Richard Dawkins' forum run by prefects with swagger sticks?

[AshtonBlack]

Aww I feel a bit out of place. I never got any warnings.

Do we have them here? If so, what do I have to do to get one?

Ask the staff nicely and we might give you a pity warning?

Nah... If I insult you for long enough would I get one? I mean, I know you're used to people randomly insulting you for no apparent reason, so I have to ask.

[AshtonBlack]

Or a at the very least. :twisted:

Hmmm.... I'm confused on whether that would be a "punishment". :twisted:

[Trolldor]

Aww I feel a bit out of place. I never got any warnings.

Do we have them here? If so, what do I have to do to get one?

Ask the staff nicely and we might give you a pity warning?

Nah... If I insult you for long enough would I get one? I mean, I know you're used to people randomly insulting you for no apparent reason, so I have to ask.

Depends what you say.
If you really want a warning just post a swear word in the safe-for-work forum.

[Transgirlofnofaith]

You have no fucking idea how irritating it is.

Oh, I have a fair idea ... and I can particularly understand the added stress of being one step away from a permaban. This is one of the reasons not to have such a system. It causes people to feel under pressure due to increased ostracisation, and tend to desperation. It's actually quite a perverse and sadistic system in that regard and completely the wrong way to handle people ... Permanent bans and constant censure and threats of censure are irrational, emotional responses to dealing with people with divergent views, behaviour and/or personalities.

You're right. I disagree with the system, and the rules at RDF, because it fails on the following counts:

1. Sometimes someone is being a thick fuck on purpose, shrilly shouting their so-called reasoning over and over with no intention of actually listening to what the other person is saying, or giving in to their reasoning. While this may technically be called trolling, it's hard to draw a firm dividing line in a lot of these cases, because at the core of it is a philosophical unwillingness to change one's views. Why this can always get past the radar is that this is the lynchpin of open debate. People say mentally, "Lalalalalala I can't hear you" if they want to. I have seen this time and again on Rd.net. Is eliminating trolling or flaming really so worthwhile if all of that policing fails to eradicate this one pungent little tidbit? So it is in fact logically defensible to call someone a stupid bastard or say they're being an asshole, etc. IF THE SITUATION CALLS FOR IT. That is, you can only be allowed to pull out these terms if you can logically defend somewhat the context they are used in. This flexibility should be more prone to putting blowhards in their place and keeping real debate going without resorting to childish monikers such as "Your mother fucks horses" and so on.

2. There should be room for humour. It is truly infuriating that the humourousness of a forum can be sucked out by a nazistic aversion to poking fun. Extreme literalism is neither helpful nor defensible when it comes to sarcastic taking the piss-out kind of things, which, if they occurred between friends, might be considered normal conversation.

[ScholasticSpastic]

Have you been drinking?

He's in BC, of course he's been drinking! AND smoking natural substances!


Yeah, apparently I'm one warning away from permaban. Am I really that nasty of a poster? Maybe I'm missing something -- please enlighten me!

You always seemed like the polite meek type. But maybe I'm remembering wrong. Since we both live in the same major city, you wanna meet for a beer or something in real life?
(And no, I'm not trying to pick you up. Bella, on the other hand...)

Spaz (and others) is so going to kill you

Sure! Whereabouts Vancouver do you live? (PM me) (not like Vancouver is huge or anything, to be honest...)

Be warned, Manofnofaith, that should you successfully enjoy a beer with Psi Wavefunction, the resultant wave of jealousy and envy (their meanings are not entirely the same), and pique for good measure, emanating from the South will likely smite you.

[ScholasticSpastic]

That vegetarian/vegan thing is STILL going!?

Apparently, yes. And yours truly made some great contributions to that thread, especially the first one.

It's still going, and I've been sucked in.

Re. the moderation at RDF: I have some doubts about some issues of tact, but as I remain unharmed and still relatively free to speak my mind there, including somewhat indirectly calling people dumbasses, I'm not terribly prone to complaint. Though it does bother me that so many of those of whom I'm especially fond no longer feel comfortable there. And I must admit some diminishment of personal comfort, though it is a small one. Knowing I can come here helps a lot.

[Transgirlofnofaith]

That vegetarian/vegan thing is STILL going!?

Apparently, yes. And yours truly made some great contributions to that thread, especially the first one.

It's still going, and I've been sucked in.

Why thank you.

I also want to say thanks, ScholasticSpastic, for giving me the link that brought me to this place.

The order I ended up here was RD.net>Herd Of Cats>Thinking Aloud Forums>rationalia.com.

EDIT: This is my 150th post.

[ScholasticSpastic]

I also want to say thanks, ScholasticSpastic, for giving me the link that brought me to this place.

The order I ended up here was RD.net>Herd Of Cats>Thinking Aloud Forums>rationalia.com.

EDIT: This is my 150th post.

When I do see moderation at RDF which seems heavy-handed, I can't help but feel a great deal of satisfaction to know that many of the jems I know from there will be preserved here like ancient insects in the filthy, smutty, glorious amber which is rationalia.

[Pappa]

Aww I feel a bit out of place. I never got any warnings.

Do we have them here? If so, what do I have to do to get one?

Ask the staff nicely and we might give you a pity warning?

Nah... If I insult you for long enough would I get one? I mean, I know you're used to people randomly insulting you for no apparent reason, so I have to ask.

Just insult or attack another member in a way that's not a joke. You'll get a warning.

[Transgirlofnofaith]

Just wondering, but do you have a warning limit? Or some kind of good behavior thing where people earn their warnings being back?

[Trolldor]

Just wondering, but do you have a warning limit? Or some kind of good behavior thing where people earn their warnings being back?

We have warnings, but no permanent bans, just incremental suspensions.

[Clinton Huxley]

Don't go to RDF much anymore but in the old days I skirted perilous close to a warning about a dozen times, crossing swords with Thor and Monocle and Factory101.

Happy days.....

[Transgirlofnofaith]

Don't go to RDF much anymore but in the old days I skirted perilous close to a warning about a dozen times, crossing swords with Thor and Monocle and Factory101.

Happy days.....

Monocle is now a mod here. His username is... well... I forget. At least, I think so.

[Clinton Huxley]

Don't go to RDF much anymore but in the old days I skirted perilous close to a warning about a dozen times, crossing swords with Thor and Monocle and Factory101.

Happy days.....

Monocle is now a mod here. His username is... well... I forget. At least, I think so.

Tell me you jest..........

[Trolldor]

He jests.

If monocle is even a member, he is not a mod.