Outlier

[Shulem]

BS.

Total.

[Marcus]

One problem, MG, is that even if everyone suddenly decides to let you determine how they must respond to your thread and do exactly as you demand, you haven't even indicated how you intend to use that information towards a decision to actually stay or go. And further, your behavior is erratic enough that even if you do specify precisely how the results will be used, you may not actually abide by the results or if you do, change your mind a few weeks later.

Nor was there any indication whether he intends to follow the board rules, which if he did would remove this entire 'should I go or should I stay' wail. His pattern* has been fixed for years, so I doubt that would change.

(*His pattern is to break a part of one of Shades' rules, get reported, argue repeatedly and publicly with Shades about the rule, then derail multiple threads with more and more flamboyant examples of breaking the rule until his disruption becomes a major issue. His long, protesting diatribes each time are eerily and uncannily similar, as though it were a planned tactic with the intent to disrupt. Go figure.)

[Limnor]

The choice is MG’s, not anyone else’s. No one is “running him off,” even if the vote went that way. It’s still his choice.

You're right, of course, Limnor - bad choice of words on my part.

I'm trying to look at this from MG's PoV, and, although I don't think MG is completely sincere, I don't want to contribute to his feeling of being unwelcome. That siad, I'd "vote" the same way for an Englishman

While I admire and appreciate your sentiment, I’d just caution that emotions can sometimes be used—intentionally or not—to steer how others respond.

Refusal to engage, obfuscation, even bending and breaking norms and expectations has contributed to the general perception of MG. It’s not anyone’s job to accommodate those approaches so that he feels welcome.

[Shulem]

But it didn't stop mentalgymnast from running with the lie, combining it with other lies and distortions, creating a big, messy, pity party, calling himself a victim, announcing he does NOT want another thread about him(!!!!), and then picking up his marbles and stomping out.

He can't be anything but himself, and again he is stereotyping and disparaging our community. All while breaking another rule he clearly knows by starting a thread about himself in a forum intended for Mormon topics.

QED.

Compare a post from the other thread and then this thread and you can see it's always about MG as he trolls and attempts to disrupt the progress of this board which is to provide critical analysis against Mormon truth claims. He's trying to slow down the progress of the work and as the troll he is he's exhibited a great deal of success in wasting so much time.

OK. I probably should respond to this post. By the way, hi Res Ipsa. My intent has been to recognize and show a pattern of what is defined as trolling behavior. My intent is NOT to initiate a 'trolling exercise' to get everyone worked up. Although I expected a few to do so. I didn't want to name specific posters explicitly although it shouldn't be hard to tell who I'm referring to. That devolves into public shaming which I am hesitant to do knowing how it feels on the other end.

Yes, I did intend to provoke some kind of reaction. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the reaction was more or less what I expected. No acceptance of any responsibility from those that I would consider to be trolls. Any strongly worded OP on this forum is basically created to get a response. I wanted to create a dialogue as to whether or not there has been an ongoing pattern of trolling by certain posters by laying out the patterns/behaviors that would be expected. And as expected, little or no response there. I guess I was hoping to be surprised.

Disagreement with my direct approach to an ongoing problem that I've observed is fair. You're free to think that I have approached this subject in a clumsy, unhelpful, or annoying way. I would disagree with you, however, that this thread and its opening OP and my other supporting comments are "clearly" trolling. I realize you're trying to put the onus/load back on me. I can think of reasons why you might do that. You gave your interpretation of what I've attempted to do in this thread...I'm simply telling you that it doesn't match my intent.

At the end of the day I believe that what I have presented has validity and truth to it. I also realize that some of the very things I've mentioned trolls will do have been seen in operation in this thread. More so, however, in other threads. I think some people have intentionally stayed away from falling into any of the 'troll traps' I've described purposefully during this thread so far.

One can/might think of reasons why.

It may well be that this OP and my comments were a waste of time and nothing will come of it other than more of the same.

Unfortunate, in my opinion. Troll like technique and follow through actions and words are what keep this forum and 'echo chamber' with little room for alternate opinions and ideas. It's been that way for a long time. Trolling doesn't help. It's actually pretty hard to fight against.

I'll hand the trolls that much.

My two cents.

Regards,
MG

In a recent thread it has become even more clear/apparent to me that I am an 'outlier' on this board. I am accused of being hateful, disrespectful, sexist, you name it, I've been called it.

Honestly, I do enjoy the tension in some of the great discussions I've been able to participate in. Not a few started by me. God writing using crooked lines being a recent example. It's been fun.

But for some...a critical mass(?) my presence here seems to rock the boat and upset the happy equilibrium of consensus and congeniality. In a recent thread it was expressed that the "echo chamber" is the goal and it is welcome. Some will say in response that members of the board don't always see eye to eye. Well, that may be true to some extent. But on the "important" issues there is general consensus. Those that offer alternative points of view or additional information are a pariah.

I don't want this to be an MG thread. I would simply ask one question. Should I stay or go? Some have expressed that I should be banned or censored in some form/manner.

In my heart/mind I have been an honest broker and am completely self aware of my actions and those things which I've said/contributed. I will/would not change from the core of who I am just as those here are unlikely to.

Stay or go? Let's decide it once and for all here folks.

Please please please...no long diatribes defending this or that point of view this time around. If you have an opinion simply post:

Stay
OR
Go

One word answer is fine. I will not be offended. I was straight up in the "troll thread", I would expect nothing less.

Again, please, one word response...Stay or Go. Otherwise things will devolve into an "all about MG" thread. That road has been traveled enough times to wear a rut many times over. Not that I particularly enjoyed it.

You have all had enough experience with me. Those reading this have an opinion.

Stay or go?

I don't want Shades to have to be the one to make the decision one way or the other. He's been pretty tolerant even when I've disagreed with him on one thing or another.

I would appreciate it if you have hard words for me that you PM me privately. On this thread simply a "Stay" or "Go" would be good.

Think about the board as a whole and what YOU want it to be.

Thanks all!

Regards,
MG

P.S.
I'll exit from this thread, ignore it, and check back in a few days and take a count. In the meantime I will not muddy the waters by participating on other threads. I know this is rather public but I think there are posters that would like to resolve this once and for all. Please, no conditional responses...just stay or go.

Sorry about the length.

I'm out!

Have a nice weekend everyone. I'm taking off to California for a beach vacation on Monday.

[malkie]

One problem, MG, is that even if everyone suddenly decides to let you determine how they must respond to your thread and do exactly as you demand, you haven't even indicated how you intend to use that information towards a decision to actually stay or go. And further, your behavior is erratic enough that even if you do specify precisely how the results will be used, you may not actually abide by the results or if you do, change your mind a few weeks later.

I believe that the justification for your skepticism is in another thread:

When it stops being interesting, challenging, and fun, I'll stop participating.

Same here.

[malkie]

You're right, of course, Limnor - bad choice of words on my part.

I'm trying to look at this from MG's PoV, and, although I don't think MG is completely sincere, I don't want to contribute to his feeling of being unwelcome. That siad, I'd "vote" the same way for an Englishman

While I admire and appreciate your sentiment, I’d just caution that emotions can sometimes be used—intentionally or not—to steer how others respond.

Refusal to engage, obfuscation, even bending and breaking norms and expectations has contributed to the general perception of MG. It’s not anyone’s job to accommodate those approaches so that he feels welcome.

I'm just a big softie - bite me!

[Limnor]

While I admire and appreciate your sentiment, I’d just caution that emotions can sometimes be used—intentionally or not—to steer how others respond.

Refusal to engage, obfuscation, even bending and breaking norms and expectations has contributed to the general perception of MG. It’s not anyone’s job to accommodate those approaches so that he feels welcome.

I'm just a big softie - bite me!

lol that’s why I like you.

[malkie]

I'm just a big softie - bite me!

lol that’s why I like you.

[Res Ipsa]

lol that’s why I like you.

[Limnor]

lol that’s why I like you.

Lol