"I See Crazy People," or "The Phaedra"

The BBQ Pit
1

Phaedrus, of course, is the legendary GD poster who promised us all kinds of wonderful scientific revelation, had his ass handed to him repeatedly, and eventually had a spectacular meltdown. He also owes manny some money.

The Hydra, of course, was the mythical seven-headed beast that grew two new heads whenever you chopped one off.

Combine the two, and you’ve got a Phaedra–a beast which promises to dazzle us with untold scientific knowledge, and seems to proliferate heads like mad. Each head always promises us more, but they are loathe to provide cites, are far outside their element when it comes to the science, and are basically full of hot air.

Lately, the Phaedra has been sprouting heads left and right. (Note: I’m not saying these are all the same person or even that they know each other, simply that they are all manifestations of the same beast.)

Head #1 is IGOTTHEANSWERS , who starts his soon-to-be-cut-short career in evolution debunking by citing the same old creationist crap, and refusing to listen to anyone’s replies. Head #2 is Hiyruu, who starts by entertaining us all with his crop circle theories, then goes on to pull the same stunt as Head #1 regarding evolution. Head #3 is undoubtedly Sea Sorbust, who is just nucking futs, no question about it.

It’s nearly impossible to take on the task of eliminating ignorance in these cases, at least in the Heads, because they aren’t in a position to be convinced. Maybe some lurkers might benefit, but it’s otherwise a waste of bandwidth.

So how else, aside from direct engagement, can we chop off these Heads and cauterize the wounds before they grow back? Just adopt a DNFTT position? Is there a better way? Or are we all doooooooooooooooomed?

2

Phil, ya miss Phaedrus, don’t ya?
:wink:

3

I think you were supposed to cut off the heads and cauterize the stumps.

I’m not sure how we apply that advice to the current situation, though.

4

It almost makes me miss all those singalong threads.

almost

5

I must be getting sadistic in my old age, because lately I am really enjoying a sort of PTTWTBEOFPSUIHAAFM – “Poke the Troll With the Business End of a Pointy Stick Until It Has an Amazing Freakshow Meltdown.”

I only feel guilty about it because it takes up bandwidth.

6

yeah, but everybody likes to watch a meltdown. I mean, I’ve got all this beer.

jarbaby

7

I have seen all three of these persons post their anti-logic theorems [along with seethrumypanties, who will be sad that you forgot him]. It never ceases to amaze how fascinated the general public is with crackpot psuedo-science. Is the world not interesting enough without playing make-believe? IMHO a well thought out debunking is always called for, lest these ideas take further root or people think we condone them. Perhaps someone will even learn something, though I doubt it. What really bothers me is the cutting and pasting of the same old previously debunked arguments rather than formulating and supporting a hypothesis of their own. This tactic comes bundled with refusing to acknowledge points made by the opposition and refusal to answer most of the direct questions.

8

Yesterday one of my coworkers was hitting me with that same old “How did you get order out of an explosion?” and trying to tie the big bang theory to evolution bullshit that I’m so tired of debunking that I finally just broke down and yelled through the whole office, ," You will never even look at any evidence I offer you, leave me alone and let me go to hell in peace!". At least the guy in the next office over thought it was funny.

P.S. notice that it says “member” under Phaedrus’ name? <insert scary music here>

9

pldennison’s original question was, “So how else, aside from direct engagement, can we chop off these Heads and cauterize the wounds before they grow back? Just adopt a DNFTT position? Is there a better way? Or are we all doooooooooooooooomed?”

The best thing, really, is just to ignore them: y’know, once a mod’s posted a DNFTT on them and their threads, nobody pays them any attention, replies to their posts, anything.

Unfortunately, with so many smart people on a board designed to fight ignorance, letting these twerps get away with the idiot fuckery they post is just not going to happen. Erudition will be posted in response to fuckery and, sometimes, colourful insults will be posted in response to even more idiot fuckery. ('Course, the odds of one of the twerps having that headsmack moment of “Hell, I’m wrong here” in response to said erudition is pretty small, judging by what I’ve seen in my short time on the boards.)

Y’know what I’d like to see? A crack squad of dedicated anti-trollers, sort of the SDMB-SAS. A small squad of, say, a thousand or two people with detailed knowledge, communications skills to put that knowledge across clearly and the ability to flame with great skill (in the Pit, of course) when needed –

Oh wait. We’ve already got…and it’s making how much difference?

Never mind. We’re doomed. :slight_smile:

The thing I like about the fucknuckles and loons that show up here, is at least they make me feel better about myself. I can say to myself, “Self,” I can say, “you may not be the smartest person on earth, but at least you’re not [insert name here].”

10

I like this idea.

Anyone up for a road trip?

11

Hey, I’m not doing anything this weekend. :smiley:

12

So you’ve got an ancient Greek broad who’s in love with her stepson? Damn, this place is diverse! :wink:

13

AoftL, that’s what I came in here looking for too! Oh well, good thread anyway, Phil.

14

Since seethruart got inexplicably overlooked in the OP, I thought I would make up for it by quoting his latest gem from his “anomalies in Apollo photos” thread.

*I know once you study this and see what I have pointed out (and found more on your own), you will wonder how anyone ever missed it. It’s called “conditioning.” People have been conditioned to believe there is nothing but dust and rocks on the ground in Apollo photos. Many have been conditioned so well, they won’t even consider the possibilty, or study the evidence. *

It’s a combination of intense obsession and smug obliviousness the likes of which hasn’t been seen since…well, I daren’t mention the name, but is anybody else wondering whether Seethruart happens to be circumcised? :wink:

15

Either that, or he needs to change his username to SeeThruFnords.

16

My sig file says it all.

17

:Bangs head on keyboard:

[sub]I’m going home now.[/sub]

18

Ah, jab1, welcome to Ender’s Law

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Personally, I have to admit, it’s been awhile since we’ve had a REALLY entertaining troll around-since JDT. (BTW, is it Tyler or Taylor? I keep forgetting). Anyhoo, if nothing else, it’s good for a laugh.

You don’t usually see such high caliber crap outside of David Icke.

20

Tuba won’t let me use a flamethrower, no matter how nicely I ask.

::sulking::

Lynn
Lord High Executioner of the Straight Dope