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Missile Defense

Technology has always found its greatest consumer in a nation's war and defense efforts. Since the last attempts at a "Star Wars" defense system, has technology changed considerably enough to make the latest Missile Defense initiatives more successful? Can such an application of science be successful? Is a militarized space inevitable, necessary or impossible?

Read Debates, a new Web-only feature culled from Readers' Opinions, published every Thursday.

cantabb - 06:02pm Sep 24, 2003 EST (# 13921 of 13958)

rshow55 - 04:23pm Sep 24, 2003 EST (# 13919 of 13919)

Cantabb - I'm trying to keep my temper under control - have you thought about doing that? You may be the best editor in the world - but I think you're applying standards in wrong places, and wrong times.

Keeping your "temper under control" ? So what ? I'm supposed to be careful NOW, or what ?

I'm just commenting on your continued rationalizations. My comments may well be highly inconvenient for you, but "wrong places, and wrong times," they are NOT. Long overdue, if you ask me. Something I'd have expected of NYT long time ago.

I'll be rereading your criticism - but think you're bridling exactly in the places where the things that are most important are.

How can I be applying standards in "wrong places and wrong times," and STILL be "bridling exactly in the places where the things that are most important are" ? Make up your mind !

Maybe I'm backwards? Perhaps. You may be, too.

JUST speak for yourself.

This thread represents a lot of work. Not just mine. http://www.mrshowalter.net/Sequential.htm

What kind of work ? Toward what goal ? Achieved anything yet ?

Sure a LOT of posts, little on-topic and relevant (~20%, by your estimate).

mazza9 - 06:31pm Sep 24, 2003 EST (# 13922 of 13958)
"Quae cum ita sunt" Caesar's Gallic Commentaries

cantabb: ~20%? You are generous. I've blocked Robert because the NYTimes will not! If he posts 5% that is cogent and considerate I would be surprised. How often does he post 5 or more inputs in a row? Would you say that 1 in 5 of those posts are on point? I don't think so!

cantabb - 06:59pm Sep 24, 2003 EST (# 13923 of 13958)

mazza9 - 06:31pm Sep 24, 2003 EST (# 13922 of 13922)

cantabb: ~20%? You are generous.

That was rshow's OWN estimate [# 13918], i.e., 80% of 25,000 posts would have been 'barred'.

I was entertaining HIS own figures to stress MY point. I also noted this [last line, my last post #13921].

I've not bothered to "check" it, but apparently he did.

Btw, my estimate would be closer to yours.

I've blocked Robert because the NYTimes will not!

I don't go that route. I'm NOT a "regular" here, but have seen how this thread has been abused. NYTimes works in its own ways: recall how many Forums it deleted (2x, I think recently), but kept this one !

If he posts 5% that is cogent and considerate I would be surprised.

NOW, that's different. One can post on-topic and still NOT be "cogent" or "considerate."

His posts are neither coherent nor cogent, or focused, and I've said this to him and other dedicated "regulars" of this thread.

jorian319 - 07:56pm Sep 24, 2003 EST (# 13924 of 13958)

...have seen how this thread has been abused. NYTimes works in its own ways: recall how many Forums it deleted (2x, I think recently), but kept this one !

I think they banned rshow under another, similar handle 'way back. </rumor/dim memory> They've banned rottenburger numerous times. They've apparently decided that between the ignore feature and their ability to delete posts at their own convenience, the situation is adequately covered. Since posters are well known to talk about whatever suits them rather than staying on topic, and given that poster "turnover" is pretty (surprisingly) minimal, they knew that the same discussions would be going on - just in fewer threads. Their maintenance and file structures got easier, everyone's happy.

At NYT.

And that's what counts, right? They are our hosts, after all... ... ...

jorian319 - 07:58pm Sep 24, 2003 EST (# 13925 of 13958)

They probably elected to keep MD because it had a low post count at the time - if it ain't broke, why fix it?

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New York Times on the Web Forums Science Missile Defense