The Minkowski's challenge

Hi Albert,If you're not interested in discussion but only in exchanging information with Barbarian about the requirements for an artificial life program that can evolve encryption, then please refrain from making taunts and assertions such as these: The taunts are against the Forum Guidelines under all circumstances, see rule 10. And the unwillingness to respond to rebuttals is against rule 4.

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--	Percy
	EvC Forum Director

Sure I understand your position! You'd like to use your evolution challenge as an excuse for issuing taunts and making assertions that you don't feel the need to defend.I've been moderating these boards for a *long* time. There isn't much I haven't seen, and you're not doing anything original. If you remember your thread proposal, three moderators chimed in with various concerns, so you're not really fooling anyone. Play it straight, follow the Forum Guidelines, and try to at least pretend that you have a sincere interest in exploring the evidence where it leads.You see, it's actually much more important that you understand my position than the other way around. I place a great deal of importance on quality and constructive discussion. The usual enforcement procedure for those not similarly inclined is short suspensions that gradually increase in duration.So is that clear enough, dude? Just in case we come from such different worlds that it's not yet clear, let me put it another way. This is a serious debate site and I'd like to keep it that way. Any more bullshit from you, a guy who registered twice and is using a fictional novel as the basis for his assertions and who has already been given considerable leeway just in allowing this thread to be promoted and who is studiously refusing to learn anything about the subjects he's discussing, and the suspensions start immediately.How's that for clear?So discuss the details of Barbarian's evolution program all you like. If you'd like to actually discuss the topics of artificial life and genetic algorithms, that would be even better. Violate the Forum Guidelines any further and it'll be vacation time for you.Discussion threads are not the place for a back and forth about moderation concerns, so if you have anything further you'd like to discuss about this then please take it to the proper thread: General discussion of moderation procedures - Part

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--	Percy
	EvC Forum Director

1-day suspension.

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--	Percy
	EvC Forum Director

Hi Albert,You seem terminally clueless, but I'll take one shot at explaining why you find yourself in trouble here.Imagine that you've somehow got it into your head that automobiles are impossible. You walk into a bar and announce that automobiles are impossible, and challenge the patrons to prove otherwise. Some explain that there are cars out in the parking lot and that if you'd just go take a look you'd see you're wrong, but you express no interest in doing this. Finally, someone agrees to build an automobile just to show you you're wrong, but you specify some requirements: the automobile must have 1000 horsepower and weigh less than 500 pounds.It is explained to you that if it turns out that an automobile meeting those requirements isn't really possible that it doesn't mean that automobiles are impossible. It's actually more a design challenge than a "proof of automobile" challenge. You apparently understand none of this and again declare that automobiles are impossible, and you taunt the patrons about how only one person dared accept your challenge. Just to save your hide, the bartender tosses you out.You're doing the analogous thing here with evolution. The evolution of encryption, whether or not it's possible, is irrelevant to the question of whether evolution is possible, just as whether a 1000 horsepower car weighing less than 500 pounds is possible is irrelevant to whether automobiles are possible. You're refusal to learn about artificial life and genetic algorithms is analogous to refusing to go out to the parking lot to see all the automobiles. You're making silly assertions about something you know very little about, and you seem determined to maintain your state of ignorance.You can continue the dialogue with Barbarian about the encryption evolution program, but further nonsense will earn further suspensions. You might want to give the Forum Guidelines a careful look, particularly rule 4 and rule 10. My advice to you remains to learn something about the topic. When you begin becoming embarrassed by some of the naive things you've said in this thread then you'll know you're beginning to learn something.

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--	Percy
	EvC Forum Director

No response is desired or necessary, though you can certainly respond in the General discussion of moderation procedures - Part thread if you feel the need. You've replied helpfully and constructively to Barbarian, and as long as your contributions continue in the same vein I see no need for further interaction.Edited by Admin, : Grammar.

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--	Percy
	EvC Forum Director

It is fully within your power to bring the feedback you so dislike to an end. All you have to do is:

• Follow the Forum Guidelines.
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• Respond to replies and rebuttals.
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• Discuss the topic. This is a discussion board, not an "issue challenges" board. Issuing a challenge is fine, but I'm very unhappy that there is no accompanying discussion of the topics of artificial life and genetic algorithms.
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• Gain some familiarity with the topic.
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• Refrain from issuing taunts.
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• Do not make allegations that you're unwilling to discuss and defend.

These are same things I've been telling you, and that you've been ignoring, all along. EvC Forum's goal is informed and constructive discussion, and unless and until you share this goal you will continue to have difficulty here. Ignoring moderators is another sure way to get into trouble. You're doing a good job of covering the gamut of ways to bring difficulties upon yourself here.

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--	Percy
	EvC Forum Director

I think it's wonderful that an on-topic discussion is finally breaking out in this thread, but could we keep the discussion more topic-focused and less personal? Thanks!

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--	Percy
	EvC Forum Director