When Badchad’s suspension came to my attention, my worst fears about this message board were realized. I had long suspected that popularity of one’s views and personal character were instrumental to general approval and validity for expression.
Let there be no mistake. I’m in b]Polycarp’s** camp way more than Badchads.
However, I view the challenges that Badchad presented to Polycarp in line with the general goals of this message board and looked forward to the master of “liberal” Christianity, namely Polycarp to acquit himself. In my opinion Polycarp has not failed. Even the sig line that Badchad promotes is a testament to Polycarp’s openess.
Polycarp’s views fit in very well with the humanistic, liberal views which I share with this message board. However, IMHO these views should be subjected to challenge. I have myself known heated anger for some of my views and accepted the consequences. I too have been called a troll for my position.
So why is Badchad the bad guy? Why does the administrartion feel the need to silence hin for a month? What purpose is served ?
Lets have these two hash it out. We are all mature people aren’t we?
I don’t think it’s so much badchad’s position which got him suspended so much as his evident inability to discuss that position without being a complete asshole about it; i.e., a jerk.
Do we know for a fact that badchad was suspended because of his interactions with Polycarp? It seems likely (to say nothing of deserved) but I haven’t seen the post that got him kicked.
It was the stalking issue. **badchad ** admitted as much and for this he was rightfully suspended. If it was merely popularity of views and and personal character then posters like **Der Trihs ** and **pseudotriton ruber ruber ** would be suspended currently.
**badchad ** went over the line. In fact I think he is lucky he was only suspended. He will have a chance in a month to challenge anyone he likes next month in GD and the Pit but I am sure it will not be tolerated for him to ever follow Poly into another forum and challenge him on religion.
To amplify Contrapuntal’s point, there was the exchange between Poly and badchad cited by Crotalus in the badchad thread:
I would simply add that badchad in this exchange admits that his goal is not to debate Poly, but to drive him from the boards. That’s the polar opposite of fighting ignorance - he wants to stifle a view he disagrees with.
Myself, I think the admins have been lenient with a suspension.
This board is one of the most atheist friendly places on the net. It teems with skeptics and atheists. I hardly think Badchads beliefs were the cause of his suspension.
Look at Der Trihs for comparison. He’s one of the most militant atheists on the board, possibly even more fiery than BadChad. But he simply states his views in a forceful manner and one can choose to engage him or not. He doesn’t troll and he doesn’t stalk.
The only concern I have is that this suspension is really about activity that took place a while ago. Was there a recent post that crossed the line?
Considering the poster in question and the hornets nest that has been buzzing around him, an ATMB post would have seemed appropriate and would hopefully hold off some of the questions.
I assume it was the gestalt, rather than a single offending post. It may have been exacerbated by past bad behavior, but I don’t think that was the sole reason.
Seems like a shame they stopped, it was actually pretty useful. I did not recall any long term posters being suspended lately except for Excalibre. He did get an ATMB thread. Excalibre has been suspended.. That was not too far back.
Correct. To clarify, and to the record - I myself put through his suspension, and I consider myself an atheist.
It is not OK to trail users around the board and harass them to further your personal agenda. We have a simple main rule: “Don’t be a jerk.” badchad was, and is, a jerk, and if his posts do not change in the future from that mold, he will be banned.
badchad did rack up two previous warnings. As for this go-round, it is the holidays and we try to corroberate between moderators/administrators before proceeding past the warning phase (when possible); it was this afternoon that a reasonable consensus was reached.
Evil Captor got an ATMB thread (well, announcement) when he was suspended, too, seven months earlier. As far as I know, he and Excalibre are the only people to come back from suspension and not (almost) immediately melt down again, earning a permanent ban.