# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/41 "2009-02-18T03:10:07Z")
> [@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. > > Ah, well. At least this gives me the opportunity to go kill a Gorgon. Did not. I have my own set of marbles, which I bought years and years ago (at least a full decade ago) and I keep them in an owl-shaped jar. This way, nobody can accuse me of losing my marbles. I know right where they are. Good luck killing a Gorgon, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/42 "2009-02-18T15:00:59Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > 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. I didn’t say that censorship was _at_ the top, but _near_ the top. And yes, there is a long list of evil out there. No matter your opinion, censorship is fucking wrong, man. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/43 "2009-02-18T15:10:44Z")
I agree whole-heartedly with the OP. Mr. Zotti’s self-serving censorship is eroding of the spirit and quality of the SDMB as a forum. That is, without question, the reason I did not renew my paid membership and the reason I took a leave of absence from the boards. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/44 "2009-02-18T15:13:24Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > I agree whole-heartedly with the OP. The complaint about the policy that didn’t exist, you mean? ---
**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 18, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/45 "2009-02-18T15:15:22Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > You win this round. More than that. You TOTALLY took my bait. What, did you never even say to yourself, “This is Skald I’m dealing with. There’s a snag here someplace. It’s like iocane poison.” Because if you didn’t, that makes me sad. ---
**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 18, 2009, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/46 "2009-02-18T15:17:40Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Did not. I have my own set of marbles, which I bought years and years ago (at least a full decade ago) and I keep them in an owl-shaped jar. This way, nobody can accuse me of losing my marbles. I know right where they are. I am very pleased to know where you keep your marbles. No particular reason. It’s not like I compulsively steal marbles or anything. I know I’ve been accused of such things in the past, but there’s never been any proof. :: wanders off with bulging pockets :: ---
**Author:** ![Mellivora\_capensis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mellivora\_capensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mellivora_capensis)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/47 "2009-02-18T15:18:27Z")
> [@ParentalAdvisory](#): > > …No matter your opinion, censorship is XXXXXXX wrong, man. (Censorship mine). ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/48 "2009-02-18T15:32:29Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I am very pleased to know where you keep your marbles. No particular reason. It’s not like I compulsively steal marbles or anything. I know I’ve been accused of such things in the past, but there’s never been any proof. > > :: wanders off with bulging pockets :: You got into the WRONG owl-shaped jar. I want my button collection back now. ---
**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 18, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/49 "2009-02-18T15:34:22Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I am very pleased to know where you keep your marbles. No particular reason. It’s not like I compulsively steal marbles or anything. I know I’ve been accused of such things in the past, but there’s never been any proof. > > :: wanders off with bulging pockets :: Is that a marble in your pocket, or are you mildly pleased to see me? ---
**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 18, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/50 "2009-02-18T15:40:22Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > You got into the WRONG owl-shaped jar. I want my button collection back now. I’m not admitting anything. Buf if I were to speak in hypothetical turns, I might point out that the black market value of certain buttons is much higher than that of marbles, and that if I were to have absconded with said buttons it would have been for resale so that I might finance my rental of the Helm of Hades and Talaria of Hermes, both of which I will need to slay the Gorgon. You should WANT me to slay the Gorgon, being that it’s a freaking Gorgon. Thus, hypothetically, you out to be willing to forgive the purloining of said buttons. Hypothetically, of course. I ain’t admitting nothing. ---
**Author:** ![FarmerChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@FarmerChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FarmerChick)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/51 "2009-02-18T15:51:15Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > 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. But you have gained me! > [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > I agree whole-heartedly with the OP. Mr. Zotti’s self-serving censorship is eroding of the spirit and quality of the SDMB as a forum. That is, without question, the reason I did not renew my paid membership and the reason I took a leave of absence from the boards. Welcome back, the place is addicting isn’t it? > [@Mellivora\_capensis](#): > > (Censorship mine). That made me laugh out loud. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/52 "2009-02-18T15:55:00Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > The complaint about the policy that didn’t exist, you mean? More about Zotti’s growing censorship of the boards with repect to voices of dissent. For example his snits over complaints of his vanity forum, the aftermath of Otto’s banning etc. (and the related tirade for which he ended up apologizing). I haven’t been with this board too terribly long, but his thin skin does seem to be affecting the board overall. From what I’ve seen the Pit has had a few flare ups but has been run fairly smoothly for years, but Zotti’s tweaking of policies and capricious moderation seems to be more to the detriment of the community than any kind of enhancement. I don’t think I like the kind of Pit that Zotti wants it to be, particularly if it’s the kind of Pit that has to part ways with a top-notch mod like **Giraffe**. Ed is changing the tone of the board in a way that I don’t feel is a positive thing. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/53 "2009-02-18T16:15:12Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > 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. True - my mistake. What can I say? This is, er, not my finest moment on the Dope. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/54 "2009-02-18T16:16:51Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > … 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 banning 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. I hardly ever jump into these topics, and granted I’m ‘relatively’ new here, but I came in to say ditto this. At least from my point of view. Nowhere is immune from change, whether it’s intrinsic or driven by outside influences. People change, opinions change and how a message board functions is going to change. How you view the change is up to each of us, but automatically condemning every new thing that comes as “bad” is so completely against how I see this board. On one hand we talk about how the SDMB is one of the better boards out here, **because** of the moderation not letting things get out of hand, while the other hand screams censorship. It’s a tough balance, and I don’t envy Ed, the admins or mods who have to figure out how to walk the tightrope. I’m sure some excellent posters have left here over one issue or another, or as **Marley23** says, for any of their own reasons. Some leave, some arrive. It’s a fluid board, as any community ought to be. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/55 "2009-02-18T16:21:38Z")
> [@FarmerChick](#): > > But you have gained me! How could I not be consoled. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/56 "2009-02-18T16:28:00Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > More about Zotti’s growing censorship of the boards with repect to voices of dissent. Find one, please. If you’re going to say “stop insulting Jerry” counts as censorship of dissent, I’m not likely to buy it. Same goes for **Sapo** and his games. > [@](#): > > For example his snits over complaints of his vanity forum For the record, some people were absolute assholes over this. I understood some people would be unhappy about the forum being added, but I was shocked and disappointed to see people hoping the forum and Ed’s book would fail, for example. You’d think someone was holding them for ransom. > [@](#): > > I haven’t been with this board too terribly long, but his thin skin does seem to be affecting the board overall. From what I’ve seen the Pit has had a few flare ups but has been run fairly smoothly for years, but Zotti’s tweaking of policies and capricious moderation seems to be more to the detriment of the community than any kind of enhancement. More important than any specific rule is that we be consistent, I think, and I know that not everybody’s clear right now on what’s going on, what’s different and what isn’t and so on. That’s part of what’s we’ve been talking about lately. > [@](#): > > I don’t think I like the kind of Pit that Zotti wants it to be, particularly if it’s the kind of Pit that has to part ways with a top-notch mod like **Giraffe**. Ed is changing the tone of the board in a way that I don’t feel is a positive thing. I don’t think it’s clear to everybody what Ed actually wants the Pit to be, and since we’re still talking about it I don’t think it’s clear to us either. 😛 The point is, wait and see first. You may like it or you may not; people have different ideas of what they want, and we have enough people here that there’s always going to be disagreement and we also have a thoughtful membership. ---
**Author:** ![FarmerChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@FarmerChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FarmerChick)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/57 "2009-02-19T12:52:48Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > How could I not be consoled. You like me, you really really like me! Hey, people come and go, things change all the time. It’s pretty obvious to me the there has to be changes made regarding the SD. The simple fact that the ownership is in bankruptcy protection says alot. If you have paid attention to the news, the whole newspaper industry is in flux. Whether or not you like the direction that the SD is going is probably irrelevant. It’s going to change. All I can hope for is that the changes work out eventually for the better, and that the Straight Dope survives the Bankruptcy. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/58 "2009-02-19T13:08:42Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I don’t think it’s clear to everybody what Ed actually wants the Pit to be, and since we’re still talking about it I don’t think it’s clear to us either. 😛 The point is, wait and see first. You may like it or you may not; people have different ideas of what they want, and we have enough people here that there’s always going to be disagreement and we also have a thoughtful membership. I think the point is that many feel that if we wait till the changes go into effect it will be too late. There is not a good track record for admitting mistakes on part of the management (probably no worse here than anywhere else but here is what we are talking about) Some probably fear that when the changes happen it will be difficult to complain about them at all. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/59 "2009-02-19T13:32:00Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I think the point is that many feel that if we wait till the changes go into effect it will be too late. Lord knows people here tend to keep quiet about any proposed changes they don’t like, right? 😉 > [@](#): > > There is not a good track record for admitting mistakes on part of the management (probably no worse here than anywhere else but here is what we are talking about) [Really?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=482772)[I mean, really?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=483391) You don’t have to be satisfied with how those situations worked out or with an apology, I know, but I disagree that management here (whether you mean Ed specifically or the staff) doesn’t listen to criticism. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047/60 "2009-02-19T13:40:00Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Lord knows people here tend to keep quiet about any proposed changes they don’t like, right? 😉 > > [Really?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=482772)[I mean, really?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=483391) > > You don’t have to be satisfied with how those situations worked out or with an apology, I know, but I disagree that management here (whether you mean Ed specifically or the staff) doesn’t listen to criticism. I would not bring that abortion up as a good thing or an example of how management got things right. It happened while I was away from the board for a while and read it later. No one looks good in that, especially the staff. I’m sure if you dig deep enough you can find a better example. But it is still the perception of many posters. It may not be the total truth but there is a basis in fact. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-boards-anti-criticism-policy-is-harmful-and-misguided/486047.md?page=4)