# SmashTheState banned; doing of stupid stuff strongly discouraged **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 22, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashthestate-banned-doing-of-stupid-stuff-strongly-discouraged/507319 "2009-08-22T16:08:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashthestate-banned-doing-of-stupid-stuff-strongly-discouraged/507319/1 "2009-08-22T16:08:20Z")
To resolve a recent issue: > [@Ask the organizer of the Ottawa Panhandlers' Union](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-organizer-of-the-ottawa-panhandlers-union/504982/206): > > As a public organization under constant media scrutiny, we can’t afford to let this sort of accusation sit in a public forum, meaning we’ll be forced to get a legal opinion. My feeling is the cost and trouble of a cross-border legal action is larger than what our organization can afford, but regardless of what action we choose to take it is no longer in the interest of the OPU to answer any further questions here. The above is clearly a threat of legal action in which the SDMB would be involved, if only peripherally. Our longstanding policy is that any such threat, however oblique, will get you banned without warning. We recognize that legally we’re not on the hook for postings by our members. We also realize the odds of anybody actually taking legal action are low. Nonetheless, anything involving lawyers potentially would cost us fatal amounts of money, and our attitude has always been to take no chances. We realize there’s a question of fairness; StS had been goaded. Nonetheless, this is a bright-line rule. We have banned StS. > [@Sea Shepherds; Innefectual self-important dipshits](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487/216): > > I formally accuse you and the Ottawa Panhandlers’ Union of misusing funds and willfully and knowingly engaging in fraud. Your posts here have provided enough evidence that I believe a full investigation is warranted. > > I make these statements not as a joke or satire. Any media outlet which wishes to quote me as the author of these allegations is free to email me, but they can rest assured that the statement “allegations have been raised about misuse of funds, fraud, and the non-consentual sodomy of the homeless by the Ottawa Panhanders’ Union” are 100% factually correct, as I am hereby alleging all of these things. > > You have 24 hours. We don’t currently have a rule against goading other posters, and we’re not eager to create one. However, the above type of behavior, aimed at someone who is already making lawsuit noises, is over the top. We expect you to use some common sense. If you intentionally try to provoke someone into dragging in lawyers, even if you think they’re only bluffing, you are putting us in harm’s way. I’m not going to write this into the formal rules, because nothing like this has happened before and I don’t expect it to happen again. However, let me pass along the following word to the wise: PEOPLE WHO DO STUPID SHIT THAT THREATENS TO GET THE BOARD IN TROUBLE WILL GET THEIR BUTTS BOUNCED OUT OF HERE WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE. Thank you for your cooperation. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashthestate-banned-doing-of-stupid-stuff-strongly-discouraged/507319/2 "2009-08-22T17:12:11Z")
Aw, drat. I know he ticked off a lot of people around here, but I found his antics to be entertaining. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashthestate-banned-doing-of-stupid-stuff-strongly-discouraged/507319/3 "2009-08-22T17:19:38Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Aw, drat. I know he ticked off a lot of people around here, but I found his antics to be entertaining. Oh well. I concur. I didn’t agree with a word he said and he used to infuriate me at times but he did serve as a catalyst that sparked interesting debate and I too shall miss him. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashthestate-banned-doing-of-stupid-stuff-strongly-discouraged/507319/4 "2009-08-22T17:22:55Z")
I think this is a gigantic overreaction, given that it is obvious to any reasonable person that there is no chance that any legal action would really take place. If anything, **Giraffe** should be suspended. His behavior was purposefully designed to get **SmashTheState** to commit “suicide by mod.” It’s too bad, because STS was an intelligent, provocative and interesting poster in a time which those are severely dwindling in numbers here on the SDMB. It’s getting downright boring here sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashthestate-banned-doing-of-stupid-stuff-strongly-discouraged/507319/5 "2009-08-22T17:25:20Z")
That is too bad. I know this rule exists, and as soon as I saw **SmashTheState** ’s post I thought he’d probably be banned, but I was hoping it’d only be a suspension. He brought a very different perspective here, that for some reason seemed to infuriate a lot of people, but that was nevertheless important. ETA: > [@nyctea scandiaca](#): > > If anything, **Giraffe** should be suspended. His behavior was purposefully designed to get **SmashTheState** to commit “suicide by mod.” Indeed, it’s surprising that **Ed** takes the time to point out that he strongly disapproves of **Giraffe** ’s behaviour, but doesn’t actually do anything about it, not even give him a warning. I’m sure we could argue that it ran afoul of the “don’t be a jerk” rule. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashthestate-banned-doing-of-stupid-stuff-strongly-discouraged/507319/6 "2009-08-22T17:27:43Z")
Won’t miss him. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashthestate-banned-doing-of-stupid-stuff-strongly-discouraged/507319/7 "2009-08-22T17:37:18Z")
The post that ultimately led to **Smashie** banning was obviously intended to be a joke. He pretty much dared someone to come out and accuse him. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashthestate-banned-doing-of-stupid-stuff-strongly-discouraged/507319/8 "2009-08-22T17:53:18Z")
I also heard that he was going to mop the floor with your ass, Ed. Then again, that could just be a nasty rumor. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashthestate-banned-doing-of-stupid-stuff-strongly-discouraged/507319/9 "2009-08-22T18:00:52Z")
So why isn’t \*\*Giraffe \*\*getting a mod slap? ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashthestate-banned-doing-of-stupid-stuff-strongly-discouraged/507319/10 "2009-08-22T18:04:39Z")
:eek: Deepest apologies, it never occurred to me that mocking what I saw as an absolutely ludicrous position by **SmashTheState** (statements on a message board about his organization have to be 100% factually true or else!) would cause any trouble for the boards, since his lawsuit noises seemed (to me) to be obviously ludicrous. I was just trying to be funny, I wasn’t trying to get him banned or cause trouble. It won’t happen again. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashthestate-banned-doing-of-stupid-stuff-strongly-discouraged/507319/11 "2009-08-22T18:07:52Z")
And to those who are arguing for official punitive action, while I personally don’t think it’s warranted (obviously, since I didn’t think I was doing anything out of line when I posted), I’ll accept whatever the mods feel is fair. I do think that whatever action would have been applied to **Random Poster X** in this case should also be applied to me – former mod status should not be a shield against consequences. ---
**Author:** ![Library\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cab0a1/32.png) [@Library\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Library_Boy)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashthestate-banned-doing-of-stupid-stuff-strongly-discouraged/507319/12 "2009-08-22T18:11:39Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > So why isn’t \*\*Giraffe \*\*getting a mod slap? Because it would be stupid to punish him because somebody had their sense of humor surgically removed, or was born without one? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashthestate-banned-doing-of-stupid-stuff-strongly-discouraged/507319/13 "2009-08-22T18:11:54Z")
So when you said: > [@Giraffe](#): > > I make these statements not as a joke or satire. you were > [@Giraffe](#): > > … just trying to be funny, … ? Yes, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Library\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cab0a1/32.png) [@Library\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Library_Boy)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashthestate-banned-doing-of-stupid-stuff-strongly-discouraged/507319/14 "2009-08-22T18:13:33Z")
Case in point. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashthestate-banned-doing-of-stupid-stuff-strongly-discouraged/507319/15 "2009-08-22T18:14:09Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > So when you said: > > you were > ? > > Yes, of course. Yes. Smash’s previous post said that any jokes or satire posts needed to explicitly labeled as such, so casual readers would know they contained misinformation. I was mocking that, by deliberately disobeying his instructions. I also said he had 24 hours, which wasn’t true. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashthestate-banned-doing-of-stupid-stuff-strongly-discouraged/507319/16 "2009-08-22T18:16:38Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > Yes. Smash’s previous post said that any jokes or satire posts needed to explicitly labeled as such, so casual readers would know they contained misinformation. I was mocking that, by deliberately disobeying his instructions. Ah. I still think you were over the top, but now I understand, at any rate. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashthestate-banned-doing-of-stupid-stuff-strongly-discouraged/507319/17 "2009-08-22T18:18:38Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Ah. I still think you were over the top, but now I understand, at any rate. Fair enough. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashthestate-banned-doing-of-stupid-stuff-strongly-discouraged/507319/18 "2009-08-23T11:09:11Z")
General comment: we usually lock threads announcing a banning, Ed just forgot. Basically, the banned person is not able to respond, and so we consider it unfair to allow posters to make comments about them.