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- Sep 3, 2010
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I have maintained for quite a while now that the Basement - besides a place to let off steam - is also used as a control mechanism to attack and try to intimidate posters whose opinions upstairs are not welcome with some folks. And that is NOT a part of debate. In fact, its purpose is to deny debate and destroy debate.
When I see a new thread attacking some member, before I even read it I ask myself who in a gun thread did they offend and what did they say about guns? I suspect that there might be another area or two which follows the same dynamic.
I am repeatedly told - as are others - that if I do not like the Basement - stay the hell out of it.
And I would very much like to do that. I would very much like to take and follow that advice.
There are two ways one gets into the Basement:
1- they go in voluntarily and participate.
2- Other posters put them in the Basement starting threads about them or including them in basement threads.
I can control the first.
I cannot control the second.
And unless I can control the second, I cannot take the advice of folks here and stay out of the basement. Anybody here can put anybody else in the basement any time they desire.
I would propose the following change: the Basement should be a closed club open only to those who voluntarily join and have their names listed as willing members. If you want to start a thread about somebody or use them in thread, they would have had to given their consent by becoming Basement members. And a list would be right there to check upon.
Any thread started about somebody NOT a Basement member would be removed and possible infractions and points awarded if necessary.
Only if this procedure is adopted would I or any other member be able to take the advice often given to stay out of the basement if we do not like it.
And I don’t think what I am asking is technically impossible or especially difficult.
The only objection I can see to it is from those who want to continue to use the basement as a method of harassment and intimidation. And neither of those is suppose to be a component of debate in the first place.
When I see a new thread attacking some member, before I even read it I ask myself who in a gun thread did they offend and what did they say about guns? I suspect that there might be another area or two which follows the same dynamic.
I am repeatedly told - as are others - that if I do not like the Basement - stay the hell out of it.
And I would very much like to do that. I would very much like to take and follow that advice.
There are two ways one gets into the Basement:
1- they go in voluntarily and participate.
2- Other posters put them in the Basement starting threads about them or including them in basement threads.
I can control the first.
I cannot control the second.
And unless I can control the second, I cannot take the advice of folks here and stay out of the basement. Anybody here can put anybody else in the basement any time they desire.
I would propose the following change: the Basement should be a closed club open only to those who voluntarily join and have their names listed as willing members. If you want to start a thread about somebody or use them in thread, they would have had to given their consent by becoming Basement members. And a list would be right there to check upon.
Any thread started about somebody NOT a Basement member would be removed and possible infractions and points awarded if necessary.
Only if this procedure is adopted would I or any other member be able to take the advice often given to stay out of the basement if we do not like it.
And I don’t think what I am asking is technically impossible or especially difficult.
The only objection I can see to it is from those who want to continue to use the basement as a method of harassment and intimidation. And neither of those is suppose to be a component of debate in the first place.