# Regarding SDMB Administration: A Plea For Restraint **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 13, 2005, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858 "2005-02-13T09:22:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858/41 "2005-02-13T21:51:07Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > That’s because being a dumbass fundie is a choice. Being a homosexual is not. Judging a person by their choices is acceptable behavior in a civilized society. Oy. That’s the same argument some people use about homosexuals. A person’s faith, when heartfelt, is not a choice. I haven’t met an atheist yet who is capable of giving it a grunt and a squint and thereby believing. Have you? ---
**Author:** ![Good\_Egg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Good\_Egg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Good_Egg)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858/42 "2005-02-13T22:01:47Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > Don’t let the pod people win! I welcome our pod overlords. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858/43 "2005-02-13T22:08:12Z")
> [@](#): > > **NoClueBoy** : Keep bitching about it (on either side of the issue) and all we have is an air of aggressive discontent from everyone, from lurker, to post whore, to mod. This is probably the first time I’ve ever disagreed with you. The “aggressive discontent” would remain anyway; it would just be silenced. I don’t think that would be healthy. That’s just my opinion. Although I am aware that SDMB is not a “free speech zone,” still only a few people are in the position of pulling the plug on that right. We can cut the administrators some slack for not being able to take care of everything instantly. At the same time, they might want to consider leaving one thread open for a while. This is addressed to the person who said that getting banned from a forum is of no real consequence: Please don’t judge Straight Dope’s relevance to the lives of thousands of people you don’t know. **Xamatix** , I also thought at the time that the issue of the importance of personal privacy should have been addressed with the violation of information about **Aldebaran’s** location. And I have thought about that a lot since last weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858/44 "2005-02-13T22:21:43Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > Some feathers are ruffled everywhere right now. **calm kiwi**. Feathers. It works on so many levels. My absolute and final word on this subject: please read **Ed Zotti** ’s thread in ATMB on the “Recent Unpleasantness”{TM}, and not endlessly rehash the specifics, otherwise this thread will be closed and removed, regardless of any suckupitude it may contain. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858/45 "2005-02-13T23:27:51Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > No, I don’t believe so, **Maureen**. I’ve seen some blow ups here, but nothing involving possible police investigations, moderator screw ups, and possible loss of the boards due to lawsuits. Not to this magnitude. There have been similiar incidents ( **Lynn** revealing **Aldebaran** ’s local; the **Melin** fiasco, and the Winter of Our Missed Content), but nothing that involved all three and more. I don’t believe I’ve EVER seen anything here that involved a police investigation. Thanks, I appreciate your answering that. > [@](#): > > Second? I don’t know. At this time, I personally don’t feel that I can trust **Tuba** to execute her duties as an admin in a fair, impartial, and professional manner. NOT because I dislike **Tuba** (I feel like a broken record, but people seem to think I hate **Tuba** and I’m out to get her!), or because she hasn’t been a big asset in the past. But because this was such a collossal screw up, and in the past year, she HAS made some questionable judgements. And finally, because I think if she can’t keep her emotions in check when it comes to doing her job, then she needs to step down. > > And please don’t think I’m happy about that, because I’m not. No, I don’t think your happy about it at all. But although there has been much hand wringing and decrying sentiment, it’s just been so much angry noise. Everyone has made it quite clear just how angry and disappointed and outraged they are. I have seen maybe three posts actually coming out and saying “This is what I feel needs to happen.” And that, **Mr. Dibble** is my main point. It has nothing to do with there being enough outrage to go around, so much as outrage really isn’t accomplishing anything here. There’s a whole lot of shouting and a whole lot of finger pointing, but I for one would like to see everyone calm the fuck down and discuss it in the manner that most posters here take so much pride in. Namely: intelligently and with an open mind. Less mob rules. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858/46 "2005-02-13T23:29:02Z")
The movie was good, btw. Very funny. ---
**Author:** ![Duderdude2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cdc98d/32.png) [@Duderdude2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duderdude2)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858/47 "2005-02-13T23:31:29Z")
> [@Maureen](#): > > Namely: intelligently and with an open mind. Less mob rules. You were the one making a comparison between a opinions and assholes. I ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858/48 "2005-02-13T23:34:04Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > We can cut the administrators some slack for not being able to take care of everything instantly. At the same time, they might want to consider leaving one thread open for a while. Actually, that sounds like an excellent compromise. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858/49 "2005-02-14T00:20:50Z")
> [@](#): > > **Maureen** : I have seen maybe three posts actually coming out and saying “This is what I feel needs to happen.” Several expressed their opinions on that in **Ed Zotti’s** thread at ATMB. Maybe some people here just need to express their feelings. We don’t have to decide what needs to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858/50 "2005-02-14T00:22:47Z")
No, apparently just critique those who do. Better to curse the darkness, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858/51 "2005-02-14T00:34:24Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > It’s. > Just. > A. > Message. > Board. …I’m sorry, but it stopped being “just a message board” when things crossed over to real life. Without delving into the specifics of the **recent unpleasantness** , when people preform actions that cross over to real life, how can the “just a message board” mantra hold true? I’m reminded of the talk show incident with Jenny Jones, where one of her guests admitted to having a same-sex crush on a co-worker, and later on the co-worker murdered the guest. “Its just a talk show.” Unfortunately, when dealing with privacy issues, events sometimes have unforseen consequences-what is happening now appears to be the “best case” scenario, the “worst case” could have been much, much worse… ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858/52 "2005-02-14T02:21:19Z")
> [@Ukulele Ike](#): > > [sub] **I fixed your coding for you, douchebag. – Uke, mod** [/sub] > > [Last edited by Ukulele Ike : Today at 01:39 PM.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=5835319#post5835319) What’s this about? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858/53 "2005-02-14T03:04:19Z")
> [@imthjckaz](#): > > What’s this about? Hey, I’m just guessing here, but I suspect **Ukulele Ike** edited the post at 01:39 PM in order to fix the coding–presumeably to make it read the way it was intended to. He then proceeded to call the poster a “douchebag”. Do you find this confusing? ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858/54 "2005-02-14T03:07:36Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Oy. That’s the same argument some people use about homosexuals. A person’s faith, when heartfelt, is not a choice. I haven’t met an atheist yet who is capable of giving it a grunt and a squint and thereby believing. Have you? I don’t understand your logic. Because an atheist can’t be swayed to a fundamentalist point of view, someone’s religious beliefs are not a choice? Of course they’re a choice. Are you saying a person’s religious beliefs are genetically predetermined? Fundies and homosexuals aren’t comparable in the way you’re trying to make them. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858/55 "2005-02-14T03:12:55Z")
> [@1920s Style "Death Ray"](#): > > Hey, I’m just guessing here, but I suspect **Ukulele Ike** edited the post at 01:39 PM in order to fix the coding–presumeably to make it read the way it was intended to. He then proceeded to call the poster a “douchebag”. > > Do you find this confusing? I don’t find it at all confusing. Somewhat surprised. But not confused. I’m just waiting on tenterhooks to hear the explanation for it, though… ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858/56 "2005-02-14T03:13:07Z")
> [@Cinnamon Girl](#): > > \ > But what I’m seeing here is because she’s been here for x number of years, is in a position of trust, and has contributed greatly to the board, her transgression is being quantified and the seriousness of her abuse of trust is being diminished. It does truly present like a double standard. > \ This isn’t aimed at you, **Cinnamon Girl** , but you’ve expressed this sentiment the most recently. As has been mentioned many times, we _aren’t_ seeing the whole picture. We are being told what the administrators of this board feel we should know at this time - if we can’t live with that, too f’in bad. It might not be right, it might not be fair, but that’s the way it is. I, for one, can live with it, because it truly doesn’t bother me. If I were to rage against all the unfairness and injustice in the world that I am impotent to do anything about, the only effect it would have would be to drive me crazy. As for the message board crossing over into real life, it does that all the time. When I read about **START’s** brother dying, I bawled my eyes out. I think about things I read here all the time. This board is not enclosed in a bubble outside of my real life, but it still remains just a message board to me. It’s a hobby. A past time. ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858/57 "2005-02-14T03:28:49Z")
> [@1920s Style "Death Ray"](#): > > Hey, I’m just guessing here, but I suspect **Ukulele Ike** edited the post at 01:39 PM in order to fix the coding–presumeably to make it read the way it was intended to. He then proceeded to call the poster a “douchebag”. > > Do you find this confusing? I didn’t say I was confused about anything, I asked a question. I’m quite familiar with fixing the coding part. I was just interested in the story behind why Uke would call him a douchbag. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858/58 "2005-02-14T03:35:46Z")
> [@imthjckaz](#): > > I was just interested in the story behind why Uke would call him a douchbag. Ever see the Monty Python sketch where the guy walks into a room looking to buy an argument and instead gets abuse? Maybe Ike just forgot which room he was in, or something. ---
**Author:** ![WeRSauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@WeRSauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WeRSauron)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858/59 "2005-02-14T03:40:30Z")
> [@Case Sensitive](#): > > I don’t know if this belongs in ATMB or not, but I’m putting it here for now. I know everyone who followed the events of last weekend has been on tenterhooks, the closure of threads and the susequent rumour mill hasn’t helped, and with **Ed Zotti** ’s thread in ATMB the dam seems to have burst. > > I’m not proposing to discuss **TubaDiva** ’s conduct and the rights and wrongs thereof here, or the events that led up to it - it’s clear that’s going to be debated at length, for a while at least. > > What I am asking for is a little restraint in starting or adding to threads about the conduct and attitude of the Mods and Admins of this board. They’ve suddenly found themselves in the middle of a storm which was none of their making, and I don’t envy their position at all right now - being privy or not privy to what was unfolding must have placed them under a lot of strain. > > I’m as guilty as anyone - I posted rather snarkily to a thread in ATMB asking for information about a banned poster, and in hindsight I regret the tone I took, since **Dex** ’s reply was clearly one of a guy under a lot of stress. If you’re reading this, **Dex** , I apologise. > > I’m not asking that the issue be swept under the carpet; I think it does need to be discussed. I’m just suggesting that we respect the pressure that the board staff are under at the moment, and that in any threads or posts on the matter we show them and ourselves the patience, tolerance and humanity that we claim to espouse here at the SDMB. I have not read the rest of the thread and I do not intend to do so: I just want to say that I wholeheartedly agree with **Case Sensitive** ’s request. I have never envied the Board’s administrators or moderators, much more so now that they are caught up in this whirlwind. For all they do for us - volunteers all of them - they deserve some breathing space. WRS - We have spoken. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858/60 "2005-02-14T03:44:39Z")
> [@Metacom](#): > > Ever see the Monty Python sketch where the guy walks into a room looking to buy an argument and instead gets abuse? > > Maybe Ike just forgot which room he was in, or something. I told you once. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-sdmb-administration-a-plea-for-restraint/289858.md?page=4)