# This Board's anti-criticism policy is harmful and misguided **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 16, 2009, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047 "2009-02-16T04:20:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/21 "2009-02-16T12:25:47Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > So, **Mr. Excellent** , were you going for a Keith Olbermann _Special Comment_ pastiche? If so, well done, though somewhat light on the barely disguised vitriol and contumely. These are new policies up with which he will not put! ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/22 "2009-02-16T15:21:16Z")
In the hierarchy of evil, censorship is near the top. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/23 "2009-02-16T15:41:36Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > The OP did, of course, I hope, notice that the thread was in MPSIMS, which is not - and has never been - a forum appropriate for criticizing the board, the admins, or the mods. Yeah, but I thought it was more of a joke thread, which doesn’t belong in the Pit. Or not, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/24 "2009-02-16T19:57:26Z")
I’m the OP of the thread in question, and I am only chiming in to say I wasn’t mocking Ed. Not that I’m above mocking Ed, but I would have chosena different forum. I was trying to be funny. Being something of a goofball, I do that. I was really thinking more of the Judd Gregg situation than anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/25 "2009-02-16T20:02:58Z")
> [@Jeff](#): > > Bah, that’s why there’s a ‘move thread’ button. If the thread derails, deal with it and drop it into the pit. > > I’m sure Skald is a big boy who can handle the trauma of having a thread go off-topic. Actually I can’t. I’ve been crying about it for THREE DAYS, which is interesting because I only started the thread yesterday afternoon. Nonetheless I have been weeping, weeping, weeping inconsolably since the first off-topic remark was made, and have become so dehydrated that my left eyeball has popped out of its socket. If any of you see it rolling around like a marble, I’d be grateful if you’d teleport it back to me. Many thanks! [QUOTE=ParentalAdvisory] In the hierarchy of evil, censorship is near the top. [/QUOTE] Hmm. Rape. Murder. Genocide. Environmental devastation. Setting arson fires in Australia. Starting wars in Southeast Asia. The Holocaust. Andrew Jackson.. I’m gonna have to disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/26 "2009-02-16T20:08:20Z")
Note to self: points to Skald for mentioning the Indian Hater with other rapists and murderers. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/27 "2009-02-16T20:10:05Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Note to self: points to Skald for mentioning the Indian Hater with other rapists and murderers. I was particularly proud of that one. I’m glad **SkipMagic** provided me the opportunity, though he is nonetheless as wrong on thsi issue as I am on vritually every factual matter I ever discuss in General Questions. But you could have at least groaned at the eyeball thing. Now I’m crying again. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/28 "2009-02-16T21:24:10Z")
I groaned, just not very long or very loud. Does that count? ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/29 "2009-02-17T01:33:54Z")
I actually laughed at the eyeball thing. Out loud and _everything_. Does that mean I’m going to Hell? ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/30 "2009-02-17T13:26:08Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > Using _both_ thumbnails? Evolution gave you opposable thumbs for a reason, and that’s so you don’t have to use both hands to squash things like ants. Fleas are different critters…you can’t squish them with just one thumbnail and a finger…they need the application of **both** thumbs to make sure their gizzards are well and truly mashed. Just sayin’. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/31 "2009-02-17T14:04:27Z")
mmmmm…mashed flea gizzards… Which of course brings me to the sad topic of the impending demise of The Chicago Reader/Creative Loafing, The Straight Dope, etc. as we know it. It’s going under, baby. They have no money, no future, and let’s just say that when the franchise owner is minding the concession stand, they’re down to the fag ends of any semblance of whatever it was they thought they had, and the pathetic straw grasping and wildly veering policies and turnover are sure signs of a grip being lost. Too bad, because this board is a lot of fun and interesting, but it’s really not so much about Cecil/Ed/Chicago Reader/Creative Loafing. They should just let it go. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/32 "2009-02-17T20:42:31Z")
> [@An\_Arky](#): > > Which of course brings me to the sad topic of the impending demise of The Chicago Reader/Creative Loafing, The Straight Dope, etc. as we know it. Doomed, doomed, every day for 10 years we’ve been doomed, and now we’re more doomed than ever. Oh the shame of it all. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/33 "2009-02-17T21:37:13Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > But of course, Mr. Zotti, you cannot do that. Your policy is that there is to be _no_ criticism of the staff, yourself included. I am willfully, intentionally violating that policy - and so I imagine you’ll have to punish me somehow, or your policy loses its teeth. So, I ask again - what will you do? Will you just close this thread? I shall start another - politely worded, as this one has been, but just as critical. Will you suspend me? I’ll criticize this policy again upon my return. I am Spartacus! Honestly, this might be impressive were there in fact any such anti-criticism policy in effect. As there isn’t it just sounds silly. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/34 "2009-02-17T21:37:20Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > But you could have at least groaned at the eyeball thing. Now I’m crying again. Yeah, but how much can you cry with just one eye, anyway? Enough for us to actually care? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/35 "2009-02-17T22:08:12Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > Yeah, but how much can you cry with just one eye, anyway? Enough for us to actually care? > > 😉 I’ve cried BOTH my eyes out now. And I’m pretty sure Ed & Lynn found them, and rather than return them as per my perfectly reasonable request, they using them to play marbles with. Ah, well. At least this gives me the opportunity to go kill a Gorgon. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/36 "2009-02-17T22:12:39Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I’ve cried BOTH my eyes out now. And I’m pretty sure Ed & Lynn found them, and rather than return them as per my perfectly reasonable request, they using them to play marbles with. Glad I skipped the game this week. …Say, how are you posting with no eyes? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/37 "2009-02-17T22:18:11Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Glad I skipped the game this week. > > …Say, how are you posting with no eyes? [Adaptive use technology.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptive_technology) Also telekinesis. Though you had me there, didn’t you? ::cackling :: ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/38 "2009-02-17T22:45:32Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > [Adaptive use technology.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptive_technology) Also telekinesis. You win this round. Anyway: while there are rule changes being discussed I did want to point out that people here have been known to get in a hurry to proclaim the board’s going downhill and The Newest Change (banning of a prominent poster, switch to pay posting, switch to free posting, rule change, perceived rule change, unclear modding decision, CLM issues) is a sign that the party’s over. Hasn’t happened yet, despite a lot of handwringing over the years. I know this is the Pit, but people might want to try waiting and seeing. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/39 "2009-02-17T23:00:43Z")
You’ve lost PLDennison, Spiritus Mundi, and Sentient Meat, to name a few. Even the insufferable Dewey Cheatham and Howe was informative. Triskadecamus hasn’t posted in a coon’s age, and Polycarp seldom posts anymore. I don’t know what parties you’ve been attending, but I know the quality of parties you’ve apparently skipped over. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/40 "2009-02-17T23:29:52Z")
I wish I knew how that relates to what I posted, **Liberal** , but it’s good to have some mystery left in the world. **SentientMeat** was a good poster but didn’t leave because of any rule change. I don’t think **Spiritus Mundi** did either. **pldennison** is a little before my time, having last visited the SDMB more than six years ago. Good posters have left the board over the years, which I always think is a shame, but that’s life and people’s interests change. Good people also take their place. Meanwhile, I was saying that it’s common for someone to interpret new rules or a new ruling as sign of an imminent crackdown that’s going to cause a lot of bannings and ruin the site… and yet that never actually happens. But to hear some people tell it, it’s always just around the corner. That’s my point. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047.md?page=3)