I still think it would be easier, as Budo mentioned, to actually fix the 'foe' button.retrofuturist wrote: ↑Fri Feb 08, 2019 8:27 pm Greetings Manopubbangama,
If you see something, say something... via the appropriate channels of course. As it is, your question seems quite hypothetical, and we'd possibly need to know the particulars, to make a determination. These new provisions are only a day old, and we will need to see how they operate in practice, and whether they need fine tuning, or achieve their intended outcomes.Manopubbangama wrote: ↑Fri Feb 08, 2019 10:37 am Is there any standard to ensure that this "new way" of logic will be applied across the board evenly, so that it is not used as an indiscrimate method of a small group of individuals who know each other outside of the board to promote their views and stifle all others?
Nice idea, but I don't think it exists. That said, you're welcome to research what phpBB3 add-ons exist that might serve such a purpose and let us know what you find.Manopubbangama wrote: ↑Fri Feb 08, 2019 10:37 am I have a suggestion - perhaps we can have a "tap out" button applied so when we want to tap out of a conversation we will know that this rule has been invoked?
The main problem though is that you might just want to "tap out" of dealing with certain individuals within a certain topic. Let me give you a real example, one that I know is real because it's mine.
I often make posts and comments here on pretty weighty topics, and because my understandings are for the most part rooted in the sutta interpretations of Ven. Nanananda, and to a lesser degree Ven. Nanavira, people who are unfamiliar with or disagree with such perspectives, find much that is unfamiliar or disagreeable in my own writings. Thus, very often one post I make, is met with two or more replies. If I kept replying to every post, and the reply ratio was greater than 1:1, I'd be exponentially creating a backlog of posts to respond to, simply by responding to posts. For example, this morning I awoke to 6 Dhamma Wheel notifications that I really wish I didn't have. At one point in time, I simply gave up talking about paticcasamuppada at Dhamma Wheel, because I had no interest in the inane quibbling that certain others would raise in connection to it.
I don't begrudge giving answers to questions that people pose in good faith, but at some point enough is enough, especially given that there is a world and life outside of Dhamma Wheel. I have a wife, three sons (incl. 2 under 3yo) , two jobs, and when I'm here it's usually because I have a brief lull in duties. Even right now, I have a 9 month old boy sitting on my lap, who is eating vegemite toast for breakfast (very well, I might add). Thus, I'm not here to be at the beck and call of members, and this is especially so if people are engaging in bad faith and/or (e.g. sealioning).
Furthermore, certain people just keep asking the same shade of questions year after year, seemingly unable to understand what I have say on deeper matters on the Dhamma. Frankly, I'd rather they understand what I say - and can then decide for themselves whether they agree or disagree. Two long-time interlocutors have gone down this path yet again over the past week, and frankly I don't have the energy or interest to entertain their incessant questioning - which may or may not be in good faith. I am no one's teacher, and thus have no obligation to them. One of these two people is also fixated on the notion of "debate" and thinks that just because they are interested in "debate", that anyone they wish to debate with must automatically participate with them on that level. No, I simply come here for conversation and discussion, letting everyone express their perspectives, seek clarification from others (within reason), and move on. I have neither the time, nor interest in debate, nor do I have any interest in converting anyone to my way of thinking.
In light of the above, you can see why I'm unimpressed when someone asks a question, I give an answer as I see it, and then they keep complaining at me, repeating the same question over and over in different ways, simply because the answer to the original question didn't meet their satisfaction. Now, these ToS changes did not come about due to me being hounded, but if I feel that I am, or that I'm simply tired of engaging with a particular member on a particular topic, or in answering the questions of someone with a track record of being unable to comprehend them, then I will unambiguously let them know. Interestingly, this new provision was made at the suggestion of another moderator, based on engagements they witnesses between members who were not me, so in that sense had little to do with me... although, like any other member, I may avail myself of the right to use it, if the circumstances arise (again). After all, this is a path of release, and feeling obliged to respond to never-ending questions is a long way from release.
Metta,
Paul.
If we could just really get away from a few of the obnoxious trolls who have been banned many times but are still allowed back in, this place would be less of a wasteland.
I mean look at the language you are using, Paul, you sound exhausted. You don't sound like you like it here at all:
this morning I awoke to 6 Dhamma Wheel notifications that I really wish I didn't have.
I'm not here to be at the beck and call of members,
frankly I don't have the energy or interest to entertain their incessant questioning
I have neither the time, nor interest in debate
I mean you are really burned out, and I would be too.I'm simply tired of engaging
Still these new members asking the same questions are still new people; they can't read your mind, they don't know that you interpret the Dhamma based on some books written in the 70's and therefore will inevitably not understand your views which go against 2600 years of tradition.
I'm like you, I don't want to convert anyone and I hope that your path leads you all the way to nibanna as I hope everyone's does, but, the new rules isn't going to make you enjoy posting here again, it will only create more confusion.
It would be much easier to be able to truly grey-out the trolls, especially those who have been banned many times and who are allowed back in.
Also if you didn't engage in name-calling anyone you disagree with.
Thats my honest two cents.
I'm new to the internet buddhism thing and it seems like right now there is more interpersonal strife here than on a New York street corner.
I don't think these rules will help; I think what will help is if we follow the Dhamma which says:
3. "He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me." Those who harbor such thoughts do not still their hatred.
4. "He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me." Those who do not harbor such thoughts still their hatred.
5. Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is a law eternal.
6. There are those who do not realize that one day we all must die. But those who do realize this settle their quarrels.
The trolls soured my mood around here and it did for a lot of other good posters.
Also, while not having been banned here (yet ) my warnings come from responding to (a) troll who tries to provoke others and then use the ToS when they respond.
And yet when I asked if and when this warning would go away you responded that I was asking stupid, inane questions.
Is this a recipe for making people feel welcome?
Because it feels to me, and this is just my perception but that you don't care about the small people on the board.