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Sirkickyass, Moderator.

I really hope you're just bustin my chops, Blood, and don't honestly think that.

Hopper, I've had a couple of beers tonight and I'm listening to music from my college days. Nothing about anything I am doing is serious. Except thinking about having one more beer.
 
A few quick questions Mo.

1. You have no doubt noticed that some of the members here speak English as a second language, and they don't always say things in a way that is "readable to everyone." You have probably also noticed how frequently they get pounced on and ridiculed by certain posters. Do you support those doing the ridiculing?

2. If it were your board, would you ban such posters, and any others who didn't measure up to your standards of "readability?" Would you require that members pass the equivalent of a GED test for literacy before they could join, for example?

3. Doesn't "readability" depend in part on the comprehension skills of the reader? To have everything "readable by everyone" wouldn't you have to limit permissible post content to that which the 10-year old members could understand?

my responses:
1. Small errors are ignored, either because they're too small to even be noticed, or because they don't significantly affect readability. I know I have pointed out grammatical and spelling errors to a number of posters, I hope for the most part it's taken without rancor. I will admit to occasionally making fun of a poster for their errors, but often it's because I think the poster didn't realize the mistake or wasn't aware of it being a mistake. Many posters accept the criticism good-naturedly, but some have called me out for it. For the most part, I am sincerely sorry if I've hurt somebody's feelings. I do try to make allowances for those that seem to be non-native English speakers. People who seem to purposely make frequent posts in a manner that is incomprehensible are not in the same category as someone who makes an inadvertent error or someone who makes an error because English is not their first language.

While I cannot absolutely speak for other jazzfanz members, I believe that most of them have good intentions most of the time. There have been occasions where I have felt some of the ridiculing of other posters goes too far and at those times I have let these posters know that I think they've overstepped the bounds of what I consider appropriate.

2. Yes, if I absolutely made the rules, and I felt the poster was purposely trying to subvert them, then eventually a ban might be effected. But I really don't like the idea of a permanent ban, so it might just be a series of 90 day bans interspersed between 30 days of posting activity or whatever the rules stated.
But no, there would not be any tests given. It would be my decision, based upon input I received from others who were active on the board in addition to my own personal preferences. There are plenty of other options on the internet for folks who might object to my rules and the manner in which they're enforced.

3. Yes to the first part of this question, no to your second part.



Well, that might be a matter of interpretation, Mo, but here's what I had in mind.

Case 1: I say: Mo, you're a damn fool.

Case 2: I say: Mo, you're a damn fool because (x,y, and z)

In case one I have stated a conclusion, but provided no substantive reason for it. In case two I tell you "why" I think you're a fool, which would give the post some substance, as opposed to the mere raw assertion of a conclusion.

OK, so ignoring for the moment the fact that you're calling me a fool, please list some substantive reasons for doing so, in order to fulfill the scenario you describe as "Case 2"
 
Thanks for your responses, Mo. I guess I wasn't really expecting any at this point. There are a couple of things you say that I find a little confusing, but I know you don't like being questioned much so I won't disturb you with that.

OK, so ignoring for the moment the fact that you're calling me a fool, please list some substantive reasons for doing so, in order to fulfill the scenario you describe as "Case 2"

Well, Mo, it wouldn't matter what x, y, and z were for the purposes of making the distinction you asked about. But, if it helps, it could be sumthin like this:

Because:

x: You think 2 + 2 is 5, and it aint.

y: You think K-Y is the best player on the team, just because you think he's cute, and

z: You told me you're considering buying the Brooklyn Bridge for a mere $100,000.

At that point you have some substance. If you want to defend your positions, or ask me why I disagree with them, then at least you know what to address.

Or maybe you would want to simply correct my misinterpretations and tell me that you do NOT think 2 + 2 is 5, and so forth. Again, you can only do that if I provide you will some substance, and not just my conclusion.
 
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Like all threads, Mo, this one has gone completely "off-topic," but as I think you know, I don't find that objectionable. In most threads there comes a point where it either:

1) Just dies, or

2) The topic starts to change from post to post.

But, to kinda elaborate on this "substance" vs. "raw assertion" distinction, let me ask you (or anybody else who cares to venture an answer) what you would do in a case like this:

You have been selected to be a juror. The DA comes in and says something like this:

Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, I have worked as a prosecuting attorney for over 25 years. I'm not bragging, but simply stating the facts, when I tell you that our staff contains some of the most brilliant legal minds in the country. Our police department and it's detectives are also highly competent professionals, surpassed by no one in this country.

Collectively, we have looked at all the relevant facts, and have reviewed the applicable law. We have impartially and objectively analyzed and dissected these things, with an eye to serving justice only. Had we concluded that there was any reasonable doubt about the defendant's guilt, we would not have brought this case to trial, but I can tell you this: The defendant is guilty, beyond any reasonable doubt. I therefore ask you to convict him. The judge will then sentence him to 10-20 years, at his discretion. Thank you.

That's it. That's all he says. That's the entire case presented to you.

Would you, as a juror, vote guilty on that basis? I don't think I'm just being cynical when I tell you that I think a whole lot of people would (vote guilty). Would you?
 
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Like all threads, Mo, this one has gone completely "off-topic," but as I think you know, I don't find that objectionable. In most threads there comes a point where it either:

1) Just dies, or

2) The topic starts to change from post to post.

But, to kinda elaborate on this "substance" vs. "raw assertion" distinction, let me ask you (or anybody else who cares to venture an answer) what you would do in a case like this:

You have been selected to be a juror. The DA comes in and says something like this:

Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, I have worked as a prosecuting attorney for over 25 years. I'm not bragging, but simply stating the facts, when I tell you that our staff contains some of the most brilliant legal minds in the country. Our police department and it's detectives are also highly competent professionals, surpassed by no one in this country. Collectively, we have looked at all the relevant facts, and have reviewed the applicable law and I can tell you this: The defendant is guilty. I therefore ask you to convict him. The judge will then sentence him to 10-20 years, at his discretion. Thank you.

That's it. That's all he says. That's the entire case, and all the "evidence" you get.

Would you, as a juror, vote guilty on that basis? I don't think I'm just being cynical when I tell you that I think a whole lot of people would (vote guilty). Would you?

If you were the defendant, then yes, I'd vote guilty.
 
...sometimes making sure everyone can "easily" understand you can be a secondary consideration, ya know?...Twain knew that when he wrote it. So why would he write it that way?

The funny thing (to me, anyway) is this: If you want to make something "hard to read" or "hard to understand" for the average sports message board member, perhaps the surest way to do it is to use an advanced vocabulary. They won't know half the words, and certainly won't want to go to the effort of looking them up. But that sort of "incomprehensibility" seems to be praised by many, rather than scorned. Why is that, ya figure?

Blood, you never responded to these questions, so I will make a brief observation about them. To begin with, it seems to me to be impossible to choose any mode of expression which suits the needs and desires of EVERYBODY in a large audience. Any given statement may be composed in such a manner as to be more readily understandable (and tolerable) to some than others. No matter what segment you may try to address your comment to, there will always be the remaining segment which may be left dissatisified with your manner of "communicating."
 
Taint, you never responded to my post at the top of the thread either. Sucks to suck, eh?
 
It's almost like when we had all those Turkish fans that joined up when Memo came over. Banning left and right, I tell ya. Thank goodness we didn't give them their own forum.

This one, Bum? I didn't take it seriously. I thought there was a "turkish" forum on the old board. What is it you think I should comment on, exactly?
 
This one, Bum? I didn't take it seriously. I thought there was a "turkish" forum on the old board. What is it you think I should comment on, exactly?

Gods, not only are the most obnoxious person on the planet, you're also as dumb as a rock. I hate you.
 
Blood, you never responded to these questions, so I will make a brief observation about them. To begin with, it seems to me to be impossible to choose any mode of expression which suits the needs and desires of EVERYBODY in a large audience. Any given statement may be composed in such a manner as to be more readily understandable (and tolerable) to some than others. No matter what segment you may try to address your comment to, there will always be the remaining segment which may be left dissatisified with your manner of "communicating."

I thought your questions were rhetorical.

Twain used Huck Finn and Jim's speech and dialect to tell the story. Faulkner used Benjy in much the same way in "The Sound and the Fury". Steinbeck used the Joad clan. Again, it was to tell the story. Twain also did it to breathe realism into Finn and Jim, as their characters were of little proper education. I doubt that is your case.

What story are you telling when you post with your style to discuss basketball? If we were sitting around and having a conversation, would you speak in the same way you write on this board? If so, fine. If not, why continue to write in that style on a basketball board, when most of the time it blurs the message?
 
Twain used Huck Finn and Jim's speech and dialect to tell the story...What story are you telling when you post with your style to discuss basketball? What story are you telling when you post with your style to discuss basketball? If we were sitting around and having a conversation, would you speak in the same way you write on this board? If so, fine. If not, why continue to write in that style on a basketball board, when most of the time it blurs the message?

Well, Blood, to answer the personal question you posed, the answer is "yes." I seldom adhere to one, and only one, dialect or style of "grammar-adherence" in my oral conversations.

You really only responded to part of the question, and didn't seem to pay much attention to my own observations about the topic (which you quoted). You talk about what "blurs" the message, but part of my point is that different things may "blur the message" for different people. I enjoy talking basketball, but let's face it, a lot of the convo round these here parts really has nuthin to do with basketball. Even if it was "strictly basketball" I see no reason to try to eliminate "colorful" expression, or any degree of "levity" from the exchanges.

My particular motives for varying my style may be different on different occasions. I'm not even gunna attempt to fully explicate my reasons for not acting like I'm in a grade-school grammar class where I am desperately seeking a A grade.
 
Hopper,

Was your mother using crystal meth while pregnant with you?

In light of how you turned out, what are your feelings on abortion?

Sincerely,
TIS
 
Sincerely,
TIS

Glad you told me your post was "sincere," eh, Son? Otherwise I might not have known. Sincere or not, it does not merit a substantive response, sorry. I'm sure you were not expecting a substantive response to begin with though. Perhaps some other expectation underlies your continuing posts in this same vein, but what could it be, I wonder?

Let me take a wild-*** guess, eh? Mebbe you hope to provoke the type of response from me that you can "flag" and then run to the mods complaining about how badly you have been VICTIMIZED, eh? That it?
 
Glad you told me your post was "sincere," eh, Son? Otherwise I might not have known. Sincere or not, it does not merit a substantive response, sorry. I'm sure you were not expecting a substantive response to begin with though. Perhaps some other expectation underlies your continuing posts in this same vein, but what could it be, I wonder?

Let me take a wild-*** guess, eh? Mebbe you hope to provoke the type of response from me that you can "flag" and then run to the mods complaining about how badly you have been VICTIMIZED, eh? That it?

I wish you would just tell us how you feel about the moderating staff.
 
From what I've seen, Bum, the mod staff is especially sensitive to, and very vigilant in spotting, then punishing, "trolling."

Can you believe that? I swear, it's like they're just out to get us. (my latest infraction was for trolling)
 
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