# "Ask The.." thread in Great Debates **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 17, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097 "2010-09-17T16:20:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097/21 "2010-09-17T17:05:35Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > If you start a thread called “ask the meth cook”, it would probably be shut down because you’d be talking about how to violate US law. The settlements don’t violate US law. They may or may not violate “international law”. But I don’t consider it to be illegal under US law, therefore everybody else should have to go along with that. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097/22 "2010-09-17T17:10:09Z")
The thread does not belong in Great Debates. If the SDMB in general wants to find anything out about being a settler, put the thread in IMHO. If people want to call her a crinimal, let them start a Pit thread. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097/23 "2010-09-17T17:12:08Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > > > I think the question behind it all is, you know, it’s an “Ask the” thread. Do you actually want to find out how she lives and how she feels about things, or do you just want to yell at her? > > These kinds of “ask the” threads are trolling if they don’t allow challenges. How? All the OP is saying is basically, “I live in a yishuv on the West Bank. Do you have any questions about my life in the settlement?” The OP isn’t even making an argument. If you have such a problem with the OP living in a settlement on the West Bank that you can’t participate in the thread other than yelling at the OP and calling them a criminal, that’s your problem, not the OP’s, and you’re derailing the thread with a debate as to whether the settlements are right or wrong rather than the point of the thread, which is to find out how people in the settlements live. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097/24 "2010-09-17T17:13:23Z")
Point of order: the thread was started in MPSIMS Wednesday afternoon and was moved to Great Debates Thursday morning. I haven’t had a chance to read it, so I can’t offer much comment yet on how it’s been moderated. But the placement of the read should not be attributed to the OP. He started it in the forum where “Ask the…” threads usually get started. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097/25 "2010-09-17T17:14:29Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > > [@Czarcasm](#): > > > > It’s am “Ask the..” thread _in Great Debates_-a new situation. > > Then if the mods should do anything, it should be to move it to MPSIMS. It started in MPSIMS and got moved to GD because MPSIMS did not allow for rebuttals or debates. Now we’re being told that GD doesn’t either. In my opinion, if the core issues can’t be challenged, them the thread needs to be closed. It’s too imflammatory otherwise. It’s like allowing an “ask the pedophile” thread and allowing no criticism of pedophilia. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097/26 "2010-09-17T17:16:54Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Point of order: the thread was started in MPSIMS Wednesday afternoon and was moved to Great Debates Thursday morning. I haven’t had a chance to read it, so I can’t offer much comment yet on how it’s been moderated. But the placement of the read should not be attributed to the OP. He started it in the forum where “Ask the…” threads usually get started. OK. Then it should be moved back, and posters should be told that debate about the settlements is not allowed. Problem solved. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097/27 "2010-09-17T17:17:11Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > > > Then if the mods should do anything, it should be to move it to MPSIMS. > > It started in MPSIMS and got moved to GD because MPSIMS did not allow for rebuttals or debates. Now we’re being told that GD doesn’t either. In my opinion, if the core issues can’t be challenged, them the thread needs to be closed. It’s too imflammatory otherwise. It’s like allowing an “ask the pedophile” thread and allowing no criticism of pedophilia. Agreed. It was moved to Great Debates because the mods saw that debating would ensue: > [@Ask the "crazy" settler](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889/23): > > > [@Ask the "crazy" settler](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889/21): > > > > If we’re not allowed to ask questions that go to the heart of the OP, why not just close the thread? > > Fair enough. I’ll move it to Great Debates. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097/28 "2010-09-17T17:17:50Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > > These kinds of “ask the” threads are trolling if they don’t allow challenges. > > How? All the OP is saying is basically, “I live in a yishuv on the West Bank. Do you have any questions about my life in the settlement?” The OP isn’t even making an argument. If you have such a problem with the OP living in a settlement on the West Bank that you can’t participate in the thread other than yelling at the OP and calling them a criminal, that’s your problem, not the OP’s, and you’re derailing the thread with a debate as to whether the settlements are right or wrong rather than the point of the thread, which is to find out how people in the settlements live. This is disingenuous. The OP knows how inflammatory the subject is, and even recognizes it with a sarcastic thread title. The OP is admitting to an illegal act and inviting questions about it. It’s trolling, pure and simple. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097/29 "2010-09-17T17:18:10Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > The thread does not belong in Great Debates. The thread was in MPSIMS originally and got moved to GD when the heated questions began. Personally I was really interested in the OP’s response to the question, but I wasn’t all that interested in seeing the GD denizens debate among themselves and take it down the usual rabbit hole. We have enough threads like that already with the same people making the same arguments. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097/30 "2010-09-17T17:19:03Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > > [@Marley23](#): > > > > Point of order: the thread was started in MPSIMS Wednesday afternoon and was moved to Great Debates Thursday morning. I haven’t had a chance to read it, so I can’t offer much comment yet on how it’s been moderated. But the placement of the read should not be attributed to the OP. He started it in the forum where “Ask the…” threads usually get started. > > OK. Then it should be moved back, and posters should be told that debate about the settlements is not allowed. > > Problem solved. No, that would be sanctioning a troll. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097/31 "2010-09-17T17:21:42Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > > [@Shodan](#): > > > > The thread does not belong in Great Debates. > > The thread was in MPSIMS originally and got moved to GD when the heated questions began. > > Personally I was really interested in the OP’s response to the question, but I wasn’t all that interested in seeing the GD denizens debate among themselves and take it down the usual rabbit hole. We have enough threads like that already with the same people making the same arguments. Then there’s no reason for an “ask the” thread to exist at all. I see no reason why the OP should be allowed to boast about something this incendiary without any challenge. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097/32 "2010-09-17T17:22:05Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > [@John\_Mace](#): > > > > OK. Then it should be moved back, and posters should be told that debate about the settlements is not allowed. > > > > Problem solved. > > No, that would be sanctioning a troll. No, it wouldn’t. I don’t know how you come off calling her a troll. She’s not boasting, and you’re engaging in internet psychoanalysis. Again. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097/33 "2010-09-17T17:22:25Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > > [@Shodan](#): > > > > The thread does not belong in Great Debates. > > The thread was in MPSIMS originally and got moved to GD when the heated questions began. The heated questions were _expected_ by the OP, hence the title and the mention of controversy in the first post. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097/34 "2010-09-17T17:24:08Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > > No, that would be sanctioning a troll. > > No, it wouldn’t. I don’t know how you come off calling her a troll. I don’t see how she can be called anything else. She’s being intentionally inflammatory. Isn’t that the definition. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097/35 "2010-09-17T17:28:59Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > [@John\_Mace](#): > > > > No, it wouldn’t. I don’t know how you come off calling her a troll. > > I don’t see how she can be called anything else. She’s being intentionally inflammatory. Isn’t that the definition. I’ll stand corrected when and if she gets banned for being a troll ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097/36 "2010-09-17T17:30:11Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > [@John\_Mace](#): > > > > No, it wouldn’t. I don’t know how you come off calling her a troll. > > I don’t see how she can be called anything else. She’s being intentionally inflammatory. Isn’t that the definition. She’s not. If anybody’s being intentionally inflammatory, you are, with your first post in the OP asking “Does it bother you that you’re a criminal?” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097/37 "2010-09-17T17:31:42Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > [@John\_Mace](#): > > > > No, it wouldn’t. I don’t know how you come off calling her a troll. > > I don’t see how she can be called anything else. She’s being intentionally inflammatory. Isn’t that the definition. It may or may not be the definition for it, but is this the forum to bring up that word? ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097/38 "2010-09-17T17:34:15Z")
This issue is getting treated with special attention IMHO. There has been plenty of debate in other “ask the” threads before; My own included. I fielded several questions from posters who had contrasting views to my own regarding the topic of the thread. We didn’t have any problem there. Even the infamous paedophile thread had some significant debate as I recall. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097/39 "2010-09-17T17:35:12Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > > I don’t see how she can be called anything else. She’s being intentionally inflammatory. Isn’t that the definition. > > She’s not. If anybody’s being intentionally inflammatory, you are, with your first post in the OP asking “Does it bother you that you’re a criminal?” She know the subject is inflammatory because she said so. She is also a criminal. That is a fact. I just wanted to know how she felt about. She started a thread explicitly admitting to an action that is illegal (and WIDELY viewed around the world as immoral) and inviting people to ask questions about it. Denying that she knew the subject matter was inflammatory is disingenous. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097/40 "2010-09-17T17:38:31Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > > I don’t see how she can be called anything else. She’s being intentionally inflammatory. Isn’t that the definition. > > It may or may not be the definition for it, but is this the forum to bring up that word? I thought issues like that were exactly why this forum existed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-thread-in-great-debates/554097.md?page=3)