OMG Hal Bidlack & Forum rules...

[stamenflicker]

My head is spinning. I stopped after Article II. I haven't seen that much detail since my last home closing.

Flick

 

[c4ts]

In multiple conversations with Mr. Randi, Linda, Jeff, Hal, and Andrew, it was decided that trolls whose only purpose is to troll are counterproductive to a successful educational forum. It is the JREF’s desire that the forum exist as a venue for the sharing of ideas and concepts, not as caldron of incivility. We certainly recognize that the forum, in addition to being of educational value, it is also an online community that welcomes pure fun and entertainment as well. It is the stance of the JREF that trolling enhances neither. Therefore, trolling is not permitted. Trolling is a difficult concept to define, and therefore and only in the most egregious cases, will suspension or banning be considered as the sanction. Only forum administrators have the power to suspend or ban, and only after consultation with one another.

 

[Yahzi]

They are finally gonna start banning people?

YAHOOOOOOOOOOO!

I vote for American and Muscleman as odius useless trolls.

 

[Interesting Ian]

They are finally gonna start banning people?

YAHOOOOOOOOOOO!

I vote for American and Muscleman as odius useless trolls.

Yes, but what about me as well???

 

[Guest]

I wanna get banned for something!

 

[Roadtoad]

Yes, but what about me as well???

Naaaah. You're at least amusing.

 

[Yahzi]

Interesting Ian
You are dull, annoying, and prone to hijacking threads with your endless repetitious drone. But you're not a stupid, odius, troll: you at least pretend to have a two-way conversation.

American and Muscleman are talking only to themselves.

 

[c4ts]

Ian's annoying, and now he's also foulmouthed for no apparent reason, but he's no troll.

 

[Interesting Ian]

Ian's annoying, and now he's also foulmouthed for no apparent reason, but he's no troll.

There was a reason, I was very drunk.

edited because I spelt reason wrong.

 

[billydkid]

Sorry

They are finally gonna start banning people?

YAHOOOOOOOOOOO!

I vote for American and Muscleman as odius useless trolls.

Sorry, I can't agree with you. I don't think you can define a troll as someone who disagrees with you and has very strong opinions. I think, in general, banning people from the forum is a really bad thing. Now, if a troll is defined as someone who's only purpose is to disrupt the discussion, well, I can live with that. But I would suggest that the moderators should be VERY, VERY judicious in their judgement when deciding if a person is a troll or not. As annoyingly dense and repellent as, say, muscleman was/is, I hardly think you can call him a troll. People throw that term around fairly loosely. I think the term has a very specific meaning and if this forum is to maintain any of its integrity every effort should be made not to confuse trolls with those who have dissenting or unpopular opinions.

It's funny, when I first came in here sometime last year, I encounter some truly, grossly offensive posts - posts, the purpose of which was to be as offensive and insulting as possible. I brought one in particular to the attention of a moderator and was tersely informed that there would be no censorship here. I see now that the moderators are making all sorts of exceptions to that sentiment. I do certainly hope that unpopular opinions will not target anyone as a potential troll. If that turns out to be the case, then, sadly for me, I will be done posting and reading here. my two cents, BDK

 

[hal bidlack]

As stated clearly in the rules, no one will ever be banned for their point of view, only for their behavior. There are no unacceptable ideas, just unacceptable incivility. And while the banning option is new, no one has yet been banned.

 

[Lord Kenneth]

These new rules are an improvement to the board.

 

[thaiboxerken]

I am thinking that Franko would be one to get himself banned, if he ever comes back to the board.

 

[c4ts]

I am thinking that Franko would be one to get himself banned, if he ever comes back to the board.

He's back already, posting under the name "Wraith." It's like a countdown timer has started, but the screen is blank so you don't know how much time is left before it goes off.