Is it ok for a poster to post, leave, observe the lusty playfulness of ender-joiners, and re-enter?
beggin the question
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
I believe the answer has traditionally been, "After an apology, yes." A handful of people have had difficulty making that apology.
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
Why an apology? Unless you leave on an insult. . .
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
I'm not sure I understand the question, so let me see if I can rephrase it correctly. Are you asking if it is OK to post something and then just let the thread run on its own while you, the original poster, just observes for a while, and maybe re-enter the thread later? I'd have to say, "yes", as long as you do respond to direct polite questions or counterpoints.
I think it is rude to start a thread and then bow out if it means ignoring replies that either directly or indirectly require further input from you.
If I'm misunderstanding the question all together, or if this is a carry over from some other drama I missed, just ignore this post.
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
fallow? can I ask you a question?
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
The original poster here is fallow, who IIRC was banned from the site. He's asking, if I understand him correctly, if he can come back. And he's asking in such a way as to make it clear that he doesn't feel he was banned for any legitimate reason.
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
How do you know it's fallow, Tom?
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
Do you want the straight answer or the comical one to the question you just asked?
I'll assume straight, and the answer is yes.
[ March 14, 2005, 10:10 AM: Message edited by: Dagonee ]
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
I don't. But he's triggering my faldar something awful.
(Edit: I thought it was a given after the whole skillery shout-out thread.)
[ March 14, 2005, 10:10 AM: Message edited by: TomDavidson ]
Posted by Lady Jane (Member # 7249) on :
Blech. fallow was one of a minute number of posters I was glad to see gone.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
You know, alluvion's a major improvement, though.
Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :
How many oblique Santa Monica scientists are there on Hatrack?
Alluvion is either fallow or someone trying very hard to copy him.
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
hey, I recognised him too. I demand ... er... something.
Posted by AntiCool (Member # 7386) on :
If it weren't for Tom point out alluvion's behavior and similarity to fallow on other threads, I would never have noticed him -- his posts pretty much register as noise in my mind.
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
Gentle Reader:
Playful posting roller coastering alone is not enough to engender the trustingness of the Ender-generation.
seeking the inner cat
Posted by Little_Doctor (Member # 6635) on :
I think it's Kwea who always asks me if I am Fallow. Is this proof enough for you? Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
Are you fallow?
Posted by Little_Doctor (Member # 6635) on :
I sure hope not. That would mean I have two personalities.
[ March 14, 2005, 06:54 PM: Message edited by: Little_Doctor ]
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Ahh, no....I don't believe it was me at all.
But now that you brought it up... Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
I appreciate that fallow gave me some straight answers in the other thread.
I found his past incarnations frequently insulting, but I don't know that I require an apology or even a promise to "be good." If he's not insulting this time, then I reckon that's what matters. I don't know who was hurt severely enough to require an apology. (Maybe whatever got him banned, but at this point the specifics have left my mind.)
That being said, I would prefer clear posts, because the cleverly meaningless ones register as noise to me, annoying in that I have to filter it out or wade through it. But that's a stylistic preference. I don't believe that my stylistic preferences alone are enough to rule the board.
I feel somewhat pompous even posting about whether or not you are welcome back, fallow, but you did ask . . .
[ March 14, 2005, 10:54 PM: Message edited by: Icarus ]
Posted by Little_Doctor (Member # 6635) on :
Posted by Kwea on the Goodnight Hatrack Thread:
quote: LD, are you sure you aren't fallow?
Caught ya
I don't even understand what this discussion is about. Whether Fallow should be allowed back on the boards? I'm not familiar with the situation that got him banned. So I can't really comment there. I guess if he promises to behave, there's no harm in giving him another chance.
[ March 14, 2005, 11:00 PM: Message edited by: Little_Doctor ]
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
Questions for alluvion:
What kind of scientist are you?
How is it that your schedule allows you to stay up so late?
Why "alluvion"? Are you something that just washed up on the shore? A jellyfish perhaps? Or a soggy marshmallow?
Posted by alluvion (Member # 7462) on :
kama,
fire away.
skillery,
quote:What kind of scientist are you?
Mad when I'm good. Bad when I'm burnt out.
quote:How is it that your schedule allows you to stay up so late?
Coasting on past achievements (slumming it).
quote:Why "alluvion"? Ar eyou something that just washed up on the shore? A jellyfish perhaps? Or a soggy marshmellow?
That's for me to know and you to find out.
TD,
Thanks.
Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
You two crack me up! Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
Maybe KAMA will have better luck.
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
Sorry I can't stay up and play though. Got an early day tomorrow.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I didn't really mean you were him...I just said that because he was always complaining about the same thing as you were there, and so I came up with a "Goodnight fallow" thread that I would sometimes bump for him when I left.
Besides, saying something once , in jest, isn't the same as always accusing you, is it?
[ March 15, 2005, 08:51 AM: Message edited by: Kwea ]
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
quote:How is it that your schedule allows you to stay up so late?
I think there are plenty of us who would prefer not to answer this question.
Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :
I think Alluvion is an AI program developed by the RAND corporation.
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
Or maybe Uniblab:
quote:Back to work (click), back to work (click). Everybody (click) work, work, work, work (click), work, work (click).
Posted by Little_Doctor (Member # 6635) on :
Hehe. Kwea, To finlaize this, I am not Fallow. And I welcome back the real Fallow as alluvion. Stay out of trouble you!
[ March 15, 2005, 09:59 PM: Message edited by: Little_Doctor ]
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
I think the issue is not so much that we need to welcome fallow back as it is that he was actually banned by the moderators.
In other words, they officially told him he wasn't welcome here and kicked him to the curb.
It doesn't matter if WE'RE willing to hang out with the guy; until he clears it with them, he's circumventing their decree.
Posted by Little_Doctor (Member # 6635) on :
Good call Tom.
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
*shrug*
If they don't want him around, they'll ban him again. Again. er, Again.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
and it appears that they aren't overly concerned - and I'm sure Mike will play nicely in the sandbox - won't you, Mike?
Posted by alluvion (Member # 7462) on :
define "nice".
I will essay to be more articulate and literal, rather than incoherent, loopy, and inane (though this prospect bores me to tears).
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
why do you ask the hard questions when I'm tired and can't think straight, hmmm?
Let's see . . . "nice" . . .
If you regard achieving "nice" as a complex weaving of stimuli and response that keeps the pique-o-meter at no greater than a 6.5, you'll be fine . . .
Posted by kaioshin00 (Member # 3740) on :
If you put an 'e' in your name, alluvion, then it would have all the vowels. And that would cool.
Posted by alluvion (Member # 7462) on :
k,
fantastic idea. A fake french accent on the 'e' would be extra cool. Wish I'd thought of that.
alluvione^'
I dunno how to make accents, and I'm not sure anyone would understand the editing mark-up.
shan
quote:that keeps the pique-o-meter at no greater than 6.5, you'll be fine...
oh, but it goes to 11! I can't dilly-dally around at 6.5. I'll get lost in the noise.
Skil,
Computational biologist (schedule? one benefit of working in academia is that it's more merit-based than other areas I've worked in. results are more important than punching the clock). Alluvion? - sounded cool and maintains a certain continuity with fallow. Thanks for asking. What do you do for a living?
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
I program Japanese automated material handling equipment.
Posted by alluvion (Member # 7462) on :
quote: Gene expression data analyst?
Do you have to make it sound so dull?
quote:I program Japanese automated material handling equipment
and what might that entail on a day-to-day basis, if you'll indulge my curiosity?
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
quote: If they don't want him around, they'll ban him again. Again. er, Again.
How is it that this is the third? fourth? incarnation of banned fallow monikers? Don't they ban the IP address?
Shan - fallow does the same thing over and over again. He plays nice (but weird) for the first few days, and then becomes increasingly nonsensical and snarky. Like really angry but incomprehensible spam.
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
Well, next week there's a silicon ingot manufacturer up in the Portland area who wants to move blocks of silicon from station to station as the silicon undergoes various processes around their plant. We'll be moving the silicon blocks with conveyors, warehouse stacker cranes, and automated guided vehicles. Our software maintains an Oracle database of what blocks are where, and we send transport commands to the various vehicles to move the blocks.
We do the same thing with boxes of beef, palletloads of chicken nuggets, clean room wafers, engine blocks, boxed-up personal computers, and the US mail. Keeps me moving around the country pretty good.
Posted by alluvion (Member # 7462) on :
Skil,
So, do you spend a lot of time programming or customizing the code to the place of business?
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
Every customer has their own user interface, shipping manifests, report forms, host computer protocol, order or batch processing, and system layout.
And then the Japanese are always coming out with new and faster equipment that often requires that a new communication interface be written.
I'm currently programming in Delphi, but the company as a whole is moving to Java.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
I've never had any problem with fallow's "nonsensical" posts; he's always made sense to me. What bothered me -- and will bother me, if Mike continues to do it in the future -- is his tendency to insult people behind the shield of his cryptic utterances, secure in the belief that they won't pick up on it. Unfortunately, for those people who do pick up on it, it's doubly insulting.
[ March 16, 2005, 08:02 AM: Message edited by: TomDavidson ]
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
"I've never had any problem with fallow's 'nonsensical' posts"
Wish I could say the same. A lot of his stuff goes right over my troglodyte head.
Posted by alluvion (Member # 7462) on :
quote:A lot of his stuff goes right over my troglodyte head.
DAMNIT!
Anyhow, on a subversively related topic, maybe you know something about this. I dimly recall from years ago a lecture I attended about robotics in the assembly line process. There was a brief digression by the speaker about how process manufacturing engineers get all the bolts or screws or whathave you into the proper configuration for the assembling robots. I think the solution was to dump the bolts onto a sheet of metal where they are all in disarray. You vibrate the sheet at some magic frequency and the end result is that most if not all of the bolts "stand up straight" and are ready to be plucked.
Have you seen anything like that?
Posted by alluvion (Member # 7462) on :
TD,
I've always found your posts to be remarkably lucid, logically sound, and with a strong tendency for dry humorlessness. That's not an insult.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
*is trying to make the Star Trek "Spock" hand gesture . . . very unsuccessfully . . . *
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
quote:You vibrate the sheet at some magic frequency and the end result is that most if not all of the bolts "stand up straight"
Maybe the metal sheet was also magnetized.
A lot of that assembly line stuff is top secret, and we are required to sign an NDA before they let us into the plant. And there is definitely no picture taking allowed. The personal computer manufacturer has assembly line secrets that allow him to build and ship computers faster than his competitors; a snack chip manufacturer has a secret method for getting the flavored coating to stay on the chip, etc..
I'm not really involved at the assembly level. Usually by the time it gets to me, it's all boxed up and ready to ship.
Once saw an interesting trick one plant uses for getting whole chicken breasts to flow through a pipe.
And while many of your Fallow posts were over my head, it was fun trying to figure them out. It made me feel smart if I managed to decipher even the first layer. And many of your posts had multiple layers...like ogres.
Posted by alluvion (Member # 7462) on :
perception's a bitch ain't it?
but seriously, have you ever seen that technique employed in the factories you've visited?
Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
I must have you. Let me buy you a drink.
Posted by alluvion (Member # 7462) on :
telpy,
thanks for the offer, mind if I give it some thought?
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
That part about bolts "standing up straight" seems to have awakened our tree friend.
I haven't observed the technique myself, but I've heard that it works with wood as well.
Posted by alluvion (Member # 7462) on :
Skil,
I had to rewrite that bastard of a paragraph 3 times over to minimize ulterior-symbolism-attachments and it still came across as confusing. This is not an insult. This is a base confusion in the language written (or transcribed). I wonder if it flew over TD's head, too?
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
Do you think the optimum vibration frequency to get the bolts to stand up is determined by the length of the bolt, or is it the mass of the bolt?
Posted by alluvion (Member # 7462) on :
yes.
Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
I wonder if being an Antiluvian would also mean being an Anti-fallow... hmmmm...
[ March 17, 2005, 04:20 AM: Message edited by: Telperion the Silver ]
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
"I wonder if it flew over TD's head, too?"
No. But I must say that I'm rather surprised to discover that my humor apparently flies over your head, Mike. I've always assumed, for all your own tendency towards obfuscation, that you were a pretty perceptive guy.
[ March 17, 2005, 07:45 AM: Message edited by: TomDavidson ]
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
Oh, mine is so much bigger than both of yours. Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Dont Know]](graemlins/dontknow.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Angst]](graemlins/angst.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Taunt]](graemlins/taunt.gif)
![[Evil Laugh]](graemlins/evillaugh.gif)
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
![[Kiss]](graemlins/kiss.gif)
![[Group Hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Wave]](graemlins/wave.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[Hail]](graemlins/hail.gif)
gene expression data analyst?![[Confused]](confused.gif)