General Discussion Of Moderation Procedures 9.0

How about if, instead of saying, "you are a liar," we say, "Although I'm sure your intent was as innocent as the sweet tears of baby Jesus, your statements have the vague ring of untruthfulness to them, not that I wish to imply you are a liar, or anything of the sort, in fact, you're probably telling the truth, despite the fact that you aren't, never mind, sorry I even brought it up."Does that work for everybody?Kidding aside, Dr. Adequate was suspended for a month? Good gravy. There's a mosquito buzzing around my office... do the mods think maybe they could pick up a Buick and start smashing it against my desk? That'd get him.

Yeah, I count five violations on one page."This is sheer idiocy."
"Another false smear on your part, and a dumb smear on that, not worthy of a response."
"...your smear is a lie by the way..."
"Your false data is the absurd notion I prefer fuzzy thinking."
"In fact, I don't think you even grasp intellectually the concept being discussed here."Of course, all five of those are Randman's.His one month suspension will, no doubt, be forthcoming.Ha ha, no it won't. We offer a handicap to the creationists on this site. And I get why. It must be hard to argue a position that's... hm, I don't want to say "untrue", that might get me suspended. How about "the prevarications of one whose pants are rendered combustible." When it comes to matters of honest debate, they need some lax rules, and maybe even a special Shortbus Forum... sorry, "showcase"... to be able to play on the same field.But I don't get, for the life of me, why civility rules are included there. One doesn't require rudeness to make an argument more effective. You only need a rudness handicap if you want to be a smartass, like me.Randman and Dr. Adequate call eachother liars. Randman throws in a few accusations of idiocy, and, despite Percy's warnings, brings up QM and Haeckel. Again.The result? Dr. Adequate, and only Dr. Adequate, is suspended. For a freakin' month.Edited by Dan Carroll, : No reason given.

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"I know some of you are going to say 'I did look it up, and that's not true.' That's 'cause you looked it up in a book. Next time, look it up in your gut."
-Stephen Colbert

If that extends to calling people idiots and liars, then the Showcase Forum is a waste of time. The result will be that anyone who attempts to engage someone in the Showcase will just have ad hominem attacks hurled at them.So the use is... what, exactly? How is the "serious debate" to which Percy refers aided in any way by its presence?Hell, why not just ban him?

That's pretty much what I'm saying. If it's a waste of time, why not just ban the people who would otherwise be confined to the Showcase?I get the idea of confining (for instance) Randman to one place, where he can prattle on about Haeckel all the live long day, and prevent him from doing so on every other thread on the site. Randman gets his favorite topic discussed, everyone else who doesn't want to deal with him gets a break, win-win.But giving Randman a platform for flinging shit seems like an entirely different matter. Why bother? Just ban him.

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"I know some of you are going to say 'I did look it up, and that's not true.' That's 'cause you looked it up in a book. Next time, look it up in your gut."
-Stephen Colbert

See above. I propose that they get over their squeamishness regarding full banishment. Especially if they've already got the stones to go handing out one-month suspensions to otherwise valuable members.Edited by Dan Carroll, : elaboration

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"I know some of you are going to say 'I did look it up, and that's not true.' That's 'cause you looked it up in a book. Next time, look it up in your gut."
-Stephen Colbert

Out of curiosity, why is calling him a liar bad, but calling him mentally ill okay?

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"I know some of you are going to say 'I did look it up, and that's not true.' That's 'cause you looked it up in a book. Next time, look it up in your gut."
-Stephen Colbert

Nonetheless, had Dr. A responded to Randman by saying, "You are mentally ill. This is a delusion, created by your diseased mind," do we honestly think he would have received a lighter punishment than if he had said, "You are a liar. This is a lie?"

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"I know some of you are going to say 'I did look it up, and that's not true.' That's 'cause you looked it up in a book. Next time, look it up in your gut."
-Stephen Colbert

Okay. I'll play it the nice way.Show me where I said this, Ray. Gosh. We're not in the showcase, are we?I bet Ray gets a month-long suspension any old second now.

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"I know some of you are going to say 'I did look it up, and that's not true.' That's 'cause you looked it up in a book. Next time, look it up in your gut."
-Stephen Colbert

Evening, Ray. You left off the part where you specifically named "Dan Carroll" as someone who said that anyone who does not agree with him is mentally ill.I'm sure that, since you are an extraordinarily honest and sane person, about whom nothing bad can be said, this simply slipped your mind. So I'm politely reminding you of your civic duty to point out where I said, or even implied, "anyone who does not agree with me is mentally ill."

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"I know some of you are going to say 'I did look it up, and that's not true.' That's 'cause you looked it up in a book. Next time, look it up in your gut."
-Stephen Colbert

Hi, Ray! Since you're such an honest, sober-minded fellow, I'm sure you've just forgotten about this business. It is in no way possible that you are dishonest, or mentally unstable.I'm sure that, now that this has once again been called to your attention, you will do the right thing, and either quote me saying, "anyone who does not agree with me is mentally ill," or admit you were wrong. You're that great a guy.

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"I know some of you are going to say 'I did look it up, and that's not true.' That's 'cause you looked it up in a book. Next time, look it up in your gut."
-Stephen Colbert

Gosh, I don't remember doing that at all! Maybe you could actually point to where I did so. With a quote, for instance? If my unrelenting guilt is hounding me this severely, then it should be really easy for you to quote me saying (or agreeing with that idea that) anyone who disgrees with me is mentally ill.Please do so.

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"I know some of you are going to say 'I did look it up, and that's not true.' That's 'cause you looked it up in a book. Next time, look it up in your gut."
-Stephen Colbert