Thread: Tolerance from the Duck! (Shudder).

I've just received a suggestion by PM from a member (no names¹) that coincided with thoughts I've been having over the last few days.
And that is to relax the injunction against thread necromancy - temporarily at least.
On the basis that it's easier to reply to a topic/ comment than it is to generate a new topic entirely this may help get things back into something approaching "full flow".
We do seem to be picking up slowly - with the spammers coming nearly as fast as old members return and new ones appear - but, to me at least, there seems to be a sort of "waiting around to see if the site's going to die again attitude" and "is it worth starting/ replying to a thread" ².
Hopefully opening things up like this may generate more traffic and lead to a full recovery.


1 You know who you are Geordief.
2 On my part too, although I was never much of a thread starter.

NOTE: I haven't run this past either of the Admins so they may overrule me on this, but... I think it's worth a try.

So you are going to moderate the Quacks more tolerantly

Originally Posted by pyoko

So you are going to moderate the Quacks more tolerantly

You mean the quanks?

Pluck, Pluck Pluck!!!!! Thanks Sir Ducky!!

Can I bring back my 'Exercise is bad for you' in the Health section where I was verbally abused and the thread trashed?
Asking this because I was talking to an amateur sportsman who is bitter about having had knee replacements. Point he made was the professionals are properly looked after for injuries, but amateurs are not.

Originally Posted by ox

Can I bring back my 'Exercise is bad for you' in the Health section where I was verbally abused and the thread trashed?
Asking this because I was talking to an amateur sportsman who is bitter about having had knee replacements. Point he made was the professionals are properly looked after for injuries, but amateurs are not.

I would vote no, as there was no understanding from you on the points that were being made showing you to be incorrect in your assertion

Originally Posted by Dywyddyr

We do seem to be picking up slowly - with the spammers coming nearly as fast as old members return and new ones appear - but, to me at least, there seems to be a sort of "waiting around to see if the site's going to die again attitude" and "is it worth starting/ replying to a thread" ².
Hopefully opening things up like this may generate more traffic and lead to a full recovery.

2 On my part too, although I was never much of a thread starter.

Why did the site go down anyway. Is this stored on an independent server or something? Or is there someone who usually solely pays for this domain who wasn't for the last few months?

Anyway, i usually use this site to gauge if something i am wondering is something that is worth considering to research. So i am happy it is back.

Originally Posted by Zwolver

Originally Posted by Dywyddyr

We do seem to be picking up slowly - with the spammers coming nearly as fast as old members return and new ones appear - but, to me at least, there seems to be a sort of "waiting around to see if the site's going to die again attitude" and "is it worth starting/ replying to a thread" ².
Hopefully opening things up like this may generate more traffic and lead to a full recovery.

2 On my part too, although I was never much of a thread starter.

Why did the site go down anyway. Is this stored on an independent server or something? Or is there someone who usually solely pays for this domain who wasn't for the last few months?

Anyway, i usually use this site to gauge if something i am wondering is something that is worth considering to research. So i am happy it is back.

No one can say for sure what happened as the owner does not answer his emails when one of the admins attempts to make contact.

This is a very long running situation and it is far from impossible that this site will go down again at any moment.

The last time it went down it did so for a good 6 months.

You are welcome to try and make contact with him if you have an optimistic disposition and a bit of free time

There have been several relevant threads on this subject and I can find them for you if you are curious.

Just happy to have the site up!!

HUGS all around!

Originally Posted by babe

Just happy to have the site up!!

HUGS all around!

It is picking up again but I am sure it was far busier in the past. There are a few old members who have stumbled upon it "Lazarus like" and also some new members.

It would be nice to have a bona fide owner who gave a proverbial about it ....

Originally Posted by Dywyddyr

We do seem to be picking up slowly - with the spammers coming nearly as fast as old members return and new ones appear - but, to me at least, there seems to be a sort of "waiting around to see if the site's going to die again attitude" and "is it worth starting/ replying to a thread" ².
Hopefully opening things up like this may generate more traffic and lead to a full recovery..

You seem to possess knowledge of forums frequented by posters, particularly those of the bizarre variety. What or who is the source for all the intel you would require or would I have to be killed if you tell me?

He just posts on a lot of other forums and knows the smell of stupid

Originally Posted by zinjanthropos

You seem to possess knowledge of forums frequented by posters, particularly those of the bizarre variety. What or who is the source for all the intel you would require or would I have to be killed if you tell me?

1) Google search by user name - a lot of the nutters tend to keep the same name across different fora.
2) As a mod I also get to see - and therefore Google - their email address.
3) Having been around for a few years on various science fora I've encountered many nutters beforehand.
4) If all else fails then I select the first sentence or so of their posts, right click and hit "Search Google for..." because it's usual I nearly wrote "normal" but that would be the wrong word!) for nutters to cross-post word-for-word.
5) I do tend to keep up with the fringe and outré topics purely out of exasperated incredulity [1] and have seen a number of the nutters on the sort of forum that caters for their delusions.

1 To the extent that I've read at least twice as many books on certain topics than one persistent fruit loop (on a different science forum) who's typical refrain is "You should go and read up on the subject before expressing an opinion" and subsequently get to squash him when I point out that the book in question does not support what he claimed it said.

Originally Posted by Dywyddyr

Originally Posted by zinjanthropos

You seem to possess knowledge of forums frequented by posters, particularly those of the bizarre variety. What or who is the source for all the intel you would require or would I have to be killed if you tell me?

1) Google search by user name - a lot of the nutters tend to keep the same name across different fora.
2) As a mod I also get to see - and therefore Google - their email address.
3) Having been around for a few years on various science fora I've encountered many nutters beforehand.
4) If all else fails then I select the first sentence or so of their posts, right click and hit "Search Google for..." because it's usual I nearly wrote "normal" but that would be the wrong word!) for nutters to cross-post word-for-word.
5) I do tend to keep up with the fringe and outré topics purely out of exasperated incredulity [1] and have seen a number of the nutters on the sort of forum that caters for their delusions.

1 To the extent that I've read at least twice as many books on certain topics than one persistent fruit loop (on a different science forum) who's typical refrain is "You should go and read up on the subject before expressing an opinion" and subsequently get to squash him when I point out that the book in question does not support what he claimed it said.

Obviously nutters not equipped with the same foresight.

This is not is comment on the quality of education but sometimes I feel as if the nutters are college students who post papers or essays they've written that were shot down in a ball of flames by their markers and they're somehow hoping for some justification or a reversal from a forum of their choosing. Then again they could all be residents of a ward.

Hope by by divulging secrets the Nutter MO doesn't change but then again ....there are ways.

HERE DUCKY DUCKKY DUCKKKY!!

Pluck, pluck pluck

So happy to read you

Originally Posted by Dywyddyr

Originally Posted by zinjanthropos

You seem to possess knowledge of forums frequented by posters, particularly those of the bizarre variety. What or who is the source for all the intel you would require or would I have to be killed if you tell me?

1) Google search by user name - a lot of the nutters tend to keep the same name across different fora.
2) As a mod I also get to see - and therefore Google - their email address.
3) Having been around for a few years on various science fora I've encountered many nutters beforehand.
4) If all else fails then I select the first sentence or so of their posts, right click and hit "Search Google for..." because it's usual I nearly wrote "normal" but that would be the wrong word!) for nutters to cross-post word-for-word.
5) I do tend to keep up with the fringe and outré topics purely out of exasperated incredulity [1] and have seen a number of the nutters on the sort of forum that caters for their delusions.

1 To the extent that I've read at least twice as many books on certain topics than one persistent fruit loop (on a different science forum) who's typical refrain is "You should go and read up on the subject before expressing an opinion" and subsequently get to squash him when I point out that the book in question does not support what he claimed it said.

I do wonder, what kind of field of science are you actually on? Did you publish your own papers, or do only study the well known literature. I have never detected a hint of controversy, own ideas or hypothesis from you.

Aren't you even a little bit curious? I myself am no expert in any field, but questions pop up quite often...

Originally Posted by Zwolver

I do wonder, what kind of field of science are you actually on?

I am (or was [1]) by profession a design engineer. But I have done degree courses in physics, mathematics and the "social sciences" and non-degree courses in architecture [2], various languages, philosophy etc [3].

Did you publish your own papers, or do only study the well known literature. I have never detected a hint of controversy, own ideas or hypothesis from you.

I've only been published in military technology/ history (oh, and a few credits with regard to wargaming, but that's by the by).
Mainly because, generally, I don't rate my own ideas that highly (except in engineering) and therefore don't want to inflict them on others. Plus the engineering "mindset" tends to dissuade me from the extreme flights of fancy.

Aren't you even a little bit curious? I myself am no expert in any field, but questions pop up quite often...

Certainly I'm curious. But my tendency is to go looking for answers on my own: if I have to "learn it the hard way" then it sticks. I've never had objections to digging deep for answers.

1 Long story...
2 Which, surprisingly, covers far more territory than one would assume from the name: linguistics, semiotics, mythology...
3 I get bored easily!

I notice that many people from engineering, end up in engineering because they see a pure theoretical side as a waste of time. Building something makes them happy.

But i see you have been all over the board. Impressive. Architecture links to engineering, and physics and mathematics, but i wonder what social science does in there?

I have not been published myself. I have done research that has been published, but never with my name near the title. The wonderful world of being an analyst. Credit goes to the one writing the paper, not the one doing the labwork.

Military tech/history, Which game...

My guess, Rome, total war...

Originally Posted by Zwolver

but i wonder what social science does in there?

There's quite a bit of psychology (perceptual and cognitive for example) involved. Plus the fact that buildings are designed for use by people.

Military tech/history, Which game...
My guess, Rome, total war...

Oh no. Not computer games but table top (toy soldier) ones: example, example, example.

Sir Ducky is a smart Mallard...........