# Why was MSWAS warned? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 26, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781 "2009-08-26T16:22:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781/81 "2009-08-26T21:49:12Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > So there was zero need for a new thread in MPSIMS specifically devoted to Mary Jo Kopechne; the topic was already covered. I dissent. It is common practice on this board to spin off separate threads to avoid hijacking the original thread. The “Ted is Dead” thread is or could be considerably broader than the Kopechne incident, and may not have been suited for in depth discussion of that relatively narrow topic. MPSIMS is historically the landing spot for threads booted out of the Pit for lack of venom. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781/82 "2009-08-26T21:58:20Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > My only reason for coming to this forum was to complain about the moderating decisions taken over your thread. That’s rich! You take swipes at **mswas** and at anyone and everyone else who thinks of Mary Jo Ko Kopechne whenever they hear Kennedy’s name, and then when called on it you suddenly you only want to talk about the other thread’s moderation. There’s a word (several, actually) for people like that. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781/83 "2009-08-26T22:27:30Z")
Yet another SDMB has rolled off a bridge. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781/84 "2009-08-26T22:39:53Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > That’s rich! You take swipes at **mswas** and at anyone and everyone else who thinks of Mary Jo Ko Kopechne whenever they hear Kennedy’s name, and then when called on it you suddenly you only want to talk about the other thread’s moderation. > > There’s a word (several, actually) for people like that. I’ll give your contribution the consideration it deserves. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781/85 "2009-08-26T22:55:23Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Yet another SDMB has rolled off a bridge. Oooh nasty. > [@mhendo](#): > > I’ll give your contribution the consideration it deserves. IE, you are a conservative. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781/86 "2009-08-26T23:25:07Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > On a board where most (all?) mods are of the liberal persuasion great care should be taken to avoid even the appearance of political bias. I think the mod concerned should ask herself whether she really would have acted in the same way if the thread had dealt with Rush Limbaugh’s past.. I think I would – you think I wouldn’t. Guess we won’t find out till Rush dies, will we? ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781/87 "2009-08-26T23:26:21Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > I think I would – you think I wouldn’t. Guess we won’t find out till Rush dies, will we? Isn’t he a vampire? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781/88 "2009-08-26T23:47:50Z")
[quote=“Marley23 in response to mswas writing “Mary Jo Kopechne was a real person.”, post:69, topic:507781”] I didn’t know this was in dispute. But again, we’re not having that debate in this thread. [/QUOTE] With all respect, I think we are. It would be cathartic, I think, for the moderators and admins to admit to the bias of this board. It is modern American liberal, based on the principles of class rights and economic authoritarianism. The fact is self-evident simply because a discussion in MPSIMS, of all places, about Mary Jo Kopechne is interpreted as trying to start trouble. Now, on a right-wing board, the discussion would be encouraged. And on really really right-wing boards, like the Freepers, the discussions are probably like the SDMB tearing apart a Republican who cheated on his wife and called his mistress — in public no less — his soul mate. Here at the SDMB, in MPSIMS, it is easy for me to imagine a thread poking fun at the South Carolina governor for his indiscretions. It doesn’t make sense that there can’t be a thread poking fun of Ted Kennedy for the MJK incident in the same forum UNLESS there is a bias among the board’s High Holies. To her credit, Twickster rescinded the warning. And to his detriment, mswas has allowed his emotions to get the better of him in this thread. But the point stands: the only reason Ted Kennedy’s mysterious and, to some, suspicious activities and behaviors regarding MJK can’t be poked fun of in MPSIMS is because it’s a Democrat (or modern American liberal) as opposed to a Republican (or conservative or fundamentalist Christian). That’s it. It’s simple. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781/89 "2009-08-27T00:00:41Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > To her credit, Twickster rescinded the warning. And to his detriment, mswas has allowed his emotions to get the better of him in this thread. But the point stands: the only reason Ted Kennedy’s mysterious and, to some, suspicious activities and behaviors regarding MJK can’t be poked fun of in MPSIMS is because it’s a Democrat (or modern American liberal) as opposed to a Republican (or conservative or fundamentalist Christian). I allowed my emotions to get the better of me? Not really. My emotional state has been pretty calm all day. I’ll admit I was in a wild mood yesterday, but not today. That being said I have for quite some time thought of this forum as being about as unbiased as the DailyKos. Pretty much peas in a pod the two sites. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781/90 "2009-08-27T00:00:55Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Here at the SDMB, in MPSIMS, it is easy for me to imagine a thread poking fun at the South Carolina governor for his indiscretions. It doesn’t make sense that there can’t be a thread poking fun of Ted Kennedy for the MJK incident in the same forum UNLESS there is a bias among the board’s High Holies. > > … > That’s it. It’s simple. Well, there’s the whole difference about Kopechne having died, and Sanford’s mistress not. That death kind of takes the whole element of light-hearted fun out of it, don’t you think? Look, folks, I’m not going to pretend not to be a left-leaning Democrat – anyone who wanted to could find me weighing in on various polls, etc., about who I voted for when. However, I challenge anyone to find convincing evidence that pushing that agenda has been a hallmark of my seven years here. Go ahead – read every post I’ve ever made in Great Debates. It shouldn’t take long. And for thems who like crunching numbers: compare the total number of those posts with, say, the total number of posts I’ve made about _Dancing with the Stars_. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781/91 "2009-08-27T00:03:08Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Well, there’s the whole difference about Kopechne having died, and Sanford’s mistress not. That death kind of takes the whole element of light-hearted fun out of it, don’t you think? > > Look, folks, I’m not going to pretend not to be a left-leaning Democrat – anyone who wanted to could find me weighing in on various polls, etc., about who I voted for when. > > However, I challenge anyone to find convincing evidence that pushing that agenda has been a hallmark of my seven years here. Go ahead – read every post I’ve ever made in Great Debates. It shouldn’t take long. > > And for thems who like crunching numbers: compare the total number of those posts with, say, the total number of posts I’ve made about _Dancing with the Stars_. I don’t see how the two follow. Because you don’t like debating politics that much means you aren’t quietly passionately partisan? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781/92 "2009-08-27T00:16:03Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > That being said I have for quite some time thought of this forum as being about as unbiased as the DailyKos. Pretty much peas in a pod the two sites. I’d suggest using the term _Board_ rather than _forum_. This Board has many forums. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781/93 "2009-08-27T00:22:33Z")
I point out cautiously, with regard to political biases, that saying it’s so don’t make it so. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781/94 "2009-08-27T01:26:10Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I point out cautiously, with regard to political biases, that saying it’s so don’t make it so. 😛 That’s true. But Twickster has admitted hers, again to her great credit. Unfortunately, she still rationalizes that her political views have no bearing on her decision making. There is only one mod here (and I won’t embarrass him by naming him) who does not allow his bias to have any effect on his moderation. Now, as a poster, he will scream and rant and drive-by and cause all manner of havoc, asking absolutely silly and arbitrary questions about God. He is an atheist, but never — and I mean NEVER — has his worldview prompted him to close down a discussion or suppress any sort of witnessing or statements of belief. I have hailed him before as the board’s best mod, even though he and I tangle sometimes fiercely. If he decided, therefore, that a thread in his forum was inappropriate, even if it had to do with religion, I would not question him because I know he is unfailingly fair. But on the politics side, this board leans so far left that were it a mass, gravity would slam it to the ground. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781/95 "2009-08-27T02:06:05Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > I’m not satisfied that the thread is still closed. > > It sucks, it’s partisan bullshit. It sucks. > > I want to know what forum I can post it in other than The Pit or Great Debates. What’s wrong with The Pit or Great Debates, though? There’s a Great Debates thread discussing Kennedy’s legacy, including the MJK incident. If you have something of substance to say, you could post it there. If you don’t have any particular point to make, but just want to rant or take potshots, why isn’t the Pit a better place for that? ETA: This has probably been already answered above. Just ignore it, unless you have anything else you want to add. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781/96 "2009-08-27T02:09:47Z")
What if you just want to poke a bit of fun? Why is that a Pit thread? Lots of MPSIMS threads poke fun of celebrities. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781/97 "2009-08-27T02:57:57Z")
**Czarcasm** After all this. Seriously SERIOUSLY **SERIOUSLY**? **Thudlow** Because it was neither a pitting nor a debate. It’s amazing how much animosity people have to the idea of talking about Mary Jo Kopechne. So my thread was closed yet again. Notice how he didn’t move it to the Pit? He closed it even though he is calling it a Pitting? WTF is wrong with the mods around here? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781/98 "2009-08-27T03:04:37Z")
You may as well drop it. Mary Jo Kopechne is not going to be allowed to be discussed except in the Pit, where the far left will pummel you with insults, derision, and snark. The mods know this, and that is why they are forcing it to the Pit. And I must say that I am disappointed in Czarcasm, especially after all my praise of him. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781/99 "2009-08-27T03:42:38Z")
Guess what everyone – there’s another Kopechne thread going in MPSIMS: [NJDC Kennedy letter](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=529629) ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781/100 "2009-08-27T05:05:15Z")
I hope my new thread to MPSIMS won’t be locked! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-mswas-warned/507781.md?page=6)