# WTF? Otto was just banned by Ed. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 10, 2008, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971 "2008-09-10T18:35:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/261 "2008-09-10T22:55:35Z")
> [@nikonikosuru](#): > > Is it just me or does the new rule have a commie feel to it? I can’t help but to hear a thick Russian accent when I read it along with babblings of “OBEY!” and “YOU LOVE THE NEW BOARD!”. This is getting pretty odd. I’m getting more of a “soup Nazi” feel to it. “NO BOARD FOR YOU! YOU BANNED!” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/262 "2008-09-10T22:55:41Z")
Once upon a time I belonged to an org with a coordinator I absolutely hated. He’d run unopposed because of a lack of enthusiasm among the group and managed to drive our morale further into the Earth’s core. I wanted him gone and, if possible, kicked in the nads. A member of the org brought up a vote of no confidence. It was for the most moronic reasons ever: the coordinator in question had not done anything he was accused of, the accusations themselves were petty at best, and the entire business stank to high heaven. I did not back the vote of no confidence. I said to the coordinator’s face that I thought he should be relieved of his position, that I had no confidence in him, but I would not be party to baseless slander, even if it was directed at him. Nobody here’s an angel, and **Otto** ’s halo was hella tarnished, but this is ass. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/263 "2008-09-10T22:56:23Z")
As a poster I didn’t particularly enjoy **Otto**. IMNSHO he often seemed to be a jerk. I also didn’t like his attitude towards religious faith. But this banning is absolutely out of line. I do not agree that his comment, that Ed banned him for, was snarky. If you want to see snarky you should see some of the posts I’ve made in regards to the board “upgrade”. I’d like to see him brought back. I don’t always agree with him, but a board in which everyone agrees with everything would be boring as hell. Please, Ed, reconsider and let **Otto** come back. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/264 "2008-09-10T22:57:13Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Of course you don’t have to pay for this site any more. It is free. That’s my point. While admittedly I’m not exactly a major contributer to this board, I feel no reason to renew my membership (expired during the board migration) if it can just be taken away on a whim. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/265 "2008-09-10T22:58:58Z")
Jayjay and Indistinguishable, thanks for the explanation about the Barn House. Also: > [@jayjay](#): > > since Ed has barely been around the board on any kind of regular basis for YEARS I’ve been wanting to say that its this very fact that makes Ed’s banning of Otto seem particularly inappropriate. I know that he is the guy who hires the moderators, but there just seems to be something wrong with someone who is, for many intents and purposes, basically a stranger to the community, suddenly coming in and banning people. The fact that the ban was on questionable grounds only makes the wrongness more wrongish. It’s like the CEO of McDonalds personally firing a cashier one day for not counting change properly. -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/266 "2008-09-10T22:59:50Z")
> [@Cyberhwk](#): > > That’s my point. While admittedly I’m not exactly a major contributer to this board, I feel no reason to renew my membership (expired during the board migration) if it can just be taken away on a whim. My understanding is that they really don’t want you to pay. Paying customers don’t see ads, and ad revenue is projected to be the major source of income. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/267 "2008-09-10T23:00:05Z")
Nobody expects the banning inquisition. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/268 "2008-09-10T23:00:41Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > My understanding is that they really don’t want you to pay. Paying customers don’t see ads, and ad revenue is projected to be the major source of income. Well then, I’m so angry, I’m going to pay for memberships for me and my five best friends! 😉 -FrL- ---
**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 10, 2008, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/269 "2008-09-10T23:01:01Z")
They just changed the motto on us. ---
**Author:** ![mutantmoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@mutantmoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mutantmoose)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/270 "2008-09-10T23:01:22Z")
ffs It was a stupid fucking question > [@](#): > > And if a member of the board staff is rude to a guest outside the Pit? Will they be summarily fired and banned? What kind of an answer did he expect? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/271 "2008-09-10T23:01:42Z")
> [@mr.jp](#): > > Nobody expects the banning inquisition. Oh bravo. -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Wing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/51bf81/32.png) [@Little\_Wing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Wing)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/272 "2008-09-10T23:01:48Z")
I’m a long time lurker (with less than 200 posts in five years) and I’ve been trying to decide if I wanted to renew. This certainly helped me make up my mind. Even if Otto was reinstated and an apology was made, I think I’ll save my money. I can’t support something that was so arbitrary and childish. Corrected typo. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/273 "2008-09-10T23:02:17Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Well then, I’m so angry, I’m going to pay for memberships for me and my five best friends! 😉 Five? As if. ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/274 "2008-09-10T23:02:29Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > It’s like the CEO of McDonalds personally firing a cashier one day for not counting change properly. > > -FrL- No it’s like some of the cashiers haven’t been counting change properly and have been bitching and moaning and cussing out the management and the CEO in front of the customers. And the CEO comes in one day and fires the wrong one. ---
**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:** [September 10, 2008, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/275 "2008-09-10T23:03:39Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > My understanding is that they really don’t want you to pay. Paying customers don’t see ads, and ad revenue is projected to be the major source of income. That matches what I have seen \*\*Ed \*\*say and that was the point I was trying to make. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/276 "2008-09-10T23:03:57Z")
I for one agree with Ed and everything he has ever said or done since the day he was born… ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/277 "2008-09-10T23:04:09Z")
> [@mr.jp](#): > > Nobody expects the banning inquisition. > [@Frylock](#): > > Oh bravo. I dunno; with a little more work, it could’ve been better. “banning” is ok, but “vanish” is closer, for example. Well, when I get it into perfection, I’ll let the boards know… ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/278 "2008-09-10T23:06:48Z")
> [@mutantmoose](#): > > ffs > > It was a stupid fucking question > > What kind of an answer did he expect? I’ve been going back and forth on this issue in my head. There is indeed a sense in which Otto was creeping right up to the line and poking a toe over it. It was _predictable_, to anyone who knows something about human beings, that his question might piss Ed off. But that is not the kind of line crossing that is supposed to get you banned. It is never supposed to be that one gets banned simply for making a mod (or Ed) angry. Rather, you get banned for breaking board rules. And Otto didn’t do that. The correct response would simply have been something like this: “No, rudeness to a guest wouldn’t get a mod fired.” Simple answer to what is, technically, a straightforward question. Otto didn’t do anything for which he _deserved_ to be banned, at least not by the principles upon which this board is supposed to be run. This isn’t to say I think his question was a good one or particularly constructive–no on both counts. -FrL- ETA: Of course there is board rule number one (or something like that) which says “Don’t be a jerk” (or something like that). But while I’m impressed by the sentiment expressed by that “rule,” I would never expect it to be taken seriously as an administrative principle. It is far too open to interpretation. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/279 "2008-09-10T23:10:05Z")
I’m a long-time poster and recently started checking the board again, debating whether I should start participating again. But I’m completely disgusted by Ed Zotti’s behaviour regarding this matter. I guess I’ll be spending my time (and click-throughs or subscription fees) elsewhere. And if he wants to ban me for “whining” he can go ahead, I don’t care… ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/280 "2008-09-10T23:10:07Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > Five? As if. My fictional cyber-identity comes crumbling down in ruins. I lie exposed. I die, die, die, die, die. -FrL- [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971.md?page=15)