I still think we oughtta go with the cactus option.
>> Calling someone a liar is an ad hominem attack in my book.
I agree. It is a stupid rule that allows it. Either insults are allowed or they are not but allowing only some is just stupid. “Liar” is definitely always a worse insult than “waste of breath”. And, in any case, making a nuisance in a thread by just insulting everybody in sight and contributing nothing is a clear violation of the “Don’t be a jerk” rule.
Actually, I disagree, to this extent. It is appropriate and acceptable to label someone a liar in GD if:
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One can demonstrate that a poster has posted an untruth; AND
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One can demonstrate that a poster knew he/she was posting an untruth.
About the only evidence that someone is lying I think is feasible in the context of a message board, is where the poster’s own citation directly contradicts them and/or where the poster omits words from a quotation that change the meaning of the quote.
I confess, I’ve called Chumpsky a liar in GD. In that instance, Chumpsky asserted that Ambassador Glaspie had given Iraq permission to invade Kuwait. Chumpsky provided a linked article. In the article, Tarik Aziz, Vice-Premier of Iraq, was quoted as denying that Glaspie had given Iraq permission.
I called him on it, and I believe I was justified. Was I?
Well, I think it’s kind of like the old rule about calling someone drunk in Parliament–just not done, old boy. I always felt that “confused on the facts” or even “deliberately misrepresentative” was GD material, whereas “liar” would be reserved for the BBQ pit. After all, you wouldn’t hear presidential candidates calling their opponents “liars” in a face-to-face debate (akin to GD) but you might hear it in some of their nastier political ads (BBQ Pit). That might just be my view, however.
Chumpski was calling liars everybody left and right as insult, not in any way asserting what we said was not true. I said I have been to Cuba and he called me a liar. How on earth would he know whether I have been to Cuba or not? He was just beeing an offensive asshole and if that is permitted by the rules then the rules should be changed.
The political stuff as well. It’s quite impressive.
This just in: Chumpsky is so stupid, he puts faith in the words of Stalin.
“I don’t think Germany was better off as a divided nation, as opposed to a united, un-aligned nation as the Soviets proposed. I don’t think any of these nations were better off by the maintainence of the capitalist hierarchy.”
See, what’d I say about Daoloth? The guy cites well. It’s one of his things. I say give him a medal.
Hiccup
Shh. It’s not like I’m Duck Duck Goose.