Quote:
Originally Posted by dgruss23
I'm trying to understand what the scope of acceptable topics in the ATM section is. It seems pretty clear that any mention of an ATM idea belongs in ATM. However, the description of ATM says "Post here if you want to discuss ...". That was a very good description of how it was in the old days of BABB.
Yet it seems that now Nereid has altered the rules of this forum. I say Nereid because I don't see any other moderators attempting to define such a narrow range of what is considered acceptable discourse in ATM.
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Well, I just took a look at the recent couple of pages of ATM topics and I don't see it. Maybe I didn't read them carefully enough, but I think I saw topics where someone was just asking about something ATM and they were allowed. I'll list some below.
It seems possible to me that in the cases where you might see the range getting narrowed, it is similar to the problem I pointed out above of many of the ATM-based threads in Q&A. After the comments are received, or the questions answered, then it doesn't stop there. The presenter then becomes the proponent. The defense of the idea commences, the arguments for, the attempts to persuade.
And, because the idea is too fresh, not well understood, or the curious-turned-advocate hasn't even convinced himself, because it's half-baked, the discussion quickly devolves to pointlessness.
Again, I don't spend much time in ATM. I much more see the ATM bits that slop out of it. Perhaps you could lead me to a few existing examples of an ATM topic where someone was just-asking, expressing an interest, curious, and -- without the interesting idea treatment moving from discussion to advocacy -- the topic was shut down.
Is that what's happening? Is that the problem you see? Topics just inquiring into ATM ideas are not allowed?
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From the second page of topics, the second 30 most recent topics, ones that have had a few days to get sorted out if they didn't fit, these seem to just be inquiries into ATM ideas, that were (so far) accepted, not prevented:
On Rindler horizon, black holes, and singularities
Universal Accelerating Expansion
Science vs. Psuedoscience (drawing the line)
Robert Sungenis Challenges Stephen M. Barr to Debate Geocentrism
Paul LaViolette and Pulsars as ETI Beacons -- a question
What is a gravitational field ?
I'm stopping halfway though. There are more.