Moderation Issues (2)

cropped-adelie-penguin-antarctica_89655_990x7421.jpgAs the replacement Moderation page has developed the old bug so that permalinks no longer navigate to the appropriate comment, so here is yet another page for continuing discussion on moderating issues. The Rules can be found there so anyone with an issue should check that they are familiar with them.

2,308 thoughts on “Moderation Issues (2)”

  2. Joe Felsenstein,

    But then it never lets you get out of LaTeX mode?

    Yes, you just need to pair the dollars. I had used one to say “$-bracketed”, and it ran on looking for a close, which was actually my intended opener.

  5. Joe Felsenstein,

    Joe, sorry, it’s my fault. I disabled “site-wide” option to check if that was affecting the page bug and double-caret bug (it wasn’t) but forgot to restore “site-wide”. Now you should find enclosing latex code between single dollar signs shows as latex in the line and between double dollar signs as on its own line.

  6. Moderators,

    I’ve noticed that a lot of the links in older comment threads are broken because they reference OPs by number instead of name. Apparently when the switchover was done, the links didn’t get updated.

    Example: All of the links in this old comment are broken.

  7. Yes, I know, keiths. I did fix a few of them, but there are many that I couldn’t trace the owners of.

    It’s also a big job to do. I did post once saying that if anyone wants to identify themselves as the owner of a particular post, I can then attribute all their posts to them.

    Although tbh, I’ve actually forgotten how. I expect I could remember again, though.

  9. By the way, wasn’t Paul Barthmaier doing some pro bono WordPress consulting at TSZ?

  10. Not a moderation issue per se, but I just noticed that I seem to be able to view comments that are in the moderation queue. Given that I’m very new around here and can’t imagine why I would be given this “authority”, this seems a bit odd to me. Am I supposed to be able to view the moderation queue?

  11. Dave Carlson: , but I just noticed that I seem to be able to view comments that are in the moderation queue.

    Everyone with author privileges can see the moderation queue if they choose to look. They cannot do any actual moderating unless they are the author of that thread.

    There was an item in the queue a little while ago, and that’s what you probably saw. My guess is that it was a “post by mistake”, since it was identical with the first few lines of the previously posted comment. The person who posted that probably hit “delete” which puts it in the moderation queue. I moved it to trash.

    Anyone with author privileges (which includes most folk posting here) can also see what is in trash.

  12. Neil Rickert: Everyone with author privileges can see the moderation queue if they choose to look.They cannot do any actual moderating unless they are the author of that thread.

    There was an item in the queue a little while ago, and that’s what you probably saw.My guess is that it was a “post by mistake”, since it was identical with the first few lines of the previously posted comment.The person who posted that probably hit “delete” which puts it in the moderation queue.I moved it to trash.

    Anyone with author privileges (which includes most folk posting here) can also see what is in trash.

    Thanks for the information. I didn’t even realize that I had author privileges. I will try not to abuse them. 🙂

  13. Dave Carlson: I didn’t even realize that I had author privileges.

    I just checked, and it turns out that you only have contributor privileges. If you decide you want to post a new thread, then please request author privileges.

  14. Neil Rickert: I just checked, and it turns out that you only have contributor privileges.If you decide you want to post a new thread, then please request author privileges.

    Ok, will do!

  15. As Petrushka points out, the “somethings are not so simple” thread has developed a new look and feel. If this is not some moderator’s A/B experiment, maybe someone could take a look at it?

  16. BruceS: As Petrushka points out, the “somethings are not so simple” thread has developed a new look and feel.

    Fixed, I think.

    It was the use of “<” instead of “&lt;” that caused the problem.

  17. Moderators:

    Gregory’s relentless campaign of abuse towards me continues.

    He has been asked many times to tone it down, to be civil, to be respectful, etc. He refuses to show any respect towards anyone he disagrees with — not just myself but also Elizabeth, hotshoe, and many others.

    I enjoy participating in TSZ, but if the price of coming here is exposing myself to Gregory’s nearly-incoherent vitriol directed expressly at me, then the price is too high. I come here because I find some value in our discussions, but I don’t have the emotional energy to spare to deal with his vindictive bullshit.

    It’s come down to this: if the moderators refuse to ban Gregory, I’m gone.

  18. Kantian Naturalist,

    That sure comes across as a direct threat to Moderators.

    “I’m not sure there are any such things as “religious truths” – KN

    It’s apparently a big problem for you that I see clearly and better than most people here (although Erik sees most ably these things too) the particular ideologies you promote on a regular basis. You have, after all, announced these ideologies repeatedly at this venue. I am putting no words in your mouth that you haven’t already said about yourself. And you ‘taking it personal’ the beliefs you hold, especially when they are challenged is nothing unusual. But to threaten people like George W. Bush – you’re either with us or you’re against us – is just sad.

    “some people here who are constitutionally incapable of understanding me; I’ve learned to ignore them.” – KN (side-swiping)

    It’s obviously not that I’m incapable; it’s rather that I see too well the conclusions that your disenchanting ideologies lead to. And I reject them and you as their deliverer. If you can’t defend your ideas, then stop posting them in public.

    You just indirectly called me a ‘troll’ for making factually correct statements (e.g. “One cannot be ‘God’s chosen people’ if (one believes) there is no God!”). Please understand, KN, that you do have a (constitutional right) communicative prerogative, but you don’t have a monopoly on ‘truth’, even as a ‘professional’ philosopher. And it is entirely in keeping with Lizzie’s rules to state that plainly.

    Respect? Have you not heard some of the things people have said disrespectfully about theists here, with no moderation requested (because you’re allowed to be rude here, just ask hotshoe)?! Nothing I have written about KN is intended as, nor should it ever be interpreted as ‘abuse’. It’s just his hyper-sensitivity to ‘truths’ reflecting some kind of prima donna complex to complain.

    I would issue an apology to him. It not hard to pin down what he thinks he should deserve an apology for. Yet he has made a choice to question truths against his own ‘religion.’ No one is responsible for that foolishness but himself.

    Does anyone think this post should be banned or censored from this blog? http://theskepticalzone.fr/the-varieties-of-religious-language/comment-page-3/#comment-83899 Apparently KN just has really thin skin.

    If KN spends too much of his ’emotional energy’ on avoiding legitimate questions and criticisms of his confused ideologies, he shouldn’t hold anyone else accountable to that but himself (and consult with his Maker about it).

  19. Kantian Naturalist: It’s come down to this: if the moderators refuse to ban Gregory, I’m gone.

    I prefer to leave that decision to Elizabeth.

    My suggestion, in the interim, would be that you ignore Gregory. I think just about everyone participating here (other than Gregory) sees what is going on and pays no attention to those insults.

    For myself, I have no problem ignoring Gregory, even when I am his target. But I’ll admit that this has something to do with age. When I was your age, I would have reacted with anger. Now, I just laugh it off.

  20. Gregory: That sure comes across as a direct threat to Moderators.

    As a moderator, I did not feel threatened.

    I value KN’s contributions to the discussion. But he is free to come and go as he wishes. Saying that he might end his participation is not any kind of threat, at least as I see it.

  21. Neil Rickert,

    This is so TA/SZ. Moderator Neil Rickert can’t even recognise an ultimatum! 😉

    Just read the ‘IF’, Neil, in “if the moderators refuse to ban, I’m gone.” Wake up man.

  22. My older brother used to build model airplanes the hard way. He started with flat sheets of balsa wood and cut each piece by hand (he dis have patterns). The pieces were laborously glued together and the resulting frame covered with tissue paper and painted. A single plane might represent a month’s work. He had a dozen or more completed.

    One day he threatened to burn them if he didn’t get his way on some family matter. My mother’s response was go ahead.

    I find it a bit odd that most of us were subject to constant abuse at UD, and considered it a something of a loss when we were banned. It makes no sense to me to leave a site because we are verbally abused.

    I note that theists here are subject to rather strong arguments, bordering on charges of dishonesty and intellectual incompetence, and yet a few have stuck it out.

    I don’t know if gregory’s posts are actually abusive, because I skim over them. Just paying enough attention to see if he has actually said anything. So far it’s a big no.

  23. “I note that theists here are subject to rather strong arguments, bordering on charges of dishonesty and intellectual incompetence, and yet a few have stuck it out.”

    Thanks for acknowledging that petrushka. I agree. Though, instead of ‘strong’, the more accurate word would be ‘aggressive.’

    KN to me doesn’t appear ‘strong’ either in his knowledge or cultural lack of faith. Beware of philosophistic selfishness dressed as confused intelligence.

  24. For the record, gregory, I can’t imagine why anyone would take your posts seriously enough to be offended. I can’t recall you ever saying anything that wasn’t a content-free personal insult.

    They aren’t even witty or clever.

  27. Very well — I acknowledge that I over-reacted and I’ll try harder to simply ignore him.

  29. petrushka: My older brother used to build model airplanes the hard way. He started with flat sheets of balsa wood and cut each piece by hand (he dis have patterns). The pieces were laborously glued together and the resulting frame covered with tissue paper and painted. A single plane might represent a month’s work. He had a dozen or more completed.

    I built a number of Guilllow kits when I was a kid (balsa and silkspan), as well as a fairly large, scratch built model of the plane in which Bleriot first flew the English channel.

    Many contented hours fondly recalled. (Probably a toluene high from the glues and dope.)

  30. Kantian Naturalist: Very well — I acknowledge that I over-reacted and I’ll try harder to simply ignore him.

    And I would happily try harder to piss Gregory off, if it would piss him off enough to make him go away 🙂

    KN and I might make a good team!

  31. hotshoe_: And I would happily try harder to piss Gregory off, if it would piss him off enough to make him go away

    KN and I might make a good team!

    I doubt that there is anything anyone here could say that would cause Gregory to leave us alone. He believes with every fiber of his being that atheism is evil, and he is committed to waging the war against evil at all costs.

    From what I can tell, Gregory genuinely doesn’t believe that atheists are people who simply disagree with him about ultimate metaphysical issues but with whom one can have a civil, reasonable conversation about shared concerns. In other words, he is as anti-liberal and anti-secular as the Communists he hates.

  32. Gregory: Does anyone think this post should be banned or censored from this blog?

    Nope.

    And the vitriol spewed at fifth was never even Guano’d.

    It’s hilarious seeing the posts Elizabeth sent to Guano considering how tame they are. I guess that’s one way to send a message. lol.

    Blind leading the blind.

  33. Mung: Nope.

    And the vitriol spewed at fifth was never even Guano’d.

    It’s hilarious seeing the posts Elizabeth sent to Guano considering how tame they are. I guess that’s one way to send a message. lol

    Oh,brother

  34. Perhaps, to please Gregory (Mung too, perhaps) I should make myself believe that which I find fundamentally unbelievable. Then I’d be OK and not-evil. Alternatively – fuck ’em.

  35. None of us admins are actively on the look-out for rule violations. I tend to leave comment-moving to Lizzie unless she happens to be absent. Anyone is welcome to give a heads-up to an admin regarding a rule-breaking comment, preferably using the message facility.

  36. I’m not aware of a specific rule against rudeness. The unbreakable rule is against accusing others of being disingenuous.

  37. petrushka:
    I’m not aware of a specific rule against rudeness. The unbreakable rule is against accusing others of being disingenuous.

    Haha. Excellent! 🙂

  38. Moved comments to guano, some rule-breaking and some to preserve continuity.

    I suggest the Noyau thread for those wishing to continue personal arguments.

  44. Alan Fox: I suggest the Noyau thread for those wishing to continue personal arguments.

    Not for me — I’m over with quarreling with Gregory for now.

  45. Gregory,

    Typical asshole, all too common from aggressive atheists at TA/SZ.

    Pretty much what I said, in lampooning style. No need to lampoon yourself.

  47. Kantian Naturalist: Not for me — I’m over with quarreling with Gregory for now.

    Participation in the Noyau thread is entirely voluntary. The idea is (as my JTB has it) that the rules (except for Noyau) are intended to facilitate civil discourse between parties with strongly diverging views. Bref, address the post, not the poster. Noyau allows uncivil discourse!

  49. Kantian Naturalist,

    Speaking as someone who obviously has different views than yours, I sincerely hope you stay.

    Don’t let rude comments silence your valuable contributions to these discussions.

  50. Well, I didn’t realize it was up for a vote. But my vote is that KN leaves, at least until after Yom Kippur.

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