# What constitutes an off-topic comment? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 19, 2013, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134 "2013-04-19T14:37:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Enuma\_Elish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5e9695/32.png) [@Enuma\_Elish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enuma_Elish)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134/81 "2013-04-20T00:02:10Z")
Tequila Party - To be **outraged** at a (questionably funny) sophomoric comment by a poster in a thread about a completely immature sorority ‘leader’ spewing a massive load of utterly sexist vile crap and then tattling to the teacher is not an example of maturity. A mature person would simply roll their eyes and move on. To base a rule change/new method of rule enforcement on said tattle-taleing is even sillier. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134/82 "2013-04-20T00:08:08Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > And again, how exactly is a boner joke inappropriate in the context of a thread about a profanity laced rant filled with sexual innuendo, including a threat to “cunt punt” sorority sisters? I answered this already. I understand you don’t agree, but I don’t see what you’re hoping to accomplish by asking me to explain it again. ---
**Author:** ![Tequila\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@Tequila\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Party)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134/83 "2013-04-20T00:20:52Z")
> [@Enuma\_Elish](#): > > Tequila Party - To be **outraged** at a (questionably funny) sophomoric comment by a poster in a thread about a completely immature sorority ‘leader’ spewing a massive load of utterly sexist vile crap and then tattling to the teacher is not an example of maturity. > > A mature person would simply roll their eyes and move on. > > To base a rule change/new method of rule enforcement on said tattle-taleing is even sillier. None of this appears to be what they are doing. Instead, their actions seem to be in response to an underlying culture of misogyny that the female participants of this board have already been rolling their eyes at for some time. Is it possible this specific incident didn’t completely accomplish the stated recent goals as intended? Perhaps, but I did notice that what took place was nothing more than a moderator “note.” As I understand, that’s pretty minor in the pantheon of punishments in their arsenal. I can’t imagine anyone getting upset at such a slight admonishment. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134/84 "2013-04-20T00:26:26Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > I don’t know that I’m going to get it perfectly right. I might err and go overboard. I might get rules-lawyered. That’s why when I addressed this issue I made it a mild reminder. There’s a paradigm shift; we don’t want to make women feel like shit any more. That’s what I was trying to foster. Let’s all try to understand the point of view. Hmm, yeah… yeah. I guess that’s a dilly of a pickle. I’m glad that we’re striving to no longer deal with dating threads being hijacked by the same chorus angry misogynists, as if on cue, crying that women are irrational, and that bra threads will no longer be interrupted by boobs requests, but I read the posts in that thread and thought of the mod note, “Oh, come on.” I thought the jokes were funny and harmless. But I guess you’re right – attempts to curb misogynistic hijacks will have some misfires, and we all know by now what happens when there’s a misfire. So while I don’t think there was a need for the note, I understand the point of view, and appreciate that there was no warning issued and the desire to nip threadshittery in the bud. But yeah, this a pretty shitty position to be in. Attempts to moderate useless misogyny are A-OK with me but may lead to some overcautious notes, which will lead to some hurt butts, which will lead to endless teeth-grinding about the “new rules,” and if you don’t moderate it, blah blah blah. Sucks. But I dunno, if it were up to me (and it isn’t, thank God), I pretty much wouldn’t moderate anything unless it was just pointlessly misogynistic. “Okay, so what does that mean, exactly?” you may ask. Hmm, I’ll get back to you on that. So this post offers no real advice or insight. I’ll be here all week. ---
**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:** [April 20, 2013, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134/85 "2013-04-20T00:37:04Z")
Deleted - Sorry, meant for this to be a new thread. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134/86 "2013-04-20T00:40:03Z")
How does [this post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16212837&postcount=4) figure into the “paradigm shift”? Or [this one from the sorority girl thread?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16211505&postcount=71) ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134/87 "2013-04-20T00:42:30Z")
Yeah I figured this would turn into “let’s find anything we can possibly bring up that is sexual in any way towards men”. Way to miss the fucking point, guys. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134/88 "2013-04-20T00:44:35Z")
Are either of those posts directed toward a poster here? That might answer your question, Oak. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134/89 "2013-04-20T00:47:19Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > Are either of those posts directed toward a poster here? That might answer your question, Oak. Nope…but neither was the post that prompted this thread. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134/90 "2013-04-20T00:50:23Z")
And I don’t think the post should have been moderated. That’s no excuse for your game. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134/91 "2013-04-20T00:55:04Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I fail to see how this is similar at all. It’s not a fictional character, it’s an actual person; it’s not a quote of anything, since quotes and TV show references tend to be jokey by their nature. The issue here - to me and I think to **Ellen Cherry** as well - was that the sexual commentary in this particular instance was inappropriate. I make it a general practice not to questions the Mods. After all, you can’t have a moderated board without modding. However, having read the OP and the comments that followed, I agree with others that **Ellen Cherry** was wrong, and Marley’s defense is even more wrong. The entire thread was “jokey by nature.” The entire thread had “sexual commentary.” And frankly, I found the whole thing quite funny. I’m looking forward to the day, which I feel will come quite soon, where “Obama (or Bush, Cheney, Christians, atheists, or whatever) is a dick” will be an unacceptable political comment because of its clearly phallic nature. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134/92 "2013-04-20T01:09:29Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I answered this already. I understand you don’t agree, but I don’t see what you’re hoping to accomplish by asking me to explain it again. No you didn’t. You gave a condescending non-answer, and are continuing to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134/93 "2013-04-20T01:20:29Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > You’re comparing demeaning women to attacking people based on ideas and preferences and beliefs, and I don’t think that washes. What if those ideas and beliefs and prejudices and beliefs _include_ demeaning women, as they do for many people? You’re left with an unenforceable set of guidelines where telling a woman to “Shut up and make me a sandwich” is out, whereas citing, “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church. . . .” (Ephesians 5:22–23) is apparently OK. You’ve opened a Pandora’s Box with this one, and no mistake. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134/94 "2013-04-20T01:32:47Z")
Damn. The mods make a good decision to crack down more on misogyny, and one of the first posts they choose is a clear joke that I took to be a comment on the misogyny in the sorority girl’s rant. Where’s that facepalm smiley gone? And Happy Lendevedder is right - it gives no clue as to what acceptable behaviour is here now. > [@Marley23](#): > > There was no warning. It was a mod note. Is there a difference between giving someone a warning and saying “I’m giving you a warning?” Because that’s what you said. That’s a genuine question. You highlight stuff and put it in a separate line, or something, if it’s an official warning, right? Something like that? But I can see how your phrasing could look like it was a warning. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134/95 "2013-04-20T01:40:28Z")
This post was supposed to be in a different forum. Sorry. ---
**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:** [April 20, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134/96 "2013-04-20T01:44:45Z")
Re-calibrating moderation is tricky, so I’m glad it was just a mod note that was laid down. That’s the proper way to phase things in. That said, since neither\*\* ladyfoxfyre\*\* nor **MeanOldLady** agree with the moderating decision, I think it’s fair to say that it was misguided. My opinion? My opinion is that I don’t care: calibrate the board as you wish: as long as you’re not handing out surprise bannings, I’m ok. I can adapt. Anyway, what I gather is that you can use coarse language- up to a point - but coarse language directed at the genitalia or secondary sex characteristics of existing posters will be held to additional forum-appropriate scrutiny. (Jeez, were these members raised in barns?) ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134/97 "2013-04-20T02:25:04Z")
Well I’m glad to see we’re getting consistent. Saying, tongue-in-cheek, that you find something the opposite sex does turns you on=bad. Embracing the term “cunt punt” and implying sorority girls are prostitutes=ok. Do I have this straight? Is this the consistency we’re hoping to embrace? And can someone please clarify which scenarios I put forth in post 13 would pass without moderation. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134/98 "2013-04-20T02:38:42Z")
I wrote in the other thread: The mods walked right into this one, and now they’re damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Here’s something they can do now, which they haven’t done (unless I missed it among all the flak), that might bring some clarity: Tell us how you would have reacted (or not) to these two threads, one of which was dredged up from antiquity, had your new-found modding sensibilities been in effect at the time: (1) [ul] [li] OP laments stained shirt, which previously was a good shirt because it went well with her “amazing boobs” (OP’s actual words).[/li][li] Cue the “Boob pix!” right on schedule![/li][li] OP responds with expressions of much annoyance at that.[/li][li] Shit-storm ensues.[/li][li] Most posters pile on the OP for saying “amazing boobs” then getting pissy.[/li][/ul] How sayeth the mods of that, in retrospect, knowing what you do now? (2) [ul] [li] Recent thread: OP asks medical advice about her swollen boobs. (Yes, OP used the word “boobs”.)[/li][li] Cue the “Boob pix!” right on schedule![/li][li] Most subsequent posts, being from mature female posters, ignore that and discuss the OP’s actual request.[/li][li] Shit-storm ensues elsewhere, in ATMB and Pit. This thread gets mentioned, of course.[/li][/ul] How sayeth the mods of that, in retrospect, knowing what you do now? Would you mod that now? (In fact, _did_ you mod that? I don’t know, as I didn’t follow that thread.) As others have opined, the cases are very different. (Well, some seem to think so.) Where are the mods on this now? ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134/99 "2013-04-20T02:42:01Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > That said, since neither\*\* ladyfoxfyre\*\* nor **MeanOldLady** agree with the moderating decision, I think it’s fair to say that it was misguided.) This is the most troubling proposal yet. I wasn’t aware that **ladyfoxfyre** and **MOL** have been given veto power over moderator action. I don’t know why you would, ahem, _privilege_ them by name over all the many other posters in this thread who also registered their disagreement. “That’s great, folks, but you know we need to wait to hear from **ladyfoxfyre** and **MeanOldLady** before deciding what to do.” Are you suggesting that moderator decisions are now being issued in an effort to propitiate popular posters, rather than being based on established rules or new rules implemented in the best interests of the board and applied using independent judgment (not subject to consultation with non-moderator posters)? Not that I think this is necessarily incorrect, but it is startling to see it advanced so openly. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134/100 "2013-04-20T03:00:25Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > This is the most troubling proposal yet. I wasn’t aware that **ladyfoxfyre** and **MOL** have been given veto power over moderator action. I don’t know why you would, ahem, _privilege_ them by name over all the many other posters in this thread who also registered their disagreement. “That’s great, folks, but you know we need to wait to hear from **ladyfoxfyre** and **MeanOldLady** before deciding what to do.” > > Are you suggesting that moderator decisions are now being issued in an effort to propitiate popular posters, rather than being based on established rules or new rules implemented in the best interests of the board and applied using independent judgment (not subject to consultation with non-moderator posters)? Not that I think this is necessarily incorrect, but it is startling to see it advanced so openly. I think all most of them are saying is “seriously, even Ted Bundy thinks this murder is fucked up.” Not to imply MOL, ladyfoxfire, or colander are bad people of course. People are just saying that if the posters who led the crusade to get misogyny moderated think you’re going too far, you’ve probably miscalibrated your radar. Mods make mistakes, that’s part of why we have this forum. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-off-topic-comment/656134.md?page=6)