# Yet another pre-emptive move to the pit
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-pre-emptive-move-to-the-pit/522365
**Category:** About This Message Board
**Created:** [December 23, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-pre-emptive-move-to-the-pit/522365 "2009-12-23T20:32:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 7
### Author:  [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-pre-emptive-move-to-the-pit/522365/121 "2009-12-28T19:53:36Z")
When I first read this thread and the op of the thread in question, my first thought to myself was “grow up, if you’re not trolling then you’re pretty dumb not to expect action from the mods”. (Note: this was my thought to myself and I am not actually calling **lissener** either of those things, it was just a thought I had at the time).
However, after returning to this thread and reading a couple comments, it has become clear to me that the moderator acted incorrectly. Taking action because of what **might** happen is not a good policy.
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-pre-emptive-move-to-the-pit/522365/122 "2009-12-28T21:12:46Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#):
>
> I think mods should be very cautious about such preemptive moves to the Pit. Moving a thread to the Pit is almost certainly going to change the whole nature of that thread and the OP is going to end up with very different responses than he would have received if the thread had remained in MPSIMS or wherever. The OP may well have not started it in the Pit because he wanted measured and thoughtful replies rather than invective. By moving it the mod subverts that purpose.
> [@lissener](#):
>
> Thanks, aldiboronti, for distilling my central point down much more clearly (and far less personally) than I was able to. I hope Marley and twix are still around to respond to it.
It’s a valid point and I agree we should be circumspect with these moves. We do try not to dictate how threads turn out beyond keeping them civil and sometimes keeping them on topic, but sometimes we are required to respond to a developing problem.
Like I said earlier, the OP’s intent is one consideration in deciding what to do with a thread, but they are not the only thing we consider. The discussion about cruel but unregretted acts was not materializing. **twickster** ’s view, and also mine, is that it wasn’t going to happen even if she advised people to back off. The thread was going to continue to be focused on what **lissener** said. That’s not to say she _couldn’t_ have made a mod note before moving the thread - just that I don’t think it would have changed the flow of the conversation.
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### Author:  [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-pre-emptive-move-to-the-pit/522365/123 "2009-12-28T21:23:47Z")
> [@Marley23](#):
>
> The discussion about cruel but unregretted acts was not materializing.
27 minutes.
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### Author:  [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-pre-emptive-move-to-the-pit/522365/124 "2009-12-28T21:29:10Z")
> [@Marley23](#):
>
> The discussion about cruel but unregretted acts was not materializing. **twickster** ’s view, and also mine, is that it wasn’t going to happen even if she advised people to back off. The thread was going to continue to be focused on what **lissener** said.
The original thread should be permitted to live or die on its own merits in a non-Pit forum as well as a separate but related Pit thread should someone decide to start one.
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### Author:  [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-pre-emptive-move-to-the-pit/522365/125 "2009-12-28T21:49:10Z")
> [@Marley23](#):
>
> The discussion about cruel but unregretted acts was not materializing.
It might’ve. I posted something on those lines (I think I was the only one) and then noticed the thread was moved to the Pit and lost interest in what would turn out to be just another **lissener** pitting.
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### Author:  [@tacoloco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tacoloco)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-pre-emptive-move-to-the-pit/522365/126 "2009-12-28T21:57:21Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#):
>
> The original thread should be permitted to live or die on its own merits in a non-Pit forum as well as a separate but related Pit thread should someone decide to start one.
Shoulda, woulda, coulda.
It didn’t. And the thread got closed anyway.
Oh and “throwing out a pesky cat” woefully misrepresents and understates the content of Lissener’s thread.
Honestly, what’s the point of continuing this thread, I have to wonder. The mods have made a decision and at this point all people are doing is grinding over the same points.
Mods: we did the right thing
Rabble: no you didn’t
We’ll see what happens when this comes up next time.
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### Author:  [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2009, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-pre-emptive-move-to-the-pit/522365/127 "2009-12-28T22:21:28Z")
> [@tacoloco](#):
>
> Honestly, what’s the point of continuing this thread, I have to wonder.
Encouraging the mods to carefully consider when moving a thread to the Pit is warranted and perhaps establishing some policy as to such matters.
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### Author:  [@tacoloco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tacoloco)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2009, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-pre-emptive-move-to-the-pit/522365/128 "2009-12-29T01:18:56Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#):
>
> Encouraging the mods to carefully consider when moving a thread to the Pit is warranted and perhaps establishing some policy as to such matters.
I suspect that’s “mission accomplished” at this point.
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### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2009, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-pre-emptive-move-to-the-pit/522365/129 "2009-12-29T02:37:18Z")
> [@tacoloco](#):
>
> I suspect that’s “mission accomplished” at this point.
Until they admit as such, it isn’t. Marley seems to be onboard, but we have no such assurances from twickster, which is the mod we are concerned with.
Honestly, I don’t care about the intent of lissener’s thread. The point is that it is a perfect example of why pre-emptive moderating actions are a bad idea. It’s a principle thing. What’s next? Someone getting a warning because “experience” says that he was going to lodge a personal insult?
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### Author:  [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2009, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-pre-emptive-move-to-the-pit/522365/130 "2009-12-29T03:58:34Z")
> [@BigT](#):
>
> Until they admit as such, it isn’t. Marley seems to be onboard, but we have no such assurances from twickster, which is the mod we are concerned with.
>
> Honestly, I don’t care about the intent of lissener’s thread. The point is that it is a perfect example of why pre-emptive moderating actions are a bad idea. It’s a principle thing. What’s next? Someone getting a warning because “experience” says that he was going to lodge a personal insult?
All due respect, BigT, and I sincerely appreciate your help articulating my argument in this this thread, but I honestly don’t think such a scenario is likely. Frankly, that kind of “slippery slope” article is non-sensical and might probably just give the mods another strawman to tilt at. I think we’ll accomplish more if we stick to the issue at hand without speculating about issues that don’t exist yet.
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### Author:  [@tacoloco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tacoloco)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2009, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-pre-emptive-move-to-the-pit/522365/131 "2009-12-29T04:05:58Z")
> [@BigT](#):
>
> Until they admit as such, it isn’t. Marley seems to be onboard, but we have no such assurances from twickster, which is the mod we are concerned with.
Well, Marley’s position really isn’t much of an assurance beyond the idea that mods need to be, as he put it, circumspect. I’m basing this on his last post in the thread.
And does anyone really believe that moderators are going to provide any assurances that it won’t happen again? I find that quite doubtful.
What I do think, and it’s just my feeling on the matter, is that after being called out on it, that all moderators will be more careful about doing it again.
> [@Lissener](#):
>
> I think we’ll accomplish more if we stick to the issue at hand without speculating about issues that don’t exist yet.
This thread won’t accomplish anything of an concrete and/or definitive nature. And I don’t see much movement going forward either, as pertains to this thread.
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### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2009, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-pre-emptive-move-to-the-pit/522365/132 "2009-12-29T13:31:00Z")
> [@tacoloco](#):
>
> And does anyone really believe that moderators are going to provide any assurances that it won’t happen again? I find that quite doubtful.
>
> What I do think, and it’s just my feeling on the matter, is that after being called out on it, that all moderators will be more careful about doing it again.
Exactly, on both points.
I’m not going to promise to never move another thread to the Pit again, because that promise would be utterly empty and insincere. I will continue to make moderation decisions on a case-by-case basis. I can easily imagine all kinds of scenarios in which, evaluating a thread based on my experience as a mod and my experience as a long-term member of these boards, I think a thread belongs in the Pit.
I will promise, however, to think carefully before I do – or do not – move a thread to the Pit in the future.
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### Author:  [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-pre-emptive-move-to-the-pit/522365/133 "2009-12-29T16:59:32Z")
Fair enough.
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### Author:  [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2009, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-pre-emptive-move-to-the-pit/522365/134 "2009-12-29T17:21:51Z")
Might I suggest that if the subject of the thread–bad drivers, whatever–if the thread is about some off-board phenomenon, moving it to the pit is one thing. But if the sole reason for moving the thread is so that the writer of the OP can be freely attacked without the rules that apply outside the pit, you should give the OP the option to close the thread and perhaps restate the OP.
e.g., a mod might interject: “Lissener, as written, your OP is likely to attract nothing more than hostility. If you’re sure you want to do this, I’m going to step in move it to the pit.”
Rather than have the OP return to the board and discover his very personal confessional, which he hoped might elicit some mature discussion, has turned into a blanket party.
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### Author:  [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-pre-emptive-move-to-the-pit/522365/135 "2009-12-29T21:27:56Z")
**twickster** should just have added a Mod note that said -
“I moved a thread to the Pit. It was cruel, but I am not ashamed of it.”
Regards,
Shodan
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### Author:  [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-pre-emptive-move-to-the-pit/522365/136 "2009-12-29T21:40:50Z")
**Twickster** loves to do these sorts of things. To cause drama where it’s completely unecessary.
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### Author:  [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2009, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-pre-emptive-move-to-the-pit/522365/137 "2009-12-29T23:45:04Z")
Nowhere in the rules on this site is it written that you can beat the staff like rented mules.
Since that’s where this thread has drifted to it’s time to close it.
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