Has Skeptiko gone completely wacko?

For me, there have been several points at which I noticed obvious shifts. Some were instigated directly by the site owner. But others were a shift in topics discussed, driven by forum members. My primary interests in this context are the nature of consciousness (emphasis on direct experience), and parapsychology. Much of what is covered there nowadays is either 'out of scope' or at best tangential to my interests.

But that's fine, it doesn't have to conform to my needs or expectations. Let it be what it is (or has become).

I looked in briefly recently (usually it's to find an old thread with information I might need) and I saw a post by Dave B the moderator instructing a naughty member (EN) to.... apologise...now !  ….and not just in some unspecified period of time... or tomorrow or whenever... but bang ! (on the teachers desk) …NOW !! (EN) 

Personally, I think Dave could learn a thing or two from the moderators on this forum. As for the content, it's unrecognisable but it doesn't matter to me.

I looked in briefly recently (usually it's to find an old thread with information I might need) and I saw a post by Dave B the moderator instructing a naughty member (EN) to.... apologise...now !  ….and not just in some unspecified period of time... or tomorrow or whenever... but bang ! (on the teachers desk) …NOW !! (EN) 

Personally, I think Dave could learn a thing or two from the moderators on this forum. As for the content, it's unrecognisable but it doesn't matter to me.

I think it might have been me that he was being asked (ordered) to apologise to. 

I might have have accepted an apology if I though it might be genuine, but not in this case, even if it was genuine.

David certainly is an interesting fellow. 

I looked in briefly recently (usually it's to find an old thread with information I might need) and I saw a post by Dave B the moderator instructing a naughty member (EN) to.... apologise...now !  ….and not just in some unspecified period of time... or tomorrow or whenever... but bang ! (on the teachers desk) …NOW !! (EN) 

Personally, I think Dave could learn a thing or two from the moderators on this forum. As for the content, it's unrecognisable but it doesn't matter to me.

In order of mod abilities, the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Dave, Craig and then Andy. Dave and Andy have in common an autocratic nature. Craig as I recall was haphazard in his duties.

In order of mod abilities, the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Dave, Craig and then Andy. Dave and Andy have in common an autocratic nature. Craig as I recall was haphazard in his duties.

I guess we all have differing takes on it, Steve.

Alex explicitly said over and over again regarding psi and survival of consciousness that anyone who didn't agree with him was stupid. That was when the forum shifted for me. He'd decided he had all the answers and seemed to enjoy attacking and insulting anyone who dared doubt him. Ironic, really, since this is what pseudo-skeptics do to those who explore the question of psi and survival beyond just parroting the lazy party lines of mainstream science. Super Sexy at least made those final steps into bizarro-Alex-world hilarious at times, rather than just disappointing.

Alex explicitly said over and over again regarding psi and survival of consciousness that anyone who didn't agree with him was stupid. That was when the forum shifted for me. He'd decided he had all the answers and seemed to enjoy attacking and insulting anyone who dared doubt him. Ironic, really, since this is what pseudo-skeptics do to those who explore the question of psi and survival beyond just parroting the lazy party lines of mainstream science. Super Sexy at least made those final steps into bizarro-Alex-world hilarious at times, rather than just disappointing.

His exact phrasing was and presumably still is "stuck on stupid".

[Ninshub]

In fact there were three phases:

1 - Let's look at the data.
2 - The data's in. (Accept it or you're stuck on stupid.)
3 - Data schmata. I'm no longer interested in psi - it's all a conspiracy anyway. That's the phase the OP is referring to.

His exact phrasing was and presumably still is "stuck on stupid".

I remember pointing out that something Sheldrake clearly said in an interview was surprisingly moderate about some aspect of psi, and Alex responded, "He's just saying that because he has to. He doesn't really believe that. He agrees with me. Don't believe what he said. "

Just made a small visit to Skeptiko for the first time in a long time. I don’t really recognize it’s intellectual roots anylonger. What happended with real sceptical debate on research articles, discussing power of statistical evidence in Ganzfeld experiments, and other paranormal research and new alternative ideas about consciousness and the grand meaning of things?

Now it’s all about antiscience/right wing science rather than intellectual curiosity and honesty. I’m particulary disappointed in the intermingling of paranormal science and clima skeptism. One debatter even used the word ‘socialism’ in this context, as a reason clima change believers wants to cut emissions.

The community either migrated or was banned by Alex himself (in case you are wondering, I was among the latter). What you see is the natural outcome of the route that many of us foresaw when we tried to save the “vibrant underbelly”. Has it gone insane? I suppose that is a matter of personal opinion, but I lean towards “yes”.

We are discussing a science forum, aren't we?

Skeptiko? Well, it was, until Alex literally decided that “Science is wrong... About almost everything.” Then we were supposed to follow him down the rabbit hole.