# Why was Strunk banned? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 26, 2007, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763 "2007-02-26T20:13:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763/41 "2007-02-26T21:29:41Z")
**William Strunk Jr.** was banned for trolling after we did a review of his posting history following his second warning and concluded that his only goal here was to stir shit up. I don’t believe he was a sock, although we haven’t looked very hard since he’s already banned. **QSS** has been temporarily banned following his last few sock-like posts in the **Liberal** thread. We’re currently looking into what his deal is. I’m guessing he’s a sock and will be perma-banned, but I don’t actually know anything as I’m still reading through my email. On preview, I see **tomndebb** has commented on the thread-locking and other issues. I see no reason to reopen the thread – if anyone wants to continue discussion from that thread not concerning possible socks or trolls, go ahead and start a new one. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763/42 "2007-02-26T21:30:01Z")
**QSS** was under suspicion from early on. As to whom we suspect he actually was, that is a separate matter. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763/43 "2007-02-26T21:30:41Z")
[QUOTE=tomndebb] That thread was closed because 1. already a trainwreck, the idea that we would go for an additional 12 pages arguing over whether **QSS** was a sock of **prr** or of someone else would have killed the last remaining hamster 2. we had just recently gotten some closure on some long-term board antipathies (“feuds” seeming to be a bit too strong a word, in context), and the idea of continuing the rancor with new insults seemed counterproductive. I have already let the **Pit** Mods know of my action and have told them that I will not get my nose out of joint if they reverse it, so you are free to petition them to re-open that thread if you are desperate to continue it, although I would think that new threads on individual topics might be more appropriate. [/explaining, not Moderating] [/QUOTE] For what it is worth, I think your reasoning was sound. Or as I said above, it wasn’t about Liberal anymore at that point. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763/44 "2007-02-26T21:30:51Z")
My guess? I’m leaning towards Colonel Mustard in the billiard room with the candlestick. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763/45 "2007-02-26T21:31:59Z")
(Sarah decides that private investigation should not be her career-of-choice, and slinks away…) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763/46 "2007-02-26T21:32:32Z")
[QUOTE=tomndebb] **QSS** was under suspicion from early on. As to whom we suspect he actually was, that is a separate matter. [/QUOTE] Are we allowed to ask about you suspicions via Email and should we expect a reply? Jim ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763/47 "2007-02-26T21:35:02Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Are we allowed to ask about you suspicions via Email and should we expect a reply? Jim [/QUOTE] Why do you care? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763/48 "2007-02-26T21:36:29Z")
[QUOTE=Lord Ashtar] Why do you care? [/QUOTE] Many reasons, I am Emailing the mods about my reasons now. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763/49 "2007-02-26T21:40:51Z")
He was posting while Strunk. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763/50 "2007-02-26T22:02:05Z")
Not that it is any of my business, but - Do you consider yourself on the hook to **p r r**? I am assuming that you have no real evidence that **QSS** was a sock of the lately departed. It _may_ have been another troll, and lying about the “self-outing”. Since the mods have declared that the bet between you two was none of their concern, I am supposing that they will not communicate if **QSS** was really who he claimed. As I mention, not any of my concern if you don’t care to respond, Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763/51 "2007-02-26T22:02:50Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Are we allowed to ask about you suspicions via Email and should we expect a reply? [/QUOTE] Unfortunately, giving out who we thought it might have been (when it is not so obvious that there is no doubt) could possibly jeopardize our methods of determining who has been playing games, so we generally do not let out that info, either. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763/52 "2007-02-26T22:08:07Z")
[QUOTE=tomndebb] Unfortunately, giving out who we thought it might have been (when it is not so obvious that there is no doubt) could possibly jeopardize our methods of determining who has been playing games, so we generally do not let out that info, either. [/QUOTE] Okay, that makes sense. I did send the Email already with why I cared and about one other related matter. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763/53 "2007-02-26T22:12:38Z")
[QUOTE=tomndebb] Unfortunately, giving out who we thought it might have been… [/QUOTE] Oh, God! You’d tell us at least if you had credible evidence showing they had connections to high officials in the Iranian Government, wouldn’t you? Please, please, think of the _Homeland_! ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763/54 "2007-02-26T22:25:19Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] Not that it is any of my business, but - Do you consider yourself on the hook to **p r r**? I am assuming that you have no real evidence that **QSS** was a sock of the lately departed. It _may_ have been another troll, and lying about the “self-outing”. Since the mods have declared that the bet between you two was none of their concern, I am supposing that they will not communicate if **QSS** was really who he claimed. As I mention, not any of my concern if you don’t care to respond, Regards, Shodan [/QUOTE] I was off the hook from the moment I sent the money to Tris. He is the arbiter of trust agreed to by both me and PRR. What he does with the money — whether it’s to send it straightaway to PRR, wait two years, give it to charity, or buy a whore — is entirely up to him. I am merely _trusting_ that he will use it to the best of his (not my — _his_) ability in the manner in which it was intended. If Tris is satisfied that PRR has not posted here, then I have every confidence that he will execute the plan. But I can’t (forgive the probable mutilation of a legal term) ex-parte tell him, “Oh, I think you should do this or that with the money.” That would contravene his fiduciary relationship with PRR. It’s simply not my money anymore. ---
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763/55 "2007-02-26T22:33:12Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] Not that it is any of my business, but - Do you consider yourself on the hook to **p r r**? I am assuming that you have no real evidence that **QSS** was a sock of the lately departed. It _may_ have been another troll, and lying about the “self-outing”. Since the mods have declared that the bet between you two was none of their concern, I am supposing that they will not communicate if **QSS** was really who he claimed. As I mention, not any of my concern if you don’t care to respond, Regards, Shodan [/QUOTE] Just a thought, but wouldn’t the mods also have to ban **prr** , if **QSS** was a sock, and, hence, more or less give **Liberal** his answer? ---
**Author:** ![Foxy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763/56 "2007-02-26T22:33:49Z")
[QUOTE=Omegaman] Fuckin’ new posters . [/QUOTE] YEAH! Oh…wait… ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763/57 "2007-02-26T22:37:17Z")
[QUOTE=straight man] Just a thought, but wouldn’t the mods also have to ban **prr** , if **QSS** was a sock, and, hence, more or less give **Liberal** his answer? [/QUOTE] Yep. At least to the banning. It wouldn’t be \*proof \*that he was prr’s sock. The mods have pretty much said that they would neither confirm nor deny … ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763/58 "2007-02-26T22:56:40Z")
Let us all be on the lookout for **RTT**! ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763/59 "2007-02-26T23:05:52Z")
Or the next step could be a devious plan to keep the first letter the same, move the second letter forward one, and move the last letter back six… ---
**Author:** ![enigm4tic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@enigm4tic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enigm4tic)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763/60 "2007-02-26T23:10:36Z")
> [@](#): > > He was busted because he accidentally referred to Liberal as Libertarian which was Lib’s former name here. Someone new would not have known about it. Just since that caught my eye. I knew that from _that thread_ at least that Liberal used to go by Libertarian, although admittedly I almost certainly wouldn’t refer to him AS libertarian unless, say, I had just read a post referring to his old name. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-strunk-banned/393763.md?page=4)