Disabling Discussion Board account

The phrase "not see the forest for the trees" comes to mind.

The point of the post is not whether you took a previous post out of context. It is clear to me that the message is you are at least a contributor to the problem chasenally is posting about. You can dissect current and past statements, but whether he considered you none, part or all of the problem in the past, he does consider your posting style part or all of the problem now.

I think you would be an excellent attorney. If I had an issue with someone over a contract, you might be the first one on this board I would have to review the document and analyze it to find me a victory. It is a great skill to have in a setting like that. Here its use seems to be irritating.

You quoted me out of context just like you do everyone else as you find what you think can make your point. The only point anyone can see is that you are pointless.

A major point of Chase's post was his erroneous notion I had quoted him out of context. He tried to use that incorrect notion to support his other point. So, my showing I hadn't quoted him out of context was not "missing the forest" (as you say); it was debunking his major claim. And I did acknowledge he could have been talking about me, so I wasn't being "lawyerly." I'm glad I have your confidence, though.

Also, as you note, it does show that Chase has had problems with other posters than me. As the posts I have re-posted have shown, as well as others' posters complaints about ATG posters, many posters have upset other posters with their posts. It is clear we need discussion on the boards, with SOM's participation, to clearly establish what exactly defines (or should define) "abusive" behavior on the boards. Do we want a more open definition allowing zingers, playful jabs, sarcasm, and strong views? Or do we want a stringent definition allowing none of those things?

Have my posts been part of the problem? I have always acknowledged that possibility. I said on this thread that, if anyone could show that posts of mine have been abusive, I would retract the post and apologize. That offer still stands. If you could do so, Turtle, I would appreciate it. I would gladly amend proven abusive behavior.

I think the question of abusive behavior on a discussion board is like pornography was to the Supreme Court justice who couldn't define, but he knew it when he sees it.

I will decline your offer, because to be honest, I do not think your posts are "abusive." There are other terms I have used to describe your posts, and you disagreed with my assessment or opinion the posts. I am not bothering to re-visit those discussions because I skeptical that I would ever convince you of my position about the posts, and you will never convince me I am wrong.

My effort here was to merely attempt to offer a viewpoint that might lead to some sort of detente and get back to discussing Strat games or MLB or the top 10 Beatles songs or whatever so that more people would enjoy participating, rather than debating whether l.strether should be banned or suspended.

I really enjoyed chasenally's message of looking in the mirror if someone irks you (para-phrasing). I find that message beautiful and sublimely so.

Now if I can just implement it! Shit! I mean really!

Btw, I've been a tool here on occasion and I apologize. Once in a while I read something on the boards here that seems to violate every assumption or belief I have and that feels threatening. And instead of allowing that person their truth I react and spew my immediate disagreement. Why would I feel the need to respond angrily/resentfully to another person's deepest beliefs on some things? That's about me.

This is an interesting read that hopefully pertains to what we're talking about/dealing with...http://www.helpguide.org/articles/relat ... skills.htm

WE CAN MAKE OUR COMMUNITY STRONGER
if we learn not to feed the trolls.

- Nicole Sullivan, CSS Ninja & Performance Engineer - F2E
from "Don't Feed the Trolls", May 31, 2012

http://www.slideshare.net/stubbornella/ ... the-trolls

Excellent post, Fred, and solid suggestion, J-Pav. Everybody who complains or vents about other posters needs to look at what they have done wrong themselves. As you paraphrased, if someone irks you, you need to 'look in the mirror. I've already shown some examples of troll posts and they're not pretty. We (meaning everybody) need to stick to posting about SOM and Major League baseball and stop posting about or antagonizing other posters.

I also will re-state my suggestion that we perhaps re-examine behaviors that are not currently abusive, but have clearly upset some posters. These include sarcasm, snide replies, zingers, putdowns/harsh criticisms, wicked comebacks, and ridiculing symbols such as or . Here is an example of a "legal" harsh putdown/troll post:

Radagast Brown you keep making these nonsensical statements that players of the past were not as good as today's minor leaguers playing class A ball. You just flat out don't know what your talking about and your ridiculous statements prove it..

Full post: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=636351&p=5494924&sid=faf8f2a341c31828997bb67e81d3bb10#p5494924

At this point, this non-abusive, but hostile, troll-post would be legal. So, if we are to truly to end these posts, perhaps we should make most, if not all, of the things I listed illegal and "abusive." I think the better approach would be J-Pav's suggestion that we stop making them and ignore them the best we can.