Here is a situation I haven't come across before.

[Anonymous]

Jeff,

Well done. I have followed this thread over the past two days. Banker is very good, and her logic almost holds water until you weigh in. Your responses remind me why I appreciate and value this site. So. . .I am considering wearing a t-shirt that reads "I heart Jsteele." On the metro, at Starbucks, etc.

[Anonymous]

I love Jeff. I think that as far as site administrators goes, he's the best. He has a moral compass and integrity that I have admired for a long time. Just read his posts. As the owner of the site, I feel he can referee anyway he wants and call out the troublemakers. I'm saying this from the point of view, where I've even been called out by him before. I think he's always fair and he has a tough job keeping some of the peace on the site. He does allow freedom of speech, but even the first ammendment has boundaries. Just because we have freedom doesn't mean we spout off to policemen, teachers, etc. Managers of restaurants kick out people who are unruly. He has a right to censor what he wants if people are trolling. Keep up the good work, Jeff. You rock.

[Anonymous]

I can't believe this fight is still going on! I was the four-employee poster who was mildly disturbed by someone's employer being disclosed. After skimming through some of the tedium that has ensued, I understand a why those posts were deleted. Sounds to me like Jeff normally isn't vexed enough by something to go through the trouble of intervening unless it is really hate or threatening speech, but since he happened to have your post up, and the delete button handy, you fell victim. Oh well, right? I can't believe someone is seriously pissed off about that. Especially considering how worthless the posts were in the first place. I remember seeing the mayonaise and witness protection posts and thought they made no sense. If that's what's passing for irony these days, I feel like weeping.

The thing is, trifecta of PAC NW posters, your posts were about as ironic as the Alanis Morrisette song of the same name. Irony is something I suspect is beyond the grasp of these posters. I'd say if a post is relevant or entertainingly snarky that might be good reason to keep them, but these posts were nonsensical gibberish. I can see why Jeff thought they were the work of a spambot.

I still don't like posting the name of someone's employer, but the left coast triumvirate should get over that already. Especially if there are really 500 people and Jeff truly checked before posting. In the meantime, to the west coasties: go away already! You are boring, not helpful, irrelevant, and patently unamusing. It's not that I object to outside DC perspectives, but I do find it very peculiar that three people are spending so much time debating the rules and policies of a parenting website in a group of zip codes 3000 miles away giving way to annoyance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jeff,

Well done. I have followed this thread over the past two days. Banker is very good, and her logic almost holds water until you weigh in. Your responses remind me why I appreciate and value this site. So. . .I am considering wearing a t-shirt that reads "I heart Jsteele." On the metro, at Starbucks, etc.

I think you find there is something to what I'm saying and it's just mentally easier to sail to calmer waters. You appreciate and value this site because jsteele is your protector against unpolite responses. You know, sometimes the best advice you're going to get is from someone that forgoes niceties and is brutally honest. Now, the posts that were removed and mine which resulted in my employment info being posted perhaps didn't have the absolute best intentions but neither were they so offensive as to be censored. Again, we're all adults here. I'd much rather be able to make my own decisions about which posts to read and which to skip rather than having them go through the filter of the site admin. Block spam/hate speech/threats. Don't block for being blunt. A really good site admin would have restrained himself better than to 1) post info that really only he has access to and has no business posting as it isn't relevant to anything and is only used as an implied threat; 2) not belittle me about working at a bank (which is doing fine, btw); and 3) apologized when he realized he made a mistake, instead of taunting me. Be above the fray, jsteele.

Anonymous wrote:I love Jeff. I think that as far as site administrators goes, he's the best. He has a moral compass and integrity that I have admired for a long time. Just read his posts. As the owner of the site, I feel he can referee anyway he wants and call out the troublemakers. I'm saying this from the point of view, where I've even been called out by him before. I think he's always fair and he has a tough job keeping some of the peace on the site. He does allow freedom of speech, but even the first ammendment has boundaries. Just because we have freedom doesn't mean we spout off to policemen, teachers, etc. Managers of restaurants kick out people who are unruly. He has a right to censor what he wants if people are trolling. Keep up the good work, Jeff. You rock.

Yes, he can referee anyway he wants. However, when you claim to give the 1st Amendment "great reverence" but remove replies and post employment information over posts that were too "mean", it's duplicitous. By the way, spouting off to policemen, teachers, etc. IS a right that you have. You'll suffer whatever consequences comes from it but you have the RIGHT to do it. Also, unruly customers is more of a property issue than 1st Amendment. Censor away but at least be upfront and honest about it.

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe this fight is still going on! I was the four-employee poster who was mildly disturbed by someone's employer being disclosed. After skimming through some of the tedium that has ensued, I understand a why those posts were deleted. Sounds to me like Jeff normally isn't vexed enough by something to go through the trouble of intervening unless it is really hate or threatening speech, but since he happened to have your post up, and the delete button handy, you fell victim. Oh well, right? I can't believe someone is seriously pissed off about that. Especially considering how worthless the posts were in the first place. I remember seeing the mayonaise and witness protection posts and thought they made no sense. If that's what's passing for irony these days, I feel like weeping.

The thing is, trifecta of PAC NW posters, your posts were about as ironic as the Alanis Morrisette song of the same name. Irony is something I suspect is beyond the grasp of these posters. I'd say if a post is relevant or entertainingly snarky that might be good reason to keep them, but these posts were nonsensical gibberish. I can see why Jeff thought they were the work of a spambot.

I still don't like posting the name of someone's employer, but the left coast triumvirate should get over that already. Especially if there are really 500 people and Jeff truly checked before posting. In the meantime, to the west coasties: go away already! You are boring, not helpful, irrelevant, and patently unamusing. It's not that I object to outside DC perspectives, but I do find it very peculiar that three people are spending so much time debating the rules and policies of a parenting website in a group of zip codes 3000 miles away giving way to annoyance.

Weep away. The irony was lost on you. Does that mean that it's lost on the next person? Why are you so comfortable with someone pre-screening posts for you? It's funny how flexible you are on this issue. First, you're a little up in arms about employment info being posted. Then, after I get on jsteele about it, you come back on and post that I essentially deserved it. And then you further illustrate my point of outsiders being unwelcome here. I've yet to see one explanation how my location invalidates my responses. Yet I'm being told by more than one of you to leave and never come back based on the fact that I'm NOT IN DC. Am I the only one that sees how provincial that is?

I'm articulating my points at least reasonably intelligently. Why are you trying to silence THAT? I don't get it. Of any topic in this entire site, is there one more important than the ability to post what is on one's mind without fear of reprisal? THAT is what we are talking about. Maybe this will make it easier: Trees = annoying posts, Forest = being able to freely voice an opinion. Also? If you hadn't noticed the number of views on this thread is quite high. And it's not just me sitting here refreshing the page. Either word is getting out that there is a heated discussion in here or people really are intrigued by a "situation I haven't come across before". Judging by the lack of input on the original topic, I'd say it's the former, not the latter. It's not exactly bad for business, if you follow. That makes me think that it isn't just TEDIUM. Heck, you came back and posted again.

[Anonymous]

One last thing. I'm sorry I keep going on about this but I just feel like I'm not really being heard. Also, there's no benefit from siding with me. If I contributed regularly and was lucky enough to live in DC, I'd want to be on Jeff's good side as well. Me? I'm inconsequential.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One last thing. I'm sorry I keep going on about this but I just feel like I'm not really being heard. Also, there's no benefit from siding with me. If I contributed regularly and was lucky enough to live in DC, I'd want to be on Jeff's good side as well. Me? I'm inconsequential.

FYI -- I got the 'irony' of your mayo post, even though 'irony' may be the wrong word. You were equating the inanity of the original post to a post asking if you should open a jar of mayo with the seal broken. Also, just FYI, I don't think your INANE comment comes close to some of the offensive posts on this site sometimes but I also don't understand why you can't take Jeff's word for it that your posts were originally deleted because he thought they came from a spambot, which started this whole thing.

[Anonymous]

Not the banker poster.


The Bankers posts were NOT deleted because of Jeff thinking they were SPAM. It was my post (witness protection program) and another friend who posts on here. WE were the posters who had our posts removed, NOT The Banker. So, Jeff's claims that the Banker came back to this post to try to cause trouble, are wrong. The banker never had any posts removed or caused any trouble. All SHE did was post about the Mayo and the Inane post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you hadn't noticed the number of views on this thread is quite high. And it's not just me sitting here refreshing the page. Either word is getting out that there is a heated discussion in here or people really are intrigued by a "situation I haven't come across before".

It's rubbernecking. Don't take it as a compliment.

[Anonymous]

Why is this a dilemma? These Avon, Mary Kay, and Pampered Chef people always try to recruit people into their pyramid. Just say you don't have time, sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you hadn't noticed the number of views on this thread is quite high. And it's not just me sitting here refreshing the page. Either word is getting out that there is a heated discussion in here or people really are intrigued by a "situation I haven't come across before".

It's rubbernecking. Don't take it as a compliment.

People don't rubberneck a guy reading a book. They rubberneck when there is something unusual at which to look. Such as a car crash...or in this case, a car crash.

[Anonymous]

This whole thing is bogus. I can't help but to think that the reason Jeff outed The Banker was because he had some personal involvement with the OPs post. I would like to think that he has something better to do than to go thru post by post and removing spam. I think he chose this particular thread to remove "spam" was because he had a personal investment and didnt want the OP being mocked/made fun of/teased.

All because The Banker made the Mayo and the Inane post, He felt it was okay to post where this person works? Doesn't that seem a little overreactive to you? And Yes, posting a place of business where there are 500 or so workers, is not SO bad, but it was Jeffs intent of saying, "I have all this power and could out you even more so, if I wanted to"

I've seen SO many racists threads and much, MUCH worse things that have been said and these posts weren't removed.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Not the banker poster.


The Bankers posts were NOT deleted because of Jeff thinking they were SPAM. It was my post (witness protection program) and another friend who posts on here. WE were the posters who had our posts removed, NOT The Banker. So, Jeff's claims that the Banker came back to this post to try to cause trouble, are wrong. The banker never had any posts removed or caused any trouble. All SHE did was post about the Mayo and the Inane post.

Apparently reading comprehension is a lost art in the Pacific Northwest. I have repeated over and over again what happened, yet you ignore it.

I did not delete any posts because I thought they were spam. I investigated them because I thought they might be spam, but decided they weren't. I deleted them because they were nonsensical and interfered with the discussion.

After I deleted those messages, you started another thread in order to get me explain why the messages were deleted. I explained why, and added that inappropriate messages were not desired in this sort of thread.

The poster of the "inane" and "mayo" messages participated in the second thread and was aware that inappropriate messages were not desired, yet returned to this thread to post her two messages. You also posted an additional snarky response.

There are two, perhaps three, posters from the Pacific Northwest who have posted in this thread. What is the chance of three users from the other coast independently stumbling across the same thread on an obscure website in Washington, DC? The chance is close to nil. Originally, I thought it was possibly a single user. Heck, I thought you people spent your free time in your garages playing grunge music. How the hell would I know that trolling DCUM had become so popular out there? Maybe next year I will hear about the trend on NPR?

Obviously, the two or three of you are coordinating with each other. Regardless of the number of you, you are all acting in concert. The idea that the "inane" poster was treated unfairly because she didn't post one of the two posts that were deleted is ridiculous. You are all connected and all aware that your posts were not appropriate.

As for the "banker", your points are being heard. They just are not all that persuasive. Your complaint is that your "right" to post snarky messages is being impinged. The reason that other posters are not supporting you is not because they don't hear your message. It is not because I have intimidated them into silence. It's that virtually no snarky messages are ever "censored" on DCUM. Anyone who has been here any length of time knows that DCUM is nearly overrun with snark. Far more of our users would like to see more moderation rather than less.

Can you answer one question? What is it that you hope to get out of DCUM beyond the opportunity to ridicule our members and how would posting snarky messages further than interest?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

FYI -- I got the 'irony' of your mayo post, even though 'irony' may be the wrong word. You were equating the inanity of the original post to a post asking if you should open a jar of mayo with the seal broken. Also, just FYI, I don't think your INANE comment comes close to some of the offensive posts on this site sometimes but I also don't understand why you can't take Jeff's word for it that your posts were originally deleted because he thought they came from a spambot, which started this whole thing.

The "Mayo" post never said anything about the seal being broken. It wasn't a dilemma about opening a compromised jar of mayo. It was about making a decision anyone can make without having to ask someone about it. So I don't think you really got what I was going for, which is fine. But should I be allowed to post that without the site admin "outing" me? I think so. That's what this is all about.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

As for the "banker", your points are being heard. They just are not all that persuasive. Your complaint is that your "right" to post snarky messages is being impinged. The reason that other posters are not supporting you is not because they don't hear your message. It is not because I have intimidated them into silence. It's that virtually no snarky messages are ever "censored" on DCUM. Anyone who has been here any length of time knows that DCUM is nearly overrun with snark. Far more of our users would like to see more moderation rather than less.

Exactly.
Which makes your removal of the posts based on them being too snarky and nonsensical even more suspect. Face it, You had a personal involvement with the OP and it pissed you off when someone made a snarky comment and so based on anger, you outed where they work. That's the bottom line.

I will admit it, I LOVE being snarky and Im SURE that my witness protection program comment added NOTHING to the conversation. But, I wasn't being mean or hurtful, and neither was the Mayo/Inane poster.

You did what you did based on anger and because you 'can'.

I would think that people would be more cautious about not upsetting the Site Admin, because based on his mood for the day and what he see's "Fit" as a response, He might just post where YOU work, too.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:This whole thing is bogus. I can't help but to think that the reason Jeff outed The Banker was because he had some personal involvement with the OPs post. I would like to think that he has something better to do than to go thru post by post and removing spam. I think he chose this particular thread to remove "spam" was because he had a personal investment and didnt want the OP being mocked/made fun of/teased.

Again, learn to read. I have no relationship with the OP and don't even know who it is. I don't go "post by post", but clicked on the thread because I thought it might be interesting. I remove multiple spams per day. Sometimes 20-30 at a time. You probably don't see much spam because by the time you wake up on the west coast, I've been up for hours removing it.

Anonymous wrote:All because The Banker made the Mayo and the Inane post, He felt it was okay to post where this person works? Doesn't that seem a little overreactive to you? And Yes, posting a place of business where there are 500 or so workers, is not SO bad, but it was Jeffs intent of saying, "I have all this power and could out you even more so, if I wanted to"

No, posting the place of business was my way of highlighting the absurdity of your trolling. How ridiculous that two posters from the West Coast -- one of them even employed by a bank -- would waste their time trolling an innocuous thread on a DC parenting website.

Anonymous wrote:
I've seen SO many racists threads and much, MUCH worse things that have been said and these posts weren't removed.

Exactly! I've been trying to tell you that I almost never remove posts. You just got lucky. I deleted your posts because I felt like deleting them. They were stupid and added nothing to the discussion. This is not that complicated.