How To Stop Commenting On TTAC, And Walk Away With A Nice Hat

We love our commenters. We hate to see them go. Sometimes, sacrifices must be made. This is to announce the untimely departure of dogsledder54 a.k.a. “scarey”, and of curbie138 from the pages of TTAC. They were banished. What happened?

The matter turned into a story, because there is a moral to it. It illustrates perfectly the dos and don’ts of commenting on TTAC.

As a comment to Suzuki Workers Burn Factory, Manager Killed, “Scarey” entered this comment:

“I think we have sufficient information to assign you the title of ‘Moron’. Murder, assault, and arson are acceptable if you have workplace grievances ? Not hardly. Not anywhere.”

Can you spot the problem? Correct. Whether murder, assault, and arson are acceptable if you have workplace grievances can be debated all day long at TTAC. But it must be done without calling someone names. It’s that simple.

“Scarey” was put on notice and given six hours to apologize for the moron. “Scarey” sent a defiant note instead. “Scarey” had been given a chance. Refusing the chance, he was banned for making personal attacks.

Also banned was curbie138. Not because he posted that he thinks that workplace grievances can justify murder, assault and arson, under certain circumstances. That’s his opinion. People will oppose it. At TTAC, we fight for the right to voice any opinion. That right does not include the right to call someone a “moron” again. Curbie 138 was banned for making personal attacks.

In both cases, the comments were well within the bounds of TTAC’s commenting policy – except for a little word: “Moron.” This site is wide open to any arguments, even if they are as extreme as the above. This site is not open to rude behavior and an absence of manner.

Other sites would maybe edit the comment. We don’t. We are amongst grown-ups. People are responsible for what they do and say. Moderators are not here to clean up other peoples’ messes.

And what’s with the hat? To mark the fact that this commenter may no longer comment, the avatar may be changed. The one in the picture seems appropriate.

TTAC’s commenting policy always drew the line at flaming, trolling, and personal attacks. That policy has been rewritten to clarify, but not to change the policy. Please read the policy.

In short: You can say whatever you want at TTAC, but you may not be rude and uncivil. If you can’t say it without being insulting, better don’t touch that keyboard.

No more dunces!

P.S.: Also, I recommend resisting the urge to call TTAC editors a bunch of goose-stepping control freaks,as evidenced by the Teutonic masthead. First, it would be racism, and punishable by bannage as per the TTAC commenting policy. Second, I don’t know either how that happened, maybe Farago had a black leather fetish. Third, be advised that about half of them are Jewish, and they would be upset if you bunch them in with the other Nazis.