# I don’t understand this note/warning from tomndebb **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 19, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-understand-this-note-warning-from-tomndebb/550738 "2010-08-19T14:10:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-understand-this-note-warning-from-tomndebb/550738/1 "2010-08-19T14:10:35Z")
In the [del]Should Gay People be Allowed to Span?[/del] thread,\*\* tomndebb\*\* directed the following to **Hamlet** and me: > [@Should gay people be allowed to spawn?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gay-people-be-allowed-to-spawn/550413/74): > > … > > Further, if I encounter either of you badgering another poster, demanding that that poster express a personal belief when they have not chosen to offer one, you will be Warned for harrassment. > > [/Moderating] I cut the initial bit, having no interest in questioning whether or not it was a hijack. My apologies if it was relevant. Where were either of us “badgering another poster,” or “demanding that that poster express a personal belief when they have not chosen to offer one”? How does that rise to the level of harassment? **Mod:** Fixed link here: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=574748”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=574748%E2%80%9D) ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-understand-this-note-warning-from-tomndebb/550738/2 "2010-08-19T15:34:07Z")
That link doesn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-understand-this-note-warning-from-tomndebb/550738/3 "2010-08-19T15:35:18Z")
Apparently even the Internet thinks that Gay People should not be allowed to Span, since the link goes nowhere. My personal thoughts on gay people spanning are yet unclear. Perhaps we could have a debate on it. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-understand-this-note-warning-from-tomndebb/550738/4 "2010-08-19T15:41:57Z")
The series of tubes is a bridge to nowhere? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-understand-this-note-warning-from-tomndebb/550738/5 "2010-08-19T15:47:12Z")
Yeep. Should incompetent people be allowed to post? Sorry. Here’s a better link: [Should Gay People be Allowed to Span?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=574748) ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-understand-this-note-warning-from-tomndebb/550738/6 "2010-08-19T15:49:08Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > My personal thoughts on gay people spanning are yet unclear. Perhaps we could have a debate on it. This has been debated for hundreds of years. Remember the old English rhyme, “When Adam delved and Eve span, Who was then the gentleman?” Note that there is no reference to Steve. ---
**Author:** ![GHO57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df788c/32.png) [@GHO57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GHO57)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-understand-this-note-warning-from-tomndebb/550738/7 "2010-08-19T15:56:03Z")
\*\*Hamlet \*\*said in post 29 > [@](#): > > No. As I already said: “I asked about YOUR view of the Constitution, not prior caselaw.” Ignore prior caselaw and tell me YOUR view. I don’t get how it’s worthy of mod action tho… but that appears to be the source of ignition. Here’s the [linky](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=574748)to the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-understand-this-note-warning-from-tomndebb/550738/8 "2010-08-19T16:33:48Z")
**Hamlet** said: > [@](#): > > I asked about YOUR view of the Constitution, not prior caselaw. I have a sneaking suspicion that you tend to hide YOUR view on the Constitution with posts like yours above, and I want to have that suspicion alleviated. > [@](#): > > No. As I already said: “I asked about YOUR view of the Constitution, not prior caselaw.” Ignore prior caselaw and tell me YOUR view. > [@](#): > > These questions really aren’t that difficult, Bricker. Although I do understand why you want to fight the hypothetical, and why you seem to have so much trouble answering the questions. > > [snip] > > And your answer would be? > > I know you see where I’m going. You saw it with the first question I asked, and have been fighting tooth and nail to avoid actually admitting it. Those are clearly badgering him for an opinion he has repeatedly refused to state. _That_’s the complaint - that he won’t state his opinion. Badgering by definition. It’s a little less clear where you are actively badgering, vs responding to the contents of his posts. The closest I see is post 43, where you lay out an agenda against **Bricker**. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-understand-this-note-warning-from-tomndebb/550738/9 "2010-08-19T17:22:02Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > This has been debated for hundreds of years. Remember the old English rhyme, “When Adam delved and Eve span, Who was then the gentleman?” Note that there is no reference to Steve. He was probably busy spawning. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-understand-this-note-warning-from-tomndebb/550738/10 "2010-08-19T19:34:48Z")
Wait… it’s now harassment to request that someone answer a question that they’ve been dodging? Might as well just ban half the damned board, then. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-understand-this-note-warning-from-tomndebb/550738/11 "2010-08-19T19:42:44Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Wait… it’s now harassment to request that someone answer a question that they’ve been dodging? Might as well just ban half the damned board, then. Reported for harassment. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-understand-this-note-warning-from-tomndebb/550738/12 "2010-08-19T19:48:53Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Reported for harassment. Reported for harassment. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-understand-this-note-warning-from-tomndebb/550738/13 "2010-08-19T20:08:01Z")
Well, I think it’s certainly fair to not be required to state _an opinion_ in a Great Debates thread. It’s not like **Bricker** was making declarations and unwilling to support his position. Certain posters were pursuing an agenda against **Bricker** and hijacking the thread topic. I mean, “discuss how you would interpret US law from 1864 just after the 14th Amendment was signed based only on then current case law, but with the latest scientific evidence released last week on the nature of homosexuality.” That’s a pretty far stretch from discussing thoughts on the current situation of whether homosexuals should be “allowed to spawn”, whatever that means. Especially after **Bricker** already addressed that question by stating the question is to vague to have legal meaning. Hamlet: “ **Bricker** , is it unConstitutional?” Bricker: “Case law says it is.” Hamlet: “I don’t want to know what case law and precedents say, I want to know your opinion.” ## How is that GD material? How does that fit the OP? Not intended to suggest actual quotes. Paraphrased for expediency. ---
**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:** [August 19, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-understand-this-note-warning-from-tomndebb/550738/14 "2010-08-19T20:45:43Z")
Well, it’s not like “unconstitutional” is some kind of binary state of existence, determined by a well-defined scientific testing process. Something is unconstitutional if a judge says it is (and that judge is not overruled by a higher-ranked judge). At best, Bricker can say how he would decide, were he a judge, and doesn’t he offer to do that at one point’? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-understand-this-note-warning-from-tomndebb/550738/15 "2010-08-19T23:52:31Z")
**Rhythmdvl** , I apologize for including you in the general comment. Your post #43, first quoting Hamlet and then including a personal observation aout Bricker’s perspective, caused me to lump your actions with those of Hamlet, which, on re-reading, was not a valid conclusion. There has been a recent increase, in Great Debates, in the number of posts insisting that a specific poster respond in a particular way, generally accompanied by personal accusations (or strong implications) that the poster lacks integrity. (The tactic is not new, here, going back even to the AOL board, but I am looking to reduce its recent increase.) I am afraid you got caught in ther crossfire, here. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-understand-this-note-warning-from-tomndebb/550738/16 "2010-08-20T00:15:20Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > There has been a recent increase, in Great Debates, in the number of posts insisting that a specific poster respond in a particular way, generally accompanied by personal accusations (or strong implications) that the poster lacks integrity. (The tactic is not new, here, going back even to the AOL board, but I am looking to reduce its recent increase.) I am afraid you got caught in the crossfire, here. Moderator, please. I asked a question, Bricker didn’t answer it, and I called him on it. If that’s violating the rules, I can spend all day here reporting posts for you to wade through. Fortunately, Bricker and I were able to finally work it out and have a debate. Unfortuantely, the thread seems to have died from overmoderation. Shame really. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-understand-this-note-warning-from-tomndebb/550738/17 "2010-08-20T00:15:38Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > **Rhythmdvl** , I apologize for including you in the general comment. Your post #43, first quoting Hamlet and then including a personal observation aout Bricker’s perspective, caused me to lump your actions with those of Hamlet, which, on re-reading, was not a valid conclusion. > > There has been a recent increase, in Great Debates, in the number of posts insisting that a specific poster respond in a particular way, generally accompanied by personal accusations (or strong implications) that the poster lacks integrity. (The tactic is not new, here, going back even to the AOL board, but I am looking to reduce its recent increase.) I am afraid you got caught in ther crossfire, here. As a fellow mod, I’m forced to bring this up at our next meeting. Your apologizing has been noted and will be brought before the Supreme Council. Your spine may need strengthing. We _don’t_ apologize. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-understand-this-note-warning-from-tomndebb/550738/18 "2010-08-20T00:47:36Z")
Gays can span, but there subspaces might not be fully dimensional - are gays mutually orthogonal? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-understand-this-note-warning-from-tomndebb/550738/19 "2010-08-20T01:20:50Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Moderator, please. I asked a question, Bricker didn’t answer it, and I called him on it. Piffle. Your actual comments have already been posted in this thread. Bricker legitimately answered every question that arose from his actual posts. You are not owed an answer to your demands for personal opinion and continuing to make that demand is harrassment. No poster has an obligation to post personal opinion and badgering another poster for that view will not be tolerated. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-understand-this-note-warning-from-tomndebb/550738/20 "2010-08-20T01:36:26Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Piffle. > > Your actual comments have already been posted in this thread. Not all of them, in order. Funny how that works out, isn’t it? > [@tomndebb](#): > > Bricker legitimately answered every question that arose from his actual posts. Baloney. I asked him for HIS view of the Constitution, and he didn’t offer it. It wasn’t until much later when we got to a tortured hypothetical that we got the answer to my question. And then we got into a debate. But my question wasn’t answered until that point. I can’t help it that you didn’t seem to notice that, though. > [@Bricker](#): > > You are not owed an answer to your demands for personal opinion and continuing to make that demand is harrassment. No poster has an obligation to post personal opinion and badgering another poster for that view will not be tolerated. He didn’t have an obligation to answer. But it is complete and utter “piffle” for you to stomp in, well after the fact, and admonish me for not letting him get away with not answering it. If refusing to take a non answer to a question, and asking the question again is “harassment” to you, I would think you’ll have your hands full moderating this board in the future. But we both know that it won’t happen to anyone else. Given our history, I can’t say I’m all that surprised by you either. What makes me really laugh is that the entire thing was resolved by the time you came trotting in on your high horse. We got to a hypothetical, I got an answer, we discussed it, and even debated a bit. And then, after that, you make your grand appearance. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-understand-this-note-warning-from-tomndebb/550738.md?page=2)