SilasBarta comments on On Enjoying Disagreeable Company - Less Wrong

49 Post author: Alicorn 26 May 2010 01:47AM

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Comment author: SilasBarta 26 May 2010 07:17:27PM *  3 points [-]

By the way, regarding this:

Furthermore, creating an alternate identity and interacting with Alicorn under it is extremely threatening behavior; it demonstrates both an unhealthy obsession and a willingness to deceive.

I think you could really benefit from a hot cup of "get some perspective". Despite all the flak I get for characterizing Alicorn et al's reactions to me as calling them "atrocities" and "terrorism", it's comments like yours here that show that people really dive into the hyperbole when talking about what I did.

"Extremely threatening behavior"? Um, hello? I don't know who Alicorn is, or what she looks like, and only sketchy information about where I'd find her. If you believe that anything about my behavior here, anything whatsoever, is "extremely threatening", then start acting like it -- go get the police involved, since you think such a severe threat is going on.

And after the police laugh in your face, you could take a deep breath, drop the hyperbole, and stop looking for reasons to smear me. Sound like a plan?

It's easy to throw off a damaging, irresponsible allegation that someone else is dangerous. The hard part is to actually substantiate that chest-beating. And it's yet harder to unring the great "evil" bell you've just rung over my head. An apology is in order -- but I've learned long ago not to expect that, from anyone here, once they've comitted to a position publicly.

Comment author: Tyrrell_McAllister 26 May 2010 07:27:06PM *  5 points [-]

Very true. And since I was the one giving you a hard time for the "atrocity" and "terrorism" remarks, I feel bound to point out that accusing you of "extremely threatening behavior" is not only hyperbolic, but also more damaging to discourse because it amounts to accusing you of a crime. Definitely not cool.

Comment author: kodos96 26 May 2010 07:31:28PM 1 point [-]

"threatening" doesn't necessarily imply threats of violence or criminality, it can simply refer to threats of further harassment.

But how about we remove the word "threatening" and replace it with plain ole "creepy".

creating an alternate identity and interacting with Alicorn under it is extremely creepy behavior; it demonstrates both an unhealthy obsession and a willingness to deceive.

Does anyone disagree with this statement?

Comment author: Tyrrell_McAllister 26 May 2010 07:37:53PM *  4 points [-]

It would be creepy for someone to create an alternative identity and use it to interact intentionally with Alicorn in a way that they couldn't with their original identify.

But that's not what Silas did.

Comment author: kodos96 26 May 2010 07:45:14PM 0 points [-]

OK. I have no idea what Silas did, beyond what's been said in this thread. I was just trying to rephrase the statement in a way that removed the connotation of criminality that was alleged to be embedded in the word "threatening"