# Moderation drops the ball **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 31, 2009, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-drops-the-ball/491510 "2009-03-31T22:59:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-drops-the-ball/491510/1 "2009-03-31T22:59:46Z")
Guys, this is BY FAR the best debate site on the Internet. I have no real complaint, but more of a concern. Lucanus Quell’s lengthy and self-aggrandizing “debate” entitled “Who killed Jesus?” is by far not even close to a debate. He writes nonsensically and refuses to use anything but one resource to argue his points. He has never shown he wants to debate on any part of his understanding of the bible. Here’s examples of why this should’ve been moved to the Pit or blocked: " I want to teach. I want my mind to be challenged by others and I want to challenge the minds of others. " post #77. - his other responses prove he hardly reads the responses by other dopers, just testifies. "BTW! Jesus wasn’t killed or murdered by anyone. He laid down His life, freely giving His life. No one took Jesus’ life. Why? How do I know? Because Jesus is alive. If anyone took His life Jesus would be dead. But Jesus is alive! He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart. You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart." - post #97. With this tirade, he already HAS his answer and is only willing to hear those that agree. This is proof the thread should’ve ben closed and/or moved to the Pit. I appreciate all the moderating on this debate site and really think it is done professionally except for this one. I think what I quoted above was easily missed due to his random-thought style of writing. I spent a couple of hours looking for these statements myself! I knew he admitted not being interested in debate, so there it is. Keep up the good work, guys and gals, this type of poster is probably headed for disappointment anyway… Best regards, — Locrian 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-drops-the-ball/491510/2 "2009-03-31T23:07:41Z")
For some reason religious witnessing without debate is allowed in GD. I think the history has something to do with the old board war with the Left Behind board. It seems odd to me, but there you are. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-drops-the-ball/491510/3 "2009-03-31T23:16:19Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > For some reason religious witnessing without debate is allowed in GD. I think the history has something to do with the old board war with the Left Behind board. It seems odd to me, but there you are. Yeah, understood, I can see that. But from the quotes I provided, was he willing to debate? Admittedly, I got sucked into this thread too… ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-drops-the-ball/491510/4 "2009-03-31T23:24:39Z")
I don’t think he’s really capable of engaging other posters. I suppose techincally there’s a debate in there somewhere, but I doubt if he’s the guy to express it. I think the board wouldn’t be as fun without the passing crazy person, but when you respond to them you’re just playing “let’s bait this person and see what they say next.” Hopefully you and the other responders know you’re not going to get anything out of him but non-sequitors. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-drops-the-ball/491510/5 "2009-03-31T23:53:18Z")
Religious witnessing is allowed in GD because it’s the area of the board in which opinions on politics and religion are debated. But “without debate” is in error. Billy Witnesser is more than welcome to tell us all about Jesus – and anyone (like Der Trihs) who finds what he has to say loathsome is welcome to tell him that. As a sincere Christian who does not believe 90% of the hokum associated with “cultural Christianity”, I find it a worthwhile place to discuss such stuff – because 95% of the witnessers have facts wrong and others will fill them in on that – but then you can, so to speak, separate the wheat from the chaff in terms of post content. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-drops-the-ball/491510/6 "2009-04-01T01:15:30Z")
Way back when we started the boards, we did have people who wanted to come and “witness.” We decided to put all such in one forum, Great Debates, and let others rip into 'em. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-drops-the-ball/491510/7 "2009-04-01T01:44:05Z")
Witnessing belongs in IMHO, imho. If someone has a problem with it, then it can be taken to the pit. Witnessing does express an opinion but it usually is not presented as a debate topic. Whatever impulse led to it’s inclusion in GD is long out of date. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-drops-the-ball/491510/8 "2009-04-01T02:15:09Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Witnessing belongs in IMHO, imho. If someone has a problem with it, then it can be taken to the pit. Witnessing does express an opinion but it usually is not presented as a debate topic. Whatever impulse led to it’s inclusion in GD is long out of date. IMHO or GD, what difference does it make? \ ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-drops-the-ball/491510/9 "2009-04-01T02:22:20Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > IMHO or GD, what difference does it make? \ Because one is for debates and the other for expressing an opinion? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-drops-the-ball/491510/10 "2009-04-01T02:25:01Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > Way back when we started the boards, we did have people who wanted to come and “witness.” We decided to put all such in one forum, Great Debates, and let others rip into 'em. We did have such people? DID? Have you not met **kanicbird** and **ITR Champion?** ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-drops-the-ball/491510/11 "2009-04-01T06:34:51Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > We did have such people? DID? Have you not met **kanicbird** and **ITR Champion?** I haven’t read much from ITR but kanic does not witness. He does engage in debates. There is a big dose of crazy in his debates but he does engage other posters and argue his points. Those that witness are just preaching. Not too much of that goes on here. When it does the board rules allow it to happen in GD. The fact that people attempt to debate someone who is preaching and uninterested in debate baffles me. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-drops-the-ball/491510/12 "2009-04-01T08:22:20Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I haven’t read much from ITR but kanic does not witness. He does engage in debates. There is a big dose of crazy in his debates but he does engage other posters and argue his points. Those that witness are just preaching. Not too much of that goes on here. When it does the board rules allow it to happen in GD. The fact that people attempt to debate someone who is preaching and uninterested in debate baffles me. **Lacunas Quell** may have started out the thread with a bit of plain old fashioned witnessing, but towards the end, he’s certainly debating. He makes a point, someone tells him that point isn’t correct, and he comes back and explains his side. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-drops-the-ball/491510/13 "2009-04-01T08:43:59Z")
> [@NineToTheSky](#): > > **Lacunas Quell** may have started out the thread with a bit of plain old fashioned witnessing, but towards the end, he’s certainly debating. He makes a point, someone tells him that point isn’t correct, and he comes back and explains his side. There you go. Then it certainly does belong in GD. I am unwilling to wade through another religious thread to see for myself. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-drops-the-ball/491510/14 "2009-04-01T13:55:56Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Witnessing belongs in IMHO, imho. If someone has a problem with it, then it can be taken to the pit. Witnessing does express an opinion but it usually is not presented as a debate topic. But it’s typically not a **humble** opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Bluffcityguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ebca7d/32.png) [@Bluffcityguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluffcityguy)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-drops-the-ball/491510/15 "2009-04-01T14:32:17Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > But it’s typically not a **humble** opinion. The “H” in “IMHO” is being used facietiously or ironically? Cheers, bcg ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-drops-the-ball/491510/16 "2009-04-01T14:35:13Z")
Witnessers typically don’t think it’s just an opinion. And usually, more serious topics end up in Great Debates - the description for IMHO does include “less-than-cosmic topics.” Most religions are cosmic by definition. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-drops-the-ball/491510/17 "2009-04-01T14:37:27Z")
> [@Bluffcityguy](#): > > The “H” in “IMHO” is being used facietiously or ironically? Possibly a little. But the forum description for IMHO does say “For frank exchanges of views on **less-than-cosmic** topics.” So in Great Debates, people argue over the merits of different religions or different political viewpoints; in IMHO they argue over the merits of different ski boots or different ways of wiping their butts. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-drops-the-ball/491510/18 "2009-04-01T15:32:07Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I haven’t read much from ITR but kanic does not witness. He does engage in debates. There is a big dose of crazy in his debates but he does engage other posters and argue his points. Those that witness are just preaching. Not too much of that goes on here. When it does the board rules allow it to happen in GD. The fact that people attempt to debate someone who is preaching and uninterested in debate baffles me. We may be defining “witness” differently. One can witness & debate simultaneously. **kanicbird** inserts his/her views into every debate. Check out the Obama citizenship thread in the Banana Pit, or the SUV-owner-evil thread in GD. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-drops-the-ball/491510/19 "2009-04-01T20:15:56Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > Way back when we started the boards, we did have people who wanted to come and “witness.” We decided to put all such in one forum, Great Debates, and let others rip into 'em. > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > We did have such people? DID? Well, yeah, we did. That’s why we took those actions in the past. At the past time, we did have such people (whether we still do is irrelevant) and so we did (in the past) set up the rule that all witnessing goes in Great Debates. It’s grammar. Or perhaps grampar. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-drops-the-ball/491510/20 "2009-04-01T20:26:57Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Witnessers typically don’t think it’s just an opinion. And usually, more serious topics end up in Great Debates - the description for IMHO does include “less-than-cosmic topics.” Most religions are cosmic by definition. 😉 So physics questions need to go in GD? 🆒 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-drops-the-ball/491510.md?page=2)