# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/123 "2021-07-12T20:12:30Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > When a poster, even an annoying and obsessive poster, complains about moderation, suspending that poster for such complaints is _not_ a good look In halls far hallower than these, the halls of the United States Legal System, a lawyer or plaintiff who brings forward repeated frivolous litigation can be sanctioned. ---
**Author:** ![Enjoy\_Slurm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enjoy_slurm/32/3937_2.png) [@Enjoy\_Slurm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enjoy_Slurm)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/124 "2021-07-12T21:41:24Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > When a poster, even an annoying and obsessive poster, complains about moderation, suspending that poster for such complaints is _not_ a good look. Would you prefer DrDeth starting or adding to 1347 threads complaining about the same thing in various forums across the board? You did say he was annoying and obsessive and that is something someone with those qualities would do. ---
**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, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/125 "2021-07-12T21:45:01Z")
No, I wouldn’t. I’d like to see the mods respond to, deal with and dispose of the problem without creating the appearance of silencing criticism. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/126 "2021-07-13T01:33:58Z")
That’s exactly what they did. It’s basically the SDMB equivalent of putting the guy in time out. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/127 "2021-07-13T03:33:46Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > No, I wouldn’t. I’d like to see the mods respond to, deal with and dispose of the problem without creating the appearance of silencing criticism. Seconded. It would be one thing if the mods had responded to his complaint and he still wouldn’t let it go. But they haven’t. They have repeatedly shut down criticism without addressing it. That should worry everyone, even those who dislike DrDeth or think WE acted appropriately. ---
**Author:** ![Enjoy\_Slurm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enjoy_slurm/32/3937_2.png) [@Enjoy\_Slurm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enjoy_Slurm)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/128 "2021-07-13T05:56:02Z")
I know I for one am very concerned. Very concerned indeed. ---
**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 13, 2021, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/129 "2021-07-13T07:41:54Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > No, I wouldn’t. I’d like to see the mods respond to, deal with and dispose of the problem without creating the appearance of silencing criticism. The one time I could have used a like button! Modding should definitely be done in the open when it comes to other mods. Suspending a poster with a legitimate complaint just looks like mods are covering for a mod. Since I’ve been told by a mod that Ed is aware of mods posting on snark boards, and approves of it, maybe he can step in and explain to us why it’s okay and doesn’t cause a conflict of interest. ---
**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 13, 2021, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/130 "2021-07-13T08:08:59Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > Suspending a poster with a **legitimate** complaint Well, if that had happened, it would indeed be a travesty. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/131 "2021-07-13T15:19:33Z")
So, take a hypothetical. You make a complaint about a Mod in ATMB. _That Mod_ shuts down discussion of that complaint. Not another Mod, the mod you were complaining about. Is that not a issue? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/132 "2021-07-13T15:34:33Z")
If it was an entirely frivolous complaint that had been made in the past time and time again but never had any merit, I don’t see the problem. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/133 "2021-07-13T15:59:31Z")
The complaint was made exactly once. But for example, mr Dibble has complained a couple times about Millers (lack of0 Moderation in the Pit. So if Mr D had started a thread, but Miller came in and said- “Closing this down, no discussion allowed”, I do not think that would be right. However in any case, Moderators should not be modding complaints against them personally, especially if it is not their forum. ---
**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 13, 2021, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/134 "2021-07-13T16:51:33Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The complaint was made exactly once. Hypothetically, only once, right? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/135 "2021-07-13T17:00:00Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The complaint was made exactly once. Hypothetically, a complaint that was made only once, if frivolous and ludicrous enough, can be modded by the moderator it is complaining about, IMHO ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/136 "2021-07-13T17:04:18Z")
It does not matter how “frivolous and ludicrous” that moderator considered the complaint against him, he should not be modding it. Just let the proper Moderator for that forum know, and let them take proper action. ---
**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 13, 2021, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/137 "2021-07-13T17:04:22Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But for example, mr Dibble has complained a couple times about Millers (lack of0 Moderation in the Pit. One thing is that neither of my two Miller-related ATMB threads are about _me_ being modded. Another is that I don’t use my ATMB threads about Miller to start board wars. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/138 "2021-07-13T17:05:49Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > One thing is that neither of my two Miller-related ATMB threads are about _me_ being m Neither of this matters. Would you be OK with Miller, or any Mod, shutting down a complaint against them? Instead of giving it a minute to let another staff do it? ---
**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 13, 2021, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/139 "2021-07-13T17:06:34Z")
It’s happened plenty of times in the past, including to me, I don’t really have an issue with it. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/140 "2021-07-13T17:09:12Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > It does not matter how “frivolous and ludicrous” that moderator considered the complaint against him, he should not be modding it. Just let the proper Moderator for that forum know, and let them take proper action. And which board rules are you basing this opinion on? I’ve reviewed the registration agreement and there is nothing in there about moderators only modding their category or not moderating issues that involve themselves. It also isn’t a matter of “common law” when it comes to forums. In fact, this is one of the ONLY places I’ve seen on the internet where you can comment AT ALL about the moderation or moderators. In most forums, that seems to be strictly forbidden. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/141 "2021-07-13T17:16:35Z")
Yes, most boards take a “do not discuss moderation” stance and quickly ban anyone who violates that. fwiw, we are expressly encouraged to do some moderation outside our assigned forums, for instance deleting spammers and temporarily shutting down threads that have gone off the rails. Those temporary shut-downs often become permanent. You may disagree as to whether that thread had “gone off the rails”, but I believe that’s the theory under which WE? closed it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286/142 "2021-07-13T17:18:55Z")
I am just saying that W.E should have let another moderator handle it. Otherwise it appears as a conflict of interest. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-moderator-actions-be-in-public-or-in-private/945286.md?page=8)