# Badchad **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 27, 2006, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743 "2006-12-27T15:20:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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 27, 2006, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743/21 "2006-12-27T20:58:09Z")
> [@hawthorne](#): > > … Poly tries to offer a way to be a thinking Christian and not be a nutjob or an arsehole. badchad’s claim is that he fails. You claiming that Poly is a nice guy is beside the point. > > badchad thinks poly is christianity’s beard. > [@The Flying Dutchman](#): > > I’m fairly certain that **Poly’s** attacks on Christian fundies is what drives **badchad** more than anything. He’s stated before that he has loving fundie parents who don’t deserve what **Poly** dishes out. If **Poly** wasn’t so hugely popular, adding temendous weight to hatred of fundies, **badchad** might have just ignored him, Yes, for **badchad** it is personal and I can’t say I blame him. I’m fairly certain you’re both wrong (although I know you both merely state what **bad** himself claims to be his motivations). Here’s my theory, for which I claim absolutely no supporting evidence: **bad** did not appear in the SDMB out of nowhere; it’s reasonable to assume he’s posted elsewhere, and it’s also reasonable to assume he brought already well developed feelings toward Christianity/Christians with him. It’s my bet that the SDMB is not the only, and was not the first, message board to be graced with the same **bad** wisdom and zeal we’ve seen in his career here. It would not be surprising were such a zealot to have practiced his **bad** ness at one or more website of a more fundamentally Christian bent, hoping to humiliate the ignorant, backward membership with his artistry. In fact, this is another past development in the **bad** oeuvre I’d bet has actually occurred. –Anyone willing to guess how much tolerance a fundeamentalist website or two would show to the **bad** _modus operandi_? So, what would such a stalwart do once thwarted by a succession of ignorance-based Christian sites? My guess is our little nonXian soldier marched onward to war at one or more websites which presented enough of a mixture of _a_-, _non_-, _poly_- and plain theism that he would not be summarily rejected but would still be presented with targets for his heroic wiping out of ignorance. Which brings us to the Dope, where pugnacious _a_-, _non_-, _poly_- and plain theistic outlooks have always been welcome. And what did **badchad** find? An actual Christlike Christian! Even better, one whose liberality and generosity ensured he would feel obligated, once engaged, to respond openly and honestly to each attack, while restraining and restricting his own anger to a mere registry of complaint – water off a duck’s back to one as courageous as **bad**! The beauty of it was that all the **bad** playbook called for was illustration by **bc** , and acknowledgement by the target, of inconsistencies in the textual bases of Christianity, and a great victory could be won against the evils of ignorance. Piece o’ cake in the land of milk and honey. The attempted assassination of **Polycarp** had no noble purpose behind it. It was a crime of opportunity suiting an agenda of convenience. Good thing the shooter is so inept, but it is quite a nuisance. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743/22 "2006-12-27T21:05:12Z")
I’m a little behind…has **Polycarp** left? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743/23 "2006-12-27T21:26:51Z")
[QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness] 3) **badchad** illustrates **behavior** that’s shitty–and behavior is far more important than objective truth, in my opinion. [/QUOTE] I disagree. “The path to Hell is paved with good intentions” and all that. If anything, being nice and _wrong_ makes people more dangerous than someone who’s wrong and obnoxious, because it can let them get away with doing more harm longer. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743/24 "2006-12-27T21:31:12Z")
But… doing harm would itself be behavior that’s shitty, wouldn’t it? I think Left Hand of Dorkness has split it out nicely. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743/25 "2006-12-27T21:35:59Z")
I have not been posting recently, and in fact asked **tomndebb** to cancel my account. (which apparently went unheeded by the brass) I agree with much of **Liberal** ’s OP, although I would not be so quick to give **BC** the credit (infamous as it may be) **Liberal** ascribes to him. I have another perspective. **BC** ’s behavior is a reflection on the **SDMB** population _generally_, and the SDMB moderators and administrators _specifically_. The fact is, I think **BC** is a poop flinging, immature punk. A punk with a teenage intellect, and preteen maturity. He engages in rapid fire one liners that lack substance or depth. He is clearly clever, however, and able to point out the inconsistencies and the apparent hypocrisies in modern Christianity. And so I believe **Hawthorne** makes a good point. Behind **BC** ’s rank immaturity and witless behavior there is an occasional point; even if offered at 30,000 feet and without substance or scrutiny. **BC** excels at rapid fire, parlor game one liners that (from my experience) that frustrate, anger and even disorient those who disagree. I have yet to see a poster slow him down and make the shithead make his case _point by point._ Instread, **BC** thrives in rapid fire exchanges in message board settings where the conversations are splintered and lack both substance and the time to consider them thoughtfully. I am convinced that **one** of the reasons that no one else has slowed hon down and removed his internal organs is that most of the posters know no more of the bible than he does. And so again and again I’ve seen posters extol **BC** ’s knowledge when it is clear that they know even less than **BC** does. And so as far as the bible is concerned, the SDMB is the land of the blind. And **BC** has one cut and paste half blind eye. The other kids (and I mean _kids_) snicker and revel in his rank immaturity. In the land of the [intellectual] blind, **BC** has somehow become king among the dimmest bulbs among us. Even so, I do not fault **BC**. The SDMB has a policy stating that there should be no trolls or jerks. **BC** is both a troll and jerk, _in the extreme._ It is simply not enough in my view to put this idiot on my “Ignore” list.\* I am amazed that the moderators have done so little to maintain civility here. Perhaps the moderators need approval from admins to take action. Either way, in my view the Powers That Be are/have done an absolute miserable job as it relates to **BC.** IMO, they should be ashamed of their performance. I also think that in many ways, this is _our_ board. How many subscribers will you let leave here before you act? If it is true that **Polycarp** is absent because of **BC** , is that an acceptable condition to the SDMB brass? I can tell you that I asked **Tom** to cancel my account over that idiot, and will remain outside of this community while you let miscreant jerks and trolls run rampant. I believe that if enough “customers” leave to go elsewhere, while the SDMB management fiddles, eventually the management either wakes up or the board withers. For my part, I will not return while this idiot remains. If others feel as strongly as I do, I would encourage you to put your money where your mouth is, and let the SDMB know that you will not remain while they do little to rein in trolls and jerks. FTR, I fully expect the supporters (few as they may be) of **BC** to crow about free speech etc. _This is not about free speech._ I disagree with much of **Polycarp** ’s theology-----and ironically found some of BC’s points compelling if you strip away the ton of excrement and immaturity—and have debated **Polycarp** relentlessly. We have had many sharp exchanges. (and many pleasent ones) Yet we have been able to disagree while refining our own arguments and showing common courtesy and respect. **Polycarp** is a First Class individual. And so I am not suggesting that **BC** go easy on **Polycarp** , or anyone else. He can make his case, _if he’s able._ (And I submit that in a rational, non-hystrerical, substantive setting he _cannot_) He can be as passionate or abrasive as he would like to be. He may be as relentless as he would like to be. But if the SDMB’s version of free speech is that a member cannot be constrained by civility, decorum, courtesy or substance than I think you are sorely misguided. **Liberal** , unfortunately, the world has no shortage of miscreants like **BC**. But the stupidity that he spews should be laid at the feet of the SDMB, not **BC.** He should have been sent packing a long time ago. (\*IIRC, it is a cardinal sin to call someone a troll or mention who is on your ignore list. Ironically, this is a bannable offense. **BC** is on my Ignore list. Further, if he is not a troll, I am perplexed who is. If this gets me banned, cool. At the very least it should be added (with **Polycarp** it would seem) to those who are serving notice that they’d rather leave here than stay while punks like **BC** remain) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743/26 "2006-12-27T21:44:41Z")
[QUOTE=the raindog] (\*IIRC, it is a cardinal sin to call someone a troll…) [/QUOTE] Not anymore, as long as you do so in the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Cemetery\_Savior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Cemetery\_Savior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cemetery_Savior)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743/27 "2006-12-27T21:47:37Z")
[QUOTE=Sarahfeena] After Peter Boyle’s death, I read a comment on another message board where the poster said they had always wondered how Mr. Boyle “got along” with Patricia Heaton on the set of Everybody Loves Raymond, since he was such a radical liberal, and she is such a religious conservative. [/QUOTE] Sorry to hijack, but wasn’t Peter Boyle a Christian Brother prior to his acting career? I would think he’d be OK with a strong religious opinion. -Cem ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743/28 "2006-12-27T21:49:22Z")
[QUOTE=Der Trihs] I disagree. “The path to Hell is paved with good intentions” and all that. If anything, being nice and _wrong_ makes people more dangerous than someone who’s wrong and obnoxious, because it can let them get away with doing more harm longer. [/QUOTE] As **Lib** said, someone who’s doing harm is engaging in bad behavior. I did not say that good manners trump objective correctness, which is what seem to be objecting to. I said that **behavior** is more important than objective truth. Give me the choice between the atheist who kills for his opposition to the opiate of the masses, and the Identity Christian who furthers her belief in white folks’ sole claim to human status by running a free daycare for poor white kids, and I’d rather hold my nose in support of the latter than go along with the former. Beliefs never hurt anybody. Behavior has. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743/29 "2006-12-27T21:49:29Z")
I agree 100% with John Mace. Those who continue to engage him are merely prolonging his inevitable (and much anticipated) demise. Ignore him altogether and he will disappear sooner rather than later. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743/30 "2006-12-27T21:52:21Z")
[QUOTE=the raindog] it is a cardinal sin to call someone a troll or mention who is on your ignore list. Ironically, this is a bannable offense. BC is on my Ignore list. [/QUOTE] Of course, the real irony is that discussing who’s on your ignore list is against the rules, whereas calling someone a troll, as **Lute** pointed out, is not. I’d rather that the “who’s on your ignore list” taboo be taken out of the Pit: if you can call someone a goat-felcher, saying they’re worth ignoring seems pretty copacetic to me, and it may be the petty face-saving maneuver some people need in order to end a nonproductive conflict. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743/31 "2006-12-27T22:01:14Z")
> [@the raindog](#): > > Liberal, unfortunately, the world has no shortage of miscreants like BC. But the stupidity that he spews should be laid at the feet of the SDMB, not BC. He should have been sent packing a long time ago. He may get more leeway than most. I had been back not even a week before I got my first warning in Great Debates. For what? For providing a link to a Pit thread. “Let’s not bring the Pit to Great Debates” was the exact wording, as I recall. Which was extremely ironic because that’s what the OP had already done. Now banned, he had simply moved his theater of operations from the Pit to Great Debates. I was just pointing that out with my link, which I thought would serve as proof. Even so, having been a supermod for several months on a fairly active board with a lot of things to tend to, I don’t think there was any sort of conspiracy to keep Badchad and lose Poly. At least I sure hope not. Anway, I’m not sure dropping our subscriptions will make any difference. Someone will fill the void even if we all leave. New day, new member. It could become filled with Badchads, and morph into something like Slashdot, but with less class (were that possible). ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743/32 "2006-12-27T22:07:20Z")
> [@](#): > > Liberal, unfortunately, the world has no shortage of miscreants like BC. But the stupidity that he spews should be laid at the feet of the SDMB, not BC. He should have been sent packing a long time ago. I don’t know much about board policy but I’m surprised he hasn’t been banned. Doesn’t it violate the “don’t be a jerk” policy by bragging about how you harass a fellow member so much that they rarely post? Doesn’t saying that you made someone your target make you a troll? That’s jerkish if your talking about religion, politics or The Simpsons. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743/33 "2006-12-27T22:31:37Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] But… doing harm would itself be behavior that’s shitty, wouldn’t it? I think Left Hand of Dorkness has split it out nicely. [/QUOTE] Only if it’s _on purpose_. If it’s by mistake, it’s stupid, but not necessarily “shitty”. [QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness] As **Lib** said, someone who’s doing harm is engaging in bad behavior. I did not say that good manners trump objective correctness, which is what seem to be objecting to. I said that **behavior** is more important than objective truth. Give me the choice between the atheist who kills for his opposition to the opiate of the masses, and the Identity Christian who furthers her belief in white folks’ sole claim to human status by running a free daycare for poor white kids, and I’d rather hold my nose in support of the latter than go along with the former. [/quote] Ah, I see what you are getting at. [QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness] Beliefs never hurt anybody. Behavior has. [/QUOTE] But beliefs shape behavior. Beliefs can kill and hurt people, even when the people practicing those beliefs are well meaning, if those beliefs are objectively wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743/34 "2006-12-27T22:36:37Z")
[QUOTE=Cemetery Savior] Sorry to hijack, but wasn’t Peter Boyle a Christian Brother prior to his acting career? I would think he’d be OK with a strong religious opinion. -Cem [/QUOTE] I think the point was more about their politics being different than their religion, but although he was in a monastary as a young person, I believe later he rejected organized religion, and searched for a different form of spiritual answer. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743/35 "2006-12-27T22:42:20Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] I’m a little behind…has **Polycarp** left? [/QUOTE] Let’s hope not, especially over a pathetic little asshole like **badchad**. I mean, jeez, if all theists were like **Polycarp** I wouldn’t bother to have anything against religion. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743/36 "2006-12-27T23:23:57Z")
[QUOTE=the raindog] I can tell you that I asked **Tom** to cancel my account over that idiot, and will remain outside of this community while you let miscreant jerks and trolls run rampant. [/QUOTE] Perhaps you are not responding but I am curious. Why isn’t ignore enough? Why choose to leave the board over one or two obnoxious posters? I tried to have a serious exchange with **BC** and learned all I need to know about him. I think the rules in GD and other forums are enough to control him. I glance at his posts and just ignore them for the most part. I couldn’t care less if he attacks my beliefs and thinks they’re ridiculous. The same goes for those of his ilk. If enough people answered his recent call and started ridiculing anyone who expressed belief I would expect the powers that be would put a halt to it. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743/37 "2006-12-27T23:52:03Z")
[QUOTE=the raindog] I have not been posting recently, and in fact asked **tomndebb** to cancel my account. (which apparently went unheeded by the brass) [/QUOTE] Technical note for those who wish to do likewise. I have gotten a couple of similar requests each year since becoming a Mod. However, Mods have no authority to touch posters’ accounts. My standard practice is to forward the request to an Administrator(s), copied back to the originating poster. If no action occurs, one’s best bet is to place a second request to an Administrator. (Sometimes their mail is sufficiently inundating that an individual request may be misplaced.) Obviously, placing the first request to the Administrator is generally a good idea, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743/38 "2006-12-27T23:52:32Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] I’m a little behind…has **Polycarp** left? [/QUOTE] Not that I know of, although I haven’t talked to him recently. [sub]I just searched, and he is merrily posting away.[/sub] If **Polycarp** WERE to ever leave? I can assure you it wouldn’t be because of anything badchad said or did. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743/39 "2006-12-28T00:00:03Z")
I wondered about that myself. I had the impression, when I read **Poly** ’s post alluded to by **Crotalus** in #6, above, that **Polycarp** might simply be talking about how he spends less time in _GD_, not on the Dope as a whole. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743/40 "2006-12-28T00:37:42Z")
**Polycarp** still posts regularly. What he meant, I believe, is that he will spend far less time than he used to discussing religion in GD. That was **misfired sperm** ’s stated goal, a goal that makes him an overdue candidate for banning. He has targeted, stalked and badgered Polycarp. He is a jerk. We have a rule. He should be gone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badchad/385743.md?page=3)