What part of “Quit whining” did you not understand? If you can’t stand a spirited debate, if you can’t stand yourself or someone else’s ridiculous argments being noted, then go someplace else where the intellectual standards are lower.
“Oh he was mean to me!” Cry me a river. I myself have disagreed with David B. He noted a weakness in my argument, and I changed it because he was right. He noted some other objections to my argument which I refuted.
But because I’m intelligent, he properly found no fault with the overall quality of my argument. And because I follow the rules I didn’t feel in any way that he would use his awesome :rolleyes: power of moderation to affect my participation in any way.
Bullshit. He stays on the correct side of the line. I can call your argument stupid in GD, I just can’t call you stupid. The line is crystal clear. I’ve seen no evidence that DavidB has crossed it. Complaining about getting “near” the line is bullshit. The line is the line. If you’re on the correct side of it, you’re ok. Period.
So boo hoo… pashley is a moron who consistently displays willful ignorance. DavidB noted, with a bit of rhetorical flourish, that pashley had no argument for his case, even after pages of debate. His comment was accurate, and was not personally insulting.
“Oh, goody. You can quote creationist rhetoric.”
True statement, and about the argument, not the man. pashley did indeed quote creationist rhetoric, and indeed after his assertions were shown to be factually untrue or logically indefensible.
“Care to show that you actually understand the topic? Didn’t think so.”
True statement, and about the argument. pashely attempts to “debunk” evolutionary theory without even a basic understanding of that theory or the logic and evidence which supports it.
P: “Why don’t you take your know-it-all attitude and shove it up you ass?!”
D: “Insults like this are not allowed here. Either take it to the Pit or don’t do it at all. Those are the rules.”
Those are the rules. In addition to being a valuable poster, DavidB accepts the responsibility (without compensation, I believe) to enforce the rules. He was clearly doing so in that case.
If you’re arguing about marijuana legalization with your friend who’s an off-duty cop, and you toke up a joint right in front of him, he’s obligated to arrest you, regardless of his position in the debate.
If you argue stupidly, if DavidB sees it first, he’ll confront you with his considerable intelligence and rhetorical skill. If I see it first, I’ll do exactly the same. I’ve been just as hard on pashley and CalifBoomer. In GD I attack the quality of their arguments. In the Pit I attack the quality of their character.
If I see an infringement of the rules, I will probably just let it go (I figure the mods will see it soon enough and deal with it appropriately). I have the freedom to do so. DavidB does not have that discretion: He must enforce the rules.
Ok? Do you get it here? As long as you, DavidB or I follow the rules, we can post as we please. DavidB must follow the same rules as we do, and has the same freedom as we do.
No, I’m protective of the intellectual integrity of this message board. The moderators and administrators do help maintain it, but if this thread were about, say, Satan’s comments, and the argument were that a reg should hold himself to a “higher standard” I would be equally vociferous in his defense.
I’m defending my colleague. While I certainly appreciate the fact that he contributes his time and energy to his duties as moderator, I’m arguing that his status is irrelevant: He justly has the same freedom as I do.
Dr. Crane! Your glockenspiel has come to life!
But you did it in the proper forum; if everybody did that I’d hardly have to wear my Moderator Hat at all.