So someone explain to me....

Discussion in 'The Help Desk' started by Zombie, Sep 26, 2011.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Muad Dib

    Muad Dib Probably a Dual Deceased Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2004
    Messages:
    53,665
    Ratings:
    +23,779
    I don't think there was any intent to cause the board to puke itself. The intent was to stop the alphabet soup and the condescension.
  2. Diacanu

    Diacanu Comicmike. Writer

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2004
    Messages:
    101,080
    Ratings:
    +81,582
    How's that workin' for ya?

    [​IMG]
  3. Muad Dib

    Muad Dib Probably a Dual Deceased Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2004
    Messages:
    53,665
    Ratings:
    +23,779
    Time will tell. :shrug:
  4. Bailey

    Bailey It's always Christmas Eve Super Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2004
    Messages:
    27,084
    Location:
    Adelaide, South Australia
    Ratings:
    +39,486
    Aye, and that's why no-one was even issued a warning for it.
  5. Jenee

    Jenee Driver 8

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2008
    Messages:
    25,340
    Location:
    On the train
    Ratings:
    +19,334
    Mullet Man.

    Sure we all troll at times. We all, also, can be condescending and a jackass each in our own way. I think if anyone besides apostle asked that question, Anc would have just answered and continued.
  6. The Original Faceman

    The Original Faceman Lasagna Artist

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2004
    Messages:
    40,826
    Ratings:
    +28,767
    This is about acronyms? Seriously?
  7. Muad Dib

    Muad Dib Probably a Dual Deceased Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2004
    Messages:
    53,665
    Ratings:
    +23,779
    Which was the right thing to do.
  8. Zombie

    Zombie dead and loving it

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2004
    Messages:
    45,044
    Ratings:
    +33,117
    We've run out of things in the file to go after. Next up: Synonyms!
    • Agree Agree x 1
  9. 14thDoctor

    14thDoctor Oi

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2007
    Messages:
    30,961
    Ratings:
    +47,666
    That's stupid.

    It's also deficient, dense, dim, doltish, dopey, dull, dumb, foolish, futile, half-baked, half-witted, idiotic, ill-advised, imbecilic, inane, indiscreet, insensate, irrelevant, laughable, ludicrous, meaningless, mindless, moronic, naive, nonsensical, obtuse, out to lunch, pointless, puerile, rash, senseless, shortsighted, simple, simpleminded, sluggish, stolid, stupefied, thick, thick-headed, trivial, unintelligent, unthinking and witless.


    :borg:
    • Agree Agree x 1
  10. Jenee

    Jenee Driver 8

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2008
    Messages:
    25,340
    Location:
    On the train
    Ratings:
    +19,334
    I fucking hate synonyms. Even moreso, I hate antonyms.
    • Agree Agree x 1
  11. Robotech Master

    Robotech Master '

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2004
    Messages:
    9,995
    Ratings:
    +3,939
    Who came up with the name 'thesaurus' anyway?! Sounds like a damned dinosaur or somethin'...
    • Agree Agree x 3
  12. 14thDoctor

    14thDoctor Oi

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2007
    Messages:
    30,961
    Ratings:
    +47,666
    [​IMG]
    • Agree Agree x 3
  13. $corp

    $corp Dirty Old Chinaman

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2004
    Messages:
    15,867
    Location:
    Calgary, Alberta
    Ratings:
    +7,101

    This really is the crux of the matter. He got a few threads bombed with images. This wasn't a regular occurrence, and and it wasn't like it was gonna continue. I think the posters in question deserve the benefit of the doubt, being regular contributing members who've been here since this board was founded.

    Instead, we get an overreaction from less than stellar mods who got butthurt because someone whined hard.
    • Agree Agree x 2
  14. Bailey

    Bailey It's always Christmas Eve Super Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2004
    Messages:
    27,084
    Location:
    Adelaide, South Australia
    Ratings:
    +39,486
    Who exactly whined hard? None of those posts were even reported, by Anc or anyone else. A staff member saw posts that were causing loading and formatting troubles for threads and fixed the problem.

    The benefit of the doubt was given in that no warnings were issued, and you've even been told that you can do whatever you want to his threads so long as it isn't something that causes trouble like those posts did.
  15. Muad Dib

    Muad Dib Probably a Dual Deceased Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2004
    Messages:
    53,665
    Ratings:
    +23,779
    Honestly, I'm not upset about it at all.

    If Anc wants to talk about the army, let's talk. That what we're here for. It was just getting to the point that trying to read his posts was like deciphering a code or something. I enjoy a good discussion and a good debate, and Lord knows I've fired up my share of controversial subjects, but nobody likes to feel like they're being talked down to.
    • Agree Agree x 2
  16. Asyncritus

    Asyncritus Expert on everything

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2004
    Messages:
    21,506
    Location:
    Stuck at home most of the time. :(
    Ratings:
    +23,236
    The biggest problem I have with this whole mess is that the reaction of Zombie and Muad Dib caused more of a problem for the membership as a whole than Ancalagon's behavior, which gave rise to widespread (albeit not universal) condemnation of what they did. This gives the impression that most of the board is "on Anc's side" in this situation, which is not true. I don't remember one single poster upholding Anc's "I-know-more-than-you-do-and-if-you-want-to-understand-you-can-just-go-Google-it" attitude. I would say what I think of his behavior in more precise terms, but the context of the Help Desk, plus my general aversion to profanity, limit my means of expression.

    I think Zombie and Muad Dib made a very much justified point. They just did it in a way that didn't hurt the person in question very much, but caused a whole lot of problems for everyone else. If they had instead bombed his rep box with negreps filled with obscure acronyms and huge smilies, they might have made their point more clearly, without encouraging everyone to be sympathetic to him when he really didn't deserve it at all.

    I guess my point is that sometimes the way you make a point carries much more weight than the point itself.

    • Agree Agree x 5
  17. Asyncritus

    Asyncritus Expert on everything

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2004
    Messages:
    21,506
    Location:
    Stuck at home most of the time. :(
    Ratings:
    +23,236
    I'm sorry and all that, but I can't help it. I really am superior to you. :bailey:

    Of course, that doesn't justify Ancalagon doing it...

  18. El Chup

    El Chup Fuck Trump Deceased Member Git

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
    Messages:
    42,875
    Ratings:
    +27,831
    This is why I think it was actually a good idea. Look at the reaction yesterday. If they had dumped some neg reps they would have been lost in the flood or both posters would've been branded rep whingers, etc.

    I don't think that either poster is particularly the smartest on the block (although there are plenty of other who more readily deserve "board idiot" status). But that doesn't mean they know nothing about anything. Anc's insufferable "holier than thou" attitude needed the spotlight because it's rubbing a lot of people up the wrong way. Just before you came back I was trying to have a debate with him on an Iranian issue. He behaved like I knew nothing about Iran (which you, of all people, appreciate is certainly not the case). Indeed, he started making out that that I was saying things I was not (such as ranting at me for allegedly saying that the Mossadegh coup was carried out by the US only, despite my very first post on the subject saying it was carried out by the US and UK). He ignored posts pointing out what I was actually saying, and when he saw he was running out of scope to make me out to be the uneducated fool, he just started just started getting pedantic over the wording of my posts and minute details. I even pointed out the immaturity of his approach, and the fact that he is not the only person herw with knowledge of Iran and the Middle East,to which there was no response.

    The mature approach would've been to say "yes, fair enough mate, "I agree with a,b,c & d, but maybe not e". But Anc does not do this. He treats others like they are fools worthy of nothing but contempt. In my view attention needed to be drawn to this is such a fashion that people start asking "what's the deal here", rather than some unseen neg reps. This way people will be prepared and ready when Anc plays his "I'm better than you" card.
    • Agree Agree x 2
  19. Zombie

    Zombie dead and loving it

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2004
    Messages:
    45,044
    Ratings:
    +33,117
    Of course we knew it wouldn't make a dent in Anc. One of our complaints is the arrogant "I'm superior to you" attitude he displays in his posts.

    And we know that most of the board isn't on Anc's side because we've seen the rep complaining about it. We've also seen the posts half-assed complaining about it.

    I knew what would happen. I knew people would be screaming at me. I knew I would get the obligatory "I've got you on ignore now asshole!" I knew I'd get neg reps from everywhere and I knew the mods, in this case O2C and Bailey, would be jumping up and down just hunting for a reason to beat us with the shit stick.

    So why do it then?

    Make a big enough issue that forces the board out of any complacency to half-ass deal with problems and cause commentary.

    Yes most of that commentary will be on me and Muad Dib but a lot of it will also be directed at Anc's behavior and since he obviously thinks Muad Dib and myself are beneath him and not worth listening to maybe we can get some people he does pay attention to to chime in with "yeah it's getting annoying trying to follow your posts Anc".

    Notice how slowly the commentary is shifting from Muad Dib and Zombie to Anc and his annoying habits?

    Maybe we will get lucky and reach a critical mass of people coming out and saying, "Maud Dib/Zombie = Asshole but Anc the shit you're doing is annoying and rude to other posters" and cause him to at least consider changing his ways.

    Wouldn't work. He's not one to care about rep so if we took that route it would be like shouting into a hurricane. Meaning no results.

    Wordforge is also too divided to gather up a large enough group to even think of doing it. It was done with Apostle only because Apostle managed to annoy enough people on all sides that they banded together for a little while to knock him down.

    And you can't put huge smilies in rep without incurring the wrath of the mods.

    And did it encourage some to be sympathetic? Probably.

    And sometimes you have to lock the doors and set the building on fire.
    • Agree Agree x 3
  20. Muad Dib

    Muad Dib Probably a Dual Deceased Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2004
    Messages:
    53,665
    Ratings:
    +23,779
    It was my understanding that overloading rep with big smilies causes problems.

    I knew that the carpet bombing with pics would cause slow loading of the page, but I didn't know that it caused any problems with board function.

    I didn't want to flame Anc because he's basically a good guy and I do commend him for being willing to serve his country. But enough was enough. Anc needed to be brought back down to Earth.

    I do far more IRL to commend and recognize US veterans than most of you know, but that's a secret. I don't want to ruin my reputation as a Confederate. :muad:
    • Agree Agree x 3
  21. Clyde

    Clyde Orange

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2004
    Messages:
    25,971
    Ratings:
    +8,368
    Anything left to resolve?
  22. El Chup

    El Chup Fuck Trump Deceased Member Git

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
    Messages:
    42,875
    Ratings:
    +27,831
    Depends if you think anything had been addressed by your lordships.
  23. Clyde

    Clyde Orange

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2004
    Messages:
    25,971
    Ratings:
    +8,368
    I do think the posed question has been answered.

    What say you?
  24. El Chup

    El Chup Fuck Trump Deceased Member Git

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
    Messages:
    42,875
    Ratings:
    +27,831
    I say point me towards the answer.
  25. Clyde

    Clyde Orange

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2004
    Messages:
    25,971
    Ratings:
    +8,368
    Having a functioning board is fundamental to every BBS community. Naturally, actions that interfere with functionality are frowned upon.

    Deciding when staff action is needed is always a judgment call. And while I may have handled the situation differently, I've no reason to suspect any malice was involved in this decision.
    • Agree Agree x 1
  26. El Chup

    El Chup Fuck Trump Deceased Member Git

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
    Messages:
    42,875
    Ratings:
    +27,831
    Why didn't you point me towards the answer?

    According to the knee-jerk poll most here access the board on a machine that can more than handle a few one off image heavy pages.

    It seems that no matter how many times we ask nobody seems to be able to substantiate this myth of the board "breaking down".
    • Agree Agree x 1
  27. Muad Dib

    Muad Dib Probably a Dual Deceased Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2004
    Messages:
    53,665
    Ratings:
    +23,779
    Other than slow loading, how did it break the board down? Times that I've been over to TBBS, they've had full threads dedicated to clipart.

    They use vBulletin too.
    • Agree Agree x 1
  28. El Chup

    El Chup Fuck Trump Deceased Member Git

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
    Messages:
    42,875
    Ratings:
    +27,831
    It didn't.

    But we are meant to think it did.
    [​IMG]
  29. Muad Dib

    Muad Dib Probably a Dual Deceased Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2004
    Messages:
    53,665
    Ratings:
    +23,779
    Didn't we also have a thread recently that was pretty heavy on animated gifs? I didn't go into it much...because it took forever to load :lol:, but I don't recall it breaking the board.
  30. Muad Dib

    Muad Dib Probably a Dual Deceased Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2004
    Messages:
    53,665
    Ratings:
    +23,779
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.