Well I see another thread got vaporized.

Not sure what happened either. I've been busy and haven't been able to check in at the Zone for a few days but I see the thread that I believe Bill started has been wiped off the map.

I realize Nigel has to make a judgement call when things start to 'disinegrate' into backbiting or whatever the case may be. Perhaps he also does it to save the dignity of the people involved which is commendable on his part.

I think a good reason to say bye bye to a thread or post is when there are personal attacks involved which Nigel has already made clear he won't tolerate.

Here is a good definition of a 'personal attack':

"Generally, a personal attack is committed when a person substitutes abusive remarks for evidence when examining another person's claims or comments. It is considered a personal attack when a person starts referencing a supposed flaw or weakness in an individual's personality, beliefs, lifestyle, convictions or principles, and use it as a debate tactic or as a means of avoiding discussion of the relevance or truthfulness of what the person said. It works on the reasoning that, by discrediting the source of an argument, e.g. the person making it, the argument itself can be weakened.

This line of "reasoning" is fallacious because the attack is directed at the person making the claim and not the claim itself. The truth value of a claim is independent of the person making the claim. After all, no matter how morally repugnant a person might be, he or she can still make true claims.

For example:
Witness: "I saw X murder the shopkeeper."
Defense attorney: "Isn't it true that you are a convicted felon?"

On the other hand, illuminating real character flaws and inconsistencies in the position of an opponent are a vital part of the public political process and of the adversarial judicial process.

Use of a personal attack in a logical argument constitutes a logical fallacy called Ad hominem, a term that comes from a Latin phrase meaning "toward the man".

PS: I saw (but have not yet read) Scott's thread about him leaving. I'm sorry to see him go. He has been a consistent contributor to the Synthzone Arranger Forum for many years. I wish him well and hope the bitterness he may be experiencing right now may resolve itself and that he could return to the Zone sometime in the future when and if he feels comfortable to do so.

Best regards,
Mike

Sorry, Tomy...I meant "Buck" Chas...you know, the country music lover. We have a group forming, TOO!

NOT!


Russ

I agree that censure is not the answer....... but the end of your post has the TRUE answer - COMMON COURTESY is the answer...... From both critic AND subject.

It's a shame how uncommon that common courtesy has become......

In the old days it was considered bad form
for one musician to criticize another in public...

I miss the good 'ol days

TP123

Thanks Mike, yes you are reading me exactly. Yes I do move in quickly and "vaporize" threads that have started to become pointlessly argumentative and are disrespectful of fellow musicians. I must admit I really hate those sorts of threads and they serve no useful purpose so I kill them dead. Sorry that won't change here. That's just based on how I think reasonable human beings should behave. Sorry for those people that don't fall into the category of "reasonable human beings" because I'm sure I must piss off those people


[This message has been edited by Nigel (edited 12-17-2006).]