CheckEmoji Community · the emoji forum
🏠 Home 🆕 What's new ❓ Unanswered 🔥 Popular 📡 RSS Members 👥 0 online log in · register
Home › Miscellaneous › Feedback & Suggestions › Banned from the Alternative community???

Banned from the Alternative community???

Started by Melissa Watson4 · · 👁 11 views · 150 replies

📡 Subscribe to replies

Participants Melissa Watson4George Turner2Chris Lopez59Paul ChavezJoseph White5driftinggull13dustyharbor18steelskipper5electricangler22Karen Perez44silverjackalcosmictinker21Rachel Phillips3Noah Myers8Morgan Rodriguez57slyangler82Morgan Hernandez5Samuel Booth76Sophia Brooks24hollowtrucker77Brian Edwards6Jerry Cooper3placidmarlin3Harold Adams7 …
Chris Lopez59 Chris Lopez59 Active Member
61 messages
joined May 2007
#81 ·
placidmarlin3 said:What exactly makes you think I’m unable to reach a sound, objective conclusion?😕
Look, I'm not out here playing sides or chasing any personal agenda; rather, I view myself
as representing that third party—the kind of observer who used to actually enjoy reading discussions on Alternative, back before
this entire subforum morphed into a version of Maštaralica where everyone competes to see who can drop the most intense
conspiracy theory without a shred of evidence, all while simultaneously launching a crusade against anyone attempting
to engage in actual reasoned debate or correct blatant falsehoods, a behavior conveniently
justified under the guise of "tolerance"
for opposing ideas and viewpoints.

Well, mainly because of the quote I included. You're generalizing and shoving your subjective opinion down my throat as if it were some kind of universal fact.

On Alternative, you get to pick your own topics, so if you want specific themes, just start your own thread. If you aren't a fan of 'conspiracy theories'? Fine, then don't participate in those threads, or participate but actually bring some logic to the table. For instance, if you respond to a 'conspiracy theory' by just saying, 'That's insane, that's just a conspiracy theory,' that isn't an argumentative post. If you actually know better, you need to dig into the specifics why it's insane. If you don't have concrete arguments, then you can't really be certain it's insane, and if you lack arguments but still hold a firm stance, your position is no less ridiculous than the ones you're attacking.

It's simple: you need to ditch the biases and actually ground your points in real argumentation.
electricangler22 electricangler22 Member
25 messages
joined Jan 2010
#82 ·
Ugh, seriously, what is he even drumming on about? What else haven't they banned us for on Alternative yet? Good grief, this sword has a massive blade, and honestly, the way things are run over at Alternative isn't exactly how a functional state should operate. Look, I’ve got a specific question here: how long does this ban on Alternative actually last? And I’m calling on Director dustyharbor18 to finally come clean. Is it three days, five, seven, or is it forever? That’s how decent mods should act—send a message to everyone who gets banned, just a quick heads-up explaining why they were flagged and what the specific reason was. Short, sweet, and fair. Thanks in advance for the reply; you can post it here or just hit me up on the Democratic Party side.
Melissa Watson4 Melissa Watson4 MemberOP
24 messages
joined Dec 2008
#83 ·
electricangler22 said:Ugh, seriously, what is he even drumming on about? What else haven't they banned us for on Alternative yet? Good grief, this sword has a massive blade, and honestly, the way things are run over at Alternative isn't exactly how a functional state should operate. Look, I’ve got a specific question here: how long does this ban on Alternative actually last? And I’m calling on Director dustyharbor18 to finally come clean. Is it three days, five, seven, or is it forever? That’s how decent mods should act—send a message to everyone who gets banned, just a quick heads-up explaining why they were flagged and what the specific reason was. Short, sweet, and fair. Thanks in advance for the reply; you can post it here or just hit me up on the Democratic Party side.

Well, she certainly gave a lovely explanation as to why we aren't allowed access...☕

Melissa Watson4, Chris Lopez59, Paul Chavez, Joseph White5.
Maybe there's going to be a ban on the Alternative. I guess we'll see. Just you and three other forum members, I suppose. It seems their whole analysis of current military and political shifts relies on tying everything back to the Book of Revelation. I guess the core argument from their main strategist is that World War III and the resulting apocalypse are actually desirable for humanity—since it supposedly offers a guaranteed way to ensure the return of Jesus.

So, as you can see—and I hope the other mods notice this too, though they all seem to just cover for one another—we’re being blocked because our thoughts don't exactly align with the moderator's... I guess.

Regarding how long the ban lasts... I guess it’s either forever, or just until the moderator decides. Maybe.☕
Harold Adams7 Harold Adams7 Member
10 messages
joined Aug 2012
#84 ·
dustyharbor18 said:A) @
Melissa Watson4, Chris Lopez59, Paul Chavez, Joseph White5

The ban on accessing Alternative regarding you four applies specifically to analyses of current military and political events that rely on alleged connections to the Book of Revelation. I guess the core thesis of the main ideological defender behind these military analyses is that World War III and the subsequent apocalypse are somehow desirable for humanity, serving as a firm and eagerly awaited guarantee of the return of Jesus.
It goes without saying that this kind of tone regarding military-political conspiracies has attracted a certain number of Christians whose views seem pretty bizarre and extreme—if not outright extremist—to most people.
Of course, such controversial stances have also drawn opposition, along with a fair amount of rude, uneducated, and naive forum users.

Since the participants described here show an increasingly low level of tolerance for differing views, the Alternative moderators are using this action to sharply distance themselves from such positions, which they consider utterly unacceptable from a civilized and humanistic perspective.

B)@
George Turner2, driftinggull13

As for you and others who take a stand based on skepticism, rationality, and logic against irrational, inaccurate, and uninformed views—the answer is completely different. Alternative has never distanced itself from you. In fact, any constructive opposition is always welcome.
Just to be clear, driftinggull13, since you’re the one with the most toxic, cynical language on this forum—something you actually pride yourself on while enjoying your own toxic posts—you should probably take responsibility for your sweet insults toward chlorine and silver solutions or bowel cleansers, especially given how much you enjoy pushing your opinions on them.
So, just to avoid confusion—it’s the manner in which you do it that is being criticized. I don't see any reason why your views couldn't be presented in a benevolent and educational way.

Even if that were true, what’s the big deal? It's all about freedom of speech and expression, right? And honestly, who ever said World War III is actually wanted? What about the prophecies from Nostradamus or Tarabić—are they going to get banned too? (And I don't mean getting "banned" like being kicked out, just... you know...) It really all just comes down to how different people interpret things...
dustyharbor18 said:A) @
Melissa Watson4, Chris Lopez59, Paul Chavez, Joseph White5

The ban on accessing Alternative regarding you four applies specifically to analyses of current military and political events that rely on alleged connections to the Book of Revelation. I guess the core thesis of the main ideological defender behind these military analyses is that World War III and the subsequent apocalypse are somehow desirable for humanity, serving as a firm and eagerly awaited guarantee of the return of Jesus.
It goes without saying that this kind of tone regarding military-political conspiracies has attracted a certain number of Christians whose views seem pretty bizarre and extreme—if not outright extremist—to most people.
Of course, such controversial stances have also drawn opposition, along with a fair amount of rude, uneducated, and naive forum users.

Since the participants described here show an increasingly low level of tolerance for differing views, the Alternative moderators are using this action to sharply distance themselves from such positions, which they consider utterly unacceptable from a civilized and humanistic perspective.

B)@
George Turner2, driftinggull13

As for you and others who take a stand based on skepticism, rationality, and logic against irrational, inaccurate, and uninformed views—the answer is completely different. Alternative has never distanced itself from you. In fact, any constructive opposition is always welcome.
Just to be clear, driftinggull13, since you’re the one with the most toxic, cynical language on this forum—something you actually pride yourself on while enjoying your own toxic posts—you should probably take responsibility for your sweet insults toward chlorine and silver solutions or bowel cleansers, especially given how much you enjoy pushing your opinions on them.
So, just to avoid confusion—it’s the manner in which you do it that is being criticized. I don't see any reason why your views couldn't be presented in a benevolent and educational way.

Wouldn't it have been more logical to just ban those users then? Let me explain... those "Christian" users started attacking without any actual arguments, just using that classic, baseless inflammatory rhetoric—turning a perfectly good topic into a massive fight between the American Left and the American Right...
electricangler22 electricangler22 Member
25 messages
joined Jan 2010
#85 ·
Melissa Watson4 said:Well, she certainly gave a lovely explanation as to why we aren't allowed access...☕

Melissa Watson4, Chris Lopez59, Paul Chavez, Joseph White5.
Maybe there's going to be a ban on the Alternative. I guess we'll see. Just you and three other forum members, I suppose. It seems their whole analysis of current military and political shifts relies on tying everything back to the Book of Revelation. I guess the core argument from their main strategist is that World War III and the resulting apocalypse are actually desirable for humanity—since it supposedly offers a guaranteed way to ensure the return of Jesus.

So, as you can see—and I hope the other mods notice this too, though they all seem to just cover for one another—we’re being blocked because our thoughts don't exactly align with the moderator's... I guess.

Regarding how long the ban lasts... I guess it’s either forever, or just until the moderator decides. Maybe.☕

I get what Melissa Watson4 is saying, but bans have specific durations. That’s why I’m asking—please, just send me a message stating how long this lasts and why. This whole explanation feels totally unacceptable and sets a bad precedent for everyone else on Alternative. It seems like the mods either just cover for each other or push their own agendas to lift or enforce bans. Even though dustyharbor18 was the one who handed out the ban, the other mods should be able to step in and provide a clear reason and an end date. As it stands, it looks like if someone starts thinking too much for themselves or stops agreeing with the "official" logic (not pointing fingers at anyone specifically here), they can cause serious damage to the owner and the entire community. That's why you don't just have one single mod running things on any Alternative site, whether it's politics, spirituality, or any other section. Moderators have the authority to answer our questions, and besides, there are supermods there to oversee them. So, I’m asking politely: please let me know the duration and the reason. I don't think I'm asking for much.
Morgan Rodriguez57 Morgan Rodriguez57 Active Member
216 messages
joined Oct 2011
#86 ·
electricangler22 said:I get what Melissa Watson4 is saying, but bans have specific durations. That’s why I’m asking—please, just send me a message stating how long this lasts and why. This whole explanation feels totally unacceptable and sets a bad precedent for everyone else on Alternative. It seems like the mods either just cover for each other or push their own agendas to lift or enforce bans. Even though dustyharbor18 was the one who handed out the ban, the other mods should be able to step in and provide a clear reason and an end date. As it stands, it looks like if someone starts thinking too much for themselves or stops agreeing with the "official" logic (not pointing fingers at anyone specifically here), they can cause serious damage to the owner and the entire community. That's why you don't just have one single mod running things on any Alternative site, whether it's politics, spirituality, or any other section. Moderators have the authority to answer our questions, and besides, there are supermods there to oversee them. So, I’m asking politely: please let me know the duration and the reason. I don't think I'm asking for much.

yeah, sure, a partial ban might have a set timeframe, but it’s not really like the other bans—honestly, it feels more like an eschatological eternity... 😉
electricangler22 electricangler22 Member
25 messages
joined Jan 2010
#87 ·
dustyharbor18, please, just show me one single post where I’m out here praying for World War III, or ranting about the clergy, or quoting a single line from the Bible. Because this bolded part right here is what you're claiming are my words:the ban on accessing Alternative for you and three other forum members concerns analyses of current military and political events based on their alleged connection to the Book of Revelation. The core thesis of the main ideological apologist behind these military analyses is that World War III and the subsequent apocalypse is a desirable event for humanity because it represents a solid and eagerly awaited guarantee of the second coming of Jesus. Seriously, point to where I’m calling for Jesus or any other figure from the Bible. I’m asking you again because the other moderators told me I had to settle this with you directly. Where in my writing am I summoning World War III or suggesting it's something humanity should actually look forward to? I want to put this whole thing to bed. Usually, when someone is asked to back up their claims with actual evidence, every decent person on this forum—except for the trolls—will step up. That’s just how people behave, especially moderators who are supposed to set the standard. So, I’m looking for a real answer from you, or maybe someone with actual authority, like a super mod or another lead moderator over at Alternative, to give me a straight, respectful response to my very reasonable question.
dustyharbor18 dustyharbor18 Member
16 messages
joined Mar 2008
#88 ·
electricangler22!
The main thread about military conflicts was basically built on the need to play out an apocalypse. Since that was the vibe, most participants took firm, hardline conservative stances—which you represent as well. (In that sense, I guess you're right that my explanation wasn't aimed at you).
But here’s what I mean—I think profiling this subforum so heavily toward a Christian conservative direction just doesn't align with what this space is actually supposed to be.
This isn't about my personal politics; it's just about the goal of the Alternative being neither left nor right, but truly an alternative.
Maybe you'll think it's unfair that more liberal participants haven't been pushed out, but I suppose their main trait wasn't their political leaning, but rather a certain openness and breadth regarding the topic and the essence of the Alternative.
I hope this makes sense. Regarding conservative political views in general—I respect them, and I certainly don't think they shouldn't exist or be expressed.
Anyway, a debate about your thesis on feminism might be interesting, but maybe in a different context or a different subforum.
placidmarlin3 placidmarlin3 Member
45 messages
joined Apr 2013
#89 ·
Chris Lopez59 said:Well, mainly because of the quote I included. You're generalizing and shoving your subjective opinion down my throat as if it were some kind of universal fact.

On Alternative, you get to pick your own topics, so if you want specific themes, just start your own thread. If you aren't a fan of 'conspiracy theories'? Fine, then don't participate in those threads, or participate but actually bring some logic to the table. For instance, if you respond to a 'conspiracy theory' by just saying, 'That's insane, that's just a conspiracy theory,' that isn't an argumentative post. If you actually know better, you need to dig into the specifics why it's insane. If you don't have concrete arguments, then you can't really be certain it's insane, and if you lack arguments but still hold a firm stance, your position is no less ridiculous than the ones you're attacking.

It's simple: you need to ditch the biases and actually ground your points in real argumentation.


I’m not quite sure what kind of struggle you're having with understanding my posts, so feel free to read them several times if they don't click the first time. At no point have I blamed the people starting these topics or fueling conspiracy theories. My issue is with the fact that the moderators, under this thin veil of "tolerance," are effectively stripping the subforum of any capacity for reasonable analysis. They package diverse perspectives and various theories as mere trolling or insults to justify pushing them out. Now, if someone feels insulted simply because their theory doesn't hold water, that's ultimately a reflection of their own lack of knowledge, not a fault of the people pointing out the flaws—people who, as we see right here, end up being the ones targeted.
You could claim that staring at the sun cured your prostate cancer, for example, but if it turns out you don't understand the basic science required to support such a claim, or if more educated people debunk you at every turn, you can't complain about being insulted or belittled. In that scenario, the only person who should face consequences is you, because your incompetence and ignorance could genuinely endanger people's health. However, the ultimate responsibility lies with the moderators tasked with maintaining order on the subforum. It’s entirely up to them whether you receive a warning or a ban for spreading unverified and potentially dangerous theories. Interestingly enough, the people losing access to Alternative seem to be exactly those who provide the necessary opposition to your worldview.
(I'm not talking about you specifically; this is just a hypothetical example to illustrate the point).
As it stands, it looks like the moderators themselves are caught in some sort of internal conflict, so I honestly have no idea where this is all heading.
Good luck.
Chris Lopez59 Chris Lopez59 Active Member
61 messages
joined May 2007
#90 ·
placidmarlin3 said:I’m not quite sure what kind of struggle you're having with understanding my posts, so feel free to read them several times if they don't click the first time. At no point have I blamed the people starting these topics or fueling conspiracy theories. My issue is with the fact that the moderators, under this thin veil of "tolerance," are effectively stripping the subforum of any capacity for reasonable analysis. They package diverse perspectives and various theories as mere trolling or insults to justify pushing them out. Now, if someone feels insulted simply because their theory doesn't hold water, that's ultimately a reflection of their own lack of knowledge, not a fault of the people pointing out the flaws—people who, as we see right here, end up being the ones targeted.
You could claim that staring at the sun cured your prostate cancer, for example, but if it turns out you don't understand the basic science required to support such a claim, or if more educated people debunk you at every turn, you can't complain about being insulted or belittled. In that scenario, the only person who should face consequences is you, because your incompetence and ignorance could genuinely endanger people's health. However, the ultimate responsibility lies with the moderators tasked with maintaining order on the subforum. It’s entirely up to them whether you receive a warning or a ban for spreading unverified and potentially dangerous theories. Interestingly enough, the people losing access to Alternative seem to be exactly those who provide the necessary opposition to your worldview.
(I'm not talking about you specifically; this is just a hypothetical example to illustrate the point).
As it stands, it looks like the moderators themselves are caught in some sort of internal conflict, so I honestly have no idea where this is all heading.
Good luck.

Maybe it’s just because the whole thing is built on nothing but trolling and straight-up insults. Seriously, just take a look at the introduction.

placidmarlin3 said:I’m not quite sure what kind of struggle you're having with understanding my posts, so feel free to read them several times if they don't click the first time. At no point have I blamed the people starting these topics or fueling conspiracy theories. My issue is with the fact that the moderators, under this thin veil of "tolerance," are effectively stripping the subforum of any capacity for reasonable analysis. They package diverse perspectives and various theories as mere trolling or insults to justify pushing them out. Now, if someone feels insulted simply because their theory doesn't hold water, that's ultimately a reflection of their own lack of knowledge, not a fault of the people pointing out the flaws—people who, as we see right here, end up being the ones targeted.
You could claim that staring at the sun cured your prostate cancer, for example, but if it turns out you don't understand the basic science required to support such a claim, or if more educated people debunk you at every turn, you can't complain about being insulted or belittled. In that scenario, the only person who should face consequences is you, because your incompetence and ignorance could genuinely endanger people's health. However, the ultimate responsibility lies with the moderators tasked with maintaining order on the subforum. It’s entirely up to them whether you receive a warning or a ban for spreading unverified and potentially dangerous theories. Interestingly enough, the people losing access to Alternative seem to be exactly those who provide the necessary opposition to your worldview.
(I'm not talking about you specifically; this is just a hypothetical example to illustrate the point).
As it stands, it looks like the moderators themselves are caught in some sort of internal conflict, so I honestly have no idea where this is all heading.
Good luck.

Look, if you're going to call someone out, you actually need to bring some real arguments to the table to show why their facts don't hold water; otherwise, you're just trolling, and honestly, nobody has the patience for that.

placidmarlin3 said:I’m not quite sure what kind of struggle you're having with understanding my posts, so feel free to read them several times if they don't click the first time. At no point have I blamed the people starting these topics or fueling conspiracy theories. My issue is with the fact that the moderators, under this thin veil of "tolerance," are effectively stripping the subforum of any capacity for reasonable analysis. They package diverse perspectives and various theories as mere trolling or insults to justify pushing them out. Now, if someone feels insulted simply because their theory doesn't hold water, that's ultimately a reflection of their own lack of knowledge, not a fault of the people pointing out the flaws—people who, as we see right here, end up being the ones targeted.
You could claim that staring at the sun cured your prostate cancer, for example, but if it turns out you don't understand the basic science required to support such a claim, or if more educated people debunk you at every turn, you can't complain about being insulted or belittled. In that scenario, the only person who should face consequences is you, because your incompetence and ignorance could genuinely endanger people's health. However, the ultimate responsibility lies with the moderators tasked with maintaining order on the subforum. It’s entirely up to them whether you receive a warning or a ban for spreading unverified and potentially dangerous theories. Interestingly enough, the people losing access to Alternative seem to be exactly those who provide the necessary opposition to your worldview.
(I'm not talking about you specifically; this is just a hypothetical example to illustrate the point).
As it stands, it looks like the moderators themselves are caught in some sort of internal conflict, so I honestly have no idea where this is all heading.
Good luck.

Look, nobody on this forum ever claimed they cured their cancer just by staring at the sun. What you’re actually bringing up comes from Hira Ratan Manek, an Indian practitioner who was scientifically observed over extended periods while he wasn't consuming any food at all. That alone gives the guy enough credibility to float his philosophy about sun-gazing. People have been discussing this on Alternative for ages, and honestly, citing Manek is an argument in itself. Your whole line of reasoning—that it's "scientifically impossible" to live off sunlight—is completely nonsensical. I mean, strictly speaking, it’s also scientifically "impossible" for a human to survive that long without eating, yet it’s been empirically demonstrated. So, what’s the actual takeaway here? It's pretty simple: science is currently just lacking sufficient knowledge. To lean on the argument that "if it isn't scientifically proven, it can't happen" is just pure nonsense because science isn't some finished, static collection of truths; it's a work in progress. Just because we haven't uncovered the scientific mechanism behind a possibility doesn't mean that possibility doesn't exist—science isn't a closed book. We don't even fully grasp the complex functions of our own organs yet, which says a lot about how much we still have to learn. Honestly, there are plenty of people out there who just wrap their own deep-seated biases in a lab coat and pretend they're presenting a purely scientific viewpoint. Yeah, right. 🙂 Honestly, those kinds of takes are fundamentally unserious when you look at them through any kind of scientific lens

But when people start attacking others by saying stuff like, "You belong in jail, you're telling people to stare at the sun and they might go blind," without even bothering to mention what was actually advised—let alone providing any actual context—that’s nothing more than pure trolling. It’s also pretty obvious when someone is just being insulting. If I were running the show as a mod, believe me, I’d be sanctioning intros like yours; I’d insist on nothing but civil communication rather than this passive-aggressive disrespect

placidmarlin3 said:I’m not quite sure what kind of struggle you're having with understanding my posts, so feel free to read them several times if they don't click the first time. At no point have I blamed the people starting these topics or fueling conspiracy theories. My issue is with the fact that the moderators, under this thin veil of "tolerance," are effectively stripping the subforum of any capacity for reasonable analysis. They package diverse perspectives and various theories as mere trolling or insults to justify pushing them out. Now, if someone feels insulted simply because their theory doesn't hold water, that's ultimately a reflection of their own lack of knowledge, not a fault of the people pointing out the flaws—people who, as we see right here, end up being the ones targeted.
You could claim that staring at the sun cured your prostate cancer, for example, but if it turns out you don't understand the basic science required to support such a claim, or if more educated people debunk you at every turn, you can't complain about being insulted or belittled. In that scenario, the only person who should face consequences is you, because your incompetence and ignorance could genuinely endanger people's health. However, the ultimate responsibility lies with the moderators tasked with maintaining order on the subforum. It’s entirely up to them whether you receive a warning or a ban for spreading unverified and potentially dangerous theories. Interestingly enough, the people losing access to Alternative seem to be exactly those who provide the necessary opposition to your worldview.
(I'm not talking about you specifically; this is just a hypothetical example to illustrate the point).
As it stands, it looks like the moderators themselves are caught in some sort of internal conflict, so I honestly have no idea where this is all heading.
Good luck.

Look, mods are human and they screw up sometimes, but the real problem with this forum is the sense of untouchability surrounding certain mods. When a mod makes a mistake, they almost never get corrected; instead, their decisions are protected and justified, no matter how biased or completely flawed they actually are.
Sophia Brooks24 Sophia Brooks24 Newcomer
4 messages
joined Jan 2010
#91 ·
placidmarlin3 said:I think the credibility of this entire subforum can be judged by one single fact: they recently permanently banned Endymion, who currently serves as a moderator for the PZ section, simply because he was deemed "inappropriate."☕

Back when the Alternative section was actually worth reading, it had some substance, but ever since they launched this insane campaign to ban anyone
who dares to offer a concrete, reasoned argument that doesn't fit within the realm of science fiction—or even just questions the validity of someone's "ideas"—the whole thing
has lost any semblance of
purpose. Honestly, they might be better off renaming it "On the Edge of Intelligence," because you truly get the impression that this subforum exists solely to oppose
common sense.
Any kind of well-intentioned critique or logical counterpoint is strictly forbidden, which might be acceptable if the Alternative section were limited to
ghost stories or, more accurately, fairy tales about lizard people and other nonsense. However, from what I can see, Alternative has turned into a breeding ground for various
pseudo-doctors and amateurs peddling medical advice that has absolutely zero scientific basis or grounding in reality; meanwhile, those who attempt to
point this out—as we are seeing in this specific thread—get permanently kicked out. The promotion of such content
is incredibly dangerous and, if I'm not mistaken, potentially even illegal, which means
this isn't just a problem with the Alternative moderators, but with the owner of the forum himself, who bears primary responsibility for all the content promoted on
the site. In my opinion, the state of the Alternative section is catastrophic, and it is high time that those who agreed to run this forum finally took some actual responsibility for it.👎

Spot on. Nothing more, nothing less. 👍
Austin Baker86 Austin Baker86 Active Member
56 messages
joined Feb 2009
#92 ·
steelskipper5 said:Keep dreaming. I’ve been around this block long enough to know that the chances of that actually happening are basically zero.

Look, Hani, I’m not exactly out here trying to convert non-believers—that's just not my thing. But, I gotta say, it’s actually pretty refreshing to see you calling the rational opposition "welcome" (though, if we're going by what dustyharbor18 said, maybe that's being a bit too generous).

Yeah, go ahead—keep poisoning yourselves. Honestly, I’m actually rooting for MMS and all that other junk; I see it as nothing more than evolutionary pressure. Since apparently every single question around here is just trolling, and every debate is basically just people trying to baptize their own delusions, I guess I'll just sit back and let you all kill each other off.
I honestly don't give a damn.

Look, I'm only here to debate. That means I’m going to tackle topics that might ruffle some feathers or poke at people's specific beliefs—and honestly, I don't see that as an issue. As far as I can tell, this forum is supposed to be a place for discussion, right? So, let's actually discuss things.
Look, Alternative isn't exactly a place for actual debate—and if you look at what you’re saying, it's pretty obvious. It’s more like a playground where people who already agree just sit around poisoning each other or swallowing whatever sugary nonsense they're fed. I mean, around here, every single question is treated like trolling, and any attempt at a real discussion—especially if your opinion doesn't line up with the status quo—is immediately branded as heresy.

The Alternative—with a name that's supposed to imply they're open to different perspectives—basically nukes anything they don't agree with, acting exactly like those most hardline, narrow-minded religious forums. I guess you guys only consider common sense to be an "alternative" if it agrees with your specific brand of nonsense. Congrats.

What irritates me is that 90% of the users there consider themselves exceptionally brilliant and capable of "thinking outside the box," yet the moderators have engineered a climate perfectly designed to nurture those exact delusions. Any bit of rational advice is mocked and branded as an "inquisition." Paradoxically, the very people shouting about inquisitions are the ones conducting them, all while blowing their own trumpets over pretentious, "open-minded" nonsense that makes me sick.
placidmarlin3 placidmarlin3 Member
45 messages
joined Apr 2013
#93 ·
Chris Lopez59 said:Maybe it’s just because the whole thing is built on nothing but trolling and straight-up insults. Seriously, just take a look at the introduction.

Look, if you're going to call someone out, you actually need to bring some real arguments to the table to show why their facts don't hold water; otherwise, you're just trolling, and honestly, nobody has the patience for that.

Look, nobody on this forum ever claimed they cured their cancer just by staring at the sun. What you’re actually bringing up comes from Hira Ratan Manek, an Indian practitioner who was scientifically observed over extended periods while he wasn't consuming any food at all. That alone gives the guy enough credibility to float his philosophy about sun-gazing. People have been discussing this on Alternative for ages, and honestly, citing Manek is an argument in itself. Your whole line of reasoning—that it's "scientifically impossible" to live off sunlight—is completely nonsensical. I mean, strictly speaking, it’s also scientifically "impossible" for a human to survive that long without eating, yet it’s been empirically demonstrated. So, what’s the actual takeaway here? It's pretty simple: science is currently just lacking sufficient knowledge. To lean on the argument that "if it isn't scientifically proven, it can't happen" is just pure nonsense because science isn't some finished, static collection of truths; it's a work in progress. Just because we haven't uncovered the scientific mechanism behind a possibility doesn't mean that possibility doesn't exist—science isn't a closed book. We don't even fully grasp the complex functions of our own organs yet, which says a lot about how much we still have to learn. Honestly, there are plenty of people out there who just wrap their own deep-seated biases in a lab coat and pretend they're presenting a purely scientific viewpoint. Yeah, right. 🙂 Honestly, those kinds of takes are fundamentally unserious when you look at them through any kind of scientific lens

But when people start attacking others by saying stuff like, "You belong in jail, you're telling people to stare at the sun and they might go blind," without even bothering to mention what was actually advised—let alone providing any actual context—that’s nothing more than pure trolling. It’s also pretty obvious when someone is just being insulting. If I were running the show as a mod, believe me, I’d be sanctioning intros like yours; I’d insist on nothing but civil communication rather than this passive-aggressive disrespect

Look, mods are human and they screw up sometimes, but the real problem with this forum is the sense of untouchability surrounding certain mods. When a mod makes a mistake, they almost never get corrected; instead, their decisions are protected and justified, no matter how biased or completely flawed they actually are.

That is precisely the point.
However, what you are persistently—perhaps even intentionally—ignoring is the reality that the primary arguments found on Alternative come from the very people who end up getting banned from the platform for their "offensive" way of speaking.🤣
driftinggull13 is a prime example, and it's hardly necessary to dwell on Endymion’s past dedication to Alternative or his old posts. If you still can't grasp my point, try digging through any thread from 2008; you might finally get a sense of the kind of discourse I'm referring to, which used to be quite an intellectual pleasure to read.

but when people start attacking others by saying things like, 'you belong in jail' or 'you're telling people to stare at the sun and they'll go blind,' without even mentioning what was actually advised...

refer to the quote above.😉

(with as much leeway in advice as one desires), that is pure trolling. It's also clearly insulting. If I were a moderator, I would sanction intros like yours; believe me, I would insist on strictly civilized communication rather than this passive-aggressive hostility.

I am not insulting anyone here; I am simply stating my perspective as someone who once thoroughly enjoyed reading Alternative, but now avoids it by a wide margin because certain topics are completely divorced from common sense. Not to mention how proponents of certain ideas often lack even the most basic understanding of the natural sciences required to discuss their own subject matter—knowledge that isn't some unverified theory, but provable fact. So, regarding your last comment, I'm definitely ready for the Götterdämmerung.
The issue arises when someone systematically dismantles another's ideas using actual logic, only for the moderators—likely due to their own lack of expertise—to misinterpret it as intolerance toward opposing views, simply because they don't truly comprehend the conversation. That is my impression, anyway.
electricangler22 electricangler22 Member
25 messages
joined Jan 2010
#94 ·
dustyharbor18 said:electricangler22!
The main thread about military conflicts was basically built on the need to play out an apocalypse. Since that was the vibe, most participants took firm, hardline conservative stances—which you represent as well. (In that sense, I guess you're right that my explanation wasn't aimed at you).
But here’s what I mean—I think profiling this subforum so heavily toward a Christian conservative direction just doesn't align with what this space is actually supposed to be.
This isn't about my personal politics; it's just about the goal of the Alternative being neither left nor right, but truly an alternative.
Maybe you'll think it's unfair that more liberal participants haven't been pushed out, but I suppose their main trait wasn't their political leaning, but rather a certain openness and breadth regarding the topic and the essence of the Alternative.
I hope this makes sense. Regarding conservative political views in general—I respect them, and I certainly don't think they shouldn't exist or be expressed.
Anyway, a debate about your thesis on feminism might be interesting, but maybe in a different context or a different subforum.

@dustyharbor18, first off, thanks for the reply. I feel like we’ve actually made some ground here. We both agree that based on the reasons laid out, I shouldn't be banned. And look, I'm with you on the whole religion thing—bringing religious debates into the Alternative section is a one-way ticket to nowhere. Those conversations belong in the religion subforum, plain and simple. Now, I have to push back on your idea that the leftists didn't get banned. I'm not trying to play judge and jury, and I certainly don't want to divide people into "left" and "right." Honestly, those divisions only exist because we let them live in our heads. We create those walls ourselves, and they only hold us back from any real spiritual growth. I don't want anyone to get banned. When I brought up that "good wizard," I wasn't calling for his head; I was just using a comparison to show how much more reason he had to face a ban than I do. It was an analogy, not a request for censorship. You mentioned my conservative political views, too. If you really believe that, I’d challenge you to find a single post of mine on the Alternative board that proves it. Look, if you're judging me based on what I say in the Politics section, you've got to admit those two forums are worlds apart. They aren't even in the same zip code. Judging someone here based on their politics is like judging a chef by how they drive a truck—it’s just a superficial way to look at a person. Is it true that I'm a veteran? Yes. Do I love my unit? Absolutely. Am I guilty of being a "primitive nationalist" because of that? If that's how you see it, fine. I love America, and yeah, I can write a fiery post now and then. But I don't do it to see the country walk into the UN with its pants down. Besides, the politics mods handle that stuff; it has zero connection to the Alternative vibe. I brought up the family situation at the end because, to me, it's the most important part of this whole discussion. You're a mother, I'm a father, and we both care about our kids. I think you'll agree that how we raise them at home is what shapes them into adults. Even if we're talking about political conspiracies, it matters. We need our kids to be able to choose good over evil and stick to real human values without being swayed by everything they see. If I remember correctly, we didn't see eye-to-eye on world events. My take is pretty straightforward: life is moving too fast. Kids today are bombarded by junk—video games, mobbing, TV, the internet—way more than previous generations ever were. You didn't really buy into that; you mentioned how there used to be tough crowds in every neighborhood and stuff like that. I don't know. I just remember a time when dealers weren't running the streets, drugs weren't such a massive epidemic, and values came from the family unit. Now, kids watch people flash cash and drive fancy cars while their parents—hardworking folks—are barely scraping by. If we’re going to agree on things, why stop there? Why not talk about feminism? If that was the issue regarding bans, I wish you would have just given me a heads-up. You saw how little I post in the Alternative section; you could have just told me to move the topic to a different forum. That would have been the fair, normal thing to do. Greetings to all sides.👍
Chris Lopez59 Chris Lopez59 Active Member
61 messages
joined May 2007
#95 ·
placidmarlin3 said:That is precisely the point.
However, what you are persistently—perhaps even intentionally—ignoring is the reality that the primary arguments found on Alternative come from the very people who end up getting banned from the platform for their "offensive" way of speaking.🤣
driftinggull13 is a prime example, and it's hardly necessary to dwell on Endymion’s past dedication to Alternative or his old posts. If you still can't grasp my point, try digging through any thread from 2008; you might finally get a sense of the kind of discourse I'm referring to, which used to be quite an intellectual pleasure to read.

but when people start attacking others by saying things like, 'you belong in jail' or 'you're telling people to stare at the sun and they'll go blind,' without even mentioning what was actually advised...

refer to the quote above.😉

(with as much leeway in advice as one desires), that is pure trolling. It's also clearly insulting. If I were a moderator, I would sanction intros like yours; believe me, I would insist on strictly civilized communication rather than this passive-aggressive hostility.

I am not insulting anyone here; I am simply stating my perspective as someone who once thoroughly enjoyed reading Alternative, but now avoids it by a wide margin because certain topics are completely divorced from common sense. Not to mention how proponents of certain ideas often lack even the most basic understanding of the natural sciences required to discuss their own subject matter—knowledge that isn't some unverified theory, but provable fact. So, regarding your last comment, I'm definitely ready for the Götterdämmerung.
The issue arises when someone systematically dismantles another's ideas using actual logic, only for the moderators—likely due to their own lack of expertise—to misinterpret it as intolerance toward opposing views, simply because they don't truly comprehend the conversation. That is my impression, anyway.

Unbelievable... honestly, I can't even wrap my head around it.

Look, if we’re going to call something a "fact," there actually needs to be some proof behind it. How on earth am I supposed to prove that the only arguments being thrown around are coming from the direction of those opposing the Alternative, like driftinggull13?
And honestly, it’s even more obvious to me because I see things through a completely different lens—it feels like the "rational" crowd doesn't actually have any real arguments to back up their stance anyway.

Look, I’ve actually got the X-rays to prove what bioenergy can do—I'm talking about documented cases where physical esophageal diverticula just... vanished. We're talking about structural deformations smoothing out within a few months, totally receding without a single surgical procedure or physical intervention. And here's the kicker: this was all achieved through bioenergy that cost absolutely nothing, performed remotely by a small group of people. So now, when someone tries to stand there and tell me that bioenergy doesn't work, what exactly am I supposed to argue against? What's the rebuttal? Honestly, the only way anyone could possibly counter my evidence is if they were willing to look me dead in the eye and claim I'm lying. 🙂

There's one other thing I really ought to warn you about: an argument and a cold, hard fact are two completely different animals.

placidmarlin3 said:That is precisely the point.
However, what you are persistently—perhaps even intentionally—ignoring is the reality that the primary arguments found on Alternative come from the very people who end up getting banned from the platform for their "offensive" way of speaking.🤣
driftinggull13 is a prime example, and it's hardly necessary to dwell on Endymion’s past dedication to Alternative or his old posts. If you still can't grasp my point, try digging through any thread from 2008; you might finally get a sense of the kind of discourse I'm referring to, which used to be quite an intellectual pleasure to read.

but when people start attacking others by saying things like, 'you belong in jail' or 'you're telling people to stare at the sun and they'll go blind,' without even mentioning what was actually advised...

refer to the quote above.😉

(with as much leeway in advice as one desires), that is pure trolling. It's also clearly insulting. If I were a moderator, I would sanction intros like yours; believe me, I would insist on strictly civilized communication rather than this passive-aggressive hostility.

I am not insulting anyone here; I am simply stating my perspective as someone who once thoroughly enjoyed reading Alternative, but now avoids it by a wide margin because certain topics are completely divorced from common sense. Not to mention how proponents of certain ideas often lack even the most basic understanding of the natural sciences required to discuss their own subject matter—knowledge that isn't some unverified theory, but provable fact. So, regarding your last comment, I'm definitely ready for the Götterdämmerung.
The issue arises when someone systematically dismantles another's ideas using actual logic, only for the moderators—likely due to their own lack of expertise—to misinterpret it as intolerance toward opposing views, simply because they don't truly comprehend the conversation. That is my impression, anyway.

Honestly, from everything I’ve read, driftinggull13 seems like a total provocateur. I just don't get any enjoyment out of these kinds of debates, regardless of whether the guy is pushing back against me or actually siding with my point of view. It's just exhausting.

placidmarlin3 said:That is precisely the point.
However, what you are persistently—perhaps even intentionally—ignoring is the reality that the primary arguments found on Alternative come from the very people who end up getting banned from the platform for their "offensive" way of speaking.🤣
driftinggull13 is a prime example, and it's hardly necessary to dwell on Endymion’s past dedication to Alternative or his old posts. If you still can't grasp my point, try digging through any thread from 2008; you might finally get a sense of the kind of discourse I'm referring to, which used to be quite an intellectual pleasure to read.

but when people start attacking others by saying things like, 'you belong in jail' or 'you're telling people to stare at the sun and they'll go blind,' without even mentioning what was actually advised...

refer to the quote above.😉

(with as much leeway in advice as one desires), that is pure trolling. It's also clearly insulting. If I were a moderator, I would sanction intros like yours; believe me, I would insist on strictly civilized communication rather than this passive-aggressive hostility.

I am not insulting anyone here; I am simply stating my perspective as someone who once thoroughly enjoyed reading Alternative, but now avoids it by a wide margin because certain topics are completely divorced from common sense. Not to mention how proponents of certain ideas often lack even the most basic understanding of the natural sciences required to discuss their own subject matter—knowledge that isn't some unverified theory, but provable fact. So, regarding your last comment, I'm definitely ready for the Götterdämmerung.
The issue arises when someone systematically dismantles another's ideas using actual logic, only for the moderators—likely due to their own lack of expertise—to misinterpret it as intolerance toward opposing views, simply because they don't truly comprehend the conversation. That is my impression, anyway.

I honestly don't have a clue what the Alternative used to be, or even what that term implied back then, so I can't really offer anything remotely intelligent
placidmarlin3 placidmarlin3 Member
45 messages
joined Apr 2013
#96 ·
Chris Lopez59 said:Unbelievable... honestly, I can't even wrap my head around it.

Look, if we’re going to call something a "fact," there actually needs to be some proof behind it. How on earth am I supposed to prove that the only arguments being thrown around are coming from the direction of those opposing the Alternative, like driftinggull13?
And honestly, it’s even more obvious to me because I see things through a completely different lens—it feels like the "rational" crowd doesn't actually have any real arguments to back up their stance anyway.

Look, I’ve actually got the X-rays to prove what bioenergy can do—I'm talking about documented cases where physical esophageal diverticula just... vanished. We're talking about structural deformations smoothing out within a few months, totally receding without a single surgical procedure or physical intervention. And here's the kicker: this was all achieved through bioenergy that cost absolutely nothing, performed remotely by a small group of people. So now, when someone tries to stand there and tell me that bioenergy doesn't work, what exactly am I supposed to argue against? What's the rebuttal? Honestly, the only way anyone could possibly counter my evidence is if they were willing to look me dead in the eye and claim I'm lying. 🙂

There's one other thing I really ought to warn you about: an argument and a cold, hard fact are two completely different animals.

Honestly, from everything I’ve read, driftinggull13 seems like a total provocateur. I just don't get any enjoyment out of these kinds of debates, regardless of whether the guy is pushing back against me or actually siding with my point of view. It's just exhausting.

I honestly don't have a clue what the Alternative used to be, or even what that term implied back then, so I can't really offer anything remotely intelligent


The vast majority of the warnings they issue and the points they raise as arguments fall squarely within the realm of basic elementary or high school education.
As far as I can tell, they attempt to dismantle the opposing side using logic that feels about as sophisticated as saying 2+3=5.
Every one of their arguments is built upon verifiable facts, which stands in stark contrast to the other side, who mostly offer up fixed ideas that are in total contradiction to those very same established facts.😉

driftinggull13 is actually one of the few users on this forum I’ve read who backs up every single claim he makes with something that can be independently checked and proven.
If you see provocation in his posts, perhaps it is worth asking yourself why exactly you feel provoked and who it is that is actually pulling the strings.😉

So, I sincerely hope that someone finally decides to address this Alternative movement and appoints people to moderator positions who won't be easily manipulated by their own ignorance—people who won't mistake logical arguments for insults, or view absolute nonsense as some kind of New Age law or "out of the box" thinking.
Knowledge is power!

for instance, I have X-rays documenting the effects of bioenergy—the disappearance of a physical esophageal diverticulum deformity within just a few months, healing without any surgical intervention whatsoever. And this was achieved via bioenergy that was obtained for free, and furthermore, administered remotely by several people. Now, if someone tries to tell me that bioenergy has no effect? Well, try arguing against that... with what? Perhaps the only way would be to suggest that I am lying.

Regarding that specific part... Bravo!
I truly congratulate you, though I can't help but wonder why you haven't been nominated for a Nobel Prize yet, instead of wasting your time on some random virtual forum?🤔
hollowtrucker77 hollowtrucker77 Regular
681 messages
joined Nov 2007
#97 ·
Chris Lopez59 and placidmarlin3, seriously, go get a room
this thread isn't actually about the two of you
Sophia Brooks24 Sophia Brooks24 Newcomer
4 messages
joined Jan 2010
#98 ·
There’s really no need to experience it like this. Their conversation alone provides a perfect diagnosis of what's happening over on the Alternative subforum. Suppressing logic, ignoring rules of debate, discarding fundamental science, and abandoning common sense isn't an "alternative."
placidmarlin3 placidmarlin3 Member
45 messages
joined Apr 2013
#99 ·
hollowtrucker77 said:Chris Lopez59 and placidmarlin3, seriously, go get a room
this thread isn't actually about the two of you

I honestly can't wrap my head around why they decided to bring Smart Bitch back onto the moderation team, especially considering...
It looks like you’re doubling down on the exact same approach that drove you away in the first place, but I honestly have my doubts about whether it'll work this time around.
If this serves as the final word on the matter, then I suppose we can finally consider the forum's policies officially addressed.

If you’re looking at everything I’ve written—every single response and every debate I’ve had with Chris Lopez59—and deciding that you can somehow extract some sort of private, petty squabble, then you’ve completely missed the mark. We haven't even touched upon this specific topic in our entire history of discussions, let alone engaged in any kind of personal back-and-forth over it.
In that case, I’d suggest you sign up for a crash course in reading comprehension.👍

Greetings to the wise.

Greetings!
hollowtrucker77 hollowtrucker77 Regular
681 messages
joined Nov 2007
#100 ·
placidmarlin3, do me a favor and actually read the thread title before you start typing—in the future, if you’re going to post, try to actually stay on topic, alright?

You must log in or register to reply here.

Log in Register

🔗 Similar threads