Mike Lester for December 30, 2013

Yes the ice is unusually thick, go figure.

As is the ship’s crew ODon…

Yesterday here, it was the EXACT same temp. as it was 1 year ago. Hmm….. Something must be wrong!

I’m just curious — are you by any chance the moderator?

flung @ Ruff “Another “hanger-on” insult, I see.”

Oh joy. Another “holier-than-thou” return?Thought the season for resurrections wasn’t till March-April. ‘Tis the season to be jolly now.

By the way, Greg, pointing out someone else’s sneering with another insult smacks to me of hypocrisy. “Refraining from these might be a good idea. Thanks.”

By the way, talking about honesty, it might be best to admit rather than deny moderator status; the “holier-than-thou” tag would disappear altogether and one might get better forum behaviour if Gocomics made it clear it was actually moderating transparently.

claimed: “Unlike you, I take no sides in this at all.”

Which “side” am I on exactly? And have you any instance of me crowing or rejoicing in anyone’s banning/vanishment? Or have you instead read me criticising this method that Gocomics employs regardless of who it is used against?If you criticise a poster’s use of insult with a similar insult, you’re committing the same; that is hypocrisy.

You have decided to self-righteously judge others’ posts on this forum yet rankle when others criticise you for the very same actions. That’s hypocrisy.

Greg also asked: “And exactly how is the request, “Refraining from these might be a good idea. Thanks.” an insult?! There is absolutely nothing insulting in it whatsoever.”Correct. I used your own words to criticise your post. Note the use of inverted commas when I was quoting you.The insult you used was to call someone a “hanger-on”. That’s an insult. I have taken the high-ground to say it’s insulting and offensive.

“Also, construing requests for civility as being “holier-than-thou” is also quite a stretch, but it does appear to speak quite loudly of your stance on the subject of personal attacks and insults. Namely, that you support them as long as they agree with your positions”

You’ve assumed much on my part. What are my positions exactly that I appear to be agreeing with ad hominem insults?Insults are hurled from left and right; I’ve given up on pointing these out. If I do not take umbrage or self-righteously criticise someone else when someone from the left or right hurls an insult, which side am I then on?If you wish to be arbitrator of what is construed to be an insult, you have your work cut out for you.Then get on with the job of criticising everyone on this forum that hurls insults. Every single instance. Every one, else you’re a hypocrite. And mind you don’t throw any stones either, else you’re a hypocrite.However, I see you will only criticise those who appear to have criticised you. And that’s hypocrisy.

“Civil discussion is the key. All I can do is request that it be so, and flag what I see as violations of that. Exactly the same as anyone else here.”

If you’re not a moderator by all means flag away, but please drop the self-righteousness and hypocrisy, and self-appointed role of judge of civility.You fail miserably. J-G/G-J…pffft.

“This will be my last post to you”

Cheers, rather civil of you; now if you could show the same civility to others, that would be grand.

38 minutes ago positively, absolutely, and in bold, stated that “This will be my last post to you. Bye now.”

Phew. Maybe if I wave my wand, too: “ I summarily dismiss all of your accusations and stand by my previous post.”

If you had bothered to even read a summary of the idea, you would see it will be warmer some places and colder others. 97%+ of Earth Scientists say it’s real and man made, but they are not funded by oil and coal interests.

Hmm, freedom of speech? I admit that in the years I’veBeen her I’ve thrown about four flags on comment’s that violated terms of service, despite often simply offensive personal attacks. Some of those I may just respond to with, usually, some attempt at humor, or " judge not, lest Ye be judged" intent. As to the toon, ignorance of science is a common thread with “the right”, often Rush fans, or citers. While discuss an and disagreement are one thing, the folks in Pompeii who said, “no worries”, indeed are models for today’s denier contingent.

By the time the ice has all melted, deniers will still be trying to recycle this tired “joke”. They’re that out of touch.

@GregJ If you think you’re rid of those 3 trolls, think again. They’re already back under new accounts. So quit patting yourself on the back: you’ve achieved nothing.

Those who flag at more ‘toons than they comment on, should go find another place to “play”. “Flagging” IS censorship. It’s also valuable when commenting to be concise, like in less than 100 words to make a point. (Though taking time explaining or clarifying an issue from a knowledge base, does make some off our commentators valuable contributors.)

naïvely stated: “Oh, I fully realize that they come back under new accounts — but hopefully more mindful of refraining from personal attacks.”

No, they’re trolls. They’ve been repeatedly banned numerous times over the past few years. These guys are psychopathic. *shrug

You’ve managed to antagonise a whole swathe of mostly reasonable folks, while the real trolls continue with their mission laughing at us and yet you pat yourself on the back. Not only self-righteous but self-congratulatory; and since you broke your resolution not to direct any posts at me, twice, also inconsistent.I hope you don’t have New Years Resolutions.

Gocomics lost me as a long-term paying subscriber (7- 8 years) for this, and other reasons: they have a great collection of cartoonists which is why I remain, but a lousy moderation policy.

The real solution is have proper, transparent moderation on this forum.

Transparent does not mean the literal “invisible” but clear of subterfuge which Gocomics seems to delight in. Has it worked? No.

Your credibility remains suspect and holds no water amongst the rational & reasonable posters here. Unhappy coincidences seem to abound with your interactions here.If your protests or polite admonishments had been consistent and equitable across the board, you’d be lauded not criticised. I have yet to see someone else step up to defend your actions. Well, mind you, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Church do so.I think you do care. You return again and again trying to justify your actions when you’ve categorically stated you would not direct another word to me. Instead you’re berated. That must be galling for you. You’re trying to be a shining knight but everyone sees you as a tarnished one.Bummer.

The outing of intelligent, satirical sock-puppets also shows me just how petty you are. Upset that one is taking the mickey out of you? Your response: Out them all.Their use here is almost universally acclaimed except by you and the target audience they are designed to satire. You will out them just to make you feel better because you feel aggrieved that you were taken up in its sights. Petty, petty, petty.

By the way, my earlier use of “I have taken the high-ground to say it’s insulting and offensive.” was satire. Of you. Of arbitrary, subjective judgements.I found it even more amusing you were unable to see the satire and actually took it at face value. I used your own words to mock your condemnations but you thought I was criticising their literal meaning. Now that’s funny.You really cannot see how your actions are self-righteous, condescending, self-congratulatory and …narcissistic.Has your ego no bounds? Are you really that much in admiration of your altruism that you do not see it for it is?

Which is why it confounds us. Surely there is method in this madness. I repeat, unhappy coincidences seem to abound with your interactions here. Your MO is coincidental to another poster that tried similar tactics a year ago. That’s the “code” for J-G/G-J.

I’ve had no response to an email I sent Gocomics staff. I, and others, have found their support wanting; at least they do not receive any further subscriptions from me. It would not surprise me to see a retaliatory response to my public condemnation of their methods here.

Your support for the “invisible” moderation here, not a transparent moderation, also says volumes about your tactics.

I guess if Greg says he’s not the moderator, then I have to take him at his work. Here’s my guess — he’s actually Edward Snowden.

Hello fellow idealogically-minded poster, I think that sounded like we don’t appreciate Greg’s efforts. And judging from the previous entries above yours, it sounds like he doesn’t have any other fans either.Will anyone please stand up and support Greg?Perhaps our kind moderator, who incidentally we knew from his dealings with Eryx a couple years back and shares the same sign-on date as I do, could step up to the plate and lend a kind word on Greg’s behalf…?

…oh, hang on, is this a hanger-on thingy post, too? I’m never sure. :-s Greg…? Your objectivity skills are being called upon; could you please judge it and let us know?

I think we have “pierced the veil”, so to speak.And by his/her own hands.

It is a bizarre state of affairs.

“Oh, I fully realize that they come back under new accounts — but hopefully more mindful of refraining from personal attacks.”They come back more vindictive as they know how easily they can be resurrected. Your postings show you as a HOLIER THAN THOU personality.

Hmm, long-winded narcissist hypocrisy, is “greg” really Darryl Issa???

suggested that “If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is almost certainly a duck…”

But what if it’s an “I’m out” and returns, and “I’m out” and returns…? Deletes all of its posts and returns, deletes all of his posts and returns and states “Last time I direct a post to you” and returns…?

Correct, a bloody Boomerang.

Whistle-blowers, eh. Misunderstood lot; martyrs all, I tell ya. A crying shame no-one believes ’em till the bitter end.

My craw? eeech. Just a mild indigestion. Burrrrp

No, a misunderstood martyr. A selfless gift that keeps on giving.

Sheesh…so he has. Tch, what am I worried about, he’ll turn up again.