When I worked as a forum manager on a now long defunct service, the number 1 rule was "no ad hominem"
I'm surprised (and somewhat disappointed) to be seeing it here lately.
@freemo @sda Rusty Latin, had to go look it up. Wiki has it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem
Quick quote:
"Ad hominem, short for argumentum ad hominem, typically refers to a fallacious argumentative strategy whereby genuine discussion of the topic at hand is avoided by instead attacking the character, motive, or other attribute of the person making the argument, or persons associated with the argument, rather than attacking the substance of the argument..."
I don't remember seeing this type of thing, sda.
Wouldn't want to get myself involved into it either. Feel free to use the Report button and let Staff know; or intervene in the thread and point that out, if you don't mind the possible reaction.
"Dont confuse the fact that no one is willing to talk to you or explain to you how due to your obnoxious personality as being the same as there not being an answer."
"Thats not how it works and its a reflection of just how grossly uneducated you are."
"You can go away now, you are either a troll or an idiot with a big ego."
@sda Thank you for the link. I read thru that thread, although it seems to have branched out from a previous discussion. The user probably posted a reply in the Local timeline, as a new topic, by mistake.
I notice quite a bit of spelling errors at first glance.
And sometimes people will have language that irks others. I remember a couple of recent threads, when a user posted requesting confirmation that the free service he was enjoying here offered certain guarantees.
I knew he did not intend to come thru as adamant, but that is a possible interpretation. Freemo engaged this user and knows more about the discussion, he's also the admin and provider of the service we enjoy.
I think it got to him. I can see myself getting annoyed by some of the discourse I observe in certain places, which, after observing, I avoid.
Sometimes it is best if a team member can help and take over the moderation, if the person currently engaged on it is getting affected personally.
The theme of that discussion is beyond me, I did not participate, since first seeing the equation post/challenge the user posted.
Moderating a topic like that would take specialized knowledge and experience in the area. Plus the patience to handle the form the user expressed him/herself.
🇳🇱
In fact it is clear he started the thread here specifically to argue with me (if you look a this timeline it is 7 days of almost all activity just in that thread). He came over from a flat earth group though isnt himself a flat earther, but he uses that same mentality in other areas it seems
@sda Are we to just ignore that it was a reflection of exactly what he said to me earlier when he first arrived here, and was asked many times to leave me alone?
He was pretty obnoxious throughout the whole thing and since he wouldnt drop it like asked I treated him with the same level of respect e treated me.
As forum manager, I had to demonstrate the highest standard and not sink to their level.
Your forum, your choice whether to take the high road or the low road.
I have no problem with telling someone they are being obnoxious when they are (one of your examples).
I also have no problem telling someone who is uneducated on a subject they are, especially when they admitted they never did the math,
Finally there is nothing wrong with asking someone to go away when you politely asked them to drop it a dozen times before.
Given the context of that week long thread it seems more like honest confrontation of things he was doing, and were unhealthy, rater than ad hominen.
@sda @design_RGEh, sometimes peole need a reality check. My one and only go was to shock him into realizing what he was doing so he could fix those bad habits. It appeared to come close to working once or twice.
Usually to do that it requires a lot of bluntness to get them out of their ego driven mindset.
Also note as a leader here I am not going to act any different in how i express myself other than to be compassionate towards others
The only time i need to act in a differet way as a moderator is if/when i am evaluating moderator actions.
@sda Where did you see it, we generally dont approve of it.