I’m not usually one to question board politics. The mods here are pretty fair compared to other boards I hang out at, and most of their actions aren’t questionable. However, I really have to take issue with one thing: closing of Pit threads at the request of the person being pitted. I’m speaking specifically about the thread entitled Shirley Ujest, Shirley Usuck, which was closed after the Pittee asked for it to be. Her request was met with no resistance from the mods. I know there are more examples, but I don’t feel like digging right now.
If I were pitted, I would take it. I’d maybe try to reason things out with the people pitting me, correct inaccuracies where I found them, and try to rectify my character, but I would never ask for it to be closed. If I’m being pitted, obviously that means I’ve done something to offend someone else, and that person has every right to take task with me. So asking for your Pit thread to be closed is already a cowardly move. But why are the mods pandering to it? This is not the fluff forum. Things here are supposed to be confrontational, and I am really sort of bewildered as to why a mod would close a Pit thread after one post from the Pittee. Is it so wrong when some MPSIMSer gets their fewwings hurt?
Just like it says in the forum description, the Pit is FOR complaints about other members. Why are you limiting our expression?
The thread should have been left to die of its own accord, since it was already headed in that direction anyway. I just think it’s bad form to let someone direct the content of their own Pit thread. And anyway, the thread wasn’t only about Tripler; the OP took task with Shirley’s habit of posting unfunny one-liners to ANY thread. I took it as a straw that broke the camel’s back kind of thing.
However, Lynn’s closing remarks, not to mention the time that passed after Tripler requested the ending of the “train wreck”, strongly suggest that this was an acquiescence to Shirley’s request to close the thread.
I don’t really think it’s too much of a faux pas in this particular case – Triplerhad already indicated, basicly, “no harm no foul” and Shirleyhad appologized – but I tend to agree with the general sentiment that, on the whole, a Pit thread need not be closed at the request of the Pittee.
I was actually thinking the same thing. I agree with the closing of the thread, but I found it extremely strange that it was done at the request of the pittee.
I think it’s likely that that was just a fluke, though, not regular policy.
Since Tripler wanted it closed and it is his feelings that prompted the OP, keeping the thread open would be enormously hypocritical and unkind. Please consider why the OP in the pitting thread was posted to begin with.
I’m bothered that Thunder’s pit thread was closed at anyone but Thunder’s request, too. The word trainwreck was bandied about liberally, too. If that thread was a trainwreck, the definition of the term has changed since real trainwrecks took place in the Pit.
In summary, the thread should have died of its on volition or at Thunder’s request.
Personally, i’ve never been a fan of closing any threads except in the case of duplicate threads, spam, broken rules about content (e.g., discussion of how to break the law), etc.
I’ve always disliked the idea that the OP can request that a thread be closed. When i start a thread, i don’t consider it “my” property. Sure, i start the conversation, but this message board is for all members, and if the discussion veers off in a different direction then that should be fine.
The rule especially annoys me when someone starts a rant in the Pit, gets their ass handed to them, and then requests that the thread be closed. Sorry, but if you start a thread (especially in the Pit) then you should be prepared for the fact that people might think you’re full of shit, and call you on it. You shouldn’t be able to go whining to a Mod and get the thread closed.
My feelings exactly. And it’s especially egregious that Lynn appeared to close the thread at the specific request of the person being pitted. Imagine the consequences for the Pit if anyone could request the closing of a thread in which they were pitted.
But how often does a mod actually close it in those circumstances?
“Why can’t you let them take their medicine?” Please. Shirley had already taken her lumps and apologized. What might have followed had it been left open wouldn’t have been “medicine;” it would’ve been wholly unproductive. What, so you’re gonna keep criticizing and flaming her…for what? Why? She said she was sorry, what the fuck more do you want?
The idea that leaving a thread open for everyone to make unkind comments about another person counts as them “taking their medicine” is ludicrous. Medicine doesn’t generally consist of a pile of cruel insults.
If your question is, “Why can’t you let us be nasty?” then at least it’s a relevant question. But the thread in question does not qualify in any sense as medicine.
To be honest, i don’t know, and i don’t know how one would go about searching for such threads. But i know i’ve seen it happen.
Well, like you and Left Hand, i think that the whole “take their medicine” line of the OP is actually somewhat disingenuous, but so what if people want to keep criticizing and flaming? That is one of the specific purposes of the Pit. “If you gotta flame, do it here.” If you’re going to close down every “unproductive” Pit thread, this would be a pretty barren forum.
I don’t think they need to shut down every unproductive Pit thread. I think they should use their judgment, whim, or jackboots to get rid of the sucky ones. That one seemed sucky. I’m glad it got closed.
So you’re sad that a thread you found nonsucky got closed? You’re sad that you don’t more opportunity to abuse someone? I weep copious tears for you, really I do.
Did you have something more to say in it, or did you just want to enjoy the vitriol? Oh, I see:
Consensus seemed to be that Shirley badly misfired and should apologize. She did. Tripler seemed capable of dealing; he made it clear he didn’t think it was funny. In what way is your desire to be vile and to enjoy the vileness of others of any importance?