# Spectre of Pithecanthropus' mod note in Pyongyang Metro thread \[Edited Title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 3, 2011, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectre-of-pithecanthropus-mod-note-in-pyongyang-metro-thread-edited-title/566270 "2011-01-03T22:00:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectre-of-pithecanthropus-mod-note-in-pyongyang-metro-thread-edited-title/566270/1 "2011-01-03T22:00:16Z")
In the “[Pyongyang Metro](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=591142)” thread, in MPSIMS, **SoP** posted the following in his official capacity as a moderator of the SDMB: > [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > > [@fuzzypickles](#): > > > > I’ve heard people say that the DPRK is the closest model to George Orwell’s 1984 that actually exists today. > > > > Pity we can’t use that nation as a testing site for nuclear missiles. That entire location needs a cleansing like my termite-infested attic. > > Moderator note > > This is extremely inappropriate. Do not compare a country’s population with the termites in your attic in this forum again. > > No warning issued. > > For the Straight Dope, > > Spectre of Pithecanthropus While I fully concur with the sentiment, I question your authority to make such a statement on the behalf of the SDMB. Inappropriate according to what, exactly? The only marginally applicable MPSIMS rule I can find follows: > [@](#): > > Group insults, while permitted in most cases, will not be tolerated if they are aimed at other posters participating in the discussion. Note that this rule pretty much directly contradicts your directive. In other words, kindly 1) keep your nose out of the issue unless it contravenes the rules, 2) make the statement as a personal opinion, and not as a policy of the SDMB, or 3) change the rules so we all know what the fuck policies you’re actually interested in enforcing. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2011, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectre-of-pithecanthropus-mod-note-in-pyongyang-metro-thread-edited-title/566270/2 "2011-01-03T22:21:09Z")
From the Registration Agreement: > [@](#): > > Do not post threats or state or imply that any individual or group is deserving of harm. We recognize that this rule cannot be strictly applied in discussions of war, capital punishment and the like but urge users to express themselves in moderate terms nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectre-of-pithecanthropus-mod-note-in-pyongyang-metro-thread-edited-title/566270/3 "2011-01-03T22:22:21Z")
In the strictest sense (if you want to ignore the fact that he was being facetious), he was discussing war. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectre-of-pithecanthropus-mod-note-in-pyongyang-metro-thread-edited-title/566270/4 "2011-01-03T22:42:08Z")
In the non-strict sense, he might have been sticking up for the termites. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectre-of-pithecanthropus-mod-note-in-pyongyang-metro-thread-edited-title/566270/5 "2011-01-03T22:53:47Z")
Bad call by **SoP**. Retraction is needed. There is no justification for that ruling, even under the rule **Dex** cited. ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectre-of-pithecanthropus-mod-note-in-pyongyang-metro-thread-edited-title/566270/6 "2011-01-03T23:07:31Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Bad call by **SoP**. Retraction is needed. There is no justification for that ruling, even under the rule **Dex** cited. It’s cool, no warning was issued so it’s all cool. Think it’s pretty clear what I was talking about anyway – the regime itself has got to go, someday, some way. Not my problem ATM, though. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectre-of-pithecanthropus-mod-note-in-pyongyang-metro-thread-edited-title/566270/7 "2011-01-04T02:57:30Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > In the strictest sense (if you want to ignore the fact that he was being facetious), he was discussing war. In the strictest sense, and taken at face value, he was advocating genocide, not war. > [@Ogre](#): > > While I fully concur with the sentiment, I question your authority to make such a statement on the behalf of the SDMB. Inappropriate according to what, exactly? … > > In other words, kindly 1) keep your nose out of the issue unless it contravenes the rules, 2) make the statement as a personal opinion, and not as a policy of the SDMB, or 3) change the rules so we all know what the fuck policies you’re actually interested in enforcing. Also from the Registration Agreement: > [@](#): > > We have one guiding principle: Don’t be a jerk. IMO, advocating the extermination of the entire population of a country “like termites” is not appropriate even in jest. **Spectre** , like any mod, has full authority to make such a call. I would have issued a mod note on that too. ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectre-of-pithecanthropus-mod-note-in-pyongyang-metro-thread-edited-title/566270/8 "2011-01-04T05:00:24Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > In the strictest sense, and taken at face value, he was advocating genocide, not war. [snip] > > IMO, advocating the extermination of the entire population of a country “like termites” is not appropriate even in jest. Aw, jeez. :rolleyes: (Guess I’m not allowed in any India vs. Pakistan threads from now on…) ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectre-of-pithecanthropus-mod-note-in-pyongyang-metro-thread-edited-title/566270/9 "2011-01-04T05:10:30Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > In the strictest sense, and taken at face value, he was advocating genocide, not war. If pedantry is your game, we wouldn’t be nuking them without provocation, so yes, Virginia, whatever circumstances in which the North Koreans found themselves radioactive would most likely be a retaliation to a heinous act of war perpetrated by them, calling for an overwhelming application of high-yield nuclear explosives. Genocide and war are not mutually exclusive. > [@](#): > > IMO, advocating the extermination of the entire population of a country “like termites” is not appropriate even in jest. **Spectre** , like any mod, has full authority to make such a call. I would have issued a mod note on that too. Ah yes, the catch-all excuse for whatever action a mod wants to take. “Oh, well, he was being a jerk. And you know, we don’t like jerks. It’s right there in the rules!” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectre-of-pithecanthropus-mod-note-in-pyongyang-metro-thread-edited-title/566270/10 "2011-01-04T06:40:47Z")
It seems to me to be fairly clearly hate speech. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectre-of-pithecanthropus-mod-note-in-pyongyang-metro-thread-edited-title/566270/11 "2011-01-04T07:15:44Z")
A few active posters actually live in Korea, albeit South Korea. A nuclear attack on North Korea certainly would have some kind of affect on those of us over here. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectre-of-pithecanthropus-mod-note-in-pyongyang-metro-thread-edited-title/566270/12 "2011-01-04T12:17:11Z")
For what it’s worth, this rule has been around forever. It’s not like Spectre made it up on the spot. It’s been enforced…since…oh geez…I’d guess 2001, 2002. IIRC, December or Wildest Bill talked about nuking “Arabs” (or Afghanistan or something…I really don’t remember the details)–it was pretty soon after 9/11. About 2004, a Zionist type (Paul something Fitzpatrick? Fitzroy?) advocated bombing Saudi Arabia and Iraq (Iran?) and was banned. About the same time a Jew hater called for Tel Aviv to be nuked. The minimum punishment seems to be a serious smackdown and and a formal warning. By that standard, Spectre was being downright mild. This has never been a topic the mods gave much leniency to. ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectre-of-pithecanthropus-mod-note-in-pyongyang-metro-thread-edited-title/566270/13 "2011-01-04T15:39:33Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > A nuclear attack on North Korea certainly would have some kind of affect on those of us over here. The prevailing winds would likely blow fallout over the Sea of Japan, putting Vladivostok & Northern Japan at greater risk. Additionally, [according to this](http://www.cdi.org/north-korea/north-korea-crisis.pdf) [warning: PDF], even a conventional strike against DPRK’s nuclear facilities could release enough dangerous radiation to become problematic. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectre-of-pithecanthropus-mod-note-in-pyongyang-metro-thread-edited-title/566270/14 "2011-01-04T16:10:21Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > IIRC, December or Wildest Bill talked about nuking “Arabs” (or Afghanistan or something..I really don’t remember the details)–it was pretty soon after 9/11. About 2004, a Zionist type (Paul something Fitzpatrick? Fitzroy?) advocated bombing Saudi Arabia and Iraq (Iran?) and was banned. About the same time a Jew hater called for Tel Aviv to be nuked. Do you have a link for any of those? I don’t remember warnings being handed out for suggestions of Iraq getting wiped out. Wasn’t that a sticking point in the Aldebaran banning - that calling for the death of insurgents wasn’t treated similarly to the calling of death on US Forces. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectre-of-pithecanthropus-mod-note-in-pyongyang-metro-thread-edited-title/566270/15 "2011-01-04T16:21:11Z")
> [@fuzzypickles](#): > > Think it’s pretty clear what I was talking about anyway – the regime itself has got to go, someday, some way. So _that’s_ what you were talking about? Only nuking the upper-most folks in government? Seems like a nuclear strike is a rather imprecise way to handle regime change, but I’ll take your word for it. Oh wait, no, we don’t have to… let’s go to the videotape one more time: > [@fuzzypickles](#): > > That entire location needs a cleansing like my termite-infested attic. Riiight. You just meant the regime. Look, if you’re gonna be an Internet Tough Guy/Gal and advocate genocide, at least have the courage of your (icky) convictions. And no, **Ogre** , **fuzzypickles** wasn’t discussing war – s/he dropped that charming idea of ‘testing’ nuclear weaponry as a way to wipe out the entire location into a discussion about **Desert Nomad** touring the DPRK, talking about regular people and places s/he’d seen. Where was the war talk, excactly? Sure, later on **fuzzypickles** backed down and said the remark was “somewhat facetious” and said okay, but if North Korea initiated a strike, _then_ we could get all Rid-Ex on their termitey asses and no one would blame us (repeating that twice in orgasmic delight). **Spectre** absolutely made the right call, not that s/he needs my approbation. As **Fenris** points out, such talk of genocide, whether or not it’s “provoked” has pretty much always brought down the mod hammer, and justly so. It’s repulsive. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectre-of-pithecanthropus-mod-note-in-pyongyang-metro-thread-edited-title/566270/16 "2011-01-04T17:26:42Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Do you have a link for any of those? I don’t remember warnings being handed out for suggestions of Iraq getting wiped out. Wasn’t that a sticking point in the Aldebaran banning - that calling for the death of insurgents wasn’t treated similarly to the calling of death on US Forces. I vaguely remember what you’re saying about Aldebaran, but I don’t recall how it was dealt with. The easiest one I can find is […check out the “Final Straw” link.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=293049) I’ll look for the “We should nuke Israel (or Tel Aviv)!” one. I doubt I can find the December (or Wildest Bill?) one-it was close enough after 9/11 that it’s probably buried. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectre-of-pithecanthropus-mod-note-in-pyongyang-metro-thread-edited-title/566270/17 "2011-01-04T17:35:42Z")
> [@choie](#): > > So _that’s_ what you were talking about? Only nuking the upper-most folks in government? Seems like a nuclear strike is a rather imprecise way to handle regime change, but I’ll take your word for it. Oh wait, no, we don’t have to… let’s go to the videotape one more time: > > Riiight. You just meant the regime. Look, if you’re gonna be an Internet Tough Guy/Gal and advocate genocide, at least have the courage of your (icky) convictions. > > **And no, Ogre, fuzzypickles wasn’t discussing war – s/he dropped that charming idea of ‘testing’ nuclear weaponry as a way to wipe out the entire location** into a discussion about **Desert Nomad** touring the DPRK, talking about regular people and places s/he’d seen. Where was the war talk, excactly? Sure, later on **fuzzypickles** backed down and said the remark was “somewhat facetious” and said okay, but if North Korea initiated a strike, _then_ we could get all Rid-Ex on their termitey asses and no one would blame us (repeating that twice in orgasmic delight). **fuzzypickles** is just a give-no-quarter kind of guy. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectre-of-pithecanthropus-mod-note-in-pyongyang-metro-thread-edited-title/566270/18 "2011-01-04T22:38:54Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > A few active posters actually live in Korea, albeit South Korea. A nuclear attack on North Korea certainly would have some kind of affect on those of us over here. Japan would be none too happy about it, either. ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectre-of-pithecanthropus-mod-note-in-pyongyang-metro-thread-edited-title/566270/19 "2011-01-04T22:54:58Z")
> [@choie](#): > > Only nuking the upper-most folks in government? Seems like a nuclear strike is a rather imprecise way to handle regime change, but I’ll take your word for it. As a last-resort measure, it _will_ accomplish the job that needs to be done. Sometimes, you’ve got to break a few eggs. > [@choie](#): > > Sure, later on **fuzzypickles** backed down and said the remark was “somewhat facetious” and said okay, but if North Korea initiated a strike, _then_ we could get all Rid-Ex on their termitey asses and no one would blame us (repeating that twice in orgasmic delight). If you agree with me, why are you still arguing? Please don’t blame me for hurting your sensitive feelings, that’s not my problem. > [@runner pat](#): > > **fuzzypickles** is just a give-no-quarter kind of guy. Oh SPARE ME already…that horse has already been beaten to death! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectre-of-pithecanthropus-mod-note-in-pyongyang-metro-thread-edited-title/566270/20 "2011-01-05T02:04:16Z")
To pursue this a little further, I certainly can’t recall anyone being banned for defending the use of nuclear weapons against the civilian populace of Japan in WWII, nor should I expect it. Are the mods saying that a ban might be in order were a poster to support a similar strategy in the event of a war with North Korea or China? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectre-of-pithecanthropus-mod-note-in-pyongyang-metro-thread-edited-title/566270.md?page=2)