# Two warnings, one offence **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 23, 2021, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-warnings-one-offence/951229 "2021-09-23T23:09:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-warnings-one-offence/951229/1 "2021-09-23T23:09:40Z")
> [@Delay in prosecution of Trump](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-in-prosecution-of-trump/950708): > > Perhaps the wheels of justice move very slowly, but am I alone in being concerned by the length of time that has passed since Trump left office with NO federal criminal charges being filed against him for either his business dealings or any of the criminal acts he perpetrated during the time he was in office? Yes, we hear that his CFO Allen Weisselberg has been indicted, but that was for state, and not federal charges. Plus, that’s not Trump. There’s no shortage of federal charges that could be… Moderation happened in the above thread, starting at post #99 > [@Delay in prosecution of Trump](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-in-prosecution-of-trump/950708/100): > > Feel free to start your own thread about what you wish to discuss in your initial post, but do not continue to hijack this thread. The hijack continued. @What_Exit issued a warning: > [@Delay in prosecution of Trump](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-in-prosecution-of-trump/950708/124): > > **Warning** for [dolfinwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolfinwriter) and probably suspension coming up for ignoring mod instructions to end the hijack and a completely belligerent tone in P&E that is only reasonable for The Pit. And then Hari\_Seldon issued a warning: > [@Delay in prosecution of Trump](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-in-prosecution-of-trump/950708/126): > > Modding: This is an official warning. You have insulted every other poster in this thread. It seems to me that this is two warnings for the same offence. Hari’s “insulted every other poster” is already covered by WE’s “completely beligerent tone” I agree that it was worth **a** warning, but not two. I think the second warning should be rescinded. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-warnings-one-offence/951229/2 "2021-09-23T23:17:09Z")
A new poster has contributed nothing of value to the board in his brief stay, hijacked a thread for his own pet conspiracy theories, ignored mod instructions, and insulted posters…and your first thought is “we should totally spend time arguing about two warnings versus one.” I hope the mods give this all the attention it deserves. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-warnings-one-offence/951229/3 "2021-09-23T23:26:06Z")
My mod note in the subject thread was being violated just as I needed to go out to take care of some time-sensitive personal business. The errand took about an hour. I’d have dealt with the situation myself, but it had to wait until I got back. In that time, four separate flags arrived due to @dolfinwriter 's posts and rules violations. They were for different rules violations. @What_Exit handled some and @Hari_Seldon handled one. My view is that a poster who ignores and violates multiple rules shouldn’t dodge multiple warnings just because he received one a few minutes earlier. In this particular instance, I think both warnings were not only justified, but necessary. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-warnings-one-offence/951229/4 "2021-09-23T23:36:18Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > A new poster has contributed nothing of value to the board in his brief stay, hijacked a thread for his own pet conspiracy theories, ignored mod instructions, and insulted posters…and your first thought is “we should totally spend time arguing about two warnings versus one.” My thoughts exactly. I mean, _exactly_. ---
**Author:** ![Enjoy\_Slurm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enjoy_slurm/32/3937_2.png) [@Enjoy\_Slurm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enjoy_Slurm)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-warnings-one-offence/951229/5 "2021-09-24T01:23:37Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > A new poster has contributed nothing of value to the board in his brief stay, hijacked a thread for his own pet conspiracy theories, ignored mod instructions, and insulted posters…and your first thought is “we should totally spend time arguing about two warnings versus one.” I agree. I don’t know why this board allows new posters. They seem to bring nothing of value. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-warnings-one-offence/951229/6 "2021-09-24T01:31:49Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > My view is that a poster who ignores and violates multiple rules shouldn’t dodge multiple warnings just because he received one a few minutes earlier. What’s precedent? You guys’d know better than I would. Have multiple warnings typically been issued to posters who broke multiple rules in one post or in a short series of posts? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-warnings-one-offence/951229/7 "2021-09-24T01:56:51Z")
We’re not in a courtroom and mods are not bound by precedent. However, if there are other instances, I wouldn’t be aware of them. I’ve not paid a lot of attention to moderating until fairly recently. [Here’s a link to the specific rules for P&E](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rules-for-politics-and-elections-january-2020/845727). With those in mind, I think the onus is on you to explain why we’d be precluded from issuing multiple warnings if we feel circumstances warrant it. I will allow that such circumstances are – and hopefully will always remain – rare. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-warnings-one-offence/951229/8 "2021-09-24T02:02:44Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > I hope the mods give this all the attention it deserves. It’s too late for that. The fact that this thread exists is proof of that. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-warnings-one-offence/951229/9 "2021-09-24T02:04:18Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > We’re not in a courtroom and mods are not bound by precedent. You are bound to stability and consistency, though. At the very least, you ought to be concerned with it. Doing things differently than you have previously lends itself to chaos, confusion, and distrust. > [@](#): > > With those in mind, I think the onus is on you to explain why we’d be precluded from issuing multiple warnings if we feel circumstances warrant it. See above. ---
**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:** [September 24, 2021, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-warnings-one-offence/951229/10 "2021-09-24T02:05:35Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > The fact that this thread exists is proof of that. This thread is _evidence_ that you can’t please everybody all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-warnings-one-offence/951229/11 "2021-09-24T02:14:58Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > You are bound to stability and consistency, though. At the very least, you ought to be concerned with it. Doing things differently than you have previously lends itself to chaos, confusion, and distrust. Of course we are. You’re welcome to demonstrate that this is the only instance of multiple warnings to a poster in short succession that has ever occurred in the history of SDMB moderation. I simply stated that I, personally, am not aware of them. It doesn’t mean they don’t exist, and it doesn’t mean we were wrong to issue them in this instance. Other mods can weigh in at any time if they wish – or they may choose not to. I will state that I don’t see any reason to personally continue responding to this thread. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-warnings-one-offence/951229/12 "2021-09-24T02:16:07Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > You’re welcome to demonstrate that this is the only instance of multiple warnings to a poster in short succession that has ever occurred in the history of SDMB moderation. I simply stated that I, personally, am not aware of them. It doesn’t mean they don’t exist, and it doesn’t mean we were wrong to issue them in this instance. I think you’ve misunderstood me. All I said was, in essence, do what you normally do. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-warnings-one-offence/951229/13 "2021-09-24T12:38:51Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > A new poster has contributed nothing of value to the board in his brief stay, hijacked a thread for his own pet conspiracy theories, ignored mod instructions, and insulted posters…and your first thought is “we should totally spend time arguing about two warnings versus one.” “New poster” is irrelevant. “Contributed nothing of value” is irrelevant (but sad). “Hijacked a thread” is a daily occurrence around here. But “ignored mod instructions” and “insulted posters” (in the wrong forum) - those’ll get you modded no matter who you are, especially when it’s not just a one-off or momentary lapse of judgment. And those count as two offences, not one. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-warnings-one-offence/951229/14 "2021-09-24T12:59:13Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > I agree that it was worth **a** warning, but not two. I think the second warning should be rescinded. I think it was worth it just to watch him flounce: _You’ll see! YOU’LL ALL SEE!!_ ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-warnings-one-offence/951229/15 "2021-09-24T13:36:02Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > But “ignored mod instructions” and “insulted posters” (in the wrong forum) - those’ll get you modded no matter who you are, Agreed. But the point is, W\_E included both “ignored mod instructions” and “insulted posters” in his warning. Then Hari came along and issued a warning for “insulted posters” which had _already_ been warned. Also, note, the original mod instruction said: > [@Delay in prosecution of Trump](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-in-prosecution-of-trump/950708/100): > > To others in this thread, please stop responding to this thread hijack. Thanks. This instruction was disregarded by @GreysonCarlisle, @Bobot, @Temporary_Name, @Procrustus, @Ann_Hedonia, @Sam_Stone, @Johnny_L.A. and @iiandyiiii, all of them continued responding to the hijack, and none of them received a warning. Clearly, “ignored mod instructions” is insufficient to merit a warning on its own in this case. I think you are being unduly harsh on him because he is clinging to a belief that you do not share. We should be trying to fight his ignorance, not punishing it. I’d be interested in discussing the matter with him. I’d like to understand why he believes what he believes. That’s not likely to happen if you drive him away, is it? ---
**Author:** ![CardboardBoxx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardboardboxx/32/7079_2.png) [@CardboardBoxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CardboardBoxx)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-warnings-one-offence/951229/16 "2021-09-24T13:38:44Z")
Hari has history of completely ignoring previous moderation. Hari will do what Hari will do. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-warnings-one-offence/951229/17 "2021-09-24T13:39:55Z")
He’s _controversial_. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-warnings-one-offence/951229/18 "2021-09-24T13:40:53Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > It seems to me that this is two warnings for the same offence. Hari’s “insulted every other poster” is already covered by WE’s “completely beligerent tone” You can be belligerent without being insulting. And the poster was, escalating the discussion and, well, being belligerent. Then, in addition to that, in their final two posts the poster accused everyone else in the thread of being brainwashed. The mods got it right here. What would set a bad precedent would be to let a rules violation slide because they already got a warning for a different one, which seems to be what is being requested in the OP. I strongly oppose that and I’m glad the mods do too. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-warnings-one-offence/951229/19 "2021-09-24T13:47:15Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > I think you are being unduly harsh on him because he is clinging to a belief that you do not share. We should be trying to fight his ignorance, not punishing it. I’d be interested in discussing the matter with him. I’d like to understand why he believes what he believes. That’s not likely to happen if you drive him away, is it? He didn’t strike me as someone to whom you could successfully appeal with facts and reason. He came to _witness_ for QAnon, not to have his ignorance challenged. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-warnings-one-offence/951229/20 "2021-09-24T13:48:04Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > This instruction was disregarded by @GreysonCarlisle, @Bobot, @Temporary_Name, @Procrustus, @Ann_Hedonia, @Sam_Stone, @Johnny_L.A. and @iiandyiiii, all of them continued responding to the hijack, and none of them received a warning. What? I have a single post after that, which I immediately deleted. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-warnings-one-offence/951229.md?page=2)