# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![THespos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@THespos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/THespos)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/61 "2008-09-10T19:47:17Z")
Nothing against **Otto** , and I won’t say one way or the other whether or not I support the ban. But I will say I understand if the mods and admins go a bit heavy on the banhammer after all the shit they’ve had to endure. Put yourself in Ed’s shoes for a sec. Two things have happened recently that would totally fling me off the deep end: 1. You add a forum so you can have a place to talk about your book, and despite the fact that it’s YOUR board, everybody has a fucking cow about it and generally acts like they own the fucking place. 2. You commit time and resources to a much-needed board upgrade, and this somehow magically gives everyone the right to bash the ever-living fuck out of your lead tech guy. Meanwhile, he’s hacking bits of open-source board software to do things it was probably never designed to do. And a bunch of people act like entitled assholes, personally insulting the guy and calling his skills into question. Now, can you understand why Ed might be a bit heavy-handed with the banhammer? Add to this the generally shitty attitude of some of the people on this board, which I’ll sum up below: 1. People who act like plunking down $15 entitles them to treat the administration like shit and make unreasonable demands. 2. People who cry poverty and act like $15 was their entire entertainment budget for the year. Folks, if $15 is a highly-considered purchase for you, cut off your Internet access and seek employment. 3. People who, out of sense of smug self-satisfaction, can’t wait for something to go wrong with the board so they can be the first to post a snarky, insulting thread on it and score favor with their own egos. 4. People who, whenever a new rule is introduced, feel the need to run right up to the line and poke a toe over. Coincidentally, these tend to be the same people that sit up at night trying to think of potential exceptions to the rules so they can make a further pain in the ass of themselves. “Does this rule apply in the Pit? Does it apply on Pit free-for-all weekends? Does it apply on alternate Sundays? How about during lunar eclipses?” Add to that all the trolls, whiners, reminiscers (“The board just hasn’t been the SAME since …”) and insufferable douchenozzles dropping obtuse insults on the staff… Paraphrasing Chris Rock, I don’t condone Ed’s behavior, but I understand. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/62 "2008-09-10T19:48:21Z")
Well, so much for the “Answer My Response To Your Fucking Question, You Pussy” thread I was about to start in the Pit.😃 Seriously, though. To the best of my recollection I’ve never commented on how the board was run, griped about any mods or moderation, griped about timeouts or other technical board problems, and I have always and still do appriciate Jerry and sympatize with what he has to handle. Having said that, I thought the warning itself was high-handed if not outright dictatorial. All of a sudden, criticism of the board (outside the Pit and very possibly inside it soon) appears to have become the number one offense around here because it’s the only (as far as I know) official offense that carries banning with no warning. One of the things people are most critical of regarding totalitarian governments is the way criticism of the government is officially verbotten, and I thought the warning itself smacked of this kind of totalitarian-esque mindset. But the banning of Otto was so far out of line as to make my questions about the warning undeniable. (And I, too, say this without any particular love for **Otto** , myself. If this policy continues, I will not renew my subscription when it comes up for renewal this spring. I will not pay to belong to a board in which its members live in fear of offending management. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/63 "2008-09-10T19:49:23Z")
I’d like to apologize to **Otto**. Although you’ve been a whiny shit at times, and we’ve traded snark, you didn’t deserve the treatment you got, man. Were it not for my continued poking of TPTB to clean up their act, your head wouldn’t have been put on a pike, as a warning to the others. I hope they rescind your banning, **Otto**. I’m outta here. Be well. BTW-I’ve been trying to send this message for over 15 minutes, but our stellar board performance hasn’t allowed that meager request to be processed. ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/64 "2008-09-10T19:50:34Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Wait…when did snark become a bannable offense? I’m in SO much trouble… :smack: You and every member who’s been here for more than three months. Hey, why don’t you come over and we can start our own club? I’ll provide the pizza!😃 ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/65 "2008-09-10T19:51:09Z")
I’d like to apologize to **Otto**. Although you’ve been a whiny shit at times, and we’ve traded snark, you didn’t deserve the treatment you got, man. Were it not for my continued poking of TPTB to clean up their act, your head wouldn’t have been put on a pike, as a warning to the others. I hope they rescind your banning, **Otto**. I’m outta here. Be well. BTW-I’ve been trying to send the message for over 15 minutes, but our stellar board performance hasn’t allowed this meager request to be processed. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/66 "2008-09-10T19:56:20Z")
I’d like to apologize to **Otto**. Although you’ve been a whiny shit at times, and we’ve traded snark, you didn’t deserve the treatment you got, man. Were it not for my continued poking of TPTB to clean up their act, your head wouldn’t have been put on a pike, as a warning to the others. I hope they rescind your banning, **Otto**. I’m outta here. Be well. BTW-I’ve been trying to send the message for over 15-no 30 minutes, but the stellar board performance hasn’t allowed this meager request to be processed. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/67 "2008-09-10T19:58:15Z")
I’d like to apologize to **Otto**. Although you’ve been a whiny shit at times, and we’ve traded snark, you didn’t deserve the treatment you got, man. Were it not for my continued poking of TPTB to clean up their act, your head wouldn’t have been put on a pike, as a warning to the others. I hope they rescind your banning, **Otto**. I’m outta here. Be well. BTW-I’ve been trying to send the message for over 15-no 30 minutes, but the stellar board performance hasn’t allowed this meager request to be processed. Pathetic ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/68 "2008-09-10T19:59:11Z")
That was just wrong. And _answer the fucking question, **Ed**!_ ---
**Author:** ![SomeUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e480ec/32.png) [@SomeUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SomeUserName)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/69 "2008-09-10T19:59:44Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > +1 > > I was cheering for the rule when it was instituted but I think this was a completely unpredictable application of it. +2 I felt the same way. I was glad to see a sticky to shut the fuck up already and let Jerry do what he has to do and give it time. He has given several updates. Until today I have had no real complaints but of course it figures that today the new hamsters are sick and the board is super slow. A heavy handed banning for sure but maybe this is the new SDMB reality. It has always been expressed to shut the fuck up or get out. I guess this is their way of beating that into your heads. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/70 "2008-09-10T20:01:55Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Fail. Snark need not be over a number of posts. It can easily just be in one. Erm…not really. Unless you have some sort of experience of a posters wording and phraseology, how are you meant to determine “snark”? Is there a sticky definition of it? > [@Bosstone](#): > > But **Otto** ’s wasn’t that one. The most charitable explanation I can come up with is that Ed was on a hair trigger expecting someone to act out after his ultimatum, and jumped the gun. It’s still incredibly wrong-headed and despicable. So we agree the “snark” could have been imaginary? ---
**Author:** ![hopesperson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@hopesperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hopesperson)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/71 "2008-09-10T20:02:23Z")
**danceswithcats** , is there anything you would like to say to **Otto**? ---
**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, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/72 "2008-09-10T20:03:56Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > I’d like to apologize to **Otto**. Although you’ve been a whiny shit at times, and we’ve traded snark, you didn’t deserve the treatment you got, man. Were it not for my continued poking of TPTB to clean up their act, your head wouldn’t have been put on a pike, as a warning to the others. I hope they rescind your banning, **Otto**. I’m outta here. Be well. > > BTW-I’ve been trying to send the message for over 15 minutes, but our stellar board performance hasn’t allowed this meager request to be processed. Ok we get it! Sorry, I couldn’t resist, 5 times is a lot. Good luck **danceswithcats** , youhave been harassing TPTB too much lately, but as I said recently. You were a helpful and informative poster and I will miss you. Please don’t stir up any other hornet nest. Jim ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/73 "2008-09-10T20:04:51Z")
Great. The board doesn’t respond, and I edit the post in the window each time I try to resend. Now I can’t delete duplicate posts. Sorry, folks. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/74 "2008-09-10T20:04:59Z")
I was just coming to The Pit to post about this. :mad: The board has been slow/down all day, and I went to “About This Message Board” to see if the gerbils had died. Then I see the “No whining” thread and Otto banned. Methinks the board staff is getting a bit elitist and sensitive these days. Serious question, is it really that hard to run a message board? Is the hardware or message board software at fault? Does the SDMB have a huge number of users compared to other boards? ---
**Author:** ![RobuSensei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@RobuSensei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobuSensei)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/75 "2008-09-10T20:06:14Z")
Wow. There’s “avoiding the question,” and then there’s “THERMONUCLEAR avoiding the question…” Both get the job done, but one has some pretty drastic consequences. For what it’s worth, I’m in the “it was a damned good question” camp. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/76 "2008-09-10T20:06:32Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > I’d like to apologize to **Otto**. Although you’ve been a whiny shit at times, and we’ve traded snark, you didn’t deserve the treatment you got, man. Were it not for my continued poking of TPTB to clean up their act, your head wouldn’t have been put on a pike, as a warning to the others. I hope they rescind your banning, **Otto**. I’m outta here. Be well. > > BTW-I’ve been trying to send the message for over 15-no 30 minutes, but the stellar board performance hasn’t allowed this meager request to be processed. > > Pathetic Holy crap, quit it! 😃 But: > [@](#): > > I’d like to apologize to **Otto**. Although you’ve been a whiny shit at times, and we’ve traded snark, you didn’t deserve the treatment you got, man. Though I don’t remember trading snark with **Otto** , it might have happened. Anyway, +1 to that comment. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/77 "2008-09-10T20:07:21Z")
> [@THespos](#): > > 1. People who act like plunking down $15 entitles them to treat the administration like shit and make unreasonable demands. I don’t think paying $15 entitles us to abuse anyone, but how about some fucking respect? How many other sites do you pay to use. As for myself, this is the only site I pay for, and the mods here are, let’s say, more unpredictable than any other message board I’m on. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/78 "2008-09-10T20:07:42Z")
Hey **Otto**! **danceswithcats** wants to apologize to you… thought you’d like to know! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/79 "2008-09-10T20:07:54Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > BTW-I’ve been trying to send the message for over 15-no 30 minutes, but the stellar board performance hasn’t allowed this meager request to be processed. Au contraire. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971/80 "2008-09-10T20:08:12Z")
You’re not going to get an answer: > [@WARNING - stop whining](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-stop-whining/462937/25): > > Supervising the staff is my concern and isn’t a matter for public debate. All in all the mods and admins do an admirable job and I’m grateful for their efforts. If you find them rude, you’re welcome to find another board where the staff is more to your liking. I don’t wish to hear any further comments just now about SDMB administration. Today is not the day to be pushing your luck. And apparently, we should all be shaking in our boots. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-otto-was-just-banned-by-ed/462971.md?page=5)