# Tomndebb--rules question **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 17, 2010, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455 "2010-10-17T17:12:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455/41 "2010-10-18T06:04:08Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Will you answer our questions here, or are you going to continue your streak of obtuseness and require us to open a new thread? [Moderator Note] Let’s dial back the hostility here. Nothing “requires” you to open a new thread. ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455/42 "2010-10-18T06:37:37Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Let me repeat - what’s one more going to hurt? Just start a thread about your question. > > You really don’t know how things work around here, do you? I’m sure you can tell me. > [@Miller](#): > > And if you have an issue with one of **tom~**'s rulings, don’t bring it up in this thread. Start a new one to discuss it. Well, more than one since his generous reply to my early OP. > [@Calling All Bible Experts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-bible-experts/503536/5): > > Just a note: > > You’re probably on the wrong message board to seek a resolution of contradictions in the bible–and seriously the wrong message board for finding defenders of the bible based on claims that there are no contradicitions. > > We have about three posters, (one active) who actually hold that position. The rest of the board is composed of posters who hold one of the following positions: > > - believe it is all man-made nonsense that should be suppressed; > - believe that it is man-made nonsense that might not need to be suppressed, but should be ignored by rational people; > - believe that is is man-made attempts to express their beliefs in God without necessarily being inerrant; > - believe that it is God’s Word expressed through fallible human agents, and thus subject to error > - believe that it is God’s Word that may have apparent errors, but the errors are only examples of human misunderstanding. > > (And, of course, any or none of those postions might be true without having any effect on the notion that the particular passages you quoted are examples of particular literary devices that might not need to be taken as either wholly true or wholly false, in any event.) > > Good luck. Well considered newbie instruction. Since then, meh. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455/43 "2010-10-18T12:32:29Z")
[QUOTE=Tomndebb] We have about three posters, (one active) who actually hold that position. The rest of the board is composed of posters who hold one of the following positions: - believe it is all man-made nonsense that should be suppressed; - believe that it is man-made nonsense that might not need to be suppressed, but should be ignored by rational people; - believe that is is man-made attempts to express their beliefs in God without necessarily being inerrant; - believe that it is God’s Word expressed through fallible human agents, and thus subject to error - believe that it is God’s Word that may have apparent errors, but the errors are only examples of human misunderstanding. (And, of course, any or none of those postions might be true without having any effect on the notion that the particular passages you quoted are examples of particular literary devices that might not need to be taken as either wholly true or wholly false, in any event.) Good luck. [/QUOTE] Far from complete. My position, and quiite possibly that of several others, is that I believe that it is man-made nonsense that needs to be exposed, questioned, ridiculed, mocked and derided frequently and mercilessly. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455/44 "2010-10-18T13:16:10Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > There is nothing profane about “cunt.” So it’s a sacred word? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455/45 "2010-10-18T15:19:51Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > I’m not. I was just curious why mhendo changed the topic from obscenity or lewd language to profanity. There is nothing profane about “cunt.” > > At any rate, I had already explained my error. I have not paid that much attention to the specific rules of The BBQ Pit and I was dealing with reported posts on the issue of the language and on the thread. I made a hasty call that was wrong. The point here is that “cunt” may be used in any forum here so long as it is not directed at another poster. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455/46 "2010-10-18T16:32:00Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > The point here is that “cunt” may be used in any forum here so long as it is not directed at another poster. Yes, and this is explicitly stated in the rules. That Mod note was inappropriate whether the thread was in GD or the Pit. ---
**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:** [October 18, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455/47 "2010-10-18T17:59:22Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > And if you have an issue with one of **tom~**'s rulings, don’t bring it up in this thread. Start a new one to discuss it. > > While I’m at it, **Guin** , you know well enough to leave the insults out of ATMB. Knock it off. Sorry, I forgot which forum we were in. :smack: (The constant use of the word “cunt” must have fried my brain. 😉 Dangerous and all that! ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455/48 "2010-10-19T01:58:19Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Will you answer our questions here, or are you going to continue your streak of obtuseness and require us to open a new thread? I know the answer to this question. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455/49 "2010-10-19T02:34:00Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > [Moderator Note] > > Let’s dial back the hostility here. Nothing “requires” you to open a new thread. With all due respect, I absolutely agree that nothing requires me to open a new thread. I’m just curious as to what tomndebb requires to answer a fairly direct question that is directly related to this thread’s topic, which specifically involves him, in a forum specifically for SDMB moderators to field questions that arise about their moderation. I suspect that nothing short of an act of God will be required for that to happen, however. ---
**Author:** ![Clark\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c77e96/32.png) [@Clark\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_K)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455/50 "2010-10-19T03:02:01Z")
I’d like to add my voice to the chorus of people who appreciate Tom’s willingness to admit a mistake but find themselves a bit unclear on what he thinks is and isn’t allowed. To be specific, it is it permissible to use the word “cunt” or any other obscene language in all forums, so long as the obscenity is not directed at a member of the SDMB? In a Cafe Society thread, could I refer to some annoying person on “Survivor” as a [coarse word]? In Great Debates, could I say that terrorists are all a bunch of cowardly [shockingly vile word]s? Most importantly, in MPSIMS am I allowed to say kittens are nothing but [Mexican obscenity followed by brain-freezingly hateful epithets and a childish reference to feces]? ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455/51 "2010-10-19T03:25:42Z")
> [@Clark\_K](#): > > To be specific, it is it permissible to use the word “cunt” or any other obscene language in all forums, so long as the obscenity is not directed at a member of the SDMB? Right. This has been the crux of this entire thread, that is, that we can use bad words anywhere we want, but that we are explicitly restricted from launching personal attacks against other board members anywhere except the Pit. While **tom** did apologize for the faulty admonition, he has yet to confirm that we can say “cunt” wherever we like, so long as we are not calling each other that. Instead, he’s decided to harp on some ridiculous argument about the difference between crude language and profanity. Who gives a shit? Can we, or can we not, refer to people who are NOT board members as cunts on non-Pit forums? I’m pretty sure the answer is yes, but here we are. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455/52 "2010-10-19T03:33:57Z")
Actually, I take that back. We can never refer to board members as cunts anymore in any forum. So I should say, “Can we, or can we not, refer to NON board members as cunts in any forum?” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455/53 "2010-10-19T04:59:52Z")
That’s the ruling I’m looking for, too. I just noticed this post - ["Joy Behar is the biggest -‘I can’t say the C-Word’ on this site- in television. "](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13039868&postcount=7) I think this needs to get nipped in the bud and clarified as soon as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455/54 "2010-10-19T05:33:46Z")
> [@Clark\_K](#): > > Most importantly, in MPSIMS am I allowed to say kittens are nothing but [Mexican obscenity followed by brain-freezingly hateful epithets and a childish reference to feces]? Only a [Mexican obscenity followed by brain-freezingly hateful epithets and a childish reference to feces] would think that about _ **kittens** _… Or a [childish reference to feces] _dog_ lover. :p;) ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455/55 "2010-10-19T14:37:56Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > cunt > [@mhendo](#): > > “cunt” > [@tomndebb](#): > > “cunt.” > [@xtisme](#): > > ‘cunt’ > [@Guinastasia](#): > > “cunt” > [@Clark\_K](#): > > “cunt” > [@MeanOldLady](#): > > “cunt” > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > nipped in the bud _\_ ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455/56 "2010-10-19T15:33:03Z")
Funny how often that word gets used in the aftermath of Ed’s little hissyfit. Quite the opposite of what was intended, which makes it all the more hilarious to me. Hopefully tom will sack up soon and respond with what he perceives his actual mistake to have been. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455/57 "2010-10-19T15:48:36Z")
“Little hissyfit” “Sack up” “Hilarious” Yup, these are certainly the phrases to use when you want to convince someone to respond to a query, especially when you know that the person being addressed would get slammed if he or she responded in kind. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455/58 "2010-10-19T16:01:25Z")
Tom is an adult. He can either take the criticism and learn from it, or keep dodging it. I have no interest in convincing him to respond – mostly because I shouldn’t have to convince him to do his job competently. Competent moderation includes a) understanding the rules and b) fully responding to questions about whatever rule he thought he was enforcing. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455/59 "2010-10-19T16:03:54Z")
Also: “hissyfit” and “hilarious,” to the extent that they were directed toward anyone at all, were directed at Ed, not tom. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455/60 "2010-10-19T16:05:41Z")
> [@Beadalin](#): > > I have no interest in convincing him to respond Ah. “Me, too” recreational outrage, then. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-rules-question/557455.md?page=4)