Les, I’d like to propose a standard here at SEB. Nothing to strict, an nothing ideological based. People are free to spout off about their silly ideas as they wish. But for the sake of decorum and civilization, let’s require basic rammer rules, punctuation, capitalization and such. It’s no big deal iff you mis spell a word here and there, or use “your” when you mean “you’re”, but at least show you’re trying. Netspeak would of course be excluded.

Give a person two warnings, if they refuse to comply, toss them out and safe us all a migraine.

KPG: let’s require basic rammer rules, punctuation, capitalization and such

Would there be a way of automating such a thing I wonder?

And of course, I screw up the word “grammer”.

Sigh.

Still, you understand the point. I’m not trying to weed out honest mistakes, I’m trying to get rid of those posts that completely disregard common rules because they think it takes too much time or isn’t “hip” enough.

I refuse to buy a secret decoder ring just to figure out what some numbskull is trying to say.

KPG, it’s grammar. One more strike and you’re out.

Troll management isn’t rocket science. If somebody displeases Les, he’s free to summarily give them the boot. I’m not going to second-guess what he should or shouldn’t do.

As far as the rest of us are concerned, I’m afraid a few judgment calls and self-restraint are called for. Poor spelling, poor grammar, and inarticulate people chap my ass, but as long as they’re trying to hold a conversation, I usually look the other way.

The current specimen is an easy decision. Since he can’t be bothered to spell-check, I can’t be bothered to wrest meaning from whatever he writes.

There is an often fuzzy line between having a contrary position and wording it poorly on one side and deliberately stirring up the pot on the other. As tempting as it is to tell the latter off, you just have to stop flogging the horse once it’s dead. And no, just because you thought it might have twitched one more time is not sufficient reason to give it a few more whacks.

The long and short of it is that protracted flame wars and trading personal barbs just for the fun of it detract from the site’s reading pleasure. I myself have done my share of flaming and—if I may add—quite deliberately so. If we do agree on any rule, however, then I suggest that as soon as anybody posts a “chill it” note, the troll feeding should cease immediately.

KPG, it’s grammar.

*hangs head in shame*

God damned, bourbon.....

I’m sympathetic to the cause of wanting to enhance the rules of engagement.  Nevertheless, as a general observation about group dynamics, the trolls are a necessary component to creating a sense of cohesion amongst the believers (non-believers).  Something to be considered.

As an aside, the Santa analogy doesn’t hold water and should not be utilized.  As I’ve encountered it, the Pink Unicorn is the favorite and it is effective.  It is effective because there is no mythology (at least none that I’m aware of or care to learn about) regarding the Pink Unicorn.  There is a mythology with Santa.  It’s not proving a negative.  It’s simply a mater of disproving the positive assertions associated with the mythology

The mythology of Santa is that Santa brings presents to the good little girls and boys.  Conversely, Santa brings coal (and sometimes a stick to beat some ass after being warmed in the coal) to those ornery little boys and girls. 

It is pretty easy to design protocols for a test on Christmas Eve/Christmas Day to test the mythology of Santa.  The same is true with the tooth fairy.  Accordingly, the analogy doesn’t hold unless there is no mythology or a mythology that is untestable.  Note to the regulars: Stick with zilch’s original analogy.  When you stray with your own versions, you inadvertently wander into the the hinterlands where the trolls may eat you.

you just have to stop flogging the horse once it’s dead. And no, just because you thought it might have twitched one more time is not sufficient reason to give it a few more whacks.

But....but....but.....dead horses are so much easier to flog.  The live ones run from you.

By the way:

THE NATURAL LIFE CYCLE OF MAILING LISTS

It is pretty easy to design protocols for a test on Christmas Eve/Christmas Day to test the mythology of Santa.

Consi, don’t be daft. Everybody knows that according to elementary supernatural protocol, Santa only does his stuff when nobody tries to catch him in the act. You only get presents from Santa by faith alone, otherwise it’s the parents or empty stockings.

Consi, don’t be daft.

Course that didn’t ruin my good manners.  A round of applause is due to you.  Twas a worthy effort to resurrect Santa.  He must have been too fat for it to work though.

Thanks, but the honor goes to all the kooks who use this type of argument for real.

I agree about those kooky atheists.  They just keep stretching and stretching, never realizing the limits of their Play-Doh.

THE NATURAL LIFE CYCLE OF MAILING LISTS

Are we agreed on 6B?

KPG, you’ll note that there is a link right under this comment entry field that goes to the official SEB Comment Guidelines. That’s about as close to rules as I’m likely to get.

but i do know, that i have a faith in him, and i know that has cahnged MY life, and i do know that when I die, and stand before my CREATOR and savior, i will know why i should be let into heaven, and it isnt becasue i went toshurch for 10 years, it isnt casue i gave money, it is beace his son took MY punishment, and i cling to nothing but that.

have fun picking this apart you guys, but it worked for me and changed my life, what do you have to say abotu taht?  oh yeah and if you wanna make fun of the spelling you can too

ha haaaaaaaaa I had more fun deciphering your spelling than following, what your point was. At least you know you cannot spell, which is a blessing, but have you ever thought of learnig how, or using a spell checker before sending your comments?
I think all religion is a simple crutch for the masses, and I am not a cripple. Remove all religion, and what would we go to war over next?
My belief is that you are born, you live (sort of) then you die. I like it nice and simple like that.
I am in Scotland, and I find it hard to believe that we taught your forefathers how to read and write. I am also quite sure that we must have taught them how to spell. You obviously lost the skill, when you found religion. Shame that. Ha haaaaaaaa

well first of all god doesnt tell u to kill someones , so she is a freakin liar!! god wants us to love! he aint like some pychos in this world who think that satan actually loves them, when he dosent give a crap about u. he is the one laughing at all of you who dont believe, satan would kill u if he could! u better be glade god died for us, or we would be in HELl!!!. u are the ones who are so freakin sorry. i hate it for u when god comes back and yall are still here burning in flames! yall are going to really miss out on a great party. blc he is comming and if ur not ready....well i hope u likethe heat of fire cause thats wut r going to feel for the rest of eternity!

Courtney, when you finish going insane please don’t throw your kids off a pier. That is all.

PS. Go back to school.