Cheap shot, you sanctimonious asshole, and a total strawman to the overall argument. I, for one, was on AOL because my entire family was on it, I had no school access at the time, and it was convenient. Hell, I KEPT AOL for nearly two years simply BECAUSE of the AOL SDMB, even though I no longer had any need for it. I paid completely unnecessary monthly fees to have my access to Straight Dope. Until finally I decided it was no longer worth it, and I left.
I know plenty about computers, considering the fact that I get paid to teach morons how to operate them. You can argue about how the old-board regs shouldn’t be that important until you’re blue in the face–I don’t really give a fuck. But the moment you begin to insult our intelligence because of a choice of ISP that many of us didn’t exactly do voluntarily, well, that’s when you turn into an asshole.
Maybe my mommy would need to hold my hand to teach me how to use a mouse. In fact, it’s the other way around, not that you’d care. But you can’t find a mommy who can teach you decent debating skills, or how not to alienate a good portion of people for no reason other than to trumpet your own mock superiority. And to think, I used to like you, until I realized what a pompous blowhard you really are. Get over yourself.
As for the original topic, I really couldn’t care less what Ed says or does anymore. I read this board when it’s interesting enough for me to stay awake, I occasionally post, and I pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. If I do something bad, and he chooses to ban me, so be it. What I will not do anymore, however, is click on the ad banners, or buy the Straight Dope books. I dislike Ed, and don’t want any effort of mine to go toward making him money. If that causes this community to disintegrate, so be it. It’s not very interesting right now, and I’ve given up on it before for the same reason with no ill effects. So I say nothing, but do my best to hit Ed where it hurts the most–the pocketbook. I would suggest all other disgruntled Dopers do the same.
Fuck you, WeirdDave. Oh do tell. . . What superior ISP do you use? You really should tell us so we may bow and kiss your majestic feet.
While you’re at it, tell us which brand of toilet paper you wipe your ass with (if any) so I can work it into a (non)clever flame. I use Charmin Double Roll extra soft, which makes me a much brighter person than you.
This Anti-AOL snobbishness is ridiculous. Let’s see… on the net you can’t see who you’re talking to, so you can’t discriminate by color, sex, social status, or any of the other popular tools of hatred. I know! Let’s create an underclass of people based on which wires they use to connect to the internet! Now I can be arbitrary in my hatred just like in real life!
If you do shut down the SDMB, please give a day or two notice. I predict that there would be some hellaciously acerbic and piercing signoff posts. You could probably get another whole book out of them.
Ed sees evidence that his boss might close the thread if things get out of hand.
He tells us. This is good. I’d rather not be surprised. Ed is, all told, doing a great job.
A few people offer, imho, misguided criticism. But they don’t call Ed an asshole. They just accuse him of making veiled threats.
Ed goes nuts and threatens people right and left for disagreeing with him. Not for acting in a way that might shut down the MB; just for disagreeing with him. (Reread Urza’s post and 24K’s post.) This was completely uncalled for, unprofessional, and Ed should be embarrased.
Now Ed, I have an idea. You could say something to the effect of “Abusing anyone, especially the moderators, is grounds for a warning and ejection if need be. But just criticising me, or disagreeing with me, isn’t, and I won’t kick anyone off for this. If I’ve violated this, I apologize.” If you said this, I’d have absolutely no beef with you. As it is, I think you’re abusing your powers as Administrator.
A vital point you people seem to be forgetting is this:
This message board is not the town square. It’s private property. It’s space inside somebody’s computer, which was graciously opened to the public with certain rules. You don’t get to come in here and bitch and cause problems, then cry “first amendment” when you get banned or moderated.
If you come into my house, you do NOT have any right to free speech while you’re there. The only right you have in my home is the right not to be killed or assaulted by me. If your speech offends me on my property, I will be glad to physically escort you off of my property–forcefully if need be.
This board is not much different. It was opened to the public, but you don’t get to spout anything you like with no consequences. Granted, the rules are much looser here than in, say, my living room, but they are still there. The admin has all the right he needs to kick you off of what is, for all practical purposes, HIS BOARD.
Personally, I think Ed is much nicer than he should be, and definitely much nicer than I would be if I were in his position. I am NOT a lenient sysadmin, and I would already have a long list of banned IPs if it were up to me.
Although, having said that and aligned myself with the staff on this issue, I have to say that interpreting “mouthing off” as a rules violation goes a bit farther than is reasonable.
Maybe he wasn’t explicitly called an asshole, but this is certainly beyond misguided criticism. Ed’s certainly under no responsibility to take this sort of crap from people repeatedly.
As far as people bad-mouthing AOL…well, yes, I’ve seen better ISPs and have been tempted to change.
But the extensive long-term travel required by my job forces me to pick an ISP with a wide-ranging service area (I haven’t been to too many places w/o AOL access).
If the Straight Dope wants to pay my salary (and travel expenses), I’ll glady become their resident Roving Sergeant-At-Arms, travelling the land(s) and dispensing Straight Dope Justice to all the goobers and basket-cases creeping in here.
Did I ever mention my Italian ancestry?
ExTank
“I’ll make them an offer they cannot refuse”