Noise to substance ratio in threads

[Scott Lloyd]

4 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

What if our approach is to set the record straight in response to a post riddled with falsehoods and half-truths?

 

2 hours ago, bluebell said:

I think the same reasoning applies, whatever the motive.  If a post becomes cumbersome and confusing to follow, not many people are going to read it, or be able to follow the arguments anymore, anyway.   Usually at that point it's just the fan base that is still following along (if that), and writing to an echo chamber doesn't serve any purpose or accomplish the initial objective.

I think your reasoning is more compelling as it pertains to expressions of opinion or to matters on which there can be reasonable disagreement. 
 

I think it less so as it pertains to statements that are demonstrably and incontrovertibly false. I don’t believe such statements ought to be allowed to stand unchallenged, the reason being their propensity to mislead whomever might run across them in the future or to be passed along and handed down into perpetuity as fact. 
 

I could give an example of a half-truth I have run across twice now on this board — once very recently — that I’ve had to correct and clarify by giving explanatory background and context for it, which gave it a very different complexion than it had when flatly expressed. The fact I’ve had to do it twice now shows that such things can take on a life of their own, especially if left to stand uncontested. 

[bluebell]

7 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

I could give an example of a half-truth I have run across twice now on this board — once very recently — that I’ve had to correct and clarify by giving explanatory background and context for it, which gave it a very different complexion than it had when flatly expressed. The fact I’ve had to do it twice now shows that such things can take on a life of their own, especially if left to stand uncontested. 

I think that clarifying stuff is really important, and one of the reasons that the board exists.  I also think that we have to recognize that there are effective ways to clarify, and less effective ways, and the less effective ways can sometimes do more harm than good.  

But like I said, if we are trying to keep that in mind then I think more times than not we're doing fine.

[gopher]

It would be nice to have an option to anonymously downvote ridiculous posts that you don't want to bother engaging the poster on, but still want to register your opinion.  Seeing who upvotes your comments seems to just help everyone choose sides so I'm not sure it helps the discussion.  But I'm mostly a lurker who is entertained by the drama between believers and former believers so I'm not in favor anything that would reduce that.

[MorningStar]

I stan you, Board Nanny. 😜

I've never stanned anyone before, but this felt like the right time.