Debate Room Permanently Closed.

Well done, Moose. It was a cesspit.

 

With the additional information, I with draw my previous comment

 

The death of the Debate Room probably happened just in time. Both sides feels like scrapping this morning. It might have gotten ugly.

 

I was about the post the same.

 

Alas and woe for the state of online debate in this day and age. I always tried to keep my temper in check while in the debate room; to explain and educate, rather than resort to fisticuffs; and, in the pinch, to see the good in another person's post, and seek agreement and consensus.

I was not always successful, but we are, all of us, fallible mortals.

But if online debate becomes as infantile as "Haha u suck whatu gonna do about it pooboy" etc. (which - I have to say - I never saw in the debate room), then what's the point? *shrug*

 

I, one minority, will miss the cesspit. I enjoyed a lot of engaging discussion there, though must admit it never added anything to the rest of the forum in any other way than by quarantine.

Recalling the trend vane artist scene trope with the berets, copious cigarettes, and social sexual butterflies, yes political and otherwise invested moral discussion is a grade-A component of the artist's life, but as the mods say: that's what other sites are for.

Perhaps debate forums have section where they sequester all the threads derailed by writing/literature discussion.

 

I enjoyed the debate forum and had no problems stepping away when needed, but I understand for the mods it was difficult to regulate when tempers are high. Thank you for your work!

 

Hmm -- might there be a debate room where we can discuss the merits (or otherwise) or specific books, authors, publishers, developments in the writing world etc.?

I'll admit, I haven't seen too many such threads here, but they may be lurking somewhere I haven't seen yet. Regardless, it might be fun ... and if someone doesn't consider such things fun, they don't have to read it. We are all, hopefully, mature, responsible adults who can keep our tempers in check and not say anything actionable -- I hope!

 

I note some people posting who I haven't seen about for a while - have you guys all just been playing in the debate room?

 

Yep. I'm one of the reasons they had to close it. The "Edgar Rice Burroughs was Clearly Cheney Apologist" thread had begun to tailspin around page 48, with Godwin's Law of course already long since satisfied.

Alas, now we're free:

 

Are we starting to debate whether the Debate Room was good or not?

I'd post a picture of a moose with a stop sign wedged in its antlers but I don't want to run afoul of said ungulate

 

STOP! In the name of Moose, before you break his heart.

 

NOT THE LAKE-DRINKING!!!!!!!!!!! OH GOD, ANYTHING BUT THE LAKE DRINKING!!!!!!!!!!

 

Since the original has "love" kinda-sorta rhyming with "heart", I'd try to find something that rhymes with "moose" (and scans, and also makes sense). For instance ...

STOP! In the name of Moose;
do not quote Dr. Seuss.

STOP! Respect Big Soft Moose,
or he'll kick your caboose.

Think it all over ... [etc.]

 

Love doesn't even kinda-sorta rhyme with heart unless you're speaking French.

But carry on.

 

I know, I was being generous in saying "kinda-sorta". (The Supremes song is still a classic, though).

Even in French, amour and cœur aren't proper rhymes, but never mind.

 

Fart rhymes with heart.

 

"STOP! In the name of fart"? *thinks* Well, I can't see how that would make sense, unless "fart" was an acronym of some kind. Flatulence Avoiding Residents of Tampa, perhaps?

And that gives me an idea:

To: Tampa Bay Times
12 November, 2024.

Dear sir,

I am writing to you to express my absolute REVULSION at the state of the world today. Only five minutes ago, while patronizing Miguel's Mexican Seafood and Grill, I was confronted -- CONFRONTED, I say! -- by smell and sound of people breaking wind and passing gas.

I think I can say without fear of exaggeration that this kind of lewd, obscene behavior has no place in today's society, and therefore I urge all right-thinking people to avoid such restaurants until this ABHORRENT situation is remedied, and people learn to behave in a restrained, polite and ultra-refined manner.

Very sincerely yours,

Disgusted of Tampa

*blows a raspberry*

 

Stand in the middle of the road and make them run their vehicle into a ditch? Mooses do that.