Exi5entialist's Allegations- Discussion and debate

[Rum]

Oops.

[rachelbean]

I don't understand how anyone doesn't think exi5 is a troll. He is claiming he was sexually abused here....that's not a difference of opinion, it's just an outright and absurd lie.

There can be huge differences between what happens and how it is perceived. I don't think Exi5tentialist is lying. The connection between the real world and how Exi perceives / interprets it is just, shall we say, extremely tenuous. He'd hardly dare spout the crap he does about the "sexual abuse scandal" if he did not believe it to be true himself. If he didn't, he'd realise the impossibility of convincing others of the truth of such an absurd assertion. He is not stupid. Just a bit reality-challenged.

I read him saying that sometimes it's too much trouble to say "verbal sexual abuse."

Too much trouble? He can write page after page of posts, but it's too much trouble to append a key descriptor that utterly changes the sense of a phrase?

I don't have a link to this quote. I can hunt it down if someone wants.

Even with the qualifier I don't think it has any merit. If someone can point me to a post which I somehow missed I'll take it into consideration, but I'm pretty damn sure that it just didn't happen.

[hadespussercats]

I don't understand how anyone doesn't think exi5 is a troll. He is claiming he was sexually abused here....that's not a difference of opinion, it's just an outright and absurd lie.

There can be huge differences between what happens and how it is perceived. I don't think Exi5tentialist is lying. The connection between the real world and how Exi perceives / interprets it is just, shall we say, extremely tenuous. He'd hardly dare spout the crap he does about the "sexual abuse scandal" if he did not believe it to be true himself. If he didn't, he'd realise the impossibility of convincing others of the truth of such an absurd assertion. He is not stupid. Just a bit reality-challenged.

I read him saying that sometimes it's too much trouble to say "verbal sexual abuse."

Too much trouble? He can write page after page of posts, but it's too much trouble to append a key descriptor that utterly changes the sense of a phrase?

I don't have a link to this quote. I can hunt it down if someone wants.

Even with the qualifier I don't think it has any merit. If someone can point me to a post which I somehow missed I'll take it into consideration, but I'm pretty damn sure that it just didn't happen.

Well, I mentioned in my earlier post that it's entirely possible someone in one of those giant Exi5 threads of last fall might have said something that could be interpreted as verbal sexual harrassment. But I'm sure as hell not going to go looking. I'd say that's on Exi5, if he really wants to make a case, rather than fling mud.

But my sense of his credibility is not improved by the fact that he's imprecise to the point of creating a falsehood in how he's writing about this issue.

[Coito ergo sum]

Short rebuttal to Existentialist's post linked in the OP:

1. Pappa's joke was not "sexual abuse" and to characterize it as such is utter, and complete nonsense.
2. Existentialist claims to have been "sexually abused" here. Is there any evidence of this? If so, someone might want to alert the authorities.
3. As for Exi's suggested change to how Rationalia "democracy" works - how about we do that here on Rationalia when they do it at Skepchick and Freethoughtblogs? Let's cut a deal.
4. As for the site crowing about having a poll -- err... Exi....the poll was Pappa's individual choice to give himself a sense of where the members were at on this issue. It's not an official no-confidence vote or anything. He didn't have to do the vote at all, and, in fact, there were a couple of members who openly questioned the wisdom of the poll on the thread in which the poll was created.
5. Going on to refer to PZ Myers just as "a member" is ridiculous. He's the one who posted all sorts of scurrilous garbage about Rationalia, so a couple of threads parodying what he wrote about Rationalia ought not stir up much controversy.

[Jaygray]

Edit: wrong thread.

[Jaygray]

Shit, meet Fan.


[quote="Pulsar";p="1407956"][quote="Regina";p="1407882"]Do you know things we don't?

I do...

PZ decided not to moderate any comments anymore. The poor pharyngulites are on their own now, and they don't like it...

http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/ ... arent-cool

PZ Myers says:
28 July 2012 at 6:26 pm

People don’t need to leave. I’m taking a break from the comments, but I’m sure this will only lead to a happy new world of excitement, free of my interference.

Articles will continue to appear. There will be things to fight over, as always. You know how many of you take breaks from this stuff when it gets too stressful — I spend an hour or two a day every day cleaning up the messes, and have been doing this for nearly a decade. I get a break, too.

PZ Myers says:
29 July 2012 at 6:20 pm

There are no rules at all anymore.

PZ Myers says:
29 July 2012 at 6:39 pm

I don’t know…I’m hoping total anarchy works and this can be permanent. It makes my job easier.

When I got up this morning, I saw the long list of unread new comments, and instead of actually scanning them, I did this magical thing of simply selecting all and marking as read. I’ve done that again just now. And they all went away with no time or effort on my part!

The comments section here is totally peaceful and stress-free as long as I close my eyes and don’t look.

PZ Myers says:
29 July 2012 at 6:57 pm

What is a blog for if you don’t care about the comments?

Bwahahahahahahaha! Good one.

I’ve been caring about the comments for 10 fucking years. Everyone has a different and, they’re sure, better idea about how they should be handled. So you’re all on your own — let’s see how it works out.

PZ Myers says:
29 July 2012 at 7:01 pm

So much for caring about safe spaces and all that

You don’t get to put that on me, nope. I tried to put together safe spaces, and acted as the janitor when people tried to shit in them — and got howls of protest that I dared to do so.

So you guys get to clean it up on your own now.

PZ Myers says:
29 July 2012 at 9:11 pm

when personal info about someone gets posted like the other day,

Tough. I won’t see it, and I wash my hands of any consequences.

PZ Myers says:
29 July 2012 at 9:22 pm

NO.

Seriously, I’m fed up. Do you understand that? I’m FUCKING FED UP.

GODDAMN MOTHERFUCKING FED UP.

You guys want a janitor, nothing more, and I’m tired of entitled snots telling me how to run the place…so you’re on your own. Too many people seem to have the idea that I’m supposed to just indulge their behaviors, no matter how destructive they are to the community.

So I’ll let the assholes run the show now. Have fun.

PZ Myers says:
29 July 2012 at 10:18 pm

turn them off

You know what throws me into a rage?

PEOPLE TELLING ME HOW TO RUN THE BLOG.

and when one stupid troll manages to derail a thread for days on end without saying anything of substance.

That’s ongoing. You don’t want me to deal with that crap, I won’t deal with it.

[/quote][/quote]

Ah well, that's the problem with trying to be god. Sooner or later people stop worshipping you.

[normal]

Shit, meet Fan.

Oh, hohohohhohohohooooo!!!

PZ has spent 10 years pruning his followers to get rid of those who are annoying or too vocal. And just as he has suppressed them into the shape he wanted, he pisses in their faces. That's a pretty ... unwise thing to do. I guess I would also be tired of it, but I think I'd get a volunteer or two to actually enforce the "guidelines" instead of saying "fuck you, you sniveling jerk-offs , you're on your own".

Remember the anarchy experiment here?

[Coito ergo sum]

I think what PZ is missing is that "some" people were telling him X and other people were telling him Y, and he's making the mistake of looking at all the people together as one, as if one person is both seeking safe spaces and also telling him not to do anything about alleged offending posts. The reality is that John Doe is saying one thing and Richard Roe is saying another. It's called difference of opinion, and it's obviously something fairly foreign to Prof. Myers.

Nananana boo boo -- people are telling me to regulate the blog, and other people are telling me not to....whatever am I to do...?

[Jason]

Shit, meet Fan.


[quote="Pulsar";p="1407956"][quote="Regina";p="1407882"]Do you know things we don't?

I do...

PZ decided not to moderate any comments anymore. The poor pharyngulites are on their own now, and they don't like it...

http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/ ... arent-cool

PZ Myers says:
28 July 2012 at 6:26 pm

People don’t need to leave. I’m taking a break from the comments, but I’m sure this will only lead to a happy new world of excitement, free of my interference.

Articles will continue to appear. There will be things to fight over, as always. You know how many of you take breaks from this stuff when it gets too stressful — I spend an hour or two a day every day cleaning up the messes, and have been doing this for nearly a decade. I get a break, too.

PZ Myers says:
29 July 2012 at 6:20 pm

There are no rules at all anymore.

PZ Myers says:
29 July 2012 at 6:39 pm

I don’t know…I’m hoping total anarchy works and this can be permanent. It makes my job easier.

When I got up this morning, I saw the long list of unread new comments, and instead of actually scanning them, I did this magical thing of simply selecting all and marking as read. I’ve done that again just now. And they all went away with no time or effort on my part!

The comments section here is totally peaceful and stress-free as long as I close my eyes and don’t look.

PZ Myers says:
29 July 2012 at 6:57 pm

What is a blog for if you don’t care about the comments?

Bwahahahahahahaha! Good one.

I’ve been caring about the comments for 10 fucking years. Everyone has a different and, they’re sure, better idea about how they should be handled. So you’re all on your own — let’s see how it works out.

PZ Myers says:
29 July 2012 at 7:01 pm

So much for caring about safe spaces and all that

You don’t get to put that on me, nope. I tried to put together safe spaces, and acted as the janitor when people tried to shit in them — and got howls of protest that I dared to do so.

So you guys get to clean it up on your own now.

PZ Myers says:
29 July 2012 at 9:11 pm

when personal info about someone gets posted like the other day,

Tough. I won’t see it, and I wash my hands of any consequences.

PZ Myers says:
29 July 2012 at 9:22 pm

NO.

Seriously, I’m fed up. Do you understand that? I’m FUCKING FED UP.

GODDAMN MOTHERFUCKING FED UP.

You guys want a janitor, nothing more, and I’m tired of entitled snots telling me how to run the place…so you’re on your own. Too many people seem to have the idea that I’m supposed to just indulge their behaviors, no matter how destructive they are to the community.

So I’ll let the assholes run the show now. Have fun.

PZ Myers says:
29 July 2012 at 10:18 pm

turn them off

You know what throws me into a rage?

PEOPLE TELLING ME HOW TO RUN THE BLOG.

and when one stupid troll manages to derail a thread for days on end without saying anything of substance.

That’s ongoing. You don’t want me to deal with that crap, I won’t deal with it.

[/quote][/quote]


Poor PZ. Kitchen's hot.

[klr]

Soooo.... PZ is no longer moderating the comments being posted on the web site that bears his name. Interesting ...

[Audley Strange]

I'm really annoyed at myself for the lack of schadenfreude I'm getting off of this but as much as I dislike the entirety of his actions recently, I take no pleasure in watching grown men tantrum like 8 year old girls and hope this has not affected his mental health at all. Of course, no doubt some people will think I'm being disingenuous considering my posts confronting him, but what do I care? It was genuinely meant and if it's not received as such that's not my problem.

The Net is best considered analogous to communication with disincarnate intelligences. As any neophyte would tell you. Do not invoke that which you have no facility to banish.

[Rum]

I'm really annoyed at myself for the lack of schadenfreude I'm getting off of this but as much as I dislike the entirety of his actions recently, I take no pleasure in watching grown men tantrum like 8 year old girls and hope this has not affected his mental health at all. Of course, no doubt some people will think I'm being disingenuous considering my posts confronting him, but what do I care? It was genuinely meant and if it's not received as such that's not my problem.

The Net is best considered analogous to communication with disincarnate intelligences. As any neophyte would tell you. Do not invoke that which you have no facility to banish.

I have felt the same (r.e. mental health/stress) about Pappa. Some people would find what he has gone through this last few days very difficult. I hope he (you Pappa!) are OK!

[Bella Fortuna]

Soooo.... PZ is no longer moderating the comments being posted on the web site that bears his name. Interesting ...

Especially in light of their web host stating:

"Utilize the Services in connection with any tortious or actionable activity. Without limiting the general application of this rule, Users may not: (i) utilize the Services to publish or disseminate information that (1) constitutes slander, libel or defamation, (2) publicizes the personal information or likeness of a person without that person's consent or (3) otherwise violates the privacy rights of any person; or (ii) utilize the Services to threaten persons with bodily harm, to make harassing or abusive statements or messages, or to solicit the performance of acts or services that are illegal under applicable law."

[Bella Fortuna]

I'm really annoyed at myself for the lack of schadenfreude I'm getting off of this but as much as I dislike the entirety of his actions recently, I take no pleasure in watching grown men tantrum like 8 year old girls and hope this has not affected his mental health at all. Of course, no doubt some people will think I'm being disingenuous considering my posts confronting him, but what do I care? It was genuinely meant and if it's not received as such that's not my problem.

The Net is best considered analogous to communication with disincarnate intelligences. As any neophyte would tell you. Do not invoke that which you have no facility to banish.

I felt kind of sorry for him. And embarrassed.

[klr]

Soooo.... PZ is no longer moderating the comments being posted on the web site that bears his name. Interesting ...

Especially in light of their web host stating:

"Utilize the Services in connection with any tortious or actionable activity. Without limiting the general application of this rule, Users may not: (i) utilize the Services to publish or disseminate information that (1) constitutes slander, libel or defamation, (2) publicizes the personal information or likeness of a person without that person's consent or (3) otherwise violates the privacy rights of any person; or (ii) utilize the Services to threaten persons with bodily harm, to make harassing or abusive statements or messages, or to solicit the performance of acts or services that are illegal under applicable law."

Well, that's alright then. All the members will obey the rules of the site. But then what was PZ doing for the last 10 years?

I fear PZ is going to get a very hard-won lesson about life on the Internet once some people start to take advantage of their newly-won freedom.

I'm really annoyed at myself for the lack of schadenfreude I'm getting off of this but as much as I dislike the entirety of his actions recently, I take no pleasure in watching grown men tantrum like 8 year old girls and hope this has not affected his mental health at all. Of course, no doubt some people will think I'm being disingenuous considering my posts confronting him, but what do I care? It was genuinely meant and if it's not received as such that's not my problem.

The Net is best considered analogous to communication with disincarnate intelligences. As any neophyte would tell you. Do not invoke that which you have no facility to banish.

... exactly!

I have felt the same (r.e. mental health/stress) about Pappa. Some people would find what he has gone through this last few days very difficult. I hope he (you Pappa!) are OK!

... having been through the mill myself more than once.

I'm really annoyed at myself for the lack of schadenfreude I'm getting off of this but as much as I dislike the entirety of his actions recently, I take no pleasure in watching grown men tantrum like 8 year old girls and hope this has not affected his mental health at all. Of course, no doubt some people will think I'm being disingenuous considering my posts confronting him, but what do I care? It was genuinely meant and if it's not received as such that's not my problem.

The Net is best considered analogous to communication with disincarnate intelligences. As any neophyte would tell you. Do not invoke that which you have no facility to banish.

I felt kind of sorry for him. And embarrassed.

I don't feel sorry, because as a public figure, and one exuding an air of internet-savviness*, he really ought to have known better.

*Unlike RD.