# "We generally don't permit people to take inventory on posters who get banned"? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 7, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-generally-dont-permit-people-to-take-inventory-on-posters-who-get-banned/640223 "2012-11-07T15:26:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-generally-dont-permit-people-to-take-inventory-on-posters-who-get-banned/640223/41 "2012-11-09T23:02:50Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > In fact, I dug around and found an old, old thread from 99, in which people were bitching about moderation, censorship, whatever in the Pit: [OK, enough's enough - The BBQ Pit - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=3280) . So yeah, there’s been moderation in the Pit since the beginning. I think that whole thread was pretty funny. It should be reopened and bumped- “the Way We Were…” ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-generally-dont-permit-people-to-take-inventory-on-posters-who-get-banned/640223/42 "2012-11-10T00:55:44Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > You did imply that just about anything could be said in the Pit, though. Which is untrue. Even back in the days of Camelot, there were limits, which is my point. While the Pit was rougher, people did have to abide by some rules, it wasn’t completely gloves off. I said that we would have to disagree what constituted “gloves off”. It’s clear to me that you are arguing that the Pit has always had moderation and limits and I am saying that those limits used to be much more generous and loose. Oh, never mind. I’m sticking my hand in the crazy again. Time to go. Thanks for the er, discussion. ETA **Colibri** : actually, **Fenris** is correct. **FoieGras** was very quickly shut down, indeed–MUCH faster than any much more offensive poster (I suck at names, but there’s been more than one pedophile-no, I will NOT be pedantic about the term, dammit-- who could go on and on about his “interest” and more than one openly racist douche, but mercy! We can’t talk about the irrationalities of a banned person. I’m not asking to change it; I’m just noting that it seems internally illogical and more than a bit controlling. YMMV. ---
**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:** [November 10, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-generally-dont-permit-people-to-take-inventory-on-posters-who-get-banned/640223/43 "2012-11-10T02:12:26Z")
> [@](#): > > I said that we would have to disagree what constituted “gloves off”. It’s clear to me that you are arguing that the Pit has always had moderation and limits and I am saying that those limits used to be much more generous and loose. Oh, never mind. In one way, yes, the Pit was looser. But in another way, it was actually a lot tighter, in that I was pretty quick to close threads, delete posts, and ban people. Nowadays, the mod staff has to discuss all of that stuff, but when we first started, the mod staff pretty much would take action when we noticed a problem, we didn’t discuss it for two or three days. So what you are remembering as “looser” means that you didn’t see a lot of the real problem posts and threads. They got disappeared pretty quick, and I usually just banned posters who were on the SDMB to poke sticks at other posters and/or the mod staff. If the mod staff was able to shut down problem posters almost immediately, we were able to be more lax in other areas. But the SDMB grew, and grew, and grew, and we had to have more rules, because we’d have things like posters making sock puppets constantly. ---
**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:** [November 10, 2012, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-generally-dont-permit-people-to-take-inventory-on-posters-who-get-banned/640223/44 "2012-11-10T02:28:31Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > **Colibri** : actually, **Fenris** is correct. No, he’s not correct. He himself admitted that his statement was hyperbole. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-generally-dont-permit-people-to-take-inventory-on-posters-who-get-banned/640223/45 "2012-11-10T05:20:35Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > In other words, your posts here should not be taken seriously.😉 Nobody takes him seriously _anywhere_ he posts. Not even where he’s a mod. ☹ poor **Fenris Dangerfield** … He don’t get no respect ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-generally-dont-permit-people-to-take-inventory-on-posters-who-get-banned/640223/46 "2012-11-10T05:29:54Z")
I take Fenris’ posts seriously! ---
**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:** [November 10, 2012, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-generally-dont-permit-people-to-take-inventory-on-posters-who-get-banned/640223/47 "2012-11-10T07:38:58Z")
> [@the lone cashew](#): > > I take Fenris’ posts seriously! Not surprising in the least. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-generally-dont-permit-people-to-take-inventory-on-posters-who-get-banned/640223/48 "2012-11-10T10:44:34Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > The line that we’ve drawn is that we want this to be a place that’s reasonably fair. Take the gloves off in the Pit, that’s fine, but the OTHER PERSON should be able to also take their gloves off in response. Once someone is unable to post, it’s just plain inconsiderate to talk about them when they can’t respond. A discussion dedicated solely to people who flamed out, or committed suicide by mod, yeah, can have some amusing points, but it can be like picking at scabs or pouring salt in the wounds. This isn’t an issue that I’d get very worked up over, but I’d like to point out that someone who reads a message board where they’ve been banned probably has bigger issues to worry about. That’s not very healthy behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-generally-dont-permit-people-to-take-inventory-on-posters-who-get-banned/640223/49 "2012-11-10T14:19:48Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Not surprising in the least. Okay, no more helping circle the wagons, you mods are on your own. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-generally-dont-permit-people-to-take-inventory-on-posters-who-get-banned/640223/50 "2012-11-11T00:59:16Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > No, he’s not correct. He himself admitted that his statement was hyperbole. Excuse me? **Fenris’** entire statement was NOT hyperbole, merely the part about things being shot down with the “merest hint” etc. I agreed with Fenris re his statement that such bizarre censorship actually feeds snark. How much is not read for comprehension in this thread alone? 😕 **Lynn** : when I was here, I was very much here. Every day. I am not wrong that Pit rules or standards were looser and Pit threads were not shut down all that quickly. It was Cuntgate that changed it all for me and after that, the Pit became Which Rule Applies Today-Land. I got fed up (and I had always been a Mod supporter up till then) and stopped visiting and posting every day. I make a rare appearance now and again, and I’m most likely not missed at all (probably nobody noticed I was even gone… maybe a few MMPers, but I digress). It’s your sandbox, your rules. But I have distinctly different memories of my time here and I highly doubt I’m wrong. IMO, you are rewriting history for no clear reason. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-generally-dont-permit-people-to-take-inventory-on-posters-who-get-banned/640223/51 "2012-11-11T14:16:41Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > No, he’s not correct. He himself admitted that his statement was hyperbole. I understand that making stupid, pedantic, nitpicky, posts about an unimportant detail of a post, while ignoring the main point is a tradition here, but please, just this once, try to keep up. The single statement “the merest hint of discussing an old banning gets the discussion shot down.” was, in fact, hyperbole. However, the key point that seems to have eluded you in my post and then re-eluded you again in Eleanor’s post is that you guys were thrilled to let Cesario post for months about his disgusting fantasies all over the board, you let racists post _the same damned posts over and over_ about how black people are dumb because their brains are less evolved\*, but _IN GENERAL_ you guys have fucking hissy-fits when someone opens a thread about a banned poster (which never used to be a rule), and you and you rapidly close threads about old bannings/meltdowns and you do it far, far, _far_ more quickly than posts/threads that are openly racist, threads polluted by perverts posting about how A THREE\*\* YEAR OLD LITTLE GIRL was HAWT and _totally_ coming on to him and how he’d _totally_ do her. What I’m saying is (focus again-this part is the important part) the priorities of the SDMB Mods is completely fucked up. Kiddy-rapist-wannabes and people who would have been kicked out of South Africa 30 years ago for having backwards views about black people\*\*\* are fine to post thread after thread, but posting a thread about banned posters and the thread is locked. This is a stupid policy. \<-This is the key point. (It’s not the specific racial policies of South Africa 30 years back–just to prevent you from getting distracted again) \*Or what-the-fuck-ever bullshit theory they’re actually saying. Don’t get bogged down. Focus. The specific detail of their particular brand of racism isn’t the point. \*\*Focus again, Colibri. She might have been FOUR years old or TWO years old. This detail again _is not the point_. FOCUS!!! \*\*\*Hyperbole again…just so there’s no confusion. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-generally-dont-permit-people-to-take-inventory-on-posters-who-get-banned/640223/52 "2012-11-11T14:52:17Z")
> [@the lone cashew](#): > > Okay, no more helping circle the wagons, you mods are on your own. Yep. > [@Fenris](#): > > I understand that making stupid, pedantic, nitpicky, posts about an unimportant detail of a post, while ignoring the main point is a tradition here, but please, just this once, try to keep up. > > The single statement “the merest hint of discussing an old banning gets the discussion shot down.” was, in fact, hyperbole. > > However, the key point that seems to have eluded you in my post and then re-eluded you again in Eleanor’s post is that you guys were thrilled to let Cesario post for months about his disgusting fantasies all over the board, you let racists post _the same damned posts over and over_ about how black people are dumb because their brains are less evolved\*, but _IN GENERAL_ you guys have fucking hissy-fits when someone opens a thread about a banned poster (which never used to be a rule), and you and you rapidly close threads about old bannings/meltdowns and you do it far, far, _far_ more quickly than posts/threads that are openly racist, threads polluted by perverts posting about how A THREE\*\* YEAR OLD LITTLE GIRL was HAWT and _totally_ coming on to him and how he’d _totally_ do her. > > What I’m saying is (focus again-this part is the important part) the priorities of the SDMB Mods is completely fucked up. Kiddy-rapist-wannabes and people who would have been kicked out of South Africa 30 years ago for having backwards views about black people\*\*\* are fine to post thread after thread, but posting a thread about banned posters and the thread is locked. > > This is a stupid policy. \<-This is the key point. (It’s not the specific racial policies of South Africa 30 years back–just to prevent you from getting distracted again) > \*Or what-the-fuck-ever bullshit theory they’re actually saying. Don’t get bogged down. Focus. The specific detail of their particular brand of racism isn’t the point. > > \*\*Focus again, Colibri. She might have been FOUR years old or TWO years old. This detail again _is not the point_. FOCUS!!! > > \*\*\*Hyperbole again…just so there’s no confusion. So, Colibri comes up with a smart arse answer rather than addressing his own inability to interact with humans? I am shocked. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-generally-dont-permit-people-to-take-inventory-on-posters-who-get-banned/640223/53 "2012-11-11T14:57:45Z")
Wow, **Fenris** …you are skirting awfully close to a meltdown, which would lead to a banning, and then…we wouldn’t be able to talk about you anymore! ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-generally-dont-permit-people-to-take-inventory-on-posters-who-get-banned/640223/54 "2012-11-11T15:03:40Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Wow, **Fenris** …you are skirting awfully close to a meltdown, which would lead to a banning, and then…we wouldn’t be able to talk about you anymore! I’ve reported this post as talking about a future banned poster. This this needs to stop NOW! ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-generally-dont-permit-people-to-take-inventory-on-posters-who-get-banned/640223/55 "2012-11-11T15:08:43Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > I’ve reported this post as talking about a future banned poster. This this needs to stop NOW! You do realise that the use of “this this” contravenes Treasury Regulation 34(1) Sub c? The squid is on its way. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-generally-dont-permit-people-to-take-inventory-on-posters-who-get-banned/640223/56 "2012-11-11T15:16:41Z")
Thank you, **Fenris**. Thank you for understanding all my posts in here, for restating very clearly and amplifying what I had already said, and thank you for actually remembering the names of the Dopers and the specific incidents to which I only generally eluded. One would think this would not require such efforts. Apparently one would be dead wrong. Discussing this issue has become ridiculously convoluted and difficult. I will likely bow out now, due to a very busy week ahead of me, and (frankly) a complete lack of faith that 1. the opinions posted here by **Fenris** , me, **FoieGras** et al will be understood, and 2. insight will be gained that might benefit the board in future. At this point, lack of comprehension must be deliberate–for whatever murky reason suits you all. Have at it, but don’t act so surprised when you are looked at askance. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-generally-dont-permit-people-to-take-inventory-on-posters-who-get-banned/640223/57 "2012-11-11T20:22:48Z")
If Fenris’ points are so incredibly clear, why must he resort to hyperbole? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-generally-dont-permit-people-to-take-inventory-on-posters-who-get-banned/640223/58 "2012-11-11T20:37:04Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > If Fenris’ points are so incredibly clear, why must he resort to hyperbole? Hyperbole is a literary/rhetorical device, it isn’t something you resort to, it’s something you use. There’s nothing bad about it. Quite the opposite. For example, I might ask why you resort to questions when you clearly mean to make a statement. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-generally-dont-permit-people-to-take-inventory-on-posters-who-get-banned/640223/59 "2012-11-16T00:28:44Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > It was a decorum thing. > > I may have expressed myself badly – we generally do not allow discussion of people who have been banned, since they are not able to defend themselves in that discussion. … That’s the absolute _best_ time to discuss them! It’s like lynching someone who’s already dead – no harm, no foul, just the sweet taste of mob justice. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-generally-dont-permit-people-to-take-inventory-on-posters-who-get-banned/640223.md?page=2)