requesting mod's to be more active regarding Pseudoscience posted as real sicence

Discussion in 'Site Feedback' started by Engell79, Jan 5, 2013.

  1. Engell79 Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    110
    Hi

    I've taken upon my self, that id like to understand the std.model and from there hopefully more. (only gotten as far as realising theres a shit load i dont understand.)
    This "quest" i began some 4 years ago, and im still struggeling with it. These forums have provided with some good post and topics and links to help further my learning.(and still do.)
    I really like this site and have loved it since the day i found it, how ever i see a trend on these forums wich i do not apriciate.

    The same ppl again and again post fringe/pseudosicence answers in genuine sicence threads and forums or at least give out answers that are misleading.
    im not gonna mention any names im sure both the mods and the ppl making these posts are well aware of who they are.

    These 'misleading asnwers' can be such a PAIN!

    basicly im not always smart enough or knowlegdable enough to see wen some one has posted something WAY OFF... and these misleading posts/answers can be time consuming
    to realise they are wrong and out there. I know it may be my own fault for using this site as a refrence and libary, but isnt that what a Science forum should be all about?

    Im asking if it couldnt be possible to give members who continually post stuff that is on the fringe, pseudosicence or misleading a Flag / icon on their user so ppl can clearly see
    here is a member who often post stuff NOT generaly considerd 'good' sicence.

    Best regards Engell79
     
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  3. quantum_wave Contemplating the "as yet" unknown Valued Senior Member

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    I think the moderators do a pretty good job of keeping the pseudoscience out of the hard science threads, but my advice to you is get over trying to clean up this or any science forum. You take information at your own risk, whether it is found in a hard science sub-forum or a fringe/pseudoscience forum, or anywhere else on the Internet for that matter, unless it is associated with a well known and credentialed site.

    There are many people posting in both the hard science threads and the fringe threads, back and forth, and you seem to be aware of those who you consider offenders. But who is to decide who gets your "badge of violation"? Moderators have sufficient authority to handle the cases that you point out. I for one don't think we need to add a whole new, unmanageable level of authority that will cause more controversy than already exists concerning moderator action. Take some responsibility for yourself, double check all information you get from forums and personal web pages, etc.
     
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2013
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  5. Read-Only Valued Senior Member

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    Hi, Engell,

    I can certainly appreciate what you're talking about and it truly IS a major problem for someone who is trying to learn real science.

    The most reasonable answer that I can come up with is this: read the responses others make in those threads - it will take a bit of time but you will quickly learn who's information you can trust and who's should be avoided. Despite the number of cranks, woo-woos and highly uneducated people running around here, we DO have several members who are very knowledgeable and they're usually pretty quick to shoot down the fools.
     
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  7. AlphaNumeric Fully ionized Registered Senior Member

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    6,702
    Threads which are started to blatantly peddle nonsense will be moved immediately. It is less clear cut when people post a mixture of nonsense and science, especially when it is in a thread someone else made. It is overkill to edit their posts to remove the nonsense and leave the rest, so often a comment will be made (sometimes by PM). In some cases people just don't listen and they get warnings and bans (wlminex being an example).

    There is a place for non-mainstream stuff within the main maths/physics forum, since if all novel discussion were quashed it would kill some of the spirit of science but getting the balance is a non-trivial task. In some cases someone posting crap will lead to good science discussion because those of us who know science will descend upon them and explain the actual science then people can see how it is done and what the proper details are. As a result there can be lots of good science in the pseudo forum, due to us correcting the hacks and their nonsense claims.

    People shouldn't be afraid to say something inaccurate in the main forums, for fear of it getting moved or deleted. We all say incorrect things from time to time and saying something wrong is good if you then learn from when people correct you. If someone just won't listen (Farsight for example) then they'll not be met with open arms but will be nailed to the wall for deliberate dishonesty and ignorance. Those are the people who have no place in the main forum. Their willingness to assert things, trying to teach others who might not know any better, without evidence or reason or logic or basic rationality makes them not welcome in the main forum. So long as there is a few of us (not necessarily moderators) in the main forum to keep them in line with facts, logic and sometimes moderator powers it isn't too bad.
     
  8. Engell79 Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    110
    A good answer.

    Im not suggesting that Mod's should remove or edit other ppl's post, that would have to many side effects and way to many attached problems...

    my suggesting is that ppl that continualy post nonsens gets a tag on their "name/avatar" wich signify nonsens poster.
    but thinking i threw i can see it may not be possible to make such. My original post was written anger struck after going threw the physics forums.
     
  9. kwhilborn Banned Banned

    Messages:
    2,088
    @ OP,
    I find poor spelling annoying. Typos are one thing, but when people make no effort to spell simple words....

    .

    suggesting = suggestion
    continualy = continually
    nonsens = nonsense
    which = wich
    i = it
    threw = through (X 2)

    Maybe the moderators could also note when the people seem to have poor literacy. The spelling of this quote coupled with such poor grammar.

    There should be an automatic account delete when people attempt to save posts with so many errors. Most people learn through reading, and if basic spelling alludes you, then either you are speaking English as a second language or have been watching too much television.

    You also did not think it "threw" very well as it would be easy to flag an account with some sort of character description/assassination, although that might lead to some complaints against the moderators judgments.

    Don't even make me start on the opening post with inventive words like "struggeling". No wonder you are struggling with science. Open a book and read instead of trying to gain all your knowledge through a public forum. Even this threads title has bad spelling.

    Our moderators are top notch.
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2013
  10. Engell79 Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    110
    Then make a thread about it rather than complain about it in this thread that has nothing to do with spelling.

    Yes english is my 2nd language and your prolly right i should be better at using a spell check before posting.
    And yes i DO watch a lot of TV.

    Im not complaning about the mod's jugdements nor their ability to do their job, i was just asking for an extra layer of "bullshi...." protection.

    Im not using these forums as my primary place of learning, if i did, i wouldnt learn much TBH cuz thers is way to much clutter and nonsens on here for me to see threw, how ever i do use it as an intresting
    add-on to the course i'm attending in my free time called "Astronomy, the universe & the math behind it (beginners class.)"
    Currently were learning how to calculate gravitational pull according to mass and distance, wich i find extremely difficult to understand lol.....

    To begin with i would ask questions here on these forums or go into ontopic threads and take part asking there, how ever after my experince with ppl such as [Name removed.] that comes off VERY knowlegdeable and wellspoken
    and gives answers that seems perfectly fine, just to end up realising it was 50% bull...... wen i get back to my weekly evening course.... has gotten me to NOT ask my questions here after all...cuz i never know wen ill be reading bull.. or not.
    Not! attacking the work the mods they do, i think they are doing a great job considering the media type and place this is.
    Ill say it more clearly this time:
    I was in foult for thinking i could use a public forum as a refrence site to reasearch, rather i should consider it entertainment and the occational gold find, wich there are quite a few of....
    And i like these forums alot, cuz there are ppl here making some VERY good posts with some very intresting angles and weiv's.

    Now i mostly take part in the few dissicions wich i can fairly certian be part of and understand what is what. Honestly 99.9% of my time on these forums im cruising the forum threads, not loggin on.

    ANd YES this was written with many errors cuz my cellphone does not have spellcheck... so if u read this, i apollogise for the strain it may have coursed your brain to bare while reading.

    And ill referr to this statement again!
    Last note.. i hope the thread gets locked rather than spin off-topic.. anyway i asked a question, got an answer and was somewhat corrected in my weivs on the subject.
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2013
  11. Orleander OH JOY!!!! Valued Senior Member

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    25,817
    umm, not everyone here has English as their first language.
     
  12. AlphaNumeric Fully ionized Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    6,702
    :bugeye:
     
  13. Read-Only Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    10,296
    Well, if you intend to be so picky, how about your own spelling, eh?

    Since when did "alludes" = eludes? Alludes is actually a word - but with a completely different meaning than the way you tried to use it.
     
  14. kwhilborn Banned Banned

    Messages:
    2,088
    @ Oleander,
    I did say that,
    First. It is a pet peeve. I don't care if you misspell five words in a post, but when you start misspelling five words every sentence, and then start a Misspelled thread complaining about intelligent discussion in the forums; it screams "call me out".
    experince
    wen
    prolly
    i apollogise for the strain it may have coursed your brain to bare while reading.
    etc...

    Is borderline literacy. I would expect simple words like "when" to be spelled correctly; even from a foreign student.

    I actually have doubts about the "foreign student" claim, as the phrasing does seem English based. I speak several languages myself (aside from computer languages)(mostly English/French Canadian), and might recognize this more than some. This was pretty severe "bad spelling".

    @ Read only,
    However I did type in the wrong word, and stand corrected. I could introduce you to an editor who has spent years correcting my work, and she would always find something wrong, yet I have worked for Sony Music as a Proofreader because I found so many mistakes on cassette tapes (remember them), etc.

    I think the spelling of the OP poster was just a little bit on the extremely bad side, and this guy was attacking unintelligent threads. It needed saying.
     
  15. Engell79 Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    110
    1th.
    Im not a student, i work every day as a rehabilitation-nurse

    2nd.
    I'm danish.

    3rd.
    I've struggeld with being wordblind my entire life, so spelling on computers have alot of difficulties, such as if i spell something wrong, even if i know the correct spelling, i don't always see it afterwards.
    In my native tounge i have learnd not to make to many errors, and can mostly by help of a spellcheck remove miss-spellings...

    with english, i some what have to rely on my intial spelling. Spellcheckers arent idiot proff, and sometimes suggest words that ARN't the word i whanted (and mean something even further off than may inital thought.), and i ain't always abel to distinguish these words from one another.

    Reading aint much of a problem for me, writing how ever is....

    and ill continue to post in my much-less than perfect english until a Mod contacts me at say "Hey Hill-billy-bob-brain-fart, stop posting your unreadable posts!"

    4th
    i find your accusation of me possibly lying about not being english childish, rude and leaves much whanting of your common social behavior. AND i recent the way you use your
    to make it seem like your somewhat a "proffesional" to determin who is really english and who aint.
     
  16. Crunchy Cat F-in' *meow* baby!!! Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    8,423
    Engell79,

    I understand your sentiment. Identifying pseudo-science posters is something that you will have to learn how to do (the moderators cannot do it for you).
     
  17. kwhilborn Banned Banned

    Messages:
    2,088
    @ Engell79,

    I appreciate your illiterate stance that you suffer from Alexia, and do heartily apologize if this is a real condition, and your atrocious spelling is due to some inherent lack of focus.

    I also would like to emphasize that despite your reasoning you do partake in internet slang such as "ppl" (people), and "prolly" (probably). If you know this is a weakness of yours then it might seem prudent to at least attempt correct spelling.

    Telling us you have a Danish background is not a great defense either, as it is common knowledge English people can travel in Denmark or Greenland and find the population speaks English very well. EDIT: Just looked it up and it is 86% English as a second language (in Denmark) if not first. That is likely 8/10 Denmark/Greenland residents that can spell in English better than you.
    This might be because you need to at least approximate the spelling for Spellcheck to work. I agree Idiots can have problems using it.

    I guess you'll just have to "recent" me then, I "aint" going to lose sleep over it.

    Edit: I guess that last sentence will not seem as funny to Engell79 as it did to me, but I'm not going to explain why.
     
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2013
  18. R1D2 many leagues under the sea. Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    2,321

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

    I wondered who might be a spelling champion.
    So we now have the spelling police. You officers of grammar and spelling are quite annoying at times and rude as well. I am glad I have gotten better since I have been here. I recall a thread I made when I first joined. That "officer of spelling and grammar" said that he thought I was spam. Just because of how terrible I was.

    And
    Engell79, this may be a discussion type forum. But it is not a strict science forum, if it was a strict or pure science forum not many people would qualify to be here or allowed to join. Take what you read with a grain of salt.
     
  19. Kittamaru Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Adieu, Sciforums. Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    13,938


    Kwhil... seriously, shut up. You are coming off as nothing more than a pretentious ass with this post... and yes, Alexia is a real condition, if you had taken the time to look before sticking your foot in your mouth...

    alexia /alex·ia/ (ah-lek´se-ah) a form of receptive aphasia in which ability to understand written language is lost as a result of a cerebral lesion

    The fact that Engell is able to learn a SECOND language with such a condition is impressive in and of itself.

    Do note - this isn't an official moderator warning (my issuing a warning for this behavior would be foolish as it is an obvious conflict of interest, given my own disability). It is me simply telling you, person to person, that your behavior towards engell has been nothing short of appalling...
     
  20. kwhilborn Banned Banned

    Messages:
    2,088
    @ Kittamaru,
    I was the first one to call it Alexia because I was aware of it. I meant; if it is a real condition with this person who insists on using internet slang and swearing. I meant it in a different context. Engell had previously called it "word blindness".

    I had meant,
    English may be a second language officially in Denmark, but when 86% of the population speaks it then perhaps its not as secondary as Engell wants us to believe.

    Engell is challenging intelligence in this Forum. The bad spelling was excessive, and I did say ,
    I am usually the person defending people here, but using words like "ARN'T", "Whanted, "proff" in the same sentence, most sentences makes me think using internet slang is likely a bad practice.

    Everyone makes mistakes, but not on an average of 3-4 times a sentence.

    NOTE: This person had also posted bad science in another thread, which is exactly what he was complaining about here. He really should read more and watch tv less (as he admitted). I do not believe this person has what he/she claims, and members and moderators called out a valid Ph.D. on Sciforums for allegedly being a liar for lying about his education.

    I apologize to anyone with legitimate disabilities here, but I am still of the opinion that someone wanting to discuss intelligent topics should at least dispense with slang and swearing. Especially if they are learning impaired. it is the use of internet slang and terms that make this worse in my opinion. If the person came across as less of a "redneck" I would not have been as harsh.

    A am also a known advocate for free(er) speech in some science forums, and someone asking for tightening the reigns comes off to me more as a disgruntled alt, backing up this common complaint. It did cross my mind, but I do not really think that. This person seemed to think marking someones account would be difficult. I think it is this Engell who came across as pompous asking that the science threads be policed more vigorously, right after doing the exact same thing himself. I still think it does.

    If you can count less than 50 mistakes by Engell on this thread alone; I will reverse my stance, and I have not counted yet.

    I will apologize for my "gruffness", as I am normally accepting of spelling errors, but this was too extreme for me to remain sane on the matter, and based my opinion on more than just this thread.
     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2013
  21. Kittamaru Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Adieu, Sciforums. Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    13,938
    Fair enough... I admit my reaction is coloured in large part by having to overcome my own disabilities - it is... difficult... going through all of your primary schooling with both an IED an a GIED, being both gifted and disabled at the same time... anyway, my past is not the point, I'm sorry I snapped at you.
     
  22. Engell79 Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    110
    Im done discussing the whole spelling thing with ya' its a waste of time for both of us.

    How ever I have NEVER! said or in anyway lead anyone to belive that i have any sort of Ph.D or anything of the like!
    AND i have never been accused of such apart from now, from you, So please direct me to the post?

    AND for the the mistake i made in the post about moon quakes, i went out of my way to apollogise for it AND PM the person who had asked the original question, directing them to the correct answer wich was posted by pete. I didnt delete my original post neither did i try to hide i had made a mistake.

    For the whole TV watching thing.... IT WAS A JOKE! i guess u didn't catch that...

    But why accuse me of something that aint true? that i dont get.... your lying to make me look like an arse.

    @Kittamaru

    I wasn't gonna correct or discuss this with Kwhillborn... how ever i do not suffer from Alexia i think depending how the words is ment.
    I used the expression "word-blind." cuz thats the easy way of explaning it, and alot easier to spell than Dyslexia. i've used the same expression in a discussion with seagypsy and her husband,
    were one of them pointed out my ihability to spell prober.
    I do use slang words in my writing, cuz i write the way i speak.
    Spelling for me is a deduction process of how i say the word, wen it comes to english spelling. so i make a guess, an estimate of how i 'think' the word is supposed to be spelled and thats what i write.
    my english is based on my speaking, wich ive almost gotten to a perfect level, most english i talk to can't even hear im danish wich im very proud of! how ever speaking and writing are to very diffrint things,
    as such im sure some ppl find my spelling irritationg.

    Kittamaru do you suffer from any sort of dylexia? and if so what kind of spell check do you use? ive been trew many diffrent programs but non of em takes content of the sentence in to account wen correcting me and becomes even more jibberish than with my bad spelling. ( i dont know what the akronymes mean u wrote IED and GIED.)

    anyways im threw with this tread cuz it has become pointless and to me rather personal, wich i dont apriciate, neither the personal attack and lie from kwhilllborn about the Ph.D thingy wich i have NO idea were he got from, cuz it sure aint in reality.
     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2013
  23. Kittamaru Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Adieu, Sciforums. Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    13,938
    Thankfully I do not suffer from any real form of dyslexia, though when typing my hands tend to get ahead of my thoughts at times. My disabilities were as much internal as anything else, and I had allowed my ADHD to become a crutch to lean on when I did not want to assert myself. The medication I was on had many strange side effects and it wasn't until most of the way through high school that I developed the self control to come off my medication and take control of my emotions and problems of my own volition... even now I find myself every now and then needing to take a moment to step back and recollect myself... but I am able to do it.
     

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