vote drlebronski

I want to increase my brain power as much as you want to be the top debater of the leaderboards.

What would the point of having Jews place a star of david on their profile?  I think they should be allowed to post any profile pic they want.

We literally have not banned anyone for their views. If you are talking about the past moderation, I can not speak for them

Also, if you were to read the policies in place for the president, they do not hold any authority to ban people. They are advisors to the mod team elected by the community. They also are responsible for increasing site engagement and such

I love arguing - I mean I really love arguing. I like sites that are full of people to argue with, I like arguing formally where I get lots of points to allow me to compare myself to other people I argue with.

Other people’s ability to say things I disagree with is why we’re all here, and people who drive traffic and may say something we can argue with is what gives us a reason to remember to log in and check what’s new.

In that respect the site exists because we disagree, and disagree strongly enough to want to reply. That builds the site.

What destroys the site, is people thinking they’re views are being silenced by mods; and instead of angry posts - they simply quit. In reality, I don’t think this actually happens very often.

What kills the site more often, is when the content drives people away. Ebuc is a case in point, kinda crazy, weird posts, probably arguing in good faith, but arguing is pointless; you do it maybe 5 times and realize that there is literally no point. On his own: no problem. If however, the entirety of a forum is taken up with it; people will log in, argue, then realize that there is no point in arguing; and little other content - and disappear. Forum dies.

There are many examples, Brontoraptor, Harikrish; etc.

The second issue that can kill a site, is the pile on effect. Take Createdebate as great example. The user base is filled up with extreme views, and ends being a cesspool where no one wants to go, and will never grow. Even cases where the political position is unbalanced can just mean any time there is a liberal posting, people just jump in, argue, attack, etc. Overwhelming, unsatisfying - and toxic. The left need allies, the right needs allies, the crazies all need allies. 

It’s the circle of bullsh*t!


So for me the question isn’t an issue of free speech, there is almost no view I can think that someone could express on their own, in a debate, etc that would make me think “this guy should be banned”, and none whatsoever that we would likely disagree with.

If someone wanted to advocate for Nambla; he would get absolutely destroyed on this site, the only time I would think action would be appropriate, if he started saying it so constantly and so thoroughly that it drowned out other content. Overt Racism, slurs, overt homophobia in the context of discussion, etc; aren’t themselves an issue, only when they occur to the degree people simply log off because they don’t want to deal with that type of toxic nonsense.

I think personal attacks, abuse, etc; almost invariably just need a bit of a cool down ban at most provided that the user is actually contributing the type of controversy that makes us all come back. 

A good example, is that I have personally lobbied for RM to not be banned for infractions several times - including threatening to Doxx me, because while his points are of dubious quality and validity at best, he contributes the good type of Drama that makes us click the posts to see what he’s said this time.

That umbrella includes Wylted most of the time too; the odd edgelord post is fine, he’s often obnoxious, sometimes says things that are clearly trolling or obviously dumb - it’s only when the content starts drowning out others that it becomes detrimental - it’s gotten close at points, but I would say that I haven’t seen behaviour that would cross the line from the type of infuriating that makes you want to rage type on your keyboard - which is a good thing. I’d say  someone like Ebuc is more problematic - but hey, we can all tolerate the odd weird post, and thread about quantum symmetry vibrations In multiple dimensions and blah blah resonating sine waves

Or to use a non politically charged example - a flat earther coming into the forum - fine - posting dozens and dozens of threads and content drowning - or simply jumps into threads professes flat earthism and insults people, that’s where it gets to be problematic.

So in that respect - I’m think we should all be for free speech, but if free speech is being exercised in a way that drives off everyone who disagrees with you - then that’s every bit as bad as over-moderating controversial individuals for the same reason.

Right now; there are plenty of users annoy the tits off me, but every single one of them that I am aware of is doing so in a context that isn’t detrimental and even positive to the site - so should be largely left alone so as long as they’re not repeatedly insulting people for no reason.


That being said; the only bad thing I have to say about the presidency, is that it’s called a presidency, it really should be couple of people; someone left wing and someone right wing; I think if you had Thett and Oromagi trying to present a users position on a particular issue, people on both sides would have more confidence in the overall decision - which is kinda something I suggested when Bsh quit (some of the people I suggested would probably be a big surprise)


This is all just to say why DrLebronski should not be president; this is going to be someone who you want to be part of the decision making process. You want someone who has the capacity to argue, the capacity to justify their point, and is taken seriously, and whom doesn’t necessarily have identical views, but in the same ballpark.

DrLebronski, is a not a terrible guy from my limited experience - but he is clearly not that guy.

listen up bud say that one more time ill fucking beat your ass.

/sarcasm

So he can advocate for Nambla once and not get banned, but then if it becomes repetitive, you'd ban him for it?  With other issues, we don't see this.  Someone can advocate for gun rights and constantly advocate for gun rights and not talk about anything else, but that's not ban worthy.  People are allowed to back unpopular positions like being pro Nambla.

I think that if someone uses their free speech to drive everyone off, then those people drived off can find a different thread to comment on.  If I advocate for legalizing murder and am passionate about it, then other people don't have to engage with me if they think I'm being crazy or ill decourmed.

This would be fine and probably better than one president because I'm not going to like a left winger and drlebronski isn't going to like someone right wing generally.

By drive off, I mean make people not log onto the site any more.

Put it this way; if someone starts one pro Nambla thread - that provokes debate. If someone, say, bombards multiple threads, and poisons a forum by killing diversity of conversation - you’d need to do something about it. 

It’s not an issue with what they’re saying; but the way they’re saying likely to have a real potential detrimental impact the site. 

Remember, DDO and createdebate are sites that allow users to say anything they want to any degree; and they are cesspools that do not allow for any meaningful debate or discussion, for the reasons I outlined above. And in that way, having total unbridled free speech is worthless if the exercise turns DebateArt into createdebate or ddo. 

Don’t get me wrong; you need pretty excessive behaviour to qualify. Brontoraptor, Type1, and harikrish rise to that level; no one else does. It’s important to distinguish that it’s not their views that are being censored; but their behaviour.

lol 

I guess that makes sense; I'd have to think about it.

I think I have change my vote to Ramshutu.

While I appreciate it, it’s a way off yet, and quite a lot may happen between then and now.

I also think Wylted and DrL should also vote for me too; given that the apoplexy it would generate in a small, one person demographic will be amazing.

Ramshutu has done absolutely nothing for the site for two years at least. He only returned for this election most likely.

Well I’ve been helping fund the site for all that time at least, and consistently lurking; on the pretence of rising from the dead like Jesus to save you all.

So on that note, RM, I forgive you for all your sins, and wash away and absolve you for all your wrongdoing.

I will be happy to vote on any debate you would like to chose, and if I am made president; I will continue to advocate for you like I have always done.

me too

Me too