:D
How to disagree without personally attacking other babblers
This is probably as good a place as any to discuss this: Internet Troll Personality Study
This is probably as good a place as any to discuss this: Internet Troll Personality Study
I think the entire study could be summed up in one simple sentence: Some people are just assholes.
It appears to me from this thread that we all have an asshole that speaks out sometimes. Sometimes "Yer bein an asshole right now. goodbye." is the efficient resolution.
It appears to me from this thread that we all have an asshole that speaks out sometimes. Sometimes "Yer bein an asshole right now. goodbye." is the efficient resolution.
Sometimes, perhaps - but never with trolls. I certainly can have an inner asshole when impatient, but some people have an inner bully, an inner sadist, or even an inner goad-someone-to-suicide bloodlust.
It appears to me from this thread that we all have an asshole that speaks out sometimes. Sometimes "Yer bein an asshole right now. goodbye." is the efficient resolution.
Sometimes, perhaps - but never with trolls. I certainly can have an inner asshole when impatient, but some people have an inner bully, an inner sadist, or even an inner goad-someone-to-suicide bloodlust.
Trolls ... ya. But the mods here do an excellent job of dealing with them. I think the thread was intended to address disagreements among posters that may at times become heated.
Sometimes you can talk it through as Michelle suggests, but chances are that patience is running thin and stepping away is the best route, especially if a normally reasonable person seems temporarily agitated .
I said I would pass on a message from Sean that he has responded over at enmasse, for anyone who is interested.The original thread here is closed; this thread, while not exactly on topic, is the best place I could find.
Don't worry; I will not make a habit of this. I am doing it this one time only in the interest of fairness, and because I made a statement here based on something he has disputed, so I do feel responsible to put this out there so people can sort this out for themselves.
Though it is no mystery that he is there, for any who care to ask.
I was very sorry to see Sean go and appalled at the manner of his leaving, just the latest of far too many good posters . I looked for his response at enmasse but couldn't find it.
We heard the Catchfire version of events, let's now hear from Sean. Smith see if Sean is agreeable to having it posted here and if he is just post it here.
And Fidel too if he's around.
Surely, the input of Babble's exiles on improving things here would be valuable and worthy of consideration. No?
I was very sorry to see Sean go and appalled at the manner of his leaving, just the latest of far too many good posters . I looked for his response at enmasse but couldn't find it.
Check your PMs.
NDPP, that was not my intent, and I do not agree. It is there for anyone to see. Anyone who wants to talk to Sean can go do so. And I did not post this to drag it back over here.
I read Sean's post in Enmasse. It is certainly a radically different version of events than the one we were told.
Have to admit that this is the first time I actually noticed this thread. For the record, I have been dumped on (and suspended) for disagreeing with the "progressive" ideas of Rabble. Reality is that, if the posters on this board can't handle opposing views their ideas/philosophies have to be pretty weak.
I see no reason, other than protecting the clearly dysfunctional status-quo, why we should not hear the thoughts of two very articulate and intelligent posters, Sean and Fidel, both of which I frequently disagreed with, on their reflections on the state of Babble. Here is Sean on matters clearly of importance and relevence to Babble:
I see no reason... why we should not hear the thoughts
Perhaps.... over there. In the interests of a bit of closure.
And I presume people have the wherewithall to find their own way. But posting stuff from there here (and for that matter, seeing stuff from here posted over there) in an attempt to revive a discussion that is done and closed? I don't see any positive reason. That's not why I did it (and I'm starting to regret that I did, though I see no other option) and I seriously doubt it is going to have the result you think it might.
I see no reason, other than protecting the clearly dysfunctional status-quo, why we should not hear the thoughts of two very articulate and intelligent posters, Sean and Fidel, both of which I frequently disagreed with, on their reflections on the state of Babble. Here is Sean on matters clearly of importance and relevence to Babble:
The solution is very simple. Stop attacking posters. I've been on message boards that have a zero tolerance against all personal attacks and they do just fine. People discuss the thread topics rather than each other.
P.S. It was easy to find Sean's perspective on the issue at enmasse.
I don't usually join in these gang-piles on the mods. I know it's a super hard job and I never expect anyone to be perfect. I had no problem with the suspension. Pondering and Sean were asked to stop bickering, and when they wouldn't they were given a time out. So far so good. But if its true that Sean's account has been deliberately not reinstated then I can't see the sense or fairness in that. If his exile is truly self-imposed then let him impose it himself. He's never done anything more than lose his temper on e or twice, and maybe take the mod's decisions a little too personally. Nothing a person should be banned for. If he ever wants to post again, he should be welcome.
I usually enjoy when old threads get resurrected. Takes me back. I am easily given over to nostalgia. Not so much this time.
This is an issue which will not be resolved in any manner which would approach the dialectic, and will more likely end up in virtual fisticuffs. I'm not all that clear on what happened, in fact I haven't a clue, because I haven't looked in on babble much before filling in for Meg for the week. Further, I'm not interested.
What is clear from reading stuff posted since, and also, I just got back from enmasse, is that what we have here are competing narratives. That's the best we'll ever have. Personally, I always thought Sean was a pretty astute and informed poster, never had anything against him, and it would be nice if over time feelings settled down and he started posting here again. Meanwhile there is absolutely nothing to be gained by this matter continuing to be fought over here. Nothing. Take my word it will only be bad! It would be great if people could let this go.
I also just want to say that I think my comment on page 1 was particularly sage. Not often I get to quote Melville even if it was by way of Star Trek.
Oh, I'd also like to add that I particularly enjoyed the part on this page when LTJ gets in touch with his inner asshole.
I found it inspirational as well.
Having once been a mod on a US board I can say that it is not an easy task. Our mod squad was much larger than the one here on Babble but then again, so is everything in the States.
Some of us mods were more lax than others and there would be disagreements about modding styles in our private forum. All that to say that few of the people that have been banned or suspended over the past many years would have been touched by my magic mod wand. Mind you, rarely did I get PMs from one poster complaining about another so perhaps that might have influenced how I modded.
For sure there were disruptive posters or one-trick ponies that drove everyone batty but it took real ugliness for me and a few other mods to suspend their posting priviledges. Ugly troll attacks were wiped out asap and I can attest that they made Magoo's salty mermaid comment look like child's play.
I appreciate that babble has specific rules but sometimes how they are adhered to is uneven.
Those emoticons at enmasse are really cool.
I usually enjoy when old threads get resurrected. Takes me back. I am easily given over to nostalgia. Not so much this time.
This is an issue which will not be resolved in any manner which would approach the dialectic, and will more likely end up in virtual fisticuffs. I'm not all that clear on what happened, in fact I haven't a clue, because I haven't looked in on babble much before filling in for Meg for the week. Further, I'm not interested.
What is clear from reading stuff posted since, and also, I just got back from enmasse, is that what we have here are competing narratives. That's the best we'll ever have. Personally, I always thought Sean was a pretty astute and informed poster, never had anything against him, and it would be nice if over time feelings settled down and he started posting here again. Meanwhile there is absolutely nothing to be gained by this matter continuing to be fought over here. Nothing. Take my word it will only be bad! It would be great if people could let this go.
I also just want to say that I think my comment on page 1 was particularly sage. Not often I get to quote Melville even if it was by way of Star Trek.
It will be difficult to let it go. I am also not sure if simply forgetting about this without trying to learn from it and discuss the implications is moving things forward either.
The solution is very simple. Stop attacking posters. I've been on message boards that have a zero tolerance against all personal attacks and they do just fine. People discuss the thread topics rather than each other.
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Please give it a rest. You have done your own share of personal attacks even called one poster a jerk. Your claim to victim status is simply a nauseating display of hypocrisy.
Geez let it go. One 'jerk' from her doesnt make all the other cumulative attacks against her ok
I mean I would love to personally attack babblers.
Im anxious to be able to call someone abrain-smearing, gangrene-snorting, mildew-huffing, poxy-eyed, goat-touching idiot but alas my common sense prevails
Tho OG better watch out
Thanks Winston. Nice to bump this old thread too. I've responded back on enmasse. Sean is free to post here again if he wishes.
Hello everyone. The suspension has indeed been lifted without conditions which I appreciate and I have logged in.
I am sure I'll post on something soon. As for the conflict itself probably reflection is the best course as so much has been said nothing more needs to be.
I just want to say how much I appreciated those who reached out to me.
I marked my 50th this last week. Over 20% of that time I have been associated with this place. Good to not see that end now.
Group Hug!
I think eeyore needs to call a responsible adult....
Happy birthday, Sean! You young whippersnapper you.
Thanks-- been a while since I've been called young. Love that!
I'm 63 in three weeks ya young pup. I got to live my teens from 1964 to 1971. Just how cool is that? Thank god people took pictures, I don't remember a thing. Didn't some people get assasinated? I'm pretty sure there was sex. Oh, and rainbow coloured unicorns.
I'm 63 in three weeks ya young pup. I got to live my teens from 1964 to 1971. Just how cool is that? Thank god people took pictures, I don't remember a thing. Didn't some people get assasinated? I'm pretty sure there was sex. Oh, and rainbow coloured unicorns.
Mwahahaha, those are my memories too!! At least, what people have reminded me were my memories!! We were lucky, OG. Times like those only come along once in a long while. And whenever I waver (often), I try to remind myself that I must remain true to the spirit of questioning, of rebellion, of love for humanity and the earth, that characterized that era.
I came in on the tail end of that; I remember buying Sgt. Pepper when we went to Expo 67.
What I find most significant at this point? Experiencing the world before internet, before computers, before vhs and before photocopy, when we had to do a lot of that stuff with our hands.
Well we had computers; just that they were analog ones made out of sliding wood.
Well we had computers; just that they were analog ones made out of sliding wood.
Still have my slide rule. Couldn't use it to save my life, but it's fun to show the youngn's. Had to explain to them that sure you can get google street view on it, you just have to swallow this tiny purple pill.
Oh, lord. One group hug and the Old Farts Club has gone all Woodstock on us.
Hey, Bacchus, - do us a favour and call someone "a brain-smearing, gangrene-snorting, mildew-huffing, poxy-eyed, goat-touching idiot" and get us back on track. Thanks.
Oh, lord. One group hug and the Old Farts Club has gone all Woodstock on us.
Hey, Bacchus, - do us a favour and call someone "a brain-smearing, gangrene-snorting, mildew-huffing, poxy-eyed, goat-touching idiot" and get us back on track. Thanks.
Hey ther Sherpa ! ...... Why Jefferson Airplane was ... oh fuck,what was that........ wow..
Look. just take it easy on the goat touching, ok? or maybe not
Like hey, is mildew huffing like really a thing? I got a fridgefull.
THATS the part that interested you? The rest was ok?
THATS the part that interested you? The rest was ok?
Well yeah, and the goat touching.
Still have my slide rule. Couldn't use it to save my life, but it's fun to show the youngn's.
I keep a spool of letraset linetape for that purpose. No one nowadays has a clue what it could possibly be used for.
Lost our old rules in a fire. I bought a couple on ebay some years back. Thing is, proportion wheels - a round version of the same thing - were still standard use for sizing photos well into the 90s, even though calculators had been around for 15 years.
Just thought I would like drop in and make an observation.
bagkitty:
Speaking of birthdays, Boom Boom would have turned 65 today.
:(
Boom Boom was a Libra?
;-)
I looked back at some emails I had from Boom Boom a while ago. Generous spirit. I did not know much about him outside of Babble but he sure could send kindness.
As for embarassing memories-- I remember getting a Partridge family album as a prize in elementary school.
And I did not hate it until I was old enough to know better.