Reciprocating Bill
Posts: 4265
Joined: Oct. 2006
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Bugsy and DigDug again exemplify the newest Nixplanatory function evident at UD: Hidden Obliviation. Banninnation and Hidden Obliviation differ, although are not mutually exclusive.
Banninnation: Usually performed by WAD or DaveTard (although occasionally by others), and typically announced to the world by means of Arrogant Dismissive Aphorism. Old Banninnation is the archaic form typically administered through The Loudspeaker in the Ceiling. New Banninnation is the current, clearly endangered form implemented by means of Aphoristic Comment. Typically the banninnator identifies him or herself by means of initials, e.g., - WmAD
Hidden Obliviation: The removal of a series of posts, and sometimes entire threads, by Hidden Nixmasters. Hidden Nixmasters never announce their actions, yet the obliviated commenters remain detectable by means of their presence in negative space, as shadows cast across the continuing blithering commentary of other, as yet to be banned or obliviated participants.
The emergence of Hidden Obliviation and Hidden Nixmasters reflects the operation of a new form of evolutionary causation: Ridiculative Selection. Ridiculative selection is evident when the behavioral topology of a blog is modified by the consistent application of ridiculative pressures, in the face of which new behaviors that have yet to be ridiculed emerge while old behaviors that have been targeted by ridiculative selection drop from sight. Work is going forward to test the hypothesis that novel nixplanatory behaviors now emerging at UD are doing so response to the very ridiculative pressures applied by this thread.
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Myth: Something that never was true, and always will be.
"The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you."
- David Foster Wallace
"Here’s a clue. Snarky banalities are not a substitute for saying something intelligent. Write that down."
- Barry Arrington
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