That was the last straw.

[Elder]

I have serious problems with the moderators on this forum.

Not only 'Alec Smart' was allowed to follow me wherever I went and destroy every thread that could have been an intelligent discussion on very important topics, but now, instead of removing the disgusting personal attacks from the Spaceship thread, which was an extremely lively, imaginative, fun thread on any other forums where I had posted it, the moderators simply locked it without a word of explanation.

On top of that, one of the moderators got away with suggesting that "maybe I was raped in the ass by an American priest", without anyone raising an eyebrow.

On another thread the same operator accused me of not having any arguments, in spite of the closely argued and logically built eight posts full of arguments that I had presented on the same thread, with links and quotations and references.

For this and other reasons, I will NOT come back to this forum again.

Maybe the moderators can discuss this and review the incidents, but it is not my problem any more.

I can waste only so much of my time and I have done here all I could.

I am simply bored and lost interest in being here.

Happy posting for the rest of you.

[Eckhart Aurelius Hughes]

Did you use the report button to report the insult by a moderator?

[Spiral Out]

I locked the topic because it was getting seriously derailed, and I was going to cool it down before moderating it. I didn't post the reason I locked it. That was my mistake.

Regardless, you didn't report any of the posts you're complaining about.

As far as the "insult" goes, I was joking in the same style you consistently joke with others. Why did you not report it if it bothered you so much?

Besides, you said yourself:

"Maybe it is because some philosophers take themselves too seriously and would consider it beneath themselves to be just human once in a while.

It is possible to do serious thinking and be playful once in a while."

Either way, your particular personal style of communication has irritated me as well as a lot of other members on this forum as is evidenced by the responses to your topics. I've irritated you with my particular personal style as well.

Most members here are fairly blunt and honest in their assessments of other members. I've been on both sides of that honesty. You just gotta have thick skin.

[Gary S]

For this and other reasons, I will NOT come back to this forum again.

Best of luck in your travels, Francis. I hope you someday find a forum that meets your standards.

...and I have done here all I could.

Eight words that reveal much.

Again, my best to you.

[Belinda]

Elder, it's your moral duty to keep talking despite that gratuitous obscenity . I have myself met some people who think that fibs, hyperbole, and obscenities are funny. One cannot expect moderators to be the crème de la crème in the same way as one doesn't expect policemen to be the brightest people. They simply do a useful job and in the case of moderators they do it voluntarily for which we should be grateful. Anyway, I am sorry you said you are going although I appreciate your explanation which is nicer than people simply disappearing, about whom one wonders if they have died.

[Alec Smart]

I was raped in the ass by an American priest",

If I'd known that, Elder, I wouldn't have behaved the way I did towards you.

[Alias]

That remark was objectionably unfunny the first time Spiral Out wrote it and called it a "joke", (To whom does one report a moderator?) and it didn't become any less objectionable, or funny, with repetition. This last misquote was a nadir of meanness and bad taste.

Belinda, in case you ever wonder, I haven't died, either. But my visits have become infrequent and brief. I think you can infer the reason(s) ^^.

[Alec Smart]

and it didn't become any less objectionable, or funny, with repetition.

Well, if it didn't become any less funny that's better than not being funny at all, I suppose.

[Alias]

To clarify, it didn't and doesn't surprise me that prolific newcomers are resented and chastised - I see that on forums all the time. Nor does it surprise me that a gadfly with no positive contribution to make, who is indulged as some kind of mascot, would seize upon another poster's insult and squeeze the last drop of toxin out of it.

What surprised me was that the sexual abuse of children should be considered appropriate subject matter for humour. That's something I don't see on many boards. Plus, there is this pink flag above my message box which should contra-indicate it.

[Spiral Out]

That remark was objectionably unfunny the first time Spiral Out wrote it and called it a "joke"

Elder (and others) has submitted "objectionably unfunny remarks" as well, yet I didn't have a hissy fit over it. Humor is different for each person. You seem to enjoy "safe respectful humor" which isn't humor to me, but either social posturing or passive-aggressive behavior.

(To whom does one report a moderator?)

To the site administrator. The rules are quite clear and the site administrator has repeatedly provided abundantly clear instructions on this matter.

To clarify, it didn't and doesn't surprise me that prolific newcomers are resented and chastised

One man's "prolific newcomer" is another man's transparent phony.

would seize upon another poster's insult and squeeze the last drop of toxin out of it.

If so, then it's still far better than a veiled insult. Passive-aggression is far worse than normal aggression.

What surprised me was that the sexual abuse of children should be considered appropriate subject matter for humour.

It's no more inappropriate than passive-aggressively disguising demeaning and insulting remarks about what people hold most sacred. It all depends on your perspective, doesn't it?

[Belinda]

Spiral Out wrote:

Alias wrote:What surprised me was that the sexual abuse of children should be considered appropriate subject matter for humour.


It's no more inappropriate than passive-aggressively disguising demeaning and insulting remarks about what people hold most sacred. It all depends on your perspective, doesn't it?

But some perspectives are in truth better than other perspectives. A perspective that views sexual abuse of some little boy is possibly funny is a bad perspective. A better perspective sees that any sort bullying of a powerless person by a powerful person is bad. Some things that are held to be most sacred are false idols; such is nationalism or legalism which take pride of place over persons. Anyone in a free country can review their perspective and change it.

[Sy Borg]

To clarify, it didn't and doesn't surprise me that prolific newcomers are resented and chastised - I see that on forums all the time.

If a group of acquaintances are talking at a party and suddenly a newcomer walks in and takes over the conversation, there may be repercussions for the social faux pas. I know from experience, having mastered the art of being compulsively overbearing - I found varying levels of tolerance in people towards social faux pas.

It seems to me, and with respect, that Elder is a "type". Obvious Leo was another in a similar vein, although each might strangle me for saying so - which would kind of be the point:). Each is highly knowledgeable after a lifetime of study. Each is getting older and (rightly) feeling that their ideas and knowledge should be shared rather than taken to the grave. So they arrive at forums, bursting with ideas and insights. However, time spent in isolated study results in a lack of challenges to one's ideas, and this can lead to a degree of rigidity and intolerance of contrary views. The latter is where the trouble started for each - respect received tends to reflect respect given.

I've had similar problems and been similarly arrogant and dismissive in the past, and that also resulted in me walking away in a huff. I though the problem was "the other people" but it was just what I had drawn from them. We can bring the best or the worst out in others. If you want a good conversation focused on the phenomena rather than just squabbling, then we should try to avoid bringing out the worst in others.

Mark Twain: "Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference".

[Lagayscienza]

Internet forums a tough rooms to work. Even on heavily (and to my mind strangely) moderated forums like this one you need a thick skin. No matter how knowledgeable you are there are always going to be others more so and there are always going to be others who are very good at picking up on one's weaknesses. And there are always going to be those who disagree with you on your pet theories and will say so in no uncertain terms. (Isn't that the point of these forums?) And, of course, there are plenty of fools, nutcases and weirdos to steer clear of. Age or education or background are no protection against any of these. And coming into these places with prima donna pretensions it's the surest way to get yourself hammered.

Still, there are plenty of other forums to try if one spits the dummy (pacifier). I'm sure Elder will find a home somewhere.

-- Updated July 29th, 2015, 3:03 pm to add the following --

Edit: Internet forums are tough rooms to work.

I'm thinking of becoming a contributor just so I can get an edit function.

[Alias]

I'm not sure exactly what the term passive-aggressive means. I understand hurling stones (injury - aggressive) hurling stones and invective (adding insult to injury - aggressive-aggressive.) I understand the counsel of that Nazarene to retaliate with bread (passive) and a blessing (passive-passive). Doing none of those things seems to be the worst offense of all. I think I've just been accused of.... civility with intent.

That means it's the season to move on.

[Lagayscienza]

Alias, please don't do that. Good minds are already getting thin on the ground here after the departure of Leo et al. If good posters keep leaving I might be reduced to going back to Reddit.