On flaming

[kinvore.livejournal.com]

Okay, flaming isn't against the rules per se, but I really don't want to see this forum becoming another nasty "you're stupid", "no, YOU'RE stupid" cesspool. Please, try to attack the opinion instead of the person giving it.

GOOD: I disagree with you. Here are my reasons.
BORDERLINE: That has got to be the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Here's why.
BAD (but technically still allowed): You are a retard. Here's why.
WORSE: You are a retard.

No one's getting banned for flaming unless that is ALL they do. And yes, at times we can't help but get emotional over these issues, we find them to be important. It also adds a bit of drama that some people love to watch, but it also scares others away who are hoping to be able to state their opinion without getting attacked on a personal level for it. As we're just starting out, I would hate to see that.

But this will be the last time I will even bring it up. I believe on a hands off approach for this forum, and I believe in free speech for all, even that which we find offensive. I'm just asking: let's try to be adults here and discuss things rationally. Fuckknuckles.

Comments

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

Retard.

I know I'm the one responsible for this post, so...

[savagemind.livejournal.com]

I object on the basis that some people genuinely are retards. For example, suggesting that Detroit is more dangerous than Baghdad: retarded.

If it is considered to be flaming that we are calling people retarded it should be equally against the rules to be retarded, since my nature precludes me to call an apple an apple.

Re: I know I'm the one responsible for this post, so...

[mijopo.livejournal.com]

FWIW, I find the use of the term 'retarded' as a term of denigration incredibly offensive. Please don't do it.

Re: I know I'm the one responsible for this post, so...

[bord-du-rasoir.livejournal.com]

To preclude means to prevent. Your nature prevents you from calling an apple an apple?

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

equally against the rules

There are no rules. I thought you had noticed by now ;)

Re: I know I'm the one responsible for this post, so...

[bord-du-rasoir.livejournal.com]

As for how to respond to a Detroit-Baghdad comparison, this person says Detroit averaged 1 murder per day in 2003 and as of Sept. 2004, U.S. troops averaged 1.4 combat deaths per day. Therefore, "the Iraqi armed
forces and rebel militias are 40% more lethal than the criminals of Detroit."
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=398411

Rather than say, "You're retarded" (you wouldn't be able to say this in a classroom), it's just as easy to tell him that he needs to account for population difference in comparing two populations. There were 150,000 U.S. troops in Iraq in 2003-2004, while there were a million people in Detroit, thus making the Iraqi armed forces and rebel militias almost 1000% more lethal.

Re: I know I'm the one responsible for this post, so...

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

Even a retard is right twice a day. Its much better to point out the idea is wrong then let the idea stand as possibly right and attack the retard person.

Re: I know I'm the one responsible for this post, so...

[kinvore.livejournal.com]

What do you think you're going to accomplish by calling someone a retard?

Re: I know I'm the one responsible for this post, so...

[hunterkirk.livejournal.com]

Oh I agree...

[shadowyphantom.livejournal.com]

I've gotten paranoid about groups banning me from past experiences, so am I on the "shit list"?

Also, change your insults up a bit; use "fucktard".

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

Noone gets banned from talk_politics. Ever. Only thru my dead body.

This is exactly why the community was launched - to show that there's a better way than waving the banhammer indiscriminately.

Its up to everyone's consciousness how far they'd go.

Lets leave to ppl's behaviour to speak how much they're worth.

[airiefairie.livejournal.com]

Why would you be on the "shit list"? What did you do?

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

"Fuckknuckles."

Plagiarist (http://fuckknuckles.com/)!

[kinvore.livejournal.com]

Fuckknuckle^TM is my trademark. This person owes me a dollar.

[ghoststrider.livejournal.com]

While dumb flaming is usually unproductive, I think people get too upset about these things. I mean, for crying out loud, this is the bloody Internet. Grow up. For instance, the guy up above who says "retard is offensive." Yeah well, then plug your eyes and cover your eyes. It's a synonym for stupid.

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

Semantics is of secondary significance here. I somehow think this post was rather meant to further promote the "attack the position, not the person (http://community.livejournal.com/talk_politics/1774.html)" formula...

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you meant plug your eyes and cover your ears.

[lordtwinkie.livejournal.com]

ad hominem arguments are all the rage

[savagemind.livejournal.com]

I thought I was being original. :(

[airiefairie.livejournal.com]

Drama boy.

[kinvore.livejournal.com]

If you think just because you're hot I'm gonna let you call me names, well, um, I guess you're right.



fuckknuckle

[free-exchange.livejournal.com]

why bother even saying 'you're stupid' or 'you're retarded'? if they really are retarded, show it through your arguments. ad hominum makes you look great but at the end of the day, the time you spent on an insulting sentence is one you could have spent constructing a good argument.

[shadowyphantom.livejournal.com]

Just one question: can we put up "Fail" pictures for the trolls?

[kinvore.livejournal.com]

Please do!

[hunterkirk.livejournal.com]

I will try, but I admit I have the tendency to give what I get.