# Why wasn't the thread moved? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 20, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-thread-moved/610137 "2012-01-20T16:02:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-thread-moved/610137/1 "2012-01-20T16:02:54Z")
[This](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=638930&page=4) thread started by Ambivalid was locked. I don’t care enough to start a pit thread, but I am curious as to the absolute refusal to move it. Threads are moved all the time, discussions evolve and change. The thread saw a suspension and a willingness to pursue other areas of discussion. While I do admire the efforts to keep it “on track” - what would have been so wrong about allowing a different topic to emerge? And why should the OP get the say in whether a discussion that has evolved cannot be moved? And finally - why was the cut curb sideline such a “bad” diversion anyway? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-thread-moved/610137/2 "2012-01-20T16:23:55Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > [This](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=638930&page=4) thread started by Ambivalid was locked. > > I don’t care enough to start a pit thread, but I am curious as to the absolute refusal to move it. “Absolute refusal” seems a little strong – I decided against it, I didn’t make a huge case out of it. At least I didn’t intend to. Here’s my thinking: **Ambivalid** indicated a preference that it not be moved. If I had moved it, I would have effectively been forcing him to participate in a Pit thread. I think participation in Pit threads should be optional. I left open the possibility of someone else starting a Pit thread, if there was a discussion unresolved that would be appropriate there. That person could link back to the MPSIMS thread, as is common. This would leave it up to **Ambivalid** to decide for himself whether or not he wanted to participate, without curtailing anyone else’s rights. > [@](#): > > Threads are moved all the time, discussions evolve and change. The thread saw a suspension and a willingness to pursue other areas of discussion. > > While I do admire the efforts to keep it “on track” - what would have been so wrong about allowing a different topic to emerge? There has been a history of threads involving **Ambivalid** turning into train wrecks. I took that history into account in my efforts to keep that particular thread on track. Again, if there are other topics people want to discuss, there’s nothing to stop them from starting new threads in GD or the Pit as appropriate. > [@](#): > > And why should the OP get the say in whether a discussion that has evolved cannot be moved? He didn’t get “the say,” he expressed an opinion. I made the decision, taking that opinion into account. Under other circumstances, I might or might not have moved a different thread with a different trajectory involving a different OP to the Pit. > [@](#): > > And finally - why was the cut curb sideline such a “bad” diversion anyway? I didn’t say it was a “bad” diversion, I was merely trying to keep all tangents under control in an effort to prevent a train wreck. Hope this answers your questions. **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-thread-moved/610137/3 "2012-01-20T16:26:45Z")
> [@Twickster](#): > > Since Ambivalid has expressed a preference that we not move this to the Pit, I won’t If the OP misplaced it in the wrong forum, that’s a reason to move it. But Ambivalid started an appropriate thread in the correct forum, and lots of other people drug into the ditch despite moderation to attempt to keep it on track. If the OP had okayed to be moved, thus changing the original intent of the thread, then they may have moved it. I don’t see anything wrong with its closing. ---
**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:** [January 20, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-thread-moved/610137/4 "2012-01-20T19:15:58Z")
Many people wanting a thread moved to the pit isn’t grounds to move one. It’s just as easy for someone to start a Pit thread about a post, posts, or poster that they want to call out. Most of the time it’s done that way, with the pitter linking back to the post/topic of their ire. This is speaking as my opinion as a poster. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-thread-moved/610137/5 "2012-01-20T19:48:04Z")
Since I have not been around much I guess I missed previous threads with Ambivalid. I have no problem pointing fingers at mods when needed. This seemed like a good piece of moderation and well explained by Twicks. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-thread-moved/610137/6 "2012-01-20T20:03:35Z")
I appreciate the moderation here and also the decision not to move the thread into the Pit. I have had the misfortune of having that occur before; to have my thread and my discussion de-railed into nothing but snark, sarcasm and hate. I have absolutely no interest in seeing my thread devolve any further in that direction. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-thread-moved/610137/7 "2012-01-20T20:17:21Z")
I’d appreciate the moderation more if the people who kept hijacking all your threads would get warned for repeated violations of the rules rather than just the thread getting locked. Effectively the mods are letting other people decide what you are allowed to talk about, or, in some cases, that you aren’t allowed to talk at all. It also sucks that the guy who got suspended did so because he was fighting letting those people control the thread. But of course, that’s more his fault than anyone else’s. There’s a reason I just posted a little snark and ran away. EDIT: Because I knew I wouldn’t be able to control myself if I got into an argument. The way **Ambivalid** is treated, even if I allow for people possibly believing he is a horrible person, really, really upsets me. ---
**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:** [January 20, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-thread-moved/610137/8 "2012-01-20T20:21:05Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > It also sucks that the guy who got suspended did so because he was fighting letting those people control the thread. But of course, that’s more his fault than anyone else’s. There’s a reason I just posted a little snark and ran away. The guy who got suspended was NOT fighting against those “trying to control the thread”, he was making nonsense arguments about people not believing in parking lots. Do you honestly think he was being helpful? ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-thread-moved/610137/9 "2012-01-20T20:24:46Z")
Someone has opened a thread to vent about a hassle they got into but someone else is complaining that they could not have that thread moved to a different forum for the purpose of attacking and criticizing the thread starter? Hey bengangmo, how about you get a hobby? ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-thread-moved/610137/10 "2012-01-20T21:22:36Z")
When an OP has a history of not telling the whole story in the OP and then later adding details that change the OP then people are going to criticize. ---
**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:** [January 20, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-thread-moved/610137/11 "2012-01-20T21:30:48Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > When an OP has a history of not telling the whole story in the OP and then later adding details that change the OP then people are going to criticize. And the reason they were incapable of addressing those concerns in a separate BBQ Pit thread, as they were directed to do so, was…? ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-thread-moved/610137/12 "2012-01-20T21:32:59Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > When an OP has a history of not telling the whole story in the OP and then later adding details that change the OP then people are going to criticize. That’s very true. It’s also the reason I stayed out of that thread. But, to drag a thread to the pit just because posters can’t control themselves and just to rag on the OP because they don’t like him is wrong . If you have a problem with the OP or the thread, man-up and start the pit thread yourself. I think this board has too much superfluous moderation but in this case the moderation was spot on. ---
**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:** [January 20, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-thread-moved/610137/13 "2012-01-20T22:15:52Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And the reason they were incapable of addressing those concerns in a separate BBQ Pit thread, as they were directed to do so, was…? Because nobody has ever questioned the validity of an OPs story in MPSIMS before. If that forum is only for hugs and people telling the OP what a courageous person they are, let’s add that to the forum description and rules so we don’t have this as a problem in the future. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-thread-moved/610137/14 "2012-01-20T22:25:44Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > That’s very true. It’s also the reason I stayed out of that thread. But, to drag a thread to the pit just because posters can’t control themselves and just to rag on the OP because they don’t like him is wrong . If you have a problem with the OP or the thread, man-up and start the pit thread yourself. > > I think this board has too much superfluous moderation but in this case the moderation was spot on. Absolutely. It wasn’t as if it was a Pit-worthy thread started in the wrong forum to begin with; all things being equal, it was started by the OP in the appropriate forum. Moving it to the Pit pretty much forces the OP’s hand to go there, which presumably wasn’t his original intent (although this has happened with at least one of **Ambivalid** ’s prior threads.) I agree with **twickster** ’s mod action. Since his threads of this type seem to devolve into squabbling and nitpicking pretty quickly, staying out of them seems to be the most prudent strategy if you have strong feelings one way or another. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-thread-moved/610137/15 "2012-01-20T22:34:35Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > Absolutely. > > It wasn’t as if it was a Pit-worthy thread started in the wrong forum to begin with; all things being equal, it was started by the OP in the appropriate forum. Moving it to the Pit pretty much forces the OP’s hand to go there, \ How, exactly, is he forced to go and post? Jackbooted Internet Police? I don’t care about the locking, since it’s pretty easy for a member to start a thread in the pit with links. But if a member wants to control the content of a thread, and not have any negative feedback, maybe they should start their own blog? ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-thread-moved/610137/16 "2012-01-20T23:09:41Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > How, exactly, is he forced to go and post? Jackbooted Internet Police? > > ? Well I imagine that someone who starts an “innocent” MPSIMS thread doesn’t expect or want to start defending themselves against Pit-type attacks. So moving the thread there would force the OP’s hand. I have no love or sympathy for the OP, to be crystal clear. And perhaps starting a blog instead of posting here with predictable results would be a smarter move. Although maybe it’s quite calculated and the OP _wants_ antagonistic responses. I’m not a reader though. He certainly _should_ expect antagonistic responses, given his history. Every such thread he has started has ended up locked, in the Pit, or contentious. But…he is a member in good standing, so he should certainly be allowed to start potentially contentious threads. And, since this is a privately-run message board, the overlords have every right to control the content. ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-thread-moved/610137/17 "2012-01-20T23:59:58Z")
As one of the thread participants, I have no problem at all with the moderation of it. That being said… > [@chiroptera](#): > > Well I imagine that someone who starts an “innocent” MPSIMS thread doesn’t expect or want to start defending themselves against Pit-type attacks. is extremely naive, especially given the OP’s experience, posting history and, by the end of the whole mess, having done exactly what he was being criticized for. I don’t see any of the forums here being strictly for kittie huggles and bro-hooves with no room for opposite opinion or criticsm. as a matter of fact [skepticism was expressly permitted](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14684857&postcount=62) ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-thread-moved/610137/18 "2012-01-21T02:12:19Z")
I don’t have a problem with some well-founded skepticism directed my way; and I do my best to address that criticism in coherent, clear, non-inflammatory ways. However, putting a thread into the Pit changes things _entirely._ There is no “good faith” discussions or fair arguing going on; it is primarily a slugfest consisting of nothing but disrespectful slams and dishonest mischaracterizations. It is nothing but negative energy that I want no part of. For those who get some degree of satisfaction from those type of threads; have at it. But for threads that I start in other forums, I’d like those threads to remain in their respective forums. ---
**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:** [January 21, 2012, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-thread-moved/610137/19 "2012-01-21T04:03:11Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And the reason they were incapable of addressing those concerns in a separate BBQ Pit thread, as they were directed to do so, was…? The same reason you asked that silly, snarky-assed question in this thread instead of opening up a new thread in the Pit to ask it. It’s all part of the same discussion. ---
**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:** [January 21, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-thread-moved/610137/20 "2012-01-21T04:04:55Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > There’s a reason I just posted a little snark and ran away. Luckily you were mod-noted for it. Again. > [@](#): > > EDIT: Because I knew I wouldn’t be able to control myself if I got into an argument. The way **Ambivalid** is treated, even if I allow for people possibly believing he is a horrible person, really, really upsets me. Perhaps you should stop reading the SDMB if it “really, really upsets you”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-thread-moved/610137.md?page=2)