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What is "Civil, Well-Reasoned Discourse"?
OR How to avoid being banned

To: the ladies and gentlemen of Rantburg, including those of you who aren't sure you (or that other guy!) merit the title. For the record, yes you do, as I define those terms.

From: trailing wife, speaking as the wielder of the periwinkle Cluebat with its lovely trailing ribbons

Subject: How not to get banned, either temporarily or permanently

I've noticed a deterioration in the quality of some conversations here recently, which has driven me to the use of stronger-than-usual language and resulted in the banning of several regular posters. Clearly some of you have forgotten, or never knew, what "Civil, Well-Reasoned Discourse" actually is.

Here goes:

1. Cussing and picturesque language is ok, suitably asterisked of course, if it helps to make your point. Nastiness is not. If you can't tell the difference, consult a kindergartner or your mother. Or you can ask in the O Club, which is open to all who wish an imaginary drink and real off-topic conversation, and can be accessed from the yellow bar in the right-hand column of the front page. AutoBartender stocks Yuengling beer (I think I spelt that right), two of OldSpook's favourite single malt Scotches (I think one is 12 year old Balmorie, but I'm not good at remembering such things), and makes the best margaritas this side of reality. AB's club soda with lime is pretty good, too.

2. Racist or sexist language is never ok. In fact, any -ist language is not ok. If your mother would object, do not post it. If your mother was prone to make statements that started, "All (blacks/whites/men/women/Mexicans/Gays/Jews/Arabs/whatever) are (your negative attribute here)", you may borrow my mother for the purpose. You do have to give her back afterward, as I'm rather fond of her. If your statement contains a cliched stereotype, do not post it, even if you think the stereotype is true. Again, if you are not sure, ask at the O Club, or don't post it.

3. Advocating assassination of, or harm to, any American citizen is strictly forbidden. It does not matter how justified your dislike may be. For the purpose of this discussion, the term American includes the politicians and citizens of all members of the Coalitions in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is always open season on War On Terror bad guys: one of the moderators is quite willing to spot for you if you have Osama bin Laden in your gunsights. I think I'm more likely to get to shake the hand of the man or woman sending Predator drone missiles toward the guest house of a certain mullah in Quetta, but I'm quite willing to be wrong.

4. Any statement that begins, "I'm probably going to get banned for this" is a bad idea. Your subconscious is very, very smart -- listen to it.

If you are sinktrapped, it's because you broke one of these rules and got caught. If you are banned, either temporarily or permanently, it's because you keep breaking the rules, even though warned. In other words, because you stubbornly insist on being stupid. Nym changing will not fool any of the moderators, not even me, because your IP address is visible to their X-ray eyes.

Only Fred Pruitt, our host, can un-ban you. You can try e-mailing him about it, and you may persuade him that you are sincere in your promise to reform. But, using someone else's computer to post about how unfair it was that you were banned will just get that person's IP address banned, too. In one particularly egregious case recently, an entire city was banned. No doubt the rest of its inhabitants eagerly await Fred's return to health, cursing the idiot who caused their Rantburg withdrawal symptoms.

Thank you. Tea and cookies are being set up as you finish reading this... and of course there is something a little stronger on the sideboard for those who need more than tea.

Posted by: trailing wife 2009-06-18
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=272214