# Warning to Bansksiaman \[changed to modnote\] **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 26, 2020, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-bansksiaman-changed-to-modnote/928988 "2020-12-26T21:45:41Z")\ **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:** [December 26, 2020, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-bansksiaman-changed-to-modnote/928988/1 "2020-12-26T21:45:41Z")
> [@How Likely is It that Trump will Try to Proclaim Martial Law?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/163): > > > [@How Likely is It that Trump will Try to Proclaim Martial Law?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/162): > > > > for whatever’s it worth, I’m a former Army intelligence enlisted person, > > Just for my own assurance - did you actually complete Intelligence 101? When you say ‘Army’ do you mean the ones with uniforms and guns or were you in the Kiss Army [not that there’s anything wrong with that]? Are you using ‘former’ in the sense of having been something and are now not, or in a special tense, known only to you, to mean never quite got started? > > I only ask because Sydney Powell clearly didn’t and look where she’s ended up - being considered for a job in the dying days of Trump’s presidency. I’d hate to have that happen to me. > [@How Likely is It that Trump will Try to Proclaim Martial Law?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/164): > > **Warning** for **Banksiaman**. No way around it, that is a straight out insult. Do not insult posters outside of the pit. Please don’t do this again. I disagree with this warning. It isn’t an attack on @gdave. The reference is to Sidney Powell, and her supposed intelligence expert who participated in her challenges to the election. The so-called expert turned out to be completely unqualified and inexperienced. Powell did not ask what the qualifications are. @Banksiaman was insulting these two, not anyone on the board. And if someone on the board presents themselves as being an expert in a particular subject, it is reasonable to ask what their qualifications and experience are. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-bansksiaman-changed-to-modnote/928988/2 "2020-12-26T21:55:04Z")
I have no dog in this fight but I disagree with your assessment. I feel the warning was justified. Gdave said “I am such-and-such” and Banksiaman responded by saying “Are your qualifications real or did you make them up?” It seems clear to me that this was directed at gdave personally and not at Sydney Powell. ---
**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:** [December 26, 2020, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-bansksiaman-changed-to-modnote/928988/3 "2020-12-26T21:56:51Z")
> [@How Likely is It that Trump will Try to Proclaim Martial Law?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/163): > > When you say ‘Army’ do you mean the ones with uniforms and guns or were you in the Kiss Army You don’t think that’s an insulting comment? Did you even complete Insults 101? ---
**Author:** ![KMS94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ad7895/32.png) [@KMS94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KMS94)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2020, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-bansksiaman-changed-to-modnote/928988/4 "2020-12-26T21:57:21Z")
For what it’s worth, I had just recently read an article on Sidney’s key witness, and Bansksiaman’s post immediately brought that back. I smiled out loud reading it in fact, thinking it clever. I didn’t think it was insulting at all, rather a “nod” to that breaking story. ---
**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:** [December 26, 2020, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-bansksiaman-changed-to-modnote/928988/5 "2020-12-26T22:00:49Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > It seems clear to me that this was directed at gdave personally and not at Sydney Powell. But the statement was that Powell should have asked these questions of her witness. It’s an insult directed at Powell and her expert, not **gdave**. > [@Munch](#): > > You don’t think that’s an insulting comment? Did you even complete Insults 101? The insult is targeted at Powell and her expert. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2020, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-bansksiaman-changed-to-modnote/928988/6 "2020-12-26T22:07:29Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Did you even complete Insults 101? Hey! Is that an insult? 🤪 ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2020, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-bansksiaman-changed-to-modnote/928988/7 "2020-12-26T22:14:03Z")
Accusing someone of being a Kiss fan is pretty damn low. I mean, skipping over “your mama” insults and diving right into Kiss Army? Uncalled for. ---
**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:** [December 26, 2020, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-bansksiaman-changed-to-modnote/928988/8 "2020-12-26T22:14:18Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > The insult is targeted at Powell and her expert. Oof. I’ve reread it about 6 times now, and I can see what you’re saying. It’s hard to parse not having been in the discussion, so I imagine that’s what W\_E saw as well. I’d think a Note would be fine - because it is one of the “gotta read it in full context” things in a very long thread. Especially considering his mea culpa afterward - hopefully gdave can comment on it as well. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2020, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-bansksiaman-changed-to-modnote/928988/9 "2020-12-26T22:20:58Z")
Thanks all for your commentary. To be clear, I’m very happy to apologise - while the intention was, I think, fair the post should be judged by how it can be read, and I had no intention of offending a fellow poster who had provided a fair point. There is an issue of cross-cultural humour at work here. I’m not claiming it as a defence, but I’ve seen on SD and in real life vey different reactions by some readers and mods to what would not raise an eye-brow in Australia, Ireland or UK, where the repartee can be pretty hard and sharp and directed at both man and ball. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2020, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-bansksiaman-changed-to-modnote/928988/10 "2020-12-26T22:28:06Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > But the statement was that Powell should have asked these questions of her witness. It’s an insult directed at Powell and her expert, not **gdave**. I feel the fact that it was posted in response to gdave saying “for whatever’s it worth, I’m a former Army intelligence enlisted person” makes the direction it was intended ambiguous at best. ---
**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:** [December 26, 2020, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-bansksiaman-changed-to-modnote/928988/11 "2020-12-26T22:46:53Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I feel the fact that it was posted in response to gdave saying “for whatever’s it worth, I’m a former Army intelligence enlisted person” makes the direction it was intended ambiguous at best. _“I only ask because Sydney Powell clearly didn’t and look where she’s ended up - being considered for a job in the dying days of Trump’s presidency. I’d hate to have that happen to me.”_ I think that makes it clear who is the target of the insult. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2020, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-bansksiaman-changed-to-modnote/928988/12 "2020-12-26T22:58:51Z")
Yeah, it was clearly aimed at **gdave**. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2020, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-bansksiaman-changed-to-modnote/928988/13 "2020-12-26T23:15:35Z")
It appeared to be aimed at **gdave**. It appears to be a 2 layered insult of another poster in P&E. It is hard to interpret any other way looking at the 2 posts. On the other hand, **Banksiaman** has never been warned and is not the kind of poster to even edge towards problems in P&E or GD. So I was surprised when I saw it. I even wrote something to that extend in the Warning PM to him. Let me look through the thread a little later, I can’t right now. I may well rescind the warning. It is still something to avoid as it is hard to read as anything but an insult unless you’re following the thread closely. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2020, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-bansksiaman-changed-to-modnote/928988/14 "2020-12-26T23:52:03Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Sidney Powell Can you link to this breaking news article on Sidney Powell, I just wasted my time trying to find any indication in the thread it was a meta joke. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-bansksiaman-changed-to-modnote/928988/15 "2020-12-27T00:05:18Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Can you link to this breaking news article on Sidney Powell It’s not a breaking story, it’s from a couple of weeks ago: > **[Sidney Powell’s ‘Military Intelligence Expert’ Witness Was Actually an Army...](https://lawandcrime.com/2020-election/sydney-powells-military-intelligence-expert-witness-was-actually-an-army-mechanic-who-never-worked-in-military-intelligence-report/)** > > Sidney Powell appears to have misled courts as to the qualifications of one of her key witnesses. I think it’s clear @Banksiaman was making a joke about this. The way he made it was quite clever, directing it superficially at @gdave, whose own real background is evidently similar to what Powell’s witness lied about. But it’s in the nature of subtly framed jokes like this that they are easy to misinterpret if you don’t immediately get the reference. ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-bansksiaman-changed-to-modnote/928988/16 "2020-12-27T00:06:01Z")
For what it’s worth, I took it as a dig at Sidney Powell and her “expert witnesses”, not at me. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-bansksiaman-changed-to-modnote/928988/17 "2020-12-27T00:18:03Z")
Gotta say, i’m usually in Meta-Joke mode, but my reaction was “Whoa, that was brutal… did **gdave** burning his dog?” It wasn’t til the "apology… _if this was not read with the intention it was written in."_, that I realized he thought he was riffing on Sidney. (I’m convinced that my favorite schtick, the sarcastic quip, does NOT work in print, where there are no visual or audio cues.) ETA: Okay… glad to hear from **gdave** , and relieved that he understood the humor of it. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-bansksiaman-changed-to-modnote/928988/18 "2020-12-27T00:27:03Z")
Honestly I don’t think either side should feel bad here. I thought the way it was framed was clever, I was taken aback myself until I caught on halfway through. But that made it funnier. On the other hand, it looks so much like a straight insult that I can’t fault @What_Exit for not picking up on the reference. Clearly the warning should be rescinded as a misunderstanding, though. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-bansksiaman-changed-to-modnote/928988/19 "2020-12-27T00:59:16Z")
Thanks again to all for reflecting on this. I’m glad that **GDave** got the joke and took the post in the spirit it was intended. Being someone who only follows selected threads like the Sidney Powell saga, I forgot that not everyone would have either read or remembered it, so it was probably a pretty obscure cross-reference for most people. I have no problem with mods pointing it out a potential sledge and reining it in before it gets out of hand. I’ve looked at what goes on in the Pit and I have no issue with strict control to avoid boards that I think are genuinely informative turning into something similar. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-bansksiaman-changed-to-modnote/928988/20 "2020-12-27T01:25:23Z")
I’ll rescind the warning shortly. > [@gdave](#): > > For what it’s worth, I took it as a dig at Sidney Powell and her “expert witnesses”, not at me. This is mostly what convinced me, but I was already leaning towards changing it anyway. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-bansksiaman-changed-to-modnote/928988.md?page=2)