# Why are the moderators here biased and intellectually dishonest? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 1, 2010, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149 "2010-07-01T02:37:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149/41 "2010-07-01T04:20:40Z")
> [@Poptech](#): > > No they were factual statements. _Insulting comments about other posters are not allowed._ The fact that you think your insults are accurate does not mean you get a free pass. > [@](#): > > So Marley why are you ignoring similar comments made by the other posters towards me? In the first two pages of the thread I moderated three posters for personal comments about you. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149/42 "2010-07-01T04:23:10Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Well, so far, you’ve said that **tomndebb** and **Marley23** have posted lies, which isn’t very nice. But they’re moderators. That’s not like people. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149/43 "2010-07-01T04:34:40Z")
> [@Poptech](#): > > No they were factual statements. There is not a single factual statement in that collection. Every one of them is a personal opinion of yours that might or might not be proven correct at some future time, but not one of them is factual. > [@Poptech](#): > > So Marley why are you ignoring similar comments made by the other posters towards me? Why should anyone address the other comments? You were the OP. You were the one who wanted to “debate” whatever it was you think you came to debate. No one was Warned or even admonished for their behavior; we simply sought to get the thread to conform to something like a debate rather than a pissing contest. Since you were the author and principle participant and you were the one who misconstrued or mischaracterized the most posts by other posters, it seemed judicious to get you to avoid that self-destructive behavior. Given that you were not Warned for this baseless attack on another poster: > [@Do Peer-Reviewed papers exists supporting skepticism of "man-made" global warming alarm?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-peer-reviewed-papers-exists-supporting-skepticism-of-man-made-global-warming-alarm/544420/249): > > I am sure you and others here would be interested in spamming the posts there anonymously with propaganda so I will not be recommending it. I would think that you should be grateful that the “worst” action taken against you was to move your thread to the appropriate forum. Note that you have no information about the posting habits of the other posters in that thread. You have no reason (aside from your own blind hatred) to presume that any other poster would spam some different board. So you used an insult for the sole purpose of avoiding providing an answer to a civilly asked question. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149/44 "2010-07-01T04:37:08Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > But they’re moderators. That’s not like people. Well, as a lawyer, I generally try not to play the “got no soul” card. Doesn’t usually end well for me. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149/45 "2010-07-01T04:38:16Z")
> [@Poptech](#): > > Wait so criticizing potential future government policy is conspiratorial? Are you serious? I didn’t say that. Didn’t even imply it. [QUOTE=Poptech] My argument was explicit and I stated my position. I provided links to what I was arguing against when requested. [/QUOTE] I’m referring to _this_ thread’s OP. Do you genuinely believe this statement applies to that? [QUOTE=Poptech] The 911 conspiracy theory analogy is ironic as I have written explicitly against these theories… [/QUOTE] I didn’t claim you believed in 9/11 conspiracies. I stated that you exhibit many of the behaviors that I associate (through experience) with conspiracy theorists of the 9/11 ilk. ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149/46 "2010-07-01T04:47:43Z")
> [@Poptech](#): > > So Marley why are you ignoring similar comments made by the other posters towards me? Because they aren’t making them and then wailing about others making them. ---
**Author:** ![Poptech](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poptech/32/7292_2.png) [@Poptech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poptech)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149/47 "2010-07-01T04:53:10Z")
To demonstrate the bias of mods like Marley, comments made against me were ignored, > [@](#): > > Poptech, you embarrassed yourself and the whole of AGW skepticism in this thread, and this one . . . Why do you keep trying? > [@](#): > > Again, the root of this problem are rank amateurs like you latching onto the idea of “peer review”, knowing absolutely fuck all about how science works > [@](#): > > He is a well-known “AGW-hoax advocate” (for lack of a better word ) who continually spams Internet forums with links to his website. > [@](#): > > neither one makes you look like you have much in the way of processing power up there. > [@](#): > > Shorter PopTart > [@](#): > > You already got your ass kicked over that particular point in this thread. Can you never learn from your mistakes? > [@](#): > > This is yet again evidence to all here that you are unreliable. > [@](#): > > One only needs to point to the clear misrepresentations to show all in this discussion how off base these deniers are becoming. > [@](#): > > Only dishonest ‘skeptics’ try to claim that there is no consensus. > [@](#): > > Is the OP a denier? > [@](#): > > Again, what I see so far in this thread is just a classic Creationist tactic > [@](#): > > Sorry, but one has to point out when someone is using the same tactics of creationists. > [@](#): > > …the OP have set themselves to be forever marked as misguided absolutists with no desire to make changes… > [@](#): > > I’m done with this Turing test. > [@](#): > > Many of us have seen enough of these threads to view them as just some new dude’s libertarian-manifesto-magnum-opus-type-dealy > [@](#): > > Have you any idea how sad it is to see you stumbling away, nose bloodied… > [@](#): > > This is like the Python’s Black Knight, only not funny. > [@](#): > > …I find one or more posters pushing hostility supported by bad logic and a lack of facts. > [@](#): > > …I’m stating that your site’s motto is a lie. > [@](#): > > Why aren’t your minions flocking over here to amaze us with their brilliance? > [@](#): > > …the whole point of this thread and Poptech’s blog and the industry-front groups is to chip away at the public perception… > [@](#): > > What I see is that deniers are becoming unhinged… > [@](#): > > I can also identify idiots… > [@](#): > > …You numbskull > [@](#): > > That is what I will do Jeremy… > [@](#): > > You that Jeremy… you do that. > [@](#): > > …you, sir, are fucking insane. ---
**Author:** ![Poptech](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poptech/32/7292_2.png) [@Poptech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poptech)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149/48 "2010-07-01T04:57:51Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Why should anyone address the other comments? You are one biased moderator. So they can say whatever they want about me but I cannot respond in kind? > [@](#): > > Since you were the author and principle participant and you were the one who misconstrued or mischaracterized the most posts by other posters, it seemed judicious to get you to avoid that self-destructive behavior. Name all the posts I “mischaracterized”. I slightly misread one post, which I corrected. You have failed to acknowledge this and continue to repeat this lie. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149/49 "2010-07-01T04:58:37Z")
\ The last quote is mine, and was posted after the thread was moved to the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Poptech](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poptech/32/7292_2.png) [@Poptech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poptech)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149/50 "2010-07-01T04:59:17Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > Because they aren’t making them and then wailing about others making them. You are missing the point, they keep attacking me and ignoring everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149/51 "2010-07-01T05:01:21Z")
It is important to notice that the last 5 quotes there came when the thread was in the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149/52 "2010-07-01T05:03:55Z")
**Poptech** , once again you’re undermining your own argument. [Two of the comments on your list (“PopTart” and “processing power”) _were_ moderated](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12621485&postcount=89), even though you are insisting they were not. So you are either not being truthful, or you’re not paying attention. The last five comments you quoted were made after the thread was moved to The BBQ Pit, where insults against other posters are permitted. If you know that little about the rules here you shouldn’t be complaining about the moderation. Most of the other posts you quoted are not insults. (I’m reminded that you urged us to treat “denier” as an insult as well.) The comments about Creationism are not in any way personal insults. They are comments about your arguments and you have insisted on misinterpreting them. A couple of the remaining posts are rude, but I think we’ve already shown that you gave as good as you got. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2010, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149/53 "2010-07-01T05:03:56Z")
[QUOTE=Poptech] You are missing the point, they keep attacking me and ignoring everyone else. [/QUOTE] You are correct. They should make up for this by ignoring you in the future, just like the rest of us will do. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149/54 "2010-07-01T05:05:13Z")
Absolute power corrupts absolutely, moderator power corrupts sorta kinda. ---
**Author:** ![Poptech](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poptech/32/7292_2.png) [@Poptech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poptech)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149/55 "2010-07-01T05:09:13Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > **Poptech** , once again you’re undermining your own argument. [Two of the comments on your list (“PopTart” and “processing power”) _were_ moderated](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12621485&postcount=89), even though you are insisting they were not. So you are either not being truthful, or you’re not paying attention. The last five comments you quoted were made after the thread was moved to The BBQ Pit, where insults against other posters are permitted. If you know that little about the rules here you shouldn’t be complaining about the moderation. Most of the other posts you quoted are not insults. (I’m reminded that you urged us to treat “denier” as an insult as well.) The comments about Creationism are not in any way personal insults. They are comments about your arguments and you have insisted on misinterpreting them. A couple of the remaining posts are rude, but I think we’ve already shown that you gave as good as you got. Strawman as usual. I did not insist they were not moderated, I stated you are ignoring them. Your bias is clear as you allow anyone who is not in support of your bias to be subject to personal attacks but the ones being attacked are not allowed to respond. The bullshit about bringing up creationism in a thread about climate change for any other reason than to belittle the person it is used against is intellectually dishonest. No I have not remotely given anything back, not even close. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149/56 "2010-07-01T05:13:55Z")
> [@Poptech](#): > > Strawman as usual. I did not insist they were not moderated, I stated you are ignoring them. How can I be ignoring them if I moderated them? > [@](#): > > Your bias is clear as you allow anyone who is not in support of your bias to be subject to personal attacks but the ones being attacked are not allowed to respond. For a moment here you sound like you might be grasping one of the rules: even if you think you are personally attacked, you are not allowed to attack another poster in response. You’re expected to report the post and let the mods handle it. When people insulted you, we moderated those posts. When you made insulting comments to others, we moderated those posts. It was a fairly similar number of posts each way, too. So there is no merit to your comments about bias. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149/57 "2010-07-01T05:14:33Z")
> [@Poptech](#): > > I did not insist they were not moderated, I stated you are ignoring them. Did it hurt when you typed out that glaring contradiction? ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149/58 "2010-07-01T05:21:38Z")
> [@Poptech](#): > > Strawman as usual. I did not insist they were not moderated, I stated you are ignoring them. Yeah, how could the mods ignore posts, yet moderate them? [QUOTE=Poptech] Your bias is clear as you allow anyone who is not in support of your bias to be subject to personal attacks but the ones being attacked are not allowed to respond. [/QUOTE] I think you should do two things: Understand what a true personal insult is; and gird your sensibilities. ---
**Author:** ![Poptech](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poptech/32/7292_2.png) [@Poptech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poptech)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149/59 "2010-07-01T05:23:57Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > How can I be ignoring them if I moderated them? Ignoring them in the context of the discussion. > [@Marley23](#): > > For a moment here you sound like you might be grasping one of the rules: even if you think you are personally attacked, you are not allowed to attack another poster in response. You’re expected to report the post and let the mods handle it. When people insulted you, we moderated those posts. When you made insulting comments to others, we moderated those posts. It was a fairly similar number of posts each way, too. So there is no merit to your comments about bias. Really? What did you do about the denier comments? Your bias is your constant harping on me while never mentioning anyone else. Your buddy kept warning me for behavior other posters were doing. That is bias. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149/60 "2010-07-01T05:27:01Z")
> [@Poptech](#): > > Ignoring them in the context of the discussion. This is a meaningless complaint, and I’ve already proved you are wrong. > [@](#): > > What did you do about the denier comments? Nothing, because despite your insistence, it’s not a banned personal insult or a comparison to Holocaust deniers. > [@](#): > > Your bias is your constant harping on me while never mentioning anyone else. I have already demonstrated that I moderated several other posters. > [@](#): > > Your buddy kept warning me for behavior other posters were doing. [The only formal warning you received in that thread was from me.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12630489#post12630489) I warned you for ignoring my instruction (and by extension, **tomndebb** ’s) by going on and on in your irrelevant and rather silly argument about the meaning of “a few.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-moderators-here-biased-and-intellectually-dishonest/545149.md?page=4)