Who do you most easily relate to on MDB?

[_marg]

And Karyn doesn't post here. Too bad you couldn't find a quote from here that illustrated your point. For all I know, you're Karyn in disguise. (We know a bit about disguises here.)

That I couldn't find a quote here, but did somewhere else, is likely a reflection of the sort of posts which occur on this board as opposed to elsewhere.

Look at GAD and E.A. in this thread. A simple question posed , like 'is E.A...male or female?' doesn't get answered in a straight forward manner by either, instead they respond with quips, put downs, seemingly attempting to sound witty and intelligent. There have been I think 3 posts in which they've commented and neither one has given a to the point answer. And these individuals pat each other on the back, praising each other how intelligent they are.

[_harmony]

Look at GAD and E.A. in this thread. A simple question posed , like 'is E.A...male or female?' doesn't get answered in a straight forward manner by either, instead they respond with quips, put downs, seemingly attempting to sound witty and intelligent. There have been I think 3 posts in which they've commented and neither one has given a to the point answer. And these individuals pat each other on the back, praising each other how intelligent they are.

I've known them both online, for years. How is it you've managed to miss their gender?

[_Jersey Girl]

Here's more from Karyn, these were her comments prior to making the one's that marg posted.

Author: Karyn
Date: 04-28-08 01:00

This is my first time coming back to this forum in a couple of years. I am TOTALLY amazed to find the same people on here, posting! That is so cool. I'm finding that I have a LOT of reading to catch up on.

Some of you might remember me. My name is Karyn.

My viewpoints have changed lot, over the years. :)

Anyway, just wanted to say Hi for those who remember me. And, to say that I really truly appreciate the talented and amazingly knowledgable scholars on this site. You have no idea how much you have impacted and influenced my life and my beliefs over the past several years and all that has happened to me personally.

Cheers -

Karyn

Do you notice where she refers to talented and knowledgable scholars during her time on the board? That was the difference between that board at the time and this board. That's not to say there aren't talented and knowledable scholars on this board however, that was the very nature of the 2think community back then. It was filled to the brim with good heads.

The reason that I don't think JAK is well received on this board is because in most cases, the threads here don't lend themselves to serious discussion and when they do, it's typically short lived. JAK is one who digs deep into a topic and stays on it until it's picked clean. I have gone one:one with JAK for pages and posts on end. That's his style and his greatest strength (though he might say analysis) is his ability to probe in depth and at length. He will simultaneously probe your thinking on a topic and teach you to be more precise in your communication. Anyone who cares to subject themselves to him will be changed by the experience.

If there is a forum here that best fits JAK, it's the Celestial Forum, the least trafficked forum on this board. That tends to bear out what I stated previously. The nature of this board is different than what 2think was during the time Karyn refers to.

And that's why he isn't well received on this board with the clear exception of Roger and a few others who care to engage in deeper discussion. The majority of posters in this community are not of that ilk.

Take a look at The Straight Dope Message board in the Great Debates forum. That's where you'd find JAK and the types of discussions that are very rare on this board.

[_VinVishnu]

But I don't want to name names of current posters.

The wisdom of The Dude.

[_harmony]

The reason that I don't think JAK is well received on this board is because in most cases, the threads here don't lend themselves to serious discussion and when they do, it's typically short lived.

Jak doesn't just copy and paste websites and forget to add a link in haste. He's also not just paraphrasing others' ideas without mentioning the inspiration. Jak goes to websites, takes selective passages, intersperses them with his own writing while adding his own minor, usually bad edits to those passages, and passes them off as his own. He does it frequently. It's not hard to tell when he is plagiarizing. Just look for when his writing sounds coherent and intelligent, or original in a good way, do a simple websearch, and you'll find out where he's stealing it from. Because, honestly, he's incredibly inarticulate when he's not stealing someone else's words. I almost feel vicarious embarrassment for you because you can't see how you've been duped by him. Professor of logic? Honestly. Think.

Sounds like EA doesn't agree with you. The thing I noticed between the two of you when you're discussing JAK is that EA doesn't have anything to say, pro or con, about this board or anywhere else. He addresses JAK himself, and his tendency to usurp someone else's words and present them as his own. I wonder how many times JAK's done that elsewhere... and no one caught it.

Makes me go hmmmmm.

[_marg]

I've known them both online, for years. How is it you've managed to miss their gender?

I've never seen anything written by E.A. which indicates one way or the other.
It's quite possible E.A. doesn't want to be specific. That's their choice. Whenever I've mentioned their gender or referred to them and he/she they've never corrected me.

[_harmony]

I've never seen anything written by E.A. which indicates one way or the other.

Well, that tells me you haven't read as much EA as I have.

It's quite possible E.A. doesn't want to be specific. That's their choice. Whenever I've mentioned their gender or referred to them and he/she they've never corrected me.

It's all a conspiracy and you're the victim, marg.

[_Jersey Girl]

The reason that I don't think JAK is well received on this board is because in most cases, the threads here don't lend themselves to serious discussion and when they do, it's typically short lived.

Jak doesn't just copy and paste websites and forget to add a link in haste. He's also not just paraphrasing others' ideas without mentioning the inspiration. Jak goes to websites, takes selective passages, intersperses them with his own writing while adding his own minor, usually bad edits to those passages, and passes them off as his own. He does it frequently. It's not hard to tell when he is plagiarizing. Just look for when his writing sounds coherent and intelligent, or original in a good way, do a simple websearch, and you'll find out where he's stealing it from. Because, honestly, he's incredibly inarticulate when he's not stealing someone else's words. I almost feel vicarious embarrassment for you because you can't see how you've been duped by him. Professor of logic? Honestly. Think.

Sounds like EA doesn't agree with you. The thing I noticed between the two of you when you're discussing JAK is that EA doesn't have anything to say, pro or con, about this board or anywhere else. He addresses JAK himself, and his tendency to usurp someone else's words and present them as his own. I wonder how many times JAK's done that elsewhere... and no one caught it.

Makes me go hmmmmm.

Are you aware of the number of posters that you know from ZLMB and perhaps other venues, who originated on 2think and interacted with each other for years prior to them showing up on Z? These are folks that you claim wouldn't pick up on someone plagiarizing.

[_marg]

Sounds like EA doesn't agree with you. The thing I noticed between the two of you when you're discussing JAK is that EA doesn't have anything to say, pro or con, about this board or anywhere else. He addresses JAK himself, and his tendency to usurp someone else's words and present them as his own. I wonder how many times JAK's done that elsewhere... and no one caught it.

Makes me go hmmmmm.

First of all JAK didn't enter this thread. As I pointed out previously GAD doesn't have the class to not take pot shots at individuals not involved.

As far your comment...E.A. is not critical of the board while I was in my post, you are right. In fact I had just woken up, read your post responded rather quickly, went to get some lunch and realized my post wasn't well thought out. I certainly did not make it clear what my point was. This board has some unique features but many more similarities with most other discussion boards. I think generally on the Net very few discussion boards have discussions in which both/all parties truly are seeking a meeting of the minds and are open-minded such that they readily will acknowledge and embrace opinions and beliefs which differ to their own. And changing opinion and beliefs is more often than not for most individuals,a gradual evolving process over extended time, not in one discussion. My point was not to criticize this board as being unusual in this regard, I didn't mean to criticize posters generally on this board. There certainly are posters on here who do try to engage others with sincerity, and respect. My focus was meant to be on GAD and E.A.

E.A. I did compliment and acknowledged that I do see him/her trying to engage others without insult, without attempting to sound witty all the time. However in this thread, what E.A. did was typical of what I had been critical of GAD about. That is, instead of answering a question with a straight forward response, which showed a desire to communicate without insulting, without being on some sort of an ego trip, E.A. chose instead to respond condescendingly, evasively..when a simple answer would have sufficed.

Now I didn't set out to be critical of GAD. My first post which he took as a criticism of him it seems and decided to respond in his usual condescending sarcastic way, is what led me to express some of my opinion of him and then of E.A.

[_The Nehor]

Well, for what it's worth, Harm, you have had a very positive influence on me. Your comments actually drew me to Shades' board to begin with.

You validated my feelings that it was OK to have disagreements with key doctrine like polygamy, and still make it work as a member.

Thanks, Liz. It's a sad thing, but I'm beginning to lean towards the idea that we are all islands, surrounded by shark infested waters. And when we venture out into the water, we get bit and we bleed and our hearts die a little faster than they might have if we'd just been smart enough to realize we should have stayed on our little island. I realize I should have figured this out years ago, because we all know I am old, but it's a character failing of mine that I simply have a hard time understanding some of the hard lessons of life. Things are hardly ever what they seem, and people like me are stupid, foolish, and vulnerable, and friends just... aren't.

Quick tip that might help. Kick the sharks in the nose. Makes swimming through easier.