Message 301 of 683 (622993) 07-07-2011 4:37 PM

Oops, wrong link, here it is: Why are there no human apes alive today?

Mazzy could use some help engaging the discussion. Each reply is a repeat of accusations against evolution and evolutionists that doesn't touch on anything being said.

--Percy

Message 302 of 683 (622995) 07-07-2011 4:41 PM

1. The entertainment value of reading her stream of consciousness posts. You never quite know what she'll come up with next.

2. The entertainment value of making fun of said stream of consciousness posts.

3. The challenge of finding new ways to refute her "arguments." The steady flow of reasonable, substantive replies - which she completely ignores - have been vary educational.

4. The unwillingness to simply see her banned for multiple violations of forum guidelines, which she would take as a total vindication of her "arguments" and go off to brag to her creationist pals that she out-debated an entire forum of them evolutionist devils. She'll almost certainly do this anyway, so I think that this is the weakest of all reasons for anyone to keep posting.

As evidence, here in its entirety is Message 676. I picked this pretty much at random as a representation of the quality of her participation in the thread. Since her replies to other peoples' posts also appear to be random, with no relation to what's been said, there's no need to provide a context.

I don't know that moderators can really do anything, other than suggest that everyone abandon the thread and try to forget that any of this Twilight Zone exploration of one creationist's freakshow "mind" ever happened. But I ask that at least something be done, however futile.

I never meant to say that the Conservatives are generally stupid. I meant to say that stupid people are generally Conservative. I believe that is so obviously and universally admitted a principle that I hardly think any gentleman will deny it.
- John Stuart Mill

Message 304 of 683 (623000) 07-07-2011 4:56 PM

Reply to: Message 301 by Percy 07-07-2011 4:37 PM

For a small fee I will write his posts for him.

Message 305 of 683 (623027) 07-07-2011 7:44 PM

Reply to: Message 301 by Percy 07-07-2011 4:37 PM

1) She is responding to multiple responses to her posts, which might make her feel like she has to respond to evryone and subsequently not take the time to think about how she responds or really to what the poster said.

2) Some of the responders, apparantly in frustration, either because of #1 or because of the nature of the debate itself, have implied a lack of intelligence or sanity and this might have caused Mazzy to respond in kind. Not saying she can't be intransigent or abusive herself, but that presenting replies that aren't so openly dripping with sarcasm might lift the quality of the debate.

3) She does present herself as a creationist, and debates can easily devolve into arguments that one side might feel is disparaging to one's deeply held belief. If it is ego or whatever, it takes two to fight. Making it a fight, instead of an attempt to be understood and to understand, corrupts the debate and hurts feelings.

We can help her engage in the debate, imho, if we hold ourselves to a higher standard. I think the soft approach really is more productive here. Give the benefit of doubt, that the person is not lying or insane. Understand that people can suffer from cognitive dissonance. Provide her with the quotes where she says one thing, and then another, but stop short of calling it lying.

Message 306 of 683 (623028) 07-07-2011 7:50 PM

Reply to: Message 305 by DBlevins 07-07-2011 7:44 PM

And how's that been working for you so far?

/administrative thread abuse

I never meant to say that the Conservatives are generally stupid. I meant to say that stupid people are generally Conservative. I believe that is so obviously and universally admitted a principle that I hardly think any gentleman will deny it.
- John Stuart Mill

Message 308 of 683 (623030) 07-07-2011 8:11 PM

Reply to: Message 306 by ZenMonkey 07-07-2011 7:50 PM

I know that how it is currently going isn't going swimmingly and it could be better for all involved if something changed.

If the pace is slowed and our desire to respond abusively self-regulated; maybe things could improve. Or not. I hold out hope.

Whatever the case, I hope someone out there might learn something, and hope I do as well.

Message 309 of 683 (623033) 07-07-2011 8:42 PM

The discussion topic is General Discussion Of Moderation Procedures (aka 'The Whine List'). Feel free to there link back to messages in this, the "report" topic.

Adminnemooseus

Edited by Adminnemooseus, : Add last sentence.

Message 311 of 683 (623093) 07-08-2011 4:05 AM

Reply to: Message 307 by GDR 07-07-2011 7:55 PM

When many are off topic and posting short replies, it is difficult to get everyone's attention.

Closing the topic for a short period of time increases the odds that participants will see the warning and adjust accordingly.

Thanks
AdminPD

Message 312 of 683 (624277) 07-17-2011 1:03 AM

Message 1

Message 314 of 683 (624780) 07-19-2011 11:58 PM

{Culprit permanently suspended and spam links deleted from 5 new messages - Adminnemooseus}

Edited by Adminnemooseus, : See above.