Dear colleagues,

I just found this message from TDC on my talk page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Slrubenstein

A question for you:
Now, I know you Marxist types dont believe in an afterlife and the like, but if I were to hold a seance and channel Marx's spirit through you, do you think you would try and suck your own dick. TDC 04:15, 1 Apr 2004 (UTC)

Now, I've long resisted attempts to ban people but this kind of talk (and given TDC's antagonistic comments elsewhere, I don't think it is an April Fool's joke) kinda wants me to see him banned. I don't know if this is actually a bannable offense -- I've seen far worse language elsewhere, and I know the rule is to try to educate people and encourage them to be more civil. Maybe I am especially unsympathetic because TDC has wasted a lot of people's time -- the time of serious contributors like Andyleherer and John, and others -- on the Talk: Fascism and Talk: Karl Marx pages, and I just do not see him making any useful contribution. Be that as it me, since I am the one offended here I don't quite trust my own judgment. I've taken a publicly antagonist position to him, dismissing his comments on these talk pages -- although I have tried to avoid vulgarity and have always addressed the substantive historical question. But I don't think I can communicate effectively with him, certainly not anymore.

Would some of you try to communicate with him about this?

Thanks,

Steve

Steven L. Rubenstein
Associate Professor
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Bentley Annex
Ohio University
Athens, Ohio 45701