I am hoping that all of the posters who care to, might weigh in on this proposal and I’m hoping that both Tubadiva and EdZotti will do so as well. The frequent insulting of other posters, however thinly veiled, are growing tiresome to me and moreover the moderators of the forum. The example I am using is the recent thread about lekatt.
Even the front page of the message board page, which contains the descriptions of what is allowed in each forum, contains a comment about discouraging witnessing in GD. As matters of religion can’t be proven or disproven at this time, and it’s such a passionate subject on both sides of the issue, it seems like any benefit gained is done so at the expense of decorum, due to the previosly mentioned insults. I do not fault the moderators as a whole, but I do feel they allow some insults to go uncecked, again, however thinly veiled, allowing some threads to take on a generally hostile atmosphere. I personnaly have had only limited debating experience, a junior high school team to be exact, but I don’t remember discussion topics as volatile as these. Probably due to our age I suppose. In any case, the constant pitting of posters who are some of the more agregious offenders on both sides of the issue, is further proof of the futility of these discussions. So fellow denizens of the Dope, what say you?
Oh man, absolutely not. I am extremely uncomfortable with any restriction of debate topics, and to do so on such a flimsy rationale (insults are being thrown around) is really insufficient in my opinion. It’s the internet; we can all toughen up.
The thing is, when you have a bunch of bright cranky people posting on the internet, they’re going to argue about religion and politics, and they’re going to insult each other. It’s pointless, but it’s inevitable. I’ve done it myself. Best to have a place where they can indulge rather than having the mods chase everyone down and ban half the membership. Think of GD and the Pit as containment areas.
How can you have a “Great Debates” forum without religion?
Maybe better policing could be done if a discussion becomes ad hominem or insulting, but religious debates are one of the main things that keeps me on this board. The same kind of thing you’re talking about also turns up in all kinds of other debates, from politics to the merit of Paul Verhoeven’s Showgirls. People just take it more personally when it comes to religion.
I also don’t think the discussions are futile. We’ve had quite a number of posters who have said that their views have been moderated or changed by debates on this message board (and by internet debates in general).
Interesting choice of an example thread, there. Why don’t you give us some examples of lekatt’sreligious beliefs being attacked, and not his claims of fact? Saying that you believe that there is life after death is a matter of religion and is classified as witnessing, but saying that there are double-blind peer-reviewed studies proving that there is life after death pretty much demands that a cite to such studies be provided.
What a spectacularly bad idea, Omegaman. All claims should be open to the light of critical examination. This is how ignorance is fought and overly fragile egos should avoid the arena. If you feel enforcement of improper comments is poor, use the red “Report bad post” triangle more often. But don’t create a protective special status for some beliefs.
But there is also the inherent problem that lekatt’s posting style causes. Namely, he doesn’t answer questions, he doesn’t address ideas but simply (and tiresomely) repeats his ideas over and over again.
I quite agree with tomndebb’s solution to this problem: to provide him with an independent thread where he can say the same things over and over again without interrupting the true debates that other posters are having.
I think it would be a bad idea. It would just come out in other ways and require constant watch by the mods.
I do like the handling of lekatt tho. Kinda like putting him in a cage at the zoo. You can walk by and have a look in if you want, but he’s not getting poop all over the place anymore.
Well I’m in a big hurry to provide you with any cites Czarcasm as if you don’t feel like they are up to snuff you will just ask for more. But here is an example for you. http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9691192&postcount=72
You make a smart comment which I feel relates to lekatt to his general beliefs. You were not admonished in any way for this comment and I feel this is the sort of thing you do on a regular basis. I’m sure you’ll disagree and I’m sure it smells of roses when you visit the head as well. Another example of a rude comment would be this post, although not made by you. http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9707527&postcount=188
In this post **Guin ** accuses lekatt of making the whole NDE up, although she then backtracks and says it isn’t so, again getting no warning for her comment.
There are other message boards out there where religious/mystical beliefs are put forth without fear of challenge or question(mainly because people who try to do so are banned for “giving out negative vibrations” and their posts are removed from sight). You can usually recognize them by the pastel blue and/or pink background, rainbow and/or unicorn and/or angel pictures all around, and the pretty-pretty avatars.
This ain’t that kind of message board.
Well I welcome your input, as that is why I opened this thread. I do however, hope you don’t judge me to have an overly fragile ego. I assure you that is as far from the truth as can be. I conduct myself as a gentleman in real life moreso than here. My job entails helping customers both over the phone and real life and I do so with the utmost regard for thier dignity and with respest as I do all persons I happen across whether they be a prostitute or the presidnt. Although the latter is pretty much on my shit list at this point and there many things I would impart to him if I ran across him in a casual setting. The report post button I feel is tantamount to tattleing, causing the moderators more work than I feel they should have to put with considering they receive no pay for thier services.
How do those cites show his religious views being attacked?
Every time I have seen moderators comment on the “Report Post” they have encouraged members to use it, mainly because it makes their job easier, not harder.
Well as your one of the moderators I guess it is any kind of messageboard you say it is. Be sure I respect your authority although most of your officail actions don’t trouble me in the least.
Well the referal to astral projection follows the same lines as a NDE as far as I can tell. Perhaps I am totally mistaken in that, but I don’t think so. Guin 's accusation I guess not at all but what she says is, in my opinion, tantamount to call him a liar. Including his beliefs and his heart attack.
I think if **lekatt ** is such a major problem perhaps he should be banned. In addition I believe someone like Dertrihs you pretty much can’t stop saying hateful things should be as well. That’s why I’m hoping some of the higher ups will have a look at the situation as well. There are many facets to this problem as I se it.
The thing is, his claims about NDEs are reported as facts, not beliefs. That’s the problem with him in a nutshell. He continuously makes assertions and refuses to provide a shred of scientific evidence.
Yes I do. But does that make it right? You have the title of moderator under your name. I think that pretty much send the message that smarting off is just fine with the staff. I’m sure you’ll disagree.