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Notes -
From the OP:
Figure something a pattern all you want, there are people who disagree with you. Calling them names is against the letter and spirit of this thread.
As you can tell, we've evolved away from the original rules over the years. Following them to the letter doesn't make much sense anymore (but I suppose the mods will disagree).
When this place first got started there were two major factors that were different from what they are now. 1) is that the culture war itself (in its modern form) was still relatively new and the battle lines were still being drawn, positions were still being crafted. 2) is that there were a lot more leftists and the idea was to facilitate a left-right dialogue. There was a stronger sense that every post should start "from zero" essentially: every claim should be justified from the ground up as though you were exploring virgin territory. (That's how I remember it anyway)
As time has gone on and the culture war has gotten more entrenched I don't think it makes sense to start every discussion "from zero" anymore. People are familiar with all the arguments now. If you think someone hasn't sufficiently supported their position then you can ask them to elaborate, but I don't think it makes sense to tut tut people over not following the black letter rules. Taking certain things for granted doesn't equate to hostility.
Again that's just my personal take, and I imagine it's not shared by everyone.
I was there, Gandalf. I was there when the SlateStarCodex blog was around. I was there when the subreddit was new. I'm here now-
But, as many others jotted down in a certain Wednesday thread not so long ago, I'm not sure that I should be. Not like this, no. And if it continues to fly, that's plenty confirmation right there, I suppose.
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