User talk:Dking

Hello Dking, thanks for your edits at cult. But please provide more references for what you wrote because the subject is complicated, diverse and controversial. Thanks. Andries 07:30, 4 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Welcome!

Hello, and welcome to Wikipedia. Thank you for your contributions. I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

The Five Pillars of Wikipedia
How to edit a page
Editing, policy, conduct, and structure tutorial
Picture tutorial
How to write a great article
Naming conventions
Manual of Style
If you're ready for the complete list of Wikipedia documentation, there's also Wikipedia:Topical index.

I hope you enjoy editing here and being a Wikipedian! By the way, you can sign your name on Talk and vote pages using three tildes, like this: ~~~. Four tildes (~~~~) produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, see the help pages, add a question to the village pump or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! Cheers, -Willmcw 15:32, Jun 4, 2005 (UTC)

Providing sources

Hey, Dking. As you've already probably noticed, certain editors at the cult articles are pro-cult POV pushers of the first order, masters of a double standard under which even the most preposterous allegation made against Rick Ross or Margaret Singer or the anti-cult movement is given prominence, and yet any statement against cultic groups or any of their leaders is likely to be removed immediately with the claims "that's not sufficiently referenced" and "cite your sources".

When recommendations for 'proper conduct' are being wielded as weapons by blatant hypocrites with ulterior motives, it can be hard to find a reason to take anything they say seriously. Nevertheless, there are certain principles which Wikipedia does hold, and which you should give serious attention to -- even if the pro-cult guerillas are proclaiming them insincerely, with a full intent to break those same rules once it becomes convenient, these are still the principles that are valued by the people who are actually acting on Wikipedia in good faith. Wherever possible, cite your sources so that the people who are acting in good faith can know that your claims are based on research, and the POV-pushers will have to go through even more absurd verbal contortions (which they will) trying to find an excuse to delete them. -- Antaeus Feldspar 19:50, 4 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Cults.

Thanks for the link; I'll have to check it out. When you said There's a great check list at one of the Wiccan websites, I assume you're speaking of Isaac Bonewits' Cult Danger Evaluation Frame.
And I assume the officer to whom you referred is Kerr Cuchulain, author of the Law Enforcement Guide to Wicca.
As for your question what would you do if you had a son or daughter in Rev. Jim Jones' group and found out they were all moving to the jungle in Guiana?, obviously I wouldn't know what was going to happen in advance, so I'd have been somewhat concerned, and sad my child was moving so far away, but I'd respect her/his decision.
And be completely destroyed afterward, of course...
Septegram 10:22, 11 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

You have a point, but I think that in such situations a lawyer is a better idea than a deprogrammer; get a restraining order and a psychiatric evaluation rather than kidnapping someone. In some states, I believe kidnapping still carries a death penalty, and it would be ironic to "save" one's child from a "cult," only to be executed for it.

Septegram 21:29, 12 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

= Social therapy/Fred Newman edits by user BabayDweezil

Hi, Seeking on your opinion/input on BabyDweezil’s most current edits on both the Social Therapy and Fred Newman Wikipages. I added both Rick Ross’*Rick A. Ross Institute for the Study of Destructive Cults, Controversial Groups and Movements and Steven Hassan’s Steven Hassan’s Freedom of Mind Resource CenterFreedom of Mind links to their information on Fred Newman and Social therapy et al under “Sites critical of Social Therapy” on the Wiki social therapy page only. As they both are critics of Social Therapy, Fred Newman, et al. Both are also well known and regarded as knowledgeable on the subject of cults, destructive groups, etc. Therefore, It seemed quite reasonable to me to add these two additional links to the existing links of www.ex-iwp.or, www.dennisking.org and www.publiceye.org on the Social therapy page. Baby’s first edit as to add {{Unverifiable-external-links}} above the “Sites critical of Social Therapy”. I have no objection to Baby’s BabyDweezil edit but sincerely felt that it belonged above all the external links – “Sites with information on Social Therapy” as well and not just above those critical of Newman because the Social therapy WebPages certainly do not provided all the information which consumers need to make and informed decision. I believe this is especially so as the Social Therapy websites are clear self-published and these websites offer no other point of view than that of Newman and believers in Social Therapy. Additionally, none of these websites mention to potential consumers (therapy patients) that Newman has quite a long history of having sexual relations with his patients and does not find this to be problematic. Nor do the websites mention that Newman and Social Therapy do not adhere to the APA Code of Ethics and that this is a politically based group. Nowhere on any Social Therapy Group WebPages are any of the above mentioned to potential future therapy clients. Since I think that this information is very relevant and pertinent which Newman and the Social Therapy Group is omitting I believe it is certainly fair for this information to be provided by other websites such as ex-iwp, Rick Ross, Steven Hassan, Dennis king, don’t you? After I moved this banner up above all the external links [1] , Baby then proceeded to delete all but publiceye.org from the list of site critical of Newman. [2] So I do not understand how BabyDweezil BabyDweezil can assert that it is against Wiki policy to omit sites which are critical of Newman/Social therapy yet not see the fault that self-published Social therapy sites are the only resources needed. Personally, I find Baby’s most current statement of “Freedomofmind.com and Rick Ross’ site are both commercial websites primarily designed to sell the services of these self proclaimed experts. Commercial websites are advised against as external links.” To be very hypocritical and self-defeating. What are your thoughts on this? Thanks, GrownUpAndWise 15:05, 3 January 2007 (UTC) 14:58, 3 January 2007 (UTC) GrownUpAndWise[reply]

Thanks for your response and tireless efforts; they are appreciated. I do believe Cberlet is also on the case. It seems to me, based upon Baby's latest "reasoning" behind deleting the www.ex-iwp.org link, that BabyDweezil is taking too many things very personally these days and I get the impression that he is quite worried about what the public will read on your site, ex-iwp, Rick Ross, and Publiceye.org . Actually, Baby's links gossipy message board, and personal attacks on wikipedia editors. is quite wonderful press and exposure for "us exers"! But if BabyDweezil really wants to give "exers" and this "Underdog" more press, I would suggest this link is better.

I don't know....I would think that such a believer in Social Therapy would be able to "perform this differently." I guess that mantra doesn't really work. GrownUpAndWise 02:56, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Hello, BabyDweezil seems to be hard at work today deleting all the same links which both you and Cberlet keep restoring from the Fred Newman and Social Therapy Wiki pages but also from Lois Holzman and Leorora Fulani Wiki pages, too. I see no grounds for his deletions. Isn’t that considered to be vandalism? GrownUpAndWise 17:01, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Comments at Talk:Lyndon LaRouche

Please refrain from making comments like this and this. I'm hardly a fan of Lyndon or his supporters - in fact, I find the entire matter to be cultishly bizarre - but Wikipedia has rules for good reasons - they improve the process.

I'm sure you're aware of WP:CIVIL, WP:NPA, and WP:AGF. My primary objection, however, to your postings on this talk page is that they violate Wikipedia:Talk page guidelines, because they are not about improving the content of the article, but rather about trying to drive an editor away. What they're almost certainly likely to do, of course, is decrease the value of the talk page to other editors, as the page fills up with attacks and reponses and discussions of motivations and so on.

If you really need to comment to another editor about his/her behavior - and that should be limited to failure to comply with Wikipedia rules, not personal motivations - then please post such comments on the editor's user talk page, not on an article talk page.

Thanks. John Broughton | Talk 01:29, 14 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'm sorry that you feel harassed, but the mechanisms for solving that are clear: Wikipedia:Resolving disputes provides an escalating set of processes ending with the Arbitration Committee. Rather than waste your time with endless arguing and reversions, I suggest you follow the path laid out in that policy. That might also prevent your patience from wearing out and you then getting into discussions about personal motivations, on article talk pages.

And, if you're not aware of it, Wikipedia:Conflict of interest pertains to this situation (I see no mention above, so I'm mentioning it here.) John Broughton | Talk 03:19, 14 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I have to agree with John Broughton. I know how frustrating it can be to deal with contentious editing. Please keep cool and refrain from making what could be perceived as personal remarks. Some of us take occasional breaks away from Wikipedia to relax, or edit non-contentious articles. Whatever works. Cheers, -Will Beback · † · 02:46, 17 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

2 cents

As much as you deserve to be slapped with a boxful of WP:CIVIL, WP:NPA, and WP:AGF wet noodles for the obscene comments (and others) cited above, I'll forego the often juvenile Wikipenalties merry-go-round and simply request that you in the future refrain from, either obscenely or prosaically, in any way associating me with the noxious criminal enterprise that is the subject of the article where your comments appeared. And while I'm temporarily acting grown up, I should add that IMHO, you and Berlet are barking up a very wrong tree with the whole "coded discourse hidden meanings" business, and are unwittingly (hopefully) lending credence to the far more noxious aspects of that enterprise by going off on that tangent. You cannot verify the claims, and as such, yuo will lose that debate, and by virtue of losing, lend credibility to aspects of that organization (as well as it propagandistic persecution complex motifs) far beyond its semiotics. I would stick to the many more obvious creepy things. The gibberish, I'm afraid, is simply gibberish. Intentional? I don't know. But its what it appears to me they love having you focus on. Now back to the usual childishness. Cheers. BabyDweezil 01:29, 19 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Political Cult

Why did you delete all that from Political Cult Dking? JFBurton 08:24, 17 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

OK then, I see what you mean now. Try and get an administrator to help you solve this issue. JFBurton 19:12, 17 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Your comment

Thanks. I hope my intervention doesn't provide Dweezil and the other fellow with a justification to remove references to LaRouche and the IWP. I tried to draw a clear line of demarcation between my concerns about Tourish re Militant - re accusations against the group being made which don't seem to be shared by anyone else and broadly supported accusations against IWP/LaRouche etc (indeed, doesn't the IWP accuse the LaRouche movement of being a cult?). I've read some of Tourish's stuff on the web and find it unconvincing and somewhat contrived. (I know T & W are co-authors but I think it's safe to assume that the book's references to Militant are by Tourish and the references to the WRP and its cothinnkers are by Wohforth). I haven't seen much of Wohlforth's writing on the Healyites (who I agree were a political cult) but I'd be curious to see his assessment of his own role and whether he acknowledges and takes responsibility for his abusive behavour towards his members or puts all the blame on Healy. General Idea 00:26, 18 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

LaRouche

A discussion has been started at Talk:Lyndon LaRouche/medcab06-07. Input by you would be appreciated. G e o. Talk to me 05:39, 18 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Coded messages

It's okay, I didn't think it was you. Some LaRouchies have tried adding it several times to this article and others. The point is to try to make the critics look foolish. SlimVirgin ^(talk) 23:47, 3 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Please observe WP:CIV

Per Comments here. Calling others 'spin doctors for human rights-abusing regimes' is not nice and creates an unfriendly working atmosphere. Instead, consider following the path of WP:DR to solve this problem.--_{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus | talk} 20:46, 25 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

WP:COI concerns

Hi, you should be aware that I'm concerned about your addition of links to your own website in various articles - I've opened discussions here and here that you should feel free to leave comments in. Thanks - RJASE1 ^Talk 19:45, 8 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Hey, I just wanted to follow up - I noticed that you're still editing but you haven't answered any of the concerns. RJASE1 ^Talk 04:04, 11 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Mediation of Cults_and_new_religious_movements_in_literature_and_popular_culture

Greetings. Having talked to User:Mr.Z-man, I'd like to offer to assist with mediation. I have a background in the study of religion, though not specializing in NRMs or cults. Please let me know if you'd accept my involvement and any suggestions, too. If involved, I would apprentice in effect w/Zman. Thanks. HG 03:32, 9 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for your reply. I've made a series of recommendations and posed questions on the article's talk page. Please comment there, thanks! HG | Talk 21:03, 14 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Hello. You haven't replied to some recent comments on the talk page of the article. Do you think you and Jossi can work this out? HG | Talk 21:12, 17 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

POV deletions at United States v. LaRouche

Dking, you have deleted the properly sourced quote from Von der Heydte over 20 times now since you began deleting on June 12. Your edit summaries and talk page comments are all variations on the theme that you find Von der Heydte's opinion to be "absurd and offensive." You are entitled to have a POV with regard to Von der Heydte's thesis, but your POV is not grounds for deletion under Wikipedia policy. I urge you to stop what has become a pattern of vandalism of the article. The consensus is clearly against you, and as far as policy is concerned, you haven't a leg to stand upon. --Don't lose that number 22:06, 5 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It's not true that the consensus favors inclusion of the von der Heydte quote. There's no indication that all the editors want it in. ·:· Will Beback ·:· 01:09, 6 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

An appeal for a change in your behavior

I would like to appeal to you to modify your behavior. It often appears to me that, in your talk page comments, you are using belligerent and deliberately provocative language that seems calculated to intimidate other editors, and has the effect of exacerbating content disputes, rather than helping resolve them. I would particularly like to point out that in WP:CIVIL it warns against "Judgmental tone in edit summaries" and "Calling for bans or blocks." I think that if you would raise your issues on the talk pages, rather than being so quick to start edit wars, you would find that disputes would be much shorter-lived.

I am also concerned that you and your real-life associate Chip Berlet seem determined to promote and even impose a viewpoint at the LaRouche articles that is not consistent with main-stream opinion. While LaRouche has many critics and is considered a conspiracy theorist, etc., you have a particular line that he is an anti-Semitic fascist, despite his public campaigns against anti-Semitism and fascism. You continually cite yourself, and obscure and dubious sources like "In These Times," instead of utilizing the abundant mainstream sources that would not be disputed. It appears that this behavior is intended to use Wikipedia to "make a case," when an encyclopedia is intended merely to inform (see WP:SOAP.) --Don't lose that number 13:18, 13 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I would like to say that I agree with DLTN's observations, and if you could cool it on the violations of WP:NPOV,WP:CIVIL and WP:SOAP, it would help to prevent these endless and fatiguing content disputes at the LaRouche articles. --NathanDW 15:29, 13 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Dking, I am concerned that you may be regularly violating policies such as WP:BLP,WP:NPOV,WP:SOAP, WP:CIVIL and WP:COI. I urge you to take stock of your behavior and I would be happy to discuss it with you on our respective talk pages. Continuing policy violations will make the job of editing more stressful and difficult for all concerned. --MaplePorter 06:24, 25 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Dking, you appear to be on some sort of break from editing. However, if you read this, please contact me on my talk page. I have visited numerous controversial discussion pages through article RFCs, and I find greater problems with civility and soapboxing at the LaRouche articles than anywhere else. I think that your conduct is a contributing factor. --Marvin Diode 14:00, 25 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

RFC/USER discussion concerning you (Dking)

Hello, Dking. Please be aware that a request for comments has been filed concerning your conduct on Wikipedia. The RFC entry can be found by your name in this list, and the actual discussion can be found at Wikipedia:Requests for comment/Dking, where you may want to participate.

-- Marvin Diode 14:19, 29 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Please note that I have deleted and delisted the RfC for failing to meet the necessary requirements. El_C 08:47, 3 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

RfM

A request for mediation has been filed with the Mediation Committee that does not list you as a party. However, I think that it would be appropriate for you to join the mediation. Please review the request at Wikipedia:Requests for mediation/Lyndon LaRouche and related articles, and sign on if you agree to mediate. --MaplePorter 07:15, 17 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

A request for arbitration has been filed that includes yourself

Please note here. --Marvin Diode 12:12, 14 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

My Comment about the ArbCom Motion

Hello. I made a comment related to you here. Of course my comment does not condone edit warring or any type of editor misconduct. Instead it recognizes the difficulty that editors encounter while editing controversial articles and Wikipedia's current inability to always give editors needed support in a timely manner. I ask you to continue to look for support and refrain from editing if you find yourself getting too frustrated. Take care, FloNight ♥♥♥ 13:19, 23 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Sounds like a plan :) FloNight ♥♥♥ 02:17, 24 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

FYI

Wikipedia:Reliable sources/Noticeboard#www.lyndonlarouchewatch.org ·:· Will Beback ·:· 23:20, 2 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Meow?

?? Boodlesthecat ^Meow? 14:42, 4 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

LaRouche conspiracy trials

LaRouche conspiracy trials is currently a featured article candidate. I believe you've made more contributions to it than any other active editor, other than myself, and are thoroughly familiar with the topic. If you'd like to support or oppose the nomination you can comment at Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/LaRouche conspiracy trials‎. ·:· Will Beback ·:· 22:17, 12 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Dennis, please don't keep reverting the article. It may be featured on the front page soon and if there's an edit war then it might not be featured at all. That material has been there a long time. The world hasn't ended. Let's just accept that there are different viewpoints. ·:· Will Beback ·:· 04:44, 27 November 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Can you please email me about this? ·:· Will Beback ·:· 07:11, 27 November 2008 (UTC)[reply]

FYI

Be aware that I have opened a thread about your recent edits at WP:ANI. --Leatherstocking (talk) 15:31, 24 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Complaint

FYI: [3]. Will Beback talk 04:44, 25 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

NPOV

[4] I appreciate your honesty about your purpose for involvement with the Lyndon LaRouche topics in Wikipedia. I see that on your userpage you also link to your website which apparently has an anti-LaRouche agenda. WP:NPOV is a core policy. As far as Wikipedia is concerned, we don't make any moral judgements on LaRouche's ideas or actions. We just give him a fair, neutral treatment. NPOV applies to talk page discussion also. If you can't be neutral about LaRouche, then I think that it is better that you don't edit any of the LaRouche-related topics in Wikipedia. Cla68 (talk) 06:30, 26 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Sock puppets

I looked at recent postings on Wikipedia Review made by you and HK. I categorically deny that I am using any sock puppet on Wikipedia; I post under my own name. "LaRouche planet" is almost certainly just that--a person from the LaRouche Planet website. I am not one of the people responsible for that site and would not presume to use its name, although I certainly support their efforts to expose LaRouche's anti-Semitism and cultism.--Dking (talk) 02:08, 5 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you. I believe you. Cla68 (talk) 05:06, 5 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

ArbCom elections are now open!

Hi,
You appear to be eligible to vote in the current Arbitration Committee election. The Arbitration Committee is the panel of editors responsible for conducting the Wikipedia arbitration process. It has the authority to enact binding solutions for disputes between editors, primarily related to serious behavioural issues that the community has been unable to resolve. This includes the ability to impose site bans, topic bans, editing restrictions, and other measures needed to maintain our editing environment. The arbitration policy describes the Committee's roles and responsibilities in greater detail. If you wish to participate, you are welcome to review the candidates' statements and submit your choices on the voting page. For the Election committee, MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 13:05, 23 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]