If my post was in need of editing, truncating the word to "bull" would have been an agreeable compromise. Instead, an entire line was removed and therefore the emphasis of my argument has been lost. When I wrote the post in question I considered the appropriateness of my choice of word. For the message I was trying to convey, I felt it appropriate.

It is certainly reasonable to call into question the use of gratuitous language (*1). However, there are times where the choice of a words is appropriate in context. Would the dramatic emotive effect of the opening scenes of Saving Private Ryan remain if certain words were replaced by "golly", "darn", and "oh shucks, my leg just got blown off"?

However, I have been of late finding it increasingly undesirable to participate in forums when pseudoscience, censorship, and kneejerk political correctness triumphs over candidness and facts. This current incident reinforces that feeling.

I have been noticing a growing trend of willfull ignorance of a nearly vicious nature in the various forums of different topics in which I participate. I learned long ago not to open my mouth unless I have something important and useful to add to the discussion. Further, I do not say something unless I am "darned" sure I know what the facts are and am able to and willing to back them up. I often times spend an hour or more writing, proofing, rewriting, and reproofing over and over what I post in order to make sure that I am saying what I mean and that what I say is hopefully immune to misinterpretation. This post is no exception.

Yet all I get is argument, attack, and in one very specific case, slanderous defamation. I am frankly getting tired of the ability of people to willingly ignore what is written and argue what wasn't. I have considered on more than one occasion removing myself from all forum discussions, and due to those slanderous attacks, removing the earthquake section from my website altogether and moving on in other directions.

I am reminded of the re-imagined version of Battlestar Galactica, in which the human race is all but wiped out by the machines they create. A recurring theme in the show is answering the question of why humanity is worth saving. I find that to be a very valid question. I realize that is a very dark thought, but please bear with me. My point is that with the apparent triumph of pseudoscience, chicanery, and false truths in this world, I find that we are entering a modern Dark Ages.

Facts and the methods by which facts are determined are going out the window in exchange for hokey beliefs(*2) and delusional thought processes. With all the accomplishments that man has achieved in it's recent history, it is frightening to think that we are going to risk losing it all because a relative minority becomes offended by what someone else has to say, particularly when it offends their fallacious sense of "truth".

(*1) As an historical note, I do recall the incident when I first came to this group and the gratuitous use of words which got me banned from here for a time. Those words were posted to make a very blunt point about the appropriateness or not of censorship and how it is implemented. I also recall that that point was not recognized.

(*2) That is not to imply that I have a problem with religion in a general sense. However, I am not confident that I can express appropriately and clearly what I feel is a purely rational and logical reason for the necessity of religion. Nor have I felt I have encountered anyone who can discuss the matter in a rational manner. I therefore keep this argument to myself.

Brian