Online Apologetics and "Collateral Damage"

[_Daniel Peterson]

I am still waiting to for DCP to confirm or deny Bill Hamblin's statement.

It's Bill Hamblin's statement.

Ask him.

[_Mister Scratch]

I am still waiting to for DCP to confirm or deny Bill Hamblin's statement.

It's Bill Hamblin's statement.

Ask him.

Why are you avoiding this question so adamantly, Prof. P.? Is it because it's true, and, in fact, Prof. H. engages in this utterly sophomoric tomfoolery in all of his FARMS work?

[_harmony]

I think, yes, that the grim humorlessness and never-ending obsessiveness of Scartch's on-line campaign of defamation -- at least two years old now, and going at least as strong as ever -- suggest that he might have psychological problems.

When you get your PhD in Online Psychology, then you'll have standing on which to make this judgment. Until then, you have yet to show you have any understanding of psychological problems at all, let alone mental illness. And I've never seen you make any claim to a background in psychology. Maybe I missed that.

As for my living my religion, I think that can only be judged by watching me live.

You judge Scratch as mentally ill, needing counseling based on your interaction on an internet bulletin board, yet object when someone judges you as exhibiting less than Christian behavior using the same medium.

Either it's possible to judge someone in some capacity using the internet as the means of communication, or it's not. You can't have it both ways.

Watching me respond to obscene insults and allegations of unethical behavior day after day after day on a polemical message board might not be the best way of judging my overall mode of life --

And watching Scratch engage you in a war of words is likely not the best way to judge his overall mental capacity (which you aren't qualified to judge even in real life, unless you're hiding a PhD in Psychology in a closet somewhere). Mental illness isn't something to laugh about, or sling around with a shotgun approach. And if you knew anything about psychology, you'd know not only how wrong you are, but how unethical you'd be (if you knew anything about psychology, that is.)

...though I have to say that, in my view, I've been relatively restrained. Being anonymously accused of harboring homocidal desires, seeing my wife obscenely mocked, being portrayed as a man who deliberately sets out to destroy other people's lives and livelihoods and who revels in cruelty and lies, week after week after week for months and even years, might have been met with less restraint and humor than, in fact, I've met it with.

Actually, while probably rehensible and certainly uncomfortable, none of this adds up to a mental illness or a need for counseling.

[_collegeterrace]

As for my living my religion, I think that can only be judged by watching me live.

You judge Scratch as mentally ill, needing counseling based on your interaction on an internet bulletin board, yet object when someone judges you as exhibiting less than Christian behavior using the same medium.

Either it's possible to judge someone in some capacity using the internet as the means of communication, or it's not. You can't have it both ways.

BRAVO.

Reply of the day.

Dan is upset he does not get the same service and protection as he gets on yonder board.

[_harmony]

Why are you avoiding this question so adamantly, Prof. P.? Is it because it's true, and, in fact, Prof. H. engages in this utterly sophomoric tomfoolery in all of his FARMS work?

You know, I feel kinda sorry for Daniel. His friend(s), in particular Mr Hamblin, almost sank Dan's publication some 15 years ago with their immature unprofessional antics, resulting in a huge "stop the presses!" kind of reaction. So poor Dan has spent the last 15 years trying to build/rebuild some sort of serious scholarship in his publication. And here his same friend is saying he often sends Daniel "jokes" among his papers for publication. The poor guy has to hunt them down and edit them out...again... or else he'll be stuck with another Butthead incident, which will again give subscribers and readers alike another opportunity to raise their eyebrows once again at Dan's editing and publication.

That's just gotta suck, ya know? With friends like Bill Hamblin, who needs Mr Scratch?

[_Mister Scratch]

...though I have to say that, in my view, I've been relatively restrained. Being anonymously accused of harboring homocidal desires, seeing my wife obscenely mocked, being portrayed as a man who deliberately sets out to destroy other people's lives and livelihoods and who revels in cruelty and lies, week after week after week for months and even years, might have been met with less restraint and humor than, in fact, I've met it with.

Actually, while probably rehensible and certainly uncomfortable, none of this adds up to a mental illness or a need for counseling.

Harmony demonstrates yet again why I consider her to be one of the best, most reliable posters. Truly: her integrity is something we all should emulate.

That said, I think some clarification is in order, since DCP apparently felt it was okay to conflate my analysis of his posts with all these other offenses.
1. The "homocidal desires" [sic---I assume he means "homicidal?"] accusations stem from his own "joking" death threats.
2. I have never, ever said anything about DCP's wife. The lone comment I've made concerning his family was when I wished his soon-to-depart son well on his mission. DCP thanked me for the well-wishes.
3. As to the other accusations: I don't think there is any "portraying" going on. All one has to do is read the Good Professor's own words. They speak for themselves.

[_Daniel Peterson]

When you get your PhD in Online Psychology, then you'll have standing on which to make this judgment. Until then, you have yet to show you have any understanding of psychological problems at all, let alone mental illness. And I've never seen you make any claim to a background in psychology. Maybe I missed that.

Oh, I don't presume to diagnose him. And it's entirely possible, for example, that he's simply a malicious person. I don't know exactly what his problem is.

You judge Scratch as mentally ill

No. I don't.

I think it's possible that he's mentally ill. His behavior, it strikes me, is consistent with a psychological problem of some sort. Only a clinician could form a meaningful judgment, though, and, even then, only after direct personal interaction with him.

Mental illness isn't something to laugh about, or sling around with a shotgun approach.

I haven't been laughing about it. I'm entirely in earnest.

I've dealt with a number of mentally or emotionally disturbed people, and I don't find their difficulties in any way comical.

[_Daniel Peterson]

You know, I feel kinda sorry for Daniel.

Aw shucks. Thanks.

His friend(s), in particular Mr Hamblin, almost sank Dan's publication some 15 years ago with their immature unprofessional antics,

They did?

I didn't know that.

And what destructive "friends" of mine do you have in mind, besides Dr. Hamblin?

resulting in a huge "stop the presses!" kind of reaction.

This wasn't particularly "huge." Problems with print runs, etc., are unfortunately fairly common.

So poor Dan has spent the last 15 years trying to build/rebuild some sort of serious scholarship in his publication.

This is fascinating. Where did you learn all this stuff?

And here his same friend is saying he often sends Daniel "jokes" among his papers for publication.

Truly, a watershed moment in the history of Mopologetics!

The poor guy has to hunt them down and edit them out...again... or else he'll be stuck with another Butthead incident, which will again give subscribers and readers alike another opportunity to raise their eyebrows once again at Dan's editing and publication.

Oh, the humanity!

That's just gotta suck, ya know? With friends like Bill Hamblin, who needs Mr Scratch?

With yarn-spinners like harmony, who needs Stephanie Meyer?

[_Mister Scratch]

And here his same friend is saying he often sends Daniel "jokes" among his papers for publication.

Truly, a watershed moment in the history of Mopologetics!

Thanks for finally answering my question, even if only implicitly.

[_Daniel Peterson]

Thanks for finally answering my question, even if only implicitly.

Cue theme from Twilight Zone.