The Volokh Conspiracy

Although the order should be reversed.

Cruise missiles?

Folks: I deleted a bunch of comments, for a reason that I would think should be obvious -- they were laughably off-topic, discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a comment thread attached to a chemistry joke, for pete's sake.

I didn't have time to post a comment explaining this (I had to bathe the boys and put them to bed), but I thought that people would grasp what had happened. Instead, in the span of the next hour, people started an out-and-out foodfight related to the topic of the deleted comments. (The one worthwhile comment was Dr. Weevil's, which, while skating close to or over the edge as to civility, was at least kind of funny and on-topic, for a change.) This annoyed me even more than the initial excursion -- I thought people would get the message from the original deletion, but I guess they didn't.

In any case, I've deleted the follow-up comments. Everyone who's gotten into a froth over the original off-topic debate, just cool down for several hours. Then, if you want to post comments about chemistry jokes -- or post comments on other topics in threads related to posts on those topics -- please do that. But don't view every thread as an excuse to rant about your favorite cause.

hey Just, you're still a coward.

"I think you are a chicken shit coward, Mr. Volokh."

Dear Pot:

You're looking pretty damn black today.

Sincerely,

Kettle

One last thing:

Just, if you ever make me debate you here again, be prepared to dodge that question, again.

Hehe. Reminds me of this one:

Little Willie was a chemist.
Little Willie is no more.
For what he thought was H2O,
Was H2SO4

And of course this. Ban DHMO now! It's the deadliest chemical on earth.

Eugene, Just is going to post again, he's not a registered user so even if you ban his address he can go to another computer.

See, so can I.

But, when he spouts off, if you want to ban the guy who rips him and defends you, my guess is this guy has much more spare time on his hands than me and you and is going to go to lengths neither of us will. You’re welcome to having to deal with him.

Mike BUSL 07: I think it refers to IP addresses being blocked.

I just showed up here at 12:20 EDT to find the strangest set of comments, compared to the original post, I had ever seen here. This was a cute joke riddle. I liked it. But what is going on in the comments?

In my defense, I just saw "Da Vinci Code," which explains why I'm feeling a good deal *slower* than usual. Hopefully, those brain cells will regenerate.

I find it a little strange that I got deleted when I asked to people go get back on topic, and stop this fruitless debating about Israel. Am I missing something?

A potato gun. The gun itself woudl be made of a nickel/iron alloy. The ammo is rich in potassium - about 750 mg in a medium potato.

Anyone who wants to read my "one worthwhile comment, . . . which . . . was at least kind of funny" (EV, 11:31pm) can see it at my site, along with another (much better) chemistry joke, the latter illustrated.

1. As I recall, those are components of stainless steel, and thus could be used not only in knives.

2. Firearms would work in outer space. Downrange calculations would be greatly simplified, of course. The gunpowder contains its own O2, as it were--that's why it can ignite while sealed inside the cartridge.

Compare certain posters: Rebel Without a Clue

"I think you are a chicken shit coward, Mr. Volokh.

You selectively delete, then misrepresent."

this poster has confused the comments section with a democracy, which it ain't.

Yes, but how are you going to kill a Gorn with just a knife? Better to jury-rig a cannon and then load it with saltpeter, sulphur, and diamonds.

Prof. V. -

I trust you found that bathing the boys involved fewer tantrums than moderating the comments? Perhaps the entire VC project is practice for parenting?

Then again, if the boys complain about being controlled by their Elders of Zion, they are on to something, no? :-)