I’ve never had any problems with the admins here, never complained about how the board is run, but that banning was total bullshit.
Old? That was almost from before pay-to-post!
And if the “moderator consensus” is that final warnings should expire, and Otto’s apparently had, why is it relevant now?
Personally, from what little I know of Otto from his posts, I find myself doubting he’d return even if he were unbanned at this point.
Gotta digest this whole thing a bit more.
Idiotic move. Otto is the reason why I joined the board.:mad:
I’d expect “snark” could only develop over a number of posts; how many times has Ed actually communicated directly with Otto? If it’s just that once, the “snark” is in Ed’s mind.
typo
I thought it was me? 
sobs and runs
Wait…when did snark become a bannable offense? I’m in SO much trouble… :smack:
That is really, truly fucked up. I normally think mods are a decent sort, but this is absolutely the most outrageously capricious and assinine thing I have ever seen on these boards.
Fuck subscribing. I will never spend another dime at this site or support any future endeavors by such a fucktard.
I humbly bid you all farewell.
“Dans ce pays-ci, il est bon de tuer de temps en temps un amiral pour encourager les autres.” – Voltaire, Candide
I don’t object to the rule–frankly, I’m sick of hearing bitching about Jerry’s supposed deficiencies by people who couldn’t install a web browser without screwing it up–but Otto’s banning did seem a bit…precipitous.
Stranger
Another vote for “seemed childish to me”.
And I’m not an Otto fan, in general.
I’d also like clarification about the GED suspension for ‘junior modding’. I know he’s a pain in the ass. but there weren’t links to what the mods considered ‘junior modding’. I mean, there’s another pit thread now about Otto’s banning, and some one (I believe it was haj but it coulda been some other poster initial “h” - boards are too slow now for me to bother to check), posted a link to this thread. Is that junior modding? Had I posted to that thread, pointing out to haj (or whoever), that the mods were getting trigger happy on “junior modding” would that have been “junior modding”.
And it sucks that w/this latest bit of actions, I’m not even certain that I should be posting those questions, or if saying “trigger happy” is enough to get the plug pulled.
Fail. Snark need not be over a number of posts. It can easily just be in one.
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.
This’ll end well. :dubious:
IMO, Ed took Otto’s needling too much to heart and lashed out and now here we are.
And just where did all this get us? An interesting poster is gone; ill will is high; and the name calling etc (aka snark) will just get worse. Lord knows I weary of snark at times myself, but the Dope column, the books and this board are all drenched in it–Cecil wouldn’t be Cecil w/o his version of snark.
I have no good advice; I’m just over here shaking my head.
In this thread http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=481859, I attempted to find out from Ed Zotti what his intentions are for this board, but he seemed unwilling to share his thoughts with us.
His recent behaviour seems to indicate a certain approach that hasn’t met with any approval. Is this how you want the tone of the board to be, Ed?
(Disclaimer: nothing in this post should be interpreted as indicating any disapproval with the management and administration of the Straight Dope Message Board.)
I post extremely infrequently and follow the feuds between some members only with casual attention. Yet, I have been a paying member of this board for some time. I was happy to see that the new corporate owners wished to improve the board and let it generate a little revenue. Of course, the upgrade process would have its problems and it was predictable that tempers would flare.
But, for what is supposed to now become a money maker the attitude of those in charge is inexplicably uncustomer friendly. Mr. Zotti creates a forum to push his book, when so many here have asked for new forums and been denied for so long. At least one moderator has a reputation for nastiness that would have gotten her fired in a bricks and mortar institution long ago.
Now, Mr. Zotti annouces a new rule that is the equivalent of telling board members to not complain about anything, and then bans somebody for asking for a clarification of that rule. It seems as though as the rule of “Don’t be a jerk” applies only to those posting (and driving revenue) rather than those in charge.
Has Mr. Zotti ever directly been involved in this type of moderation? I do not remember it and it smacks of a temper tantrum.
No matter what Otto’s previous history may have been, this was over the line. I would suggest that anybody higher up at The Chicago Reader/Creative Loafing might want to suggest that Mr. Zotti return to his normal editing duties and leave the rough and tumble world of the internet to those more familar with the environment.
Ed Zotti’s banning of Otto, as others have said, was stupid, uncalled for, and akin to a temper tantrum. I’m with Swallowed My Cellphone, I will not renew my subscription.
And for good measure: Ed Zotti you behaved like an asshole.
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.
+1
I was cheering for the rule when it was instituted but I think this was a completely unpredictable application of it.
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 tried to send this message several times, but…
Great move, Ed. When one adds up the several board issues of late and how the board administration has responded, it appears you’ve jumped the shark and taken the SDMB with you.
Compliments to the new board management style, and regards to Captain Dunsel.
Another dick move by Ed. What the fuck?