# Would TPTB please stop using the "close thread" feature as a way to have the last word? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 12, 2009, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-tptb-please-stop-using-the-close-thread-feature-as-a-way-to-have-the-last-word/509816 "2009-09-12T12:57:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-tptb-please-stop-using-the-close-thread-feature-as-a-way-to-have-the-last-word/509816/21 "2009-09-15T12:06:08Z")
Unfortunately, the abuse continues. This entirely content-free[post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11556320&postcount=344), consisting of nothing more than a swipe at a poster - > [@tomndebb](#): > > So, you identify yourself on the far-left? is followed by [this piece of hypocrisy](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11556329&postcount=345)- > [@tomndebb](#): > > Icckkkh! > > If there is not some substance posted to this thread, shortly, it will be closed and you can all move over to the Pit to gnaw on each others’ legs. > [/Modding] First, as a poster, he does what he claims he objects to. Then he objects to it. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-tptb-please-stop-using-the-close-thread-feature-as-a-way-to-have-the-last-word/509816/22 "2009-09-15T17:28:14Z")
Aw, you’re just sore 'cause you can’t close the thread after _you_ do it. Regards, Turnip ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-tptb-please-stop-using-the-close-thread-feature-as-a-way-to-have-the-last-word/509816/23 "2009-09-15T21:39:48Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Aw, you’re just sore 'cause you can’t close the thread after _you_ do it. **Vinyl** , this is an unnecessary personal attack. I’m not going to issue an Official Warning, because you clearly mean it as a joke, but it’s a mean joke, and it’s technically a rules violation. Yes, I know, the line between personal insult and snide comment can be gray and fuzzy, and that’s why I’m letting this slide with just a Friendly Admonition not to do this again. ---
**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:** [September 15, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-tptb-please-stop-using-the-close-thread-feature-as-a-way-to-have-the-last-word/509816/24 "2009-09-15T21:45:42Z")
How 'bout this, **Dex**? I keep opening this thread everytime I see a Mod or Admin as the last poster, just to find out if the thread’s being closed. I don’t know how you keep all that blood on the inside with skin as thin as yours. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-tptb-please-stop-using-the-close-thread-feature-as-a-way-to-have-the-last-word/509816/25 "2009-09-15T21:51:56Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > I keep opening this thread everytime I see a Mod or Admin as the last poster, just to find out if the thread’s being closed. I keep opening this thread to see if certain posters are still pushing, poking, and prodding the mods. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-tptb-please-stop-using-the-close-thread-feature-as-a-way-to-have-the-last-word/509816/26 "2009-09-15T23:52:01Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > I don’t know how you keep all that blood on the inside with skin as thin as yours. PRR: That’s about as much as personal insult as I’ve seen. You may criticize my mod actions all you want, but you may not make comments about me as a person. Do not do this again. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2009, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-tptb-please-stop-using-the-close-thread-feature-as-a-way-to-have-the-last-word/509816/27 "2009-09-16T00:58:15Z")
So I’m being warned for suggesting that you’re taking anything and everything as personal criticism? You don’t see the irony in this? I am criticizing ONLY your mod actions, and inability AS A MOD to behave AS A MOD when acting AS A MOD and not taking such criticism of you AS A MOD as opinion of you as a person. Or is it criticism as a person because only people have skin and mods do not? Or would the omission of mentioning yor skin have helped? If I had written “I think you’re officially acting AS A MOD too personally to criticism of your actions” would that have been better? Because it means the same exact thing. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2009, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-tptb-please-stop-using-the-close-thread-feature-as-a-way-to-have-the-last-word/509816/28 "2009-09-16T02:08:51Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Unfortunately, the abuse continues. > > This entirely content-free[post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11556320&postcount=344), consisting of nothing more than a swipe at a poster - > is followed by [this piece of hypocrisy](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11556329&postcount=345)- First, as a poster, he does what he claims he objects to. Then he objects to it. > > Regards, > Shodan Crap–I just started a thread about this. Hopefully there’ll be a response, either there or here. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-tptb-please-stop-using-the-close-thread-feature-as-a-way-to-have-the-last-word/509816/29 "2009-09-16T12:00:30Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > So I’m being warned for suggesting that you’re taking anything and everything as personal criticism? You don’t see the irony in this? I am criticizing ONLY your mod actions, and inability AS A MOD to behave AS A MOD when acting AS A MOD and not taking such criticism of you AS A MOD as opinion of you as a person. Or is it criticism as a person because only people have skin and mods do not? Or would the omission of mentioning yor skin have helped? If I had written “I think you’re officially acting AS A MOD too personally to criticism of your actions” would that have been better? Because it means the same exact thing. Whether it “means” the exact same thing is irrelevant. It’s not what it means, it’s what it says and how it’s said. The second is a description of mod actions, and phrased in critical but polite tones, and would have been fine. What you said is a description of me as a person, and phrased in impolite and insulting tone. “Dog” and “cur” mean “the exact same thing” but one is an insult and one is not. And “irony” is not the issue. The issue is personal insult. PRIME EXAMPLE: “Your post here reflects an ignorance of the topic” is acceptable. “You are an ignoramus” is not. Do these mean the exact same thing? Possibly. But they’re expressed in very different ways. This has always been our (admittedly thin) line, distinguishing attacking the post from attacking the poster. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-tptb-please-stop-using-the-close-thread-feature-as-a-way-to-have-the-last-word/509816/30 "2009-09-16T12:08:58Z")
With respect, I don’t believe the line is thin at all. I’ve never understood why people cannot differentiate between the words on the page, and the writer of the words. My understanding is that it is the former that we may criticize, while the latter is off-limits. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-tptb-please-stop-using-the-close-thread-feature-as-a-way-to-have-the-last-word/509816/31 "2009-09-17T09:30:03Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > **Vinyl** , this is an unnecessary personal attack. I’m not going to issue an Official Warning, because you clearly mean it as a joke, but it’s a mean joke, and it’s technically a rules violation. > > Yes, I know, the line between personal insult and snide comment can be gray and fuzzy, and that’s why I’m letting this slide with just a Friendly Admonition not to do this again. And yet, some people get Official Warnings for offering up who is or is not on their ignore list **in the wrong forum**. (since I am the person I’m referring to, I thought I’d point out the randomness and impossible-to-predict hand slap vs. “Official Warning” here at the dope.) I don’t know why my warning bothered me so much. But this is why. It’s arbitrary, it seems to re-enforce the idea that there are different rules for different posters, and it’s completely impossible to challenge. My solution was to delete my “ignore list” completely, lest I let this _ **vital** _ and _ **personally insulting** _ info slip in the wrong forum. :rolleyes: But yet, **CK Dexter Haven** does his own version of interpretation of who should or who shouldn’t get an “Official Warning” > [@](#): > > \> CRACK! \< ::: Moderator cracks whip for attention ::: > > friedo: Official Warning: disguising a personal insult by making it plural doesn’t make it not a personal insult. Cease and desist, NOW. > > Liberal: Responding to a personal insult with another insult is NOT cool. Proper response is to REPORT the post (little ! in red triangle in upper right corner, for any newcomers reading this) and NOT to respond in kind. You know this, full well. > > tacoloco: You’re “getting away” with it because technically you’re discussing what the person says, rather than the person. However, it’s only a technicality, and I probably SHOULD issue an Official Warning, but I’ve issued too many this morning and I don’t want to overdo. Cool it. Just for clarification, did **Liberal** get an official warning like **friedo** did, or did he just get that small “you know this, full well.” as his "punishment? If an official warning was issued to **Liberal** as it was to **friedo** , I think it should be spelled out as such. If he did not, I think it should be explained why he didn’t. Or is the explanation the same one we’ve had for years here at the SDMB? ETA: for the record, I agree with the OP on this one. ---
**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:** [September 17, 2009, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-tptb-please-stop-using-the-close-thread-feature-as-a-way-to-have-the-last-word/509816/32 "2009-09-17T10:00:26Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > Whether it “means” the exact same thing is irrelevant. It’s not what it means, it’s what it says and how it’s said. The second is a description of mod actions, and phrased in critical but polite tones, and would have been fine. What you said is a description of me as a person, and phrased in impolite and insulting tone. > “Dog” and “cur” mean “the exact same thing” but one is an insult and one is not. And “irony” is not the issue. The issue is personal insult. > > PRIME EXAMPLE: > “Your post here reflects an ignorance of the topic” is acceptable. > “You are an ignoramus” is not. Do these mean the exact same thing? Possibly. But they’re expressed in very different ways. This has always been our (admittedly thin) line, distinguishing attacking the post from attacking the poster. :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [September 17, 2009, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-tptb-please-stop-using-the-close-thread-feature-as-a-way-to-have-the-last-word/509816/33 "2009-09-17T10:34:25Z")
Just to be clear, let me verbalize what my “rolleyes” means: Are you saying that “You have thin skin here, **Dex** ” is somehow a PERSONAL offense? That you read that as not primarily (if not exclusively) an observation on your modding, a criticism of your pronounced tendancy to issue warnings with very little provocation, a tropism for making mild conflicts into major issues, an inclination to root out any arguably implied insults and to focus on them like a laser beam? Wouldn’t you agree that a mod having thick skin, and reacting ONLY when someone is obviously and provocatively and persistently issuing personal insults is beneficial? (“What an asshole you are!” or “Here’s a dollar–buy yourself a better brain!” would count.) Since this thread is concerned with Mods exercising excessive control, being unnecessarily bossy, over-reacting to arguments or tones that they don’t personally approve of, eliding over the line between their personal reactions and their official ones, I was merely trying to point out to you that I felt you need to be more aware of the distinction between posts you happen to disapprove of (as do we all) and posts that clearly violate policy. Your response was to over-react to my (fairly mild and not terribly personal) criticism of your modding in absurdly hyperbolic language (“as much as personal insult as I’ve seen”-- Vraiment? If being called thinskinned is the most insulted you’ve ever been, you’ve lived a blessed life. Personally, I’ve been called a name or two from time to time. Once, when I was seven, someone said a dirty word about my mom, too. You’ve had it pretty cushy IMO.) I might be tempted to diagnose your reasons for over-reacting like this, but in light of your ferocious resistence to any sort of criticism, I’ll refrain for now–I don’t want to set you off, especially when I’m not sure you’re reading me very perceptively or open-mindedly. I just don’t think that mods reacting as you have are contributing very much to a discussion of mod behavior–kinda sets a chilling tone when you’re issuing official warnings so freely in ATMB threads about Mods’ overreactions. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-tptb-please-stop-using-the-close-thread-feature-as-a-way-to-have-the-last-word/509816/34 "2009-09-17T12:44:36Z")
> [@](#): > > I just don’t think that mods reacting as you have are contributing very much to a discussion of mod behavior–kinda sets a chilling tone when you’re issuing official warnings so freely in ATMB threads about Mods’ overreactions. And I see it the other way. I don’t think that posters hurling personal insults at mods are contributing very much to a discussion of mod behavior, either. Kinda sets a negative tone when the mod is trying to consider the content of the actions. Let me also please note that, in your particular instance, the comment was not stand-alone. It was the, what, third or fourth or fifth time in this thead that I said “NO personal insults.” Thus, even though, I agree, your comment was “fairly mild,” it was effectively throwing kerosene on a fire. When many people in a thread have been told to tone down the personal insults, that’s not the time to toss yet another personal insult, however mild, at anyone. The whole point of moving discussion about mod-actions to this forum, out of the Pit, was to get away from personal remarks. When someone calls me names, they get a warning and I frankly pay no attention whatsover to any merit behind their accusation. (That’s pretty much human nature.) When someone politely and calmly brings it up for discussion (e.g., the OP in this thread), I can reconsider my actions and whether I should behave differently in future. If you think that I’m issuing too many warnings for personal insults, then express it in a polite and calm manner, and I’m glad to consider it. Call me names, use insulting terms, and I’ll just issue more warnings. (Now **that** ’s irony.) I do not for one moment believe that you and others are unable to express disagreement without bringing personalities and personal slurs into the discussion. What I do believe is that there are folks who PREFERRED the Pit for venting at mods – it didn’t produce any positive actions, in fact, it produced massive hostility. That’s changed. Get over it. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-tptb-please-stop-using-the-close-thread-feature-as-a-way-to-have-the-last-word/509816/35 "2009-09-17T15:59:16Z")
**Dex** , could you answer my question? > [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > Just for clarification, did **Liberal** get an official warning like **friedo** did, or did he just get that small “you know this, full well.” as his "punishment? > > If an official warning was issued to **Liberal** as it was to **friedo** , I think it should be spelled out as such. If he did not, I think it should be explained why he didn’t. > > Or is the explanation the same one we’ve had for years here at the SDMB? > > ETA: for the record, I agree with the OP on this one. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-tptb-please-stop-using-the-close-thread-feature-as-a-way-to-have-the-last-word/509816/36 "2009-09-20T19:43:06Z")
**Dex** , Am I on your “ignore” list? If so, I think this is a very passive-aggressive way to tell me. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-tptb-please-stop-using-the-close-thread-feature-as-a-way-to-have-the-last-word/509816/37 "2009-09-21T06:04:05Z")
I don’t think the board software allows moderators or administrators to ignore anyone via the list feature. He may be ignoring you the good old fashioned way, though. My advice is tread carefully. Or else you might get a Friendly Admonition _cue clash of cymbals and lightning bolts_ ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-tptb-please-stop-using-the-close-thread-feature-as-a-way-to-have-the-last-word/509816/38 "2009-09-21T12:55:59Z")
I’m not ignoring you, I was trying to find a way to answer your question without violating a confidential email exchange between **Liberal** and myself. The short answer is that, no, he didn’t get an official warning (he was responding to an insult, not the instigator) but he probably would have been happier if he had. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-tptb-please-stop-using-the-close-thread-feature-as-a-way-to-have-the-last-word/509816.md?page=1)