The Bicker Board

[TomK]

So many posts are being deleted. Can anyone explain?

Possibly going out on a limb here, but perhaps maybe some sort of divine intervention?

I doubt it. If some deity watches over PW, one wonders why it isn't doing a more productive job elsewhere in the world.

[randomq]

Moderators one and two work in mysterious ways. Perhaps we should make offerings to them, or flog ourselves to show our faith?

[TomK]

I've seen some in the PW universe throw themselves at Rob's feet as if he's a god. Don't get me wrong, I've met Rob, and I like him, I really appreciate his effort to get PW up and running, but let's not go too far. One hopes they can take criticism without sending floods, frogs (I'm glad I wasn't there, but I think I would have laughed), locusts, turning our water into blood, boils and another which, for scholars of the old testament I really want you guys to just... - let's just say it's about kids.

[randomq]

I view Punaweb as Rob's house. We're all guests, our arguments are sometimes entertaining, but you don't want to be the one at the party that makes a scene, or yells at the host.

[Chas]

Yeah, and there's always that one guy at the party that thinks everyone else is an a**hole.

[TomK]

I view Punaweb as Rob's house.  We're all guests, our arguments are sometimes entertaining, but you don't want to be the one at the party that makes a scene, or yells at the host.

I see it more as an open house owned by Rob, but ultimately, it's a forum on the internet. If he wants to chuck people out, that's up to him. Your analogy of "Perhaps we should make offerings to them, or flog ourselves to show our faith?" was amusing, but it is an attempt to make a mountain out of a molehill. Debate means offering ideas and opinions and then questioning and arguing over them from both sides.  Unfortunately, what happens here more often than not is that difficult questions get shut down, not by the post being deleted, but by campaigns that discourage even attempting to answer the questions. Just look at Chas' post. A strawman followed by an ad hominem.

[HiloJulie]

Just look at Chas' post. A strawman followed by an ad hominem.

How do you know Chas was talking about you? A wild guess, or are you now suddenly self-aware?

[TomK]

Huh?

Where did I say it was about me?

PS. And yes, I would certainly describe myself as self-aware. I'm not sure what other options are available to me.

[HiloJulie]

Where did I say it was about me?

How then are you able to ascertain the comment was "a strawman followed by an ad hominem?" 

I would certainly describe myself as self-aware.

Respectfully Doctor, you are the least self-aware person I can think of.

[TomK]

Where did I say it was about me?

How then are you able to ascertain the comment was "a strawman followed by an ad hominem?" 

I would certainly describe myself as self-aware.

Respectfully Doctor, you are the least self-aware person I can think of.

Hilojulie writes:  "How do you know Chas was talking about you? A wild guess, or are you now suddenly self-aware?"

Look, you claim to be a lawyer licensed to practice law in several states. I don't believe that claim for various reasons. Among them are the posts you make. I don't need to show that an argument is about me to show it's a straw man or an ad hominem. This is basic logic. Then you ask if I'm suddenly self-aware. Now I'm the least self-aware person you can think of.

For crying out loud, give it a rest. You're not doing yourself any favors by posting this nonsense.