An appeal for Dell

Sam Wright21 RegularOP

402 messages
joined Jul 2016

#1 · Dec 22, 2012

It looks like Della has supposedly been hit with a permanent ban over that thread about the queer Bible (I recall there was one regarding Jesus as well).

I haven't actually dived into that specific discussion yet—I’ll have to go hunt it down—but I already know Della has a bit of a sharp tongue; she took aim at my own minor contributions during that whole boycott movement, and her takes can lean a bit homophobic (though, granted, everyone is entitled to their own perspective).

I've had my fair share of laughs along the way, and I have to admit that her jabs aren't nearly as mindless or grating as the nonsense I encounter from extremists on Reddit; honestly, it’s almost entertaining. 😁

All things considered, Dell’s viewpoints are compelling, her prose is engaging, and she’s clearly articulate with plenty to contribute, so it would be a genuine shame to lose her presence on this forum entirely.

That is why I am appealing to the administration to reconsider the permanent ban and perhaps opt for a more moderate penalty instead.

Angela Cox4 Active Member

52 messages
joined Jul 2009

#2 · Dec 23, 2012

I’m jumping in to back the appeal for Dell.

Look, she writes in a way that’s actually interesting and straightforward—she isn't just some systematic troll out to insult people for the sake of it—so, honestly, getting a permanent ban over a single thread feels totally overkill.

I really hope we get the chance to read her posts again soon.

Nicholas Williams7 Member

48 messages
joined Jan 2013

#3 · Dec 23, 2012

Count me in—I’m adding my voice to the appeal too.
Look, she can be a bit sharp-tongued sometimes, but honestly? She’s interesting, and her wit makes her great for quoting. I really don't think her insults are meant to be malicious; it’s just how people talk on these forums. It’s that raw, unfiltered style where nobody bothers wrapping everything up in pretty little bows. They just say what they mean. 🙂

Daniel Ward87 Active Member

195 messages
joined May 2023

#4 · Dec 23, 2012

Della's posts haven't been wiped, so everyone can see exactly why she's on permanent leave. And honestly? She should stay there.

Angela Cox4 Active Member

52 messages
joined Jul 2009

#5 · Dec 23, 2012

It’s honestly a shame you didn't bother scrolling through her other posts—if you had, you’d actually understand why we’re all out here pushing for her to get one more shot at this.

More eyes on the situation means seeing the full picture. Or maybe her writing just hit a nerve with you so hard that you're too blinded by your own grudge to notice there are plenty of people who'd actually miss her input around here...

Daniel Ward87 Active Member

195 messages
joined May 2023

#6 · Dec 23, 2012

Jacob Chase42 said:It's a shame you didn't check out her other posts; then you'd actually see why we're all pushing for her to get one more shot.

More eyes mean more perspectives. Or maybe you just took her writing so personally that your own anger is blinding you to the people who might actually miss it.

I’ve seen enough on the Bible thread. That’s exactly why she got the permanent ban.

Angela Cox4 Active Member

52 messages
joined Jul 2009

#7 · Dec 23, 2012

So, did you miss the part where the Jesus Bible gets shoved right in your face? Honestly, topics this pointless are just bait for an argument—it’s designed so someone can swoop in and get attacked just for pointing out how much of a waste of time the whole debate actually is.

You totally missed that, didn't you?

urbantrucker5 Newcomer

5 messages
joined Oct 2012

#8 · Dec 23, 2012

I mean, she definitely went a bit overboard. But honestly, is a permanent ban really necessary just because of one thread?

The argument started, there weren't any mods around to step in, and things just kept escalating until someone finally showed up to shut it down.

And I guess, because the back-and-forth dragged on for so long, she accidentally racked up enough points for a permaban.

Maybe you could have just given her a custom month-long ban? It’s not like she’s some regular, typical troublemaker you guys deal with constantly, right?🤷

If we're being that strict, then Ego should have been kicked out of the Religion subforum ages ago. In my opinion, he's much more consistent when it comes to trolling. And it's not even limited to just one thread. 😁 I wonder if they'll just drop this on us out of nowhere, or if they'll serve it up on a silver platter, all fancy with laurel leaves and parsley. 🤷

P.S. Even though this isn't technically that thread, it's sort of related.

Your decisions are always going to be questioned and spark backlash regarding the Religion subforum as long as you have this specific admin team running things. You might want to make things easier on yourselves and remove the supermod from Religion; he's pretty much discredited himself on that subforum by now. It’s just an obvious fact, and there's really no debate there. I'm honestly just waiting for the day someone decides to dig through his most controversial statements and compile them into a single post calling for his removal. There's a huge difference between holding a viewpoint and the stuff he actually does. A supermod who makes sweeping generalizations about one "side" of the religion forum just can't call the shots in those situations. Especially not someone doing it so publicly. 🤦

And please, for heaven's sake, appoint at least one Christian moderator so the major religions are represented in a somewhat normal proportion. You can't seriously try to tell us that you can't find a single Christian in America capable of moderating the Religion subforum. 😬 Come on, please. 😁 It’s simply a matter of having at least a semblance of balance. It would actually make things easier for you too—it would give your decisions more weight. If people start making baseless complaints about warnings or accusing the staff of bias due to the Religion admins' views, you could shut them down immediately if a Christian mod supported those same warnings or bans (in cases where they actually did, of course). 😬

Admins, by covering for certain people on that subforum, you're really just doing yourselves a disservice. This is supposed to be your actual job, after all. I don't see how it's worth it. In return, you just end up having your credibility questioned constantly because of a few individuals. I wonder if that's really a fair trade. 🤷

Just saying.

Sam Wright21 RegularOP

402 messages
joined Jul 2016

#9 · Dec 23, 2012

Daniel Ward87 said:Della's posts haven't been scrubbed, which is fine because it allows everyone to see exactly why she's currently on leave. And honestly, that’s where they should stay.

I’ve managed to catch up on all those threads in the meantime. Interestingly, the very same user who was most frequently insulted—the one who actually engaged in a dialogue with her—is also now appealing to the ban corner to have her permanent ban lifted.

Everyone is entitled to their own perspective. There is a certain value to the way Dell writes; her stance remains remarkably consistent, even if her stylistic choices leave much to be desired. As far as I'm concerned, her remarks don't bother me; even when the insults are directed my way, I find them genuinely amusing, in the sense that I can actually laugh at them.

One could easily dig up dozens more of her quotes that serve as little more than gems of unintentional wit.😂

Therefore, Daniel Ward87, if the people being insulted aren't even feeling targeted, what was the point of the permanent ban?

Besides, I am quite certain she will "correct" her behavior now. If you look at the response from Taj to her on that thread, it’s clear that Della is perfectly capable of being civil when she chooses to be.

Angela Cox4 Active Member

52 messages
joined Jul 2009

#10 · Dec 23, 2012

It’s your classic case of a "quick and dirty" fix—you know, when the admins decide to just sacrifice one person to save everyone else some trouble. It’s their way of keeping things moving without having to actually deal with those annoying side issues that bug everybody else.

Daniel Ward87 Active Member

195 messages
joined May 2023

#11 · Dec 23, 2012

Sam Wright21 said:Look, everyone’s entitled to their own take. There's some value in what Dell writes; her stance is pretty consistent, even if her style is a bit much. Personally, I don't mind it—even when she takes aim at me, I just find it hilarious. Honestly, I can actually laugh at it.
Therefore, Daniel Ward87, if people aren't actually getting offended, why the permanent ban?

See, I don't really care if the people being insulted aren't feeling hurt. That kind of talk won't fly anywhere, especially not here on this forum. It’s not just about one or two posts, either; it's been happening more than that. I've made my point, and there are two other admins who have their own opinions on the matter.

Sam Wright21 RegularOP

402 messages
joined Jul 2016

#12 · Dec 23, 2012

So, I noticed you mentioned that if the other two admins decide to lift her permanent ban, you won't be putting up any fight.

Come on then, let's see those other two admins step up! Are you guys even paying attention to this thread?

Jason Clark7 Member

33 messages
joined Nov 2012

#13 · Dec 23, 2012

Daniel Ward87 said:Look, I don't care if the people being insulted don't feel targeted. That kind of conversation won't be tolerated anywhere, let alone on the Religion board. This isn't just about two posts... we are looking at a larger volume of messages. I have stated my position, and there are still two other admins who are entitled to their own opinions.

Strile, fine, you’ve made your point and you have a valid perspective, so let's just leave it at that. I am appealing to the other two moderators to reconsider, while respecting Strile's work and his stance, whether this specific user might be granted one more chance...

But Strile, if perhaps just a little more effort could be made—and it already seems as though things are starting to improve—to transform the atmosphere of the Religion board into a space for meaningful dialogue and intellectual debate. I am certain you all can achieve it... 👍

Angela Cox4 Active Member

52 messages
joined Jul 2009

#14 · Dec 23, 2012

Daniel Ward87 said:Look, I honestly don't give a damn if the people being insulted claim they aren't offended. It doesn't matter. That kind of talk—that specific brand of trash—has no place anywhere, let alone here on Religion. Period.

Can you see the irony here? It’s actually kind of hilarious—all these forum regulars screaming at you to drop a permanent ban on her... they clearly have no clue how to hold a decent conversation. That’s exactly why they want her back in the mix. You made it crystal clear from the jump that you hand out bans based on *how* people talk, not just because someone’s feelings got hurt or they felt offended. They just can't handle the style of discourse, I guess. Just saying.

Daniel Ward87 said:
Look, we aren't just talking about two little posts here—this goes way deeper than that. It's a whole lot more than a couple of entries. I’ve already laid my cards on the table and said what I had to say, but let’s not forget there are two other admins on this team who have every right to their own damn opinions, too.

Look, we’re talking about the total post count for everyone involved in this entire thread—and it barely even spilled over onto two pages of a single topic you were moderating. Or what, do you somehow look at every single user on this board and only see Dell?!

Man, I really hope there’s still an admin out there actually keeping an eye on this place...

bluemason3 Veteran

1.1K messages
joined Jun 2016

#15 · Dec 23, 2012

Sam Wright21 said:I've caught up on all those posts in the meantime. The user who got insulted the most—the one who actually engaged with her—is also appealing to the ban corner to get her permanent ban lifted.

That’s beside the point. Personally, I have no issue with lifting the ban (even though I reported the posts), and honestly, some of the replies directed at me were pretty flimsy too.

From a moderation standpoint, though, the sanction stands because it targets the insults themselves—the kind of writing that kills any chance of actual discussion—rather than just whether someone felt hurt. The reality is she racked up enough posts over several pages that the cumulative points from the warnings triggered the permanent ban. From a strictly technical, rule-following perspective, there isn't much to argue against.

The only logical ground for a review would be if we considered the fact that all these posts happened in rapid succession on a single thread. If she hadn't immediately doubled down after the first warning, maybe it wouldn't have escalated to a permanent ban. That's really the only angle worth looking at.🙂
Then again, I remember her being quite lively in discussions before. Does that mean she loses her sense of direction whenever she hasn't been online for a day or two? 🤷

Sam Wright21 RegularOP

402 messages
joined Jul 2016

#16 · Dec 23, 2012

bluemason3 said:One could argue that because all these posts hit on the exact same topic in such rapid succession, she didn't exactly pivot her behavior after that initial warning. If she hadn't doubled down, a permanent ban might have been avoided; that’s really the only logical angle that would allow for any kind of appeal. 🙂
I seem to recall she was always a bit "lively" in her discussions, though. Does that mean her moral compass just spins wildly the moment she isn't being hovered over for a day or two? 🤷

Well, that's just how her temperament works.
So there you have it—there's an opening for a review, and I'm certain Della will fix her ways once she's no longer facing a permanent ban.

swiftcrane96 Active Member

111 messages
joined Mar 2012

#17 · Dec 23, 2012

Signing off for now, urbantrucker5 is back in 👍

Angela Cox4 Active Member

52 messages
joined Jul 2009

#18 · Dec 23, 2012

Grace The user said:I mean, seriously, why on earth would anyone even try to push back against a decision made by one of our admins? The guy is totally solid—actually, he’s incredibly decent—and he’s genuinely out here putting in the work to level up the whole Religion subforum. He's trying to actually make the place better, so I don't get the hate. Honestly, it makes zero sense. Look, if you're trying to talk to me, just get to the point already—I haven't got all day to sit here decoding whatever vague nonsense you're throwing my way. So, let me ask you this—has anyone actually ever been held accountable for their shitty administrative calls around here? Like, seriously, does anyone ever have to answer for the mess they make when they’re pulling the strings? Or is it just a free pass every single time? Just asking.

Look, there’s a whole PDF dedicated to messages, appeals, and comments specifically so these decisions can be re-examined when needed—which makes it pretty obvious that what we just saw was nothing more than some rushed, half-baked decision made in a hurry.

In case you didn't catch that—you’ve wandered right into one of those PDFs meant strictly for formal complaints. Seriously.

Grace said:Honestly, the more I look at it, the more I realize she’s not even whining about getting banned—she actually knows exactly what she did. She’s fully aware of her own mess.

Look, if you haven't actually bothered to read the thread she started, then you're missing the whole point—she’s already being sued after getting banned. Seriously, check the topic before you jump in.

Grace said:Whatever.😁Look, you clearly don't have a clue, and honestly? You couldn't "guarantee" a thing if your life depended on it—no matter how much you're trying to act like you've got it all figured out.

And you think you can actually guarantee that? Seriously? You haven't even put in the basic effort to find out what's actually going on here—it’s like you're just throwing darts in the dark at this point.

Sam Wright21 RegularOP

402 messages
joined Jul 2016

#19 · Dec 23, 2012

Grace said:Why on earth would they push back against a single moderator's decision—especially one who acts with integrity and is genuinely working to elevate this entire online community to a higher standard—or why should you (or anyone else, for that matter) be held accountable for how an administrator chooses to manage their own platform?

Because, presumably, a community is actually made up of the people who inhabit it.🤷

Angela Cox4 Active Member

52 messages
joined Jul 2009

#20 · Dec 23, 2012

Everyone here is basically saying the same thing—that you need to look at the whole damn picture, including the ban itself, before jumping to conclusions. But then you come out of nowhere and try to put words in people's mouths, claiming she said something she didn't, and that the admin did things they absolutely did not do. You’re acting like everyone needs to re-examine all the circumstances before a final call is made, which isn't even what was being discussed.

And honestly, as for trying to twist someone's words—especially someone we haven't even heard from in ages—I'm not even going to dignify that with a response... 🤦

An appeal for Dell

🔗 Similar threads