DEWEY ILES, Malcontent

[KnotKnitWit]

OTOH, I believe is this potential claimant contacted Kramer again with an apology or explanation for his behaviour with a promise of continued cooperation, Kramer would be most inclined to accept.

Santa

I agree with you. From the messages I've read (and I've read ALL that are currently listed) Kramer has often shown a willingness to overlook what I would classify as terminally bad behavior.

I would be willing to wager serious money that someone with Mr. Iles' attitude could never bring himself to apologize, even when the lack of such apology means watching the south end of a million dollars heading north.

I looooove to see a bully with a black eye.

 

[KnotKnitWit]

I'm saying that this is one more instance where the JREF is not helping it's image.

No. You said 'everyone acts like intellectual elitist asses'. Those were your exact words and I won't allow you to spin them.

But are they doing it to educate people? If they are they're going to get people who don't want to listen, and only end up preaching to the choir.

Ridiculous! Anyone who could read that pile of moist and steaming digestive end product and claim it was worthy of even the least amount of consideration is unable, or unwilling, to understand the difference between 'education' and 'sucking up'.

But it is an organization that needs decent public relations to get it's words and philosophy across. When was the last time a skeptic was given a whole show dedicated to debunking a woo on a talk show? The psychics are offering something people want, the JREF has a harder PR job ahead of them, because they are telling the public things they don't want to hear.

Again, ridiculous! The JREF exists primarily because it isn't afraid to state the truth of things, no matter how many people find that truth unpalatable. The JREF does not exist for the purpose of making arrogant, ignorant bullies feel as if they are of any importance to the world, at all. And Mr. Iles' letter read as the work of an arrogant, ignorant bully.

So Kramer has no obligation to present himself professionally as a spokesman for the JREF?

As I said earlier...Kramer was more than professional. Mr. Iles should count his lucky stars that I don't have Kramer's job. I cannot help but wonder what thoughts went through the heads of those charged with Mr. Iles' childhood education and it would have taken all of Randi's august authority to keep me from publicly musing on the possibilities. Iles was lucky to draw Kramer.

In the end I think we're going to go round and round on this.

You and I certainly will. I have a deep-down distaste for bullies and I have recently discovered only a slightly lesser distaste for those who defend them.

I believe that people should be given the benefit of the doubt when they violate a rule not included in the written rules, but in a seperate place that they are not directed to read as well. If a person has a question about the rules they may go to the FAQ, if they don't they'll think there's no reason to go there.

Exactly what part of Mr. Iles' message did you see as merely breaking the 'rules'? I'd like to see you quote two non-challenge, consecutive sentences that were not rude, hostile and insulting. Every sentence dripped vitriol and every sentence loudly screamed that here was a person totally outside the pale of normal human communication.

Just for funsies...a few quotes:

1. ...a notice of your pending comeuppance, Dr. Randi [sic]
2. ...I am going to kick Dr. Randi's intellectual butt and watch him squirm and weasel as he reneged [sic] on his boisterous challenge
3. NO ifs, NO ANDS, NO BUTs, NO ARGUMENTS, NO BULLS***, NO EXCUSES Dr. Randi AND NO RENEGING [sic]
4. ...dealing with a sickie ...
5. ...psychotic know-it-all...
6. Randi; heads up, or should I say Butts Up [sic]
7. ...unscientific ass-kicking coming...
8. I'm shinning [sic] up my coat hanger butt-kickers...
9. I can't wait to see what technicality you come up with to avoid paying up
10. I know you are not going to pay

Mr. Iles' message was an exercise in bullying and he got his nose squashed. Good for Kramer!

I also believe good public relations and perception is the key to expanding your message, you catch more flies with honey.

Perhaps you might want to try telling Mr. Iles that. Especially as, were he a frog, he'd be starving right about now.

 

[texino]

Oh hello, it is Texino from the UKY Music List. Every time there is some kind of argument in these Randi postings, I am supernaturally transported over here by X-radiation or some other kinds of weird science. Well I don't want to be here any more than you want me, so let us just run this problem to earth, so I can go back to Panama. OK, Now the Colombo is trying to hold out for the nice route; we make him secular Jesus. The Knot Wit, heck I do not even speak English everyday buy I see his code way back when he says he is "tired of society getting away with something or other" Well that can only fall on the old undisciplined minority with the unreasonable sense of entitlement routine or else some other knee jerking comment he heard about persons whom he wishes were eaten by fishes. Sorry Mr. Knot Wit but you are exposed as the Flat Footed Floogie here, so please stop hassling Christo Colombo and do it with a smile please.
Now every person will please remember that Texino want all to be smiles and relaxation for good conversation and it is not his own fault that here he comes smashing into here when he is rather speaking about Bluegrass music at KY List. While we remember this, do not forget that I am who is also recently retired as champion in the prize ring of our sweet science in Panama. Now thank you for another oppourtunity for speaking in English and don't forget this fight is finished.
At Your Sevice--Tomas "Tony Peña" Texino.

 

[KnotKnitWit]

Oh hello, it is Texino from the UKY Music List. Every time there is some kind of argument in these Randi postings, I am supernaturally transported over here by X-radiation or some other kinds of weird science. Well I don't want to be here any more than you want me, so let us just run this problem to earth, so I can go back to Panama. OK, Now the Colombo is trying to hold out for the nice route; we make him secular Jesus. The Knot Wit, heck I do not even speak English everyday buy I see his code way back when he says he is "tired of society getting away with something or other" Well that can only fall on the old undisciplined minority with the unreasonable sense of entitlement routine or else some other knee jerking comment he heard about persons whom he wishes were eaten by fishes. Sorry Mr. Knot Wit but you are exposed as the Flat Footed Floogie here, so please stop hassling Christo Colombo and do it with a smile please.
Now every person will please remember that Texino want all to be smiles and relaxation for good conversation and it is not his own fault that here he comes smashing into here when he is rather speaking about Bluegrass music at KY List. While we remember this, do not forget that I am who is also recently retired as champion in the prize ring of our sweet science in Panama. Now thank you for another oppourtunity for speaking in English and don't forget this fight is finished.
At Your Sevice--Tomas "Tony Peña" Texino.

My opinion is that you are incorrect and, as I said to the Captain, anyone who finds just cause to defend Mr. Iles' message to Kramer might want to reconsider their worldview.

Also, I note that you are not a moderator. Therefore, you have no authority to tell me what to do. If I choose to disagree with both Mr. Iles and CptColumbo, I will do so. You are, of course, entitled to express your opinion but I see no reason to approach this topic with 'all smiles', particularly in view of Mr. Iles' stepping outside the boundaries of courteous human intercourse and in view of the fact that you seem unable to quote me correctly.

I don't want to turn this into a flame war. I have expressed my opinion to Cpt.Columbo and I have now expressed it to you.

Thank you for your contribution.

 

[CptColumbo]

My opinion is that you are incorrect and, as I said to the Captain, anyone who finds just cause to defend Mr. Iles' message to Kramer might want to reconsider their worldview.

Once again I'm not defending Mr. Iles, I am saying that I thought Kramer's actions were a little hasty

Also, I note that you are not a moderator. Therefore, you have no authority to tell me what to do. If I choose to disagree with both Mr. Iles and CptColumbo, I will do so. You are, of course, entitled to express your opinion but I see no reason to approach this topic with 'all smiles', particularly in view of Mr. Iles' stepping outside the boundaries of courteous human intercourse and in view of the fact that you seem unable to quote me correctly.

I don't want to turn this into a flame war. I have expressed my opinion to Cpt.Columbo and I have now expressed it to you.

Thank you for your contribution.

This is only a clash of opinions, but your tone has taken a slightly beligerent turn. I pointed out, in an earlier post, one time you misrepresented one of my statements. I gave you the benefit of the doubt that you misunderstood what I said, but then you did it again. So I am left to assume you did it malisciously (I'm sure you know what I'm refering to and can find it easily if you're still ignorant of it). If you had read all my other posts in all the treads I have ever been in you would know that this is a violation of my rules. Maybe you should rethink what you consider to be proper communication between people, especially when opinions are being expressed, and not resort to name calling and being overly pragmatic.

Since you violated my rules, and continued the behavior after it was pointed out, I will leave this conversation. See you can do this by warning someone, and still be curt at the end.

KNOWKNOT THIS!!

 

[The_Fire]

For those of us whom have not yet had the time of digging through 800+ posts by you, Colombo, would you please specify:

1: Which rules you are talking about?
2: Why YOUR rules should have precendence to those of the forum or that of freedom of speech?
3: In which way KnotKnitWit's post to texino questioning Texinos status of moderator relate to you?

 

[KnotKnitWit]

For those of us whom have not yet had the time of digging through 800+ posts by you, Colombo, would you please specify:

1: Which rules you are talking about?
2: Why YOUR rules should have precendence to those of the forum or that of freedom of speech?
*3: In which way KnotKnitWit's post to texino questioning Texinos status of moderator relate to you?

* I was wondering the same thing.

I have begun to wonder if CptColumbo might not be related to Mr. Iles in a closer fashion than that of neutral forum member but, as I have no evidence and as this is a forum where evidence is of primary importance, I'll simply have to keep on wondering.

Also, could someone tell me if this quote by the good captain, "Since you violated my rules, and continued the behavior after it was pointed out, I will leave this conversation. See you can do this by warning someone, and still be curt at the end. KNOWKNOT THIS!!" makes any sense at all? I can't seem to derive a cogent meaning but I was up late last night and might just not be really awake.

 

[drfrank]

I have begun to wonder if CptColumbo might not be related to Mr. Iles in a closer fashion than that of neutral forum member but, as I have no evidence and as this is a forum where evidence is of primary importance, I'll simply have to keep on wondering.

I have to say I think that's getting a little silly

In my own opinion, I still believe that giving him a warning first would have been preferable, if only because that might have led to the chance of watching him fail miserably after being so mind-blowingly arrogant: this, I think everyone will agree on, would have been thoroughly entertaining

Of course, Kramer's job is hard enough without being subjected to rants like Iles', so I was in his position I'd probably have done the same. However, it is a fact that Kramer can change his mind after rejecting a claim if the applicant then becomes more reasonable, so I'd guess if Iles actually did send an email back with some humble pie attached then his claim may well be reconsidered.

 

[KnotKnitWit]

I have to say I think that's getting a little silly

Undoubtedly.

In my own opinion, I still believe that giving him a warning first would have been preferable, if only because that might have led to the chance of watching him fail miserably after being so mind-blowingly arrogant: this, I think everyone will agree on, would have been thoroughly entertaining

I'm so glad that you wrote this. I wanted to say that I totally agree with you but I forgot to go back to #1 and respond. I would dearly love to see Mr. Iles land on his arse in a pile of the same substance he's trying to sell.

Of course, Kramer's job is hard enough without being subjected to rants like Iles', so I was in his position I'd probably have done the same. However, it is a fact that Kramer can change his mind after rejecting a claim if the applicant then becomes more reasonable, so I'd guess if Iles actually did send an email back with some humble pie attached then his claim may well be reconsidered.

Both the slice of pie and the landing buttocks-down would be a lot of fun to watch. Here's to hoping that you get your wish.

 

[Hitch]

I would actually be a bit worse than Kramer about the way I would treat applicants. In the case of Mr. Iles, I would have had the same reaction, but would probably have added a line to the effect that if he chose to try again with a more civilized tone, I might reconsider. But only because I'm pretty sure that would just provoke another rant that I could post to make him look even more foolish.