Greg Strong wrote:BrendanJNorman wrote:None of these guys say a word at the numerous "forums" around the web (which we all know about) where Diep has been illegally downloaded for YEARS (going by past threads I just checked), as well as Komodo, Houdini, and even your work Ed.
They only swoop down like vultures in the safe swamp that is TalkChess forum - somewhere they have complete control.
Well, the moderators have accepted the responsibility and agreed to
volunteer their time moderating TalkChess - a difficult and truly thankless job. It seems you expect them to expend further time and effort to try to police other forums outside their control? And, further, that since they do not attempt to moderate other forums, that makes them hypocrites for moderating this one? At least that's how I interpret your response, but please correct me. I certainly wouldn't want to put words in your mouth or give birth to straw men.
BrendanJNorman wrote:Judging my character based on the country I live in is called racism - another very sensitive word these days, but applicable in this case.
Perhaps I missed it, but I didn't see any judging of your character based on your country of origin. What I saw was an observation that you are unlikely to be pursued for any violations of copyright because you reside in China. I think it is fair to say that the
Government of China expends little or no effort to enforce foreign copyrights. Speaking of what your government will or will not do - even wild speculation about your
government - is NOT racism. I hate lots of things that my government does. I hope people have the good sense to not judge me by the acts of my government. And, even if people hate my government, I would not take it personally.
I would also point out that you have also invoked race in this discussion, to wit, Germans and Dutch, as part-and-parcel of your dissatisfaction of how moderation is handled. I'm not sure that's racism either - frankly that word is overused beyond belief - but in my view you've come much closer to racism than they have.
P.S. I'm neither German nor Dutch
Hi Gregory,
I've already spent (read: wasted) far too much time debating this nonsense, so if you'll allow me, i'll respond in a simplistic fashion.
1. Whether moderation is a thankless job or not is irrelevant.
As a moderator:
- You should remain impartial, especially as pertains to nationality (these guys are MUCH less aggressive when the "victim" is not one of their own.)
- You should not see a crime where there is none - see it where the IS one (other forums they ALSO
frequent regularly).
- You should not twist a person's words in order to fit your intended narrative or to intensify their perceived guilt.
- You should not resort to ad hominem attacks.
All of this is present in this thread, whether you want to be honest or not about it.
And whether thankless or not, this is the job of a moderator. Don't do it if you're too tempted by tyrannical impulses.
Assuming (and publicly stating) that I think I'm above the law because I live in China is not only offensive to Chinese people, but also unethical for a moderator.
It is an example of "head-hopping" where the accuser assumes he can read the mind of another and makes assumptions based on his own arrogant biases.
Stating that I'm "confessing criminal tendencies" over the innocent (a crime requires intent) sharing, and subsequent retraction of a 20 year old chess engine is what's called "Appealing to Extremes" and is deliberate deception.
Appeal to Extremes:
Description: Erroneously attempting to make a reasonable argument into an absurd one, by taking the argument to the extremes.
Example #1:
There is no way those Girl Scouts could have sold all those cases of cookies in one hour. If they did, they would have to make $500 in one hour, which, based on an 8 hour day is over a million dollars a year. That is more than most lawyers, doctors, and successful business people make!
Explanation: The Girl Scouts worked just for one hour -- not 40 per week for a year. Suggesting the extreme leads to an absurd conclusion; that Girl Scouts are among the highest paid people in the world. Not to mention, there is a whole troop of them doing the work, not just one girl.
(There's a free lesson on clear thinking for these guys.)
2. There is no "closer to racism", Greg - there is racist and not racist.
Just as there is truth and untruth.
If you dig around, these same group of guys (the gang, as I refer to them) have made derogatory comments about China, and my living here regularly, especially in the so-called "Thinkers" forum.
So using China as a knife to shove in my side whilst debating an unrelated topic, reveals
implicit racism.
Because there was absolutely no objective reason to mention it.
Since I never even showed any intention to infringe upon copyright claims.
I merely asked questions related to it.
My mentioning that the hostile personalities from this site are usually Germans or Dutch guys is absolutely
not racist - it is statement of a truth.
Everybody has witnessed this, but most lack the courage to admit it.
3. I know you are not German or Dutch. But you're from a place where people can be convinced that the U.S stealing oil from gulf countries = justified, whilst stealing patents from U.S companies = international crime.
I only care to debate some sort of collective morality, with those who are impartial, and free from nationalistic alignment.
P.S. Here are some new, thought provoking descriptions which, I wonder if someone here will find of interest.
Circle Jerk
“Circle Jerk” is a pejorative slang term referring to a positive feedback loop which occurs when an idea, belief or meme that is already customary within an online community
(people are stealing our engines, swiping our code, releasing clones! 
Must be the evil Chinese commies!) becomes re-iterated and rewarded in a perpetual cycle, giving rise to redundancy, clichés and karma whoring. This phenomenon is typically observed in communities consisting of self-contained forums devoted to specific interests, beliefs or subcultures.
Karma Whore
“Karma Whore” is a pejorative label used to describe someone who seeks to raise one’s social standing within an online community by pandering to the stereotypical prejudices or trends that are widely accepted by its members
("I completely have no idea what Brendan is saying, but the....errr Dutch guy is right! Because he's been here longer!"), including activities like reposting popular content and linking to websites with overwhelmingly positive reputation.
Don't take yourself so seriously guys - this is the rigid mentality that starts world wars.
