To that end, here are some things you all are going to stop doing here, using two of my favorite examplees.
Frank wrote:Chris Matthews is a sick arab hater too.
This is assigning motive. If you don't know what it is, look it up.
This is an ad hominem. If you don't know what it is, look it up.Rob wrote:Robert, let's square this away, because facts for you are practically irrelevant in shaping whatever your world view might be.
Frank wrote:The ultimate crime of America is invention of nuclear weapons. That could lead to world wide death.
This is trolling. If you don't know what it is, look it up.
I want to point out, though, that I am sometimes offended by Doug's posting. A ways back, for example, when I was being cordial, he threw it back in my face. He goes on at times like a presumptuous self-appointed cyber-cop. At least, I should say, that's the way it hit me.
Now this, this is flaming. If you want to know what it is, look it up.
First, NONE OF THESE have any place in informed discussion and debate. They are disallowed practically everywhere people give the slightest shit about maintaining even the lowest possible level of decency to each other.
Second, now for some context to that last quote. I am not going to quote Rob's attack on Doug, but he went after him repeatedly for something Frank said. The above was his response to being asked by Steve, the moderator, to apologize to Doug.
And earlier, we have this bit of irony from Rob, again sassing the forums mod:
robochrist wrote:But why did I take the rap for someone else's quote? At least read who's saying what.
Now, ignore that most communities ban for mod sass. Note how quick Rob is to take offense and how he does not hesitate to demand redress. But when he makes the same mistake and repeatedly attacks Doug, he doesn't even bother to apologize until he is threatened with a stick. And then the actual apology is dwarfed by the insults. It's one of the shortest posts Rob has ever made.
It comes down to this:
Finder wrote:But Rob precisely underscores my point of last week: who willingly wants to join or remain in a community where you can say nothing on a subject, and still be the victim of a personal-attack drive-by from someone SO INTENT on delivering a beat-down, he can't even keep straight who actually set him off?
Not me. For this reason, for his hypocritical savaging of Doug and his lame and forced apology, Rob is the first recipient of the first Forums Prize for Not Giving a Shit About Others (the FPfNGaSAO). It comes with a free month-long ban! And all you have to do, Rob, to extend that to forever, is say a single word to me about it!
Now, as for you, Frank:
Frank wrote:Ezra doesn't want serial killers executed but he doesn't mind children killed in Gaza.
This is trolling, flaming, an ad hominem, and assigning motive, all in one sentence. Great work, Frank. This might be your Sistine Chapel. I'm not going to ban you for it, today. But this is the gold standard for That Which Will Not Fly Anymore.
Frank, I will say this one thing. Either you are as smart as you claim to be, and stuff like this is beneath you, or you are not, and you should stop acting like you are. If this sentence appears tomorrow, you will be the next FPfNGaSAO Award Winner.