Looks like Handy is not long for the SDMB. I don’t know why, but I felt slightly shitty.
What? Has he left? Been banned?
In either case, I doubt this was a sudden, “due to public demand” issue, World Eater.
I think the best I could have said was that he is a nice guy who meant well. But I’m a nice guy who means well, too, and I don’t pop into twenty threads a day saying “try a google search” to every question or giving advice or answers without actually trying to make it accurate.
This must not be a chain store, because I don’t see any links.
He continued to post medical advice after being warned not to since it was often without merit. Hate to see him go actually but it’s nobody’s fault but his own. If he does the same thing IRL (and I have no reason to suspect he does) I hope he takes this experience to heart.
From here.
I, personally, am of two minds. I’ve never interacted with the guy on the boards. By several accounts, he seemed to be a likable fellow in real life. On the other hand, his behaviour on the board left many irritated, and the information he provided was deemed lacking, if not outright erroneous, many times. Aside from the fact that the practice could be found to be annoying, it might have had dangerous consequences. He didn’t heed the (repeated?) warnings, so he should be gone.
If only I hadn’t previewed (or had previewed again)…
I know it was his own fault, I was just saying I felt shitty about the whole ordeal.
Well, I feel absolutely, incredibly shitty. 
I haven’t formed an opinion beyond that, I’m still in shock.
Not to mention that fact that in one of the linked threads (can’t find it now, but it’s linked in one of the handy pit threads), he was told his posting privileges were in jeopardy. This was in 2001, IIRC. He’s received lots and lots of public warnings over the years, and I suspect there were private warnings as well.
It’s like having a small rock in your shoe; at first it’s only annoying, but at some point it has to go.
I think it was bound to happen sooner or later…so I wouldn’t feel too shitty if I were you.
Rysler, There’s no need. It would have happened sooner or later.
It really is sad. He was a pretty good resource for deaf related information, but that was swamped by his shotgun posting.
You Mar 1999 Dopers are just too old and slow for us Apr 1999 upstarts. 
Well, he did seem like a likable fellow and I’d understand if anyone was bothered by this. Still, what should have happened was for him to heed the well-intentioned warnings he received.
A bad doctor might be a great guy but he’s still running the risk of hurting someone. Get him out of there and have him do something else. Handy was in a like position where he could have unintentionally caused soemone some harm. I don’t think Lynn’s action was anything but proper and timely.
I may be in the minority (won’t be the first time), but I think banning Handy was a bit extreme.
Sure, he’s posted inaccurate and misleading info in threads. I never felt it was malicious or hateful, just ignorant and lacking serious research. But I can always say (and I have), “You’re wrong, and here’s why…”
I’ve had BOSSES who tossed out inaccurate information without thinking. I’ve stood up to them, too – it was just a lot harder.
On the other hand, I’m sure that the mods’ decision was not an easy one to make and was thoroughly thought out. So be it.
Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
Moderator’s Note:
I have edited the thread title in order to make it more clear that this is about handy having been banned. As there are several threads on this and we are consolidating, I’m just trying to make it clear where one can post on the subject.
World Eater- if you’d prefer a different attachement or statement that would clarify the thread subject, please e-mail me and I’ll modify it as the hamsters allow.
Thanks!
John Corrado
Awwwww…that was hardly banworthy, even in a medical topic. Looked like some well-placed suspicion about the efficacy of condoms (for some right & some wrong reasons)…and what about his question in that post? About Autoerotic Condomnation?
Musicat, you hit it right there, unintentionally, I think. Any newbie who came here thinking it was a great place to quickly get the skinny on a subject might see handy’s 17,000-plus posts and instant reply as just a part of this great-working system. They wouldn’t know to stick with their thread for a day or two and let some others confirm or deny - with detailed, accredited sources - what handy blithely spat out.
In that way, he could easily have lead some folks down a wrong path. Now, I’m not going to say it wouldn’t be their fault too, for believing him, but I have enough respect for this place and the people who post here to believe them when they give me the facts, and I’ve been here for quite a while.