# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/61 "2003-10-24T23:37:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pepperlandgirl \* > \*\*I’m sure they’re pretty devastated too. I hope they can make it through. Coldy, Lynn, Unclebeer, if the loss of her respect is just too much to handle, don’t do anything drastic ok? My email is listed, I’m here for you. \*\* Well, I am crushed that you’re making such cynical, bitchy remarks! Like I give a shit about your opinion. I **did** care about **Zenster’s** opinion, because he’s an intelligent person with a pretty fucking decent grasp of the English language. He’s made many friends on this board, and in fact was the first poster who acknowledged my existence. If he was a little too animated in his anger at the idiots that live amongst us, so what? He simply said what most of us were thinking. Unlike 99% of the other posters I’ve seen banned on the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/62 "2003-10-24T23:44:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gadfly \* > \*\*Miller - Hy-per-bol-ee. \*\* As far as I’m aware, there is no “hyperbole” clause in the “don’t threaten violence to other posters” rule. It’s a straightforward rule: just. don’t. do it. **Zenster** did it. Now he’s gone. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by alice\_in\_wonderland_ > Well, personally, I think it’s grossly unfair. > > Perhaps Zenster’s comments were somewhat over the top; however, they were also obviously hyperbole. > > Given the way some posters behave without getting banned - heck, the way some posters behaved in that thread without getting banned, makes Zenster’s banning seem totally inappropriate. How many of those other posters in that thread have gotten a half-dozen mod warnings in the last couple months? Folks, he wasn’t banned just for that post. He was a long time poster. He knew the rules. He knew he was on thin-ice with the mods. He broke _yet another_ rule, and he finally got booted for it. I wish **Zen** hadn’t lost it like that, but the mods were absolutely in the right to ban him. **Weirddave** : Looks like **techchick** ’s taken down her LiveJournal, else I’d e-mail you a link. This wasn’t “muttering in a bar,” these were specific threats repeated over a couple of days. Including an offer of aid to a particularly notorious re-occuring troll whom I’m not going to name here. And, personally speaking, the fact that this was part of a pattern of behavior makes it even more banworthy. I’d love to see a “three melt-downs and yer out” rule on the SDMB, but that’s just me. She was a bad seed, and I’m glad she’s gone. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/63 "2003-10-24T23:44:49Z")
Well, it happens that people who do have the highest post-counts are just more likely (statistically) to get warnings occasionally. You’re either banned in your first few posts for being a jerk/troll/sock or you tend to last the distance. But we’re not always sweet as pie, and shit goes on both here on the board and IRL that affects the tone and content of our posts sometimes. I’m sure that there are very few high-post members who haven’t been told-off at some stage in their board careers. Especially those who are passionate like **Zenster**. I think banning **Zenster** sucks. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/64 "2003-10-24T23:45:57Z")
> [@](#): > > f he was a little too animated in his anger at the idiots that live amongst us, so what? He simply said what most of us were thinking Yes, he was banned for being “too animated in his anger” and not because the repeated warnings from the moderators. Maybe you should re-read both Lynn and Unclebeer’s posts. Apparently Zenster was a God Among Men because he had a grasp of the English language, but your reading apprehension skills leave something to be desired. ---
**Author:** ![bojon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@bojon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bojon)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/65 "2003-10-24T23:47:31Z")
I do appreciate your comments. My copy of Strunk and White is in the other room. If I did use proper english. would you comment on its content? ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/66 "2003-10-24T23:48:43Z")
Whatever. Your ability to re-post my comments leaves something to be desired as well, sweetie.l ---
**Author:** ![sundog66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@sundog66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sundog66)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/67 "2003-10-24T23:52:04Z")
I’m sure this has probably already been mentioned somewhere sometime, but it’s funny how when somebody gets banned, everybody acts as though they died. In the world of these message boards, though, I suppose that’s true. Anyway… > [@](#): > > Were the next poster to use all capitals, I will cause them harm. Now, whomsoever does this action, is doing it with knowledge of a consequence. Minor nitpicks: (I realize that when you venture into the realm of formal, perhaps semi-archaic English, it’s easy to get in over your head, but if you’re going to do it, do it right. So excuse my while I don my prescriptive hat and prescribe the following) 1. After the construction “Were [some hypothetical situation],” it’s best to say “would” instead of “will.” 2. The word you’re looking for is “whosoever.” “Whomsoever” is an object pronoun. ---
**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 24, 2003, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/68 "2003-10-24T23:53:50Z")
What the heck is “reading apprehension”? Is that what happens when you catch someone reading your Penthouse Forum, or something? Well said, **Miller**. Well said, indeed. ---
**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 24, 2003, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/69 "2003-10-24T23:57:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Early Out \* > \*\*Oh, no! The loss of income would cripple the Chicago Reader. Oh, wait… \*\* How original. And completely assinine, I might add. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/70 "2003-10-24T23:59:21Z")
**dan** , the act or power of comprehending. ---
**Author:** ![bojon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@bojon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bojon)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/71 "2003-10-25T00:02:52Z")
I asked for your comments on my content, not a Xerox of a previous post that did not address an issue in the PIT…nor did you notice the question mark in my post. Query: Did you teach english? ---
**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 25, 2003, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/72 "2003-10-25T00:06:52Z")
It’s not asinine. If you really feel that strongly about leaving because someone who didn’t follow the rules was kicked off, then by all means, leave. No one’s forcing you to Submit your Reply. In fact, a more measured way to deal with it - again, if you feel that strongly and are that upset by this recent action - then it might be wise to step back yourself from here. Take a deep breath, browse other sites online, write a letter to your mom, telling her you love her. **pepperlandgirl** , thanks for the elucidation. Never heard it put that way. This kind of thread never works out for the best. ☹ People either complain that the banning should never happen and then threaten to leave, or they defend the banning, incurring the wrath of those who are most upset about it. No good can come of that. This is why they ask us to discuss it through email. I hope they close this thread, for those reasons. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/73 "2003-10-25T00:10:04Z")
I think **Baker** put it well. Zenster did a lot of great things and contributed a lot to this board. I like Zenster a lot. I hope things work out for him so he’ll eventually be able to come back. ---
**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, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/74 "2003-10-25T00:11:40Z")
**sundog66** , it’s not as if those of us who know **Zenster** can’t communicate with him after his banning; it’s just disturbing to me that he’s been banned. I’ve not been around that long, but I generally get a feeling for those posters who won’t last (you know the ones.) I would never have predicted that **Zen** would be banned, and I simply think it’s not right. He exhibited anger at animal-abusers, murderers and other bottom-of-the-barrel humans; if he went a little over the top in doing so, so fucking what. I enjoyed his posts and he was obviously a pretty smart guy. Hell, do we want this board to be made up only of dumb blondes that post cat pictures? If so, I’ll fit right in, yessiree. ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/75 "2003-10-25T00:19:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kambuckta \* > \*\*Well, it happens that people who do have the highest post-counts are just more likely (statistically) to get warnings occasionally. I call bullshit on this. Lots of people have high post counts wihout raising the ire of moderators. The staff doesn’t randomly choose who to give warnings to; they give them to people who break the rules, and lots of posters have no real problems following the rules. ---
**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 25, 2003, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/76 "2003-10-25T00:26:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*It’s not asinine. If you really feel that strongly about leaving because someone who didn’t follow the rules was kicked off, then by all means, leave. No one’s forcing you to Submit your Reply. > > In fact, a more measured way to deal with it - again, if you feel that strongly and are that upset by this recent action - then it might be wise to step back yourself from here. Take a deep breath, browse other sites online, write a letter to your mom, telling her you love her. > > \*\* Ummm…well…If you’ll go back and take a peek, you’ll see I wasn’t responding to your post. ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2003, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/77 "2003-10-25T00:29:07Z")
I don’t get it. Not **Zenster** ’s “passing” – that I get. I don’t get the overblown reactions to it. I know I’m not an incredibly, widely respected “board demi-god” like him, but I have lurked and posted here for a while now. I know the rules, and so did he. If I had amassed the record of warnings that **porcupine** documents above, no-one would be surprised if Lynn tossed me. Yet we are all surprised at the moderator “overreaction” here. It seems to happen about every three-four months since I’ve been lurking (which was about 18 mo before I signed up). Some long-time poster gets booted, and then there’s one of these “how could you” threads. The inevitable “I may have to re-evaluate my participation” posts are contained within. Yet everybody seems to stick around, life goes on, and the Board continues to operate. Should we just say “[Ave atque vale](http://www.bartleby.com/101/810.html)” to Zen and move on? ---
**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 25, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/78 "2003-10-25T00:31:15Z")
**Chefguy** , if you wanted no one else to respond, you might want to e-mail the person to whom you directed your post. Otherwise, it’s fair game. ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/79 "2003-10-25T00:32:20Z")
psst **paperbackwriter**? not ‘all’ of us are surprised and not ‘all’ of us think it is a moderator overreaction. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2003, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338/80 "2003-10-25T00:36:52Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Blonde_ > Hell, do we want this board to be made up only of dumb blondes that post cat pictures? If so, I’ll fit right in, yessiree. Must… resist… gratuitous… insult… 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenster-banned-whats-all-this-then/209338.md?page=5)