Self Policing Militia Summons - Page 8

DanaC · 06-18-2010, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

Not a typo. If the forum were full of Merc's cut-and-pastes from right-wing blogs and contentless snipes, and nobody called him on it, I would find that intolerably irritating. Redux makes him tolerably irritating. Redux's posts are usually researched, informative, and pertinent to the issue. Merc responds with an irrelevant insult or a popcorn smiley. I am mystified as to how this false equivalency arose.

This.

I don't really understand how Redux is drawing so much flak here. Annoying at times? yes. But by no means the main offender. Not even slightly.

Sundae · 06-18-2010, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC

This.

I don't really understand how Redux is drawing so much flak here. Annoying at times? yes. But by no means the main offender. Not even slightly.

Agree.

But then I also concede LJ & Jinx's point that The Merc is a real person here, who participates in the whole board. Even TW (not mentioned here but can be insufferable occasionally) cracks fierce jokes, and UG has a great line in recipes and archaic knowledge.

I'd like to see more of Redux, not less. Then perhaps we might lose some of the vitriol, on both sides.

Perhaps I feel this way because Redux is on my side of the political spectrum. I hope not, because one of the reasons I love this place is reading intelligent and well sourced opinions from the opposite side. I'm sure other people out there feel that too. And that is something I'd hate to be mod-ed away.

lumberjim · 06-18-2010, 12:06 AM

here's a theory....

the merc has an irritating rating of 135, but that is mitigated by his willingness to be a real person who we can get to know.....for a -50 irritating effect, netting him a rating of 85 irritating points.

redux has an irritating rating of 85.

equivalent.

lumberjim · 06-18-2010, 12:08 AM

jinx posits that redux has a irritating rating of 65, but a 20 point volume bonus, giving him an overall rating of 85.

I concede the point

Happy Monkey · 06-18-2010, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumberjim

here's a theory....

the merc has an irritating rating of 135, but that is mitigated by his willingness to be a real person who we can get to know....

But you're complaining about their behavior in the politics forum, where Redux is orders of magnitude better than Merc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumberjim

jinx posits that redux has a irritating rating of 65, but a 20 point volume bonus, giving him an overall rating of 85.

I concede the point

Redux's volume is almost uniformly responses to other posts. Why doesn't Merc get a +20?

I think it's fairly obvious that TheMercenary is generally trolling in the politics forum, and more explicitly trolling Redux. I don't think that the usual prescription of ignoring trolls until they go away would work, because, as you say, Merc participates in other forums, and isn't likely to be ignored there.

If anyone else wanted to engage TheMercenary in the politics forum (and I did), he would be just as trollish to them. If anyone else engaged Redux, they would get a well researched and thoughtful response. I don't see how a response to monster's questionnaire affects that.

DanaC · 06-18-2010, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

I think it's fairly obvious that TheMercenary is generally trolling in the politics forum, and more explicitly trolling Redux. I don't think that the usual prescription of ignoring trolls until they go away would work, because, as you say, Merc participates in other forums, and isn't likely to be ignored there.

If anyone else wanted to engage TheMercenary in the politics forum (and I did), he would be just as trollish to them. If anyone else engaged Redux, they would get a well researched and thoughtful response. I don't see how a response to monster's questionnaire affects that.

Totally agree. I like Merc, I get along just fine with him, but not if we discuss politics. As soon as it is even vageuly related to politics he turns into a total troll. I pretty much never see redux start this shit. I see him respond an awful lot. Maybe sometimes he could refrain from responding. But it still seems grotesquely unfair to target him because he can't refrain from fighting back, instead of the person who keeps provoking him.

[eta] not everyone wants to share their personal life. Some people just want to come and discuss stuff. Clearly the main focus of Redux's interests lies in political discussion. It is really not his fault that the only area he wants to be in is home to the resident troll.

jinx · 06-18-2010, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

Why doesn't Merc get a +20?

I think it's fairly obvious that TheMercenary is generally trolling in the politics forum

I agree.
My opinion is based on volume. While redux and Cman seem to sit here all day long bickering, a week or more goes by between Mercs trolling.
More specifically, every current even topic turns into a redux/Cman argument, then a few days later Merc comes along and bumps every thread they've been fighting in with a popcorn smilie or a stupid remark about democrats - highlighting (annoyingly) all the threads they've already fucked up.

Aliantha · 06-18-2010, 02:39 AM

Maybe I'll start a thread talking about the people I'd like not to see here again, just to see who agrees with me.

I'm not backing anyone up here, but responding to the thread itself.

We all know the mods will do what they think best in the end and frankly, I think they're doing the right thing now.

People are supposed to have a right to express their point of view, which is apparently why so many of you enjoy coming here. If you don't like the thread, don't look at it. If you want to discuss the issue without input from those you dislike, use the ignore feature. That's what it's there for.

Shawnee123 · 06-18-2010, 09:18 AM

Sweet! Thanks.

Shawnee123 · 06-18-2010, 10:09 AM

I agree with HM and Dana. :twocents:

[eta] and I agree with Dana's eta.

Shawnee123 · 06-18-2010, 10:28 AM

Redux and Bruce don't always agree, but they seem to do just fine when talking about the things they don't agree upon. *shrugs*

Pie · 06-18-2010, 10:56 AM

Current Politics thread: "I am right, you are wrong. Moreover, you are a bad person for being wrong." Repeat.
Desired Politics thread: "Hey, what does everyone think of this development?" "Well, from my POV, it looks like this. How about you?"

Please stop trying to convince the other guy. You'll never win, and the rest of us will be collateral damage. You're not sticking up for your mom's honor, ffs. You're not a bad person for letting someone else believe something that you think is incorrect.

This is you, now:

Can you see how ridiculous it is?

jinx · 06-18-2010, 11:10 AM

That. ^

glatt · 06-18-2010, 11:34 AM

I love that one.

Flint · 06-18-2010, 11:57 AM

If you ever see me engaged in that kind of internet argument, it is because there is something bothering me in my real life that I don't want to think about. I can't speak for everybody but I think this is more like a distraction/addiction than an actual desire to do any type of communication.

06-18-2010, 12:06 AM	#3
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	here's a theory.... the merc has an irritating rating of 135, but that is mitigated by his willingness to be a real person who we can get to know.....for a -50 irritating effect, netting him a rating of 85 irritating points. redux has an irritating rating of 85. equivalent. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

06-18-2010, 12:08 AM	#4
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	jinx posits that redux has a irritating rating of 65, but a 20 point volume bonus, giving him an overall rating of 85. I concede the point __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

06-18-2010, 02:39 AM	#8
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Maybe I'll start a thread talking about the people I'd like not to see here again, just to see who agrees with me. I'm not backing anyone up here, but responding to the thread itself. We all know the mods will do what they think best in the end and frankly, I think they're doing the right thing now. People are supposed to have a right to express their point of view, which is apparently why so many of you enjoy coming here. If you don't like the thread, don't look at it. If you want to discuss the issue without input from those you dislike, use the ignore feature. That's what it's there for. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

06-18-2010, 09:18 AM	#9
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Sweet! Thanks. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

06-18-2010, 10:09 AM	#10
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I agree with HM and Dana. :twocents: [eta] and I agree with Dana's eta. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

06-18-2010, 10:28 AM	#11
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Redux and Bruce don't always agree, but they seem to do just fine when talking about the things they don't agree upon. shrugs __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

06-18-2010, 10:56 AM	#12
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	Current Politics thread: "I am right, you are wrong. Moreover, you are a bad person for being wrong." Repeat. Desired Politics thread: "Hey, what does everyone think of this development?" "Well, from my POV, it looks like this. How about you?" Please stop trying to convince the other guy. You'll never win, and the rest of us will be collateral damage. You're not sticking up for your mom's honor, ffs. You're not a bad person for letting someone else believe something that you think is incorrect. This is you, now: Can you see how ridiculous it is? __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

06-18-2010, 11:10 AM	#13
jinx Come on, cat. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: general vicinity of Philadelphia area Posts: 7,013	That. ^ __________________ Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good.

06-18-2010, 11:34 AM	#14
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I love that one.

06-18-2010, 11:57 AM	#15
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	If you ever see me engaged in that kind of internet argument, it is because there is something bothering me in my real life that I don't want to think about. I can't speak for everybody but I think this is more like a distraction/addiction than an actual desire to do any type of communication. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

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