Mods, clarification regarding Milum

The BBQ Pit
61

Will somebody please tell me what is so bad about “troll”!?! :confused:

By the way, I’m not trolling. I really just want to know why this is considered such an affront. It appears to officially rank with “direct insults” or “hate speech”, but as far as I can see, it’s more a description of a particular behavior; and hence being accused of trolling seems to me, at worst, par on the hurtfulness scale with being accused of being fatuous. People get told they’re being fatuous around here all the time.

Me not get it. :dubious:

62

It’s really quite simple. You knew you were comparing me to **Milum **with your “Little Sir Echo” echo comment, and thus when I posted my impression that I was being equated with **Milum ** and that it appeared the sentiment was for my banning also, you came charging to the fore claiming you never said that I should, and demanding a retraction. You thought I was talking about you exclusively because of the comment you knew you made. Hence, the “guilty conscience.” You recognized what you perceived to be your own guilt by implication in my post.

Quite the contrary. I believe you should be able to say whatever you like, you know, pretty much the same as I do with Milum.

True. :smiley:

I see you’ve backed off from claiming you’re going to take your ball and go home, like you did in GD, only to hang around and continue to whine after all.

Oh, and give my regards to “Queeks Draw,” will you. :stuck_out_tongue:

63

Zoe, I tried to email you, but, well, you know. Anyway, I just wanted to say hi and ask how you’re doing? You’re a good person with a good heart and I just wanted you to know it’s recognized and appreciated. :slight_smile:

64

S A, what you lack in uncontrollable ignorant posting, you more than make for in paranoia.

65

Uh, except I never called for Milum’s banning either. In fact, I suggested to the OP of this thread that he back off where Milum was concerned. So your point is…?

I think you are confusing me with someone else. I also wish to congratulate you on causing me to change my mind. I thought at first you may have had some sort of convictions that you actually believed in, even if you haven’t the slighest clue how to support a debate topic effectively, or how unbeleiveably obtuse you appear to those on whom you inflict your tedious opinions. Now it seems more likely that you are merely one of those wearying individuals who argues purely for the sake of arguing. I, however, am not.

I also now know that you no matter how hard you try, you won’t be able to restrain your urge to get the last word in. Go ahead, prove me wrong. :smiley:

66

Zoe, I just wanted to let you know that I haven’t tried to email you, but I think that you are great, and that your posts are thoughtful and insightful.

:wink:

But you probably knew that anyway!

67

SA, do you genuinely wish to ally yourself with a wingnut like Milum? Sure, he may appear to be an ideological ally, but when you look further, you should be able to detect that Milum’s only real loyalty is to the batshit craziness of his own excessively large ego.

There are sane, sensible right-wingers here who deserve your support. I, too, wish to keep Milum around because he’s far more entertaining than our other wingnut, who’s sad, boring, and monotonous on NDEs, but I would never want his on my side in a debate.

And after having read many of Pravnik’s posts when I did a search for his history with Milum, I have developed a crush on him due to his intelligence, charm, and general coolness. Oh, and he’s gorgeous, to boot.

68

Calling a poster a “troll” used to be allowed. The ban on calling people trolls dates from a period of time when it was quite popular to call people trolls and gather evidence of such and harrass and stalk suspected trolls and so on, and some perfectly innocent people were subjected to this sort of thing. Even if a person was trolling, the resultant chronic hijacks of threads to discuss whether so-and-so was a troll and their other trollish habits and links to their trolling threads, etc. was quite annoying. There were just so many accusations of trolling flying around that we decided not to allow it at all. It doesn’t seem like a big deal now since most people know not to do it, but for a while it was a pain.

69

Exactly what I originally said when I rebutted your demand that I withdraw my accusation that you called for my banning. I said that I never said such a thing, and I say it again now, and even better, I say it with your own acknowledgement.

It wasn’t you who claimed you had wasted enough time on me in the GD thread, but continued to hang around posting your inconsequential comments anyway? Would you like me to refer you to the specific thread and post number?

Au, contraire, mon cartoon character. If this were the case, I would frequently institute arguments just to become involved in them. This is not the case. Most of my postings, as in this thread, are of a rebuttive nature.

::doesn’t speak, inserts smilie:::stuck_out_tongue:

70

(Also, all the “trolling” foofooraw was giving the trolls the attention they loved so much. Even a “DNFTT” is like sweet, delicious candy to them.)

71

gobear, thank you for your post and advice. As I’ve said, I only became aware of **Milum **a few days ago, and so far what I’ve seen has been, in my opinion anyway, amusing to say to the least, and in agreement with my sentiments by and large. I’m sure both you and **Pravnik **are very intelligent posters, and you feel (and you may be right) that **Milum **is one to be avoided. However, I haven’t experienced anything in my encounters with him that I have found to be objectionable in the least. Therefore, with all due respect to both you and **Pravnik **, and my genuine appreciation for your efforts to educate me, I will withhold judgement until I see such behavior on my own. Perhaps if things have been as bad as you say, he has adjusted his style so as to be less objectionable due to warnings he’s received. But either way, I’d hate to see him banned just for having an objectionable style rather than for deliberate trolling such as was the case with those such as SallyStar mentioned previously.

Sorry, I’m afraid his foxiness would be lost on me. :wink:

72

Ha, knew you couldn’t do it.

No need. Here it is:

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=262725&page=2

Post #51, top of the page. Did I post any messages directed to you following that one? No, don’t think so. Again, your point is…?

OK, I’m sure that this has all been loads of fun for everyone, but seriously, I’m giving you the lebensraum you claim everyone here is withholding from you. The floor is yours. I’m saying nothing more about you, in this thread, and I’m only specifying “in this thread” because you seem to have trouble understanding plain English. Anyway, go for it. Expound on the unfairness of this board at any length you choose. Accuse me of anything you like. I won’t say another word. Really.

73

I’m leaving Milum right out of my comments here and addressing this to Starving Artist, as he seems to have become the focus of this thread.

SA and I have an amicable relationship on this board, despite the fact that I am almost as far to the left on many topics as he is to the right. This is because, early in his history here, I discovered that he was indeed willing to listen to opposing viewpoints and even corrections of his posting conduct, so long as they were phrased with courtesy and respect. He did in fact change certain behavior, and apologize for transgressing some of our unwritten rules of conduct, when his errors were brought to his attention. I have been able to at least nudge his thinking into unfamiliar channels at times, with a direct but respectful pointing out of angles he ought to consider.

As to SA’s political stances, I despair of ever bringing him to The Truth[sup]TM[/sup] as I see it. But I can back him in his claims that he will engage in what is (at least to him ;)) a rational discussion with any Doper who meets his arguments with at least a modicum of acknowlegement that he is sincere, rather than contemptuous and sarcastic dismissal.

Now, those of you who see through pretty much the same lenses as I do are bound to find SA frustrating, wrong-headed and at times infuriatingly persistent in what we regard as an obstinant refusal to accept the obvious. So be it. He’s got his worldview, and he defends it. Well or badly, that’s for you to decide. If you choose to dismiss him as a Bushistic tool, so be it. But he’s not a Milum, at least not as I see him.

And, Starving Artist, my friend, please hear this: I think that at times you circle the wagons too quickly. As others have pointed out, there are thoughtful conservatives on this board who are respected even by those most diametrically opposed to their worldview. Pick your fights, my friend. Choose your allies for their qualities as posters, as much as for their politics.

I think you also are too quick at times to dismiss or ignore the arguments of your opponents. I can think of a number of instances where you rejected out of hand a point that you would have at least listened to, if it came from me, simply because it was being presented by someone you have pegged as hopelessly liberal. Well, you have me pegged as such, too, but you don’t disregard my opinions, even when you cannot agree with them. :slight_smile:

In short, my running dog imperialist fascistic tool of a friend, step back and take a deep breath now and then, okay? :smiley:

On preview: gobear has excellent advice. heed it, pal; HEEEEEEED IT… :cool:

74

THANK YOU! :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

75

Nice try, wrong post…maybe even wrong thread. I’m talking about as I just said above the post where you claimed you had wasted enough time in that thread, and were going to go spend your time in more worthwhile pursuits, only to hang around and post after all. In other words, you threatened to take your ball and go home, and when no one cared you hung around after all.

So, no more to (or about me) and no more to (or about you)? Is that a deal? You can have the last word.

76

Aw, man! You make me blush! :smiley:

77

Oh, and pravnik, I meant to say you had excellent advice for Starving Artist, too, excellently expressed. How do you look in a thong? :wink:

78

ETF, my endlessly charming and much esteemed friend, how are you? It’s good to hear from you.

I agree, surprisingly enough. Even I have been aware the last couple of days that I seem to have become pretty prolific around here, to say the least. I think I finally just reached my saturation point after months of listening to too much stuff I objected to.

And thank you for your words of support. They are very much appreciated.

Indeed there are. I hope to be more like them when I grow up. (Are you listening Shodan, Sam?)

Good advice, to be sure. However, sometimes I just like a good laugh. And from what little I’ve seen of **Milum **since I became aware of him a few days ago, has been more than a little amusing, in my humble opinion, that is.:wink:

Not so much as hopelessly liberal, as hopelessly foolish or beligerent. At least I would hope this is the case. I usually gravitate to a respectful stance and attempt to explain why I disagree if my opponent seems sincere and respectful in regard to me. I hope they aren’t growing tired of my mentioning them, but Mr. Svinlesha and **SimonX **are a couple of examples of these types of people, but of course there are others as well. I show you respect and I suppose I’m more open to what you have to say because you are wise (:p), I know your motives are well-intentioned, and I respect your intellect. Most of the people on the SDMB are intelligent too, but when “imbecile,” “moron,” “close-minded Bushista,” and postings of this type constitute the premise of their rebuttals, it’s hard to take them or their opinions and rationale seriously. This is never a problem with you.

And for the reasons I just mentioned. :slight_smile:

Okay, my darling, commie-lib, subversive, anarchic friend. Just for you, I promise I will.

Besides, I really need to start spending less time on the computer anyway. Other aspects of my life are beginning to suffer (uh…like getting my paintings finished, for example). :smiley:

So I need to back off for that reason too.

On preview: gobear has excellent advice. heed it, pal; HEEEEEEED IT… :cool:
[/QUOTE]
It’s under advisement. :wink:

79

Ok, it is late at night, but this was freaking hilarious. Thanks for this colorful image…of course, the shriek of laughter coming from my apartment at this hour has probably led my neighbors to conclude I’m deranged…

80

Milum once informed me that, being an Australian, we should be glad we had America there to save us in World War Two because we were fucked otherwise.

In some respects, this is true - however, he offered this observation after I made a post which noted the poor track record of countries in the 20th Century trying to prop up puppet states around the world. And my post related to not just the USA, but the USSR as well, and any colonial powers for that matter. My post had everything to do with the subject matter at hand.

Milum’s response however, was just plain in poor taste and totally fucking irrelevant to the thread. In short, he was simply trying to get a rise out of me by deliberately belittling a loyal ally and friend of the United States, namely, Australia. His goal was NOT to further debate - merely to get personal within the rules of the Great Debates forum. Thankfully, I saw it for what it was and simply moved on.

Personally, that one incident singularly defines what I perceive to be Milum’s favourite modus operandi - that is, to goad people by belittling them. It’s hardly noble nor rewarding. Disregarding his batshit craziness, he’s inarguably got a fucking epicly mean streak in him too if you ask me. People get their karma I find.