You stalked off in a huff because you thought I was picking on your brother (who is now, inexplicably, a moderator) and vowed to boycott the HabitableZone.

I did neither. I neither Vowed to boycott the zone, nor did I stalk off. I don't even think I said so much as 'I'm taking a vacation', though I may have- it was a looong time ago and I have not given it much thought. I just lost interest in posting, and didn't, for a long time.

As for 'picking on my brother', you attempt to frame the issue with your language in a way that I don't care to argue. So I won't. You and I both know it was more complex than that, and even your depiction of the timeline is convinient and misleading. Last time I took exception with what I saw as a double standard, RL was already a moderator, and had been for some time

and the breaking point in question was where you called me a bald-faced liar, not about any issues with RL. You accused me, IIRC of either hacking the Moderator lounge, logging on as RL, or getting info from there funneled to me from RL or something to that effect- none of which are true and none of which are within my capability to do within my ethics. So put it together, Robert. I've tried to be friendly in my dealings with you at the other place, and I've tried to be friendly to you over email, but if you expect me to bend over backwards here to accomodate you, sorry. Aint gonna happen.

" In other venues you frequently badmouth the place--apparently you've forgotten that I'm on at least one of the mailing lists on which you trash the HabitableZone."

There is only one non-technical mailing list which I participate in currently, so again your language is misleading. And if you cared to notice, there are others on that list who go further than me in criticism, of which there is very very little. Beyond that, on that very mailing list, I often ask when people want to discuss in-detail the zone or ongoing conflicts there, to please leave it off the list.

What I say off the zone about the zone is my business, and its not reasonable for you to drag it out here (and also misrepresent it) as a way to prosecute your argument against me. If you take issue with what I say at the other place, bring it up there, so I can defend it in context- don't give a representation of discussion at the other place here to make hay. Its 'not cool' to put it colloquially, and you are big enough to get that. Its also something of an abuse of the other place, IMHO.

" It seems like the only time you return is to badmouth the Zone in person."

Ah, and where have I returned since my last leave-off to post something to badmouth the zone? Surely you have links? In fact, aside from criticising you rarely and in the context of a dispute, where have I criticized the zone-qua-zone in the last, say, year? Surely you have links?

"And yet you claim to make a contribution? Oh please."

I see, so the little exchange we had a few months back on technical issues, where I went out of my way to gather some data, at your request, and provided input- that was nothing, eh? Careful, your chip is showing. Its getting pretty obvious.

"Please explain how you're helping to rehabilitate the HabitableZone by trying to drive away newcomers who might inject fresh perspective and fresh enthusiasm."

Oh come on. Yes... Dr Evil DAVIN, lurking in the shadows to ambush innocent newcomers!! Your reaction to what I said, and your representation of it, is wayyyyyyyyy out of bounds.

All the evidence says that you're working toward the destruction of the HabitableZone.

This is really getting silly. Nobody is capable of 'working towards the destruction HZone'... its a voluntary community. People show up and post or don't, as they see fit and how they see fit. My opinion of the value of postion or not posting is just that: MY OPINION. I rarely share it, and its unlikely to have much impact one way or another.

"You're no friend to the HabitableZone, Davin. If you think Im wrong about that, then try for once behaving as if you want the Zone to succeed."

With this last quote, its passed the line of even having a reasonable discussion. This is stupid. I was a contributer here for many years. I have never acted directly against either your interests or the interests of the zone, quite the contrary even given our lack of smooth sailing. You are blowing my comment to ER completely out of porportion, reading it as a much broader indictment of the Zone than it was ever intended to be (It was more about discourse on flame than discouse in general at the zone, but heck, you want to lash me to that mast, sure, go right ahead- because its pretty much how I feel anyway, especially at this point).

Its absurd that you think I even have to defend myself to you, like you are some sort of fudal lord, taking me to task for my 'loyalty' to the zone and 'Keeping Score' of my activities elsewhere. The Zones very Own Total Information Awareness. Watch what you say Zoners! Robert S is a-listening on the line!

Its absurd for me to even play this game with you. Its absurd how after all your noise about smoothing the waters of rhetoric and discourse in this country that you have indulged in this most blatant and hyperbolic re-casting of the items, facts and terms of our disagreement into fictions and emotionally charged black and whites. Like I'm an 'enemy of the Zone' and 'working for its demise' and 'driving away innocent newcomers', 'Stalking off' after you 'picked on my brother' and etc etc. God god man, take a vacation yourself.

DL