Aldebaran, while it is generally helpful to provide cites to online sources because it makes them easier for others to check and verify you’re not just making shit up, not all cites must be online. You can cite journal articles, newspapers, magazines, books, etc. Of course, you get the requisite response of the difficulty of checking, but there you go.
Also, you are correct that sometimes people use “cite” as a way to shift the hand of the discussion. Usually this isn’t the case, and the person wants an actual reference for something, but it does happen. You have to look at the situation, and evaluate what they are asking a cite for - is it a factual claim (something that cites can prove), or is it a judgment call, evaluation, opinion?
How about we open a separate thread somewhere on what “cite” means, and keep this one focused on treatment of newly-arrived members?
It’s all a question of who is to be master, me or the machine.
They’ve a temper, some of them - particularly Macs: they’re the proudest - PCs you can do anything with, but not Macs - however, I can manage the whole lot of them! Impenetrability! That’s what I say!
Well, I got even two times attacks from a moderator and today he is telling on the board that he is going to ask the staff to bann me because “I don’t fit in”.
I guess he means by that that I don’t kneel down and kiss the feet of a bunch of immature members who made a topic about me on the BBQ in order to attack, slander, denigrate me. Maybe he n he can’t digest that I call them for what they are to me, and tell openly that I’m utterly surprized that they are encouraged by him. And by this website for that matter … I don’t understand how a respectable website I thought this was by visiting it a few times before I signed in, can create a playground like that for people who refuse to grow up. I posted as my last post there that everyone is entitled to have a hobby, but that I’m not a hobby tool and not a hobby toy.
I also posted that I never saw on any other message board such a bunch of immature people gathering on such a playground surprisingly enough provided for them in order to post the most immature, slandering racist denigrating remarks to a new member they don’t even know a thing about.
No one is bound to agree with what I post. But I thought that everyone is bound to decency. It seems that I was wrong.
So if you don’t see me posting anymore, this strange moderater has banned me.
Well, I don’t spend my time where I’m not appreciated for who I am. I had a few very interesting conversations going on the last days. But if a moderator already comes on a board to take side with immature people who create a whole topic to attack me the second day I’m a member, I doubt if I shall be around here much longer then now this moment.
It was nice meeting you and the people I met in interesting debate.
Salaam.
Aldebaran.
Well, I got even two times attacks from a moderator and today he is telling on the board that he is going to ask the staff to bann me because “I don’t fit in”.
I guess he means by that that I don’t kneel down and kiss the feet of a bunch of immature members who made a topic about me on the BBQ in order to attack, slander, denigrate me. Maybe he can’t digest that I call them for what they are to me, and say openly that I’m utterly surprized that they are encouraged by him. And by this website for that matter … I don’t understand how a respectable website I thought this was by visiting it a few times before I signed in, can create a playground like that for people who refuse to grow up. I posted as my last post there that everyone is entitled to have a hobby, but that I’m not a hobby tool and not a hobby toy.
I also posted that I never saw on any other message board such a bunch of immature people gathering on such a playground surprisingly enough provided for them in order to post the most immature, slandering racist denigrating remarks to a new member they don’t even know a thing about.
No one is bound to agree with what I post. But I thought that everyone is bound to decency. It seems that I was wrong.
So if you don’t see me posting anymore, this strange moderater has banned me.
Well, I don’t spend my time where I’m not appreciated for who I am. I had a few very interesting conversations going on the last days. But if a moderator already comes on a board to take side with immature people who create a whole topic to attack me the second day I’m a member, I doubt if I shall be around here much longer then now this moment.
It was nice meeting you and the people I met in interesting debate.
Salaam.
Aldebaran.
Aldebaran, if you’re still here: Break up your argument into chunks. Try to have a topic sentence and two supporting bits of information per paragraph.
If people have problems with your argument, try to figure out where they are not following you. Do not assert your conclusion and then say that it is correct because you asserted it. Try to help people follow what you are saying, not insult them for things that may not be true. Kay?
E-sabbath,
I’m sorry but you have a complete wrong perception of what I’m doing here.
I don’t go on message boards spending my time with the intention to “insult people”.
Yet from the very minute I was around here, people jumped all over me with the clear intention to “get me”.
As I said: they made even a whole topic for just that and the moderator of the incredible weird “BBQ” board showed up to join them.
dantheman:
On other boards I post it is against the ruling to transfer messages posted by someone onto an other discussion and/or board. I don’t know how that is judged around here, but to avoid complications:
You can find the remarks of that moderator at the end of the thread, made on that BBQ board with a title sounding like:
“A void has filled ladies and gentleman … here comes Aldebaran”.
(yes, only one gentleman… It must be me 
…)
Well, I can only conclude that if the moderator in question, who seems to be in agreement with the strange idea that all people should do around here is getting a wild cart to single out one new member…
in order to unleash every immature attack, remark, comment, personal insult and insulting “signature” of their posts in order to insult his religion, that means: everything that comes up in their immature minds, in roder to “get rid of him”…
and said moderator represents the style of moderating around here…
then I prefer not to particpate on this website. I shall even applaud to be “banned” because I shall consider that as an honour.
I reported the last post of that moderator - and probably the person himself gets that report - and I invited him to contact me on private mail if he has some personal remarks to make.
If this doesn’t get cleared up then I think I’ll take the decision not to post again because I don’t want to be attacked by a moderator in front of other members who are already only there to attack me.
This is not my perception of a message board where people come to change thoughts, change views, have a debate.
Sometimes this can lead to rather heated debate when opponents have each strong views and convictions. Yet that doesn’t mean conversation must become unpleasent (and that is a severe understatement of what I witnessed that was written about and towards me).
Salaam.
Aldebaran.
You can quote messages from other threads posts on this board all you want. It’s not a good idea to quote messages from other message boards.
If by “other discussion and/or board” you mean somewhere other than the Straight Dope Message Board, then there was no need to even bring it up. If you do mean the Straight Dope Message Board, then you should back up your assertions - or not make them at all.
We are always ready to believe people, and we are more ready when support for an opinion or statement of fact is provided.
Of course I don’t mean an other website.
Still, I prefer not to transfer the posts of that moderator onto this thread because that is taking them out of context, a context you may see other then I do.
Nor shall I mention his name.
He is not present here and thus can’t reply.
I gave you the location of his posts, so you only have to go take a look.
Salaam.
Not since TalkAboutIslam have I seen such a reasonable and fair-minded poster as you, Aldebaran.
Please read the FAQ.
Then take your complaints about the moderators to the Pit.
Please.
Oh, you mean the Pit thread about you.
Well, to be honest, this particular forum - and this thread we’re in, of course - is not the appropriate place to talk about such stuff and nonsense. At least I now know to what thread you refer.
The only thing I can say is that it’s important to remember that posting here is a privilege, one that can be taken away for whatever reason. You are not forced to be here, and you are not forced to post. Additionally, you are not forced to respond when people do malign you. If you give as you think you get, then you will get more than you give.
If this has now degenerated into Alderbaran’s self-whatever, I’m closing it. Alderbaran, take this to the Pit or MPSIMS, or, even better, to email with the Moderator with whom you seem to have some difference of opinion.
And you might try a little humility and honesty in such email.