When the forefathers of America chiseled out the Republic, they had intended it to be as limited in government as possible. The theory was if you had very little government, very little rules and laws, that would insure liberty. But then you had the rise of those Statists who point 'well no rules cause lawlessness'. Well of course they do, so do rules. The idea is that rules bring order to chaos and of course in reality all it does is create a reason to break those rules. It's simply the way human psychology works.
If left to themselves, to the natural order of people, since there is a natural order of superior and inferior minds and strengths and capacities, people sort themselves out. However rules and regulations, the more they are created, the more they create a reason to break them since they limit people in ways which they are not meant to be. Of all the laws written in the books now, having not enforced the previous ones 'lawmakers' make new laws. The idea is that we are doing "what is best for the people" or "public policy", we want this to be good for "all" people. Such ideas, while they may be well intentioned on behalf of those that seek to impose a non-existent utopian ideal that can never be reached since each person is a unique individual and different in tastes, intellect, preferences, only adds to a more state of confusion. One can easily see that the reason there is more crime is because of more and more laws, more and more centralization, more and more limitations on the individual to the point where the individual feels repressed and literaly there is nothing he cannot not do that is not in some way breaking a rule. Eventually all systems move towards disorder, that seek to consolidate or central power or morality or rules into a single framework.
This forum has been witnessing the apogee of its crisis lately. With the influx of newbies, some bright, and some not so bright, we have had some seismic activities, and of course the lower of our quality. The admin, while in good intention, has created a certain number of guidelines for us to follow, as if we are little children and need to be guided ( that is the reason why politicians are elected and make rules and regulations for you to follow since you are children and need to be looked after ).
When I came to these forums, I was pretty much the only one with a few other posters, the admin was like wise there from the start, although didn't post much. What happened was a synthesis between those of us that were there from the start, and we developed a sense of cohesion and flow. We made many different types of posts, from sardonic insults, to quality discussions, to laffing out loud humor.
Then came pests like "fittypercent" or "speakenglishordie". Now one can point to the rules and say "well these are to ensure that people like that dont get out of line". But a rule won't stop an individual. Throughout our foruming it was us, those of us that were maintaining the quality of this place and the feeling of 'community' that eventually drove out these pests that no one liked. The more they began to see what we unleashed on them, they ran away. Then came members who brought quality and charm and they easily blended because they saw this has a welcoming place and naturally this place welcomed those that brought their quality and charm.
Then came the "flamer forum" which confined us in our insults to the flamer forum where now there was no chance of driving out mediocre minds. Some of us objected, some didn't. Now came these "guidelines".
This rule can be bended in so many ways. Now this gives a reason for posters to abuse this rule and appeal to the moderator or admin in the name of "its abusive I dont like it, waahhh wahhhh". This creates a problem for those of us who use this as humor. Now we have to be serious model posters at all times.
It used to be if the posts or threads that were ill researched and stupid, the author would here from those that were more well informed. It simply existed in a natural order of how most things exist. Eventually if mediocre minds make mediocre threads, they will be teased or corrected, or what have you. Until they learn proper foruming they wont make threads, they will instead see the consequence of what happens to newbies that make ill researched threads.
This used to be the norm. If you scroll back far enough to all my old threads, most of the threads were consistent. It wasn't until "chatroom style foruming' that this began to shift, and coincidentally it was around the time of the flamer forum, when people who were guilty of going off topic couldn't be made fun of or feel the wrath of what happens when you do stupid things.
What if I behave like a rowdy sardonic animal in a public location? I simply go steal candies from a baby, I then go and try to run over as many pigeons in front of the KFC, as I can. I then go and pee in a corner where they can all see me. Eventually, I will be heckled for my behavior. This is yet another draconian rule of telling people how to behave.
No. I want to see where it says that you are the dictator here? Your job was always to provide a forum that doesnt lag, and keep the server running. Create a new layout for the forum, move threads to the proper forum, and read your suggestions threads in that section. Keep your powers where they belong. You aren't the one posting, it's us. Until you experience what it means to post, I don't see why I should live in fear of you, just because you have the power of the banning axe. Historically you have always had our respect and we thank you for your efforts at creating a nice forum, nice layout and format, and we applauded you for that.
[quote]6] Promotion of sites or products is not permitted.[quote]
This is simply silly. I and others have always posted links to articles or references we have in our discussions.
This is silly again since I have told all the forum members at one time, "Shut up or I'll squish your head". Are you gonna ban for that?
Yep that is the icing on the cake of what 'Draconian' means.
This is similar to those in Stalinist Russia, if you heard someone wasn't communist enough you had to report them to the NKVD/KGB, or how in the era of blacklisting it was bad to be a communist and if someone who was a suspected communist you had a report them, or if someone was a Jew in Nazi Germany, or if someone is a "terrorist" now you have to report them. When will more people listen to the Beatles song, Let It Be.
In any event, expect seeing less and less of me here. Don't know about the rest of you.
If left to themselves, to the natural order of people, since there is a natural order of superior and inferior minds and strengths and capacities, people sort themselves out. However rules and regulations, the more they are created, the more they create a reason to break them since they limit people in ways which they are not meant to be. Of all the laws written in the books now, having not enforced the previous ones 'lawmakers' make new laws. The idea is that we are doing "what is best for the people" or "public policy", we want this to be good for "all" people. Such ideas, while they may be well intentioned on behalf of those that seek to impose a non-existent utopian ideal that can never be reached since each person is a unique individual and different in tastes, intellect, preferences, only adds to a more state of confusion. One can easily see that the reason there is more crime is because of more and more laws, more and more centralization, more and more limitations on the individual to the point where the individual feels repressed and literaly there is nothing he cannot not do that is not in some way breaking a rule. Eventually all systems move towards disorder, that seek to consolidate or central power or morality or rules into a single framework.
This forum has been witnessing the apogee of its crisis lately. With the influx of newbies, some bright, and some not so bright, we have had some seismic activities, and of course the lower of our quality. The admin, while in good intention, has created a certain number of guidelines for us to follow, as if we are little children and need to be guided ( that is the reason why politicians are elected and make rules and regulations for you to follow since you are children and need to be looked after ).
When I came to these forums, I was pretty much the only one with a few other posters, the admin was like wise there from the start, although didn't post much. What happened was a synthesis between those of us that were there from the start, and we developed a sense of cohesion and flow. We made many different types of posts, from sardonic insults, to quality discussions, to laffing out loud humor.
Then came pests like "fittypercent" or "speakenglishordie". Now one can point to the rules and say "well these are to ensure that people like that dont get out of line". But a rule won't stop an individual. Throughout our foruming it was us, those of us that were maintaining the quality of this place and the feeling of 'community' that eventually drove out these pests that no one liked. The more they began to see what we unleashed on them, they ran away. Then came members who brought quality and charm and they easily blended because they saw this has a welcoming place and naturally this place welcomed those that brought their quality and charm.
Then came the "flamer forum" which confined us in our insults to the flamer forum where now there was no chance of driving out mediocre minds. Some of us objected, some didn't. Now came these "guidelines".
1] What you CAN NOT post?
You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use this forum to post any material which is knowingly abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene. You agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyright is owned by you.
You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use this forum to post any material which is knowingly abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene. You agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyright is owned by you.
2] Use descriptive subject lines & research your post.
This reduces the chances of double-posting and it also makes it easier for people to see what they do/don't want to read.
This reduces the chances of double-posting and it also makes it easier for people to see what they do/don't want to read.
3] Keep the focus.
Each forum has a focus on a certain topic. Questions outside the scope of a certain forum will either be moved to the appropriate forum, closed, or simply be deleted. Please post your topic in the most appropriate forum. Users that keep doing this will be warned, then banned.
Each forum has a focus on a certain topic. Questions outside the scope of a certain forum will either be moved to the appropriate forum, closed, or simply be deleted. Please post your topic in the most appropriate forum. Users that keep doing this will be warned, then banned.
4] Behave as you would in a public location.
This forum is no different than a public place. Behave yourself and act like a decent human being. If you're unable to do so, you're not welcome here and will be made to leave.
This forum is no different than a public place. Behave yourself and act like a decent human being. If you're unable to do so, you're not welcome here and will be made to leave.
5] Respect the authority of moderators/admins
Public discussions of moderator/admin actions are not allowed on the forum. It is also prohibited to protest moderator actions in titles, avatars, and signatures. If you don't like something that a moderator did, PM or email the moderator and try your best to resolve the problem or difference in private.
Public discussions of moderator/admin actions are not allowed on the forum. It is also prohibited to protest moderator actions in titles, avatars, and signatures. If you don't like something that a moderator did, PM or email the moderator and try your best to resolve the problem or difference in private.
[quote]6] Promotion of sites or products is not permitted.[quote]
This is simply silly. I and others have always posted links to articles or references we have in our discussions.
7] No physical threats to any other forum members
8] We retain the right to remove any posts and/or Members for any reason, without prior notice.
9] These Rules & Guidelines may be amended at any time.
10] If you believe an individual is repeatedly braking the rules, please report to admin/moderator.
Repeat offenders will be banned from the forum.
10] If you believe an individual is repeatedly braking the rules, please report to admin/moderator.
Repeat offenders will be banned from the forum.
In any event, expect seeing less and less of me here. Don't know about the rest of you.
Comment