Blair Ivey: GaryMike had been banned for the repeated use of obscenities. When I ban someone all comments go into moderation, where I can delete them before anyone reads them. He initially stopped commenting, but then after a year or so he asked if he could comment again. I said yes, as long as he behaved himself. His comments still go into moderation, I check them, and have now always approved them.

I have since offered to take him off moderation but he said it was better I check him first. As he said, more or less, he didn’t trust himself.

I did not know you had been banned. Those of us might form a club. I propose the ‘Thin Ice Club’, as we are ‘one and done’ away from banishment. From history, we know this to be true, and as you point out, a feature, not a bug.

‘Banned
On Behind the Black
I was
Banned
On Behind the Black

Ran into a little Forum jam
Comment reception
Not according to plan

I said something
Maybe amiss
Learned my lesson
And do not diss

I’ve been banned here, no caps were required.

Respect the place, or go away.

The owner is capable of suffering idiots.

Self-deprecation is its own reward.

Denis Kleinfeld: You should know that using all CAPITAL LETTERS in commenting on the internet is the equivalent of yelling at people rudely. I suspect you did not intend to be rude, but that is how you came off.

Your point would be more effective spoken softy, in exactly the same words.

Offended feelings are subjective. I am not offended by the picture of the Angel and/or Mohammad. I’m not personally invested in either one.

It’s just a depiction of someone’s opinion I don’t personally share but have no right to deny them.

i don’t share but

I have no personal relationship with any one religion, nor deity.

My personal relationship is with my Universe, not anyone’s else’s personal point of view.

I’ve never once thought that the Universe intended that I defend my belief from unbelievers. Violently, or otherwise.

I’ve always been at peace in this regard.

The Catholic church has writings about Jesus a short few years after his death.

Col Beausabre: Note the pattern. When we were celebrate Mapplethorp, it was to impose the offensive thoughts of the left, against traditional Judeo-Christian values. Now, we cannot do anything but support the offensive thoughts of the left.

This case seems less about damaging religious sensibilities, than the societal promotion of, and acceptance of, lack of self-control. By the student, for not understanding that a personal discomfort is not necessarily a social problem, and for the school administration, all too eager to abase themselves before the ruling theocracy. This is what ‘the personal is political’ looks like in real life.

It would seem that the plaintiffs in these cases demonstrate a certain lack of moral fortitude. I am exposed to things that I might consider disturbing, or even offensive, but my faith and mettle are stronger than that. Those so disturbed by external stimuli may be lacking on the internal side.

And just out of curiosity, how does “a small private university” afford an Associate Vice President for Inclusive Excellence? “Inclusive Excellence” is an attitude, not a bureaucracy.

I had not seen this painting, but find it fascinating: the expression on the Prophet’s face exquisite. A mixture of aware understanding and rapture and much else. I also like the depiction of the Angel’s wings, as the wing extending up to the hand seems more likely, as such things go. More in the line of bats, than birds. The image is from the Jami’ al-tawarikh (History of the World), Rashid al-Din Hamadani , ~1300. A history of the Turkish and Mongol peoples, as well as a compendium of the known world. Much has been lost, but a copy of the surviving work can be had on Amazon for about $600.