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Tortdog Introduction

Former CPA and current tax attorney in Texas. Served a mission in Brazil.

Introduction Tortdog

Welcome LDS Member

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Tortdog Introduction Sharing Member & Introductions

Hi tortdog, welcome. Hope you have a great time in our community. Feel free to check the boards and add to the discussions. All the best.
LDS

Introduction Tortdog

Your last post was deleted for not being constructive, based on one or more of the following:

1. Stay on the topic, see our Constructive Posting Policy
2. Ensure that you use good English, no slang, proper spelling, uppercase letters where necessary, etc.
3. Do not post just off topic messages or lengthy quotes, only Bots may do this, Members must add input.
4. Make sure that you are not just trying to increase your post count by either duplicating or posting vague information, but also add worthwhile replies that are related to the Topic.

Introduction Tortdog

Tortdog, I edited your last post in the US selling weapons thread and as stated on my edit, I said I would reply to your offtopic here:

It is more than obvious why Russia should not be discussed in that thread, or is it the topic of the thread "Russia sells weapons?". I stated the US being the largest exporter of weapons but you bring up to the picture Russia, France, China....basically who cares? We are not speaking about those countries, we are speaking about the USA, if you want to discuss the other countries just open a new thread and get over it. That's point one.

If you carefully read my statement it was about the US selling weaponry to Panama but you brought up the issue of the US removing a dictator from Panama which is absolutely offtopic.

If you do not like the rules and policies that we have, it is your choice to get or not get involved into the discussion. I will continue doing my job as a Chief Moderator and make sure you abide by the rules you agreed upon registration.

Actually yes, I am the Chief Moderator and if I decide something is offtopic is offtopic. You may want to contact the admin (JB) if you have issues with my moderation skills.

Whether is absurd or not, is a matter of opinion and does not really matter.You have offtopic tags to handle offtopic issues so I do not really know what your rant is about.

Please, try to familiarize yourself with how the Community works. You have ranted about italicization and now offtopics without taking the time to read and see how this forum works. It is you who must adapt to how things run here and not the other way around. Thanks.

Tortdog Introduction

You err. When Russia and China supply weapons to Iran, it forces a U.S. response. Hence the sale of weapons by Russia and China IS relevant to the discussion. You simply fail to see it.

Opening a thread about Russia selling arms does not fix it, because if we want to analyze WHY Russia is selling those arms, then we will inevitably be led into discussions about those Russia considers to be "competitors" in the world, e.g., Britain, America, etc.

But you don't see that. Let me be so bold as to suggest that you simply do not understand this issue well enough. Because if you did, your view that this is "irrelevant" would hardly be taken seriously.

I read your statement carefully. And I believe that I understood your point. That's why I went into what actually happened in Panama. You can't just go off and make a list of countries as examples to make your point and not expect me to delve into the details. If you do not want to discuss Panama, then don't bring it up. That's your choice.

But apparently, you believe it okay to bring up Panama to prove your argument, but do not allow me to analyze if it's truly pertinent.

It has nothing to do with the rules and policies themselves. It has to do with the application of those rules. Your declaration of points as being irrelevant and therefore off topic (despite my explanations on WHY they are relevant with 3rd party sources to back me up) utterly shuts down the discussion. It makes the debate rather useless.

In essence (from what I am seeing in my short sojourn here), during a discussion with a moderator that moderator is able to bring up examples to buttress a point, refuse to allow others to discuss whether those examples were correct/relevant/accurate under the guise of being off topic, and the moderator thus shuts down discussion to reflect his view. That unwisely (in my opinion) limits the free flow of ideas and thoughts (especially when you do not even take the time to understand the points being made).

Hey, it's your sandbox. Just allows me to understand that discussions can be squelched when a moderator fails to grasp the points.

Wonderful. You've made yourself very clear. I will have to steer clear of controversial topics with you in the future.

I really resent the accusation. It's incorrect. I have spent about 1 to 1.5 hours familiarizing myself with this forum (being quite different from others I am familiar with). All I am trying to point out is that the moderation technique in THIS example is shutting down relevant points of discussion at hand. It's as though you (in this instance) cannot grasp the American export of arms to the Middle East were a RESPONSE to recent LARGE exports of sophisticated weaponry by China and Russia to Iran (which America considers to be a terrorist state).

In essence, you've taken a side. You are saying (by stating Russia's sales are "off topic") that America is NOT responding to Russian sales. Yet you completely fail to grasp that, despite my repeated attempts to explain the climate.

Edited: tortdog on 15th Aug, 2007 - 7:55pm

Tortdog Introduction

Tortdog, relax. I am not going to reply to each one of your rants because it seems like we will not just understand each other and you are assuming intentions which is unfortunate. I am just telling you (mind you, I am not asking) that I will continue to enforce the rules because that's my job here.

Having said that, your contributions to the Community ARE appreciated (I personally do as well) and it's your choice whether you want to steer clear or not from controversial topics with me.

Looking forward to your posts,
LDS

Tortdog Introduction Introductions & Member Sharing

If there were a way to make this whole conversation private, I would have preferred it. But with my current points, that's not in the cards.

[Insert wisecrack about being a freeloader here]

I will certainly make an effort in the future to avoid confrontation with moderators. And once I am familiar with who they all are, once they declare something "off topic" that I consider to be spot ON topic, I'll shut up and move on to another discussion.

Not my place. Not my rules. Not my judgment.

Maybe I could refer to this as the PRJing a discussion in the future. Soon as I'm "experienced" enough to take this private (should we have any need to), I'll do so in the future. 'Course, y'all might prefer that I just shut up and not PM...

By the way, I really do hate it when board degenerate into personal arguments, etc. This has already take far too much bandwidth.

Edited: tortdog on 15th Aug, 2007 - 8:16pm