NationStates Jolt Archive

I´m not one to be running to the mods and whining about the things that are said on the General Forum or if I´m attacked or anything. But I do think I was, in a way, disrespected by one of the members. I became irked and lashed back in an insulting way. I would like to know if what transpired could be considered as flaming from one party or by both?

This is the thread in question:
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=552572

This is one of posts that caused the debate to escalate between me and Bedouin Riders:
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13555090&postcount=56

BR: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13555242&postcount=57

Me: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13555266&postcount=59

BR: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13555273&postcount=60

Me: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13555273&postcount=60

BR: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13555426&postcount=66

Me: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13555553&postcount=68

To which BR finally replied as follows: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13556097&postcount=74

My final answer: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13556135&postcount=75

I must point out that, although BR is not directly quoting me, it is obvious that he/she is responding to my posts. I just want one of the mods to give an opinion. The thread, at discretion, I don´t think that it has to be closed. Most of the debaters are being very civil, quite amicable, in their posts.

All of those seem civil, up until your last response and maybe Dyakoyo's little 'mentally handicapped' bit. All in all fairly timid compared to what has come up in General before.

Bear in mind that I've read only the posts you've quoted. They seem admirably balanced, until Bedouin Riders uses the term "devil's advocate" and you react to it as if it were an insult.

It isn't. It doesn't mean "one who always takes the devil's side". In the Catholic Church, when a person is nominated for sainthood, an official is appointed "devil's advocate".

It's his job to examine scrupulously all the details of the candidate's life, writings, actions, relationships, miracles, whatever -- not necessarily to disprove them, but to test them for truth. He is expected to be aggressive in his questioning of the candidate's sanctity and it's supposed to be a job given to learned, irreproachably objective, wise and understanding people.

In common use, it's come to mean one who, for the sake of argument, takes a view opposite to the majority's -- not necessarily from conviction, but to promote discussion. It's still pretty complimentary; it suggests you have the intellectual equipment to argue well on whatever side you choose.

So no, I don't see flaming in the exchange between you and Bedouin Riders, but I'll be having another look to see what else is going on in that thread.

EDIT: What I see is Dyakovo popping in with a drive-by flame that will get his fingers burned if he continues.

Bear in mind that I've read only the posts you've quoted. They seem admirably balanced, until Bedouin Riders uses the term "devil's advocate" and you react to it as if it were an insult.

It isn't. It doesn't mean "one who always takes the devil's side". In the Catholic Church, when a person is nominated for sainthood, an official is appointed "devil's advocate".

It's his job to examine scrupulously all the details of the candidate's life, writings, actions, relationships, miracles, whatever -- not necessarily to disprove them, but to test them for truth. He is expected to be aggressive in his questioning of the candidate's sanctity and it's supposed to be a job given to learned, irreproachably objective, wise and understanding people.

In common use, it's come to mean one who, for the sake of argument, takes a view opposite to the majority's -- not necessarily from conviction, but to promote discussion. It's still pretty complimentary; it suggests you have the intellectual equipment to argue well on whatever side you choose.

So no, I don't see flaming in the exchange between you and Bedouin Riders, but I'll be having another look to see what else is going on in that thread.

EDIT: What I see is Dyakovo popping in with a drive-by flame that will get his fingers burned if he continues.

Thanks for the clarification. I'm sorry, I just didn't really get the devil's advocate comment. I lose the gist of some words because English isn't my first language. That's why I wanted to ask the mods.

EDIT: What I see is Dyakovo popping in with a drive-by flame that will get his fingers burned if he continues.

My apologies, I should know better :(

Thanks for the clarification. I'm sorry, I just didn't really get the devil's advocate comment. I lose the gist of some words because English isn't my first language. That's why I wanted to ask the mods.Maybe he should have said advocatus diaboli in the original Latin? Or whatever is the Spanish translation?

Maybe he should have said advocatus diaboli in the original Latin? Or whatever is the Spanish translation?

The Devil's Advocate, in Spanish, translates as 'el abogado del Diablo'.

The Devil's Advocate, in Spanish, translates as 'el abogado del Diablo'.
Which Babelfish translated back as "the avocado of the disabled"

Oh, take your devilish advocacy of disabled avocados and ... get thee to a nunnery! Go!