# Why was the "Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do" thread closed? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 17, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-thread-closed/532807 "2010-03-17T23:31:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-thread-closed/532807/1 "2010-03-17T23:31:09Z")
Why was [thread=555891]this thread[/thread] in MPSIMS closed? Shortly before the thread was closed, **Marley** told **Cheshire Human** to stop acting like a jerk, which seemed like a perfectly reasonable instruction under the circumstances. After the mod instruction, **CH** made a few extraneous attention-seeking but, IMO, innocuous posts, and the thread was locked. That thread was interesting prior to **CH** ’s acting out, and I am just wondering if the thread could be re-opened. If the problem is **CH** ’s posts at the end of the thread, perhaps the mods could tell him/her to knock it off with the off-topic posts, rather than closing the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveroptic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiveroptic/32/8257_2.png) [@Fiveroptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveroptic)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-thread-closed/532807/2 "2010-03-18T00:01:37Z")
\*\*Twickster \*\*is a mod, therefore she is granted speshul rules. DO NOT QUESTION THE SPESHUL RULES. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-thread-closed/532807/3 "2010-03-18T00:15:14Z")
> [@Fiveroptic](#): > > \*\*Twickster \*\*is a mod, therefore she is granted speshul rules. DO NOT QUESTION THE SPESHUL RULES. If you have any serious insight as to what connection there would be between Twickster being a Mod and Twixster being a mere poster in that thread, please share. ---
**Author:** ![tacoloco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tacoloco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tacoloco)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-thread-closed/532807/4 "2010-03-18T00:20:35Z")
There was no reason to close that thread. Some folks, myself included got out of hand, but simple mod warnings or other sanctions would have served to corral the ugly. So what you’re left with is the appearance of mods protecting other mods. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveroptic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiveroptic/32/8257_2.png) [@Fiveroptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveroptic)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-thread-closed/532807/5 "2010-03-18T00:27:16Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > If you have any serious insight as to what connection there would be between Twickster being a Mod and Twixster being a mere poster in that thread, please share. Are you being purposely obtuse, or are you truly so naive? If it’s the latter, I have serious doubts regarding your ability to modmin a board this size with any kind of objectivity. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-thread-closed/532807/6 "2010-03-18T00:40:49Z")
> [@tacoloco](#): > > There was no reason to close that thread. Some folks, myself included got out of hand, but simple mod warnings or other sanctions would have served to corral the ugly. > > So what you’re left with is the appearance of mods protecting other mods. That’s what I was looking for. I really don’t think a mod, whether Marley or any other, would feel the need to close that particular thread merely to “protect” another Mod, in this case **twix**. But I can see where some might. > [@Fiveroptic](#): > > Are you being purposely obtuse, or are you truly so naive? If it’s the latter, I have serious doubts regarding your ability to modmin a board this size with any kind of objectivity. See above. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveroptic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiveroptic/32/8257_2.png) [@Fiveroptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveroptic)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-thread-closed/532807/7 "2010-03-18T00:44:01Z")
Yup. Spin it any way you want. Over and out. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-thread-closed/532807/8 "2010-03-18T00:47:18Z")
> [@Fiveroptic](#): > > Yup. Spin it any way you want. > > Over and out. I’m nervous to post because I’m already involved in another thread regarding potential abuse of moderator power. But it seems like people are really quick to jump on **any** moderator action as being an abuse of power… ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-thread-closed/532807/9 "2010-03-18T00:54:06Z")
SOME people are. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-thread-closed/532807/10 "2010-03-18T01:07:56Z")
So, why was it closed, again? ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-thread-closed/532807/11 "2010-03-18T01:47:24Z")
Could you possibly open it back up? I haven’t had a chance to attack twickster. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-thread-closed/532807/12 "2010-03-18T02:36:08Z")
Damn, I _thought_ there was someone left who hadn’t … 😛 ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-thread-closed/532807/13 "2010-03-18T02:44:18Z")
There you are! **RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE!** ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-thread-closed/532807/14 "2010-03-18T02:51:30Z")
Ow! ---
**Author:** ![tacoloco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tacoloco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tacoloco)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-thread-closed/532807/15 "2010-03-18T03:03:05Z")
There’s still NO explanation as to why the thread was closed. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-thread-closed/532807/16 "2010-03-18T03:08:57Z")
**Marley** isn’t online at the moment; I’m sure he’ll address it when he gets back. I’m not going to comment because I don’t know – I was offline when it was locked, and was, as promised, not participating as a mod with regard to it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-thread-closed/532807/17 "2010-03-18T04:32:32Z")
There was some comedy gold in that thread. [This post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12232127&postcount=220)had me about to give Vinyl Turnip my paycheck, and everyone was bringing the funny. Great thread. Of all the accusations, ire and abuse being tossed around, my favorite part was Dio saying “There is no excuse for that kind of typing” about JP’s typing skills. Haaa! So dead serious, and letting that condemnation stand right along side all kinds of heavy accusations concerning ethics and morals. Didn’t post in that thread, but for the record, I don’t think Twix handled it the best way, just because I do think it is actually quite easy to lay something down diplomatically. No need to be insensitive on purpose; even though you had every right to be blunt didn’t mean you HAD to be blunt. I wish that thread would have been left open, though. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-thread-closed/532807/18 "2010-03-18T05:16:13Z")
> [@Sidney Evgeni Jordan](#): > > Why was [thread=555891]this thread[/thread] in MPSIMS closed? Because it had turned into a good ole’ fashioned trainwreck. The OP had clearly checked out, people were sniping at each other and carrying on, and **Cheshire Human** was saying a bunch of them were idiots who should be shot. I think at that point, the discussion’s done and it’s time for the thread to die. I never thought there was going to be talk of a shooting spree in there, so I think it went out on a high note. That’s rare! In any case, the thread was not closed because the OP is a moderator. I’d have shut down any thread that went that far off the rails. (After I warned **Cheshire Human** , I asked the other MPSIMS mods if they thought the thread should stay open. One said it was **twickster** ’s decision, and that was the only response I got. After **Cheshire Human** started asking for forgiveness over and over, the decision was made for me and I didn’t see any way the thread was going to get back on track.) If anything I think it would have been shut down _sooner_ if the OP had been someone else. **twickster** had recused herself from moderating the thread. A non-moderator probably would have asked us to close the thread around page 4. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-thread-closed/532807/19 "2010-03-18T11:18:21Z")
Thanks for letting us know your reasoning. I still think the thread was closed prematurely. A page and a half of comments were posted yesterday, and it was a civil discussion about relationships and cheating, with many people participating. **Cheshire Human** , a new poster who doesn’t know the rules yet, was the only person who acted like a jerk. People responded to him by saying, essentially, “dude, what the hell?” and making a few jokes. The situation wasn’t escalating. And even you thought it was escalating, the thread could have been moved to the Pit instead of closed. The thread wasn’t even about **Twickster** anymore, so I don’t think that should be an issue, either. I understand that a thread can be closed by an OP if he/she doesn’t like the direction things are headed. You’ve implied that she didn’t ask to have it closed. Under the circumstances, I don’t understand why you didn’t just tell **Cheshire Human** to knock it off, or move the thread to the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-thread-closed/532807/20 "2010-03-23T20:08:44Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > (After I warned **Cheshire Human** , I asked the other MPSIMS mods if they thought the thread should stay open. One said it was **twickster** ’s decision, and that was the only response I got. Sometimes it’s kind of like talking into the void, isn’t it? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-thread-closed/532807.md?page=2)