Da Blob

[Duxwing]

@Jennywocky

LOL! Hot diggity, I wish I could have seen that. You probably twisted their undies into knots.

Back on that forum, my handle was "Penguin," and I can attest to the underwear allusion.

Here's my eulogy and an example of my daily posts. Here are the threads in which I had my finest hours:

On Sleep and Its Deprivation

My relationship with the forum as a case in point.

My fledgling philosophy

The Forum's relationship to intellectual pursuits in a Nutshell

Whistle Blowing on Global Warming

How long have you been here again? Impressive.

I've been here since September of 2012, ma'am.

Well, maybe if you were a mod and seeing all the behind the scenes stuff + the actual forum damage, your opinion would change. As a member, you can afford that luxury, and you can also take off any time you'd like and find a new home... which is what happens when you allow some members take over the forum.

Besides, is he coming back? He was finally banned for doing all of these things. Someone let him back on. he did the same things for another year or more, and now has been banned again, with no sign of repentance or willingness to change.

how many more times does Ike get to smack Tina before she decides she's kicking him out for good?

As soon as a read the first line of your post, the thought of a global perspective on the problem entered my mind, and I agree with you. He was causing considerable consternation among us, consternation that ultimately outweighs his loss of posting privileges. To analogize back to "baning = killing" argument, he was pillaging our threads, battering our feelings, and committing, as Cavalier pointed out, the worst crime imaginable on a forum (short of actual harm to another poster's physical being): not caring about anyone else's ideas. So I figure that if we can't fix him, the "jail" of the ban (now that I think about it, jail is a more accurate description) is the best option for the good of the rest of us.

-Duxwing

 

[Agent Intellect]

On a philosophical level, I'm against his banning. I think people can either ignore him or engage him, but Blob gave the people what they wanted: an antagonist who knew how to play on emotions (he admitted to me as such in a PM once that this was his tactic and advised that I should try doing the same).

On a practical level, I'm for the ban. Obviously people can't ignore such enticing appeals to emotion, particularly new people who don't know any better. I do completely understand that Da Blob was poison to many threads (as I'm sure I have been as well in my hay day) and that his banning could serve to decrease the number of derailments and increase the number of productive (or at least interesting) conversations.

I'm usually an advocate on not banning people. @Cavallier could attest to that... But in this case, I'd have to say I'm for it.

 

[Architect]

Taking a step back I'm reminded of what Christopher Hitchens said in defense of unpopular thinking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14nLz1Ku9tc


Shamefully I don't mind that Blob is gone, but I don't know the full extent of his transgressions. I did tolerate him for this long because of the philosophy Hitchens has above.

Edit: not sure why I'm not getting embedded YouTube

 

[Agent Intellect]

Taking a step back I'm reminded of what Christopher Hitchens said in defense of unpopular thinking

Defense of Unpopular Thinking

Shamefully I don't mind that Blob is gone, but I don't know the full extent of his transgressions. I did tolerate him for this long because of the philosophy Hitchens has above.

Unpopular is one thing, but unmoving is another. I think everyone needs to be able to humor thoughts once in a while in order to stick with a premise. Da Blob was incapable. I'm sure I'm not liked but some people, but I like to think I'm able to humor ideas I don't agree with at times (I believe @SpaceYeti thought I was a theist when he first joined lol).

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

Can Duxwing be promoted to moderator status?

 

[crippli]

Shit, banned already. I sent a PM to him not so long ago about what feedback he could provide(Da Blob encouraged to do that), as it seemed he would be banned shortly. I got a polity reply, and was encouraged to ask about particulars.

Dammit, I take too long time to think.

As I have thought much on what to ask, and had my mouse hovering over the send button 5 times this last week. But the truth is that the guy intimidated me a little, so maybe I was better off. Probably wouldn't have understood it anyway.

Very abstract fellow. BTW- he looked at himself as a mystic. The mystic that lived on the hill above the village, to be precise. For a Christian he was hilarious. I hope he can be be unbanned at some point. He was much better after the last ban. I rarely replied, but read many of the posts, having my little brain trying to unravel the mysteries. I've enjoyed it. I'll miss him. Always a little sad to see one of "our" own take the fall.

 

[InvisibleJim]

Looked like a relatively callous banning. You could almost substitute the whole mod post with 'My friends left because they didn't like your opinions, now those of us who can are coming to get you for it.' and lose no content.

Most people who do that to me learn that I'm technically unbannable. Jennywocky can attest to that, occassionally I throw in a new account and give a big wave to TypoC to cause them to cry, but they have no idea who I currently post as.

I wouldn't be surprised if we see Da Blob again and there is a rule invented to moderate religious discussion just to deal with one untraceable individual and what appear to be some personal gripes to try to get them.

 

[Duxwing]

Shit, banned already. I sent a PM to him not so long ago about what feedback he could provide(Da Blob encouraged to do that), as it seemed he would be banned shortly. I got a polity reply, and was encouraged to ask about particulars.

Dammit, I take too long time to think.

As I have thought much on what to ask, and had my mouse hovering over the send button 5 times this last week. But the truth is that the guy intimidated me a little, so maybe I was better off. Probably wouldn't have understood it anyway.

Very abstract fellow. BTW- he looked at himself as a mystic. The mystic that lived on the hill above the village, to be precise. For a Christian he was hilarious. I hope he can be be unbanned at some point. He was much better after the last ban. I rarely replied, but read many of the posts, having my little brain trying to unravel the mysteries. I've enjoyed it. I'll miss him. Always a little sad to see one of "our" own take the fall.

My condolences, sir. He was an INFJ, if I remember correctly.

-Duxwing

 

[Duxwing]

Can Duxwing be promoted to moderator status?

I-I'm flattered. But why?

-Duxwing

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

I-I'm flattered. But why?

-Duxwing

You seem like a balanced individual.

 

[Duxwing]

You seem like a balanced individual.

Aww, shucks, that's quite nice of you to say. As for becoming a moderator, I'd need to know more about the duties and responsibilities that I'd face before signing up as a guardian of what is effectively my home-away-from-home.

-Duxwing

 

[crippli]

My condolences, sir. He was an INFJ, if I remember correctly.

Thank you mam. I've had two weeks. Can't expect people to wait around forever.

 

[Duxwing]

Thank you mam. I've had two weeks. Can't expect people to wait around forever.

Not to pick at inconsequential details, but I'm a teenage boy. Yikes!

As for the waiting, indeed, you should have sent something before the ban-hammer got him. But, on the other hand, you only had a faint inkling of his impending demise, so don't be too hard on yourself.

-Duxwing

 

[Kuu]

Can Duxwing be promoted to moderator status?

My, my, my... you don't cease to amaze Proxy. I never took you for a comedian.

 

[Duxwing]

My, my, my... you don't cease to amaze Proxy. I never took you for a comedian.

Ouch! But you're all too correct, Kuu, I don't think that I'm cut out for moderating.

-Duxwing

 

[Proletar]

There, there. You can still be the moderator of your own posts.

R.I.P. Blob.

 

[The Gopher]

The problem with blob is he will be reincarnated I really wonder why you even try.

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

My, my, my... you don't cease to amaze Proxy. I never took you for a comedian.

 

[Cavallier]

We dallied for some time on banning him the second time. We discussed it quite a bit in the mod box. The last hurdle, at least for me personally, was that I did not want to ban him out of any sense of being biased against him. However, over the last few months I have seen his public and private displays of disregard for this forum mount up.

I quoted him and banned him because of what his quote explicitly told me: He had no respect for any philosophy but his own. It is human to be dismissive of others who do not agree with us but some of us strive for understanding. INTPS more than most. By his admission he will never stop in his relentless goal to warp everyone around him to his way of thinking. That attitude alienates, poisons, and even worse stunts others attempts at understanding and growth.

My banning of Blob was not an emotional decision. It was not made rashly. It was sanctioned the other mods on this forum as Kuu, Fukyo, and LoR have pointed out. So, please keep debating, arguing, and even getting warned for being too aggressive. Doing so shows interest and passion. It furthers the mind broadening experience of others. It is for that reason, and the lulz of course, that I stick around here. Its the only reason I do anything in life. If I find myself in a place that does not push me to learn, discuss, and grow then I get board and wander away. I don't want to get board of this forum yet.

 

[loveofreason]

Blob gave the people what they wanted: an antagonist who knew how to play on emotions (he admitted to me as such in a PM once that this was his tactic and advised that I should try doing the same).

In other words, he was fully conscious of deliberately being a troll.

Life needs good provocateurs - agonists or protagonists - but he wasn't one of them. He fouled everyone's nest, including his own, and abused all the tolerance shown toward him and wasted all his chances. He didn't want them. He wanted to troll.

 

[Matt3737]

Very abstract fellow. BTW- he looked at himself as a mystic. The mystic that lived on the hill above the village, to be precise.

As a religious scholar, I enjoy an interesting discussion on mysticism. The problem with Da Blob was that he always held a condescending attitude in his social interactions. His "on the hill above the village [looking down on the peasantry]" seemed to be his modus operandi. He was passively rude.

Now, I don't know and can't say whether I feel this was banworthy or not. I've seen many aggressively insulting posts that were similarly condescending. It is a regular occurence for the religious and political discussions on any forum, but since it is a private forum it is at the moderators' discretion on how to regulate it.

As for my honest opinion about Da Blob, I feel sorry for him and I'm a little curious about who he really is and if he had family or friends outside the forum. His attitude, to me, seems to reflect a deep insecurity that he was constantly trying to get validation for. This isn't an unusual characteristic for many people, but it does seem out of place for a person of his age.

I had a hard time buying that he worked as a counselor for a living because it seems so out of place to me. An older gentleman that spent so much time posting condescending remarks about other people's views and simultaneously trying to express and validate his own point of view?

I feel sorry for him. He just seems like a lonely individual to me.

 

[SpaceYeti]

Unpopular is one thing, but unmoving is another. I think everyone needs to be able to humor thoughts once in a while in order to stick with a premise. Da Blob was incapable. I'm sure I'm not liked but some people, but I like to think I'm able to humor ideas I don't agree with at times (I believe @SpaceYeti thought I was a theist when he first joined lol).

I might have. I simply don't remember.

 

[SpaceYeti]

On a philosophical level, I'm against his banning. I think people can either ignore him or engage him, but Blob gave the people what they wanted: an antagonist who knew how to play on emotions (he admitted to me as such in a PM once that this was his tactic and advised that I should try doing the same).

A long time ago, on a forum far, far away, I had continuous "debates" with one guy in particular who would keep bringing up the same "problems" with evolution over and over, even though I had discredited every last one of them the last time we had the same debate. After years, there was a time we began getting along, and he admitted that he didn't think evolution was false, he only debated the topic because he thinks that, without religion and it's simple to follow morals, people would be out killing and raping all the time.

 

[walfin]

You know, INTPc had a good intermediate measure for this, which was to confine someone to Purgatory temporarily.

I don't think there's a clear consensus on whether Blob should've been banned. I should think that most people realise he could've been Ignored, and he didn't spam, or heckle anybody in particular. To ban someone for refusing to be open minded does seem rather ironic, don't you think?

Could we consider having a measure like that (i.e. confining someone to Siberia)?

 

[loveofreason]

The fact that intolerance is necessary to stem the abuse of tolerance is one of life's most irksome paradoxes, no? Especially to the tolerant forced to act against their own good will.

 

[Duxwing]

The fact that intolerance is necessary to stem the abuse of tolerance is one of life's most irksome paradoxes, no? Especially to the tolerant forced to act against their own good will.

See, you haven't run out of things to say! And I agree, too.

-Duxwing

 

[Montresor]

Does this forum practice hellbanning - where the banned individual's posts are visible only to himself?

 

[snafupants]

I don't think there's a clear consensus on whether Blob should've been banned. I should think that most people realise he could've been Ignored, and he didn't spam, or heckle anybody in particular. To ban someone for refusing to be open minded does seem rather ironic, don't you think?

It's ostensibly heavy-handed but debatably ironic. The verdict depends on how one interprets "threatening" and "hateful" perhaps. Da Blob apparently received warnings and temporary bans beforehand, so it seems as though he had it coming. Ultimately, it doesn't matter what you or I think about Da Blob's untimely departure. For the record, though, I'm not sure Da Blob was banned quite for "refusing to be open minded," but whatever. Da Blob did seem to be spewing the same spiel every night anyway. Time to put the ol' boy out to pasture.

By agreeing to these rules, you warrant that you will not post any messages that are obscene, vulgar, sexually-oriented, hateful, threatening, or otherwise violative of any laws.

 

[Jennywocky]

Does this forum practice hellbanning - where the banned individual's posts are visible only to himself?

I wouldn't expect it to.
And then we have the Miserable User plug-in....

 

[Montresor]

What's that?

 

[Jennywocky]

What's that?

A nasty little plug-in that you can set a lot of the values for. But it can basically emulate a forum disconnect, failed page loads, and a bunch of other "inconvenient stuff" -- with the length of time and chance of happening set by the admin -- that basically creates so much frustration in posting that someone might leave on their own accord due to thinking they just can't get a good connection to the forum.

obviously it's playing dirty pool. I wouldn't use it, but it amazes me someone thought of it and actually programmed it.

 

[Jennywocky]

Most people who do that to me learn that I'm technically unbannable. Jennywocky can attest to that,

Lol, Jim.

Yes, you do have a way of popping back up every so often just to remind people you're around. I'm sure for the current staff over there, it's like playing whack-a-mole. I mean, really, anyone can get back onto a forum for a certain length of time, depending on how savvy they are... it's not even that hard. More a matter of how long you can not tip people off by posting style or whatever else... Technically if someone could be happy being someone else, they could get away with it indefinitely.

I wouldn't be surprised if we see Da Blob again

I don't think Blob is that savvy, but... hey whatever.

 

[Montresor]

Very interesting.

So somebody like Blob could be made to suffer through the headache of having his long, gassy posts be repeatedly eaten by a browser before he managed to post them?

That's worse than hellbanning. And "they" (the authors of the article I read that learned me hellbanning) say hellbanning is like the ninth circle when it comes to punishment.

A proper ban is merciful, at least you know you're banned!

 

[Jennywocky]

A proper ban is merciful, at least you know you're banned!

Pretty much. There are worse things than just a routine permaban.

 

[snafupants]

Very interesting.

So somebody like Blob could be made to suffer through the headache of having his long, gassy posts be repeatedly eaten by a browser before he managed to post them?

That's worse than hellbanning. And "they" (the authors of the article I read that learned me hellbanning) say hellbanning is like the ninth circle when it comes to punishment.

A proper ban is merciful, at least you know you're banned!

I haven't thoroughly researched "hellbanning" but wouldn't you "know" when nobody ever responded?

Also, couldn't you just take the pre and post-post count into consideration?

 

[snafupants]

Haha most of the time nobody responded to Da Blob anyway.

He could be furiously making quasi-theological posts for years.

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

Just as an aside, has the forum itself evolved to the point where different individuals are attracted to the forum community and/or different shared beliefs or values are held? I mean, Blob was here for 4+ years and made almost 6,000 posts, which sort of implies that for a long time, things were rather peachy overall.

I don't mean to question the mods etc/etc (indeed I appreciate his perspective and have thus befriended him via Facebook, but why lobby for his return to a community with mixed feelings?), but I'm curious about... well, the forum's a system...

I might have to pull a simple random sample of threads for a case study. How did this develop? Might I be next? (<-Both rhetorical).

 

[Jennywocky]

Just as an aside, has the forum itself evolved to the point where different individuals are attracted to the forum community and/or different shared beliefs or values are held? I mean, Blob was here for 4+ years and made almost 6,000 posts, which sort of implies that for a long time, things were rather peachy overall.

I'm pretty sure I've had issues for the bulk of that tenure. Maybe some others have too. Or maybe it just needed time for frustration for build. How long was he banned last year? three months or something?

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

Just as an aside, has the forum itself evolved to the point where different individuals are attracted to the forum community and/or different shared beliefs or values are held? I mean, Blob was here for 4+ years and made almost 6,000 posts, which sort of implies that for a long time, things were rather peachy overall.

I don't mean to question the mods etc/etc (indeed I appreciate his perspective and have thus befriended him via Facebook, but why lobby for his return to a community with mixed feelings?), but I'm curious about... well, the forum's a system...

I might have to pull a simple random sample of threads for a case study. How did this develop? Might I be next? (<-Both rhetorical).

If you post raunchy photos of yourself with small fury animals you will never be banned. ^_^

 

[snafupants]

Just as an aside, has the forum itself evolved to the point where different individuals are attracted to the forum community and/or different shared beliefs or values are held? I mean, Blob was here for 4+ years and made almost 6,000 posts, which sort of implies that for a long time, things were rather peachy overall.

My mind saw "rather preachy" the first time haha.

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

If you post raunchy photos of yourself with small fury animals you will never be banned. ^_^

... I could actually... do that. I just got back from butchering 13 deer, and I'm known to measure the occasional squirrel testicle.

EDIT: Troof... (those squeamish about dead things, look away) http://www.intpforum.com/picture.php?albumid=223&pictureid=1915

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

... I could actually... do that. I just got back from butchering 13 deer, and I'm known to measure the occasional squirrel testicle.

EDIT: Troof... (those squeamish about dead things, look away) http://www.intpforum.com/picture.php?albumid=223&pictureid=1915

I am mortified.

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

I am mortified.

I should have taken a picture before I showered; covered in blood like an axe murderer.

 

[Montresor]

Yes, you should have.

 

[loveofreason]

If you post raunchy photos of yourself with small fury animals you will never be banned. ^_^

Here here!

...wait... fury animals? Like... vengeful? Rabid?

Those deer are neither small nor furious!

I'd ban you this instant, but first... have I mentioned the INTPforum venison tax?

 

[walfin]

Very interesting.

So somebody like Blob could be made to suffer through the headache of having his long, gassy posts be repeatedly eaten by a browser before he managed to post them?

That's worse than hellbanning. And "they" (the authors of the article I read that learned me hellbanning) say hellbanning is like the ninth circle when it comes to punishment.

A proper ban is merciful, at least you know you're banned!

Me gawd, now I'm wondering about all those times I got an error 500 on these forums.

 

[BigApplePi]

I thought he was trying to say his remarks are not just snide and insidious, (using pure sarcasm as his tool), but definitely not implying he seriously intends on discouraging open-minded discussion (i.e. mens rea).

He definitely did it to ruffle feathers. Sort of like sticking his foot in the door wearing muddy boots and trying to assert his dominance.

After reading this entire thread and the old one, gathering some back story, contemplating the gravity of the ban-post, I have decided my support is against the ban, because it violates my personal principles.

Although I agree with that, I have to conclude that some kind of crime was committed. But was it a misdemeanor or a felony? One thing easily overlooked is listening to the other side. People have said it was an accumulation over time of SOMETHING. But what was it, misdemeanor or a felony?

 

[Jennywocky]

Me gawd, now I'm wondering about all those times I got an error 500 on these forums.

Wow, how did this post get through? It should have been blocked!

 

[Felan]

Da Blob was just a narcissist with a custom tailored point of view to make his egocentrism a moral prerogative.

 

[Cognisant]

What's that?
A nasty little plug-in that you can set a lot of the values for. But it can basically emulate a forum disconnect, failed page loads, and a bunch of other "inconvenient stuff" -- with the length of time and chance of happening set by the admin -- that basically creates so much frustration in posting that someone might leave on their own accord due to thinking they just can't get a good connection to the forum.

obviously it's playing dirty pool. I wouldn't use it, but it amazes me someone thought of it and actually programmed it.

Huh, I do remember having troubles with this site for a week or so on and off.
Not that it deterred me, obviously.

Ouch! But you're all too correct, Kuu, I don't think that I'm cut out for moderating.

@Duxwing, it's not a voluntary thing.