Philosophy Discussion Forums

I've noticed quite consistently now that when I click "report post" I get my own posts ransacked and a "board warning issued". About ten or twelve times now. Obviously this doesn't encourage one to report off-topic, ad hom, spam etc posts. I feel sad to imagine you going though my posts looking for something to take a strange revenge on. I'd suggest taking a few deep breaths? I notice one of the last posts of mine you deleted was for "ad hom"; but it isn't ad hom to point out cognitive distortions, defenses, and projections in another's writing as was clearly stated, analysis isn't a personal attack.

Ami wrote:point out cognitive distortions, defenses, and projections in another's writing

Please do not use the forum to discuss whether or not another poster is projecting or to otherwise psychoanalyze other users or to comment on or argue about their personal qualities. What another poster posts could just as well have been a seeming coherent statement written by a literal monkey randomly pressing keys. Address the philosophical ideas and arguments without regard to who wrote them or why, or report them as off-topic and do not respond to them if they are off-topic. Please see the forum rules.

If your posts are deleted and a warning is issued, it is because in my analysis you violated the forum rules not because you have reported another user's post. Plenty of users have gotten warnings and even got put on the moderation queue who never use the report button. It's more likely your deleted post was reported by someone else.

Scott wrote:What another poster posts could just as well have been a seeming coherent statement written by a literal monkey randomly pressing keys. Address the philosophical ideas and arguments without regard to who wrote them or why, or report them as off-topic and do not respond to them if they are off-topic.

Cognitive distortions, projections and defenses make up a portion of the structure and nature of thought. It makes sense to address psychoanalytic issues as many philosophers have, the first that come to mind being Nietzsche and Sartre; this interesting article goes as far as to claim Psychoanalysis as Philosophy. Cognitive distortions line-up largely with the fallacies: dichotomous reasoning = false dilemma fallacy, overgeneralization = hasty generalization, inference-observation confusion = slippery slope, emotional reasoning = appeal to emotion, projective labeling = self-fulfilling prophecy. Since all arguments are fallacies, they are ultimately just a reasoning game like chess. What makes psychoanalytic criticism very different is it addresses the how and why world-views and philosophies emerge: symptoms of the mechanics of egoic consciousness. The sympathetic nervous system continually trying to maintain the persona it created alive, and the way it does that, rather than coming to compassionate peace, is by cognitive distortions, projections and defenses.

But the issue of this thread however wasn't cognitive distortions, (notice the "avoidance") -- The topic was vindictive moderation. The posts I reported were off-topic and/or ad hom. Yet those post were mostly untouched, meanwhile, multiple posts of mine were edited and deleted from days ago in separate threads. It feels very gamey. It feels like a drama mind-game. There seems to be an element of discrimination: few posters are being held to the same standards that I find my posts being subjected too. What's going on seems to me to be 'immature' and 'unprofessional': personal attacks aimed at scoring some sort of point or emotional win. I feel disappointed and embarrassed to see this bullying happening and justified with reference to rules which are not being applied fairly.

Ami wrote:

Scott wrote:What another poster posts could just as well have been a seeming coherent statement written by a literal monkey randomly pressing keys. Address the philosophical ideas and arguments without regard to who wrote them or why, or report them as off-topic and do not respond to them if they are off-topic.

Cognitive distortions, projections and defenses make up a portion of the structure and nature of thought. It makes sense to address psychoanalytic issues as many philosophers have, the first that come to mind being Nietzsche and Sartre; this interesting article goes as far as to claim Psychoanalysis as Philosophy. Cognitive distortions line-up largely with the fallacies: dichotomous reasoning = false dilemma fallacy, overgeneralization = hasty generalization, inference-observation confusion = slippery slope, emotional reasoning = appeal to emotion, projective labeling = self-fulfilling prophecy. Since all arguments are fallacies, they are ultimately just a reasoning game like chess. What makes psychoanalytic criticism very different is it addresses the how and why world-views and philosophies emerge: symptoms of the mechanics of egoic consciousness. The sympathetic nervous system continually trying to maintain the persona it created alive, and the way it does that, rather than coming to compassionate peace, is by cognitive distortions, projections and defenses.

You can point out that the argument posted by a user is (allegedly) an hasty generalization fallacy, or false dilemma fallacy or is otherwise fallacious; you cannot post the alleged psychological reasons why you believe the person is committing the fallacy. You can't call them dishonest, stupid, ignorant, crazy, trolling, mean, ugly, hateful or such. That is considered ad hominem and is considered off-topic, both qualities of which make it against the forum rules. There are plenty of other websites/magazines out there that have different rules.

Ami wrote:The posts I reported were off-topic and/or ad hom. Yet those post were mostly untouched,

The reports are reviewed. If I (or the moderator) agree that the reported post violates the forum rules, then we will edit or delete the post. Otherwise we may close the report without edit. If the report is closed, an email is sent notifying you that the report you made has been closed. If you get the email, notice the post has not been edited or you otherwise still believe it is in violation of the rules, then please send me a PM or start a topic in the feedback section about that particular post, preferably specifying the exact rule by letter/number which you think the post violates and if it is long post a reference to which part of the post you think is in violation of the rule. Then I can change the decision or try to explain why I think it is not in violation of the forum rules.

Ami wrote:meanwhile, multiple posts of mine were edited and deleted from days ago in separate threads.

If your posts violate the forum rules, they will be edited or deleted. Usually deleted. It's not vindictive; it's how the forum works.

If you disagree that a deleted post of yours violated the forum rules, you are free to make a post in the feedback section or PM me to ask for more information or make your case.

Ami wrote:It feels very gamey. It feels like a drama mind-game.

I'm sorry it feels that way.

Ami wrote:There seems to be an element of discrimination: few posters are being held to the same standards that I find my posts being subjected too.

Many posters complain of the same thing. I have no idea how you could purpose to know the types and number of posts being deleted made by any other user. If your feeling of discrimination is coming from noticing rule-breaking posts that are still on the forum, then report them. If you have reported them and the report has been closed but you still think the post is rule-breaking, then feel free to followup with me about that particular post.

Ami wrote:What's going on seems to me to be 'immature' and 'unprofessional': personal attacks aimed at scoring some sort of point or emotional win.

I'm sorry it seems that way.

Ami wrote:I feel disappointed and embarrassed

I'm sorry you feel that way.

Ami wrote:to see this bullying happening

I have no idea what bullying you are talking about.

Ami wrote:and justified with reference to rules

The forum rules shall reflect all moderation actions, so that all members know what they are getting into. It's like the submission guidelines for an offline magazine. All acceptances and rejections will be made/justified based on those guidelines.

Ami wrote:which are not being applied fairly.

I disagree with this conclusion. Such fears can be eased by the presence of the report button: If you see a post you think is violating the forum rules, report it and wait for the post to be deleted or the report to be closed. If you make a post that violates the forum rules, it will be deleted as is deemed fair by the forum rules.

Okay. Thank-you for your detailed and genuine reply.

Ami:

If it helps at all, I'd just like to say this: I've previously made some fatuous throwaway comments about your signature tagline, picture and avatar. They were not meant in a spirit of genuine hostility but it is difficult to tell that so I think that's one of the reasons why such comments are against forum rules. (The main reason being, of course, that they're irrelevant and off-topic). I concede that the comments were inappropriate and I unconditionally withdraw them. I find it difficult to stop myself from occasionally slipping and making comments that break forum rules. But I'm trying!

I hope that goes some small way towards persuading you that it might still be worth sticking with this site, despite the occasional failings of some of its members.