# Why aren't you even TRYING to communicate with us? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 27, 2009, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-you-even-trying-to-communicate-with-us/487642 "2009-02-27T10:05:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-you-even-trying-to-communicate-with-us/487642/41 "2009-02-27T16:42:05Z")
Give it up, folks. Here are the unpalatable facts: TPTB don’t give a shit about what posters think, not even the good ones. Demonstrably they will _not_ listen to even reasonable concerns. Their new rules are unclear and already being inplemented inconsistently. They don’t don’t know what the fuck they’re doing, not even the most well-intentioned bystanders to this trainwreck, but now they’re in full unthinking defensive mode. Any questions, no matter how sincere and politely phrased, merely confirm their bias that all posters are whiney so slamming down on any criticism is justified and overdue. **They aren’t listening and they don’t give a shit what anybody thinks.** It’s double secret probation rules in The Pit from now on. All TPTB want is for you to pay up and shut up. ---
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-you-even-trying-to-communicate-with-us/487642/42 "2009-02-27T17:52:35Z")
I nominate **Dead Badger** and **Dr Drake** to be my official spokespeople on this issue. As much as I would like to add my own personal insight that may be being overlooked or that hasn’t been expressed in quite the way I’d do it, it’s becoming obvious that 20 pages of everyone’s personal insight (mixed with rabid frothing – **prr** , you are not helping the way you think you are) is not going to be read, let alone convince anyone of anything. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-you-even-trying-to-communicate-with-us/487642/43 "2009-02-27T18:23:22Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > And there are very few people who ARE willing and able to do the job. Sorry, but I simply don’t believe this – at least in the sense of “willing and able to do the job in a way that will make the customers happy.” You just drove off two of your best mods because of policy changes. Other people who could/would/_have_ made perfectly good mods/admins are among those complaining the loudest. If that’s your choice, fine; but spare us the simultaneous complaints about not getting good help. This is the bed you made. Either lie in it or get out. ---
**Author:** ![RobuSensei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@RobuSensei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobuSensei)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-you-even-trying-to-communicate-with-us/487642/44 "2009-02-27T18:26:32Z")
> [@TVeblen](#): > > Any questions, no matter how sincere and politely phrased, merely confirm their bias that all posters are whiney so slamming down on any criticism is justified and overdue. **They aren’t listening and they don’t give a shit what anybody thinks.** > > It’s double secret probation rules in The Pit from now on. All TPTB want is for you to pay up and shut up. So are you saying that there’s no point in even trying to communicate anymore? Just give up and either suck it up or leave? Allow me to tilt at windmills a while longer. At the very least, Lynn and Marley have actually responded in this thread, and there is a conversation going on. This is more than we’ve gotten in the original thread, where no one is responding at all anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-you-even-trying-to-communicate-with-us/487642/45 "2009-02-27T19:06:41Z")
When has the administration here ever listened to (mostly entirely) reasonable complaints by the members? ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-you-even-trying-to-communicate-with-us/487642/46 "2009-02-27T19:09:20Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > When has the administration here ever listened to (mostly entirely) reasonable complaints by the members? Well, **Ed** did move the Barn House forum down to the bottom of the page after en masse complaints about its position right in the middle of the rest of the forums. ---
**Author:** ![RobuSensei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@RobuSensei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobuSensei)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-you-even-trying-to-communicate-with-us/487642/47 "2009-02-27T19:22:00Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > When has the administration here ever listened to (mostly entirely) reasonable complaints by the members? Just because it hasn’t happened (very often) doesn’t mean it won’t… …although I am not optimistic. Still it’s no effort for me to courteously tilt at the windmill. And like I said, at least a couple members of the leadership team are responding here. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-you-even-trying-to-communicate-with-us/487642/48 "2009-02-27T22:11:35Z")
> [@ntucker](#): > > mixed with rabid frothing – **prr** , you are not helping the way you think you are. Well, excuuuuuuuuuse me! You, sir, may meet me in the P–oh, right. Skip that. have a nice day, now. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-you-even-trying-to-communicate-with-us/487642/49 "2009-02-27T23:07:56Z")
(in answer to the question"do you want us to stay " > [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Most of you, yes. There are some posters who would improve the board if they’d quit posting. I’m startled myself about the number and variety of posters who are concerned. In addition to the general malcontents, and perpetual whiners, there’s a significant number of other posters who **generally don’t call folks cunts etc** who are expressing serious levels of concern. For me, the ‘clarifications’ are having more and more of a chilling effect - making the lines seem more capricious and ill defined. I **generally** don’t say ‘fuck off’ to posters, nor have I ever called one a cunt. I **mostly** use a semi (at least) respectful tone, so it’s not at all that I’m being told to not say “fuck off” or whatever, it’s that many of us are unclear about what we can say w/o consequences. I believe it was **mhendo** who said he’d post as he always has (but specifically avoiding ‘cunt’) and let the chips fall where they may. I believe that if this rule is enforced as it’s being demonstrated it would be that many long term decent folks will fall afoul of the new rule. And either you’ll warn them, whatever, or it’ll be enforced only on folks that are perceived to be troublemakers. Problem is - if the language is ‘beyond the pale’, it should be ‘beyond the pale’ no matter who says it. ---
**Author:** ![Clark\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c77e96/32.png) [@Clark\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_K)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-you-even-trying-to-communicate-with-us/487642/50 "2009-02-28T00:04:04Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Stop. Take a long five (days, not minutes). See what happens. Do what I believe **mhendo** said he was going to do: post as if the new rule wasn’t really much of a change and see what happens. When an issue comes up, deal with it politely and concisely with staff. If over the long run, evidence arises that one or more of your concerns was justifiable, raise it again, supported by your evidence. See if you can persuade Ed to modify or change his position. But don’t expect that the braying of horns is going to bring down the walls of Jericho. 😉 This is excellent advice. People have every reason to be concerned about the new rules, but I wish they would have a little patience and perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-you-even-trying-to-communicate-with-us/487642/51 "2009-02-28T00:25:09Z")
> [@RobuSensei](#): > > So we have a 19-page (at this writing) thread full of people with concerns and complaints about the new BBQ Pit rules. Administration response has been sparse and unhelpful (and in at least one instance, admittedly non-serious). With the lack of any serious response or discussion from the adminstration, tempers are getting heated, assumptions are getting made, and frustration is mounting. My apologies for not responding sooner; I’ve had a lot on my plate. I think we’re arriving at a consensus that will simplify matters for everyone; see: > **[Of assholes and dicks](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508496)** > > Ed Zotti posted the following a couple of hours ago in this thread: Emphasis mine. As a point of clarification: what is the principled distinction you are drawing between “asshole” (okay) and “dick” (not okay)? Thanks. ---
**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:** [March 2, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-you-even-trying-to-communicate-with-us/487642/52 "2009-03-02T16:33:12Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > When has the administration here ever listened to (mostly entirely) reasonable complaints by the members? I’ve gone ahead and removed the link to an outside board in your signature, but regardless, please do not advertise for another site without prior staff permission. As it’s stated in the Registration Agreement: > [@](#): > > Do not post spam, including but not limited to advertisements, chain letters, pyramid schemes, solicitations, offers to trade or barter, charitable appeals, or other messages primarily intended to promote a cause, venture, organization, event (except Straight Dope-related events), website, or other entity or activity, whether or not money is involved. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-you-even-trying-to-communicate-with-us/487642.md?page=2)