36:27Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Why not send **Ed** a PM and ask him directly? I could, but I likewise don’t want him to say “Hey, you’re right! From now on, Fuck Off is also not allowed” Just wondering if the mods knew. Guess they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934/48 "2017-06-16T14:36:52Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Good job for continually missing the point. You clearly don’t understand what I’m asking, so you don’t need to bother with your useless answers anymore. Might save you some time throughout your day. I’m sorry I can’t give you the answer you want to hear. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934/49 "2017-06-16T14:43:54Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I could, but I likewise don’t want him to say “Hey, you’re right! From now on, Fuck Off is also not allowed” [But you’re fine with someone else taking that chance](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20277416&postcount=5)? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934/50 "2017-06-16T15:03:56Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > [But you’re fine with someone else taking that chance](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20277416&postcount=5)? Somebody mentioned that asking him might trigger more rules on language. And THAT response was after I wondered if somebody could ask him. So no, I’m not fine with it. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934/51 "2017-06-16T15:05:26Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I’m sorry I can’t give you the answer you want to hear. No worries. Not everyone can provide helpful answers to questions. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934/52 "2017-06-16T15:10:26Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > No worries. Not everyone can provide helpful answers to questions. Well, if I can’t give you the answer you want, and you are afraid the guy that _made_ the rule can’t give you the answer you want, I don’t know _who_ can help you. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934/53 "2017-06-16T15:36:29Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Well, if I can’t give you the answer you want, and you are afraid the guy that _made_ the rule can’t give you the answer you want, I don’t know _who_ can help you. That’s okay. Not everyone can know who can provide help to others. 🙂 I can keep going if you are bored. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934/54 "2017-06-25T21:49:56Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Thanks, but that’s not what I asked. I said “forms” No worries though 🙂 Oops I misread that as forums. > [@Slash1972](#): > > I simply wondered how the phrases in the sticky thread were chosen for inclusion in the sticky thread. Saying “because it’s in the sticky thread” isn’t really an answer. > [@Slash1972](#): > > So far, the only answer seems to be “Cause the sticky thread says, that’s why!” but nobody can answer WHY the sticky thread says that. Analogous to “Why is that the Policy? 'Cause that’s what the policy says!” The answer is that Ed decided certain traits were making things here unappealing to the corporate overlords. IIRC this was around the time of one of the _Chicago Reader_ change of hands. So Ed wrote some rules to pretty the place up. The version of the rules as written are what Ed thought up and wrote down. Because this was not a popular decision, the mods have chosen to enforce them as lightly as possible. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934/55 "2017-06-25T23:54:56Z")
Some of them were words used in harassing a certain moderator, which was the impetus for the rules change. The rest I assume were just things Ed thought were just as bad. Notice that two rules changes happened at the same time. There were forbidden phrases in the Pit, and problems with moderation could only be addressed in ATMB. Given the impetus for the rules, it seems the latter would have been sufficient. It’s possible that Ed took the time to try and make the site more friendly to advertisers and “corporate overlords,” but I find it unlikely, since he didn’t forbid those phrases throughout the board. It was probably more that he had two different ideas on how to deal with the issue at hand, and chose to use both of them. But that’s my answer. These were things said to a moderator for their actions as a moderator. Ed did not think that volunteer mods should be required to take such comments. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934/56 "2017-06-26T00:19:36Z")
From what I said above, what everyone else says applies. The mods did not think these rules were that great. They can’t change the rules, but they can choose how to enforce them. So they chose to interpret the list basically verbatim, and to give the lightest punishment possible (a mod note). Unless one of the mods back then have further insight from private discussions (hint, **Czarcasm** ), that’s the best answer I think we can give. It is not merely saying “because it’s on the list,” but as full a recount as I can give about the subject. And, no, I will not name the moderator in question. It’s best to leave alone what is resting peacefully. ---
**Author:** ![6clegs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e480ec/32.png) [@6clegs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6clegs)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934/57 "2017-06-26T00:41:09Z")
so, I can type Fuck without packing my bags in readiness for moving/leaving? fucking vonderfull! eh CoTH, up yer nose with a rubber hose 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934/58 "2017-06-26T03:41:09Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > From what I said above, what everyone else says applies. The mods did not think these rules were that great. They can’t change the rules, but they can choose how to enforce them. So they chose to interpret the list basically verbatim, and to give the lightest punishment possible (a mod note). > > Unless one of the mods back then have further insight from private discussions (hint, **Czarcasm** ), that’s the best answer I think we can give. It is not merely saying “because it’s on the list,” but as full a recount as I can give about the subject. > > And, no, I will not name the moderator in question. It’s best to leave alone what is resting peacefully. This isn’t a great secret is it? Why so evasive? People were calling a female moderator a cunt and slinging insults she interpreted as sexually aggressive. Then there was an entire hoopla about the shitty treatment of women on this board, which was a real problem at the time. Some posters including many women fled in droves to the Giraffe Boards. The rules were changed to make this place less hostile toward women. I don’t agree with all the changes, but I appreciate the intent behind them. It also included a lot tighter moderation of pervs crashing women’s threads with “show me your titties” nonsense, which used to happen constantly. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934/59 "2017-06-26T03:44:54Z")
Jesus, I had forgotten how shitty this place used to be for women. I forgot all about that whole debacle. The board culture has really changed in just a few years. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934/60 "2017-06-26T15:32:38Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > This isn’t a great secret is it? Why so evasive? People were calling a female moderator a cunt and slinging insults she interpreted as sexually aggressive. Then there was an entire hoopla about the shitty treatment of women on this board, which was a real problem at the time. Some posters including many women fled in droves to the Giraffe Boards. The rules were changed to make this place less hostile toward women. I don’t agree with all the changes, but I appreciate the intent behind them. It also included a lot tighter moderation of pervs crashing women’s threads with “show me your titties” nonsense, which used to happen constantly. You’re conflating two incidents. In one, an Admin (not mod) made up a retroactive rule about thread titles having to be 100% accurate just so she could punish a poster she disagreed with on a political topic. She was then called a cunt. Then “Cuntgate” happened and Ed dumped about 30 versions of idiotic rules on us before settling down with the current status quo. Frankly, in that case, the word, while distasteful, wasn’t being used to harass her or to be sexually aggressive. It was used as a synonym for “bitchy”. The other issue (which I agree with you on) was that a bunch of morons would pop into threads about stuff like questions about breast cancer, etc and say “Boobies? Pics!! Haw haw!”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pit-language-rules/788934.md?page=4)