# Really, samclem? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 25, 2011, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-samclem/604095 "2011-11-25T23:44:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [November 25, 2011, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-samclem/604095/1 "2011-11-25T23:44:01Z")
In [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=632543) thread **ralph** asks what happened to the Russian camera manufacturing industry and **Hail Ants** makes the following joke: > [@Do The Russians Make Digital Cameras?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-russians-make-digital-cameras/603996/3): > > _ **In Soviet Union, camera makes you!!!** _ > [@Do The Russians Make Digital Cameras?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-russians-make-digital-cameras/603996/4): > > **Moderator Warning.** > > I’m not sure what provoked you to do this, but it was out of place in General Questions. Don’t EVER do this again. > > **samclem** , Moderator wat Did a Soviet camera maker kill your dog or something? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2011, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-samclem/604095/2 "2011-11-25T23:59:41Z")
It stole his dog’s soul. ---
**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:** [November 26, 2011, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-samclem/604095/3 "2011-11-26T00:23:30Z")
Just speaking as a poster, I would be on board with an insta-ban for anyone making “In Soviet Russia…” jokes. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-samclem/604095/4 "2011-11-26T00:27:37Z")
Here’s what I said in the other thread where this was being discussed: _I was a little surprised at that mod note, too. Normally, you’re not supposed to make jokes in GQ until after the question has been pretty thoroughly answered, which you ignored, but it seems that your particular joke is never allowed. Not sure why that would be._ ---
**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:** [November 26, 2011, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-samclem/604095/5 "2011-11-26T00:30:55Z")
I have no problem with people hating the joke. It’s a lame-as-shit meme that’s been trodden into the ground. I guess what I’m really saying is that if making a Soviet Russia joke is now a warnable offensive, so should “Hi Opal!” ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-samclem/604095/6 "2011-11-26T00:34:24Z")
I just got home from a 10 hour day at work. I’m reading the thread again, reading PMs to me, reading the posts in that thread calling me a big meanie, reading this one. I’ll reconsider, but I promise nothing. I’ll post something definitively in this thread in the next two hours. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-samclem/604095/7 "2011-11-26T00:35:08Z")
I think it’s clear that **Hail Ants** violated the sanctity of a Ralph question in GQ. For such a studious seeker of knowledge, a certain decorum must be maintained. Or, alternately: In samclem’s messageboard, Ralph asks pertinent questions! ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-samclem/604095/8 "2011-11-26T00:36:02Z")
I have to agree with ACM, that warning did seem a big out of left field (not that the giant red font wasn’t). Yes, Hail Ants, probably should have waited a few more posts to make the joke, but still, the way the OP was phrased it’s not like someone wasn’t going to say it at some point. A note would have sufficed; a warning seemed kind of overboard. ---
**Author:** ![Suil\_Dubh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Suil\_Dubh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suil_Dubh)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-samclem/604095/9 "2011-11-26T00:36:28Z")
Ha ha ha, hey guys, listen to this one! In Soviet Russia, jokes ban y _suddenly disappears_ ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-samclem/604095/10 "2011-11-26T00:40:08Z")
Correction; _On Soviet Straightdope, jokes ban you!_ ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-samclem/604095/11 "2011-11-26T00:41:06Z")
Alternatively, we could just recognize that there is a certain culture here, and the “Soviet Russia” joke is one of them for better or for worse. I’d hate to see us get to the point where certain jokes were forbidden but others were OK. I like the idea of refraining from jokes in GQ until a reasonable answer has been provided (assuming there is one), but I also like the idea that they are tolerated after a certain point. GQ would be too sterile for my tastes otherwise. ETA: You know how else tried to ban Soviet jokes? ---
**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:** [November 26, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-samclem/604095/12 "2011-11-26T00:43:07Z")
No, really, if we could just ban “Hi Opal!” it’d be fine. Let’s not get off topic. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-samclem/604095/13 "2011-11-26T00:44:30Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > No, really, if we could just ban “Hi Opal!” it’d be fine. Let’s not get off topic. Why do you hate America? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-samclem/604095/14 "2011-11-26T00:45:05Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Alternatively, we could just recognize that there is a certain culture here, and the “Soviet Russia” joke is one of them for better or for worse. I’d hate to see us get to the point where certain jokes were forbidden but others were OK. I like the idea of refraining from jokes in GQ until a reasonable answer has been provided (assuming there is one), but I also like the idea that they are tolerated after a certain point. GQ would be too sterile for my tastes otherwise. > > ETA: You know how else tried to ban Soviet jokes? 1. 20 minutes ago that post might have been pertinent 2. ??? 3. Hi Opal! 3a. I love Buckeyes! 3b. Yes I did / No I didnt ! 3c. Cite!? 3d. Was a treadmill involved in this? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-samclem/604095/15 "2011-11-26T00:46:37Z")
What is stale and trite should not be bannable or even warnable just because it’s stale or trite. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-samclem/604095/16 "2011-11-26T00:54:30Z")
[COLOR=“Purple”]^this[/COLOR] ---
**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:** [November 26, 2011, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-samclem/604095/17 "2011-11-26T01:08:05Z")
I dislike the whole “in Soviet Russia…” joke. It’s well past its used-by date, and has become very annoying. But that warning was ridiculous. We shouldn’t be banning little jokes like this just because some people find them silly. The warning is even more unbelievable coming as it does in a **ralph124c** thread. The GQ mods have, literally for years, let posters like **ralph** and **Jinx** spam the crap out of GQ with some of the most inane, trivial stuff imaginable. As i pointed out in a recent thread, **Jinx** has been told time and again by the moderators not to post such crap, and i’ve seen **ralph** receive similar admonitions, but as far as i know neither of them has ever received an actual warning for their incredibly banal questions or for their repeated refusal to listen to mod instructions on the matter. And yet a lame but harmless joke draws a warning and an instruction not to EVER do it again. Way to prioritize, guys! ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-samclem/604095/18 "2011-11-26T01:09:14Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I have to agree with ACM, that warning did seem a big out of left field (not that the giant red font wasn’t). Yes, Hail Ants, probably should have waited a few more posts to make the joke, but still, the way the OP was phrased it’s not like someone wasn’t going to say it at some point. A note would have sufficed; a warning seemed kind of overboard. I agree. A mod note would have been appropriate, since he made a joke post before enough posters weighed in with answers, but a warning was too extreme. It may have been out of place at the time it was posted, but I wouldn’t even call it a threadshit. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-samclem/604095/19 "2011-11-26T01:10:11Z")
Just to be clear, it wasn’t a warning. But I agree with you otherwise, **mhendo**. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-samclem/604095/20 "2011-11-26T01:12:27Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Just to be clear, it wasn’t a warning. But I agree with you otherwise, **mhendo**. Yes, it was. > [@Do The Russians Make Digital Cameras?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-russians-make-digital-cameras/603996/4): > > **Moderator Warning.** > > I’m not sure what provoked you to do this, but it was out of place in General Questions. Don’t EVER do this again. > > **samclem** , Moderator [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-samclem/604095.md?page=2)