Azalin

You asked for something defining what constitutes derailing a thread. I provided you two examples. Don't ask for something and then B word about getting it.

The only rule I know of is regarding profanity - the normal TBD rules are largely suspended here due to the contentious nature of political discussion in general. Defining "derailing a thread" is pretty obvious - posting something intentionally inflammatory or unrelated to the topic pretty much covers it. A relevant example would be Baskin's attempt to change the subject of banning you to his perceived failures of conservatism, or your own initial response (post # 2) in \GoBillsInDallas/'s "Get Off My Lawn" thread.

Plagiarism is no stranger to a Gatorman post.

I fail to see how an auto repair shop can contribute to any neighborhood's drug & crime problem.

Despite the fact that he contributes nothing beyond hyperbole, insults, and toilet references, he's often the most entertaining poster here by far. People like him can only bother you if you try to have an actual conversation, which we all know by now is utterly impossible. Responding to him (other than to make fun of him) is useless, because it's like walking up to a pile of crap and crapping on it - when you walk away, you still have a giant pile of crap, and you've only made it that much bigger. He's only a net negative if you take anything he says as being the slightest bit serious.

They don't seem to understand it - a primer might be just the thing they need.

Oh, great - it's probably going to be one of those annoying Castro brothers ( Julian & Joachin, not Fidel and Raul ).

Yeah, that makes sense. +11

I'm of the same mind as you with regard to HOAs, but that in and of itself doesn't make either of us Libertarians. TYTT is right when he says that liberty allows you to enter into a restrictive contract if that's what you want to do. I believe that drugs shouldn't be illegal, but I don't have to prove my devotion to the Libertarian philosophy by moving into a neighborhood full of crack houses.

Take it easy, you guys - don't scare him off. This was starting to get entertaining. Don't mind them. Please, do go on.

Once the presidential election is over, climate change will be back in the news full force.

Her chief weapons are fear, surprise, an almost fanatical devotion to Al Roker, and nice red uniforms....

All hail the almighty polar vortex!

Fair enough.

What the hell does that have to do with the OP, you dimwit?

With a sense of humor like yours, you've got to be quite the laugh at parties.

http://youtu.be/MAkY9h3F5g8

You may as well toss it into the oven afterward to see if it has the opposite effect.

So I take it that means that there was a greater tilt to the Earth's axis during the Mesozoic era than there is now, and less during the ice ages?

I'd be inclined to make that "wine coolers vs tequila", but your point's taken.

As opposed to something like "The Fighting Irish" - "The Sniveling Victims"

No, they're not answers to anything. What they (especially Sanders and Trump) are is a manifestation of peoples' frustration. The last thing this country needs to do is to embrace nationalism or socialism, especially by jumping aboard the Trump or Sanders bandwagons.

You'd think that putting it in terms of beer would make it easier for most guys to relate to, but you know that the same old people will miss the point completely.

If only it worked that way. Obama's been to Austin at least four times since he took office, and sadly for me, I work close to the airport. Traffic in Austin is unbelievably bad anyway (they were too busy saving salamanders to build an actual loop around the city when they had the chance 15-20 years ago), and the arrival of Air Force One shuts it down completely - for hours. It's funny, because GW was Governor of Texas for two terms, but I don't remember him ever coming back here as President. Hillary was here a few weeks ago, and you'd have never known it for the lack of traffic.