# To the members of SDMB: Another one bites the dust. Are you next?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-members-of-sdmb-another-one-bites-the-dust-are-you-next/71010>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [July 2, 2001, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-members-of-sdmb-another-one-bites-the-dust-are-you-next/71010 "2001-07-02T21:13:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 10

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**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-members-of-sdmb-another-one-bites-the-dust-are-you-next/71010/181 "2001-07-03T23:44:03Z")

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[sub]Lord knows why I’m throwing myself to the lions like this, but what the Hell, you only live once …[/sub]

> [@](#):
>
> _Fenris_:  
> \*\*The following facts are irrelevant to the specific action of Silo’s banning:
> 
> That Manny said a naughty word in the heat of anger \*\*

This may not have relevancy to Silo’s banning, but it does have a little relevancy to other arguments - namely: “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander”

Let’s get back to the dinner party analogy.

Silo is being a slob and spilling wine on the carpet. The host of the party comes in and says, “Hey there, don’t do that.”  
Silo says, “Hey just clean it up.”  
Then the host’s hot-headed teenaged son, Mantatt **a** n comes storming in and grabs Silo by the lapels and says, “He said clean that up, you little shit stain, and you better do it quick or I’ll yank your nuts off and stuff 'em up your ass!!!”  
And the rest of guests are shocked.

Should not this outburst also be addressed? For my money - yes. On the other hand, I’ve never had any sort of problem with any Mod or Admin, and Buddha willing I never will (and this post may very well change all of that), so I’m just offering this up as a point that I think has been attempted to be made, but hasn’t been fully grasped by some.

FTR, I love all mods and admins, for the sole reason that I love this message board and I want to stay. Call it ass-kissing if you will, but it’s a good a philosophy as any.

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**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-members-of-sdmb-another-one-bites-the-dust-are-you-next/71010/182 "2001-07-03T23:45:37Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Which, if you’ve talked to him in the past day, he does. Accept responsibility, that is. He knows he was wrong to post what he did, or at least that’s what I’ve understood to be the case from talking to him yesterday and today.

Not having ever talked to Silo, I’ll take that at face value.

It should have been obvious to anyone that his post was out of line. It should have been doubly obvious after the first mod response, and the next one etc. It is a good thing if he finally saw his error, but it appears the banning was the thing that finally made him see it. Not to kick a guy while he’s down, I’ll simply say that from what I have seen of him the guy needs to mature. He got another tough lesson, I hope he learns from it. I wish him the best of luck, maybe next time he will think before doing something out of line, or at least apologise when he is called on it.

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**Author:** ![Sterra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Sterra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterra)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-members-of-sdmb-another-one-bites-the-dust-are-you-next/71010/183 "2001-07-03T23:55:53Z")

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I think that the fact that there is a pit thread after every banning is worthwhile to note. Indeed the best reason anyone can offer for Silo’s banning is that what he did was against the rules or stuff from half a year ago. People don’t like what the mods do usually over bannings and that probably means that the banning are mostly bad things. Can anyone point out something positive that resulted from this banning?

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**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:** [July 4, 2001, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-members-of-sdmb-another-one-bites-the-dust-are-you-next/71010/184 "2001-07-04T00:07:34Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Sterra \*  
> \*\*Indeed the best reason anyone can offer for Silo’s banning is that what he did was against the rules  
> \*\*

Um…what better reason for banning?

\*\*

> [@](#):
>
> People don’t like what the mods do usually over bannings and that probably means that the banning are mostly bad things. \*\*

You have a typo. You wrote “People” but the correct spelling is “Some malcontents”, since you’re talking about a small group that appears like worms after a rain following _every_ banning. (Note: MANY people in this thread are N_O_T those same malcontents. Assume that if you aren’t one of the usual “The mods are so un-faaaaaair” types that _always_ joins into the chorus, I _don’t_ mean you.)

\*\*

> [@](#):
>
> Can anyone point out something positive that resulted from this banning? \*\*

Sure, one less person who’ll post info that’ll slow the board down. One less person who behaved as a jerk.

Fenris

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**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-members-of-sdmb-another-one-bites-the-dust-are-you-next/71010/185 "2001-07-04T00:11:15Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> People don’t like what the mods do usually over bannings and that probably means that the banning are mostly bad things.

I really don’t like going to the dentist.

Good to know that means it’s a bad thing to do.

::d&r::

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**Author:** ![NPavelka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/edb3f5/32.png) [@NPavelka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NPavelka)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-members-of-sdmb-another-one-bites-the-dust-are-you-next/71010/186 "2001-07-04T00:25:27Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Not good enough. I won’t be satisfied until you call me a Nazi. **Coldy** gets called a Nazi all the time. I mean, I try and I try and I just can’t live up to it.\*\*

Nahhh I don’t think you are a Nazi… and all that little outburt of anger (on the first page of this little war) warents is a Stalinistic Commie refrence. Now pepperlandgirl… her I’ll call a Nazi… hey pepperlandgirl, you are a Nazi!!!

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**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-members-of-sdmb-another-one-bites-the-dust-are-you-next/71010/187 "2001-07-04T00:27:29Z")

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After reading all these nice apologies, I just thought I should step in and say a nice “I’m sorry” to **manny** for saying that he should be nailed upside down to a cross and beaten with willow rods and gutted from the nave to the chops and the corpse broken on the Wheel and then ripped to shreds by wild horses and his bodily fluids given to Silo to drink.

…I’m sorry, man…I just got a little carried away in the general tenor of page one of this thread. Can I buy ya a brewski or anything?

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**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-members-of-sdmb-another-one-bites-the-dust-are-you-next/71010/188 "2001-07-04T00:39:47Z")

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I’m a Nazi! Yes!!! Now I get to be just like Coldfire!!! WOOO!!!

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**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-members-of-sdmb-another-one-bites-the-dust-are-you-next/71010/189 "2001-07-04T00:50:28Z")

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No no, **PLG** , first you need the Wooden Shoes. Then, and only then, do you get to be like Coldy.

And what the fuck is up with me being the only one that mentioned Silo’s cock in my post? Makes me look like some kind of perv or something! Sheesh.

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**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-members-of-sdmb-another-one-bites-the-dust-are-you-next/71010/190 "2001-07-04T00:53:27Z")

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Good point Rasa. Maybe Coldie will let me borrow a pair of his?

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**Author:** ![johnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@johnson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnson)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-members-of-sdmb-another-one-bites-the-dust-are-you-next/71010/191 "2001-07-04T00:58:33Z")

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**Stoid** makes a post with which I can agree. I’ve lost my bearings for sure…

Should **Silo** have been banned? Not in my opinion. It was way over the top. Do I much care? Not especially.

Yeah, Admins and Mods have a tough job, and some of them do it extraordinarily well. Others do so-so, and I don’t much care for the job others do. Just like real life–might as well complain about the weather. ::shrug::

But, for those who say “if you don’t like the way they do it, don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out,” the same can be said for any mods who feel the job is too tough, takes too much of their time, causes (more than the occasional) irrational outbursts.

All that said, these threads every now and again are an entertaining diversions.

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**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-members-of-sdmb-another-one-bites-the-dust-are-you-next/71010/192 "2001-07-04T01:00:04Z")

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A _pair_ of his? :eek:

Oh. You mean wooden shoes. You know what they say about mods with big shoes…

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**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-members-of-sdmb-another-one-bites-the-dust-are-you-next/71010/193 "2001-07-04T01:02:40Z")

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They’re Nazis with big feet?  
😉

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**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-members-of-sdmb-another-one-bites-the-dust-are-you-next/71010/194 "2001-07-04T01:02:51Z")

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Hmmm…

I don’t know what to think. I think it was very adult of Manny to appologize, and I do admire that. I understand what it’s like to fly off the handle…(screaming FUCK YOU! to a customer so it can be heard all over the store…)

Did Silo act like a jerk? Yeah. Did it deserve a ban? Maybe, maybe not. I don’t know.

My head hurts.  
Euty, if it helps, I’ll call you a Nazi. Would you like that?

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**Author:** ![aseymayo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@aseymayo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aseymayo)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-members-of-sdmb-another-one-bites-the-dust-are-you-next/71010/195 "2001-07-04T01:06:40Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by robgruver \*  
> In this case both **Manhatten** and **TubaDiva** have done it, and I believe that they need to be gone. Fired. Kaput.

**BWAAAAAHAAAAAAAHAAAAAA!** That’s the best laugh I’ve had today! Yeah, let’s fire them from their VOLUNTEER jobs! Booo Mods! Firing’s too good for you! Torture, I say! The rack for Manny! And for Diva - the Comfy Chair!

And while we’re handing out punishments, I think we should all _demand_ that Ukulele Ike be put in the stocks! Naked!  
[sub]Okay, maybe that’s just me.[/sub]

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**Author:** ![Sterra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Sterra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterra)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-members-of-sdmb-another-one-bites-the-dust-are-you-next/71010/196 "2001-07-04T01:53:15Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Fenris \*
> 
> > [@](#):
> >
> > \*Originally posted by Sterra \*  
> > \*\*Indeed the best reason anyone can offer for Silo’s banning is that what he did was against the rules  
> > \*\*
> 
> Um…what better reason for banning?

Maybe he was doing something that was worth banning over would be a better reason? A rule means nothing by itself.

> [@](#):
>
> Sure, one less person who’ll post info that’ll slow the board down. One less person who behaved as a jerk.

A pretty poor reason given the backlash. I highly doubt that this thread will make the boards go faster, and I think “behaved as a jerk to the mods” would be more appropriate. Which is a bad thing if a mod wants to be a regular poster as well.

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**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-members-of-sdmb-another-one-bites-the-dust-are-you-next/71010/197 "2001-07-04T01:59:44Z")

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So, does anyone else think it’s looking like an Agassi vs. Henman Final ?

Pass the Victorian sponge, Mildred and do _try_ to keep in the shade…

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**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-members-of-sdmb-another-one-bites-the-dust-are-you-next/71010/198 "2001-07-04T02:07:49Z")

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I don’t have any strong feelings on the banning. It was a judgment call.

But I do hope that manhattan’s logic is noted. Once an ass, always an ass. That’s fine, but what to do when manny is an ass three times a week? I have no problem with his moderating but he sure does suck as a person sometimes.

If it wouldn’t be construed as harrassment and get me banned, I would be half tempted to follow every post by manny with:

“Manny, that was a surprising calm and decent post. You didn’t curse and you didn’t call anybody a name. However, based on your past behavior I am sure you will soon descend so kindly shut up asshole.”

I am a moderator on another (much smaller) message board and understand all the shit that goes on and how important it is for the moderators to provide a united front to the infidels. I also have seen (and been on the receiving end) how moderators act behind the scenes when one screws up publicly. I hope that Manny is leaving a metaphorical trail of blood from forum to forum as he reads the board.

Also, if the administrators knew there was a weekness in the vB platform and knew that several people had figured it out the smart thing would have been to put it in the open rather than hoping the knowledge didn’t spread. A simple announcement saying “We know there is a workaround, we can’t easily fix it, if you are caught using it you will be banned. Thank you for your coooperation” would have prevented most of this.

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**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-members-of-sdmb-another-one-bites-the-dust-are-you-next/71010/199 "2001-07-04T02:26:43Z")

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This thing started out sad and now it has progressed to pathetic.

Pull your heads from your asses and listen closely. If the mods and admins wanted to ban you for nothing more than misspelling **Manhattan** one too many times or simply because you didn’t dot an “i”, they could. No explanation. No reason. Nothing. **They own the board, they call the shots, so get the fuck over it already.** They owe us nothing. Zippo. I can re-write this in two-syllable words if it will get through the mush easier.

I am sure that they have discovered long ago that behind every disgruntled poster who leaves or doesn’t buy Straight Dope merchandise there are 10 more waiting to take his place. Stomp your feet and throw hissy fits about the mods, but don’t fool yourself into thinking that your tirade is going to get Manny or Tuba fired. It won’t, thank God, so grow up.

Is this concept too hard for a few of you to grasp? Are your lives really so empty and boring that you must make this your crusade? If so, I truly pity you.

Honestly, after dealing with the accidental death of a friend’s teenaged daughter two nights ago and the news that my son is going to be a father, this crap I am seeing here makes me discusted in myself for believing there are intelligent adults on this board.

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**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-members-of-sdmb-another-one-bites-the-dust-are-you-next/71010/200 "2001-07-04T02:29:31Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by NPavelka \*  
> To think I was actuially respecting **Eutychus55** as a moderator, until his little outburst… sad that someone so ignorant claims to be on boards that fight that ignorance.
> 
> Save us all the time and expence of a revolution and back away into the shadows… \*\*

And please spare us this. **Euty** was more civil than most of us would have been. His “little outburst” was warranted, and if **Silo** had heeded it, he’d be here with us today.

Now, I LIKE **Silo.** But he was evidentally having a bad day, and felt like being a wiseacre. Which is, of course, his right. But…a person needs to accept responsibility for his/her actions and speech. And one needs to see the whole picture, and deal with it accordingly.

I hope to see him back. I think that pretty much everyone ended up going over the top. Including almost everyone in this thread. I think that **Manny** went too far. I also think that it is expecting a LOT to think that we should expect our moderators to be less than human. **Manny** apologized. If **Silo** recognizes that he made a mistake, maybe he can apologize too, and we can all get beyond this and MAYBE we can welcome him back.

Please, people…can we just give this a rest? Maybe with time and space, all concerned can calm down and deal with the situation with some kind of dignity.

Please…at least THINK about it?

Scotti

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