# Should moderator actions be in public or in private? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 30, 2021, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286 "2021-06-30T00:43:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/102 "2021-07-11T18:01:57Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > Basically, I think _sometimes_ moderation takes into account who a poster is rather than what the actual content of a post is. No. They’ve made it clear they’ll take who someone is into account _in addition to_ the content. Someone with a history of warnings has less rope for some things, for instance. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/103 "2021-07-11T18:35:11Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > No. They’ve made it clear they’ll take who someone is into account _in addition to_ the content. Someone with a history of warnings has less rope for some things, for instance. And that’s perfectly reasonable, if the warnings were given in the first place free of bias or not based on political or religious leanings, or on who the poster is rather than what he/she/they said (as opposed to how it was said, and with regard to what the hopefully clearly defined limits are regarding content, as I mentioned above). ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/104 "2021-07-11T19:58:15Z")
Which was a bad call. That poster delights in attacking us Americans for being bad, bad racist people. Does he get warned for that? No, instead Martin gets warned for pointing out “Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye ; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye\*?”. Martin was basically calling him a hypocrite. I mean, you can’t call someone a _hypocrite_ in the Pit, when you can call them a goat-felcher? And since when can’t posters mention another posters nationality, when that poster makes a big deal about it? Does not Mr Dibble attack us for being Americans? or is that OK? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/105 "2021-07-11T20:00:20Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > And that’s perfectly reasonable, if the warnings were given in the first place free of bias or not based on political or religious leanings, or on who the poster is rather than what he/she/they said (as opposed to how it was said, and with regard to what the hopefully clearly defined limits are regarding content, as I mentioned above). That might be Ok, except at least one of out Mods hangs out in a formum on another board which delights in attacking pretty much everyone here. You can’t hang out in such a forum and not be infected by it. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/106 "2021-07-11T20:23:31Z")
I don’t know which mod you’re talking about, or what other board, but I can’t say I’m surprised. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/107 "2021-07-11T20:35:40Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Does not Mr Dibble attack us for being Americans? I don’t think I’ve attacked another poster for _being American_. Not having truck with American exceptionalism is not, of course, the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/108 "2021-07-11T20:40:14Z")
He probably means me and he is both incorrect and misrepresenting things. The other board is Giraffe Board that has one forum that is mostly devoted to Snark. I think he thinks I formed a negative impression of him based on the snark threads and not the dozens of reports about him here when I became a mod here. I was barely aware of him at all until I became a moderator at the Straight Dope. GB has a large Games forums for MAFIA players, not my thing. But it has this awesome Megapoll forum that I love the hell out of and post to often and run megapolls in. Then it just has the rest of the board which is general discussion and support. I’m going to leave it at this though to just clear up his remark. There should be no further discussion of DrDeth’s thoughts about a different board here in this thread. * * * **As a Moderator:** I’m making this official, no more on this subject of **DrDeth** here. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/110 "2021-07-11T20:44:22Z")
**Modnote** : Not the thread for that discussion either. Posters are welcome to start a thread on it, but it doesn’t belong in this one. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/111 "2021-07-11T21:43:32Z")
The problem with starting another thread about it is that I know from talking to mods that it would be shut down immediately and probably corn-fielded. So are you, as a mod, giving us permission to open a thread about your posting on the Giraffe board? And can we link to your posts there? Because if the answer is no, it’s a pretty crappy use of your mod powers to give _your_ point of view on your posting there and then shut down any other discussion from people that have another view of your posting there. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/112 "2021-07-11T22:10:36Z")
My Modnote was not about **DrDeth** ’s post but about something since removed. It was a response to **crowmanyclouds**. You’re welcome to your opinion that my post is crappy but I can’t give permission to start such a thread. You could PM **engineer\_comp\_geek** about it maybe he’ll OK it for an ATMB thread. I don’t mind discussing it. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/113 "2021-07-11T22:38:55Z")
I wasn’t talking about, **crowmanyclouds** , I never even saw his post. I was talking about your post where you said **DrDeth** was “incorrect” and “misrepresenting” things. You then posted _your_ view that your posting history on Giraffe was limited to games threads, which both you and I know is wrong. You then shut down further discussion about it. That’s the crappy modding, putting out your side and knowing that nobody can reply to it because of board rules. You should have left out your whole commentary and just said no more discussion. Using your mod abilities to benefit yourself is crappy modding. If you are going to enforce the special Giraffe board rule on posters, then mods shouldn’t be able to talk about it either. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/114 "2021-07-11T22:51:46Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > {…} You then posted _your_ view that your posting history on Giraffe was limited to games threads {…} He did? > [@What\_Exit](#): > > {…} GB has a large Games forums for MAFIA players, not my thing. {…} ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/115 "2021-07-11T23:14:10Z")
Mafia is my kinda thing, though. … Anyone fancy a game? No? Maybe later. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/116 "2021-07-11T23:15:43Z")
**Moderator Note** Let’s not have any more discussion of Giraffe, please. The topic of this thread is moderator actions and whether they should be public or private. Focus on that. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/117 "2021-07-11T23:33:38Z")
That is OK, but why is **What Exit** making rulings in a forum where he is not the Moderator, on issues that may embarrass him? That is the very definition of “conflict of interest”. He should not have been allowed to make those rulings. And coming in, saying a bunch of crap about me, then saying “No more discussion, I get the final word as I am a Moderator” is abuse of power. This is the kind of Moderator action this thread is about. Abuse of authority, conflict of interest. What Exit has shown her he can not be trusted with the authority of a Moderator, he has abused it. He should resign. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/118 "2021-07-11T23:55:23Z")
Modding based on gossip is a bad policy. ---
**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:** [July 12, 2021, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/119 "2021-07-12T18:56:37Z")
What part of [do not discuss the Giraffe Boards on the SDMB](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-here-to-state-about-eds-treatment-in-the-sdmb-proposal-thread/944316/178) do you not understand? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/120 "2021-07-12T18:58:51Z")
The issue is not really whether or not What Exit should Post in another MB. Sure, stifle discussion about that, fine. We should not have brought that up, but that is NOT the issue. The issue is not really whether or not discussion should have been shut down in the other thread. **The issue is whether or not a Mod should shut down a complaint about his own actions. The only answer to that is No. That is a clear and obvious conflict of interest.** Shutting down that thread is 'circling the wagons"= “we can’t allow any serious complaints about a fellow Mod.” **A conflict of interest is a serious complaint**. This needs to be taken seriously and not just shut down. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/121 "2021-07-12T19:57:47Z")
**Moderator Warning** > [@DrDeth](#): > > The issue is not really whether or not What Exit should Post in another MB. Sure, stifle discussion about that, fine. We should not have brought that up, but that is NOT the issue. > … > **A conflict of interest is a serious complaint**. This needs to be taken seriously and not just shut down. When something is closed, it’s closed. Do not post the same thing in multiple different threads and send moderators a PM with it as well. Poster suspended until tomorrow to prevent further obsessive posting. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/122 "2021-07-12T20:02:19Z")
When a poster, even an annoying and obsessive poster, complains about moderation, suspending that poster for such complaints is _not_ a good look. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286.md?page=7)