pangloss

Libel:
2 a : a written or oral defamatory statement or representation that conveys an unjustly unfavorable impression b (1) : a statement or representation published without just cause and tending to expose another to public contempt (2) : defamation of a person by written or representational means
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In this thread:

<a href="http://www.baptistboard.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=000111;p=4" target="_blank">http://www.baptistboard.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=000111;p=4</a>

I had written:

"Behe’s personal incredulity is evidence of nothing but the fact that the answers he demands have not been found yet or have not been investigated yet – indeed, Behe has done ZERO research on the areas he claims to have evidence for design in."

I received an email form the BB admin claiming that they would look into this themselves, and that if I had 'slandered' Behe, I would be banned.
This morning, the following message appeared in that thread:
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This statement drew the response from the Administrator posting that morning that if Page's statement was found to be false, it would be considered slander against Behe and Page would be banned from the board.

The following URL's indicate that Behe is an active research scientiest:

<a href="http://www.lehigh.edu/~inbios/behe.html" target="_blank">http://www.lehigh.edu/~inbios/behe.html</a>

<a href="http://www.discovery.org/crsc/fellows/MichaelBehe/" target="_blank">http://www.discovery.org/crsc/fellows/MichaelBehe/</a>

Scott Page will no longer be allowed to make any contributions to this board. This is the only banning we have had to make so far on this board and we hope it will be the last. We understand that the evolution and creation debates cause a lot of intense reactions among some, however lying about others will not be tolerated here. Slander on this board can put us in legal jeopardy as well and will not be tolerated for that reason, too.

Our public apologies to Dr. Behe for what was posted here. We are leaving it up along with this so that Page will not be able to lie about what happened here.
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The BB admin claims:

1. that I lied about Behe being a research scientist and
2. that I would lie about what transpired there

That is, they have publicly claimed, in a written form, that I am a liar. This is clearly defamatory and what is worse for them, based on their own stupidity - they misinterpreted what I actually wrote!

Here again what I originally wrote, emphasis mine:

"Behe’s personal incredulity is evidence of nothing but the fact that the answers he demands have not been found yet or have not been investigated yet – indeed, Behe has done ZERO research on the areas he claims to have evidence for design in."

BB admin writes, emphasis mine:

"The following URL's indicate that Behe is an active research scientiest:"

I did not claim or even imply with my statement that he is not a research scientist, rather - and what should have been clear - that he does not and did not do any research on the areas in which he indicates he has evidence for design, namely cilia/flagella, blood clotting cascade, visual cascade.

I am taking this very seriously...

Any suggestions?

[ July 19, 2002: Message edited by: pangloss ]</p>

GeoTheo

Why take it "very seriously"? Isn't their main problem that they take things too seriously?
I got banned from a Baptist board before and I'm a Baptist. Baptists are cantankerous by nature they can't even get along withe each other. Thats why Baptist Churches split all the time.
I might start my own Bulletin Board called "Battlefeild of Ideas" Where ideas stand or fall on their own merit. It is a lot of work though, I tried it once and now its a dead boad. People come buy once every few months and post on it that they are a jackal and that there are tumbleweeds rolling through my board and stuff.

scigirl

Actually I'm not surprised.
That's too bad - sounds like a very interesting board.

scigirl

MrDarwin

They certainly seem to have overreacted, or at least misinterpreted what you said--possibly they were itching for an excuse to ban you anyway--but I can see their point. Whether his arguments have merit or not, Behe claims to have biochemical evidence of irreducible complexity and intelligent design, and he does research as a biochemist.

Behe aside, isn't this simply a lie? I believe they have banned several other people?

[ July 19, 2002: Message edited by: MrDarwin ]</p>

pangloss

Maybe because I was publicly aqccused of being a liar when I did not lie? Maybe something like that?

GeoTheo

Its unfortunate. It really is. I don't see the point in banning myself, except for spamming and things like that. Of course what recourse is there? Web boards I kind of like private clubs run like a dictatorship. Of course YOU are not libeled are you? Do they know your full name?
Scigirl:
The dead board was sort of like the one referred to in the thread-about Baptists. I never made the "Battlefeild of Ideas one". Maybe I should.
(edited because duh, they do know your name, John Page)

[ July 19, 2002: Message edited by: GeoTheo ]</p>

WinAce

The BaptistBoard is a lost cause, people. With few rare and notable exceptions like Reverend Joshua, their entire membership consists of the lowest common denominator of Christianity or any religion ever found on Earth (aside from perhaps militant Islamic theocracies). Stick to ChristianForums and others with a lower idiot ratio.

The only real use the BB has is humour value. Some of their threads are milk-through-the-nose funny, although a lot of them (like 'Stephen Gould is now a Creationist!') are simply disturbing.

Having said that, I'm not really surprised you were banned, pangloss. What, did you think you could just expose pseudoscience without getting banned?

I suggest you edit the title of this topic to 'Baptist Board admin is a lying idiot jackass' or something similar and keep bumping it until the issue is addressed. Hopefully, other Christians visiting here will be intrigued by your problem and possibly investigate the hypocrisy for themselves.

tgamble

Geotheo, ya might appretiate this one.

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. I immediately ran over and said "Stop! Don't do it!"

"Why shouldn't I?" he said.

I said, "Well, there's so much to live for!"

"Like what?"

"Well ... are you religious or atheist?"

"Religious."

"Me too! Are you Christian or Jewish?"

"Christian."

"Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?"

"Protestant."

"Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?"

"Baptist."

"Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?"

"Baptist Church of God."

"Me too! Are you Original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?"

"Reformed Baptist Church of God."

"Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915?"

"Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915!"

To which I said, "Die, heretic scum!" and pushed him off.

MOJO-JOJO

Which is why I can't STAND being dragged to my wife's (not "mine" anymore) freakin' church! Buncha snooty, paranoid, supersticious, judgmental, jebus-robots!

MOJO-JOJO

HAAAA! Man it doesn't get ANY clearer than that!