# Wait... what happened to Lexicon? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 31, 2001, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-happened-to-lexicon/79122 "2001-08-31T15:17:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**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:** [September 1, 2001, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-happened-to-lexicon/79122/121 "2001-09-01T16:35:37Z")
To quote **Lexicon** himself, from [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=54308/threadid=54308/postid=1032721/postid=1032721) > [@](#): > > _originally posted by Lexicon_ > > > [@](#): > > > > _originally posted by matt\_mcl_\*\* > > I understand that it is the mods’ sandbox. But with power comes the responsibility to exercise it fairly and ethically, which is as true on the SDMB as it is in government.\*\* > > I disagree. While it is true that this is the “mods’ sandbox”, I don’t think they have an obligation to excercise their “power” fairly and ethically. It’s not as though the mods are violating anyone’s inalienable human rights. They are not commiting crimes against humanity. > If you disagree with the way a moderator or several moderators are doing their job, then I would say that you are wrong and they are right, simply because you are not a moderator. > I don’t look at what a police officer does and think “Hey, I should tell him how to do his job better,” because that’s his or her’s superior’s job. > Just so: if a mod is acting innapropriately, then an administrator will tell him or her to knock it off. If they ask you what you think, then you should tell them, but until then, shut up. It isn’t as though you’re not doing your civic duty by coming forward as a witness in a police brutality case. > > You are not an adminastrator, you are not a moderator, so far be it from you to tell them how to do their job. Anytime anyone, newbie or no, takes it upone themselves to blather about how fucked up the mods are it is a waste of time. > When you are a guest in someone’s home, you do not tell them how to run their household unless asked, I am sure. Why would you do the same here?\*\* So, clearly, **Lexicon** himself should have no problem with his own banning. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-happened-to-lexicon/79122/122 "2001-09-01T16:37:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Manservant Hecubus \* > \*\*The bottom line, for me anyway, is that _I_ don’t want to be on the shitty end of the stick, so to speak. I’d hate to get banned for something that I thought to be demonstratedly within the limits of the specified fora, because there’s someone who doesn’t like me, or likes someone else more. \*\* The thing is that Lexicon never got banned for what he said to Jodi. He got _warned_. There is a difference. With a warning, as unfair as you or he or whomever sees it, one can always go to a mod and say “I strongly disagree with this warning. I think you should retract it.” He didn’t do that. He got banned not because of Jodi but because he turned around said “Oh yeah? What are you going to do about it? Ban me?” I can’t think of any situation you’d be in, **Manservant** , where you wouldn’t, at the very least, have a chance to plead your case beforehand. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-happened-to-lexicon/79122/123 "2001-09-01T16:44:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Enderw24 \* > \*\*The thing is that Lexicon never got banned for what he said to Jodi. He got _warned_. There is a difference. With a warning, as unfair as you or he or whomever sees it, one can always go to a mod and say “I strongly disagree with this warning. I think you should retract it.” > He didn’t do that. He got banned not because of Jodi but because he turned around said “Oh yeah? What are you going to do about it? Ban me?” > I can’t think of any situation you’d be in, **Manservant** , where you wouldn’t, at the very least, have a chance to plead your case beforehand. \*\* Just for the record, don’t think that what you all see on the board is everything that happens. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-happened-to-lexicon/79122/124 "2001-09-01T17:05:46Z")
Last I saw of **Lexicon** he was on the Fabulous Forums of Fathom message boards. One thread on there was asking how former members of SDMB felt about being banned, there are quite a number of banned members over at FFF. **Lex** mentioned that he didn’t like certain aspects of SDMB but rather than get upset about it he simply stopped posting here, without drama or a ‘I hate you all and I’m leaving’ type of post, this was just after one or two had metioned that they had done pretty much that. I am surprised he returned since I’ve not come across any posts here since he made that post having made what amounted to a statement of principle, ie If you don’t like it then walk away, don’t make like a bleeding martyr. **Lexicon** Also posts from time to time at the Unaboards, a forum run by one highly respected poster here known to all as **Anthracite** Finally, last I saw, **Lexicon** was dipping his toe into the waters of running his own message board but since I don’t have a link someone else will have to provide it. If he is still running that board he may well be very busy, from what I’ve seen it takes a lot of personal investment of time to run or moderate a message board, what with hackers, tossers and idiots to navigate around. Hope this addresses the OP without being too much of a hijack, you can return to normal service folks . ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-happened-to-lexicon/79122/125 "2001-09-01T17:57:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Manservant Hecubus \* > \*\*The bottom line, for me anyway, is that _I_ don’t want to be on the shitty end of the stick, so to speak. I’d hate to get banned for something that I thought to be demonstratedly within the limits of the specified fora, because there’s someone who doesn’t like me, or likes someone else more. \*\* Of course you understand that isn’t what happened at all. And, unless you plan on not just ignoring a mod warning, but pretty much immediately responding in a challenging tone, there’s not much to worry about, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-happened-to-lexicon/79122/126 "2001-09-01T18:45:07Z")
Look, Man-Hec, there’s a simple answer here. Lexicon made a very jerky comment. TVeblen told him he was being a jerk and he should stop being a jerk. He refused, and was banned. Jodi made a comment that, perhaps, a different mod on a different day in a different mood might have interpreted as being a jerk. If so, they would have warned her she was being a jerk. Then Jodi would have a choice: apologize and drop it, or continue being a jerk. Lexicon wouldn’t have been banned for his “suck my dick” comment if he had apologized for it…or even if he had stopped posting in that thread and moved on. But instead he continued to make offensive comments. Look, people don’t get banned without warning for insulting people. They get banned when they continue to insult people after being warned. I agree that it is impossible to tell in advance exactly where the line is between energetic argument and jerkitude. But, if you are warned that you crossed the line then you DO know. You don’t have to worry about being banned for what you consider innocuous comments. Just don’t go into a screaming rage if a mod tells you to shut up. Instead you apologize if you feel you were wrong, or drop it if you feel you were right but don’t want to be banned. ---
**Author:** ![NothingMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b77776/32.png) [@NothingMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NothingMan)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-happened-to-lexicon/79122/127 "2001-09-01T19:02:48Z")
Just caught this thread, I had wondered where **Lexi** had drifted off to as well. FWIW, I thought he was a decent poster and a hell of a flamer . . . but I guess thats what got him into trouble here. My favorite line about this MB is still **Lexi** ’s (actually it was in his original incarnation known as **SmickD** ) : _“This place is as addictive as caramel coated crack.”_ True dat. **Lexi** was good for lines like that. Too bad he imploded. - **NM** ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-happened-to-lexicon/79122/128 "2001-09-01T19:09:04Z")
_sigh_ Let me spell it out one more time. I have no problem with the banning. Again. I have no problem with Lex having been banned. He asked for it, for God’s sake. Now, I could go on and on, dragging this into the dirt. But I won’t, since we’re obviously getting nowhere. I still think that there’s favorites being played here, and that opinion isn’t going to change as long as I keep seeing what looks like it. Others are going to come to the defense of the moderators, and that’s not going to change. We have an irresistable force and an immovable object, in a manner of speaking. So, I’ll stop now, before I get another check mark next to my name on The Bad List. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-happened-to-lexicon/79122/129 "2001-09-01T19:12:33Z")
MH, VEB has clearly stated that her admonishment of LEX and his subsequent banning was not motivated by dislike of him or like of me. I have clearly stated that I do not personally know any of the moderators – not even to the point of exchanging an e-mail, though I certainly wouldn’t mind being friends with most of them – underscoring that it is unlikely it would be done out of concern for me. If you choose to continue to construe this as something done out of favoritism towards me, or disfavoritism towards LEX, and to reject in the process the obvious conclusion that his conduct was grave enough to justify banning while my conduct (whatever you may think of it) was not . . . Well, that strikes me as your problem. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-happened-to-lexicon/79122/130 "2001-09-01T19:22:23Z")
As myopia is obviously yours. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-happened-to-lexicon/79122/131 "2001-09-01T19:36:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Olentzero \* > **Cartooniverse** , that was the most absurdly beautiful post I’ve ever seen in the Pit. Thanks for the laugh! 😃 … who’s laughing?.. 😉 Glad to have made ya smile ! ---
**Author:** ![Slip\_Mahoney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Slip\_Mahoney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slip_Mahoney)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-happened-to-lexicon/79122/132 "2001-09-01T19:36:52Z")
Personally, I think we can put this baby to bed now. I’ve been around here for a little while, but **Lexicon** slipped under my radar. Never heard of him until this rhubarb started. Having said that, I ask you: What if the moderator really _liked_ **Lex** and thouroughly _detested_ **Jodi**? Would the banning still have occurred? I think the answer is obvious. **Lexicon** clearly stepped over the line, was warned, and then stepped over it again. If I was a moderator and he was my own brother, I would have said, “You put me on the spot, bro, and I have no choice but to cut you loose.” I see no favouritism here, _at all_. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-happened-to-lexicon/79122/133 "2001-09-01T20:02:41Z")
Actually, I’m extremely myopic in the literal sense, but I think my lack of metaphorical myopia here is incontestable. After all, you have made you point with such clarity and repetition that I could hardly misconstrue it even if I wanted to. You said: > [@](#): > > I still think that there’s favorites being played here, and that opinion isn’t going to change as long as I keep seeing what looks like it. You cling to this conclusion despite VEB’s protests to the contrary, despite mine, and in the face of conduct that by any _objective_ standard would justify banning. Leaving aside the implicit insult to me and to VEB (what are we, a couple of liars?), your position seems to me to be without rational defense. Yet you cling to it. I believe the definition for “seeing” something that isn’t really there is not myopia, but rather delusion. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-happened-to-lexicon/79122/134 "2001-09-01T20:11:30Z")
I think that **Manservant Hecubus** is really the only one that sees favoritism. And he seems to be trying to see it. Plus, he’s being rather inconsistent in the point he’s trying to make. He says: > [@](#): > > I’d hate to get banned for something that I thought to be demonstratedly within the limits of the specified fora, because there’s someone who doesn’t like me, or likes someone else more. And then: > [@](#): > > I have no problem with the banning. Again. I have no problem with Lex having been banned. He asked for it, for God’s sake. These seem to indicate different arguments to me. Also, he says that he sees favoritism. Everyone else that has posted to this thread and spoken on the issue has said that they see a difference between **Jodi** ’s comments and **Lexicon** ’s. So either we all are playing favorites, or **Manservant Hecubus** ’s impression is a bit different from everyone else’s. Either way, apparently, a large number of people agree with the distinction between the responses each got, and thus it would seem that the mods were not doing anything that could only be attributed to favoritism. Basically, just because one person does not see the distinction, or even if one does not really exist, it seems that many people do see one, and it should not be a surprise that the mods here did as well. And throwing up one’s hands in deference to some imagined Bad List is just BS, or perhaps a way of getting out of the argument without admitting the obvious fact that one’s accusations are not based on any rational view of the situation. [Fixed your bolding. I guess you’re one of my “favorites” now. – Alpha] [Edited by Alphagene on 09-01-2001 at 05:28 PM] ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-happened-to-lexicon/79122/135 "2001-09-01T23:36:02Z")
> [@](#): > > Again, I’m not upset about the banning. I’ve stated that previously. It’s the way warnings are seemingly dispensed prejudiciously on occasion that I take issue with. Do I sense a bit of paranoia or are you purposefully trying to make this your agenda? There are no teacher’s pets, there are no favorites, if someone acts like a jerk they get banned. Pretty simple, eh? What is it you are having a hard time grasping here? ---
**Author:** ![John487](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@John487](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John487)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-happened-to-lexicon/79122/136 "2001-09-01T23:44:00Z")
after taking a second look over the situation, it appears the ban has semi-warrented cause. must be that bad mojo going around. however–to me–the idea of kicking a long time contributor off the island becuase s/he may have had a bad fuckin’ day and wasn’t very tolerable, is entirely lame. it upsets me that this place is starting to eminate “survivor series” overtones… “YOU have been voted off the island!” “YOU are no longer part of the tribe!” “WE the tribe shall shun and insult you at will, and hold a single instance against you, to which you shall not respond!” anyway, regardless of what nonsense has been said, and/or how the moderators-administrators routinely portray themselves in action, i don’t see this board currently being run impartially. ::sigh:: ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-happened-to-lexicon/79122/137 "2001-09-02T00:14:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by John487 \* > **after taking a second look over the situation, it appears the ban has semi-warrented cause.** Whew, thank god we passed the John487 Immunity Challenge. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-happened-to-lexicon/79122/138 "2001-09-02T00:29:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by John487 \* > \*\*however–to me–the idea of kicking a long time contributor off the island becuase s/he may have had a bad fuckin’ day and wasn’t very tolerable, is entirely lame. it upsets me that this place is starting to eminate “survivor series” overtones… > > “YOU have been voted off the island!” > > “YOU are no longer part of the tribe!” > > “WE the tribe shall shun and insult you at will, and hold a single instance against you, to which you shall not respond!” > > \*\* How about we base bannings on intellect, like on other TV shows? In which case, **John487** : You _ARE_ the weakest link. Goodbye. Fucknoggin. ---
**Author:** ![Slip\_Mahoney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Slip\_Mahoney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slip_Mahoney)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-happened-to-lexicon/79122/139 "2001-09-02T00:30:18Z")
Well. it’s not much of a pass, **Alphagene.** It’s only _semi-warranted_, and that’s after a second look, so it’s unlikely to be upgraded to mostly-warranted; unless there’s a third and fourth look in the works. Still, it’s something. ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-happened-to-lexicon/79122/140 "2001-09-02T01:24:55Z")
Stay tuned. Next week we’ll reveal who The Mole is. Anyway, the issue of Lex’s banning is pretty much complete. It seems like the only disagreement that is left is the occasional subjective nature of our decisions. And it doesn’t seem like our answers are going to satsfy those who are upset, anyway. If you’d like to discuss the extensive web of politics and scandal we mods base our severely biased bannings on, or if you’d rather pine for days of yore with an inflated nostalgia that would make the Pepperidge Farm guy blush, go ahead and start a new thread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-happened-to-lexicon/79122.md?page=6)