# We can't link to Pit threads in GD? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 25, 2016, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680 "2016-05-25T18:09:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680/21 "2016-05-25T20:20:16Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > If that’s acceptable posting you can see that the rules against insulting are farcical. The rules against insulting _are_ farcical - as evidence, yet another GD thread insulting my entire continent remains unclosed. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680/22 "2016-05-25T20:22:07Z")
nm, bad search. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2016, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680/23 "2016-05-25T20:22:55Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > The rules against insulting _are_ farcical - as evidence, yet another GD thread insulting my entire continent remains unclosed. The rule involves _personal_ insults. Of course, in the past a couple of posters tried to use the “If you insult my religion you have personally insulted _me_!” gambit, but it didn’t get too far. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680/24 "2016-05-25T20:24:40Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The link was about as "elegant " as holding up a sign with “TROLL!!!” printed on it, then saying “I’m not calling you that thing I can’t say-this sign is!” Since when does pitting someone need to be elegant? In GD, Poster A: [objectionable content] In GD, Poster B: I’m pitting you. Here is the thread. In Pit: Poster B: Poster A is an asshole. Seems consistent with how it’s been done and with MrDibble’s actions here. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680/25 "2016-05-25T20:25:59Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > The rules against insulting _are_ farcical - as evidence, yet another GD thread insulting my entire continent remains unclosed. Personal insult is different than insulting a set is it not? Otherwise how would the Elections forum work? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680/26 "2016-05-25T20:26:02Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > The rules against insulting _are_ farcical - as evidence, yet another GD thread insulting my entire continent remains unclosed. Well, only the southern part, so there’s that! ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680/27 "2016-05-25T20:26:06Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The rule involves _personal_ insults. Hairsplitting like that is why they’re farcical. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680/28 "2016-05-25T20:27:36Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Well, only the southern part, so there’s that! yay! Progress. Although I’m pretty sure the OP just said Africa/Africans. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680/29 "2016-05-25T20:29:23Z")
> [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](#): > > Why is linking to a pit thread that would be the pit thread you’d want to write be something against the rules? Because, in this case, it’s an accusation of trolling in GD. If the link was to a thread about someone holding odious opinions it wouldn’t have been a problem (I assume, not trying to speak for the mods). ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680/30 "2016-05-25T20:54:04Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Hairsplitting like that is why they’re farcical. How is it hairsplitting to allow an insult of a class, let’s say Republicans, versus insulting another poster directly? ---
**Author:** ![Emiliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680/31 "2016-05-25T21:45:06Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > How is it hairsplitting to allow an insult of a class, let’s say Republicans, versus insulting another poster directly? Well, how do you feel when someone insults octopuses? ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680/32 "2016-05-25T22:03:31Z")
What if he’d simply stated ‘I’ve opened a Pit thread’ and linked it? Would that have been permissible? And if not that’s a bloody enormous change to previous rules ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680/33 "2016-05-25T22:31:37Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > It is one thing to post in GD: _My response to your post is \_; where \ is a link to an actual post you make in The Pit. Not just a link to a thread, but to a post you made in that thread. > > Similarly, if one starts a Pit Thread based on a post in GD, one should be able link to that Pit Thread OP in GD, telling the poster to look in the Pit for your response. > > But if you are simply linking to a Pit thread, without adding any content to the thread, that that might be seen as the same as linking to some outside website with a picture of a Troll on it. It looks to me like you’ve done a good job of answering your own question. A link to an offsite picture of a troll strikes me as a very good analogy. > [@](#): > > I also agree that if this is the rule, then comments like “can’t respond because we’re not int he Pit” should be moderated as well. I’m not so sure. A comment like that isn’t equivalent to something explicitly forbidden, like a specific accusation of being a troll. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680/34 "2016-05-25T22:36:43Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > It looks to me like you’ve done a good job of answering your own question. A link to an offsite picture of a troll strikes me as a very good analogy… I’m not sold on that analysis, though. There is a distinction between linking to a Pit thread and linking to an outside source. One can just as easily argue that a poster should not have to open a new Pit thread if there is one already in existence. What’s the difference between “Go to this Pit thread I just started to see what I think” and “Go to this Pit thread that **Thudlow Bloink** started yesterday to see what I think”? ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680/35 "2016-05-25T22:46:15Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > It looks to me like you’ve done a good job of answering your own question. A link to an offsite picture of a troll strikes me as a very good analogy. > > I’m not so sure. A comment like that isn’t equivalent to something explicitly forbidden, like a specific accusation of being a troll. Not really. Linking to an offsite troll picture is pretty clear in its intent. Linking to a thread where a “troll” is called a troll _among other things_, isn’t so clear. How is that any different than someone getting fed up with another’s stupidity in a GD thread, opening a pit thread where that person is referred to as a dumbshit, then linking to it? Isn’t that (at least in the past) permissible? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680/36 "2016-05-25T23:01:35Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Not really. Linking to an offsite troll picture is pretty clear in its intent. Linking to a thread where a “troll” is called a troll _among other things_, isn’t so clear. > > How is that any different than someone getting fed up with another’s stupidity in a GD thread, opening a pit thread where that person is referred to as a dumbshit, then linking to it? Isn’t that (at least in the past) permissible? You may be right. I’m starting to have second thoughts, based on the fact, which I at first failed to fully appreciate, that the link was to a thread in which **GlowingDarkness** specifically was accused of trollish behavior, as opposed to a link in which trollery was discussed in general. Still, it appears to me that **Mr. Dibble** was not following the [SDMB-approved guidelines](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7696935&postcount=2): > [@](#): > > **Q** : What should I do when I see someone “trolling” on the SDMB? > > **A** : Do NOT publicly accuse another poster of trolling. (The only exception to this is in the forum called BBQ Pit where it is permissible to use the term “troll” as an insult.) > > Accusations of trolling and similar misconduct are subject to staff discussion and a review of the poster’s history. Trolling is an especially contentious issue, as it is inherently open to interpretation; “stupid” or naive beliefs can often be sincerely held. These discussions are private and disclosed only when actionable offenses are found; we do not want posters to feel persecuted. > > As for the correct procedure, we prefer that you either report the post in question or PM a moderator with your perspective and cites. This is then forwarded to the mod loop. Please note that a short, coherent and well-cited PM is the best way to get your point across; we usually analyze just the facts and leave the poster’s analysis/opinion out of the discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680/37 "2016-05-25T23:03:22Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > What’s the difference between “Go to this Pit thread I just started to see what I think” and “Go to this Pit thread that **Thudlow Bloink** started yesterday to see what I think”? How about just saying “Pit thread here”? ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680/38 "2016-05-25T23:08:34Z")
> [@Emiliana](#): > > Well, how do you feel when someone insults octopuses? I won’t lie. It hurts. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680/39 "2016-05-25T23:25:56Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > I won’t lie. It hurts. You’re such a sucker for pain! ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680/40 "2016-05-25T23:28:04Z")
Calling people racists isn’t permitted in ATMB either, so would[linking to a Pit thread that calls someone a racist](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19310073&postcount=228) be objectionable? Two mods posted to that thread after the Pit link and no comment. Name calling, insults, accusations of trollery, accusations of lying, all of these are prohibited as well. Though in looking through some older posts, I did find similar examples that were indeed mod noted. This one here which basically takes the form exactly as described upthread of [‘rules prevent me…’](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14850886&postcount=274) which links to a Pit thread that is an accusation of lying and [this one here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17611920&postcount=46)which I couldn’t tell if the note was for the perceived insulting sign off or the link to the Pit thread which was an accusation of trollery and lying. In any event the application doesn’t seem super consistent but I don’t see it as a super departure from past practice. If we read it as the act of linking itself was objectionable, i.e. the hyperlink was directed at the OP himself, rather than say “hey take a look at this Pit thread I started” then I could see different treatment. I jumped the gun in post 11 and 24. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-link-to-pit-threads-in-gd/755680.md?page=3)