I don't have a problem with conversations that go on ad nauseum on any given topic. At some point, I just drop out and quit reading that thread. I don't even mind it when someone starts an identical second thread on the exact same subject, and now we have two identical conversations that go on ad infinitum repeating the same echoes over and over again. And I keep my counsel to myself when a third person comes along, ignores the active thread list, and starts a third conversation, convinced that he is doing something original about the exact same subject as the two ongoing threads.
But when a fourth person comes along and does the same thing as the previous three, and now we have four concurrent threads about the exact same topic on the first page of the active threads list, the board begins to look like it is subject to an organized spamming effort.
The
ONE time I used Mr. Horse-Flogger, it was exactly that scenario. The topic was Open Carry (but it could have been anything). I have nothing against it. In actually in favor of it if pursued correctly. I participated in the discussions myself. But when a fourth thread got started, it was too much — at least for me, and I lost patience. But Open Carry isn't the point. It could have been multiple active threads about the best way to feed and care for gerbils.
In other similar situations, someone has come along and and posted links to the concurrent threads and suggested that respondents might want to take the conversation to those threads. Nobody thinks twice when that happens. That is the spirit in which I posted Mr. Horse-Flogger. I suppose it could have been perceived as rude, but then so is spamming the board on a given subject.
Personally, it doesn't bother me when someone posts that icon. That's why it never would have occurred to me that it would bother someone else. I guess I'm an insensitive boor.
“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”
― G. Michael Hopf, "Those Who Remain"
#TINVOWOOT
.
now????? I mean, well, you know . . . 
little dude. But the post where opposing views state their cases are the ones where I truly learn where I stand on a particular topic - and its not always where I thought I stood. Attempting to shut those down is a real travesty ...