PZ Myers and the Definition of Trolling

[australopithecus]

PZ links to his heavily censored board, that you have to sign up to.

Inferno covered the censorship part well enough, but just another point; having to sign up to the blog is irrelevant. If you can't be bothered, or just don't want to, that's not PZ's problem.

 

[mick1le2pick]

PZ links to his heavily censored board, that you have to sign up to.

Inferno covered the censorship part well enough, but just another point; having to sign up to the blog is irrelevant. If you can't be bothered, or just don't want to, that's not PZ's problem.

And I covered that point by pointing out that they are still censored much more than the comment pages of people like Potholer54 and Thunderf00t.

 

[australopithecus]

And I believe Inferno countered that claim with a little mathematics. Your definition of 'heavily' censored is a little biased, methinks.

 

[)O( Hytegia )O(]

And I covered that point by pointing out that they are still censored much more than the comment pages of people like Potholer54 and Thunderf00t.

The phrase you're looking for is not "Censorship" - it's "Echo-chamber"

 

[he_who_is_nobody]

Mick1le2pick, you accuse Myers’ blog of being a place of groupthink because you believe it is heavily censored. Now, as Inferno has pointed out, I do not understand how you can call 105 blocked accounts over ten years heavily censored unless you are a victim of group think yourself. Could you please explain how 105 blocked accounts (many of them being obvious trolls) over ten years is an example of heavy censorship, or have you come to that conclusion because you watched one of thunderf00t’s (or someone else’s) videos that made the claim that Myers heavily censors his blog.

 

[)O( Hytegia )O(]

Mick1le2pick, you accuse Myers’ blog of being a place of groupthink because you believe it is heavily censored. Now, as Inferno has pointed out, I do not understand how you can call 105 blocked accounts over ten years heavily censored unless you are a victim of group think yourself. Could you please explain how 105 blocked accounts (many of them being obvious trolls) over ten years is an example of heavy censorship, or have you come to that conclusion because you watched one of thunderf00t’s (or someone else’s) videos that made the claim that Myers heavily censors his blog.

One does not need censorship in order to trigger "group think" or to instigate an Echo chamber like environment.

The saying "Great minds think alike" comes to mind - insomuch that people whom think they are great will culminate with others whom also hold that mindset naturally, and that they will always appreciate the opinions of others who think like them.

For example, if one were to go to an anime convention dressed as an American Comic character and insisted to everyone you met that American-based animation and themes are better than the Japanese counterparts and style of animation, then you're going to have a bad time in the area (if not because you're being a dick, then because you've entered an area that you most likely think sucks balls anyways) as opposed to someone who is there to enjoy anime and Japanese-styled animation.
Groupthink exists where interests culminate and emerges when people start shouting their opinions loudly on a platform (literally or metaphorically).

I don't think that FTB, or his website, is by any means a censorship. But it is a massive echo-chamber, and the site's rules and PZ's own words are designed around that ideal. I think that he's actually made it more akin to what Atheism+ would call a safe haven where people with similar ideals can come together and enjoy a decent conversation without the onslaught of criticism that exists whenever someone from a foreign or opposing viewpoint decides to challenge it.

 

[he_who_is_nobody]

Mick1le2pick, you accuse Myers’ blog of being a place of groupthink because you believe it is heavily censored. Now, as Inferno has pointed out, I do not understand how you can call 105 blocked accounts over ten years heavily censored unless you are a victim of group think yourself. Could you please explain how 105 blocked accounts (many of them being obvious trolls) over ten years is an example of heavy censorship, or have you come to that conclusion because you watched one of thunderf00t’s (or someone else’s) videos that made the claim that Myers heavily censors his blog.

One does not need censorship in order to trigger "group think" or to instigate an Echo chamber like environment.

The saying "Great minds think alike" comes to mind - insomuch that people whom think they are great will culminate with others whom also hold that mindset naturally, and that they will always appreciate the opinions of others who think like them.

For example, if one were to go to an anime convention dressed as an American Comic character and insisted to everyone you met that American-based animation and themes are better than the Japanese counterparts and style of animation, then you're going to have a bad time in the area (if not because you're being a dick, then because you've entered an area that you most likely think sucks balls anyways) as opposed to someone who is there to enjoy anime and Japanese-styled animation.
Groupthink exists where interests culminate and emerges when people start shouting their opinions loudly on a platform (literally or metaphorically).

I don't think that FTB, or his website, is by any means a censorship. But it is a massive echo-chamber, and the site's rules and PZ's own words are designed around that ideal. I think that he's actually made it more akin to what Atheism+ would call a safe haven where people with similar ideals can come together and enjoy a decent conversation without the onslaught of criticism that exists whenever someone from a foreign or opposing viewpoint decides to challenge it.

As much as I do appreciate your post, it really does not answer my question (and a question specifically aimed at mick1le2pick). You are correct, but the echo chamber effect can be claimed for any forum, including this one. Your example is quite accurate at pointing that out.

The question I wanted mick1le2pick to answer is why he thinks 105 accounts blocked over ten years equals heavy censorship. The fact that he keeps trying to claim it is heavy censorship, at least to me, points to him running with that idea after someone else pointed it out and not coming to that conclusion on his own. Essentially, he is projecting his own problem onto others.

 

[)O( Hytegia )O(]

As much as I do appreciate your post, it really does not answer my question (and a question specifically aimed at mick1le2pick). You are correct, but the echo chamber effect can be claimed for any forum, including this one. Your example is quite accurate at pointing that out.

The question I wanted mick1le2pick to answer is why he thinks 105 accounts blocked over ten years equals heavy censorship. The fact that he keeps trying to claim it is heavy censorship, at least to me, points to him running with that idea after someone else pointed it out and not coming to that conclusion on his own. Essentially, he is projecting his own problem onto others.

He would have grounds if he was thinking less of en masse of banning and moreso of a "sniping" affect. I use the term in the thought of a sniper picking off a general in the field, which demoralizes men and forces the enemy to regroup elsewhere. You don't have to remove everyone - just the big shots and the guys in important positions. If PZ Myers was doing just that, then it could be considered one of the best motifs of censorship in the world, since in all of the mess in the last year has essentially banned a few important persons whom he disagrees with and used his influence to drive their standings amongst his own (relatively massive) discussion base. And then he basically sets a statement that demarks the area he allows discussion as an echo-chamber.

And, even if it were (as it is, most likely) not intentional it would definitely be easy for anyone to misconstrue such actions for intentional debasing of character and massive censorship.

Me? I'm putting on my little horned hat and trying to sympathize with m1cky here's reaction.