# Want to block someone, but they're a mod **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 29, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690 "2011-07-29T02:22:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [July 29, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690/21 "2011-07-29T16:15:33Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > More correctly, the modes here aren’t supposed to put people on Ignore and agree not to do so but vBulletin will certainly allow them to do so. > > Also, the fact that we can’t put modes on Ignore here is because the staff wants it that way. The default setting is for members to not be able to Ignore staff members but it is a trivial matter for that setting to be changed. Are there actually _any_ boards out there that allow posters to put moderators and/or admins on ignore? “You’ve gotten 4 warnings. What’s your excuse?” “Sorry, but I’ve got you on ignore, so officially I didn’t get _any_ warnings.” ---
**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:** [July 29, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690/22 "2011-07-29T16:26:20Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Are there actually _any_ boards out there that allow posters to put moderators and/or admins on ignore? There is at least one. The giraffeboard allows this. It is stated in the rules there that anyone who puts a mode/admin on Ignore is doing so at their own risk and that not seeing a warning as a result of that setting is no excuse. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690/23 "2011-07-29T16:29:07Z")
I read through that thread - if Miller’s comments warrant getting on your ignore list, why in the world do you read this message board? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690/24 "2011-07-29T16:52:20Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > If it’s any consolation, the moderation staff can’t put people on ignore, either. Really? That’s kind of funny. More evidence of the dedication required to mod. 😃 Makes sense, though, as does the other way round. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690/25 "2011-07-29T17:30:00Z")
Not reading an Offender’s posts is an option even if you can’t Ignore them officially. The problem, I suppose is that it isn’t as satisfying to say in the Pit “I’m not reading his posts!” as it is to say “I have him on _ignore_, ha-ha!” I do like the suggestion for universal spoiler box posting, though. Just think, a vastly diminished risk of being exposed to brain-searing disagreement and stupidity. And if the temptation to click on spoiler boxes proves too much, you can make a request to a mod for voluntary suspension from the Dope (unless you’re voluntarily ignoring them) and weld dark glasses to your head so that if you are tempted to go online anywhere, you won’t be able to see the screen. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690/26 "2011-07-29T18:27:25Z")
How would I weld something to my head? Isn’t the best I could do just wrapping it around my head and welding it to itself? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690/27 "2011-07-29T18:38:22Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > So they get to say whatever they want, and can use their Moderator status as cover? :dubious: This is a goofy way of looking at it. If you don’t like what a mod has to say, just scroll past it and don’t read it. If you see it’s a mod note, stop and read in case it has something to do with you. (Or don’t, but you risk finding out the hard way that it was addressed to you.) The mods have to follow the same rules as everyone else. The fact that you can’t put us on your ignore list does not mean we’re getting away with anything. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690/28 "2011-07-29T18:47:57Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Are there actually _any_ boards out there that allow posters to put moderators and/or admins on ignore? > “You’ve gotten 4 warnings. What’s your excuse?” > “Sorry, but I’ve got you on ignore, so officially I didn’t get _any_ warnings.” This brings up a question for me. Say I go into a thread and post a post full of rule breaking and then I bow out of the thread never to return. A little bit later in the thread a mod comes along and gives me an official warning. Since I never went back to the thread I did not realize I had been given a warning. Is there some other way the mods would notify me that I had gotten a warning for that post like by email or PM? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690/29 "2011-07-29T18:48:58Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Since I never went back to the thread I did not realize I had been given a warning. Is there some other way the mods would notify me that I had gotten a warning for that post like by email or PM? You’re automatically notified of warnings through private messages. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690/30 "2011-07-29T18:51:56Z")
Ok, thank you. And Marley23 should seriously get a gold star and extra mod points for his informative and effecient modness. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690/31 "2011-07-29T18:56:38Z")
And to answer the inevitable question: even if you have PMs disabled from within your user profiles, you’ll still get a PM notification about an official warning. VBulletin’s software overrides your PM preferences in that one case. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2011, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690/32 "2011-07-29T20:05:35Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > You’re automatically notified of warnings through private messages. I just want to add that official warnings aren’t the only messages sent by mods and admins. A general note to one and all to quit hijacking a thread or to remind a group of posters that they might want to dial it back a bit would not show up in a private message or email. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690/33 "2011-07-29T20:13:52Z")
> [@SkipMagic](#): > > And to answer the inevitable question: even if you have PMs disabled from within your user profiles, you’ll still get a PM notification about an official warning. VBulletin’s software overrides your PM preferences in that one case. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > I just want to add that official warnings aren’t the only messages sent by mods and admins. A general note to one and all to quit hijacking a thread or to remind a group of posters that they might want to dial it back a bit would not show up in a private message or email. Thanks for the extra info you guys. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690/34 "2011-07-29T21:59:51Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > How would I weld something to my head? Isn’t the best I could do just wrapping it around my head and welding it to itself? Hammer in a couple of big spikes and weld to those. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690/35 "2011-07-29T22:57:53Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I just want to add that official warnings aren’t the only messages sent by mods and admins. A general note to one and all to quit hijacking a thread or to remind a group of posters that they might want to dial it back a bit would not show up in a private message or email. Does an official warning get you an EMAIL? Because, to be honest, I check my PM’s like once every couple of years or so. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690/36 "2011-07-29T22:59:24Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Does an official warning get you an EMAIL? Because, to be honest, I check my PM’s like once every couple of years or so. With rare exceptions, no. You can set things up so you get an email when you receive a private message, though. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2011, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690/37 "2011-07-29T23:33:41Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > This is a goofy way of looking at it. If you don’t like what a mod has to say, just scroll past it and don’t read it. If you see it’s a mod note, stop and read in case it has something to do with you. (Or don’t, but you risk finding out the hard way that it was addressed to you.) The mods have to follow the same rules as everyone else. The fact that you can’t put us on your ignore list does not mean we’re getting away with anything. Most people have this reflex that automatically reads whatever they see. It takes additional effort not to read something, especially once you’ve already started reading, and if it’s short, even that effort may not be enough. The whole point of the ignore list is that it removes this problem. Your argument would only make sense if the ignore list wasn’t offered at all. That it is offered means you recognize the utility, and thus the mods do get a privilege that other users do not. And, anyways, my last Warning from **Miller** came from disobeying a mod note that he did not label as such. And, no, that’s not a contradiction: I was skimming the thread for responses to a particular poster, not reading the thread. Furthermore, **Miller** ’s post was not short, and the mod note was contained only in the last sentence. Anyways, you therefore cannot skip all non-mod notes. (If you could, I’d write a script for it.) My claim is that a Mod does have a slight advantage. Post a short, pithy saying, and anyone who isn’t skimming the thread will read it. And when that is someone who gets on your nerves, it does really seem unfair. It’s as if they have a free pass into your brain. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690/38 "2011-07-30T00:19:21Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > More correctly, the modes here aren’t supposed to put people on Ignore and agree not to do so but vBulletin will certainly allow them to do so. > > Also, the fact that we can’t put modes on Ignore here is because the staff wants it that way. The default setting is for members to not be able to Ignore staff members but it is a trivial matter for that setting to be changed. Huh, you’re right. I tried putting someone on an ignore list when we first put it in service, and the software wouldn’t let me. But I just tried putting someone on ignore, and now I can. So things have changed. ---
**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:** [July 30, 2011, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690/39 "2011-07-30T00:38:14Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > And, anyways, my last Warning from **Miller** came from disobeying a mod note that he did not label as such. And, no, that’s not a contradiction: I was skimming the thread for responses to a particular poster, not reading the thread. Furthermore, **Miller** ’s post was not short, and the mod note was contained only in the last sentence. Anyways, you therefore cannot skip all non-mod notes. (If you could, I’d write a script for it.) If it’s a “hey, cool it. No warnings issued” kind of thing, I could see how someone could easily miss it. It it’s an Official Warning, it’ll show up in your User CP and you’ll get a PM. Not so easy to miss. If you really, really must put a moderator on Ignore, I am sure that you could write a greasemonkey script to accomplish that. Of course, you could end up screwing yourself if you miss something important. ---
**Author:** ![Molotok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Molotok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molotok)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690/40 "2011-07-30T09:05:43Z")
A suggestion, which I thought of on another board, but this thread seems a good place to ask: is there a setting or something where you can put mods on ignore, but if the mod types _mod note_ or _mod warning_ in their post, it overrides the ignore feature? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-block-someone-but-theyre-a-mod/590690.md?page=3)