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)