# Why was this thread closed? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 8, 2011, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906 "2011-08-08T03:17:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906/1 "2011-08-08T03:17:40Z")
Czarcasm closed [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=619313) alleging it was a “joke/attack” thread. No one was attacked. Joke threads are a long standing tradition here. I’d like a citation to a previously existing rule that was broken justifying the thread closure. Not some new rule invented on the spot, but an actual, published rule. I doubt I’ll get a citation, because there is no such rule. Precedent has been set. Czarcasm has decreed, and apparently the mod loop agrees, that the OP controls his thread in IMHO. Even though established practice prior to the recent fiasco was exactly the opposite. Fine, but that doesn’t mean you can close threads you don’t like, just because you don’t like them. I’d like my thread reopened. I have a few more polls I’ll be starting there. You aren’t going to like them, either. But you need to leave them the hell alone unless you have a cite to a currently existing rule the thread violates. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906/2 "2011-08-08T03:47:36Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Precedent has been set. Czarcasm has decreed, and apparently the mod loop agrees, that the OP controls his thread in IMHO. There’s been no such decree. That hasn’t been the rule in the past, and it won’t be in the future, either. The OP has some input in the direction of the thread and we frequently moderate to keep threads on topic as the situation dictates. We get it, **Oakminster** - you didn’t like the moderating in the IMHO avatar thread and the ATMB thread that commented on it. This is not a good way to prove your point. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906/3 "2011-08-08T03:50:55Z")
Objection. Non-responsive. What rule was violated that justifies locking the thread? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906/4 "2011-08-08T03:55:18Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I’d like a citation to a previously existing rule that was broken justifying the thread closure. Not some new rule invented on the spot, but an actual, published rule. I doubt I’ll get a citation, because there is no such rule. Why do you think there has to be a “rule” to justify a thread closure? Does there need to be? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906/5 "2011-08-08T03:55:58Z")
I closed the thread because it was an attack on Democrats disguised as a poll. All of the choices were plugs for Republicans, and one of them- > [@](#): > > They’re much better that the stupid ass liberal Democrats was a pitting of Democrats. If you wish to pit Democrats, you may do so(sans poll) in The BBQ Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906/6 "2011-08-08T03:57:48Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Why do you think there has to be a “rule” to justify a thread closure? Does there need to be? Yes, there needs to be a rule. Unless you’d like to rehash the political bias shown by certain mods yet again? So now, in IMHO, there can be no pro-Conservative or anti-liberal polls? Is that really the kind of board you want to moderate? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906/7 "2011-08-08T03:59:55Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I closed the thread because it was an attack on Democrats disguised as a poll. All of the choices were plugs for Republicans, and one of them-was a pitting of Democrats. If you wish to pit Democrats, you may do so(sans poll) in The BBQ Pit. So can I now expect you to close every thread critical of Republicans or Conservatives in IMHO? Because I don’t think you’ll do that. And jeeze-louise…you’ve had nearly 24 hours to come up with some reasonable explanation. That’s the best you got? Really? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906/8 "2011-08-08T04:00:35Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Yes, there needs to be a rule. Unless you’d like to rehash the political bias shown by certain mods yet again? So now, in IMHO, there can be no pro-Conservative or anti-liberal polls? Is that really the kind of board you want to moderate? I’m confused-by “pro-Conservative or anti-liberal polls” do you means polls with a predetermined outcome? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906/9 "2011-08-08T04:02:13Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I’m confused-by “pro-Conservative or anti-liberal polls” do you means polls with a predetermined outcome? Stop moving the goalposts. I want a cite to an actual rule justifying closing my thread. Not a rule you made up on the spot. A real rule. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906/10 "2011-08-08T04:03:28Z")
“Don’t be a jerk” seems to apply. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906/11 "2011-08-08T04:05:12Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > So can I now expect you to close every thread critical of Republicans or Conservatives in IMHO? Because I don’t think you’ll do that. > > And jeeze-louise…you’ve had nearly 24 hours to come up with some reasonable explanation. That’s the best you got? Really? > > :rolleyes: I answered questions about the closure after someone asked the questions. Should I have answered those questions _before_ they were asked? Not all, or even a significant proportion of, thread closures are questioned by posters, but I am happy to answer any questions you may have. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906/12 "2011-08-08T04:11:34Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Not all, or even a significant proportion of, thread closures are questioned by posters, but I am happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you, Mr. Czarcasm Sir. Please, if you can find it in your heart, enlighten me by posting the rule that thread violated. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906/13 "2011-08-08T04:11:41Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > “Don’t be a jerk” seems to apply. That would do it as far as I’m concerned. You know the drill, **Oakminster**. If you want to dispute a mod’s decisions, start a thread in ATMB and try to make your point rationally. If you want to flame someone, start a Pit thread. Your thread probably could have gone in GD if you were actually interested in the topic. You started that thread because you were trying to prove a point about a moderating decision you didn’t agree with. It was not an attempt to have any kind of serious discussion, it was just a protest. It was a jerk move. [So was opening a nearly identical IMHO thread right when you were starting this one.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=619461) ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906/14 "2011-08-08T04:19:33Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Objection. Non-responsive. What rule was violated that justifies locking the thread? Perhaps an analogy would help explain it better. Myself, I saw your thread akin to two kids in a backseat. One kid (you) has been told to please not touch the other. So rather then touch, you just hold your hand one inch above their body, wavering it there and saying, over and over “What? I’m not touching you? Still not touching you. Still not touching you”..and then when they cry and you get yelled at for it, you go “WHAT?? I never touched him!” You knew exactly what you were doing with that thread, coming right off of a long kerfuffle about the other closed poll. Acting like you are a poor, misjudged, innocent topic-maker doesn’t become you. It was a jerkish move started only to see if you could push the boundaries and so you could start this topic when you knew it’d be closed. That’s my 2 cents, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906/15 "2011-08-08T07:45:00Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > Perhaps an analogy would help explain it better. > > Myself, I saw your thread akin to two kids in a backseat. One kid (you) has been told to please not touch the other. So rather then touch, you just hold your hand one inch above their body, wavering it there and saying, over and over “What? I’m not touching you? Still not touching you. Still not touching you”..and then when they cry and you get yelled at for it, you go “WHAT?? I never touched him!” > > You knew exactly what you were doing with that thread, coming right off of a long kerfuffle about the other closed poll. Acting like you are a poor, misjudged, innocent topic-maker doesn’t become you. > > It was a jerkish move started only to see if you could push the boundaries and so you could start this topic when you knew it’d be closed. > > That’s my 2 cents, anyway. Very good analogy. I have an opinion on the thread(s) in question, but I can’t say what I think the OP was doing. At least, not in this forum. ---
**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:** [August 8, 2011, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906/16 "2011-08-08T10:53:57Z")
This is really going to hurt Oakminster’s monthly moderator application. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906/17 "2011-08-08T11:46:31Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Is that really the kind of board you want to moderate? Yes, that is the kind of board they want to moderate. Things are as they are here because they want them to be that way. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906/18 "2011-08-08T12:17:25Z")
Don’t usually see eye-to-eye with **Oakminster** on much of anything, but I can’t see the harm in letting him have his say, and his fun, in a ludicrous, parodic, not-serious poll. BFD. In a way, I took it as a self-parody, of the way righties enjoy issues to get the answers they want to get. ---
**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:** [August 8, 2011, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906/19 "2011-08-08T13:54:10Z")
And given that Czarcasm is the freakin’ _king_ of the oh-so-cutesy “Let’s ask a loaded question to my opponents” type threads, it makes it even more ironic that he closed this. For instance: > **[Why did it take Jesus 3 days to rise from the dead?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=499348)** > > What is the significance of the number “3” in the resurrection story? Is there a reason why it took so long for an omnipotent being to bring his only son back to life, and does it tie into the other 3’s in the Bible, such as the cock crowing 3... > **[Is it murder if your God tells you to kill?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=513632)** > > A sizable percentage of Christians have put forth that the commandment in the Bible should read “Thou shalt not murder” instead of “Thou shalt not kill”. Was this murder, or is any death ordered by God a justified kill? Would you kill without... > **[Is this a religious contradiction?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=552664)** > > A question for theists-how do you reconcile these two statements? “God loves us and wants what is best for us.” “We cannot know the mind of God.” for just a few. Not _as_ blatant as the one he closed, but just as smarmy and the same technique. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906/20 "2011-08-08T13:57:27Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > don’t usually see eye-to-eye with **oakminster** on much of anything, but i can’t see the harm in letting him have his say, and his fun, in a ludicrous, parodic, not-serious poll. Bfd. In a way, i took it as a self-parody, of the way righties enjoy FRAMiNG issues to get the answers they want to get. FORGOT My VeRB [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906.md?page=2)