# When Good Mods Go Bad **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 13, 2008, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483 "2008-09-13T20:54:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483/21 "2008-09-14T10:29:39Z")
It’s a Firesign sort of weekend, so, from _Don’t Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers_: **Peorgie’s Dad:** A good [del]boy[/del] mod gone bad! You move when you’re told not to move. You take off your shoes to evade the men who are trying to protect you! You sneak into a forbidden sector after curfew, and you are caught with your hands up something they don’t belong. My, my my! Your friends at Commie Martyrs must be mighty proud of you! ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483/22 "2008-09-14T15:54:29Z")
> [@Hawkins](#): > > This is the Pit. You got a beef? Put it out there. Let’s hear it. > > Name some names. I’ll probably agree with you on most of them. > > But for fuck’s sake, \*\* When Good Mods Go Bad?\*\* > > Put that shit on MPSIMS. I didn’t put this in MPSIMS because I read in the **Otto** banning thread that all posts critical of mods not in the pit = insta-ban. And I can’t name names because I don’t know any. I don’t think I’ve been addressed by any mods here, and from what I can tell most of them are pretty good at what they do. My post really was intended as a generally discussion on the phenomenon of people with only a sliver of power letting it go to their heads. There was a quote in the Washington Post review of _The King of Kong_ that comes to mind: “The competition is so vicious because the stakes are so low.” ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483/23 "2008-09-14T16:29:54Z")
> [@cainxinth](#): > > My post really was intended as a generally discussion on the phenomenon of people with only a sliver of power letting it go to their heads. I don’t think it has anything to do with power. Compared to most other message boards I’ve seen, we have relatively limited powers, which I think is a good thing. Plus, come on, it’s a _message board_. Enforcing rules on a website really doesn’t bring the surge of control and authority you might think. I think the issue lies with having to sometimes tell other people what to do, while still remaining a poster. It’s harder than you might think. It’s sometimes very tricky to clearly tell people that they did something wrong or need to change their behavior without adopting a tone that will rub some the wrong way. As such, I think a lot of mod posts that raise people’s hackles are the result of the mod writing a post quickly and not balancing their tone perfectly, rather than them deliberately smiting someone and then glorying in their awesome power. (Except **SkipMagic** , of course, but he’s nuts.) This is not intended as a defense, merely a perspective from the other side. It’s pretty easy to armchair quarterback the tone of our posts after the fact (I know, because I do it all the time myself), but I think you’d be surprised at how easy it is to adopt a more negative tone than you intend even when dealing with the most straightforward rule violation or request, especially when you’re just writing something out quickly while doing something else. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483/24 "2008-09-14T16:35:57Z")
I know whereof the OP speaks. I will just say: if you are a jazz clarinetist on a board run by classical clarinetists, don’t start mouthing off about issues of pedagogy. I made an amazing number of enemies in a short period of time just by questioning the prevailing mode of teaching. ---
**Author:** ![bufftabby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bufftabby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bufftabby)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483/25 "2008-09-14T16:56:51Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > I don’t think it has anything to do with power. Compared to most other message boards I’ve seen, we have relatively limited powers, which I think is a good thing. Plus, come on, it’s a _message board_. Enforcing rules on a website really doesn’t bring the surge of control and authority you might think. Really? Well, there goes my mod gang bang BDSM fantasy. I suppose that was your intent, **Giraffe** , as everyone knows you were just going to be put on analingus duty. You heard me. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483/26 "2008-09-14T17:04:10Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > From Wikipedia, the easiest source to find, though hardly the only place I’ve seen it criticized: > > But your friend should be more concerned about [this](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0420293/) than the credibility of the experiment. Or [this](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0250258/) ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483/27 "2008-09-14T17:14:28Z")
> [@bufftabby](#): > > Really? Well, there goes my mod gang bang BDSM fantasy. I suppose that was your intent, **Giraffe** , as everyone knows you were just going to be put on analingus duty. You heard me. SDMB BDSM, you might be on to something. ---
**Author:** ![A\_shameful\_cracka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@A\_shameful\_cracka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_shameful_cracka)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483/28 "2008-09-14T17:49:23Z")
I see one mod has been closing a lot of threads that are against McCain in Great Debates, but not any of the anti-Obama ones (except one that was against Obama and rapidly turned against McCain). ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483/29 "2008-09-14T18:17:52Z")
> [@A\_shameful\_cracka](#): > > I see one mod has been closing a lot of threads that are against McCain in Great Debates, but not any of the anti-Obama ones (except one that was against Obama and rapidly turned against McCain). Two. On the grounds that one should have been started in MPSIMS and the other was a (presumably) Silly Debate. It’s too bad, though, there really is a severe shortage of anti-McCain threads in GD. Maybe someone will step up to the plate for us. ---
**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:** [September 14, 2008, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483/30 "2008-09-14T20:02:27Z")
> [@Sapo](#): > > What about it? It is an actual question. You might not like my wording, but it is an actual question. I even admit to some of my complaints being about imagined faults. Edit it and remove the word “haphazard” if it really twists you so much. Oh bullshit. At least be honest. Your post in the other thread was obviously intended to be critical. By your own criterion, you’re retarded. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483/31 "2008-09-14T20:11:17Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > I think the issue lies with having to sometimes tell other people what to do, while still remaining a poster. It’s harder than you might think. It’s sometimes very tricky to clearly tell people that they did something wrong or need to change their behavior without adopting a tone that will rub some the wrong way. As such, I think a lot of mod posts that raise people’s hackles are the result of the mod writing a post quickly and not balancing their tone perfectly, rather than them deliberately smiting someone and then glorying in their awesome power. (Except **SkipMagic** , of course, but he’s nuts.) > > This is not intended as a defense, merely a perspective from the other side. It’s pretty easy to armchair quarterback the tone of our posts after the fact (I know, because I do it all the time myself), but I think you’d be surprised at how easy it is to adopt a more negative tone than you intend even when dealing with the most straightforward rule violation or request, especially when you’re just writing something out quickly while doing something else. True enough, and well said. Of course, it works the other way too. I often think of Gandalf’s comments to Bilbo in THE HOBBIT about the various ways of saying “Good morning.” Early in the days of email, I had someone send me something a few days late. I sent back an email saying “thanks” meaning nothing more than thank you. He read it as sarcastic because he had been late, and a brou-ha-ha erupted. So, frankly, it’s not just that the mod didn’t write carefully; it’s also that the poster, being criticized in public by the mod, reads it with the most dire intonation possible. I am honoured to be on **Stringer** ’s list with **Ed Zotti** and only a notch below **TubaDiva** ; very thrilling, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483/32 "2008-09-14T20:21:18Z")
CKDH, don’t make much of it. The list was clearly meant to say “I want to look good to both sides so I will suck up to the mods while still saying that the administration sucks”. Ditto for the mods, don’t make much of finding you name included, missing or repeated. > [@Colibri](#): > > Oh bullshit. At least be honest. Your post in the other thread was obviously intended to be critical. By your own criterion, you’re retarded. It is nice to see that you are still cherry picking what you respond to and that you choose to take everything personal. I hate retraining. It wasn’t critical. Snarky, for sure, but not critical. I would really like to know how many PMs the mods get per thread closure, pitting, time unit or any other measure you have available. That I chose to drop a few choice words to make clear I don’t care much for it is certainly poor taste editorializing, but not thread shitting. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483/33 "2008-09-14T22:11:29Z")
> [@A\_shameful\_cracka](#): > > I see one mod has been closing a lot of threads that are against McCain in Great Debates, but not any of the anti-Obama ones (except one that was against Obama and rapidly turned against McCain). The MPSIMS thread was about mocking Palin supporters for being silly and quickly deteriorated into a truly odd fight over racist messages. The other thread was intended to attack Obama on trumped up charges of mocking a McCain disability (a really odd claim that bore no resemblance to facts) that I permitted to ramble on for a few pages until I had to wade through over a page and a half of utterly ridiculous claims over how much use McCain actually had or would actually need to operate a computer without any references to actual issues. Both threads has hit a point where they were about to be overwhelmed by personal acrimony. Somehow, you have taken one anti-Obama thread and one anti-Palin thread and merged them (in your mind) into two anti-Obama threads. > [@The Man in Black](#): > > Truly, you have a dizzying intellect. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483/34 "2008-09-14T22:36:34Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > True enough, and well said. Of course, it works the other way too. I often think of Gandalf’s comments to Bilbo in THE HOBBIT about the various ways of saying “Good morning.” Early in the days of email, I had someone send me something a few days late. I sent back an email saying “thanks” meaning nothing more than thank you. He read it as sarcastic because he had been late, and a brou-ha-ha erupted. So, frankly, it’s not just that the mod didn’t write carefully; it’s also that the poster, being criticized in public by the mod, reads it with the most dire intonation possible. Yes, this is true. I had an acting teacher once that liked to stress all the dozens of different things the simple phrase “I love you” can mean. Imagine trying to get that across in text; it’s hard enough in person. I have no doubt that many people who are perceived to be dickheads or morons online are happy-go-lucky, intelligent, well-balanced people in real life. I’m sure the opposite is true as well. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483/35 "2008-09-15T03:41:54Z")
> [@Stringer](#): > > Good Mods: > **Rico** Ah fuck. There go all my points in the Mod Pitting pool… ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483/36 "2008-09-15T04:10:58Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Yes, this is true. I had an acting teacher once that liked to stress all the dozens of different things the simple phrase “I love you” can mean. Imagine trying to get that across in text; it’s hard enough in person. It’s for exactly this reason that I read everything as if it were written in all caps. A lot less room for misinterpretation that way. Plus, everyone seems super excited about everything they’re posting. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483/37 "2008-09-15T04:26:43Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > I’d like to move that **fluiddruid** qualifies as an animal due to druid shapeshifting abilities. Not buying that. Getafix couldn’t shapeshift and he was _really good_. ---
**Author:** ![CaerieD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@CaerieD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaerieD)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483/38 "2008-09-15T04:29:24Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Not buying that. Getafix couldn’t shapeshift and he was _really good_. Yes, but **fluiddruid** is, y’know, fluid. It implies a somewhat protean nature, no? ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483/39 "2008-09-15T04:54:57Z")
Er, I don’t have a problem with any of the mods. Am I still allowed to be a member here? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483/40 "2008-09-15T13:14:34Z")
> [@CaerieD](#): > > Yes, but **fluiddruid** is, y’know, fluid. It implies a somewhat protean nature, no? So she can turn into… a jellyfish? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-good-mods-go-bad/463483.md?page=3)