Does anyone understand how things work with the banning?

The catch-all forum for general topics and debates. Minimal moderation. Rated PG to PG-13.
_Moniker
_Emeritus
Posts: 4004
Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2007 11:53 pm

Post by _Moniker »

Tarski wrote: Since I am an atheist/agnostic who knows something about cosmology, I think I ought to be allowed in a thread about and article whose title is "Cosmology and Atheism".
But maybe that's precisely way I am banned from the topic.


It goes without saying.


Skippy, I agree that it makes sense to disallow certain posters from derailing a thread -- I actually wish we had more of that here! Of course I moderate myself lately. :)
_Moniker
_Emeritus
Posts: 4004
Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2007 11:53 pm

Post by _Moniker »

Daniel Peterson wrote:
Chap wrote:If DCP wanted Tarski unbanned, he could certainly arrange it. He could at least mention that fact on the thread.

But no. That is the kind of intellectual coward he is.

I've just noticed this thread. (I don't look in here every day.) I didn't know that Tarski was banned. (I haven't posted anything on the board formerly known as FAIR since early last evening, if I'm not mistaken.) I still don't know that he's been banned, actually, and have no idea why he would have been banned, either. If indeed he was.

As Tarski well knows -- and as, in simple fairness to me, he should by now have mentioned -- I intervened privately with the moderators on his behalf just a few weeks ago and persuaded them to unban him.

And don't worry. My thoughts on theism and cosmology will be published eventually, and it'll be open season on me in any and all venues that the critics choose. That's the kind of intellectual coward I am.


Dr. Peterson, I assumed that a mod took it upon themselves to ban Tarski from that thread, which is unfortunate. I was under the strong impression that you had intervened prior on behalf of Tarski -- he commented on someone intervening and from his description of the apologist it was fairly clear it was you. It would have been an interesting conversation, and yet, I suppose we all must find some other past time to entertain us. I'm currently reading a fantastic biography of Dare Wright. :)
_Jersey Girl
_Emeritus
Posts: 34407
Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2006 1:16 am

Post by _Jersey Girl »

Moniker wrote:
Tarski wrote: Since I am an atheist/agnostic who knows something about cosmology, I think I ought to be allowed in a thread about and article whose title is "Cosmology and Atheism".
But maybe that's precisely way I am banned from the topic.


It goes without saying.


Skippy, I agree that it makes sense to disallow certain posters from derailing a thread -- I actually wish we had more of that here! Of course I moderate myself lately. :)


:-) Just be glad that there isn't. With such "powers" I'd be knocking people off threads to the point where what would be left would only be topical posts.

Such a concept, eh?
Failure is not falling down but refusing to get up.
Chinese Proverb
_moksha
_Emeritus
Posts: 22508
Joined: Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:42 pm

Post by _moksha »

Daniel Peterson wrote: My thoughts on theism and cosmology will be published eventually, and it'll be open season on me in any and all venues that the critics choose.


With critics and fans buying the book, it is sure to be a best seller.
Cry Heaven and let loose the Penguins of Peace
_Chap
_Emeritus
Posts: 14190
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:23 am

Post by _Chap »

Daniel Peterson wrote:
Chap wrote:If DCP wanted Tarski unbanned, he could certainly arrange it. He could at least mention that fact on the thread.

But no. That is the kind of intellectual coward he is.

I've just noticed this thread. (I don't look in here every day.) I didn't know that Tarski was banned. (I haven't posted anything on the board formerly known as FAIR since early last evening, if I'm not mistaken.) I still don't know that he's been banned, actually, and have no idea why he would have been banned, either. If indeed he was.

As Tarski well knows -- and as, in simple fairness to me, he should by now have mentioned -- I intervened privately with the moderators on his behalf just a few weeks ago and persuaded them to unban him.


Oh good. So DCP has arranged for Tarski to be allowed to post again on this thread?

Or if his influence is not enough to secure that, he has posted a note on the thread saying that Tarski is not replying to DCP because he is banned? (Or maybe DCP can't risk that, because then he would be banned. LOL).

And don't worry. My thoughts on theism and cosmology will be published eventually, and it'll be open season on me in any and all venues that the critics choose. That's the kind of intellectual coward I am.


Odd that he spends post after post declining to discuss his thoughts on cosmology in relation to theism, published online, in an online discussion list devoted to Mormon apologetics. But of course DCP rarely posts on MAD in recent years, because he has many more important things to do.

Brilliant as DCP is, I shan't be rushing to read his printed thoughts on cosmology any more than I suppose he would rush to read Stephen Hawking's thoughts on Maimonides' grammatical peculiarities. It's that old 'credentials' thing again, I suppose.
_The Dude
_Emeritus
Posts: 2976
Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2006 3:16 am

Post by _The Dude »

Moniker wrote:I find it surprising that there are individual threads where certain posters are not able to post. Has this ever occurred before? Is the Dude still suspended from MAD, as well?


I'm not exactly suspended. Instead I've had my posting privileges "removed" for the last three weeks, maybe indefinitely. It does seem that the new software upgrade has given the MAD mods new powers to handicap posters in specific ways, which can be more agonizing than outright banning. Maybe next they will eliminate Tarski's ability to use vowels or even worse, for his field, the ability to type numbers. He will have to spell them out. Yikes, now I've gone and given them ideas. Sorry!
"And yet another little spot is smoothed out of the echo chamber wall..." Bond
_Moniker
_Emeritus
Posts: 4004
Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2007 11:53 pm

Post by _Moniker »

The Dude wrote:
Moniker wrote:I find it surprising that there are individual threads where certain posters are not able to post. Has this ever occurred before? Is the Dude still suspended from MAD, as well?


I'm not exactly suspended. Instead I've had my posting privileges "removed" for the last three weeks, maybe indefinitely. It does seem that the new software upgrade has given the MAD mods new powers to handicap posters in specific ways, which can be more agonizing than outright banning.


Well, there's no apologetics if there are no critics. Ho hum.

Tarski, can you post in other threads? Are you certain it's just the one that you can't post in?

Maybe next they will eliminate Tarski's ability to use vowels or even worse, for his field, the ability to type numbers. He will have to spell them out. Yikes, now I've gone and given them ideas. Sorry!


I have a helpful suggestion -- they should tweak the board software so every time Tarski types "angle" it comes out as "angel". This should ensure that those so eager to point out this error, by a mathematician, have time to fret over less important matters.
_Chap
_Emeritus
Posts: 14190
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:23 am

Post by _Chap »

Moniker wrote:Tarski, can you post in other threads? Are you certain it's just the one that you can't post in?


I have just had one of my rare looks at MAD. Believe me there aren't a lot of threads there at the moment that you would really want to waste your time posting on.

The MAD mods seem to be deliberately trying to turn their board into a place where a few not very bright or well-informed non-LDS are allowed to drift in from time to time to say dumb things, but apart from that it is (mostly not very bright or well-informed) LDS talking to themselves about LDS trivia of various kinds. Oh yes, and from time to time DCP drops by to post about his lunch dates, or otherwise impress people with his life as a B-list academic.

The Dude, Tarski ... too intelligent. Too well-informed. Too calm and sensible. They had to go.
_Daniel Peterson
_Emeritus
Posts: 7173
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:56 pm

Post by _Daniel Peterson »

Chap wrote: Oh yes, and from time to time DCP drops by to post about his lunch dates, or otherwise impress people with his life as a B-list academic."

"B-list academic." I like that.

It's even better than "intellectual coward," your previous entry.

I think I'll add it to my vast archive of quotations.
_skippy the dead
_Emeritus
Posts: 1676
Joined: Sat Jan 06, 2007 5:39 am

Post by _skippy the dead »

Daniel Peterson wrote:<snip>


This has nothing to do with anything, but I totally dig the new avatar.
I may be going to hell in a bucket, babe / But at least I'm enjoying the ride.
-Grateful Dead (lyrics by John Perry Barlow)
Post Reply