# The SDMB & a zero tolerance policy (or: Lynn? A word, please?) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 26, 2004, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581 "2004-03-26T15:17:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![WernhamHogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a587f6/32.png) [@WernhamHogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WernhamHogg)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2004, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581/41 "2004-03-26T20:09:08Z")
> [@belladonna](#): > > Is this something all the mods will be enforcing then? Because [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=4677057&postcount=27) post in CS was pretty much ignored, and I found it nasty and unwarrented. I’m not trying to stir up any extra shit, just hoping for a bit of clarification. Unlike you, that poster WAS trying to give the shit a good vigorous stir. ---
**Author:** ![Greathouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greathouse/32/2992_2.png) [@Greathouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greathouse)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2004, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581/42 "2004-03-26T20:11:26Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > Slope? What the hell is that? Some sort of slur against Neanderthals? It is a racial slur againt asians. My SWAG is that it refers to “slanted eyes” somehow. Not really sure since I have never actually used it, but have heard it on several occasions. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2004, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581/43 "2004-03-26T20:19:04Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > Where is this _Warnings thread_? I can’t find shit. When Lynn said she posted in Moderation, she wasn’t saying she was posting in a non-extremist manner. “Moderation” is a forum to which only Moderators and Administrators have access and can ‘see.’ The thread, “Warnings” is in the forum, “Moderation.” Oh, check your toilet, potty-mouth. Peace. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2004, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581/44 "2004-03-26T20:22:36Z")
> [@moriah](#): > > When Lynn said she posted in Moderation, she wasn’t saying she was posting in a non-extremist manner. “Moderation” is a forum to which only Moderators and Administrators have access and can ‘see.’ The thread, “Warnings” is in the forum, “Moderation.” > > Oh, check your toilet, potty-mouth. > > Peace. One of deserves a great big WHOOSHING, I am just not sure whether it is you or me… 😕 ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2004, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581/45 "2004-03-26T20:24:14Z")
> [@askeptic](#): > > While I agree that comments like the one you linked are ridiculous, and if made here I am sure Lynn would have a few coice words concerning my reply to that type of comment, but I suspect there is a pretty good reason folks down here in the pit have not noticed a comment made in a CS thread about American Idol. I’m not wondering why it was ignored by the pitizens, rather I’m curious as to why it was ignored by the mods in CS. It just seems to contradict Lynn’s statement here that such slurs are forbidden. **skutir** –I agree completely. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2004, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581/46 "2004-03-26T20:29:12Z")
> [@moriah](#): > > When Lynn said she posted in Moderation, she wasn’t saying she was posting in a non-extremist manner. “Moderation” is a forum to which only Moderators and Administrators have access and can ‘see.’ The thread, “Warnings” is in the forum, “Moderation.” > > Oh, check your toilet, potty-mouth. > > Peace. Thanks, I thought I was going insane for a minute. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581/47 "2004-03-26T20:43:08Z")
> [@belladonna](#): > > Is this something all the mods will be enforcing then? Because [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=4677057&postcount=27) post in CS was pretty much ignored, and I found it nasty and unwarrented. I’m not trying to stir up any extra shit, just hoping for a bit of clarification. Did you report it? The staff might not even know about it. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581/48 "2004-03-26T20:52:18Z")
I reported it, and nothing happened. I know the mods are only human, but their enforcement in this instance seems arbitrary. Moreover, are these terms absolutely _verboten_? I can see banning their use as insults or hate speech, but can we discuss the origins of the words? When the mods say they are enforcing a zero tolerance policy, what do they mean? Must we censor these words _in toto_? Shall we refer to the John Lennon song as “Woman is the - - - - - - of the World”? Must we call a freshly mopped floor “---- and span”? And will the British Dopers have to smoke cigarettes and not ----? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581/49 "2004-03-26T20:57:21Z")
> [@Lynn Bodoni](#): > > …even in jest, we don’t allow slurs like raghead, nigger, or slope. Eh, policy’s policy, I guess, but it seems misguided to me – especially since it wasn’t a simple “jest,” it was backhanded use of racist terminology in the course of refuting actual racism. One of the things that makes Canadian legislation against hate speech practical is that it is farsighted enough to leave a reasonable amount of “wiggle room,” including a provision that allows speech “intended to point out, for the purpose of removal, matters tending to produce feelings of hatred toward an identifiable group.” Intent doesn’t count for _anything_ here? I can see why a joke, a relatively light-hearted one like “What’s the sound of an Italian car with a flat tire” would be out of bounds, but I think **Doors** got an undeserved slap. Of course, if that’s the rule, I’ll do my best to conform to it. (Hope you don’t mind if I roll my eyes a bit while I do, though.) 😛 I do still love you and hope your toothache is as brief as possible. _suck_ _suck_ ---
**Author:** ![YWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/6f9a4e/32.png) [@YWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YWalker)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2004, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581/50 "2004-03-26T20:59:58Z")
> [@Berkut](#): > > Did you report it? The staff might not even know about it. I did, yesterday afternoon — my first (and only) use of the “Report this post to a moderator” button. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2004, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581/51 "2004-03-26T21:02:21Z")
I reported it a couple days ago too, so that makes at least three complaints with no discernable effect. And for the record, I think “zero tolerance” is a bad idea. It never goes over well, and usually causes more grief than it’s worth. We need something less stringent than zero tolerance but more concrete than “I know it when I see it”. I don’t envy the mods for having to make those kinds of calls. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2004, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581/52 "2004-03-26T21:06:00Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > I reported it, and nothing happened. I know the mods are only human, but their enforcement in this instance seems arbitrary. Capricious too, as in arbitrary and capricious. It’s a better way to handle board problems than a massive codification of hard rules, as it has the effect of keeping lawyerly weaseling to a minimum. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2004, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581/53 "2004-03-26T21:15:02Z")
> [@](#): > > lawyerly weaseling Now thats downright offensive I’m going to have to report it. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2004, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581/54 "2004-03-26T21:15:15Z")
Maybe the mods are like, oh I don’t know, **BUSY OR SOMETHING**? In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a bunch of shit going on. And on top of it all, Lynn has a dental abcess. Have you never had one of those searing, throbbing things screaming directly into your brain? Just fucking drop it. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2004, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581/55 "2004-03-26T21:16:22Z")
> [@Lynn Bodoni](#): > > Nope, **ccwaterback** got a MUCH stronger warning. Read it again. On second reading I stand corrected. Apologies. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2004, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581/56 "2004-03-26T21:19:25Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > Have you never had one of those searing, throbbing things screaming directly into your brain? Sometimes it sure feels that way :D. > [@](#): > > Just fucking drop it. Thanks, but no thanks; I’ll let **Lynn** speak for herself on this one, if you don’t mind. Or even if you do. T’ain’t your place to profanely defend her, and no amount of cussing at us or insulting us is gonna change that. **Lynn** , I hope your abscess feels better, and I’m sure neither I nor anyone else is saying you gotta drop everything to answer the query **right now**. But when you do get a chance, this is kind of a fuzzy new rule, seems like. Daniel ---
**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:** [March 26, 2004, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581/57 "2004-03-26T21:45:29Z")
Could be that the pain and/or medication for said pain has put **Lynn** on a shorter fuse than usual (;)). That would certainly explain a couple of things. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2004, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581/58 "2004-03-26T21:55:08Z")
I’m sorry, but that’s just not funny. Lynn has had a number of very serious medical problems lately. She hasn’t even been out of the hospital all that long. This constant sniping at her is past poor taste now; it’s bordering on cruelty. ---
**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:** [March 26, 2004, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581/59 "2004-03-26T22:08:56Z")
Oh, [please](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=4579815&highlight=angel+of+death#post4579815). ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2004, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581/60 "2004-03-26T22:43:07Z")
Oh, please yourself. Was there something in that link that said she isn’t in pain or in poor health? I swear, you people give Carte Blanche to some spoiled brat whose jealous of his “friend’s” good fortune, and you hold Lynn to the standards of Moses and Solomon rolled into one. Maybe it’s because I know what being a mod is like now, and I know that I regret giving her such a hard time before. But put this in perspective. Think about her over the past five years. I think she’s been extremely patient in her effort to spruce the place up a bit and raise its level. I understand because I’m trying to do the same thing in a politics forum where I mod. Just cut her some slack is all I’m saying. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-a-zero-tolerance-policy-or-lynn-a-word-please/236581.md?page=4)