Originally Posted by
drbagehot
The mods are in a tough spot. I know. It's way easier to just have a hard set of rules and to administer justice blindly based on those rules. So if a few people go at it, don't take their warnings (if any), then they get the sentence passed down. This keeps things simple and it's easy for mods to explain.
But but but
Then there is common fucking sense, which is about as common as knicker-wearing sharks. If you take the whole picture - someone who has been routinely shitstirring, provoking, threatening, and the worst type of faux-nice nasty - and then on the other side someone who is generally well-behaved, a little cheeky and flirty, who doesn't threaten but doesn't back down to nasty bitchiness. It's tougher having common sense because then it looks like you're not being even handed, and you need to make a judgment call about behaviour that is not strictly written in the rules. And you'll get a bollocking from people who don't understand your nuanced interpretation of rules. I know, it's tough, and I don't want to criticise but.... but...... but...... there is something wrong here. Something unjust.
I hope common sense prevails here. Dig out the root of the problem, rather than just tell everyone to ignore it. Some people find it tough to sit back and watch bullies in action. And no, they shouldn't get involved, but maybe cut them a little more slack than the bullies.