# Zenster banned? What's all this then? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 24, 2003, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338 "2003-10-24T15:54:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Essured](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Essured](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Essured)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/201 "2003-10-25T23:46:28Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by wolfman_ > **The one thing I hope is that the Zenster ban is permanent. Not because I have any particular dislike for the guy, but from the drama that will occur with a reinstatement. He had no self control, He was told not to do things, and he did them. If he gets reinstated he will be warned not to do things, and then he will do them. Then we will have months of 'Mommy! look what Zen’s doing!" posts, until enough stuff has accumulated, the axe falls again, and we get this thread again. I’ll personally never understand how some people just never manage to develop self control, but people who don’t have any by now will never have any.** > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Primaflora_ > **not ‘all’ of us are surprised and not ‘all’ of us think it is a moderator overreaction.** > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by NoClueBoy_ > \*\*Sometimes, Zenster seemed like two different people. When he was being helpful, he was very helpful. When he was being charming, he was very endearing. When he was acting like an ass, he was an incredible ass. > \*\* The above quotes pretty much sum up exactly how this situation appears to me. ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/202 "2003-10-25T23:51:51Z")
I’ll chew on that, **dantheman** - yes, I’m pretty new to the SDMB, and haven’t seen all of his posts. So, you have a valid point. Even if I agree that he stepped over the line in this board (unlikely that I’ll do so), I believe that his contributions will be missed. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2003, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/203 "2003-10-25T23:53:02Z")
What I hope **doesn’t** happen is that people, feeling a solidarity with what happened to **Zenster** , leave the board. I only know him through here, e-mails, IM and a phone conversation, but I cannot believe he would want anyone to do this. We are a “community” and I have really gotten used to being a member of it. Don’t deprive the rest of us of your intellectual and social presence, please. I truly hope that with a little time and healing he can come back. Thanks Q ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/204 "2003-10-26T00:01:27Z")
> [@](#): > > Because this is the FIRST time I’ve seen a poster banned that didn’t deserve it. And why the fuck are you fucking asking? It’s not as if your life will be altered by whether any poster is “allowed” to be on this board. It’s just a fucking message board, right? Please show me evidence that you know everything that went on behind the scenes, past and present. If you can’t then you are merely talking out of your hairy asshole and your opinion means squat. I am asking because if the SDMB “censors” :::snort::: make it so miserable for you, why don’t you leave? > [@](#): > > Let’s just stop it with the potty mouth language, shall we? [Jack Black]Fuck you, you fucking fuck aaaaaaaaaaass!!![/Jack Black] > [@](#): > > I’ve calmed down somewhat since last night, I think - but I’m still really confused as to why Zenster was banned. Just a little tip for ya, Blonde. Shut your yap until you are less confused and more educated on the facts. M’Kay? You’ll look less stupid. Trust me. > [@](#): > > We _know_ why he was banned. The discussion is whether it was fair or not. Do you really _know_ all the details or just the limited information you got from reading a thread or two? > [@](#): > > And folks aren’t allowed to post a dissenting opinion about a particular banning whilst not wishing to revoke their membership of this (generally well-moderated) board? No, but it does make me wonder why someone would stick around a place that makes them so miserable. > [@](#): > > . . . accompanied by a rule that starting a thread about a banning would result in an insta-ban… I would pay big money to have that rule passed! The rules are there, we don’t need debates or discussion about the things that will or will not get you banned. Why is it so hard for some people to comprehend that if they want to ban someone for not dotting an “i” or crossing a “t”, the can do it. The rules aren’t the fucking Constitutional. > [@](#): > > “It ain’t how well the bear dances, it’s that she dances at all” It’s been a while since I told ya Fen, but I love ya! ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/205 "2003-10-26T00:10:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diane \* > **Please show me evidence that you know everything that went on behind the scenes, past and present. If you can’t then you are merely talking out of your hairy asshole and your opinion means squat.** Please show _me_ where **Blonde** claimed to know everything that went on behind the scenes. Please get your facts straight before you shoot your mouth off. ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/206 "2003-10-26T00:12:22Z")
. . . .or something like that. I was typing fast. > [@](#): > > yes, I’m pretty new to the SDMB, and haven’t seen all of his posts. So, you have a valid point. Exactly. You don’t know everything that led up to his banning. So, do you still think the Mods are unfair censors? ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/207 "2003-10-26T00:32:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Please show me where Blonde claimed to know everything that went on behind the scenes. Please get your facts straight before you shoot your mouth off. Go back and read, Snookums. You would think _all the time_ you spend here you would have learned to pay better attention. She may not have said it directly, but she certainly implies that she has an understanding behind the banning – > [@](#): > > If all it takes to get banned is speaking passionately about subjects that matter to you, well then fuck it. Y’all can go right ahead and ban my ass as well. and here – > [@](#): > > He simply said what most of us were thinking. Unlike 99% of the other posters I’ve seen banned on the SDMB. and here – > [@](#): > > He simply stated his opinion in a manner that the almighty mods decided was “unacceptable.” If I state that someone who killed their small children should be put to death, will I be banned? No? What if I phrase it differently, but suggest the same thing using more colorful language? and here – > [@](#): > > Because this is the FIRST time I’ve seen a poster banned that didn’t deserve it. So again, she may not have specifically stated “I know what went on behind the scenes”, but she certainly believed she new enough to be outraged over the “unfair” banning. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/208 "2003-10-26T00:47:27Z")
**Diane** , could you please show on your quotes who th’ heck you’re quoting as you rip into them? It makes the reading so much easier. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/209 "2003-10-26T00:58:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diane \* > \*\*So again, she may not have specifically stated “I know what went on behind the scenes”, but she certainly believed she new enough to be outraged over the “unfair” banning. \*\* That’s a far cry from claiming to know everything behind the scenes. I’ll agree it was somewhat naive of her to believe that everything goes on in public view, but that’s not a crime. ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/210 "2003-10-26T00:59:05Z")
**Diane** - you’re obviously targeting me as your punching bag for the night – I suggest you fuck off and grow up. ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/211 "2003-10-26T01:03:22Z")
Oh, and I had absolutely NO knowledge that **Zenster** would be banned - that’s a really idiotic statement, bitch. It won’t be your last, I suspect. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/212 "2003-10-26T01:06:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SciFiSam \* > > I’ve only recently noticed **Zenster** , particularly on one thread on homosexuality, where he was polite and supportive and pretty humourous. I don’t know what thread that was, but he could pound his fists on his chest all he wants and I’ll never believe that he’s as thoughtful of homosexuals as he claims. Nor is he one to back down and apologize when he’s shown to be wrong and/or offends or hurts someone, including fellow posters here. Witness this meltdown: > [@](#): > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=216093](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=216093) > > **Zenster** (Regarding Former California Governor Gray Davis): "You deserve the disgrace of losing office to a mesomorph. Did you pause to think for one moment about what will happen to our beloved state now that it’s in the hands of another fucking cock-sucking ACTOR? " > > **Homebrew** : "What makes “cock-sucking” an insult? I like to suck (as well as lick, snuzzle and rub) cock. I like mine sucked, too. > > Oh … you mean it’s bad because it’s GAY?" > > \ > > the cock-sucking referred to is performed by a man. It follows, then, that male cock-sucking must be bad. > > **Shayna** : “And Zenster should know this, too. He’s certainly been around The SD long enough to have seen the numerous threads we’ve had on these boards going back at least 2 1/2 years discussing the fact that using the term “cocksucker” as an insult against a man is clearly offensive. If he really has been living with his head up his own ass all this time and hasn’t figured out that disparaging remarks about male homosexual behaviour is rude, then I’d strongly request that he take the time now to read through the linked threads (if he still doesn’t get it) and then come back here and offer a sincere apology.” > > **Zenster** : "cuauhtemoc, Homebrew and Shayna, fucking blow it out your stinking asses! > > Read the above excerpt carefully, go very slowly so your pathetic little nit picking minds can fully absorb the sweeping concepts involved. > > Schwarznegger likes to receive corporate blowjobs, from all I can tell he likes to give them too. That makes him a corporate “cock-sucker” in my book and fuck-you³ for trying to hijack another one of my threads with your puling idiocy. Piss off and go whizz in your own Cheerios for once, you petty little shits." First of all, I have no idea what the hell he was talking about with regard to hijacking “another one” of his threads, as I very rarely ever posted in one of them. And until just now, that’s all I’d read of _that_ particular thread until I searched for it to reference here. Now I find this gem: > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Zenster_ > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Michael Ellis \* > > Testing, testing. > > > > GRAY DAVIS is a cocksucker! > > > > Now, flame away. > > [looks around thread and notices the complete absence of takers] > > cuauhtemoc and Shayna, you are pair of fucking hypocrites. Please do not try and tell me you were just doing your best to comply with my wishes about not hijacking this thread (especially you, Shayna). It has never seemed to deter you in the past. Yet, here you are, wasting a perfectly good opportunity to piss and moan. Get stuffed!" What the flying fuck was that thickass prick talking about? I can’t recall EVER having any kind of confrontation with him, as I tended to avoid his egofests at all costs. But now I’m a hypocrite for not bothering to continue to read a thread by a fuckstick who called me a petty little shit and told me to piss off? And worse yet, I see that **Esprix** tried to express how much the use of that term is hurtful to him and **Zenster** basically said in reply, [paraphrase] “too bad, I don’t see it that way and I’ll continue to use it in the way _I_ see it, regardless of how it makes you feel.” **Esprix** responded with: "Well, Zenster, you did use the phrase in relation to a guy, so even if in general you don’t think of it that way, you sure used it that way in this context. Again, I hope you see the hard feelings it can cause to people you don’t mean to cause hard feelings to." And **Zenster** , being the big, kind-hearted man that he is, never bothered to respond and let his own thread sink like a stone. He may be the nicest man on the planet to animals, but he could be downright cruel to human beings. For that, I found him vile and entirely unlikeable. I’m glad he’s gone and I pray he’s never, ever allowed back. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/213 "2003-10-26T01:16:58Z")
Please folks, we’re getting off track. I don’t know how to say this, but I feel guilty for not saying it. I found Zenster to be compassionate, and generous. On several occasions, he has offered me help in e-mails-acts of generosity perfomed privately without expectation of reward. And, IMHO, anybody who makes cubed eggs with caper pips for a backgammon party has a right to be snobby when it comes to cooking. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/214 "2003-10-26T01:28:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DocCathode \* > \*\*anybody who makes cubed eggs with caper pips for a backgammon party has a right to be snobby when it comes to cooking. \*\* I’m not sure that that is quite the conclusion to which I’d might arrive. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/215 "2003-10-26T02:08:59Z")
There’s something that we might be forgetting here. Please indulge me for a moment. Take a look at the comments in this thread. There are positive impressions of **Zenster** , and there are negative impressions. But one thing that strikes me is that more than a few people who’ve spoken in here didn’t necessarily have direct interaction with him. That is, their impressions of **Zenster** came about from their reading of his posts, rather than through fighting with him or being on the receiving end of excellent culinary advice. And that kind of underlines something most people forget. Everything we say on here, from the most innocuous flirty remark to the most serious comment on religion, is seen by countless eyes whose owners form myriad impressions. Whenever someone is kicked off, it should serve as a reminder to all of us that it is far better to post thoughtfully and helpfully than to post recklessly and angrily. If we choose the latter method of posting, we ourselves could be the ones about whom bad things are said when we’re not around; when we are gone, will people bemoan our absence or shout good riddance? Now, some of you may say that you don’t care what other people think of you. I say that’s hogwash, with all due respect. We’re all human beings here, and we appreciate praise as much as we disdain scorn. You can’t tell me you don’t prefer the former over the latter. I guess what I’m trying to say through all this rambling is that making a positive impression on here is important, unless you care nothing for your fellow posters and believe them to be nothing more than automatons. If you honestly feel this way, then if and when you ever shuffle off the mortal coil of this message board, you won’t mind a whit if people badmouth you. I, for one, _would_ mind it greatly. I don’t like anyone having a low opinion of me, and so I work as hard as I can to make a positive impression on whoever reads my posts. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/216 "2003-10-26T02:15:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > **And that kind of underlines something most people forget. Everything we say on here, from the most innocuous flirty remark to the most serious comment on religion, is seen by countless eyes whose owners form myriad impressions. Whenever someone is kicked off, it should serve as a reminder to all of us that it is far better to post thoughtfully and helpfully than to post recklessly and angrily.** Y’know, we don’t always see eye-to-eye, **dantheman** , but damned if that isn’t about the wisest thing I’ve seen posted here in a while. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/217 "2003-10-26T02:19:54Z")
**Dantheman** - insightful comments. I think I haven’t been reckless in my postings, for the most part - but I simply feel there are is so much more offensive crap on this board than anything he posted. Can we really say **Zen** didn’t make a postive impression at some time? **Ukulele Ike** - please don’t leave us in suspense - what conclusion would you come to? ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/218 "2003-10-26T03:02:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diane \* > \*\*Please show me evidence that you know everything that went on behind the scenes, past and present. If you can’t then you are merely talking out of your hairy asshole and your opinion means squat. > > I am asking because if the SDMB “censors” :::snort::: make it so miserable for you, why don’t you leave? > > [Jack Black]Fuck you, you fucking fuck aaaaaaaaaaass!!![/Jack Black] > > Just a little tip for ya, Blonde. Shut your yap until you are less confused and more educated on the facts. M’Kay? You’ll look less stupid. Trust me. > > Do you really _know_ all the details or just the limited information you got from reading a thread or two? > > No, but it does make me wonder why someone would stick around a place that makes them so miserable. > > I would pay big money to have that rule passed! The rules are there, we don’t need debates or discussion about the things that will or will not get you banned. > > Why is it so hard for some people to comprehend that if they want to ban someone for not dotting an “i” or crossing a “t”, the can do it. The rules aren’t the fucking Constitutional. > > It’s been a while since I told ya Fen, but I love ya! \*\* **Diane** , you are a the bitchiest, nastiest excuse for a person I have ever encountered on this messageboard. May I suggest you put the Vodka down and stop posting when you are pissed? Oh, and as **IceWolf** said, can you at least make an _attempt_, however feeble, to nominate the original poster when you are haranguing them? It WOULD make life just so much easier for the rest of us. Thanks sweetie. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/219 "2003-10-26T03:24:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > \*\*Chefguy, conversely, I am a fairly creative gal myself, and I can cook my ass of and make money for it, and yet…rarely do I go into coniptions and damn people to hell for using margarine. Maybe I’m the only one who sees a difference, but oh well. > > Next time I call someone a dope and stupid, and tell them they aren’t worth my time, I’ll be sure to blame it on my creativity. \*\* Ladies and gentlemen, the State rests. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/220 "2003-10-26T03:45:00Z")
Blonde: > [@](#): > > Oh, and I had absolutely NO knowledge that Zenster would be banned - that’s a really idiotic statement, bitch. Good God you dumbshit, no one said you had knowledge that he would be banned. It was pointed out to you that you don’t know all of the reasons behind his banning. There is a difference between the two, trust me. Kambuckta: > [@](#): > > Thanks sweetie. Don’t mention it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338.md?page=12)