Thread Reopen Requests

Sorry, Brad, I'll reopen the thread.If anyone has other threads they feel they didn't get a chance to respond in just let me know in this thread and I'll consider reopening them. Threads that were closed due to stalemated discussion probably won't be reopened unless new information or interpretation is being offered.------------------
--EvC Forum Administrator

Your thread's been reopened, you might have already noticed my reply in Message 31 of the Is Moderation Changing? thread.------------------
--EvC Forum Administrator

Hi Mark!Usually requests to reopen threads are honored, your reasoning makes sense (to me), so I'm going to reopen this one since Adminnemooseus may not be active at the moment. If Adminnemooseus decides it should still be closed then I think he should close it again, I'm not going to try to second guess him on his reasons.------------------
--Percy
   EvC Forum Administrator

Those are good points, but if Buzz isn't going to post to the thread there seems little point in keeping it open.Not to take a position on whether Buzz is right or wrong, but whether Buzz admits it or not, whether he recognizes it himself or not, Buzz's lack of knowledge on scientific topics reveals itself in almost every post.Neither Buzz nor anyone else is required to agree with the information contained in science books and at science websites, but the determination with which he maintains ignorance of this information combined with a matching determination to discuss these topics despite his ignorance is, in the view of this administrator, regrettable.------------------
--Percy
   EvC Forum Administrator

Hi, Crash!I think pointy-haired, er, Adminnemooseus is trying to tie a couple different points together. He's justifying the closing of a thread by noting that it had not only detoured off-topic, but had also turned into a series of brief comments rather than a discussion, and it had resisted administrative attempts to encourage discussion. And he's tying that to the possibility that at an individual level many brief posts may possbily indicate a tendency to make drive-by comments rather than engage in discussion. I think you were just a handy example of many posts, not a convicted culprit of thread diversion, and your distinctive avatar makes your posts stand out and be noticed.While we try to encourage serious discussion in the threads reserved for that purpose, we don't want to ruin the fun when something else enjoyable happens. Spontaneity is important, too. I don't think it was so much that the thread had veered off course as it was that during administrative attempts to adjust things back on course the veering seemed to accelerate. While the administrators and moderators shouldn't be viewed as Gestapo troopers, neither are they potted plants.That being said, we not only appreciate and understand the feedback, but think it makes some very important points, and I'm sure I'm speaking for all the admins and moderators when I say we will definitely try to incorporate it into our future efforts.------------------

--	Percy
	EvC Forum Administrator

Suggest you propose a new thread that will give the topic a fresh start that will hopefully lead to a more productive outcome.

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--	Percy
	EvC Forum Director

I haven't checked out any of these threads, so I'm not only objective but ignorant, but discussion in the Admin forum indicates that no one had any problem with people countering misrepresentations. The primary issue seemed to be about allowing the discussion to become too personal and letting the topic get lost in the process.

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--	Percy
	EvC Forum Director

If jar replies here that he'd like to do that, I'll reopen the thread. I'll be gone for a few hours around midday.

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--	Percy
	EvC Forum Director