# Was it really necessary to close my silly "moderator declining" thread? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 16, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-really-necessary-to-close-my-silly-moderator-declining-thread/486140 "2009-02-16T19:21:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-really-necessary-to-close-my-silly-moderator-declining-thread/486140/1 "2009-02-16T19:21:44Z")
I am placing this thread here rather than the Pit because, though I am complaining, I am not PASSIONATELY complaining, and I don’t wish to imply antipathy, anger, vexation, or other negative feelings towards **SkipMagic**. [Here’s a link to the original thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=506705), which **Skip** closed with the following explanation: > [@](#): > > Considering the subject and recent Pit threads, I think it was a foregone conclusion that this would end up as a criticism of the board or staff. I also don’t think Skald the Rhymer meant for the thread to turn out that way, so I’m going to close this and suggest to Skald that he maybe start a new thread like it in a few days after things have settled down. This bothers me; it seems to me a general & gentle admonition to everybody that they should be nice and confine Pit-worthy remarks to the Pit. It seems an overreaction. ---
**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:** [February 16, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-really-necessary-to-close-my-silly-moderator-declining-thread/486140/2 "2009-02-16T19:50:17Z")
It’s already been addressed in [this Pit thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=506763), but to save time, here’s what I wrote as a more detailed explanation when someone in the Pit thread suggested your thread be moved to the Pit instead of closing it: > [@SkipMagic](#): > > That’s one option, yes, but I don’t think it’s a good one in this case. **Skald** didn’t mean for it to be a Pit thread, and I don’t see why his thread needs to turn into one. As it is, he can start a new thread later, and those who want to complain are welcome to start their own thread (or attend an existing one) in the Pit. > > Normally I wouldn’t even close it; I’d just ask people to keep aware of the forum and confine their complaints to ATMB or the Pit. In this case, however, it seemed inevitable that the comments would keep coming regardless of any mod note, and we’d have to close it down, anyway–while possibly handing out a few warnings for people who ignored or missed our requests. I’d prefer to avoid all that drama by having **Skald** start the same thread at a later time. Hopefully, that answers your question. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-really-necessary-to-close-my-silly-moderator-declining-thread/486140/3 "2009-02-16T19:53:50Z")
> [@SkipMagic](#): > > It’s already been addressed in [this Pit thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=506763), but to save time, here’s what I wrote as a more detailed explanation when someone in the Pit thread suggested your thread be moved to the Pit instead of closing it: > Hopefully, that answers your question. It does. I’m glad you didn’t move it to the Pit. The Pit & I are not friends anymore, not since I accidentally slept with Mrs. Pit oh those many years ago. I still think you might have tried issuing warnings, but it’s alright. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-really-necessary-to-close-my-silly-moderator-declining-thread/486140/4 "2009-02-16T19:56:39Z")
Skip, I’ve made similar calls on the board I moderate. A pre-emptive lockdown is rarely popular, but sometimes a good call. In this instance, given the hints of backstage drama I’ve seen, you probably made the right call. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-really-necessary-to-close-my-silly-moderator-declining-thread/486140/5 "2009-02-16T20:05:49Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Skip, I’ve made similar calls on the board I moderate. A pre-emptive lockdown is rarely popular, but sometimes a good call. In this instance, given the hints of backstage drama I’ve seen, you probably made the right call. You know, **Oak** , if you’re not going to reflexively and blindly support my opinion when I complain about things I don’t really care much about but am nevertheless discussing in an attempt to postpone work, I’m going stop sending you hookers and blow. This is your only warning. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-really-necessary-to-close-my-silly-moderator-declining-thread/486140/6 "2009-02-16T20:16:02Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > You know, **Oak** , if you’re not going to reflexively and blindly support my opinion when I complain about things I don’t really care much about but am nevertheless discussing in an attempt to postpone work, I’m going stop sending you hookers and blow. > > This is your only warning. Well, had I ever received hookers and blow, I’d gladly reflexively and blindly support my benefactor. But I haven’t. I’m thinking maybe your flying monkeys have been stealing my hookers and blow…☹ ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-really-necessary-to-close-my-silly-moderator-declining-thread/486140/7 "2009-02-16T20:20:53Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Well, had I ever received hookers and blow, I’d gladly reflexively and blindly support my benefactor. But I haven’t. I’m thinking maybe your flying monkeys have been stealing my hookers and blow…☹ It’s possible they’ve been slacking off since the new “no more evil” policy. That would explain why the sun hasn’t been smited despite continually offendng me.