# Thread closure **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 18, 2015, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-closure/728212 "2015-08-18T20:50:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2015, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-closure/728212/41 "2015-08-19T20:06:18Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Point of order. **2** wagons cannot make a circle. They were parallel parked. If they were [articulated wagons](http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00gemtZfhrhDqk/18m-Brt-Articulated-Bus-YS6186G-.jpg) you could make an oval. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2015, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-closure/728212/42 "2015-08-19T20:31:58Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Point of order. **2** wagons cannot make a circle. They were parallel parked. Actually, it was vertical. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2015, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-closure/728212/43 "2015-08-19T21:16:07Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Actually, it was vertical. Well, now that there’s three, dare I ask who’s in the middle? ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-closure/728212/44 "2015-08-20T06:27:00Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Now, if someone was using the report button to make a point, report things that are clearly not issues over and over again, report the same item multiple times etc, then yeah, that would be an issue. I think that’s probably the key statement. Yes, there was an example of a mod PMing something that got back to the original reporter that was less than flattering about that person. The fact that there is an example does give some foundation for the claims. (I’m not particularly trying to dredge up old history, but there were complaints in ATMB.) But that’s still probably a low percentage. Unfortunately, the only people with the insight to refute it are arguably biased in that they stand accused by association. Getting a couple dozen reports of a single incident is probably mildly annoying but easily dismissed. Much more problematic is one poster reporting dozens of different incidents that are not rules violations and not even really gray areas in either an act of extreme confusion or else an agenda to push. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell those apart? Regardless, that would be the few instances where mods may get tired of reports from that person. But that kind of behavior seems in the category that would lead to PMs from the mods to try to curb the behavior, through either explaining why those aren’t rules violations, or shutting down the agenda. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-closure/728212/45 "2015-08-21T03:38:19Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Dammit again! > > Reported for mod abuse. > > 😉 Reported for abusing mods. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-closure/728212/46 "2015-08-21T11:34:37Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I had no idea we had that many squealers. The job of a mod is harder than I thought. Tossing some data in here: Between 8/18 and now there were 51 reported posts across all fora. Warning issued: 1 I’ve no idea how many mod notes and such were issued. But that might provide some idea of the activity. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-closure/728212/47 "2015-08-21T13:55:44Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > I’ve got to concur with ITD. I’ve never seen any other mod take the approach that ‘he reports too much…I’ll ignore him’. **tomndebb** has said that he discounts reports that come from me, in part because it is his perception that I only report posts that come from peoople that I disagree with politically. I can probably dig up the post, but he will simply deny that he meant it. On preview, [cite](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10135019&postcount=148), not that it will do any good. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-closure/728212/48 "2015-08-21T14:18:35Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > **tomndebb** has said that he discounts reports that come from me, in part because it is his perception that I only report posts that come from peoople that I disagree with politically. I can probably dig up the post, but he will simply deny that he meant it. > > On preview, [cite](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10135019&postcount=148), not that it will do any good. > > Regards, > Shodan What you are describing falls under the category of people who may be abusing the report button. I’m not familiar with your exact situation, but that category was mentioned by me and the other mods who responded. I’m sure you disagree with the characterization, but it’s not as if we’re saying that pov never happens. ---
**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:** [August 21, 2015, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-closure/728212/49 "2015-08-21T14:34:59Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Reported for abusing mods. Reported for abusing me for abusing mods. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-closure/728212/50 "2015-08-21T15:02:37Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Reported for abusing me for abusing mods. With apologies to the Eurythmics: Sweet mods are used to this Who are you to disagree I read the reports that are aimed at me Everybody is reporting something Some mods want to use you Some mods want to get used by you Some mods want to abuse you Some mods want to get abused by you ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-closure/728212/51 "2015-08-21T15:10:39Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > I’ve got to concur with ITD. I’ve never seen any other mod take the approach that ‘he reports too much…I’ll ignore him’. That’s just a strange position to take unless you have some sort of specific evidence to which you can point. > > As for the ‘start a new thread’ thing? I was being perfectly serious. LinusK is more than welcome to start a new thread on the subject and discussion can be ongoing provided it doesn’t head down the same destructive path as the previous one. It’s an opportunity to start fresh, possibly with fresh eyes and participants. I can’t help it if you believe I’m lying or somehow misrepresenting the situation. You’re wrong, but I can’t help that. The thing is that it almost never actually happens. People don’t open new threads after the thread has been closed, and it’s kinda culturally frowned upon to do so when it was your thread. So it seems a hollow welcome when you know it’s unlikely that he’ll actually do it. Not that I disagree with the thread being shut down. I just get tired of the idea that you can just open a new thread as if it’s something that generally happens. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-closure/728212/52 "2015-08-21T16:10:47Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Warning issued: 1 I win! Hooray!!! Wait, fuck. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-closure/728212/53 "2015-08-21T16:30:48Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > As for the ‘start a new thread’ thing? I was being perfectly serious. LinusK is more than welcome to start a new thread on the subject and discussion can be ongoing provided it doesn’t head down the same destructive path as the previous one. It’s an opportunity to start fresh, possibly with fresh eyes and participants. I can’t help it if you believe I’m lying or somehow misrepresenting the situation. You’re wrong, but I can’t help that. Since very few mod comments in that thread actually addressed individual behavior, I bet quite a few participants have no idea if they are included in the general condemnation of the thread. So, if LinusK starts a new thread, and he will, no one’s behavior will change. Why would it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-closure/728212.md?page=2)