[paul cotter (OP)]

Lately some of the nonsense in the subforum is mind-blowing crazy. Or am I just getting too old?

[Kryptid]

You're just new. New Theories has had crazy stuff in it for years and years. Check out some of the older threads.

[Bored chemist]

I'm not new, and I think Paul has a point.

[Kryptid]

I'm not new, and I think Paul has a point.

Perhaps, but I can think of some now-banned members like Thebox who regularly posted profound nonsense there. Plus conspiracy theories by tkadm30/smart. Dave has peddled scientific misunderstandings and denialism for years.

[paul cotter (OP)]

Thank you all, I have no intention of doing a back trawl to look for further nonsense, my poor brain is already melting from reading recent posts in that subforum!

[Zer0]

The " New Theories " section is a Great proposition for the long run.

Who knows, maybe someday, someone might finally strike Gold in there.

Until now, it's a Good place to know how Not to do things.

P.S. - Why so Serious!
🤡
(The Joker)

[paul cotter (OP)]

Oh dear, Zero, strike gold, I think you meant to say "strike faeces"!

[Zer0]

I know that section is filled with crazies & loonies...still...

Some perplexing ideas started off with a crazy thought experiment.
Later found to be true.

If Mr Tesla was still around, He would have found the " New Theories " section quite Appealing.

Having a corner Specifically for Radical ideas is quite Inviting of sorts.

I Know there can be No Perpetual Motion.
But it's sheer Optimism to think Maybe someone will figure it out.
I know it sounds like Madness, it is.

Dark matter, Dark energy, Blackholes, Quantum Physics...all demand a breakthrough.

Hoping someday the
" New Theories " section will see a revelation, and provide this Forum with much credits & accolades, which it Rightfully deserves.

P.S. - Choose to be Optimistic, it feels Better.
Dalai Lama.
😇

[Halc]

Who knows, maybe someday, someone might finally strike Gold in there.

Nobody who actually has a valid new theory is going to publish it in a forum. New ideas are not going to come out of here.
The forum is for amateurs like myself to understand existing physics, discuss new findings, and yes, even to discuss alternate views. But Paul is very correct that most of what is posted in NT is not alternate views, only very very misinformed views.

[Petrochemicals]

I think the length of the posts is my problem, most theories are a skeleton theory yet are delved into in great detail, you could spend a great deal of time reading very lengthy posts with many errors that prove precisely bugger all.

[paul cotter (OP)]

In addition to nonsense posting there seems to have been contributions from people with mental health difficulties recently. As I am new to the forum I don't know how common this is. This presents a problem in that the repeated countering of their ill conceived ideas might trigger a bad outcome-despite the need to do so to maintain the integrity of science. When questions are repeatedly ignored and responded to by off topic rants, I suspect a manic phase of bipolar disorder, although I am not qualified to make such a diagnosis. In a manic phase sufferers can do crazy things.

[Zer0]

As Mr Cotter has very nicely explained it in the above post...
(mental instability)

Caution should be considered to deal with such individuals.
(they need Medication, Not Words)

Their position might get Worse when their Mistakes are pointed out.
(suicidal tendencies)

P.S. - Save your Own Souls, Do Not feed the Trolls!
✌️

[Bored chemist]

Being called a white supremacist is a new one for me.
If there's anything useful to come out of the latest crop of absurdity in New Theories, perhaps it might be properly informed guidance on how to deal with people who are deluded.
I don't just mean, uninformed, I mean those who just don't follow logic and observation.

It's a medical problem.
If i come across someone unconscious in the street, I might be able to remember the recovery position. At the very least, I can yell for help and [hone for an ambulance.
But how do we help the folk who turn up in New Theories saying they have proved that ducks eat atom bombs or whatever?

[paul cotter (OP)]

"White supremacist" is nasty and totally inappropriate.

[Bored chemist]

"White supremacist" is nasty and totally inappropriate.

Seriously, it doesn't bother me much in that sort of scenario. There comes a point where it's like having a three year old shouting "You are horrid and you smell of pooh".
The difficult thing there is not laughing because you know they will grow out of it; but I'm really not sure what we should do when that sort of absurdity happens on a discussion forum.

[Zer0]

Congratulations to the MODS.

They All handled it with Elegance & Grace.
(If possible, Please do remove the obscene F word in that OP)

All members were Supportive & Friendly.
Good Job!
👍

Perhaps it's Best to BAN such OPs as soon as possible.
Would save alot of time of others.
& Also would prevent the wrong emotions from arising within mentally unstable OPs.

P.S. - Using the term " Soul " does not blend in well on a Science Forum.
Hence, Stay committed to your Own Goals, & Please do Not feed the Trolls!
🙏

[Colin2B]

Perhaps it's Best to BAN such OPs as soon as possible.
Would save alot of time of others.
& Also would prevent the wrong emotions from arising within mentally unstable OPs.

I am beginning to wonder whether you are right. To prevent harm either mentally or physically to themselves, we might consider doing that. We’ll discuss it.

[Bored chemist]

Banning people with mental health problems is going to be tricky.
(1) How could you diagnose mental illness via a discussion forum
(2) how do you square it with the equality act? (Or comparable legislation elsewhere)

But you can have a policy about people who persistently ignore the laws of physics or persistently break the rules.

[Colin2B]

Banning people with mental health problems is going to be tricky.
(1) How could you diagnose mental illness via a discussion forum
(2) how do you square it with the equality act? (Or comparable legislation elsewhere)

If we judge that someone is posting material that might be harmful to themselves or others, or indicate that the continued posting might make a mental state worse, we have a duty to stop that thread.
The @JLindgaard thread is a good example of psychotic behaviour which could be seen as harmful to the poster if allowed to continue. He had a lot of warnings.

But you can have a policy about people who persistently ignore the laws of physics or persistently break the rules.

We do, but the rules we work under give a lot of leeway to the op.

[Zer0]

ROFL @ Colin.
🤣🤣🤣
You saved a Life, & in the process made Others lives better too.
👍

P.S. - dat waz aawsumm!
👻