Why is Microsoft tolerating this kind of nonsense?

Regarding this post:

Let's break this down step by step:

(1) Honestly, I think you've got bigger fish to fry with Barack Obama...

(2) Since you clearly can't figure out which three things I'm talking about on your own, I'll just pass that info along to you later.

(3) Is it just your go-to move to claim everything is a lie the second you run out of actual arguments? Or do you just "reinterpret" every single point to fit whatever narrative you're pushing?

(4) Let’s be real: when some brainless, mentally unstable jerk spits out trash, it isn't an insight into major socio-political issues—it's just a massive red flag for their own mental instability, a total lack of intellect, and zero basic class or upbringing. Hey, Alain.

(5) Not that I actually expect you to see it that way.

(6) Don't take that last connection quite so literally.

Everything packed into one single post. Look, it's painfully obvious this person is dealing with some serious issues, but the thing is, I'm not getting paid to sit here and endure this crap, so if you guys wouldn't mind...

It’s not even the first time this guy has turned a discussion into his own little personal battlefield to feed his massive ego and god complex.

So, my questions are: Can users actually expect peace from this kind of garbage on this forum? Does this kind of nonsense violate the site rules? And would I be getting banned if I had responded to him the way he actually deserves?

And most importantly: Would these exact words trigger a sanction if they were aimed at one of the moderators?

Thanks in advance. By the way, I'd appreciate hearing from Dorian or rustydrifter10; the Microsoft moderators have already given their answer by not sanctioning this.

Did you end up reporting the post? Honestly, regardless of whose take you’re looking for, the moderators and the supermod should definitely be stepping in here—they really ought to. Dorian doesn't have anything to do with that Microsoft PDF, either; his authority only extends to moderating this specific thread right here on the FBI forums since that's his role as a moderator.

rustydrifter10 said:Did you actually flag the post? Look, regardless of whose side you're taking, the mods and the supermod should be stepping in—and honestly, they really ought to. Dorian doesn't have anything to do with those Microsoft PDFs; his authority is strictly limited to moderating this specific thread here on the FBI forums since he's just a mod for this section.

I didn't report him simply because my reports almost never do anything anyway, plus a bunch of other users were already jumping into the thread right after that post went up. I mean, seriously, any random person could've flagged such an intense, multi-layered rant.

But whatever, I'll flag it. No biggie.

The standard procedure here is to post an initial notice first. If you don't hear anything back within about 24 hours, feel free to shoot a message to the mods via DM or just post it right here on the board. So, go ahead and file your report.

Reported.

Btw, I just checked at 12:53 PM and I honestly find it hard to believe this hasn't been flagged yet, though I guess that says everything you need to know about how things work around here. Either way, I don't need to sit here and quote this absolute garbage.

Nobody actually reported this post until you just did. We'll take a look at what was said and pull it down if it needs to go. (sent a message to the rest of the mods)

rustydrifter10 said:The standard move is to report it first, and if you don't hear back from the mods within like 24 hours, then you can hit them up in their inbox or post here. Just report it.

Is that actually an official rule? Seriously, why the hell are we waiting 24 hours while people are out here posting blatant garbage?

I've literally stumbled onto the forum a few times right when some users were absolutely tearing into a moderator with insults. Those posts—and the idiots who wrote them—just vanished into thin air in a heartbeat. I'm talking minutes, maybe even less. One second they're right there, and the next? Poof. Gone.

This is in response to this post.

When I address her directly, she bypasses me entirely, using third-person commentary to try and bait me into a reaction.

It’s a perfect example of what happens here, where a participant in the thread I'm debating completely misinterprets my posts.

After I respond with a correction, she replies like this, without even attempting to rectify what is an obvious mistake. Of course, this isn't a one-off; she's been doing this intentionally for quite some time, and not just to me.

I don't feel I owe her anything, to which she responds in this manner.

Given that she has a very long history of conflict here at Microsoft, it really shouldn't come as a surprise that someone eventually decided to push back.

And how does she handle it? She instigates conflict, insults people, belittles her peers, and acts condescendingly—only to play the victim when people give her a taste of her own medicine.

Since she frequently engages in sexist outbursts, such as in this instance, I would like the Microsoft moderation team to weigh in on this matter.

Honestly, I don't think there is anyone on Microsoft who hasn't been annoyed by Sarah Stewart72's sheer audacity and nerve. The only issue being highlighted here is that I actually decided to stand my ground.

Not too long ago, I asked one of the moderators why this particular user seems shielded from the same strict penalties any other user would face. She assured me it wasn't about protection, but promised that if she noticed the patterns I mentioned, she would discuss the situation with the rest of the team.

Sarah Stewart72 has been provoking, insulting, and acting superior on Microsoft for a long time now. I refuse to simply turn a blind eye to it, even if it means facing a permanent ban.

And yes, regarding my comment:

Thomas Morgan67 said:Usually, when people try to shut down these types, it's treated like they're trying to stop a ballistic missile or something equally extreme.

responds with:

Sarah Stewart72 said:Are you letting your impulses run wild against Thomas Morgan67? 🙂

Link to the full post

Since this isn't an isolated incident, here is how Doticna compares to the rest:

Sarah Stewart72 said:My salary is nearly $5,000, genius.

That’s exactly why I choose my battles carefully. I have zero interest in losers. And honestly, that is absolutely no reason to get worked up.

Link to the full post

It is always, always, and always the same thing: conflict, provocation, and insults.

All you have to do is glance at her profile; if you scroll through just the first five pages, you'll find more than enough evidence to support exactly what I'm talking about.

Regarding those first six points from the original post that Doticna flagged as problematic, I am more than happy to defend them at the request of the moderators and admin. I can provide context for each one to show exactly where they came from.

I’ll be the first to admit that my tone was provocative; however, it was merely a reaction to her blatant rudeness, which has been going on for quite some time—honestly, far too long.

Since she openly lies during these discussions and spreads misinformation that is incredibly easy to debunk, her only remaining tactic is to bury herself in those lies and launch direct attacks against anyone talking to her.

Thomas Morgan67 said:This is a response to... Hey. post.

We all know exactly which post we're talking about here. I actually asked a few colleagues to take a look at it because some of the points pulled from that first post are completely taken out of context. And just so we’re clear, I see what's going on with the "third-person" commentary—don't worry, I noticed. It’s pretty obvious from the thread above that she just conveniently skips over my entries whenever it doesn't suit her.

Thomas Morgan67 said:Since Doticna tends to drop those sexist comments pretty frequently—for example... Here?I’d really appreciate it if the Microsoft moderation team could weigh in on this and give us some clarity.

We don't stand for sexism around here. This post really should have been flagged immediately, but back then, I was getting nothing but constant 503 and 504 errors, so I couldn't get it through. It eventually just slipped through the cracks and faded into obscurity—a total oversight on our part, nothing more.

Thomas Morgan67 said:Honestly, if you just take a quick look at Njeznin's profile—even just scrolling through the first five pages—you'll find more than enough evidence to back up exactly what I'm talking about.

I sent my colleagues a private message asking them to double-check all the posts related to this topic. We aren't going to hand out bans just because someone decided to start a thread on the FBI forums. I also clearly see that some of the data being thrown around is fake, which you already debunked with that link.

I freaking knew this was coming. Just your typical, run-of-the-mill meltdown.

That’s why I said there's zero point in talking to him; we just don't speak the same language. But then, because I’m apparently a glutton for punishment, I also mentioned I was staying neutral toward him—just like any other random person on this board—since I mistakenly thought he was actually capable of having a civilized discussion about the topic at hand.

He's now digging up that "sexist post" from back when I already got flagged for it, acting like it's some fresh scandal, which is just low. And don't even get me started on how he's twisting Morpheus's response out of context too.

And honestly? He isn't done. Now he's trying to lobby the mods, too. As if! And the kicker? He actually expects me to crawl back and apologize to him, despite the fact that he’s been throwing insults my way for reasons only he understands—mostly because I actually have an opinion. Can you believe the nerve?

🤦

Matthew Anderson said:We all know exactly which post we're talking about here, so I actually asked some colleagues to take a look because certain parts of that first post were clearly ripped out of context. And don't worry, it's obvious to me they're using "third person" perspectives too. You can see right from the post above how she just conveniently skips over my entries whenever it doesn't suit her narrative.

I'm skipping this post because honestly, I'm just pissed that everything is being twisted now and the whole discussion is being turned around to target my posts by pulling them out of context. The bottom line is this: I haven't written anything even remotely offensive toward anyone—ever.

I sent a DM to the team to review all the posts related to this thread. We don't just hand out bans just because someone decided to start a thread over at the FBI. It's also crystal clear to me that some of the data being used is being faked, which you already debunked with that link.

What do you mean, faking???

It's way too late for this, and I've got work tomorrow, so I am definitely not in the mood to go hunting through a thread where I've basically been harassed for days without a single consequence.

Since you're doing an investigation anyway, why don't you check that out too? 🤦

Sarah Stewart72 said:I saw this coming from a mile away. It’s the classic blowout. Thomas Morgan67 jumped into another thread about six months ago using this exact same tactic, systematically attacking me in almost the identical way.

Look, you don't need to apologize, and I'm certainly not asking you to.

What would be fair is if you didn't resort to these low blows during our mutual "banter"—which, let's be honest, is pretty obvious at this point.

If you want to go toe-to-toe with me in this thread? Fine. Go ahead. But don't start whining when I give you exactly what you dish out. Your only real issue here is that you aren't allowed to "hit" me without consequences. Now, suddenly, you're looking for help...

Regarding the post you reported on this thread; I wasn't even talking about you in my first message. That should be clear to everyone.

Despite that, you openly insinuated that I want to silence women just because I don't pledge my total allegiance to one specific political party. This isn't even the first time you've pulled that.

Every single time, you fall back on the same tired routine and make the exact same insinuations.

And calling this a "fight"? You're the one who lit the fuse, hoping you'd get a free pass to provoke and insult people while your opponent isn't allowed to defend themselves in kind.

And no, you aren't being neutral, because you can't simply ignore our very first confrontation.

Thomas Morgan67 said:Look, if we’re gonna engage in this constant back-and-forth banter—which, let’s be real, is clearly just us taking shots at each other for the hell of it—the least you could do is not resort to these kinds of low-blow, dirty tactics to settle the score, right?

Wrong again. Look, I’m not here to settle scores with anyone, and don't get it twisted—this isn't some "friendly banter" situation, it's nowhere near that. I'm just here to unwind, read up on stuff that actually interests me, and jump into discussions that aren't completely mindless. Is that really too much to ask?

You want to go toe-to-toe with me on this thread? Fine, let's dance. But don't come crying to me when I hit you back just as hard. Is your only real grievance that I won't let you "muscle" me around? And now, suddenly, you're looking for help... how pathetic is that?

That’s not whining. Look, when I walk into a room, I just want to know if I’m actually going to be comfortable or at least relatively okay. The bar you’ve set for this conversation? That’s a level of misery I have zero interest in settling for.

Look, regarding that post you reported on this thread—I wasn't talking about you in my first message. Is that really so hard to wrap your head around? It should be pretty obvious to everyone here.

And on top of that, you’re out here straight-up insinuating that I’m trying to silence women just because I don't blindly worship at the altar of whatever political party happens to be in power right now? Seriously? And let's be real, this isn't even the first time you've pulled this stunt, is it?

I couldn't care less about your political leanings. Honestly, I'm here for some actual, high-quality discussion, not just to babysit a bunch of professional debaters.

Every single time, you fall back on the exact same tired routine and start hinting at the same old nonsense. Seriously?

What a total circus; you basically just started this whole flame war hoping you'd get a free pass to be provocative and toxic without anyone actually being allowed to fire back at you. Is that how you think this works?

Nah, the whole thing's just a mess because it keeps happening over and over again.

Oh please, don't give me that "you're being neutral" crap, because there's absolutely no way you can just gloss over our first showdown like it never happened.

Why on earth would I bother calling out systematic disrespect? Especially when it just keeps happening over and over again like clockwork? Honestly, it would be great if you’d just stop addressing me altogether—because trust me, I have zero intention of ever reaching back out to you. If I can manage to make that happen through this thread, then hey, mission accomplished.

Sarah Stewart72 said:Why would I call out systematic insults? Especially when they keep happening. It would be nice if you stopped addressing me altogether; I certainly won't be addressing you. If I achieve that through this thread, then I’ll consider my goal met.

Hmm... So, basically, I have to "react" to something I fundamentally disagree with just because it happened to come from you.

This is a public forum. You can't demand that I ignore every single thing you write. Besides, you and I already "battle" enough over at Microsoft. P.S. I should mention something here. Even now, I skip quite a few of your posts that I would normally comment on if they were written by anyone else. I know where this is headed, and sometimes I really don't want to ruin the discussion for everyone else. I'm not always a Grinch.

Just out of professional curiosity, I can promise to try and structure my responses so they don't trigger an emotional reaction from you—even when you start doing it again (and you definitely will).

So, I'm curious to see how long it takes before you revert to this same tone. I assume it'll be until our next disagreement; but fine...

With one small exception: next time, I'll be the one opening a thread like this, filled with links to your posts.

To keep the "game" fair, I won't use the links I already have saved (I assumed we'd reach this point since neither of us backs down easily in a fight). Today is October 1st, 2015.

"Hodie mihi, cras tibi."

Look, you two have already said your piece, so I’m asking that we please don't turn this thread into a playground for personal bickering moving forward. The moderators and the supermod will step in and address this once they've had a chance to review everything.

Personally, I had no intention of filing a formal complaint because I’ve always had a distaste for playing the litigious type, but frankly, I’ve reached my limit. Furthermore, I would urge the moderators to take a closer look at one particular female member here. The way she stirs up unnecessary drama whenever someone dares to disagree with her—launching insults and then, when met with the justified silence of being ignored, pivoting to this incredibly insidious pattern of mocking others through indirect posts while simultaneously playing the martyr—is nothing short of repulsive. It truly drains any desire I have to contribute meaningfully to this discussion.

Thomas Morgan67 said:Look, if we’re actually gonna play this "game" fair and square, I’m not gonna go digging up those old links I've already got sitting around—mostly because I figured we’d end up right back here anyway, seeing as neither of us is exactly known for backing down when things get heated. It’s October 1st, 2015, for the record.

You'll be waiting forever. Look, I’m not playing any games with you. Honestly, whether it's anyone else or not, calling someone a "professional expert" is just a straight-up insult. I’m not even going to touch on my actual job or debate whether it’s even relevant in this corner of the internet. All I see here is a constant stream of insults that I simply have no use for. Luckily, there’s an easy way for me to avoid all this nonsense, so thanks for that.

casualcanyon3 said:Look, I wasn't exactly itching to file a formal complaint because honestly, I can't stand being a snitch, but I’ve reached my limit. Also, can we please talk about this one user? The way she starts barking at anyone who disagrees with her, throws insults around, and then—when everyone rightfully ignores her—she pivots to this incredibly sneaky, passive-aggressive trolling through posts aimed at other people? It’s just gross. She plays the victim and acts all innocent after causing the drama, and frankly, it completely kills any desire I have to actually participate in this discussion.

Look, you were one of my favorite people on this forum until this post hit, even if we absolutely butt heads on this topic. We went at it over what counts as "vulgar" when it comes to how women look, but let’s get one thing straight: the only reason I didn't just walk away from this whole debate isn't because of you personally—it's because I refuse to stand by while women get stigmatized, period. Including this specific kind of labeling. Honestly, is there actually any society out there where women are truly equal? Probably not, and I'm convinced that constantly stigmatizing us is exactly how they keep us stuck in the status quo. I was reading an interview yesterday with this rising Hollywood actress who said she's totally fed up with people calling her "strong"—because doesn't that just imply that women are inherently weak? It's a total trap designed to keep us boxed in.

Look, I’m really not one for the whole petty backstabbing thing, but after those comments from Thomas Morgan67, I honestly felt like I didn't have a choice. If I had gone after him directly, things would have spiraled into a territory I’d much rather avoid. Once someone starts posting stuff like that, there’s really no point in even trying to have a civil discussion anymore, right? And as for this whole "paying attention" nonsense—well, maybe some of that attention should've been directed toward your own posts on this topic too. Because let's be real, the personal attacks actually started with... This one. Look, this whole drama and the fight they’re trying to pin on me? It’s nothing but pure projection because I refused to just back down from the thread. That’s it. Plain and simple. It isn't even about having a personal vendetta against you—I actually thought I could explain why jumping to conclusions and labeling each other like this is such a bad move for everyone involved. Clearly, I failed at that, wasn't I? But honestly, nobody needs to be playing detective with my business. This is just a forum, and I'm mature enough to know when to walk away since I seriously don't need this headache. Dealing with this shit takes up way more time and energy than I’m willing to waste on a message board.

So what exactly did you experience as "perfidious" undermining here? Because from where I'm sitting, those were just responses directed at a third party, not personal attacks on you. It only felt that way because the perspective was basically identical to yours—not to mention I just gave back the exact same energy after someone threw an insult my way.

Look, I’m not claiming to be some saint or a total victim here, but I’m definitely not the villain in this story either—I don't have a single bad bone in my body regarding this. Honestly, the whole situation is just revolting, and frankly, it's completely killing my drive to even engage with this topic, let alone hang out on this forum like I mentioned before.

Sarah Stewart72 said:(1) Honestly, you have bigger fish to fry with Barack Obama...

Taken out of context, it looks like he’s insulting you by calling you mentally unstable. But that isn't the case here. Looking at the full conversation, it's obvious his reaction was triggered by your It certainly didn't happen in Leonidaland and if we're talking about fair moderation, both your post and his should be flagged equally.

But I don't see any reason to do that. Okay, you guys got a little heated, so what? Neither of you crossed the line—not in my book.

Points 2, 3, 5, and 6 aren't controversial at all, so I'm not sure why you brought them up.

Point 4 is the only one that's actually an issue. But again, looking at the context, the labels used in that part of the post clearly aren't directed at you, so they shouldn't result in a ban. The only thing I take issue with in that section is this Alain bit, because he wrote it specifically just to push your buttons, but that's not really something we can sanction anyway.

Sarah Stewart72 said:Everything in one post. And obviously, it's clear that person has massive issues, but the point is I'm not being paid to put up with this, so I wouldn't if you guys would be so kind.

Just like you aren't being paid to endure this nonsense, as you call it, we moderators aren't being paid to moderate based on what other users want. Just because you think there's a problem doesn't mean one actually exists. We will review every appeal, of course. But in my opinion, I don't see a reason to flag the post above.

Sarah Stewart72 said:My questions are: can users stay peaceful on the forum amidst this kind of garbage, is this kind of behavior against the forum rules, and would I be sanctioned if I responded to him the way he deserves?

I'll just address the bolded part. You gave him exactly what he gave you. I don't see anything wrong with that. Microsoft isn't some sterile PDF where every single "clash" has to be suppressed. Personally, I think that's actually good for Microsoft. You both acted a bit sharp, but other users stayed out of it, and in my view, no rules were broken. If you wanted to go after him with insults, that's a different story, and that definitely won't go unpunished.

Sarah Stewart72 said:Most importantly: would these words be sanctioned if they were aimed at one of the moderators?

This falls under the jurisdiction of the CIA, but personally, I wouldn't sanction his posts or yours.

Sarah Stewart72 said:And he doesn't stop there—he’s actually lobbying the moderation team! On top of that, he expects me to apologize to him, even after a string of insults he's thrown my way for reasons only he knows. Apparently, it's just because I have an opinion. Unbelievable.

Lobbying the moderation? Honestly, I couldn't care less what opinion you, he, or anyone else holds. My job is to moderate objectively, and that is exactly what I aim to do.

What I see on Microsoft is that a good number of forum members get easily offended whenever they run into someone with a different perspective. Then, suddenly, there's a massive uproar over every single word. People threaten to quit the thread, invent insults, and intentionally twist the context of posts. And this isn't just about you. Unfortunately, it happens all the time.

For me, the bigger issue was the debate between you and casualcanyon3, where you both went much further than you did with Leonid. Both of you included elements in your posts that could have earned you a warning, but I decided not to act because I believed it could evolve into a high-quality discussion—which I think it did.

Finally, I don't think this is about the specific post you linked; it seems to be about a private conflict between you two. If you read the posts in this thread, it's obvious you just can't get along. But I don't really care. If you can't resolve your disagreements, just use the ignore button. Or learn that people aren't always going to agree with you.

EDIT:

Sarah Stewart72 said:Don't hold your breath. I am not playing any games with you or anyone else, and calling someone a "professional curiosity seeker" is a blatant insult. I won't discuss my profession or whether it's relevant here. All I see is a continuous stream of insults that I simply don't need. Luckily, there is a very easy way for me to avoid them too, thanks.

Again, I truly don't see how you've reached the conclusion that this is a blatant insult.🤷
I didn't quite get the first post you linked, but I definitely don't get this one. Let the other moderators and those in charge of this appeal review my stance, but it looks to me like you are misinterpreting other users' posts. Whether you're doing it on purpose or not, I have no idea.

Richard Nelson84 said:......
Personally, I find the spat between you and casualcanyon3 far more problematic than that previous exchange you had with Leonid, mostly because you both pushed things way past the breaking point. To be perfectly honest, there were enough questionable elements in both of your posts that they could have easily warranted a ban, but I decided against it because I truly believed we could extract some actual substance from the chaos—which, in my estimation, we actually managed to do.

.....

And you have the audacity to call that a "quality discussion"? Let’s be clear: what happened was nothing short of a total distortion of my words. It was a relentless cycle of accusations, her insisting she knew my intentions better than I did, her stubborn refusal to see any other perspective, and those blatant provocations suggesting I maintain some arbitrary scale for labeling people. It wasn't high-level discourse, and it certainly wasn't fair; once she pushed me into a corner, I simply bit back with the sharpness she earned.

Look, I have absolutely no intention of engaging in petty bickering on this platform. If someone feels the need to report me just to get me banned, then so be it; it isn't going to ruin my life. I will simply state this for the record: in all my years participating in online communities like this one, I have NEVER once gone to the moderators to complain about another user, nor have I ever filed a single report against anyone. Never.

From here on out, I'll be giving that particular user a very wide berth.