# badchad suspended **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 29, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad-suspended/386039 "2006-12-29T22:42:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad-suspended/386039/1 "2006-12-29T22:42:55Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad-suspended/386039/2 "2006-12-29T22:46:46Z")
[QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] So why is **Badchad** the bad guy? [/QUOTE] Stalking. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad-suspended/386039/3 "2006-12-29T22:46:55Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad-suspended/386039/4 "2006-12-29T22:49:58Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad-suspended/386039/5 "2006-12-29T22:53:46Z")
I think **Contrapuntal** got it in one. At least according to **fluiddruid** [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8101569&postcount=106). ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad-suspended/386039/6 "2006-12-29T22:58:03Z")
What’s this about stalking? Was Badchad hiding in virtual bushes? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad-suspended/386039/7 "2006-12-29T23:01:47Z")
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. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad-suspended/386039/8 "2006-12-29T23:03:34Z")
To amplify **Contrapuntal’s** point, there was the exchange between **Poly** and **badchad** cited by **Crotalus** in the [badchad thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=401740&page=1): > [@Crotalus](#): > > badchad is not a troll. badchad is a jerk. His stated purpose for his relentless, partially informed and frequently rude attacks on various Christian beliefs is the noble fight against ignorance. I’m not appealing to authority to fortify my own beliefs, but I would like to state that this seems to mean that badchad believes that Garry Wills, William F. Buckley, J.R.R Tolkien and C.S. Lewis are or were ignorant. He probably does, and maybe they were, but all seem intelligent and informed to me. For me, badchad made the leap from pugnacious, half-informed punk to jerk when the following exchange took place: > > [Quote=Polycarp] > > Whatever else he may have accomplished in this world, he has made a place I derived great pleasure in repartee from for over six years into a place I tend not to spend much time in. I hope that accords with his goals in life. [Quote=badchad] Believe me, it does. [/quote] Someone whose goals in life include making a message board such as this a less pleasant place for one such as Polycarp meets my criteria as a contemptible jerk. [/quote] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad-suspended/386039/9 "2006-12-29T23:10:09Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad-suspended/386039/10 "2006-12-29T23:18:30Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Borgia] 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? [/QUOTE] Did you read post #5? I think that answers your question, **Larry**. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad-suspended/386039/11 "2006-12-29T23:19:40Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] Did you read post #5? I think that answers your question, **Larry**. [/QUOTE] Yeah, but I was wondering what the actual post was. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad-suspended/386039/12 "2006-12-29T23:26:50Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] Did you read post #5? I think that answers your question, **Larry**. [/QUOTE] 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. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad-suspended/386039/13 "2006-12-29T23:29:12Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Borgia] Yeah, but I was wondering what the actual post was. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad-suspended/386039/14 "2006-12-29T23:31:09Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] …an ATMB post would have seemed appropriate and would hopefully hold off some of the questions. [/QUOTE] They seem to have abandoned the idea of announcing bannings and suspensions; I can’t remember when the last one was. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad-suspended/386039/15 "2006-12-29T23:35:58Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] They seem to have abandoned the idea of announcing bannings and suspensions; I can’t remember when the last one was. [/QUOTE] 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.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=392345). That was not too far back. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Orbifold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orbifold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orbifold)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad-suspended/386039/16 "2006-12-30T00:16:56Z")
[QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] Lets have these two hash it out. We are all mature people aren’t we? [/QUOTE] Based on the evidence, no. And that was the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad-suspended/386039/17 "2006-12-30T00:23:32Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] 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. [/QUOTE] This hits the nail on the head. **The Flying Dutchman** , I’m interested in your reaction. If this intolerance exists, how do guys like this survive? ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad-suspended/386039/18 "2006-12-30T01:09:16Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Borgia] 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. [/quote] 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. > [@](#): > > 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? **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. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad-suspended/386039/19 "2006-12-30T01:13:08Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] I did not recall any long term posters being suspended lately except for Excalibre. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad-suspended/386039/20 "2006-12-30T01:31:21Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] 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. [/QUOTE] Also **Liberal**. **Excalibre** never came back. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad-suspended/386039.md?page=2)