Mod Announcement: Shit's gonna change, yo

"Brian, The Life of" (familycar) 07/07/2016 at 13:52 • Filed to: None

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Dear Oppolandians,

Your loving Mods have had it with a certain common community behavior and, after a few days of navel gazing, we’ve come to realize that this behavior is all our fault. Sorry. I’m talking, of course, about the always f’ed up comment shitstorms that seem to consistently center around just a handful of troublemakers (most of y’all are just fine, thank you). As such, we’ve come to the decision that some fine-tuning of our behavior will help alleviate the harassment. I’ll describe our new approach in a moment but first a reminder to you all:

1. DO NOT HARRASS USERS. This is pretty simple in theory but tricky in practice, so here are a few clear guidelines to get you thinking.

· Don’t go out of your way to pick a fight.

· If there is a fight brewing, stay out of it.

· If you see someone posting you don’t like, leave them be. In other words …

· DON’T STIR THE SHIT!

This goes for people on both sides of “right”. Look, we’ve got rules to make sure that people here can post without fear of being attacked, discriminated against or badgered; it goes without saying that in addition to being EXPLICITLY called out as unacceptable behavior that this also goes against rule #1.
For our part the moderators have agreed on a more consistent moderation policy that we hope will alleviate some of the inconsistency in dealing out moderation:
Bans!

More specifically, we are going to be much more liberal in using the one tool we have: removing authorship/banning. Here how it’s going to work:
Breaking the rules? One week timeout. This is independent of who was “right” and who was “wrong” if you break the rules, you’re going to have to sit it out a little bit. “But so and so was also breaking the rules!” you might say. To which I will respond with a question: When was the last time “but other people were speeding!” got you out of a ticket? It doesn’t work with the police and it doesn’t work with us either, if you break a rule it’s not a defense to blame others.

Look we don’t mind debate, debate is good! However, we’ve been around as a group long enough to be able to spot the difference between healthy debate and a fight (kind of like porn, we know it when we see it) and if you can’t tell the difference than we are happy to provide you with some clarity on the matter.

2. THREE STRIKES. We get it, sometimes you have a bad day, you aren’t yourself or you learned your lesson and we aren’t going to hold that against you. We also aren’t going to let you keep breaking the rules either, so there will be a three strikes rule. If we catch you breaking the rules three times you’re out. Look we all love Oppo and we really don’t want to kick anyone out but not doing so would be more harmful to the community than not. Also, like your driving record your strikes go away after a period of time without repeat offense. Sorry, no defensive Oppo training course Is offered at this time.

3. BURNERS AND FALSE ACCOUNTS. If you’ve been here a while, your pretty familiar with fake accounts, fake personalities passing as new accounts and burner accounts created specifically for harassment. You’re also probably familiar with the fact that false accounts always come to light and when they do it’s an immediate Permaban. Please don’t do this, you’re wasting everybody’s time including yours; we expect you to act like an adult here its why we authored you.

“But OppoMods, I want to help keep this righteous community tight and harmonious,” you say “When I see shit going down, I want to help you tamp it out! How can I do that if I don’t chime in?” I get it, Batman, you’re a crusader for Internet Justice and you don’t want the trolls/basement dwellers/Prius-driving vegans to win. You should all know this by know but, in case you don’t, you have three options at your disposal:

· DISMISS! – This is a wonderfully gratifying option that I like to call “LOLdismiss!” If someone responds to you in an unacceptable manner, send that shit into oblivion.

· Flag it! – The best thing about freeing us up from cat-herding comment shitstorms is we will have more time to hit the flagged comments list and, best of all, WE GET TO BE THE BUZZKILLS and you won’t get any blowback.

· E-mail us! – We all regularly check the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! account – some of us even have a special chime on our mobile so we know when one comes in … This is a GREAT way to provide more color to what you’re reporting when the simple “flag” control doesn’t quite cut it.

The bottom here is, we are here to serve the community BUT this is a purely volunteer gig that comes with no glory and a shit ton of ingratitude. We do this because, like all of you, we really like our little clean, well-lighted place to talk cars and junk on this big bad Interwebtubecloud thingy. We do not have time nor do we have the inclination to be helicopter parents to this community; we expect everyone to be grownups and when folks demonstrate that they cannot Adult, they will now be excused from the community. Also, also, it may happen that we come into a comment shitstorm and just swing the timeout hammer for everyone involved and clip an innocent party accidentally. When that happens (and it probably will on rare occasion), we will reinstate the member and remove the “strike.”

And now, the call lines are open to take your questions.

ETA the OppoMod squad for future reference:

Porsche9146, Gamecat235, Pauljones, Snapundersteer Italianspiderman , For Sweden, Dusty Ventures, Party-VI, Crown Victor Victoria, Axel-ripper, Brian, the life of, Das Wauto, Hammerhead Fistpunch, Arch Duke Maxyenko and Yamahog

Nibbles > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:00

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When is the next mod election?

Are there term limits?

Where is the pie and punch? We were led to understand that there would be pie and punch.

TheHondaBro > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:03

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As long as I can keep shitposting I’m good.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:03

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I like Oppolandians, not as catchy as Opponauts, but I like it.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:03

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a week ban is pretty long. maybe give them 24 hrs. most people just need to cool off.

Also get a new banner. You want to be great to each other but you have a banner mocking the current situation of the site (or Gawker, what ever)

Matt Nichelson > Nibbles 07/07/2016 at 14:04

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I thought there was cake.

Ash78, voting early and often > TheHondaBro 07/07/2016 at 14:04

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You mean SC400 stuff? :D

For Sweden > Nibbles 07/07/2016 at 14:04

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Elections, lol

Sam > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:05

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Am I in the trouble-maker group? (no hard feelings if I am, just want to know if I should tread lightly in the future)

Matt Nichelson > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:06

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Kinda going off the comment by Nibbles. What does it actually take to become a mod and what sort of commitment is involved with being one? I’ve always been curious but have never asked.

TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! > Nibbles 07/07/2016 at 14:06

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FREE HAT

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Matt Nichelson 07/07/2016 at 14:06

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The cake is a LIE...

TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! > TheHondaBro 07/07/2016 at 14:07

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You should still stop though.

Slant6 > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:07

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I will miss the shit stirring. It’s so much fun to watch.

For Sweden > Sam 07/07/2016 at 14:08

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Boring people don’t make trouble, sorry :(

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Matt Nichelson 07/07/2016 at 14:08

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One doesn’t choose the mod life. The mod life chooses the mod.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:08

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I get it, Batman, you’re a crusader for Internet Justice and you don’t want the trolls/basement dwellers/Prius-driving vegans to win.

Someone call Christopher Nolan, I have the next Batman movie.

pauljones > Sam 07/07/2016 at 14:08

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You’re not on the radar at the moment, but please heed my last response to you. Your approach to the... discussion... could have been a bit better.

Sam > pauljones 07/07/2016 at 14:09

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I gotcha.

facw > For Sweden 07/07/2016 at 14:09

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Yay!

Nibbles > Matt Nichelson 07/07/2016 at 14:10

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Being a mod is a tiresome, thankless profession. You’re giving up your free time to deal with any bitching and moaning that comes across your screen, and you have to be able to make the judgement calls on whether the bitching is just bitching or founded and perform actions based on that judgement.

It’s not glamorous or easy, but I’ve always enjoyed it :)

pauljones > OPPOsaurus WRX 07/07/2016 at 14:10

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If 24hrs is enough to cool off afterwards, then hopefully the thought of a week will be enough to encourage people to keep cool in the first place.

Also, we like our banner just fine. It is no way insulting to you or any of our other users.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:10

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I still don’t fully understand the “Flag it!” option. Can I get some clarification?

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Nibbles 07/07/2016 at 14:10

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Honestly there should be mod elections.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:11

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Does this post have to do with the random ass shared comments from Gawker on Oppo today?

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:12

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What if it’s just a snark fest and not a fight?

What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?

Why did the Titanic sink?

And why are all these mutha fuck’n snakes on this mutha fuck’n plane!?!

Slant6 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! 07/07/2016 at 14:12

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nope

Nibbles > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 07/07/2016 at 14:12

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Flagging comments puts the comment in the mod bucket. They get to look at it and decide its fate instead of you.

Slant6 > pauljones 07/07/2016 at 14:13

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ooooooooooooo, am I on the radar?

TheHondaBro > TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! 07/07/2016 at 14:13

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Can’t stop.

Won't stop.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:14

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Am I considered a “troublemaker,” and if so, what can I do to mend fences?

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Nibbles 07/07/2016 at 14:14

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So it’s a substitute from the dismiss if you don’t want to deal with it yourself?

LongbowMkII > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:15

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Long time listener, first time caller.

As an avid user and fan of online sarcasm, do you have any tips to avoid the unmarked line of shit stirring? Also, do you need an email, comment, flag to consider action or would mods act unilaterally against a comment/thread/user without a prompt?

64Mali > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:15

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I knew I should post more often, my calming Europa posts have been missing causing this turmoil.

not for canada - australian in disguise > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:16

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Is it bad that I thought these were already the rules?

Party-vi > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:16

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When do we start indulgences?

pauljones > Slant6 07/07/2016 at 14:16

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You’re always on my radar, Slant.

Nibbles > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 07/07/2016 at 14:17

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If you feel the comment or the user should face some action - be it a mod-scolding, temp ban or permaban - for the comment, flag instead of dismiss. Dismissing puts the comment in purgatory. Flagging brings it to mod attention.

LongbowMkII > TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! 07/07/2016 at 14:17

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Stop entirely vague and aimless “shitposts”? I don't see it as a problem if they are just generic lolz and not directed at anything.

Party-vi > Slant6 07/07/2016 at 14:17

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You have your own special radar.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Nibbles 07/07/2016 at 14:17

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Oh ok.

pauljones > TheHondaBro 07/07/2016 at 14:18

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Clear eyes. Full hearts.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > TheHondaBro 07/07/2016 at 14:18

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Don’t stop. You have my approval as long as there’s less Doug.

But hey, I’m not a mod

Urambo Tauro > Nibbles 07/07/2016 at 14:18

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I’ve flagged some comments that were definitely spam (the “I make $573/hr” crap, not the harassment stuff), but I’ve never seen any comments already marked “flagged”. Am I the only one using this feature, or does flagging remove the comment from view?

pauljones > Party-vi 07/07/2016 at 14:18

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Indulgences? Sounds kinky.

The Dummy Gummy > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! 07/07/2016 at 14:19

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This isn’t a democracy. Just look at the group photo of the mods*:

*full disclosure: this was a joke, please don’t ban me

Brian, The Life of > Party-vi 07/07/2016 at 14:19

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GODDAMMIT! I knew I forgot something ...

Sam > For Sweden 07/07/2016 at 14:19

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My poor soul has been crushed.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:19

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Where do I fall here and what should I be changing?

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > Party-vi 07/07/2016 at 14:19

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OPPOsaurus WRX > pauljones 07/07/2016 at 14:20

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its insulting to the site in general

LongbowMkII > Party-vi 07/07/2016 at 14:21

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I have a set of mizuni carbs off a UJM. What privileges does that... “Donation" garner me?

Nibbles > Urambo Tauro 07/07/2016 at 14:21

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Flagging the comment doesn’t make it go away. It may gray the comment (I don’t remember tbh). Flagged comments stay in place until a mod decides its fate.

ETA: I stand corrected. So little gets flagged on the Cigar Lounge that I’ve never actually checked :\

Slant6 > pauljones 07/07/2016 at 14:21

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Only my friends call me that.

Mr. Slant6 to you.

Brian, The Life of > Urambo Tauro 07/07/2016 at 14:21

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Yes, it removes them from view.

Slant6 > Party-vi 07/07/2016 at 14:21

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So I’m off THE radar.

And on my own.

Party-vi > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! 07/07/2016 at 14:21

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My citroen won't start > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:22

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Brian, The Life of > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem 07/07/2016 at 14:22

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No

pauljones > OPPOsaurus WRX 07/07/2016 at 14:22

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We disagree. As mods of the site, we get to do that.

Party-vi > LongbowMkII 07/07/2016 at 14:22

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SBF fuel injection stacks or GTFAC

The Dummy Gummy > not for canada - australian in disguise 07/07/2016 at 14:22

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Of course, your username would be For Canada, with a comment such as this.

pauljones > Slant6 07/07/2016 at 14:23

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Does this mean that I’ve been friend-zoned?

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:24

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Okey

Dave the car guy , still here > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:25

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If we behave can I run for office in the next elections? I want to be elected the Under Secretary of Turbo Affairs.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 07/07/2016 at 14:25

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Swear to me! (batman voice)

Future next gen S2000 owner > Urambo Tauro 07/07/2016 at 14:25

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Some of us only make $571/hour. We need to know how to make that extra 2 dollars an hour!

OPPOsaurus WRX > pauljones 07/07/2016 at 14:25

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as a mod you should be interested in the opinion of the community, not just your own so easy on the power trip. I’m pretty sure this is the second time you’ve just brushed off my opinion with ‘my opinions different so tough shit i’m a mod’

StoneCold > pauljones 07/07/2016 at 14:26

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You’ve been aquaintanced.

Party-vi > pauljones 07/07/2016 at 14:26

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Only if you’re Pope Leo X

Berang > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:26

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Maybe you should get rid of all the mods, except for one, who shall be chosen at random from active users, and has to mod for a term of one week. It will be educational and bring the team closer together.

pauljones > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 07/07/2016 at 14:26

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You’re fine, bud.

Slant6 > pauljones 07/07/2016 at 14:28

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I don’t know man, I’m getting confused.

Brian, The Life of > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/07/2016 at 14:28

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You, like everyone else, start off your at bat with an 0 and 0 count.

pauljones > OPPOsaurus WRX 07/07/2016 at 14:30

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Actually, it’s only the first time. The other time wasn’t a matter of opinion. You were flat-out wrong on that one. Sorry, but them’s the breaks. Funnily enough, though, I had actually totally forgotten about that until you brought it up again.

Also, one person does not constitute a “community.” One person has a voice in a community, but one voice is not enough to hold sway in and of itself in a community of over 2,000 authors and god knows how many readers/commenters.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > OPPOsaurus WRX 07/07/2016 at 14:30

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Mods are always right

If mods are wrong see line above

Apparently we are on private property and have no rights here. Mods get power and never lose it. so stay on their good side or else you’ll be done for.

pauljones > Party-vi 07/07/2016 at 14:31

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Oh, now we’re getting into role play!

Brian, The Life of > Berang 07/07/2016 at 14:31

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For consistency’s sake, nope. We have a hard enough time being consistent already and there are about a dozen of us ... thus this communication.

LongbowMkII > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! 07/07/2016 at 14:31

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Welcome to the Internet.

Slant6 > OPPOsaurus WRX 07/07/2016 at 14:32

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It’s a joke about current events. How is it insulting?

LongbowMkII > Slant6 07/07/2016 at 14:32

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It’s sounds like you have....

....Radar Love.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:35

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Are you going to be cracking down on the users that spew nonstop hate at others but have been getting away with it because they do it under the banner of defending the rights of a certain group of people?

OPPOsaurus WRX > pauljones 07/07/2016 at 14:36

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i see a number of posts with users designed banners asking for it to be changed. Its not the matter of right and wrong and i’m not getting back into the last debate, its your power trip attitude.

LongbowMkII > 64Mali 07/07/2016 at 14:36

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How much fiberglass damage is too much fiberglass damage.

I’m just asking for a friend. With a neglected Europa.

There’s some holes(<1") in some of the corners.

pauljones > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 07/07/2016 at 14:36

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- We’ll know it when we see it.

- In an uncontrolled dive, my guess is that the Me262 would clock in somewhere around the high 600 mph range. Only 559 mph in a straight line, though.

- Because Leonardo DiCaprio’s acting was terrible in that movie.

- Because Samuel L. Jackson was bored.

Brian, The Life of > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 07/07/2016 at 14:36

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Yes, and those who reply to them.

Urambo Tauro > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:37

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Thanks! I’ve been wondering about that.

Good to hear that more users are using this feature, but sad to hear that the problem is more widespread than just what I can see.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > pauljones 07/07/2016 at 14:37

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Fair ‘nuff

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Brian, The Life of 07/07/2016 at 14:37

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Who are the moderators? I’ve never have had a clue since they rarely make their presence known (except for in a few choice shitstorms that have happened in the past).

Life and Times of Magoo: The People's Champ > OPPOsaurus WRX 07/07/2016 at 14:38

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Actual Question - How is “Oppo for Sale” insulting to you? Unless your Nick Denton.

I enjoy some humor injected in the banner.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > pauljones 07/07/2016 at 14:39

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Thanks! It’s always a bit of a fear of mine that I may have inadvertently said something offensive or inflammatory without really realizing it. I’m a bit dense.

Dave the car guy , still here > LongbowMkII 07/07/2016 at 14:39

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I can build and true spoked wheels. Cars, motorcycles or bikes so maybe I should be Undersecretary of Spoked Transportation. Two truing stands and two dial indicators is my political platform.

Tom McParland > Party-vi 07/07/2016 at 14:41

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What about pie? Is there going to be pie? Because I’m not coming to this Oppo thing if there is no pie.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Slant6 07/07/2016 at 14:42

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Cuz that situation thing was/is a dumb mess and I just dont see why it needs to reminded of in here like that. It just seems like its mocking the site and that it could just close down (i dunno if that’s actually going to happen) that started at the same time as people were talking about where to go if gawker stops running.

pauljones > OPPOsaurus WRX 07/07/2016 at 14:43

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I see a number of posts where people offer up ideas for new banners. I haven’t seen any expressing offense at any of the given banners we’ve had.

I’m also not getting back into that debate, namely because in that instance there wasn’t a debate.

As for the rest, when you are a mod on your own blog/forum and have to deal with and endless supply of whiny people who get upset over stupid shit, you can take whatever attitude you like. For myself, I generally prefer to stay out of things. The same goes with the other mods here. If we have to get involved, however, then we’re going to get involved. And yes, that does involve making judgments and using the abilities that mods are granted.

LongbowMkII > OPPOsaurus WRX 07/07/2016 at 14:43

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Banner debate is constant. Sometimes people want to commemorate an event or death. Sometimes people just want to see their funny/cool/artistic work on top of the page.

Rarely is the motivation “this banner sucks”

Brian, The Life of > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 07/07/2016 at 14:43

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I added the list to the post.

Party-vi > Tom McParland 07/07/2016 at 14:44

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BACK TO THE FRONT PAGE WITH YE, FOUL BEAST!

OPPOsaurus WRX > Life and Times of Magoo: The People's Champ 07/07/2016 at 14:44

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I guess it could fall under the ‘don’t bring issues from other sister sites into gawker’ rule

Slant6 > OPPOsaurus WRX 07/07/2016 at 14:45

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What’s wrong with self mockery? It’s healthy.

RallyWrench > OPPOsaurus WRX 07/07/2016 at 14:45

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In fairness to that particular topic, lately that’s been one new guy posting 47 banner requests.