Re: META: Time to enforce the List Rules!

From: Brett Paatsch (paatschb@optusnet.com.au)
Date: Mon Jun 16 2003 - 03:46:13 MDT

  • Next message: Eliezer S. Yudkowsky: "Re: META: Dishonest debate (was "cluster bombs")"

    Harvey writes:

    > matus@matus1976.com wrote,
    > > Harvey said:
    > > "If nobody makes a complaint, it implies that we unanimously want
    > > the personal attacks to be allowed."
    > >
    > > Interesting, Harvey, that you commit the same false dichotomy that you
    so
    > > frequently criticize others on. Just because I dont complain when
    someone
    > > presents personal attacks doesnt mean I condone those personal
    > > attacks!!! The world isnt binary!!!
    >
    > You make an excellent point. The above rule is from the ExI Board, not
    from
    > me. I strongly oppose this rule. I still maintain that a lack of
    complaint
    > from people cannot be used to indicate their support. I think the rules
    > should be enforced at all times, not just when someone complains.
    However,
    > I am not in a position to force my viewpoint onto the ExI Board, so their
    > rules and my rules do not match.

    Again I agree.

    Not responding to a breach of rules or to a personal attack not is not
    merely against the grain for most people psychologically, most of us I
    think are familiar enough with the simple notion that "mud sticks" or the
    debating principle that any unrefuted argument however specious that
    is not refuted may be accepted by the audience.

    There are also quite a few of us here who are familiar with the
    efficacy of tit for tat.

    Knowing that lists are about readers (audiences) and that there are
    ramifications in letting abuses slip by I think it is important to have
     another option than non response which can be misinterpreted by
    readers of the list. This was my point in the previous post in this
    thread.

    Brett



    This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Mon Jun 16 2003 - 03:54:21 MDT