The Wow I Can't Believe That News Story Thread

[Lisnaholic]

Originally Posted by DwnWthVwls

When has the US ever gone to war because "it's the right thing to do"? It costs massive resources to fund a war, they ain't going unless they are getting something out of it. The people who serve in the military are the puppets who enable this.

You may view some of the things these soldiers aided in as helpful and good, but that doesnt negate the above, which I think is what Frown and other like minded people are arguing.

The US is analogous to the "friend" who helps you if you pay them, with the soldiers being the help? Idk, haven't put much thought into the analogy or where/if it falls apart, feel free to critique it.

^ First, I'd like to compliment you on this post, which has a scattering of questions, "I think"s and "Idk"s. It sounds friendly, and clearly shows that you're inviting discussion.

Originally Posted by DwnWthVwls

Yes, true. I don't think you are from the US, but this is how it is taught:

https://www2.ivcc.edu/rambo/tip_form...ting_voice.htm


I can find more examples if you'd like.

^ This post seems to pre-suppose that the rules for an essay in college are the same as the rules for posting on MB. I believe that the formats, situations and goals are different enough to require significantly different writing styles. I think it's a mistake to just cut and paste a rule from one and apply it to the other.

For example, a college essay will often specifically request an opinion, in which case the rules you quote are perfectly valid and a bunch of "In my opinions" are indeed just re-stating the obvious.

Here on MB, though, it's different: often, we are not replying to a question that has invited our opinion or comment, we're just spontaneously volunteering something. In this case, it is useful to know if we are volunteering something we regard as a fact or if it's just our opinion. Sometimes it's clear enough anyway, but not always.

Also, on MB I think the most constructive posts are the ones that ask questions and encourage dialogue, which is best done by offering an opinion. And if a dialogue begins, the purpose of our writing is even furthur removed from the college essay and should clearly allow for differences of opinion. In this context, the bald statement of an opinion as if it were a fact can sometimes appear confrontational.

How differently would you feel about reponding to these posts, I wonder:-

Hendix is crap.

Hendrix is crap imo.

My instinct is to simply ignore the first or to immediately engage in a slanging match, but perhaps I'm an out-of-touch pedant compared to you guys and you don't sense much difference between the posts.

__________________________________________________ ___________

Originally Posted by [MERIT]

#QuotedForTruth

The only LEGIT war was the Revolutionary War to gain freedom from The Crown, and that was before we were even a "country." So you are correct.

^ Following Frownland's idea, America's independence was only wrested from The Crown by a bunch of war criminals.

[DwnWthVwls]

@TH - You don't get to use your family as an example and then make them exempt from criticism in the context of the discussion. Quit being so hyperbolic.

@Lisna - I would respond the exact same way. I am not easily put off by people being direct. A lot of the problem comes from people having trouble handling opinions they disagree with, that don't beat around the bush because feelings. I prefer the first sentence and it's quite obvious it's an opinion. Most discussions of this nature are opinion based. If anything, you should clarify when you are speaking factually, present the evidence to back up the claim, and assume everything else is opinion.

[Frownland]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

You are ****ing joking! He launched a personal attack against Chula's father, calling him a war criminal and a murderer. He ONLY did this BECAUSE it was Chula. This is the problem: there seems to be one rule for Chula and one for everyone else. This comment was clearly made in the knowledge that it would anger, upset and inflame Chula. And you, as a mod, who should be saying to Hawk hold on there, back off, you assist him! It's like being beat up by a guy, a cop comes along and you think oh thank god, and then the cop joins in the beating! You are a joke as a mod, you know that? You do what you like, to who you like, and nobody does anything about it.

And while I'm at it, the rest of you mods are just as much to blame if you don't step in and either stop this or confirm Hawk was in the wrong. It's in the rules, guys: no personal insults. How is that not a personal insult? How is Hawk not even being warned, never mind banned? Pathetic. This is why I was driven almost to leave here recently. It's a culture of ganging up and bullying that makes this place terribly hostile and totally unfair.

This x 1000

No, Hawk went directly for the juglar calling Chula's dad a war criminal and a murderer. That's an insult, and a personal one.

And this too.

When are you, Frownland, ever going to even consider treating anyone, esp Chula, fairly? It doesn't matter that you don't like him, that you mock him and think all his opinions are ****. Fairness should be meted out regardless of status. You can't choose who you help and who you don't, just cos you don't like them. It's bullying at its worst, and it makes you not only a terrible mod, but a coward who won't recognise that something needs to be said. I would expect that if Exo were here he might have stepped in. You, on the other hand, just think it's all a great laugh, but you're abusing your mod powers (or in fact, not using them) by letting such insults pass. This definitely should have been dealt with, but you'd rather just join in with the beating, wouldn't you?

Oh and by the way, make all the PMS jokes you want, post crying baby gifs, but this was a step beyond and it's nothing short of disgusting. Hawk not only stepped over the line, he leaped over it. And now he'll keep doing so, because quite clearly you're openly supporting such behaviour, and he knows nothing will happen to him. Well done.

Oh and Hawk? **** you: you're a disgusting human being. Just thought you should know.

Yes that's an insult. Ban me if you want. It will only prove how biased your modding is, as we all know it is anyway.

Agree to disagree I suppose since being logically consistent isn't against the rules. Are you going to give Chula any heat for all of the petty insults and unnecessary escalation of the argument?

[The Batlord]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

No, Hawk went directly for the juglar calling Chula's dad a war criminal and a murderer. That's an insult, and a personal one.

****ing good. Chula just tried to use his ailing father as a prop to win an argument, either by making OH back down at least a bit to avoid offense, or by being able to cry wolf when OH said what of course he was going to say. Entrapment afaic.

And the insult serves Chula right. Chula does this **** all the time to shut down conversation that he's not comfortable wading into on an intellectual level. It's his fault he got his ass burned and I totally understand the frustration of talking at that wall.

[OccultHawk]

And you, as a mod, who should be saying to Hawk hold on there, back off, you assist him!

TOUCHDOWN!!!

[Lisnaholic]

Well said Trollheart ! I would've toned it down a bit of course, but in all the essentials I agree with you, esp. with regard to the deliberate goading and bullying of Chula. That is most unfair, imo, and has been escalating recently.

[Frownland]

*performs a 1-man tango*

[DwnWthVwls]

You guys sound like Elphenor when he tries to blame everything on some external force and remove all responsibility from whatever agent he's arguing for.

Add this shit to the Conspiracy Theory thread afaic.

[Cuthbert]

Just read the past few pages.

[The Batlord]

Originally Posted by Fluff

Just read the past few pages.

I was sure someone was getting banned, I just didn't know who. Chula and OH kept one-upping each other and it felt like watching a game of Pong.