I notice that often times (esp when giving warnings or closing threads) moderators sort of lose their impartiality in their language, and can say some things that are pretty offensive. Often times the same things members would be warned for. I know mods have a hard job as it is, and I know that it is hard to always be impartial, but I also think mods should try to consider how things they say when moderating can be offensive.
The most recent example of this is something that Papewaio said in the abortion thread that really rubbed me the wrong way.

Quote Originally Posted by Papewaio
Abortion threads tend to get personal and they are so generally obnoxiously male in outlook that they have in the past put off female patrons from posting in the Backroom.

So I too will be watching this closely.
I am sure you didn't mean to be offensive with this Pap, but I also think that you could have chosen your word's more carefully.
First of all, it is YOUR opinion that there is a 'male' and a 'female' opinion on abortion, and not fact. (in fact, facts do not support that assertion at all. According to this polling data more women than men believe that abortion should not be allowed, which I guess would make Pro-life the female outlook if there was such a thing.)
In most abortion threads we have had, most male members consider abortion through the perspective the woman who is pregnant, and the baby whose life is on the line. Most times the role of men is barely considered if considered at all.
I am sorry Pap, but is a male perspective less valuable or worthy than a female one? Should men then not have opinions? Why is a male outlook 'obnoxious' simply because it is male. That is a pretty sexist attack on all the male members of this forum (probably 90%+ of the members here).
Do you object to the fact that on a majority male membership forum most of the opinions you hear are from males? Should 80% of us shut up so that there will be an equal number of posts between males and females? Of course you are gonna hear from more guys than girls, considering that most people who frequent the Backroom are guys.

I am sorry if female posters got offended by it, but you know what? There were opinions expressed there by guys that offended me too! I am sure my opinions offended plenty of guys. On a subject that people care about a lot, of course people with find many other's views offensive. It is the nature of the debate and the nature of the Backroom.
Rather than complaining that people do not agree with them, maybe the women you refer to could add to the discussion with their own opinion. That is the way that adults generally discuss things.

I don't mean this to be an attack on you Pap (I think insensitivity is a problem with many mods as it is with many members, but it is worse, because it is official), but you said the most recent thing that got me thinking this. You are a good mod and I am sure you didn't mean to offend people, but I also hope you will consider how it can offend people and be more considerate in the future.