Taking over things/constructs without understanding their meaning is called
cargo-culting.
However, maybe it is not as bad as one might think, there are
other perspectives, too.
The important thing is, I think, to at least try to have some understanding what the configuration options actually do.
Else it is like
shotgun debugging, which likely introduces more problems, as
poorandunlucky pointed out well.
Off-topic and tl;dr - mainly directed at drhowarddrfine and scottro - feel free to skip please:
scottro Thank you for your well formulated thoughts. I am a bit hesitant to reply, but I think it is an important thing even if OT.
I esteem very much that you are one of these not very many guys who think much about how good social interaction works and what are the key points to achieve that. Your webpage contains at least one very interesting article about that topic. Taking things (too) personally, and/or having grudges, fires back, as you indirectly describe very well.
Regarding the Linux bashing you mention, I'd like to add some things. There was a thread about the question whether FreeBSD will ever adapt systemd. This thread, originally just a simple question, developed into Linux bashing and discussion about the mindset of leading Linux people. Although very interesting to many people, that thread got closed, and I guess some of my posts might have been a main reason for that.
Thinking about the administrator's motives, I come to the conclusion that his motivation in the end was to keep a sane culture of discussion that does not insult people (or make them feel insulted, even that was not intended), and to avoid the impression to external (i.e. not FreeBSD using) visitors that this might be just a Linux bashing forum. Like, say, a fanclub forum of Team A bashing Team B and its fans. And such is not constructive in any way.
And what I would like to emphasize in that example: The admin commented clear, blunt but respectful-worded why he deleted my posts he found inappropriate. I am quite sure that when I had been young still, I'd have taken that personally, considering my background coming from a dysfunctional family dominated by a malign narcissistic (psychopathic) mother. So I naturally inherited less social competence than people growing up in healthier circumstances, to the degree that I am not really sure whether I am a sociopath myself. Not a nice feeling, but I cannot deny myself that it might be true. And I do not want to be such, I can assure you.
And so I learned to ask myself, why does this or that disturb me so personally? And in the conclusion I found another so-to-say "bad programming" of myself that I need -and want - to correct. This helps me to get rid of sociopathic and narcissistic relics from education. And this again makes me calmer, more relaxed, and more equilibrated. This pays off.
So I apologize to everybody, as I believe my posts have at least contributed to the admin's decision to close that thread. This was not my intention.
The core point what I would like to point at: In the process of trying to neutralize my narcissism,
I learned that it is more helpful for me, if I try to find out what offended people, than to take their reaction personally.
And what I learned also, that it is more constructive to try avoid things that offend people, instead find other, more constructive, ways to address problems.
Thus I think it's a good thing to think about what made me feel grudgy, instead of stagnating in grudgy feelings.
drhowarddrfine, it was actually
you who who made me aware of the importance of keeping politics out of the discussions here.
Some time ago I made a political comment something that US globalism politics aren't liked everywhere in the world (forgot what in detail).
You reacted very emotional, praising the US in a way that illustrated me very figuratively how little you know about how some things are perceived very differently from foreign perspective.
Your reaction made me regret having written a poltically colored comment, because I saw that it was only divisive.
You obviously felt very upset, and it was obvious to me that you know little to nothing how American politics are being perceived in, say, some Middle East countries, and thus are unable to understand their perspectives.
Thus, to not put more fuel into the fire, I refrained from replying to your upset comments and took care to
never again word anything politically-colored.
I could have been warned/banned for that. However I have to admit that the infractions because of why you were banned were way, way worse.
For example, answering a (perceived) insult with even bigger ones is destructive behaviour that can result in fractionization and fragmentation of the forum community.
There would have been better ways to handle this, like using the report button.
So I kindly ask you to try to see things from the admin's perspective.
Maybe you'll then recognize that his action was
not directed against your person, but against a particular behavior.
And as soon as you recognize this, your grudges will probably dissolve.
I myself profited much by losing grudges, and I am sure you would too.
So I hope this tl;dr post will help you achieve that, as I highly esteem your posts (at least these that are on-topic) and would like you to continue to participate in the forum.
admin I am not sure whether it's OK to post this, as it is OT and regards psychology. So I am not sure whether this is in line with your rules. But I can assure you I don't intend to insult/hurt anybody or be divisive. So please feel free to delete if you find that inappropriate. (I will take this then as sign you do not want posts that regard psychological things, and respect that). Thank you.