Job Discussion Forums

shmeagain · Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Posts: 58 Location: Hong Kong

So we have one of the best Trolls in Dave's history.

He's been around a while and confuses moderators with his helpful hints and bile-spewing hits.

He even had someone call him "mate" just before he got banned - close to 1000 posts as well.

We love him, we hate him, we'd like to liberate him...

So I'm no poet Embarassed

Anyway, I think he should come back as

1) Phoenix - rising from the ashes to flame again - get it, get it???

2) Zero Hero - a petition to have him come back the same as it confuses everyone and the moderators

What do you think?

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

What was he banned for this time? I seem to have missed some of the news.

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

Rylees?

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

He posted a truly vile and hate-filled description of China, its culture, and its people -- even more vile and hate-filled than his typical ramblings about China.

kowlooner · Joined: 24 Jun 2004 Posts: 230 Location: HK, BCC (former)

Could you post a link this supposedly vile post by ZH?

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

Use the Search button. ZH posted nine times during his final six hours as a member of Dave's. The second of these nine was particularly ugly and vicious.

2 over lee · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 3:58 am Post subject:

Enderby, Flashman, O'Brian, Mustapha Mond or Baron von Ludwig.

Apart from the intellectual vanity I enjoy his posts.

kowlooner · Joined: 24 Jun 2004 Posts: 230 Location: HK, BCC (former)

Sorry HC, but I'm not sure what you consider to be so vile. The post you referred to is apparently this one: http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?p=293097&highlight=#293097

Perhaps not in the absolute best taste, but hardly the most offensive things I've seen on ESL Cafe!

Can we petition to have ZH reinstated? (though SHM, I rather like your "Phoenix" suggestion)

2 over lee · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 4:26 am Post subject:

Don't worry kowlooner, wild horses couldn't keep him away.

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

The mods have taken to protecting us against vile outbursts about our Chinese hosts.

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

Example of "spontaneous humour":

"[China] is full of people who are at best totally cranky, illogical, and delusional, and simply unbearable at worst.... [The desert], it should be noted, is arguably symbolic of the average Chinese person's mind: arid, bland, uniform, empty, primitive, eternal (in the sense of unchanging), and unvisited."

Such racist and essentialist words as primitive and eternal were long ago shown to be signs of imperialist and colonialist (not to mention uneducated) theories about non-Western cultures and peoples.

Chris_Crossley · Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2005 5:23 am Post subject: Attitudes

Quoting Henry_Cowell, �Such racist and essentialist words as primitive and eternal were long ago shown to be signs of imperialist and colonialist (not to mention uneducated) theories about non-Western cultures and peoples.�

Nevertheless, the usage of such words is still prevalent today if they suit the purposes of those who believe themselves to be so superior to others outside of their own culture, merely because they have had the benefits of being born into a �civilised� First World country and of receiving a good education that is a cut above the rest � always assuming that some parents have been fortunate in being so financially strong that they can afford to send their little darlings to independent schools. Not that it is the case that such schools actively promote such attitudes, for the management would get into enormous trouble for so doing, thus risking scandal. Even so, school is not the place where one learns everything, and outside influences can contribute as much to one�s attitudes as inside ones.

kowlooner · Joined: 24 Jun 2004 Posts: 230 Location: HK, BCC (former)

I think, HC, you may be taking ZH's comments a little too seriously. I doubt ZH was coming from a position of an evil, scheming colonialist. I figure it was more of an expression of a tired, cranky teacher.

On the other hand, ZH's observations are not new, nor are they restricted to imperialistic westerners. Bo Yang's "The Ugly Chinaman" is a fascinating read and offers some similar observations (delusional, uniform, primitive, eternal, though not necessarily in those words), though the sentiment is less hostile and aimed more at trying to stir up a bit of introspection.

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

The answer we've all been waiting for: "Transvaal" = "Zero Hero"

shmeagain · Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Posts: 58 Location: Hong Kong

Yes, that didn't take long and not too subtle either. Kind of expected more. That's the problem with coming back as someone else - you need to build yourself up again which could take 300 - 400 posts before you could get nasty.

I reckon this one will be over soon.

If I've said it once...PHOENIX!

Who would want a name like Transvaal anyway?