# Why not just ban people you don't like/agree with outright? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 18, 2011, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905 "2011-06-18T02:40:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905/41 "2011-06-18T08:32:21Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > TL DR = Too Long - Didn’t Read (kind of means “get over yourself”) > Sorry it’s kind of a joke - didn’t mean to piss you off. > But seriously, all kidding aside, isn’t about time you dropped this? > I understand your frustration. Most of us have been slapped on the wrist a few times. You have to understand that the members of this board strive for something a little higher. Sometimes we reach it, often we don’t, but we try. > **This is a forum that will fit you well if you can support your positions with well thought out arguments. You’ll get ripped apart but it’s your job to sew yourself back together and defend your argument. It’s not for the weak.** > I hope you’ll stay, but be expected to be held responsible for the things you post. This thread was lazy, I get it, but I was warned for the very thing that others were not. That much I showed. **Miller** and **tom** are not quiet in their dislike for me, so if rules are disproportionately applied to me, I call BS. As far as **debate** (outside of this thread as I’ve already admitted I was pissed) goes, I’ve always thought I could hold my own. It was my opinion that debates should stand on the facts, not the debater. When a debater starts to seriously cross a line and make it personal, it’s fair to question their premise. I came here because I thought SD was a cut above the rest. (Yeah, I was one of the lurker types.) Perhaps I _am_ actually quite bad at this, and if my dissenting or concurring opinions are taking up bandwith and offer nothing, I’d happily leave. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905/42 "2011-06-18T09:09:12Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > You linked me to **Tom’s** post. He was **Warned** for the homophobic thing, but not the polygamy hijack. Goddammit. [Here’s the correct link.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13925060&postcount=147) And he was clearly warned for continuing the polygamy hijack. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905/43 "2011-06-18T09:12:32Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Goddammit. [Here’s the correct link.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13925060&postcount=147) > > And he was clearly warned for continuing the polygamy hijack. I stand corrected. So it was **Dio** that a free pass on ignoring mod rules and Yog who got a free pass for breaking the insult rule and **boy** was fine to say things about me that were insulting and not true and scoff at my ‘stupid analogies’. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905/44 "2011-06-18T09:29:52Z")
1. I got called a name and [responded](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13850978&postcount=96) with, ‘jerk’. I get a formal warning. Other poster does not. 2. I say that anyone who invalidates another religion and tries to change it is a [sanctimonious asshole](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=13697762#post13697762). Warned. But I thought i was within the rules. According to **tom** , I was. According to **Marley** , I am not. That was brought to ATMB and it was observed that the rules were not applied fairly. I then realized what was likely to happen in the future. 3 & 4 were yesterday’s infractions re: responding to Dio’s assaults plus my observation that I can’t break the rules by observing another person’s breaking of the rules. Nor can I respond to people trying to smear me. draw & quarter the dissenter, why don’t you. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905/45 "2011-06-18T10:37:27Z")
Poor poor pitiful me. You’ve been here a dogs watch and received all these warnings. Does that raise any red flad about your style? ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905/46 "2011-06-18T12:06:50Z")
Yeah, why not just leave a message board you don’t like/agree with outright? ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905/47 "2011-06-18T13:00:34Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > 1. I got called a name and [responded](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13850978&postcount=96) with, ‘jerk’. I get a formal warning. Other poster does not. The other poster called you Newt! And they weren’t warned? Alert the mods! Wake up Ed Zotti! THIS INJUSTICE SHALL NOT STAND! Pro tip: If you’re going to be disingenuous in your summary of events, you should at least refrain from posting a link that proves you utterly, unequivocally wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905/48 "2011-06-18T13:13:30Z")
The problem here is that you keep breaking the rules. Just don’t. If you never cross the bright line, you won’t get called out on the little stuff and you’ll be more able to convince the mods that other posters need to be reigned in. But if you keep ignorning the rules and acting the way you do, no one’s really going to help you out on the borderline stuff. Just my 2 cents. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905/49 "2011-06-18T13:28:49Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > I stand corrected. So it was **Dio** that a free pass on ignoring mod rules and Yog who got a free pass for breaking the insult rule and **boy** was fine to say things about me that were insulting and not true and scoff at my ‘stupid analogies’. Diogenes is just doing his act. When he is wrong, he simply repeats himself, over and over. If you prove him wrong, he repeats himself again. Yes, it’s annoying and jerkish; yes, he ought to be Warned for it. He won’t be. YogSogoth’s post was a surrender - learn to interpret those when they happen. He had no new arguments, so he just repeated himself along with an argument _ad hominem_ knowing that most of the board would back his opinion up. Some posters will never admit they’re wrong, never back down, and never recognize that any argument they don’t like has any validity. Their standard response when you point is out is ‘no u’. And no, they will not catch flak for it. This is how these boards are moderated. It is not going to change. There is going to be a different standard for those who hold the “correct” opinions. Get used to it, or get ready to be banned. It is what it is - overall, this is a very good board, but a lot of the knees jerk pretty automatically here. Regards, Shodan ---
**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:** [June 18, 2011, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905/50 "2011-06-18T14:08:22Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > 1. I got called a name and [responded](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13850978&postcount=96) with, ‘jerk’. I get a formal warning. Other poster does not. You got called “Newt” because you were trying to claim you were being misrepresented with an actual quote of yours - just like Newt Gingrich did a few weeks ago. That’s not being called a name. Calling someone “jerk” is. There is a distinction, and you’re going to have to learn it. > [@](#): > > 1. I say that anyone who invalidates another religion and tries to change it is a [sanctimonious asshole](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=13697762#post13697762). Warned. But I thought i was within the rules. According to **tom** , I was. According to **Marley** , I am not. That’s a sticky one, and you’re right. Tom is more likely to call you out on that, especially if you’ve run up a string of warnings (and 2400 posts) in just a few months. We are tough on newbies around here, but you’re going to keep getting warnings (actually, you’re just going to get banned) if you don’t slow down and figure out what you’re doing wrong. > [@](#): > > 3 & 4 were yesterday’s infractions re: responding to Dio’s assaults plus my observation that I can’t break the rules by observing another person’s breaking of the rules. Nor can I respond to people trying to smear me. Regarding Dio’s last polygamy post - read the last line. He clearly says he missed the mod note to stop the hijack, apologized, and stopped posting about polygamy. His post was not long after the mod note - that’s common around here, and that gets a pass most of the time. You can argue that it’s bullshit, but it happens. You responding to that post won’t, because not only did you have ample time to see the mod note, but the post you were referring to had a reference to it in it - so you don’t have an excuse. If you NEED to respond to it, then start a new thread, open with a response to it, and link to your new thread instead. (Also, what Shodan said - getting tangled up with Dio has its own set of Bizarro rules. He can toe the line better than anyone, and get people to stumble over it. The repercussions of that are going to be much harder on a newbie.) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905/51 "2011-06-18T14:13:01Z")
CP, just stop worrying about what other people are getting away with and just monitor your own behavior. Just don’t get personal with people, regardless of what they say. And just stop with the “he did it too” arguments. Provocation is not a valid excuse here. Nobody’s looking for an excuse to ban you. It’s entirely in your hands what happens. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905/52 "2011-06-18T14:27:59Z")
> [@](#): > > So, since I just got a formal warning, why not just suspend my posting privileges? You’re going to do it anyway. 1. Be careful what you wish for. 2. As others have pointed out, the following are not “defenses” to a moderator note or warning: a. Someone else started it. b. Other people were doing it too. c. The moderator who issued the note or warning doesn’t like me. In each case, we’ll look at what you did and decide whether or not you complied with the rules. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905/53 "2011-06-18T14:33:42Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Some posters will never admit they’re wrong, never back down, and never recognize that any argument they don’t like has any validity. Their standard response when you point is out is ‘no u’. And no, they will not catch flak for it. This is actually what my first mod note was about. I could see the polygamy discussion was about to go down that hole (note **Diogenes the Cynic** ’s comment about maturity), and I didn’t want it to overwhelm the rest of the thread. **CitizenPained** , we can ban posters for breaking the rules, but we usually don’t rush into that. When it’s needed, we use warnings to try to get people to follow with the rules and stop breaking them. I realize that we sometimes slice things pretty fine in terms of comments on a person’s argument (which are generally OK) and comments about the person (which are not). That said, I’ve told you before I think you’re smart enough to understand how we do things here. Don’t insult other people personally, and if think someone else is insulting you, report it and don’t respond in kind. And if you think the mods get the situation wrong, ask them about the difference rather than ignoring them. Beyond that there’s not much else to tell. You were advised upthread to consider how your post might sound to someone else and I think that’s good advice, particularly in regard to that “Can I call you a liar” post. ---
**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:** [June 18, 2011, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905/54 "2011-06-18T15:26:16Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > 1. I got called a name and [responded](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13850978&postcount=96) with, ‘jerk’. I get a formal warning. Other poster does not. > > 2. I say that anyone who invalidates another religion and tries to change it is a [sanctimonious asshole](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=13697762#post13697762). Warned. But I thought i was within the rules. According to **tom** , I was. According to **Marley** , I am not. > > That was brought to ATMB and it was observed that the rules were not applied fairly. I then realized what was likely to happen in the future. > > 3 & 4 were yesterday’s infractions re: responding to Dio’s assaults plus my observation that I can’t break the rules by observing another person’s breaking of the rules. Nor can I respond to people trying to smear me. > draw & quarter the dissenter, why don’t you. You would do well to focus more on your own behavior and not on that of other people. You can’t change how they post; but you can change how you post. You do need to realize that you have broken the rules; and if you don’t stop breaking the rules you will be suspended and banned. Stop trying to figure out just how insulting you can be without drawing a warning; and just stop insulting people. Seriously, that’s all you have to know You want to make yourself out to be a martyr, but you’re not. We permit nearly anything in terms of viewpoint here, as long as people obey the rules. You’re just someone who hasn’t figured out how to post within the rules, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905/55 "2011-06-18T19:13:39Z")
Really, if they were just out to get you, they could have banned or suspended you already. You’ve racked up a lot of warnings in a short period of time. That usually leads to at least a suspension. If anything, they’ve given you a break. Don’t make the mods that voted/argued in your favor regret doing so. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905/56 "2011-06-18T20:02:08Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > I disagree with a mod - usually Marley - and rules are bent so that others can attack me while I’m held up to a ridiculous standard. Yeah, yeah, all the others are receiving free passes to despicable behaviour while you are held to impossibly high standards. I wonder where I read that exact same argument…Oh yeah, in every f Israel thread you cared to join (which means any Israel thread, or any thread where Israel can be shoehorned in). Quit the schtick. > [@CitizenPained](#): > > but if i report people’s BS, rarely does anything happen. > [@CitizenPained](#): > > I haven’t kept a log of every post I’ve reported, though. That would be odd. > [@CitizenPained](#): > > I _have_ reported posts many times and have seen _maybe_ two warnings. And I don’t even think they were ‘official’ warnings. > > I would really like to see that some of the most-cited rules are the ones that are enforced. It shouldn’t be an issue. With so many mods, it should be easy. Especially if people are reporting them. Woah, you sure like to report people a lot. Never ever crossed my mind to report anyone since I got here. Must be a question of personality. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905/57 "2011-06-18T20:07:50Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > Woah, you sure like to report people a lot. Never ever crossed my mind to report anyone since I got here. Must be a question of personality. This isn’t the Pit, so these kinds of comments don’t belong in this thread. (And the stuff about Israel doesn’t belong here either.) ATMB is for discussion of the rules. And since the mods can’t be anywhere, reporting posts is an important part of what makes this site what it is. You don’t have to report posts, but refusing to do it isn’t a mark of superiority. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905/58 "2011-06-18T20:11:26Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > This isn’t the Pit, so these kinds of comments don’t belong in this thread. (And the stuff about Israel doesn’t belong here either.) ATMB is for discussion of the rules. And since the mods can’t be anywhere, reporting posts is an important part of what makes this site what it is. You don’t have to report posts, but refusing to do it isn’t a mark of superiority. A poster that complains about Mods’ constant heavy handedness against her while reporting others by the dozens is clearly displaying a very skewed vision of reality, at least for the benefit of this board. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905/59 "2011-06-18T20:19:46Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > A poster that complains about Mods’ constant heavy handedness against her while reporting others by the dozens is clearly displaying a very skewed vision of reality, at least for the benefit of this board. I hope this thread gives **CitizenPained** a better idea of how the rules work here, but your implication that she is a tattle-tale is still not appropriate for this forum. Let’s move on. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905/60 "2011-06-18T20:54:48Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > You got called “Newt” because you were trying to claim you were being misrepresented with an actual quote of yours - just like Newt Gingrich did a few weeks ago. That’s not being called a name. Calling someone “jerk” is. There is a distinction, and you’re going to have to learn it. > > That’s a sticky one, and you’re right. Tom is more likely to call you out on that, especially if you’ve run up a string of warnings (and 2400 posts) in just a few months. We are tough on newbies around here, but you’re going to keep getting warnings (actually, you’re just going to get banned) if you don’t slow down and figure out what you’re doing wrong. > Regarding Dio’s last polygamy post - read the last line. He clearly says he missed the mod note to stop the hijack, apologized, and stopped posting about polygamy. His post was not long after the mod note - that’s common around here, and that gets a pass most of the time. You can argue that it’s bullshit, but it happens. You responding to that post won’t, because not only did you have ample time to see the mod note, but the post you were referring to had a reference to it in it - so you don’t have an excuse. If you NEED to respond to it, then start a new thread, open with a response to it, and link to your new thread instead. (Also, what Shodan said - getting tangled up with Dio has its own set of Bizarro rules. He can toe the line better than anyone, and get people to stumble over it. The repercussions of that are going to be much harder on a newbie.) I considering being called _Newt_ insulting. Especially if the person is calling me a liar. I **was** being misrepresented, as the title was rather misleading and failed to give context. I expanded on that, but to no avail. The OP itself was hostile. Damn. Re: DIO: But he kept posting on polygamy. That’s what bothered me. I get it: Newbies get the rough. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-ban-people-you-dont-like-agree-with-outright/585905.md?page=4)