# Well, at least the admins are into keeping their word! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 21, 2004, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198 "2004-04-21T10:39:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2004, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198/21 "2004-04-21T15:02:03Z")
> [@Bren\_Cameron](#): > > Applause for **Mangetout**. > > Hear, hear! Actually I think the workers have a **semi-legitimate** grudge. The OP’s isn’t even remotely based on some inequity. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2004, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198/22 "2004-04-21T15:04:37Z")
> [@](#): > > I believe the saying is, “consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds”. Actually, it’s a “foolish consistency”. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2004, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198/23 "2004-04-21T15:16:18Z")
> [@Shade](#): > > I take the point (and recognse the story). I’m not sure why it bothers me, but I can’t quite bring myself to agree with it completely somehow. Here’s a couple of other parables to try work out why. > > A landowner hired some men. He payed the white men two denarii and the black men one denarius. A black man complained and he replied “You do not have to work for me. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?” > > A landownder hired some men, and paid them a denarius each. One had a wife and children who were hungry, and the second didn’t. At the end of the day, he threw an extra coin to the second man and said “Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?” I think you might have to actually explain it in words, because both of those parables went right over my head (they seemed to be about _discrimination_, which I wasn’t aware was an issue here). I would say the parable is about _contracts_ - the first batch of workers _willingly_ negotiated a contract, then later on, changed their minds due to circumstances entirely external to their negotiated contract. The folks who signed up here straight away got what they paid for and expected in full; the folks who haven’t yet signed up have been cut a little slack - this does not in any way detract from the access or status of those who signed up first; I really don’t get the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2004, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198/24 "2004-04-21T15:30:08Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I think you might have to actually explain it in words, because both of those parables went right over my head (they seemed to be about _discrimination_, which I wasn’t aware was an issue here). I would say the parable is about _contracts_ - the first batch of workers _willingly_ negotiated a contract, then later on, changed their minds due to circumstances entirely external to their negotiated contract. I’m not quite sure, just that this doesn’t _feel_ fair. Does it make a difference how much a denarius is - if it’s not enough for a full day’s pay or is generous initially? Or if the people not working were working elsewhere? Or not? Or trying to work, but couldn’t find anything (it hints this might have been the case, which lessens my objection)? OK, let me try again. I think perhaps I assumed that a man working in the vineyard didn’t have a lot of choice about where to work, or how much he got paid, so it’s unfair to say he entered into the contract willingly; the contract may not have been fair. Does that make me seem any clearer? > [@](#): > > The folks who signed up here straight away got what they paid for and expected in full; the folks who haven’t yet signed up have been cut a little slack - this does not in any way detract from the access or status of those who signed up first; I really don’t get the problem. Yeah, I pretty much agree here. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2004, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198/25 "2004-04-21T15:30:42Z")
Besides which, the usual complaint heard when the fee system was established was “We’ll lose all of the people who contribute…the SDMB will waste away to just a few dozen posters!” Now they are, metaphorically speaking, pounding down the dooors to get in under the deadline. This is a bad thing? 😕 Cut everybody a little slack. ---
**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:** [April 21, 2004, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198/26 "2004-04-21T15:55:57Z")
In the end, as it was widely recognized that a denarius a day was well below minimum wage, squatters occupied the landowner’s acreage in protest. Ultimately the government confiscated his land and distributed it to the peasants, who formed a commune where each was allocated goods according to need. The landowner went on the talk show circuit and became wealthy hawking his book and film rights. Everyone lived happily ever after. The End. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2004, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198/27 "2004-04-21T19:42:21Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Says the guy with the clogs. Clogs with steel toes, I’ll have you know, buster. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2004, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198/28 "2004-04-21T21:27:22Z")
Well I said in the OP it was a weak rant. Looking back on it it wasn’t really a rant at all. Chalk it up to me not getting the idea across that I was going for. Oh well. I’ll just drop it. **Coldfire** I had a different username a few years ago, long since forgotten. And whomever called me a kid, I’m probably older than you. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2004, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198/29 "2004-04-21T21:35:36Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > …And whomever called me a kid, I’m probably older than you. 😉 Cite? 😃🙂🆒 Just a newbie being silly, no harm intended… ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2004, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198/30 "2004-04-21T21:37:15Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > **Coldfire** I had a different username a few years ago, long since forgotten. If you didn’t inform an administrator about your new username then, I suggest you do so as quickly as possible, with mention of the old name. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2004, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198/31 "2004-04-21T22:15:10Z")
> [@Shade](#): > > I’m not quite sure, just that this doesn’t _feel_ fair. Does it make a difference how much a denarius is - if it’s not enough for a full day’s pay or is generous initially? Or if the people not working were working elsewhere? Or not? Or trying to work, but couldn’t find anything (it hints this might have been the case, which lessens my objection)? > > OK, let me try again. I think perhaps I assumed that a man working in the vineyard didn’t have a lot of choice about where to work, or how much he got paid, so it’s unfair to say he entered into the contract willingly; the contract may not have been fair. Does that make me seem any clearer? > Yeah, I pretty much agree here. I see your point (it is, after all, not a million miles distant from the complaint of the first workers), but I see no implication that the first lot were being short changed; the landowner simply thought ‘fuck it, I’m feeling happy, I think I’ll give the latecomers a full day’s wage’ and suddenly the first lot (who had received a full day’s wage for a full day’s pay, wanted more. Having said all this, **duffer** does say that he doesn’t have a problem with that side of the issue, ending with: > [@](#): > > But holy shit Admins, what the hell is the point of coding the homepage with a deadline if you plan to extend it at the last minute?!? To which I think the probable answer is that they didn’t _ **plan** _ to extend it at all, it just became a desirable _ **change of plan** _ at a fairly late stage. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198/32 "2004-04-22T02:28:36Z")
“Anything else we can get you? Tea cozy for your pepper pot?” ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198/33 "2004-04-22T02:38:45Z")
Whats a pepper pot? And why would it need a tea cozy? Wouldn’t a pepper cozy be more appropriate? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mac\_Guffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198/34 "2004-04-22T02:58:15Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Hey, bubs, email me and I’ll get you signed up. I’ve been PayPalling people in ever since The Pronouncement Of Freebie Doom. Some I’ve sponsored; some have mailed me a fiver, or a money order, or… well, I got a well-used 5 euro from Italy not too long ago, and I’m going to get to see what Norwegian kroners look like pretty soon. This is fun! > > And, other than inflicting a test limerick on one Doper’s posting history, I haven’t even taken advantage of my (momentary) power to sockalize. 😉😃 For which I am grateful! I’ll have that Fiver in the post friday! ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198/35 "2004-04-22T03:06:38Z")
> [@askeptic](#): > > Whats a pepper pot? And why would it need a tea cozy? Wouldn’t a pepper cozy be more appropriate? 😃 I think it’s a line from _Fawlty Towers_, referring to a guest who would not be pleased regardless of what Basil did for him. I liked that show. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198/36 "2004-04-22T03:10:15Z")
I have none of **Mangetout** ’s wit, so let me just say this is the dumbest, most miserly goddamn thing I’ve seen on these boards in a long time. “Quick! Quick! I’m in! Slam the gates and charge the rest of the rabble three times as much! No mercy!” :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [April 22, 2004, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198/37 "2004-04-22T03:15:09Z")
> [@askeptic](#): > > Whats a pepper pot? And why would it need a tea cozy? Wouldn’t a pepper cozy be more appropriate? 😃 **Pepperlandgirl** won’t be cozy until there’s liquid James Marsters pouring out of her tea pot. Er… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198/38 "2004-04-22T03:47:16Z")
I’m surprised there’s been so much attention paid to that last line, and so little to this part: > [@duffer](#): > > I paid thinking I could trust the admins… So what other hard and fast rules are going to be compromised? I mean… WTF??? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198/39 "2004-04-22T03:47:32Z")
Just wanted to chip in my two cents, and point out that while yes, people have had a month to work out any issues they might have with ponying up their membership, a lot of posters simply didn’t know it was even happening - I’ve seen several posts today from long-timers that said “Geez, I am glad I got here when I did, because I had no idea!” And some of those people had very legitimate reasons for not being up to date. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198/40 "2004-04-22T04:13:03Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > And whomever called me a kid, I’m probably older than you. 😉 Hey…I’m old enough to remember when a denarius was worth something. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-at-least-the-admins-are-into-keeping-their-word/241198.md?page=3)