# Czarcasm: please don't mod the threads in which you're heatedly participating. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 13, 2004, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914 "2004-10-13T00:38:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**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:** [October 13, 2004, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914/61 "2004-10-13T23:41:03Z")
> [@SnakeSpirit](#): > > **Dan,** please give me evidence that I believe nonsense. > > Fighting ignorance means _all_ ignorance, including exploring the unknown. How long until we can finally admit that there just ain’t anything out there to find? People have been making these claims since before recorded history. We’re still waiting for a single shred of solid evidence supporting these claims. How much longer do we have to wait before we can write the supernatural off and still be a “true” skeptic? Maybe I’m just impatient, but six thousand years seems like more than enough time to come up with _something._ ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914/62 "2004-10-13T23:53:42Z")
> [@andros](#): > > **Snake** , IMO you are dangerously deluded. Please get therapy. Is this your professional opinion? Care to give some credentials? Or is it just a cheap shot? ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914/63 "2004-10-14T00:00:47Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > How long until we can finally admit that there just ain’t anything out there to find? People have been making these claims since before recorded history. We’re still waiting for a single shred of solid evidence supporting these claims. How much longer do we have to wait before we can write the supernatural off and still be a “true” skeptic? Maybe I’m just impatient, but six thousand years seems like more than enough time to come up with _something._ I asked for _evidence_ not impatience. People have been talking about god-like destructive forces for over six-thousand years, too. In 1945 we realized them. I’m willing to either wait until the end of my life or until my experiences can be satisfactorily explained. I see the mountains outside my window. I have not touched them, but I trust they are there, and not an illusion. I get concentric validation, but I have no way of knowing if the other sees what I am seeing. I trust my experience. ---
**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:** [October 14, 2004, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914/64 "2004-10-14T00:18:57Z")
> [@SnakeSpirit](#): > > I asked for _evidence_ not impatience. That’s what I’m asking for, too. Where is it? > [@](#): > > People have been talking about god-like destructive forces for over six-thousand years, too. In 1945 we realized them. What? That makes no sense at all. > [@](#): > > I’m willing to either wait until the end of my life or until my experiences can be satisfactorily explained. I can explain your experiences right now: you imagined them. I’m not saying that it’s automatically the _correct_ explanation. It’s just the most likely one. At the very least, it’s considerably more likely than the hypothesis you put forward, which directly contravenes most everything we know about the physical laws that govern the universe. > [@](#): > > I see the mountains outside my window. I have not touched them, but I trust they are there, and not an illusion. I get concentric validation, but I have no way of knowing if the other sees what I am seeing. I trust my experience. I don’t. And I don’t mean I don’t trust _your_ experience. I mean I don’t trust _my_ experience. I am well aware of how trivially easy it is to mislead the human senses, even by accident, and most especially when the person doing the misleading is the same as the person being misled. I know first hand the almost infinite capacity we all have for self-deception. And considering how badly I want the supernatural to exsist, I am correspondingly more vigilant about accepting claims about the supernatural that are not supported by objective (so much as it is possible to prove anything objectivly) evidence. The experiences of any one person are not objective evidence. Even if that one person is me. And if that’s how I feel about my own perceptions of the inexplicable, possibly supernatural events I’ve personally witnessed, you can imagine how I feel about the inexplicable, possibly supernaturaly events _you’ve_ witnessed. If I were you, I’d doublecheck on those mountains, too. Can’t be too careful. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914/65 "2004-10-14T02:38:36Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > A lot of the enjoyment of boards like this for staff is being able to participate in one’s capacity as member, including debating hot-button issues if that happens to be the staff member’s thing. By using the “Mod Hat” to keep the two roles separate, he or she is entitled to have **the best of both worlds**. I hardly think so. More like the worst, I would have thought. Each time they contribute to a discussion, they must be aware that people are watching them carefully, to see who they will “favour” with a personal response, who they will “knock down”, “ignore”, etc. It’s always tough when someone is elevated from the ranks to a position of leadership, especially for those who remember them as “rankers”. Scores to settle, bruised egos, flagrant injustices, etc., etc. One of the most important reasons for a continuous supply of new blood is that any historical ill-feeling is constantly diluted and energies are not diverted to these unedifying and life-sapping issues. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914/66 "2004-10-14T02:41:07Z")
**SnakeSpirit** , you’re comments about the mental health of **Czarcasm** are pathetic. If you think he’s a nutcase, just tell him. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914/67 "2004-10-14T03:26:40Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > I hardly think so. More like the worst, I would have thought. Each time they contribute to a discussion, they must be aware that people are watching them carefully, to see who they will “favour” with a personal response, who they will “knock down”, “ignore”, etc. > > It’s always tough when someone is elevated from the ranks to a position of leadership, especially for those who remember them as “rankers”. Scores to settle, bruised egos, flagrant injustices, etc., etc. > > One of the most important reasons for a continuous supply of new blood is that any historical ill-feeling is constantly diluted and energies are not diverted to these unedifying and life-sapping issues. Sorry, but I don’t see it that way. I knew **Gaudere** and **Uncle Beer** before they ever went through the thing with the goat, the gerbils, and the five-gallon can of Crisco… and found them interesting board members before, during, and in **UB** ’s case after their moderating thing. In fact, I’d greatly enjoy seeing more substantive posts from **Gaudere** – the board lost something valuable in terms of content when she shifted to administrative and moderation duties. If you see it as playing favorites, that’s your business; I cannot tell you what to think. But I very much disagree. (I do agree with your final paragraph, divorced from the lead-in, though; there’s an important message in there for staff and membership alike.) ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914/68 "2004-10-14T04:02:28Z")
> [@SnakeSpirit](#): > > Is this your professional opinion? Care to give some credentials? > > Or is it just a cheap shot? Sauce for the goose, m’man. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914/69 "2004-10-14T04:37:20Z")
**Aeschines** , Some of us don’t mind discussions on “paranormal” topics at all, but first it’s required that we llearn the difference between _proof_ and _evidence._ That is covered in Urbane Sophistication 201. **Snakespirit** , I speak to you from a sort of pill-induced state of mental health. Just a suggestion: If you are going to apologize to someone for bringing up the question of his/her mental stability in public, don’t write a long post discussing in detail all the reasons that you brought up the question in the first place before typing: > [@](#): > > …Your health, and even your behaviour, is none of my fucking business. I should have just shut my mouth and hoped you would work it out on your own. Worse, I never should have posted it in this thread; that was a serious error in judegement on my part, and I apologise to you… You remind me of the former sister-in-law who called me to tell me that she never wanted to speak to me again. Oh well. What you say to other posters here is none of my fucking business. I should have just shut my mouth and hoped you would work it out on your own. I shouldn’t have said anything about it in this thread. It was a serious error in judgment on my part and I apologize to you for it. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914/70 "2004-10-14T05:03:28Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > That is a thoroughly unproductive attitude. Great call. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914/71 "2004-10-14T05:06:37Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > The member would likely receive the famous ridicule of being a “junior mod”. Try it and see. Pick a thread that has gone off-topic a bit and touched a controversial subject. It shouldn’t be hard to find. Descend into it and post only this: > > “A small note to Poster A, Poster B and Poser C — this is supposed to be a debate about Topic A, not a Topic B Pit Festival. If you want to cast aspersions on Topic B, start a thread in The BBQ Pit.” > > Let me know how it goes. I just say, “Take this shit to The Pit.” Never had any troubles. You try it and see. ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914/72 "2004-10-14T10:07:28Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > If you are going to apologize to someone for bringing up the question of his/her mental stability in public, don’t write a long post discussing in detail all the reasons that you brought up the question in the first place before typing: > > You remind me of the former sister-in-law who called me to tell me that she never wanted to speak to me again. > > Oh well. What you say to other posters here is none of my fucking business. I should have just shut my mouth and hoped you would work it out on your own. I shouldn’t have said anything about it in this thread. It was a serious error in judgment on my part and I apologize to you for it. Good point, Zoe. Sometimes my stupidity amazes even me (but only in retrospect!). ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914/73 "2004-10-14T10:08:41Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Sauce for the goose, m’man. As I thought. A cheap shot. Spare us. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914/74 "2004-10-14T10:43:34Z")
> [@Poly](#): > > In fact, I’d greatly enjoy seeing more substantive posts from Gaudere – the board lost something valuable in terms of content when she shifted to administrative and moderation duties. Amen to that. She was an extraordinary debater. She was instrumental in shaping many of my own views. Her arguments were unadorned with cheap rhetoric, and compelling by virtue of their plainness. Plus, she used beautiful turns of phrase like, “I’m feeling a mite peckish.” ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914/75 "2004-10-14T14:54:25Z")
> [@SnakeSpirit](#): > > As I thought. A cheap shot. > > Spare us. Yup. As cheap a shot as you threw at **Czarcasm**. Only briefer. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914/76 "2004-10-14T14:55:45Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Amen to that. She was an extraordinary debater. She was instrumental in shaping many of my own views. Her arguments were unadorned with cheap rhetoric, and compelling by virtue of their plainness. Plus, she used beautiful turns of phrase like, “I’m feeling a mite peckish.” And she’s hot. ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914/77 "2004-10-15T00:01:53Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > **SnakeSpirit** , you’re comments about the mental health of **Czarcasm** are pathetic. If you think he’s a nutcase, just tell him. What comments about mental health? Oh never mind, you’re evidently seeing what you want to see instead of what I’m saying. Hallucinating. There’s no sense responding to you. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914/78 "2004-10-15T01:18:25Z")
> [@SnakeSpirit](#): > > What comments about mental health? These: > [@SnakeSpirit](#): > > Frankly, I’m a bit concerned by Czarcasm’s behaviour. The rationality I have seen in the recent past seems to be deteriorating. Irrational bias is creeping in. I’m honestly concerned for Czarcasm’s health, and have expressed this in letters to Admin, to which I got no response. Remember posting that? It was yesterday, in case you’ve already forgotten. My opinion of you takes a step down with every post you make. You’re not just irrational and dimwitted, you’re downright slimy. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914/79 "2004-10-15T02:25:29Z")
But he was being _sincere_. No, really. I mean it. Really. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914/80 "2004-10-15T02:58:15Z")
> [@Early Out](#): > > These:Remember posting that? It was yesterday, in case you’ve already forgotten. > > My opinion of you takes a step down with every post you make. You’re not just irrational and dimwitted, you’re downright slimy. Notice, I said health, not mental health, in case you can’t read. I’m not here for a popularity contest, so your opinion of me is fine with me. I’m here to conquer ignorance, even if I have to do it one post at a time. Slimey? EVERYONE thinks that snakes are slimy. It’s a common misconception. We’re just smoooth… 🆒 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-please-dont-mod-the-threads-in-which-youre-heatedly-participating/268914.md?page=5)