# Re: Closure of the Big T thread. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 21, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301 "2010-05-21T20:35:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301/101 "2010-05-24T00:57:38Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Going back to twickster’s delighful post, I wanted to bring something up: > > \*\*twickster \*\*- do you see, after a lengthy discussion as well as action from a different mod to open it back up, a useful purpose for keeping the thread open now? Actually, no, I really don’t, but have been outvoted on this. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301/102 "2010-05-24T02:09:14Z")
**Twickster** I would like you to retract your characterization of me as a constant complainer of mod actions, please. We both know it is not true. For a Mod to make such a characterization of poster, who is not such, is extremely hurtful, not to mention a tad unprofessional. While you did apologize for mentioning my undergarments, of course, that was not what was offensive about what you said, as you are, no doubt, aware. How about it? I think you realize it’s the right thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301/103 "2010-05-24T02:10:47Z")
> [@Gfactor](#): > > Why shouldn’t that get its own thread? What does it have to do with the OP? As much as this does… > [@](#): > > **twixter** : > _Well, other than giving Elbows yet another mod decision to get her knickers in a twist about, of course._ And this… > [@](#): > > **twixter** : > _Yes, I shouldn’t have made the crack about elbows’s knickers. elbows, I apologize for bringing your undergarments into it._ If **twixter** wanted to complain about the OP’s constant mod complaints with their decisions, why didn’t _she_ open another thread? Serious question, if a guest had posted that way in thread would that have been OK? There’s no reason why the OP couldn’t or shouldn’t start a thread about\*\* twixster\*\*'s snarky rudeness but I honestly don’t think it’s necessary when it could easily be handled here in one post if **twix** would stop being flippant and mod/post maturely and responsibly. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301/104 "2010-05-24T02:12:10Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > **Twickster** I would like you to retract your characterization of me as a constant complainer of mod actions, please. > > We both know it is not true. For a Mod to make such a characterization of poster, who is not such, is extremely hurtful, not to mention a tad unprofessional. While you did apologize for mentioning my undergarments, of course, that was not what was offensive about what you said, as you are, no doubt, aware. > > How about it? I think you realize it’s the right thing to do. Sure. Retracted. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301/105 "2010-05-24T02:18:28Z")
Wow, just wow. Consider me underwhelmed.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301/106 "2010-05-24T02:24:56Z")
You got what you asked for, man. You kind of walked into that one, really. I expected that type of response when I first read your request. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301/107 "2010-05-24T02:28:07Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Sure. > > Retracted. It seems you are nuzzling up against the third paragraph in the SDMB registration agreement. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301/108 "2010-05-24T10:23:01Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Sure. > > Retracted. I have another funny anecdote about my 3 yr old son that relates to this type of behavior, but unfortunately I don’t have the time to relay it right now as we are trying to potty train him and he is calling out to “make a poopy”. I sincerely hope our friend \*\*twickster \*\*somehow finds the same self control. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301/109 "2010-05-24T11:00:27Z")
[QUOTE=elbows] I’d just really love to understand what’s so hard about saying, "“Hmmm, you have a point, we’ll reopen it for a few hours, and give people a chance to respond.” Seriously, how hard is that? Who’s hurt by it? Other than the ego of the mod who has their authority questioned. Instead we got lots of drama, almost a hundred posts, and exactly the same result. Oh, and a gratuitous insult, of course. [/QUOTE] How is it mods are allowed to insult posters without getting a public warning? Why are mods allowed to make accusations against posters yet not be required to provide cites when asked? Why is it okay for mods to stop by a thread, just to make jokes, while ignoring the OP’s questions and issues? I think we’d all really appreciate some answers to these questions, please. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301/110 "2010-05-24T13:47:20Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > How is it mods are allowed to insult posters without getting a public warning? Why are mods allowed to make accusations against posters yet not be required to provide cites when asked? Why is it okay for mods to stop by a thread, just to make jokes, while ignoring the OP’s questions and issues? > > I think we’d all really appreciate some answers to these questions, please. Yes; this part of ‘we’ would be interested in seeing some answers. ---
**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:** [May 24, 2010, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301/111 "2010-05-24T13:54:01Z")
> [@leander](#): > > I have another funny anecdote about my 3 yr old son that relates to this type of behavior, but unfortunately I don’t have the time to relay it right now as we are trying to potty train him and he is calling out to “make a poopy”. > > I sincerely hope our friend \*\*twickster \*\*somehow finds the same self control. 🙂 Talk about self-control-do you really think inserting “our friend” into your message magically turns it into a note you’d send to a friend? ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301/112 "2010-05-24T14:53:20Z")
I think a lot of us are seriously wondering why posters are often held to a higher standard of courtesy than moderators. I do want to commend **Gfactor** for a really nice and heartfelt apology; thanks! ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301/113 "2010-05-25T09:14:44Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Talk about self-control-do you really think inserting “our friend” into your message magically turns it into a note you’d send to a friend? Actually, my dear **Czarcasm** , I think you have misunderstood my use of “our friend”. It’s okay. My son also has difficulty with basic comprehension. Thankfully, I am very patient. 😉 ---
**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:** [May 25, 2010, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301/114 "2010-05-25T11:35:12Z")
> [@leander](#): > > Actually, my dear **Czarcasm** , I think you have misunderstood my use of “our friend”. > > It’s okay. My son also has difficulty with basic comprehension. Thankfully, I am very patient. 😉 No, I understood perfectly. Thus my post about people wanting reverential treatment from others without wanting to bother to give such treatment themselves. Your last two posts are only the two most recent examples that show that **kayT’s** post of [QUOTE=kayT] I think a lot of us are seriously wondering why posters are often held to a higher standard of courtesy than moderators. [/QUOTE] isn’t exactly accurate. In what way is comparing what **twickster** and I do to a 3 year old being potty-trained not horribly condescending and/or insulting? It may sound clever to you and a small number of others, but it defeats the purpose of raising the level of respect on this message board, don’t you think? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301/115 "2010-05-25T12:38:11Z")
So you’re publicly chastising **Leander** for his remark, then using it as proof, to **KayT** , that the implication that posters are being held to a higher standard of courtesy, is false? That would be a little more convincing if anyone had publicly chastised **Twickster** for her behaviour here. Let’s not forget, so far your contribution to this thread has been; firstly to come in, ignore the OP and make a cheap joke, not even tangentially related to the thread. When you finally decided to actually address the OP issues, you made exactly two posts only to disappear when asked a few direct questions (post 51). (Still you’re still ahead of EllenCherry, who’s sole contribution, to this thread, has been an unrelated joke.) But, of course, you’re back to chastise a poster or two for doing nothing more than pointing out, what anyone who can read, can see for themselves. Care to explain how moderators ignoring the OP to make jokes ‘raises the level of respect’? ---
**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:** [May 25, 2010, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301/116 "2010-05-25T13:55:19Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > So you’re publicly chastising **Leander** for his remark, then using it as proof, to **KayT** , that the implication that posters are being held to a higher standard of courtesy, is false? > > That would be a little more convincing if anyone had publicly chastised **Twickster** for her behaviour here. > > Let’s not forget, so far your contribution to this thread has been; firstly to come in, ignore the OP and make a cheap joke, not even tangentially related to the thread. When you finally decided to actually address the OP issues, you made exactly two posts only to disappear when asked a few direct questions (post 51). > > (Still you’re still ahead of EllenCherry, who’s sole contribution, to this thread, has been an unrelated joke.) > > But, of course, you’re back to chastise a poster or two for doing nothing more than pointing out, what anyone who can read, can see for themselves. > > Care to explain how moderators ignoring the OP to make jokes ‘raises the level of respect’? Care to explain how responding with a bit of harmless humor on a small side issue lowers the level of respect more than comparing the moderators to a 3 year old being potty trained? At this point I’m not sure I care _how_ I score on your Moderator Checkoff List but(speaking solely as a poster) I think you are overreacting just a bit. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301/117 "2010-05-25T14:02:04Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ll respond to the rest of your post when I get a chance. I think a lot of us are really hoping you meant these words sincerely. Because inquiring minds want to know: Originally Posted by elbows I’d just really love to understand what’s so hard about saying, "“Hmmm, you have a point, we’ll reopen it for a few hours, and give people a chance to respond.” Seriously, how hard is that? Who’s hurt by it? Other than the ego of the mod who has their authority questioned. Instead we got lots of drama, almost a hundred posts, and exactly the same result. (Oh, and a gratuitous insult, of course.) How is it mods are allowed to insult posters without getting a public warning? Why are mods allowed to make accusations against posters yet not be required to provide cites, when asked? Why is it okay for mods to stop by a thread, just to make jokes, while ignoring the OP’s questions and issues? If the mods would prefer I’ll open another thread, to ask these questions. I can certainly do so, though I fail to see the point. The questions will be exactly the same and this is the thread that spawned them, after all. (P.S. Hearty congrats on the new title. Your conduct, in this thread, makes it clear why you’re so widely respected and certainly deserving of such a promotion. It couldn’t happen to a nicer _ **GUY** _! :D) ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301/118 "2010-05-25T14:13:35Z")
[QUOTE=Czarcasm] Care to explain how responding with a bit of harmless humor on a small side issue lowers the level of respect more than comparing the moderators to a 3 year old being potty trained? At this point I’m not sure I care how I score on your Moderator Checkoff List but(speaking solely as a poster) I think you are overreacting just a bit [/QUOTE] Well, for one thing, I never said your joking lowered the level of respect _ **more** _ than what Leander posted. But it certainly doesn’t, ‘raise the level of respect’, which is what your chastising Leander for, is it not? For another I don’t have a Moderator Checkoff List. Does implying I do, ‘raise the level of respect’, which seems to be such an important issue for you? Or making side jokes _ **without** _ even bothering to respond to the OP, for that matter. You’re certainly entitled to feel that I am the one overreacting. I don’t know if anyone else agrees with you, of course. Perhaps you’re right, though I just don’t see it. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2010, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301/119 "2010-05-25T14:24:22Z")
As far as I know, the OP wasn’t even directed at me. Am I incorrect? I’m sorry that my joking correction to **AClockworkMelon’s** misunderstanding of how **Jack Batty** spells “atheist” upset you so much. I understand you would rather I keep my comments to the topic at hand only, but since I wasn’t even the Moderator being addressed, well… ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301/120 "2010-05-25T14:31:15Z")
[QUOTE=Czarcasm] but since I wasn’t even the Moderator being addressed, well.. [/QUOTE] Did I miss where Jack Batty specifically addressed you? :dubious: My OP was not directed at any particular mod. I wasn’t aware that it was required. Is it? And, I didn’t say it upset me, (though I think we all see it’s important to you to portray me as upset and ‘overreacting’). I was asking how it, ‘raised the level of respect’, which is what you were chastising the other two posters for, and which seems so important to you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-closure-of-the-big-t-thread/540301.md?page=7)