# Why was Seven banned? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 28, 2009, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610 "2009-07-28T22:53:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610/161 "2009-07-29T11:38:03Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > He’s easy to find - he’s the one that walks around with what looks like a cucumber in his pants Pssst, it’s a patch panel. ---
**Author:** ![wmfellows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@wmfellows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wmfellows)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610/162 "2009-07-29T11:48:45Z")
Damn. Well, I think I have never interacted with Seven (7), but this is really bloody stupid. And all due to a sort of bizarre Stalinist mentality of never mentioning “The Snark Pit.” Personally, this motivated me to do a bit of googling (not having been motivated in the past) with “snark” and “SDMB” pulled it up with trivial ease. And what is the big deal, insofar as a bunch of marginally coherent rantings and petty snideness is pretty boring in the end to anyone not really excessively invested in their SDMB ego? In fact, with a slight bit of hyperbole, as it’s just a msg board and keeping things in context, the whole administration of this Board has gotten really rather… Stalinist. Oh, by Stalinist, I actually mean Moronically Authoritarian and Hypersensitive due to Ossified Egos and Excessive Sense of Importance. Let’s count Disappearing threads to try to pretend inconvenient outside facts / criticism doesn’t exist (which if one were confident, one would merely shrug off, I mean that snark board is largely incoherent anyway as far as 15min of reading told me); Banning people for merely quoting the actual (but inconvenient) words of Admins / Great Leader; Ever changing Party Lines designed mostly it would appear to protect the increasingly thin skin of the Great Leadres. Now there aren’t show trials, or the like - although that might actually be quite fun. Slightly overdone as the little Stalinism line goes, does highlight how really dumb the running of this Board has become. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2009, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610/163 "2009-07-29T11:50:53Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > I thought we had to pay extra for grease? Three tubes of KY come with every charter renewal. Anyone who did not receive the tubes should speak with Tuba. ---
**Author:** ![Promethea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Promethea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Promethea)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610/164 "2009-07-29T11:54:08Z")
> [@Polyperchon](#): > > Ha! At four pages I stupidly assumed there would be more Mod/Admin input than just Marley’s post. More the fool am I. > > I’d like to add my voice, again, to those who would like to know why quoting Tuba’s words is considered jerkish behaviour but Tuba actually saying them is not. I know. The lack of anyone addressing these points is pretty disappointing. Marley23 and TubaDiva were both online earlier with TubaDiva giving updates to other threads in this forum even. At best, I suspect the moderators and admins are off discussing it collectively and will report back later with some consensus or other. I would hope it is that rather than just ignoring replies because the complaints are being dismissed as stirring trouble for the sake of it. Not one person in this thread has said banning Seven was the most appropriate course of action which is pretty much unheard of in this kind of thing. In any reasonable environment, that alone really should give the powers that be pause. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610/165 "2009-07-29T12:04:07Z")
Think we’ll get a comment from the powers that be sometime this week? ---
**Author:** ![wmfellows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@wmfellows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wmfellows)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610/166 "2009-07-29T12:10:48Z")
> [@Promethea](#): > > I know. The lack of anyone addressing these points is pretty disappointing. Marley23 and TubaDiva were both online earlier with TubaDiva giving updates to other threads in this forum even. > > At best, I suspect the moderators and admins are off discussing it collectively and will report back later with some consensus or other. I would hope it is that rather than just ignoring replies because the complaints are being dismissed as stirring trouble for the sake of it. Not one person in this thread has said banning Seven was the most appropriate course of action which is pretty much unheard of in this kind of thing. In any reasonable environment, that alone really should give the powers that be pause. Seems rather unlikely they have a Khrushchev amongst them, well it was clearly a mistake to come back after the lifting of the subscription thing. Damned glad I didn’t fall for that scam though. ---
**Author:** ![Promethea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Promethea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Promethea)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610/167 "2009-07-29T12:22:09Z")
> [@wmfellows](#): > > Seems rather unlikely they have a Khrushchev amongst them, well it was clearly a mistake to come back after the lifting of the subscription thing. Damned glad I didn’t fall for that scam though. I was just trying to give the benefit of the doubt but in all honesty, even the best case scenario of all the mods doing the equivalent of a team huddle isn’t THAT great. It would smack of the siege mentality and lack of transparency that was such a key part in the upset caused in the furore over the way that last batch of rule changes was handled - it exacerbates a ‘them and us’ situation. But I’d take that over the “we just don’t give a shit what you all think” answer. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610/168 "2009-07-29T12:27:39Z")
> [@Promethea](#): > > \ Not one person in this thread has said banning Seven was the most appropriate course of action which is pretty much unheard of in this kind of thing. In any reasonable environment, that alone really should give the powers that be pause. This hits the nail on the head. Nobody agrees with TPTB. Tuba got pissy when he quoted her PM, and “Off with his head!” A warning, or a suspension should have been the course of action before bannination. You guys really need to listen to us on this one issue, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Polyperchon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@Polyperchon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polyperchon)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610/169 "2009-07-29T12:34:18Z")
> [@Promethea](#): > > At best, I suspect the moderators and admins are off discussing it collectively and will report back later with some consensus or other. I would hope it is that rather than just ignoring replies because the complaints are being dismissed as stirring trouble for the sake of it. Not one person in this thread has said banning Seven was the most appropriate course of action which is pretty much unheard of in this kind of thing. In any reasonable environment, that alone really should give the powers that be pause. While this is the best case scenario, it still isn’t a very good situation for the PTB to be in. Surely, if they were at all confident in their own actions, they wouldn’t _need_ to be having a post-ban huddle, because they would have hashed out their reasons, and have a strong case to support their actions sorted _before_ they started whacking people with the ban stick. I mean, scrambling for a defense post-ban would just mean moderation here was capricious and done with little regard to the posted rules. Oh wait… ---
**Author:** ![Borborygmi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/borborygmi/32/217_2.png) [@Borborygmi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Borborygmi)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610/170 "2009-07-29T12:41:55Z")
To the extent that I am allowed to, I disagree with this banning. Unless I’m not allowed to at all, in which case this is the bestest, most justifiable banning ever. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610/171 "2009-07-29T12:55:28Z")
In addition, Marley’s explanation of why somehow mentioning the snarkpit was warning-worthy doesn’t hold up. He said (paraphrased) that Seven’s post amounted to saying “I post at the snarkpit, do you?” and that needs mod approval to start. And yet _these_ threads did NOT need mod approval–and they’re “worse” than Seven’s. They’re linking to other sites and offering them as Dope alternatives. Where can I go instead?". Note that Marley’s in at least one them and didn’t invoke this magical new rule that you have to get mod permission to mention that you post on another site\* > **[I need a new message board a lot like the Straight Dope](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508064)** > > Except still, you know, allowed to be fun. My favourite parts of the Dope were IMHO, MPSIMS, and The Pit, with frequent visits to Café Society. I’ve tried the Fabulous Forums but they’re far too cliquey for my taste. Any suggestions? > **[Do you post at other boards](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=60667)** > > Aside from the Straight Dope, Fathom, or their spinoffs (Socks or Fathom 2, do any of you post at other boards? Any of particular interest, such as an Irish community board, or a Roleplayer board, or an artist’s board. Or do you hang out in a... > **[Is there an online forum w/intelligent people and little moderation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=496433)** > > I’m looking to join an online forum or message board where there are intelligent people who talk about all kinds of stuff, including possibly taboo and offensive subjects, but where there is little moderation or organized efforts to “control” the... (many, many more cites available upon request) There are weekly “Freeper” threads. Don’t remember needing mod permission for them. There are regular 4chan threads. Don’t remember needing mod permission for them. I do vaguely remember a rule that says that if you want to promote a site (Like Giraffe or Fathom or Domebo or Unaboard), you need mod permission. But a “Raise your hand if you post there” thread isn’t even remotely "promoting under those rules. \*Can you link me to that rule, Marley? Not the one that says “Don’t link” or “You need mod permission to promote a rival site” but the one that says “You have to have mod approval to say ‘I post at another site’.” ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610/172 "2009-07-29T13:00:08Z")
Late to the party and with no time to get too involved. Just dropping in to sign on the side of the “This is a stupid decision from TPTB”. I will get snarky on this later on if I have time. Returds, Sapo. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610/173 "2009-07-29T13:05:34Z")
So mods and admins are giving this thread the silent treatment they should have given the initial SnarkPit thread. Very wise, very wise, leaving us to ponder: are you TRYING to fail? No other explanation makes sense. To describe the handling of all this as ham-fisted would be charitable. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610/174 "2009-07-29T13:09:05Z")
> [@HongKongFooey](#): > > No other explanation makes sense. How about the explanation of, “They just woke up, and now they’re talking about this behind the scenes, and there’s no clear agreement among them about what should be done, and they’ve agreed to stay quiet until they can speak with one voice”? I hope they reconsider this move; it seems precipitous to me. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610/175 "2009-07-29T13:09:25Z")
I come to bury Seven, not to praise him; The evil that men do lives after them, The good is oft interred with their bones, So let it be with Seven … The noble Marley Hath told you Seven was trolling: If it were so, it was a grievous fault, And grievously hath Seven answered it … Here, under leave of Marley and the rest, (For Marley is an honourable man; So are they all; all honourable men) Come I to speak in Seven’s funeral … He was my admin, faithful and just to me: But Marley says he was a troll; And Marley is an honourable man…. He hath brought many members home to the Dope, Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill: Did this in Seven seem trollish? When that the tech illiterate members have cried, Seven hath wept: Trolls should be made of sterner stuff: Yet Marley says he was a troll; And Marley is an honourable man. You all did see that on the splintering I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse: was this trolling? Yet Marley says he was a troll; And, sure, he is an honourable man. I speak not to disprove what Marley spoke, But here I am to speak what I do know. The admins all did love him once, not without cause: What cause withholds you then to speak for him? O judgement! thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason…. Bear with me; My heart is in the coffin there with Seven, And I must pause till it come back to me. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610/176 "2009-07-29T13:23:38Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > How about the explanation of, “They just woke up, and now they’re talking about this behind the scenes, and there’s no clear agreement among them about what should be done, and they’ve agreed to stay quiet until they can speak with one voice”? **BZZZT** Try again. ---
**Author:** ![starwarsfreek42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@starwarsfreek42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starwarsfreek42)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610/177 "2009-07-29T13:31:03Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > How about the explanation of, “They just woke up, and now they’re talking about this behind the scenes, and there’s no clear agreement among them about what should be done, and they’ve agreed to stay quiet until they can speak with one voice”? > > I hope they reconsider this move; it seems precipitous to me. How about an explanation of “We totally lost our tempers over nothing and jumped the gun (banhammer?), and are now going to ignore you all until you forget about it or at least get tired of bitching about it.” **swf42** : takes explanations seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610/178 "2009-07-29T13:36:35Z")
> [@Rebo](#): > > This hits the nail on the head. Nobody agrees with TPTB. No, not everyone. **Seven** wanted to be banned. He/she got his/her wish. For once in my life, I don’t see a problem with a banning, and I tend to be a bit more critical of many mod actions than the average Doper. FWIW, and it ain’t worth much. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610/179 "2009-07-29T13:36:47Z")
> [@DudleyGarrett](#): > > Tracks of My Tears. It’s really about a sad heroin addict. It’s, like, totally metaphorical. Smokey Robinson was a _crack_ addict. Didn’t you read his autobiography? Get it straight. Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610/180 "2009-07-29T13:43:13Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > How about the explanation of, “They just woke up, and now they’re talking about this behind the scenes, and there’s no clear agreement among them about what should be done, and they’ve agreed to stay quiet until they can speak with one voice”? Perhaps that should have been done _prior_ to the banning as they do with most other bannings of long standing posters. There were four moderators on line last night for several hours after the banning without a single post in this thread even to say ‘we’re discussing it.’ One would think that a three page universal response of dismay and disagreement would at least garner comment. One would hope this is not merely a case of waiting us out. People able to stay on topic in a thirty page thread are unlikely to become bored with a subject. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-seven-banned/504610.md?page=10)