Dissensus Monster Discovered!!

[hundredmillionlifetimes]

hml, i'm sure you're frustrated, but i think you may have crossed a line here.

No comment.

If you find a poster objectionable, either find a particularly objectionable post and report that (one will do, maybe choose the worst?) or perhaps go and have a walk, a cup of tea or whatever.

Yes, tea always wins the day, doesn't it?

are you intent on exploring the issue of boycotting zionism or not?

If you examine the posts in that thread, I'm confident that a definitive answer to that question will be readily forthcoming. Tea's "intent" was quite clearly to derail serious discussion of the issue, which, BTW, he has now succeeded in doing.

I could or possibly should have chosen to post my warning to him by other means [for instance, in another thread, but that would have simply decontextualised it, rendering it meaningless], but perhaps wrongly inserted it as a clearly indicated but minor 'Aside'. A 'Footnote' instead, maybe?

So I apologize for the fact that some people here are more concerned about Mr Tea being (justifiably) insulted than about the on-going slaughter of Palestinians. I won't be responding to any more of his posts (something I already did for a number of months, but alas my perseverence failed me) , so he's now free to continue insulting me with impunity.

 

[john eden]

I am more than happy to play the role of monster on here, if needs be.

In the context of this forum, I am personally more concerned about posters viciously baiting each other than I am on yet another internet discussion about the atrocities committed against Palestinian people by the Israeli state.

However I don't think this detracts from my "concern" about the slaughter of palestinians. All I would say, though, is that if getting arsey about it all on the internet achieved anything, then solutions to the conflict would have been found a long time ago.

I do apologise for thoughtlessly suggesting people have a cup of tea, though, that was insensitive of me given the name of another poster involved with this spat.

 

[Woebot]

hml i'm glad you've turned your wit on the whole episode.

looked at outside of the context of any supposed history of insults, and coming at this from outside of the argument i find mr.tea's remarks (if obviously designed to infuriate you) quite low-key.

on the other hand *you* proceed to call him practically every name under the sun and actually threaten him very unpleasantly. can you see this?

i did send you an email. i would like you to get back to me if you could.

 

[sufi]

i must say, i do like how the "Pointless But It Does My Head In" thread has descended into pointless but head-doing-in bickering, so stylish, so post-modern :slanted:

 

[zhao]

hundred million, i honestly admire your passion. and i entirely side with the suffering of the Palestinian people.

but maybe i just don't know the history between you 2 enough, i don't understand why Mr.T's statements were so infuriating to you... they may be mild but they are mostly, clearly, on "our side"? he is clearly not an apologist for Zionism. nor any of the other things you accused him of being. he maybe does not go far enough in your eyes in his critical attitude toward the Israeli state, but he is indeed critical, and has expressed anti-zionist sentiments.

IMHO allowing personal beef to get in the way of real problems at hand can only hurt the discussion... (insert cliche about uniting against common enemy here)

 

[vimothy]

Tea, revealing his true agenda, then proceeds to defend this forum's most far-right "Muslims are Evil" nutter:

Just wanted to say, at no point in my time on this discussion board have I ever said "Muslims are Evil". It is frustrating when people can't or won't believe that someone disagrees with them and their politics for rational reasons and not because they are evil right wing lunatics with oil for blood and cupboards full of bread made from dead babies. Surely we all have the same goals: what's best for humanity, just different ideas about how to get there. No need to demonise people and no need for the ad homs that followed. Personal attacks over the internet are about as boring and mundane as it gets.

And in any case I didn't think that Mr Tea was defending me, just offering his opinion.

 

[Mr. Tea]

And in any case I didn't think that Mr Tea was defending me, just offering his opinion.

I wouldn't assume you need to be defended, by me or anyone.

 

[hundredmillionlifetimes]

hundred million, i honestly admire your passion. and i entirely side with the suffering of the Palestinian people.

but maybe i just don't know the history between you 2 enough

With all due respect, but he has already resumed his crusade in another thread, but I won't be dignifying/further provoking his continuing obsession with a response.

i don't understand why Mr.T's statements were so infuriating to you... they may be mild but they are mostly, clearly, on "our side"? he is clearly not an apologist for Zionism.

Then why was he "clearly" defending it? Disavowal is the norm here.

 

[...]

This reminds me of my "fascist pshyco-creep" days. It is all quite lovely. Padraig in full voice.

 

[noel emits]

Can you all just spare a thought for the dolphins.

Thank you.

Now where's my tune sandwich...

 

[...]

You know, Padrag has always been my buddy. I have a soft spot for the guy, if only because he always flabbergasts me [sorry Matt, I wouldn't necessarily use the words 'wit' or 'frustration' however]. I just imagine he would be capable of accusing Avi Shlaim of 'latent Zionist racism', for example. Which is all to the bad, but it's amusing, and you get accustomed to the style. I was always against banning him in the first place. He's my buddy! But on a more serious note, he adds to the Politics forum - when he was gone, it was dead. More sensible, but dead. I think that if it wasn't for Padrag, Vimothy would never have been lured in in the first place [only to be called a 'Hayek-lover', as if that was the worst thing in the world!] and Vimothy has revived this board [with a little help from sidekick flamethrower Mr. Tea, whose name deserves more respect, but is not quite as great as Kate Mossad].

What was happening in that thread that was brought up a bit ago was this - hundredmillionlifetimes [the clue was in the name!!!] was pretending not to be padrag. Why. What was the fucking point of that. [The question mark key does not work on my keyboard, apologies.] So padrag's back. Cool. That's fine. Be padrag. It took about two posts to recognise it and, now, either you're all thick, or you were being polite and ignoring this. That would be fine, too. Except when I called it, he labelled me 'paranoid'! Which is more than denying it!

Sorry, it was just a bit weird and sad. [In all senses.]

And I love the guy.

Comedy gold.

Sorry. I say this because I was "banned" for being rude, which I thought was dumb.

 

[...]

Also, I've got to say Matt, you lost one of the most articulate and informed and passionate posters we had because of that decision. No, not me! I'm talking about ol' Droid. We all miss him. Well, I know I do.

 

[rewch]

never really tended to agreement with mr. craner, but i have to concur with some of the above... droid & padraig & however many million lifetimes... thank you

 

[Woebot]

Also, I've got to say Matt, you lost one of the most articulate and informed and passionate posters we had because of that decision. No, not me! I'm talking about ol' Droid. We all miss him. Well, I know I do.

In the first instance I never banned droid as far as I'm aware. I just thought it would be better if he wasn't a Moderator. I stand by that judgement, though a crucial member of Dissensus, I think he was a very poor Mod.

Droid has never forgiven me, rather he's taken every opportunity to tell me what disgustingly poor judgement I have. Lord knows I've tried to get him to forget about it. Sighs. However I've always taken the policy of never once asking *anyone* to post here, and at the end of the day he won't be the exception to that rule. Actually I've no idea why he's so fixated with this percieved wrong-doing. He's not a Mod on a poxy message board, so fucking what!

If he was banned, it was quite a lot later (trying to remember now), and it was only temporarily and was because he came back and deliberately picked on Padraig, who as far as I (and all the other Mods) were concerned, had really done his best to be (presenting rosette) a good board member.

 

[john eden]

Droid and padraig were both banned for 30 days at the same time iirc.

 

[...]

Droid has never forgiven me, rather he's taken every opportunity to tell me what disgustingly poor judgement I have.

Has he??? I didn't know that. He did seem to take it quite seriously. Actually, I don't miss him that much. I think I was a bit drunk and sentimental last night.

 

[john eden]

I miss him.

 

[IdleRich]

"I think he was a very poor Mod"

How was he a poor mod? There was one argument between two posters (one of whom was completely unreasonable), Droid as a mod was asked to intervene but the poster in question had a particular problem with him so he stepped back and asked someone else to do it - seemed the right thing to do in my opinion.

 

[john eden]

I don't think there is anything to be gained by raking over the coals and then scattering the ashes over our dirty washing in public.

Personally.

EDIT: Actually, I can find no record of a temp ban for Droid. Ooops.

 

[droid]

Did someone mention my name? - John, Im inclined to agree with you (hence my prolonged absence), but when someone with the stature of woebot starts slandering you in public I think you have to defend yourself....

Poor show Matt. This is all very disappointing. For all your talk of 'it's only a messageboard'...

I havent been in touch with you, or on the forum in ages, and yet you feel the need to wash dirty laundry in public.

In the first instance I never banned droid as far as I'm aware. I just thought it would be better if he wasn't a Moderator. I stand by that judgement, though a crucial member of Dissensus, I think he was a very poor Mod.

Oh the Irony! - especially considering this situation where history is repeating itself purely due to your poor modding decisions - plus, you did ban me (see below).

I also see youve also changed your story once again. Thats not what you've said to me in private - or in public. I quote:

“As far as moderation itself I'd reiterate that I think you dealt with the matter (padraig's initial conflagration) entirely reasonably.”

i think that is essentially correct with the obvious proviso that i'd have been happier if he had been slightly less keen to adopt "the voice of the board" (cos by definition- dissensus- there shouldn't be such a thing)"

Theres also the fact that you give no guidance whatsoever, and simply cast your judgements down from on high with little or no explanation - I still dont know which unspoken rule I unwittingly transgressed.

Droid has never forgiven me, rather he's taken every opportunity to tell me what disgustingly poor judgement I have. Lord knows I've tried to get him to forget about it. Sighs. However I've always taken the policy of never once asking *anyone* to post here, and at the end of the day he won't be the exception to that rule. Actually I've no idea why he's so fixated with this percieved wrong-doing. He's not a Mod on a poxy message board, so fucking what!

What kind of fantasy world do you live in Matt? This is nonsense. Casting yourself as the put-upon martyr trying to make amends is both innaccurate and two-faced. I havent had any contact with you in months, and other than one very short (and polite) email, I never once expressed my 'disgust' at your decisons - disagreement maybe, but always with respect. The fact that you're willing to drag all this up once again shows exactly who has contempt for whom.

As for the 'percieved wrong doing' I pissed off becuase I was banned after 'unmasking' Padraigs new identity (along with Oliver), and because of your completely inconsistent, bizarre and dictatorial style of modding. I dont particularly want to be a part of the forum where any comment on the social 'goings-on' can result in bannings, where repeatedly abusive posters are free to create a highly unpleasant atmosphere for others without fear of censure, and important decisions are made at the whims of an unpredictable aristocrat.

If he was banned, it was quite a lot later (trying to remember now), and it was only temporarily and was because he came back and deliberately picked on Padraig, who as far as I (and all the other Mods) were concerned, had really done his best to be (presenting rosette) a good board member.

'Deliberately picked on'? More of your infamous double standards! Myself and Oliver get banned for a few lighthearted quips at someone who was supposed to be 'permanently banned' (your words) for being consistently abusive and unpleasant, and here we are again, with the same user exhibiting the same unacceptable behaviour (by any rational standards) - and once again you give him the benefit of the doubt.

Regarding Padraig and his return - which you have totally failed to address. You said publicly that he was banned PERMANENTLY on 18/05/06. He re-registered 9 days later on 27/05/06. Didn’t it occur to you that some people might have a problem with this? That it makes a mockery of whatever authority you might lay claim to? That its pretty damn hypocritical to ban us for pointing out that Padraig had come back? Personally I couldnt care less if he posts here or not - but this kind of carry on is bad news for developing a sense of 'community' - something you want to engender yes?

Obviously the real reason you banned the two of us was because we made your decisions and judgements a matter of public discussion - something you cant seem to stomach at all - given current goings on, I can see why...

Cue dismissive reply, locking of thread and probable banning.

PS: Despite the hungover climbdown - Thanks Oliver!