This is a place you can report problems (like bad threads), and/or discuss on issues that really don't warrant the Mod's time, and/or on issues to decide if something is really worth our time, and/or something we might not be aware of.
This thread is here so that the following issues can be brought forth in a civil manner as necessary: Reporting issues that merit the mods' attention Asking questions and airing concerns about the rules and policies of the forum Suggesting solutions for chronic problems in the forum
This thread IS NOT for:
Discussing politics itself Promoting your journal/profile Abstract Improvements to the site (i.e. software changes) Complaints about the mods Idle chatter
It fails to be a forum issue. This thread is for discussing things that happen in the PCE forum, and nothing else. Links to outside articles that aren't worthy of their own thread go in the PCE Blog thread, and then there's another thread for discussing things posted in the blog thread.
You're expected to provide citations and evidence not as a rule, but as a matter of custom. This is because you're not going to convince anyone who doesn't already agree with you if you can't adequately support your point. This is true in this forum only because it is also true in the real world. So if someone isn't able to adequately support their point then the solution is to simple. Don't be convinced!
P.S. I am in the process of revising the rules thread to make it more congruent to the times in which we live.
So you would say that when someone is asked for a citation and rather than present it they say "Oh I have it but I'm not posting it" is fine? I didn't realise that. I'll know now in future.
I think the moderators are collectively of the mind that the cost of hounding someone out of the forum when they do that exceeds the benefit of requiring them to do so. And as I've become a hell of a lot busier, I'm much more aware that not everyone has the time or inclination to spend an hour combing the web for links to support a post.
It's not "fine" in the sense that it's a good thing to do, but it's also not that big of a deal. It's not so bad a thing that there are people running around who refuse to agree with you no matter how much you disprove their arguments. The point of a discussion forum should not be to make people eat crow for being wrong. If you decide he's being incorrigible then you can just drop the discussion. It's not that hard, I do it all the time once I decide I have argued and fleshed out my point to my satisfaction.
Again though, we aren't talking about combing the web for the links to support a post. We are talking about a specific example where evidence was asked for and rather than provide it or say "I don't have it right now but I'll find it" or "I'm too busy to post it now" the response was "I have the proof and maybe one day I'll post it" which I think is very different. I don't want him hounded out of the forum, I want him to provide one shread of proof of what he says every once in a while. Just like everyone else does. Otherwise all we have is him saying "I think this and I'm right, you're wrong and I can prove it but I'm not gonna". I don't think that furthers discussion. I've never seen him provide evidence of anything he says no matter how inflamatory.
What happened to this thread? I know it could be integrated into a few others, but it had potential... then I notice its been neg bombed and locked... weird.
You're expected to provide citations and evidence not as a rule, but as a matter of custom. This is because you're not going to convince anyone who doesn't already agree with you if you can't adequately support your point. This is true in this forum only because it is also true in the real world. So if someone isn't able to adequately support their point then the solution is to simple. Don't be convinced!
Huzzah! We must trust that, if a position cannot be supported, it will have little influence. At least, in the grand scheme of things. I for one applaud this intelligent and liberal policy.
I am begging you all. Please read the OP for the thread.
This is a place you can report problems (like bad threads), and/or discuss on issues that really don't warrant the Mod's time, and/or on issues to decide if something is really worth our time, and/or something we might not be aware of.
This isn't a place for idle chatter or letting us know what your opinions or perspectives are. There is an entire forum underneath the stickies for that.
To further clarify the OP in case anything is unclear. This thread is meant for the following: Reporting issues that merit the mods' attention Asking questions and airing concerns about the rules and policies of the forum Suggesting solutions for chronic problems in the forum
If there is anything else you want to say that does not qualify as reporting, asking, or suggesting it can be done in the BAR. The purpose behind this is to prevent long arguments that go around in circles about what's wrong with the forum and the admins/mods which generate nothing but bad blood.
I am editing the OP to reflect this clarification.
