A question to C K Dexter Haven on the art of the insult in GD

[magellan01]

C K Dexter Haven,

I placed this here in GD and not The Pit because it is a serious question that I'd like to handle seriously, not fliply. And it seems there is a debate as to what does and does not constitute a violation of the GD rules.

In this thread (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=395320&page=3) you were kind enough to weigh in on an accusation that I made against tomndebb concerning an insult. I'll post what you offered and then ask my question.

Administrator interjects:
Magellan01: I have looked into this situation -- fairly quickly, I admit, since there are three pages of posts -- and I do not see that tomndeb has violated either forum rules or board rules. There is a careful distinction between "You appear to have said..." and "You are..." He is not attacking you as a person, he is attacking what you said.

Thank you for your input here. But I don't think this is how GD has been moderated in the past. I would also point out that your explanation does NOT seem to address what was said. I bring your attention to the words "you" and "who".

I am hardly going to warn you or threaten you with banning for being an incompetent debater who distorts what has been posted on a thread or throws odd red herrings into the discussion. (bolding mine)

Also, I don't see where something along the lines of "appears to have said" (emphasis mine) is present or relevant.

That said, based on the explanation you provided, which of these would be allowed? Which worthy of a warning or admonishment? And why? Please note that ALL of them adhere to the distinction you made above: they all focus the comment on what has been said, not who said it.

1) What you said is stupid.
2) Everything you have said is stupid.
3) Everything you say is stupid.
4) The stuff coming out of your mouth is completely asinine.
5) The stuff you say is completely asinine.
6) I am hardly going to report you for being an incompetent moderator who lies and distorts what has been said. I have better things to do.
7) I'm not going to report you for the lies, distortions and stupidity that you type. It would do no good.
8) I won't comment on the dumbfuck posts you continue to spawn.
9) Why do you keep spewing these lies and stupidity? Your posts in this thread imply a severe lack of education and gross stupidity.
10) That is the dumbest, most dishonest thing I have ever read on these boards.
11) I'm hardly going to respond to a poster that types such stupid shit.
12) You have just typed the dumbest thing I have ever seen.
13) That's the kind of post I'd expect from a poster that consistently posts stupid shit.

Again, they all point to what has been said. So, are these all allowed in GD? Please be specific, because your explanation will doubt be used to artfully craft insults in the future. Perhaps even by a Moderator.

[MEBuckner]

Moderator's Note: The BBQ Pit is the place for all "complaints and other discussion regarding administration of the SDMB" (which is what this thread clearly is).

[El_Kabong]

Dear moderators: if you don't mind, could you please define just how much of a hostile, hectoring jerk I can can get away with being in GD without getting myself banned? Thanks in advance.

[RedFury]

Whaaaaa! Tom's a meanie and wears jackboots!

[El_Kabong]

Tom's a meanie and wears jackboots!

And nothing else. So I'm told. I wouldn't know one way or another.

[EddyTeddyFreddy]

Whaaaaa! Tom's a meanie and wears jackboots!
What's REALLY kinky is that they're TVeblen's old jackboots (http://www.highheelshoemuseum.com/images/extrav2sm.jpg).

[Frank]

And nothing else. So I'm told. I wouldn't know one way or another.
The less said about the last meeting at the Mod's Secret Enclave of Doom, the better.

Well, I will say that we didn't let him play Musical Chairs with the rest of us.

[GIGObuster]

I saw this thread before:

Doper: discusses “A”

OP: mentions “A” was caused by “B” (with an aside that mentions “Y”)

Doper: “B” was not a correct assumption, “Y” was already discussed and dismissed before.

OP: You are insulting for bringing “Y” into the discussion!

4 pages of Argumentum ad Nauseam follows to demonstrate what an insult that was. It does not matter what “Y” was, the faith of the nation hangs in denouncing the assumed insult!

“A” is ignored, Mission Accomplished! :)

[Hentor the Barbarian]

Ah, now that you've finally arrived in the pit in connection with the thread about the asswhuping of the Republicans ("SDMB Conservatives: Go Reclaim Your Party"), I can tell you what I think of your personal attacks in GD.

You are a whining, pathetic little puss. So you're whimpering that the Republicans took it up the keister? Boo fucking hoo. Why don't you take a break and quit flailing all over the boards? All you are doing with your extended temper tantrum is solidifying the impression that you are a major league asshole, and a moronic one at that.

[Scotticher]

And *I* think that this is an excellent illustration of the kind of thing that would violate the rules of Great Debates.

But not the Pit.

I hope you see the difference, magellan01?

[Oakminster]

Ah, now that you've finally arrived in the pit in connection with the thread about the asswhuping of the Republicans ("SDMB Conservatives: Go Reclaim Your Party"), I can tell you what I think of your personal attacks in GD.

You are a whining, pathetic little puss. So you're whimpering that the Republicans took it up the keister? Boo fucking hoo. Why don't you take a break and quit flailing all over the boards? All you are doing with your extended temper tantrum is solidifying the impression that you are a major league asshole, and a moronic one at that.

Nice. Has a beat and I can dance to it. 8/10. Woulda been a 9/10, but you neglected to call him a fuckwit.

[magellan01]

Ah, now that you've finally arrived in the pit in connection with the thread about the asswhuping of the Republicans ("SDMB Conservatives: Go Reclaim Your Party"), I can tell you what I think of your personal attacks in GD.

Cite, please. Go into that thread and show me these horrid personal insults. And while you're at it, show me the warnings or admonishments I, no-doubetdly, received for such insults.

Either that, or I'll have to conclude you're simply lying. You'll forgive me that I'm not shocked.

You are a whining, pathetic little puss. So you're whimpering that the Republicans took it up the keister?
Is this what you consider "whimpering that the Republicans took it up the keister"?

I think this is a good thing for the country. To alter what Airman Doors said, the republicans need a break from power. This slap will hopefully cause them to wake up and get back to conservatism.

The democrats will not be able to simply complain and point out fault, and will have to offer concrete solutions. The move to the middle will hopefully cause the majority to slap down Conyers and other extremists.

I really think that, as unpalatable as some of this might be in the coming year to conservatives like myself, it is a good thing for both parties and the country.

Congratulations to all who were hoping for or worked towrd this.

That is my intial post in its entirety. I had also intended it to be mt last post in that thread. Alas, that was not to be. "Whimpering". I don't see it. Someone trying to be gracious in loss and congratulate his opponent? A little more so.

Schmuck.




Oops. Make that "Schmuck and liar."

[kaylasdad99]

1) What you said is stupid.
2) Everything you have said is stupid.
3) Everything you say is stupid.
4) The stuff coming out of your mouth is completely asinine.
5) The stuff you say is completely asinine.
6) I am hardly going to report you for being an incompetent moderator who lies and distorts what has been said. I have better things to do.
7) I'm not going to report you for the lies, distortions and stupidity that you type. It would do no good.
8) I won't comment on the dumbfuck posts you continue to spawn.
9) Why do you keep spewing these lies and stupidity? Your posts in this thread imply a severe lack of education and gross stupidity.
10) That is the dumbest, most dishonest thing I have ever read on these boards.
11) I'm hardly going to respond to a poster that types such stupid shit.
12) You have just typed the dumbest thing I have ever seen.
13) That's the kind of post I'd expect from a poster that consistently posts stupid shit.Pretty impressive collection, magellan01. Did you pick those all up on your own over the years, or were some of them borrowed from Clothahump's dance card?

I dood it! :D

[Zoe]

Magellan01: Your explanation will doubt be used to artfully craft insults in the future.

If your desire is to insult, why not just stick with the Pit? I can see your challenging someone in GD if what they have stated contradicts the truth, but that doesn't have to be done with invective.

I'm curious about the name-calling that you used to address Tom in GD. That seemed really beneath you. It made you seem malicious even though the names themselves were kind of silly.

You are better than this.

[Sage Rat]

Well obviously, some of these will depend on context, but righty-o:

1) What you said is stupid. -- Critique. Allowed (assuming you follow it with an explication of course)
2) Everything you have said is stupid. -- Blatant dismissal of anything you don't agree with. Probably allowed, but essentially it just shows that you've no desire to actually debate anything
3) Everything you say is stupid. -- Insult. Not allowed
4) The stuff coming out of your mouth is completely asinine. Insult
5) The stuff you say is completely asinine. Depends on context. Could be the same as #1 or #3
6) I am hardly going to report you for being an incompetent moderator who lies and distorts what has been said. I have better things to do. -- Pointless. Amuses other dopers at your expense, so allowed to sit
7) I'm not going to report you for the lies, distortions and stupidity that you type. It would do no good. -- Insult.
8) I won't comment on the dumbfuck posts you continue to spawn. -- Insult
9) Why do you keep spewing these lies and stupidity? Your posts in this thread imply a severe lack of education and gross stupidity. -- Insult that also works like #2, so a double whammy
10) That is the dumbest, most dishonest thing I have ever read on these boards. -- Critique. Allowed (assuming explication)
11) I'm hardly going to respond to a poster that types such stupid shit. -- Same as #2
12) You have just typed the dumbest thing I have ever seen. -- Meh. Same as #6
13) That's the kind of post I'd expect from a poster that consistently posts stupid shit. -- Insult. Compounded by the same issues as #2

Live long and prosper.

[C K Dexter Haven]

I am not a GD moderator, nor do I pretend to be, nor do I want to be. Magellan01 pulled me in because he was voicing a complaint to the admins about tomndebb, who is a GD moderator. I knew that TubaDiva is gone this weekend, I wasn't sure of other Admin availability, so I thought I ought to respond quickly rather than let things fester.

I will call this thread to the attention of the GD moderators, who can comment on the rules of Great Debates as they enforce them. I made my call based on my understanding of the general rules for all forums: FAQ: Rules for Posting at the Straight Dope Message Boards (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=384736), Post #10. Plus my experiences with formal debate rules, which are doubtless a trifle dated.

[magellan01]

I am not a GD moderator, nor do I pretend to be, nor do I want to be. Magellan01 pulled me in because he was voicing a complaint to the admins about tomndebb, who is a GD moderator. I knew that TubaDiva is gone this weekend, I wasn't sure of other Admin availability, so I thought I ought to respond quickly rather than let things fester.

I will call this thread to the attention of the GD moderators, who can comment on the rules of Great Debates as they enforce them. I made my call based on my understanding of the general rules for all forums: FAQ: Rules for Posting at the Straight Dope Message Boards (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=384736), Post #10. Plus my experiences with formal debate rules, which are doubtless a trifle dated.

I didn't mean to drag you, specifically, into this. So I extend my apologies for putting you on the spot. I didn't know Mods were exclusive to the different fora. Based on your post in the thread that sparked this one, I think you can see how I assumed you could answer. But I guess it makes sense, as I am seeking an official ruling of sorts, to have someone more familiar with the specifics of GD answer. Thanks for providing the guidance you did. I'll look forward to an official explanation from TubeDiva or another appropriate administrator/mod in the next couple of days or so.

[magellan01]

Moderator's Note: The BBQ Pit is the place for all "complaints and other discussion regarding administration of the SDMB" (which is what this thread clearly is).

I'd ask you to reconsider this. I do desire this to be a serious discussion, along the lines of what Sage Rat has offered. Keeping it here will decrease the likelihood that that will be the thrust of the thread. You can see that already. If you look at the OP you will see that this is NOT intended to be a rant, it is a serious question which I would like to debate: what does and does not constitute an insult in GD. I would appreciate it if you could move it back to GD. Thank you.

[kaylasdad99]

Rigidity and ossification are supposed to be qualities that improve the SDMB experience? Because that's where hard-and-fast policies such as you are insisting be implemented tend to lead.

In the absence of such policies, moderators have a responsibility and the authority to exercise judgement. That strikes me as a good thing. If the responsibility is shirked, and the authority abused, a member is free to have the matter looked into by the admins.

Rank-and-file members also bear some responsibility, to be respectful of the space, and of fellow members.

Really, it's not that difficult to intuit this knowledge about the board and its culture. GD just isn't the place to have the conversation about it.

[Waverly]

There are a lot of very stupid people saying very stupid things in GQ these days. Add to that a handful of poseurs and pretenders. I think we should lift the ‘no insults’ rule for a while and clean the fuckin’ place up.

[Hentor the Barbarian]

Cite, please. Go into that thread and show me these horrid personal insults. And while you're at it, show me the warnings or admonishments I, no-doubetdly, received for such insults.These are what I was referring to:What the fuck is your problem? [...]Or pay a-fucking-tention. [...]Pay attention.Look, genius, I was watching Matthews/Oberman last night, hardly your right wing spinmeisters.I never said they were horrid. I said they were "personal attacks," you little sissy.Either that, or I'll have to conclude you're simply lying. You'll forgive me that I'm not shocked.Well, I wasn't lying. I conclude that you're a puss.

And you won't find any warnings or admonishments, because unlike you, I don't run to the moderators crying that my feelings are hurt. I take it up with the person directly. I've never once complained about another poster to a moderator; a whimpering little fuckwit like yourself wouldn't come close to making me end that trend.

[Sage Rat]

There are a lot of very stupid people saying very stupid things in GQ these days. Add to that a handful of poseurs and pretenders. I think we should lift the ‘no insults’ rule for a while and clean the fuckin’ place up.
That sounds like a pretty good road to getting the exact wrong result.... "Woohoo! GQ flamewars FTW!"

[MEBuckner]

So, are these all allowed in GD? Please be specific, because your explanation will doubt be used to artfully craft insults in the future. Perhaps even by a Moderator.
Ah, no thanks.

1) What you said is stupid.
2) Everything you have said is stupid.
3) Everything you say is stupid.
4) The stuff coming out of your mouth is completely asinine.
5) The stuff you say is completely asinine.
6) I am hardly going to report you for being an incompetent moderator who lies and distorts what has been said. I have better things to do.
7) I'm not going to report you for the lies, distortions and stupidity that you type. It would do no good.
8) I won't comment on the dumbfuck posts you continue to spawn.
9) Why do you keep spewing these lies and stupidity? Your posts in this thread imply a severe lack of education and gross stupidity.
10) That is the dumbest, most dishonest thing I have ever read on these boards.
11) I'm hardly going to respond to a poster that types such stupid shit.
12) You have just typed the dumbest thing I have ever seen.
13) That's the kind of post I'd expect from a poster that consistently posts stupid shit.
Frankly, I wouldn't be wildly happy with any of these in Great Debates. Any of them might result in at least a general admonition to please tone it down and debate the issues, not attack each other personally, etc. Most of them after number one could get you warned for a direct personal insult.

[magellan01]

These are what I was referring to:I never said they were horrid. I said they were "personal attacks," you little sissy.Well, I wasn't lying. I conclude that you're a puss.

You said "personal insults". Much of the other you cite is advice. Advice it would do you well to follow. Or not. The only personal insult from THAT thread was "genius". Now although it was delivered with sarcasm, the only way "genius" would be a "personal insult" would be if the person on the receiving end took great pride in being a complete fucking moron. In which case I might owe you an apology. (Even though it's only the one.) Be sure to let me know. Okay, moron?

And if you had heeded my sage advice and paid attention, you would have been able to see that I attempted to take it up with the person directly. He was ignoring the specific question, so I went to the Administrators. Kinda logical, actually. When you think another poster has flouted the rules you can usually count on a Mod to see it. But if a you think a Mod has flouted the rules and does not address it when you bring it up, going up the ladder is the logical thiing to do. Hope that helps, (genius or moron—you pick).

[magellan01]

Frankly, I wouldn't be wildly happy with any of these in Great Debates. Any of them might result in at least a general admonition to please tone it down and debate the issues, not attack each other personally, etc. Most of them after number one could get you warned for a direct personal insult.

That's pretty much what I thought. Thank you. Now to impose slightly further: the point of all this was this post:

I am hardly going to warn you or threaten you with banning for being an incompetent debater who distorts what has been posted on a thread or throws odd red herrings into the discussion.

It seems to me that this is very much like many of the examples I provided, especially #s 6, 7, 9, and 11. So would you agree that it too d be (and is) in violation to the rules of GD? If you disagree, can you please be specific as to why not. Thank you.

[MEBuckner]

...can you please be specific....
Why, so you can "artfully craft insults" and see just how close you can skate to the line and still get away with it? See, despite your claims that this thread belongs in Great Debates and is intended to be a serious and sober discussion, you kind of poisoned the well from the get-go.

[Waverly]

That sounds like a pretty good road to getting the exact wrong result.... "Woohoo! GQ flamewars FTW!"FTW? Fuck the What? That's fairly Zen. Or is that what happens after your eleventh tequila shot?

[C K Dexter Haven]

That's pretty much what I thought. Thank you. Now to impose slightly further: the point of all this was this post:

Originally Posted by tomndebb
"Iam hardly going to warn you or threaten you with banning for being an incompetent debater who distorts what has been posted on a thread or throws odd red herrings into the discussion."

It seems to me that this is very much like many of the examples I provided, especially #s 6, 7, 9, and 11. So would you agree that it too d be (and is) in violation to the rules of GD? If you disagree, can you please be specific as to why not. Thank you.
The difference is what came before. You expressed concern that you would be banned for disagreeing with a moderator, and tomndeb was saying that wouldn't happen -- wouldn't even happen if the situation was much worse, that is, if you'd been distorting or etc. Could tomndeb have worded it more politely? Sure. But he didn't, and his comment are still on the OK side of the line.

In short, context is important.

[Hentor the Barbarian]

You said "personal insults".I can tell you what I think of your personal attacks in GD. God damn, boy. You are fucking stupid.

[Fear Itself]

How about allusions to the sanity of a poster? Is it permissable to call someone crazy, suggest they start/stop taking medication or that they belong in a mental institution? I recall one thread that resulted in an email exchange with a moderator that concluded these were permissable.

[magellan01]

The difference is what came before. You expressed concern that you would be banned for disagreeing with a moderator, and tomndeb was saying that wouldn't happen -- wouldn't even happen if the situation was much worse, that is, if you'd been distorting or etc. Could tomndeb have worded it more politely? Sure. But he didn't, and his comment are still on the OK side of the line.

In short, context is important.

Huh? All of a sudden you feel qualified to answer? Not that I don't appreciate you taking the time to parse this, I do. But earlier you kind of bowed out saying that you felt you didn't have a good enough command of the GD rules and was going to wait for Tuba Diva. That said, I do not agree with your assessment. It was a personal insult. Period. Could he have worded it more politely? That depends on what he was trying to say. Given his command of the language I'm sure he could have crafted the insult to be more weasely, but he didn't. We have his words. They are an attack on the poster, not the post.

[Squink]

They are an attack on the poster, not the post.Ohh Boo hoo for you!
I like it when moderators whack idiots up the side of the head. It makes the board more pleasant for the rest of us without over usage of the ban-stick.

[Hentor the Barbarian]

They are an attack on the poster, not the post.What is your fucking problem? Pay attention, genius.

Do you mean something like that? You said all that before tomndebb even entered the thread, IIRC. Now you are fucking whining because you believed someone attacked you and not your post? Pathetic. You are a sad little puss of a man.

[magellan01]

Hentor,

You niggling little niggler, you. Yes I made a mistake typing "insults" instead of "attacks". Guilty as charged. My apologies, as I did put the word in quotes. Now, if you think that changes the content of my post, whew! You're dumberer than I thought.

Advice: Pay attenion.
Strong advice: C'mon, pay fucking attention.
Strong advice with personal attack (that one you seem to so despise): C'mon, pay fucking attention, genius.

Choose one, two, or all three!

[Hentor the Barbarian]

Hentor,

You niggling little niggler, you. Yes I made a mistake typing "insults" instead of "attacks". Guilty as charged. My apologies, as I did put the word in quotes. Now, if you think that changes the content of my post, whew! You're dumberer than I thought.

Advice: Pay attenion.
Strong advice: C'mon, pay fucking attention.
Strong advice with personal attack (that one you seem to so despise): C'mon, pay fucking attention, genius.

Choose one, two, or all three!Okay, here's my advice to you: Quit being a stupidass little sniveling puss. That's the only option I suggest to you.

[Iamonfire]

Why can't we all just get a bong?

[magellan01]

What is your fucking problem? Pay attention, genius.

Do you mean something like that? You said all that before tomndebb even entered the thread, IIRC. Now you are fucking whining because you believed someone attacked you and not your post? Pathetic. You are a sad little puss of a man.

Wow. Evidently, this can't be said enough: Pay fucking attention. I called a Moderator on breaking the rules. He would not respond, therefore I sent it up the line. If he would have addressed it, we might not be here.

Now if you're reading this, just dart your eyes back up to the previous paragraph and read it again. Get it now?

On preview:

Okay, here's my advice to you: Quit being a stupidass little sniveling puss. That's the only option I suggest to you.

What? That's it?!! You get all tough in the other thread and bandy about a threat of taking me to the pit ( :rolleyes: ), then you come in here salivating, like youse gonna kicks yourself some butt, and this is what you bring? Well, good. (Yawn) The fewer letters I have to type for your consumption sans comprehension the better.

[E-Sabbath]

Hentor,

You niggling little niggler, you.
Oh, my god! Gladys, he called Hentor a niggler! I am shocked! Shocked, I tell you! I may faint.

[EddyTeddyFreddy]

Oh, my god! Gladys, he called Hentor a niggler! I am shocked! Shocked, I tell you! I may faint.
Yeh, well, it takes one to know one.

[Oakminster]

I called a Moderator on breaking the rules. He would not respond, therefore I sent it up the line. If he would have addressed it, we might not be here.



See? This is why nobody likes you. You pick some tiny, insignificant little issue that has nothing to do with anything, and you throw a hissy fit over it. You're like a puppy chewing up shoes. No matter how many times somebody smacks you on the nose with a newspaper, you keep sneaking back to the shoe. I have no doubt you'll drone on in "poor little me" mode for 4 or 5 pages.

Let me break it down for ya:

tomndebb = good moderator, widely respected by many dopers.

magellan01 = whiny little fuckwit, generally laughed at by many dopers.

In other breaking news, the Sun is expected to rise in the east again tommorrow.

[Revenant Threshold]

I think magellan actually has something of a point on this (please hold off the tar and feathers).

The difference is what came before. You expressed concern that you would be banned for disagreeing with a moderator, and tomndeb was saying that wouldn't happen -- wouldn't even happen if the situation was much worse, that is, if you'd been distorting or etc. Could tomndeb have worded it more politely? Sure. But he didn't, and his comment are still on the OK side of the line.

In short, context is important. I read what tomndebb was saying there quite differently. I don't believe he's saying "i'm not going to ban you, even if you did these things" - he's saying "i'm far from banning you, even though you are doing these things"; and among those things are insults ("incompetent debater" for one). I read it as a pretty clear insult of magellan.

[ambushed]

If your desire is to insult, why not just stick with the Pit? I can see your challenging someone in GD if what they have stated contradicts the truth, but that doesn't have to be done with invective.

I'm curious about the name-calling that you used to address Tom in GD. That seemed really beneath you. It made you seem malicious even though the names themselves were kind of silly.

You are better than this. (bolding ambushed)
Since when?? I don't think I've ever seen magellan01 do any better. To call him a fuckwit is an insult to fuckwits.

[C K Dexter Haven]

Huh? All of a sudden you feel qualified to answer? No, I'm just explaining why *I* made the ruling that I did. Sorry if I was unclear.

Why do I keep looking at this thread? "Avoid the Pit," I say to myself, over and over.

[Shodan]

I think magellan actually has something of a point on this (please hold off the tar and feathers).

I read what tomndebb was saying there quite differently. I don't believe he's saying "i'm not going to ban you, even if you did these things" - he's saying "i'm far from banning you, even though you are doing these things"; and among those things are insults ("incompetent debater" for one). I read it as a pretty clear insult of magellan.
Correct, IMO.

And, as serious discussion of issues of this sort is not common in the Pit, it is unfortunate that the thread was moved here. magellan01 has a legitimate point. To move it to the Pit is merely to invite (tacitly, at least) diversion of the thread into a series of personal attacks against the OP. A way, IOW, of avoiding the question of tomndebb's behavior in GD, whether advertent or not.

Regards,
Shodan

[Revenant Threshold]

Crap, Shodan's agreeing with me. You do realise any credibility I once had is now shot, right? ;)

Just as a general point, I don't think the board is best served by putting all critique of Mods or the board itself in the Pit. Certainly for the more insult-filled attacks on board speed, or if someone just wants to mock a Mod - but by making even those OPs which question a Mod's actions in a civil way be Pitted, it does invite general mocking and insulting from all concerned (and from those not). If threads such as these were allowed in ATMB then they'd be both shorter and probably end up with less ill-feeling on all sides, as well as stopping the random sniping that controversial posters recieve (even when it's deserved, it's pretty pointless).

[Cheesesteak]

I read it as a pretty clear insult of magellan.As do I. However, I'm always hesitant in situations like this because I inevitably wind up "defending" some miserable malcontent, who's managed to stumble into a valid position.

I have a hard time understanding how the words "incompetant debater who distorts what has been posted" attacks magellan's arguments and not magellan himself.

[elucidator]

Bit of grey there. A disparaging remark centered on how one conducts a debate has some legitimacy. "That was an asshole thing to say" is phrased on the margins of acceptability, while "you are an asshole" is not. We have mods like we have traffic cops, we expect them to bust the utterly egregious, but not to convene a conclave of scholars to parse meaning. Kind of like we expect cops to bust someone slamming down the road at 110 mph but to shrug off 56 or 57 mph.

[magellan01]

Since when?? I don't think I've ever seen magellan01 do any better. To call him a fuckwit is an insult to fuckwits.

This is rich. I seem to recall you atacking me in The Pit once before. That went well for you, didn't it? You migth want to review that sneaky, cowardly move of yours and remind yourself what it's like to be so wrong and get so bitch-slapped you run away for months.

[magellan01]

Let me break it down for ya:

tomndebb = good moderator, widely respected by many dopers.

magellan01 = whiny little fuckwit, generally laughed at by many dopers.

In other breaking news, the Sun is expected to rise in the east again tommorrow.

Well, not surprised to see you here. Life is nice and safe in a pile on. Enjoy. Now, while, based on exchanges with you in the past, I don't care a flea's ass what you think, this seems to be a good opportunity to help you with logic. Who knows, maybe it'll penetrate. Let's say Tom is a good mod—no, a GREAT mod—maybe even the best mod of all time, that doesn't make him right in this particular case, and me wrong. And that's kind of the point of this thread, which you decided not to address. Actually, I am of the opinion that tomndebb brings a great many positive things to these boards. He is articulate and has an impressive grasp of a broad swath of topics, particularly many aspects of history. I'm also of the opinion that he is not infallible, just like everyone else. The major fault I do find with Tom is that when he does err, he seems to be incapable of admitting his error and, God forbid, apologizing. Now I've long ago given up on the latter, but I will continue to hold him to the former, particularly when it involves me.

I hope that helps. Thanks for your valuable contribution. You may now go back to your nice simple world: "magellan01, baaad. tomndebb goooood."

[Fear Itself]

I don't care a flea's ass what you thinkThey're so cute when they say this...

[magellan01]

Why, so you can "artfully craft insults" and see just how close you can skate to the line and still get away with it? See, despite your claims that this thread belongs in Great Debates and is intended to be a serious and sober discussion, you kind of poisoned the well from the get-go.

No, I strongly diasagree. Look at the tone of the OP. Those weren't insults directed to anyone, they were examples to lay the groundwork for the discussion. They were helpful as to what was to be discussed. Insuts would necessarily be part of the discussion, much like the words wop, kike, and nigger would be used in a GD thread about racial or ethnic slurs. I wanted this to be a serious, sober discussion, but your tossing it into The Pit has made that difficult. Just look at how few people have actually weighed in on the questions posed in the OP. But I'm not surprised by that. Neither, I'd wager, are you.

[Cheesesteak]

Bit of grey there. A disparaging remark centered on how one conducts a debate has some legitimacy. "That was an asshole thing to say" is phrased on the margins of acceptability, while "you are an asshole" is not. We have mods like we have traffic cops, we expect them to bust the utterly egregious, but not to convene a conclave of scholars to parse meaning. I don't think there's any reasonable way to parse it where it doesn't attack magellan the poster, instead of one of his arguments. It doesn't even bring up one of his arguments, it just calls him an incompetant debater. Accurate, legitimate, perhaps, but the rules clearly state that you should only be attacking the arguments, not the person behind them.

It's fair to expect minor violations to slide, however, someone lodged a complaint. If you complain about something that is clearly a violation (even if it's just 5 miles over the speed limit) I don't expect the traffic cop to say "I don't think he was speeding, but your taillight's out, here's a ticket."

I would have been happy if there was even just an acknowledgement that the post was not totally kosher.

[magellan01]

If your desire is to insult, why not just stick with the Pit? I can see your challenging someone in GD if what they have stated contradicts the truth, but that doesn't have to be done with invective.

It is far from my desire to have a discussion in GD turn ugly. I would actually prefer a heavier hand in moderating tempers in GD, as long as it was done with an even hand. The intent of the OP is to cast light on the fact that tomndebb, who I ve had minor but recurring problems with in the past, insulted me in GD. Ordinarily, a mod comes in a straightens that out. But he is a mod, and ignored the issue when I brought it up to him. The OP was crafted to focus light on his transgression. That last line is there to remind the powers that be that people need to know the rules to follow them. Even, evidently, a mod (tomndebb).

[Hentor the Barbarian]

Oh, Jesus! This dumbfuck was spewing bullshit all over the thread, and clearly violated a rule about not putting "blah blah blah" in someone's quotes. Despite it being clearly a violation, he got a very patient non-warning about it. Nevertheless he bleated on for about five posts pushing the matter, being a fairly rude little prick while doing so.

He oughta have gotten a warning or a time-out. Instead he's here amping up the fucking whine, and getting support from some for doing so. Fuck that. The guy's a half-brained shit disturber.

He's the type of little weasel that likes to goad and bait and prick until he gets a less than polite response, and then jump up and down pointing and crying foul.

My hope is that he's circling the bowl and looking for a death by mod.

[tomndebb]

I don't think there's any reasonable way to parse it where it doesn't attack magellan the poster, instead of one of his arguments. It doesn't even bring up one of his arguments, it just calls him an incompetant debater.
::: sigh :::
I can see how it can be construed as a personal insult, but that is not how it was posted and there was a specific context to the exchange:
In the future, maybe you shouldn't bring it up again. Because if you do, I will. And you can then warn me or ban me or do whatever the hell else you want.I am hardly going to warn you or threaten you with banning for being an incompetent debater who distorts what has been posted on a thread or throws odd red herrings into the discussion.

If you ever do get warned or banned, it will be over your persistent habit of making all exchanges of discussion into personal feuds.magellan01, as is his habit, turned a discussion of issues into a personal feud, finally indicating that I might actually Warn or ban him simply for disagreeing with me.

I replied that I would not Warn him for being a bad poster; I would warn him for breaking the rules.

As I say, I can see where my statement can be construed as an attack, but my original response was intended as a hypothetical. Given that magellan01 frequently turns disagreements into personal feuds, I did, indeed, ignore his claim that I was making a personal attack. It seemed like just one more of his complaints. Subsequently, we had a bit of an e-mail exchange in which nothing was resolved--certainly not to his satisfaction, after which he took this to the board.

The "arguments" that I "did not bring up" were the comments that I would ban him for a disagreement which was the specific text to which I responded.

[Oakminster]

Do us all a favor and just ban the fuckwit. He's a troll, and we know from past experience that he's not going to shut up about this non-incident.

[elucidator]

He will when we stop answering.

[FinnAgain]

It is far from my desire to have a discussion in GD turn ugly.

What's the fuck is your problem? Pay attention, genius.

Eh, eh?

Stupid troll.

[FinnAgain]

Obviously, that should've read "What the fuck is your problem?"

But the point stands. You go out of you way to stir up shit in GD, and then whine and complain about shit being stirred up in GD. You are, in short, lying and pretending to hold a position that you do not really hold. And you are doing so in order to piss people off.

You are a troll, and hopefully your time will be up soon.

[magellan01]

Do us all a favor and just ban the fuckwit. He's a troll, and we know from past experience that he's not going to shut up about this non-incident.

I know this is The Pit and all, but do you care to share the evidence of this accusation? I mean, you must have some, right, you would never just throw around an empty accusation, right? That would just be dumb, wouldn't it?

I suggest you look at the stickies and see what the word means. I mean you wouldn't want to caught lying, would you? After you see you're mistaken, I'll look forward to your apology.

And if only there was some way to avoid having to deal with someone you find so objectionable...If only there was a way to direct your mind away from what he types and not respond... If only...

FinnAgain, ditto for you.

Now if either of you wish to weigh in on the OP, that I might be interested in. Even with your clear bias. Seriously.

On review, FinnAgain, what is this position that I hold but do not really hold? And how do you know this? And therefore feel comfortable concluding that Im lying about it?

[Squink]

On review, FinnAgain, what is this position that I hold but do not really hold?Careful Finn, Hell trap you're ass! :D

[Oakminster]

I know this is The Pit and all, but do you care to share the evidence of this accusation? I mean, you must have some, right, you would never just throw around an empty accusation, right? That would just be dumb, wouldn't it?


Lessee here. I have accused you of being a troll and not shutting up about stuff. As evidence, I submit this very thread, which you started after having your ass handed to you in GD. You started this thread soley to advance some flakey point you're trying pitifully to make about a mod hurting your precious liddle feelings...after, as has been pointed out above, you shit all over the GD thread from whence this sprang. Put another way, you started this thread mostly to cause trouble. Thus, a prima facie case of trolling is made. You haven't shut up about it, despite having multiple duly authorized mods and an admin tell you you have no complaint. Thus my second point is established.

Now go whine to someone who cares. Preferably on another board more suited for your juvenile antics.

[FinnAgain]

Careful Finn, Hell trap you're ass! :D

I am sooooo not that bad.
Close, though.

[begbert2]

Wait, mods have to follow the rules? About insulting or anything else? :confused:

I'm serious; is this really the rule? I mean, it's nice and all that they don't habitually ream people who aren't allowed to defend themselves, but are mods really subject to the same rules as the plebes?

Next you're going to tell me that a cop was arrested for assualt for pointing his gun at somebody and telling them to do something.


(Oh, and "Hell trap you're ass!" really hurt my brain to read. Just sayin'.)

[What Exit?]

Wait, mods have to follow the rules? About insulting or anything else? :confused:

I'm serious; is this really the rule? I mean, it's nice and all that they don't habitually ream people who aren't allowed to defend themselves, but are mods really subject to the same rules as the plebes?
..snip...
Now that is a good question. I have assumed that mods were held to the same standards as other posters. They are normal posters except for when they are modding. Is this not true?

Jim

[Squink]

Wait, mods have to follow the rules? About insulting or anything else? :confused: Well sure. Obsequious mods are the very lifeblood of line pushing trolls. You don't want the species to die out, do you? That would be Genocide! :eek:

[magellan01]

Put another way, you started this thread mostly to cause trouble. Thus, a prima facie case of trolling is made. You haven't shut up about it, despite having multiple duly authorized mods and an admin tell you you have no complaint. Thus my second point is established.

Oakie, my boy, you're the gift that keeps on giving. Yes, you have accused me of breing a troll. I asked you for evidence showing why you thought that was accurate. Your evidence is "Put another way, you started this thread mostly to cause trouble." Well, you are of course entitled to your opinion, but I'll go with what was actaully in my head at the time. And while you do not think my point worthy of your precious time (though you contiunue to read this thread and post in it, :smack: ) , I didn't know that every poster had to clear their posts with you, or anyone else, before they posted. So, as far as you "proof", I would just steer you to the OP, which I posted in GD, by the way. I was seeking legitimate clarification of the rules. Very trollish behavior indeed, which is probably supported (in your mind) by my original post in the thread that started this.

Thus, a prima facie case of trolling is made.

Pleeeaase tell me your not a lawyer. Never mind. You don't have to.

You haven't shut up about it, despite having multiple duly authorized mods and an admin tell you you have no complaint.

I posted an OP, and then have been RESPONDING to others. And Ironically, you're the one just spewing shit and not shutting up about it. You clicked on the link, read the OP, and typed a bunch of nonsense in a few posts without once weighing in on the actual issue raised in the OP.

Thanks for playing.

Thus my second point is established.

Like I said, the gift that keeps on giving.

[El_Kabong]

I have to wonder if the OP speaks to people IRL in the manner he routinely speaks to them in these boards: "What the fuck is your problem?" "Pay a-fucking-tention." "Oh, Arbiter of All Things Extreme & Moderate, thanks for weighing in. Glad that's settled. Oh wait, that's just your opinion. Never mind." The bit where he falsely accuses a poster of claiming there are no extremists in the Democratic party, adds three :rolleyes:, then makes the claim again, all in the same post. If he does routinely speak to actual people this way, I'm surprised he has any teeth left.

Dude, you frequently act like a a bully and a jerk in GD. Numerous people here are basically telling you that. Maybe you ought to consider for a moment why so many people might be trying to communicate this to you.

[Oakminster]

And you continue to prove my point--the alleged purpose of this thread, ie a clarification of rules for insults in GD has been settled by the admin named in the title. You don't like his answer, so now you've turned to arguing side issues...like whether you are fuckwit troll who should be banned, and you'll continue to do so incessantly until somebody allows you the last word, or you get distracted by a shiny.

The actual purpose of the thread was to cause trouble--by embarassing a good mod over trivial nonsense blown entirely out of proprotion. As a long shot, you were likely hoping for some ambiguity you could seize upon to insult someone in GD, have them respond in kind but slightly cross some imaginary line, and then they draw the flag instead of you. Back in the day, I used to beat up kids like you on the playground...or flush their heads in the commodes at recess. You're a gutless puke, and you're a fuckwit.

[Miller]

See? This is why nobody likes you.

I like him.

[Oakminster]

I like him.

Served with fava beans and a nice chianti doesn't count....

[Cheesesteak]

As I say, I can see where my statement can be construed as an attack, but my original response was intended as a hypothetical. If you intended it to mean "I would not warn a hypothetical bad poster, but would warn a poster who did X.", I will accept that as your intent. The "bad poster" part of the statement did not have any qualifiers that I would expect in a hypothetical statement. Such as "I wouldn't warn you if you were an incompetant debater" or "I wouldn't warn a poster who is an incompetant debater." It read more like a statement of fact, you will not warn him for his current actions (being an incompetant debater).


begbert2, moderators here do not give up their posting rights, and participate just like anyone else in most discussions, so they should be subject to the same rules. However, when they are exercising their moderator duties, the rules change a bit. That cop doesn't get to point his gun at me and tell me to let him cut the line at Starbucks, but he does get to point his gun at me if he's executing a lawful arrest.

[Schuyler]

I'd ask you to reconsider this [moving this thread to the pit]. I do desire this to be a serious discussion, along the lines of what Sage Rat has offered. Keeping it here will decrease the likelihood that that will be the thrust of the thread. You can see that already. If you look at the OP you will see that this is NOT intended to be a rant, it is a serious question which I would like to debate: what does and does not constitute an insult in GD. I would appreciate it if you could move it back to GD. Thank you.

Just noticing - both before and after you stated that this thread could/should be moved to GD from the Pit, you had some choice words for your fellow Straight Dope posters:

Schmuck.

Oops. Make that "Schmuck and liar."

You niggling little niggler, you. ... You're dumberer than I thought.

Where exactly do you think personal insults should be allowed, anyway?

[blinkingblinking]

The way I see the moderating of GD is that some people are very good at subtle insults that the mods will allow. But if a person responds with "You are a muppet", that person gets banned.
A muppet accused me of 'overblown rhetoric' because I used an exaggeration. I responded with an insult. The mods told me off. So I replied that it was difficult not to insult someone so moronic as to call an exaggeration 'overblown rhetoric'.
I do not like to play the games the GD mods want people to play

[Lemur866]

Oh, for crying out loud. Nobody gets banned for losing their temper and insulting someone in Great Debates. It doesn't happen.

You get banned for repeatedly insulting and insulting and insulting people even after being told multiple times to knock it off. You get banned for being the kind of jerk who repeatedly flies off the handle and can't restrain themselves.

Personally insulting some asshole who walked right up to the line but didn't cross it won't get you banned. And walking right up to the line but not crossing it goes down on your permanent record too. If you've got a reputation as an asshole the mods are going to cut you a lot less slack than if you've got a reputation as a guy who contributes.

But one good way to get yourself banned is to respond to a Moderators warning with more insults and finger pointing and tu quoques and Clinton Did It Firsts. If a moderator tells you to stop calling Poster X a poopy head, and you complain that Poster X is such a poopy head that he deserves to be called a poopy head, and the Moderator is a poopy head for telling you not to call Poster X a poopy head, well, maybe it's best you stay out of debates and let the grownups talk among themselves.

[Zoe]

Magellan01, I think the GD mods make a mistake when they don't give warnings when personal insults are made toward them. The rest of us have to suffer the consequences.

I was reading the GD thread -- or trying to -- in which you got a non-warning. A good thread went to hell after that when the problem could have been nipped in the bud.

Maybe the rule in GD should be that arguments can be "critiqued" but not insulted. If a moderator needs to be a little more specific about a poster, let him put on a moderating hat. The rest of us can take it to the Pit.

Magellan01, I think the reason that you haven't gotten many direct responses to you OP in this thread is that it was directed to a Mod, not us "normal" folk. I think your questions deserve answers from Mods and Administrators.

As for "artfully crafted insults," search the archives for almost everything that elucidator has posted. You are in the presence of genius. I worship the ground he teeters on.

Pax

[magellan01]

And you continue to prove my point--the alleged purpose of this thread, ie a clarification of rules for insults in GD has been settled by the admin named in the title.

Wow, do you get off on being wrong or something? I direct you to C K Dexter Haven's post #16 where he explained he felt unqualified to provide a ruling, my post 17 thanking him, and his post 28 where, as he later said, he was simply explaining his ruling in the other thread. And that to you equals settled? Yep, you just keep giving.

You don't like his answer, so now you've turned to arguing side issues...

That's one way to characterize it. Another, more obvious and honest way might be "reponding to direct accusations". Not that I'd expect you to be interested in such things described thusly.

The actual purpose of the thread was to cause trouble--by embarassing a good mod over trivial nonsense blown entirely out of proprotion.

If he is embarrassed, it is by his own hand. And a sense of right and wrong.

Back in the day, I used to beat up kids like you on the playground...or flush their heads in the commodes at recess. You're a gutless puke, and you're a fuckwit.

Ahh, keyboard courage. Gotta love it. Do oyu have any idea how helpless a post like this makes you seem? And given your use of the word "commode" in that context, I'd bet big that were never on the end of a dunking incident that you claim.

[Oakminster]

As I said, you're a fuckwit troll that won't shut up. Thanks for continuing to prove my point by making a fool of yourself. You really make this too easy.

[magellan01]

Dude, you frequently act like a a bully and a jerk in GD. Numerous people here are basically telling you that. Maybe you ought to consider for a moment why so many people might be trying to communicate this to you.

This is a valid point, although I'd quarrel with "frequently". But the vast majority of those instances I did not start the battling. In fact, I attempt to try to get by it without vitriol. What I have been guilty of from time to time is smashing a mosquito with a sledgehammer. Most times this is intentional, as I prefer to argue based on the merits, and I hope to send the message to not start stupid shit in a good discussion. It has been successful to varying degrees. Is there a cost? Yes. But there is a cost either way.

And yes, I have teeth left. All of them.

[magellan01]

As I said, you're a fuckwit troll that won't shut up. Thanks for continuing to prove my point by making a fool of yourself. You really make this too easy.

Keep attacking. I'll keep defending. I have no desire to spend any time insulting you, but if I have to keep defending myself against your profound stupidity and insults, I think of it as a bonus.

You have the power to make this stop at any time, toughie.

[magellan01]

As for "artfully crafted insults," search the archives for almost everything that elucidator has posted. You are in the presence of genius. I worship the ground he teeters on.

Nice. In a thread like this, a good laugh is much appreciated. My thanks.

[magellan01]

Just noticing - both before and after you stated that this thread could/should be moved to GD from the Pit, you had some choice words for your fellow Straight Dope posters:...

Where exactly do you think personal insults should be allowed, anyway?

Yeah, I meant to post that immediatley after it was moved but got sidetracked. I guess after the the initial insults were made, it was a dumb request. My mistake.

[Starving Artist]

As for "artfully crafted insults," search the archives for almost everything that elucidator has posted. You are in the presence of genius. I worship the ground he teeters on.

PaxI gotta tell ya: with elucidator's sense of humor and my . . . well, with elucidator's sense of humor, I could get so many women!

[Oakminster]

This is a valid point, although I'd quarrel with "frequently". But the vast majority of those instances I did not start the battling. In fact, I attempt to try to get by it without vitriol. What I have been guilty of from time to time is smashing a mosquito with a sledgehammer. Most times this is intentional, as I prefer to argue based on the merits, and I hope to send the message to not start stupid shit in a good discussion. It has been successful to varying degrees. Is there a cost? Yes. But there is a cost either way.



And therein lies your problem. You see, you're just not very smart. You feel threatened by the thousands of posters here, so you get all defensive. You can't debate your way out of a wet paperbag, so you play the bully card, by your own admission. Contrary to your deranged belief, it hasn't been very sucessful. Notice how even the few that made a effort to support you this had to hold their nose to do so. You're a jerk, you bring nothing to the table, and you start fights when you lose debates.

Here's a bonus question for you: How many threads have you contributed to without any snark at any other poster?

[magellan01]

As I say, I can see where my statement can be construed as an attack, but my original response was intended as a hypothetical. Given that magellan01 frequently turns disagreements into personal feuds, I did, indeed, ignore his claim that I was making a personal attack. It seemed like just one more of his complaints. Subsequently, we had a bit of an e-mail exchange in which nothing was resolved--certainly not to his satisfaction, after which he took this to the board.
(bolding mine)

You know, some people who would type that (even accepting it's forgiving nature) might be tempted to apologize. Just a thought.

It's funny, very often of these boards we comment on how a politician could have saved himself great embarrassment by simply acknowledging a mistake and apologizing. I guess it's always easier for the other guy.

[kaylasdad99]

(bolding mine)

You know, some people who would type that (even accepting it's forgiving nature) might be tempted to apologize. Just a thought.Speaking of apologies that one might feel entitled to... (http://www.comics.com/comics/frazz/archive/frazz-20061112.html)

[magellan01]

And therein lies your problem. You see, you're just not very smart.

Hmm. Well since my real world experience doesn't seem to comport with your theory here, Ill go with the real world. I mean, seeing as it's the real world and all.

You feel threatened by the thousands of posters here, so you get all defensive.

Your premise is wrong, so I'll have to discount your conclusion. Next.

You can't debate your way out of a wet paperbag, so you play the bully card, by your own admission.

No. I explained when I "play the bully card", as you say. Reread. Do I take it that you just referred to yourself as less than a wet paper bag?

Contrary to your deranged belief, it hasn't been very sucessful.

Actually it has. Read again why I said I might take the offensive.

Notice how even the few that made a effort to support you this had to hold their nose to do so.

I'm not here to make friends. If I do, great. If not, that's fine, too. I'm here for the discussion. Now if these people that post here are the friends in your life, that's another problem. There are a few people here who I think I'd like to have a beer with. There are a few that I'd like to piss on, but woldn't go out of my way to do so. Guess which group you're in.

You're a jerk, you bring nothing to the table, and you start fights when you lose debates.

Well, I already said I was of the opinion that I don't start fights. And I resent you portrayal here. I've taken the offensive when winning debates, as well.

Here's a bonus question for you: How many threads have you contributed to without any snark at any other poster?

Uh... 23,873,496, 390, 712, 558, 502? Is that right?

Now a question for you, friend. If I am such a horrible debater, I'm sure you'll be able to point to all the times you've eviscerated my arguments and set me straight. I'll be here waiting. In the meantime, get over here you tough guy you. That's it... down you go...

FFFLLUSSHHHHH. Now run along and let that be a lesson to you.

[kaylasdad99]

A source of continuing amusement to me is the fact that some people believe that getting the last word in is sufficient evidence that their argument has carried the day.

Well sometimes, it's amusing. Other days, it's wearying and dull.

[ambushed]

This is rich. I seem to recall you atacking me in The Pit once before. That went well for you, didn't it? You migth want to review that sneaky, cowardly move of yours and remind yourself what it's like to be so wrong and get so bitch-slapped you run away for months.(1) It wasn't cowardly or sneaky. Not only did I immediately prior to this see a Mod spank a poster hard for what appeared to me at the time to be simply informing another poster in a non-Pit forum that they'd been pitted, I have also seen hundreds of Pit threads for which I've/I'd seen no evidence the targets were ever informed. And I'd never seen any contraindication in any FAQ or guideline, either. In short, I was following the rules as I understood them to be at the time.

To imagine that I was a coward, you'd have to be so deluded as to fantasize that I'd be frightened of stupid little cumwipe like you. Not likely.

(2) I wasn't bitch-slapped by anyone, not even the utterly assholish magellan01, who was subsequently slapped by mods and others for being a gangrenous little infant who can't get over an innocent, utterly mundane mistake made over a year ago!

(3) I did not "run away". I've been a charter member since April '99, yet I've only posted less than 1500 times. That should tell you something.


Get a fucking grip, fuckwit, and get over your own repeated bitch-slapping and stop your pathetic whining and whimpering, you bombastic, self-adulating little momma's boy.

[kaylasdad99]

Amend my last, please; make that; "some people behave as though they believe..."

[magellan01]

Dearest ambushed,

If you want to insist that your cowardly move wasn't cowardly and sneaky, well, I'll throw out an olive branch. Would utterly dishonorable and sneaky suit you?

And the only reaon I brought it up is because you pitted me once—inappropriately, I'll add—and your face got reddened. Then you ran away. ANYTHING to not apologize. Hmm, maybe it's contagious. Now you come into a thread an attempt to pile on in an attempt to do what you couldn't do on your own. Pathetic. Even you must see that.

[ambushed]

Dearest ambushed,

If you want to insist that your cowardly move wasn't cowardly and sneaky, well, I'll throw out an olive branch. Would utterly dishonorable and sneaky suit you?Once you get out of adolescence, you'll probably be even more batshit, so by all means, have fun now. And I repeat: It wasn't cowardly, dishonorable, or sneaky. Not only did I immediately prior to this see a Mod spank a poster, hard, for what appeared to me at the time to be simply informing another poster in a non-Pit forum that they'd been Pitted, I have also seen hundreds of Pit threads for which I've/I'd seen no evidence the targets were ever informed. And I'd never seen any contraindication in any FAQ or guideline, either. In short, I was following the rules as I understood them to be at the time. So grow the hell up, okay, pillow-biter?

And the only reaon I brought it up is because you pitted me once—inappropriately, I'll add—and your face got reddened.Bullshit. You can't seem to stop your endless, pathetic whining about it, even though that was a year ago, you goat-felching simp!

For example, there's this post (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7926314&postcount=358) where you cried your little momma's boy's eyes out about it, only to get slapped down by a mod for personal attacks in GD, followed shortly after with yet another post (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7927131&postcount=380), in which you not only again sunk to personal attacks in GD (and got reddened again for it), but in which you lied outright about me not providing an exact, undeniable citation for your laughably stupid post for which I Pitted you, wherein you said you'd never accept any citation to any source which agreed with me!

Then you ran away. ANYTHING to not apologize. I didn't "run away", you niggling little turd, and, as Dio has pointed out, no one believes there's any reason for me to apologize.

Your pathetic, whiny, paranoid fetish for apologies that you don't even begin to deserve speaks volumes about your manifest psychopathology.

[Lemur866]

(bolding mine)

You know, some people who would type that (even accepting it's forgiving nature) might be tempted to apologize. Just a thought.

It's funny, very often of these boards we comment on how a politician could have saved himself great embarrassment by simply acknowledging a mistake and apologizing. I guess it's always easier for the other guy.

Ahhhhh! Captain, the Irony Meters canna take any more!

[H3Knuckles]

FTW? Fuck the What? That's fairly Zen. Or is that what happens after your eleventh tequila shot?

I'm just here to explain FTW.

It's a bit of AIM-speak (supposedly AOL Instant Messenger lingo, though much of it really owes it's origin to chat in the online First Person Shooter game Counter-Strike and internet message boards) meaning "For The Win!" As in, rooting for something. It's often used in an ironic sense to jokingly refer to the stereotypically juvenile behavior and discussions of Counter-Strike players, internet forum arguments, AIM-users, etc.

This handy bit of nerd-culture trivia brought to you by H3Knuckles

[Shodan]

Why the hell can't I post anything today?

Regards,
Shodan

[Oakminster]

Hmm. Well since my real world experience doesn't seem to comport with your theory here, Ill go with the real world. I mean, seeing as it's the real world and all.

Your mommy saying what a smart boy you are doesn't count.



Your premise is wrong, so I'll have to discount your conclusion. Next.


Fuckwit


No. I explained when I "play the bully card", as you say. Reread. Do I take it that you just referred to yourself as less than a wet paper bag?


Only on the same fantasy planet where you're a genius...


Actually it has. Read again why I said I might take the offensive.


Blow a goat.


I'm not here to make friends. If I do, great. If not, that's fine, too. I'm here for the discussion. Now if these people that post here are the friends in your life, that's another problem. There are a few people here who I think I'd like to have a beer with. There are a few that I'd like to piss on, but woldn't go out of my way to do so. Guess which group you're in.


Sooo...you're a masochist, and you get off on verbal humiliation? Congrats, I guess.



Well, I already said I was of the opinion that I don't start fights. And I resent you portrayal here. I've taken the offensive when winning debates, as well.


Citations to any debates you've won here at SDMB?



Uh... 23,873,496, 390, 712, 558, 502? Is that right?


The proper response was zero.


Now a question for you, friend. If I am such a horrible debater, I'm sure you'll be able to point to all the times you've eviscerated my arguments and set me straight. I'll be here waiting. In the meantime, get over here you tough guy you. That's it... down you go...

FFFLLUSSHHHHH. Now run along and let that be a lesson to you.

As I recall, we've tangled twice before in The Pit. Neither time ended well for you. Seems like I challenged you on something in GD once, too...and you backed off relatively quickly. I was actually hopeful you'd learned something...but I guess not.

Dude, you're twisting in the breeze here. Continuing this thread is just making you look worse. You've proved my points for me: 1) You're a troll 2) You won't shut up.

[Waverly]

I'm just here to explain FTW.I prefered Fuck the What to the nerdspeak. FTW! You have just ruined by day.

[Frank]

Why the hell can't I post anything today?

Regards,
Shodan
You were told and told to be afraid of Pelosi. Now you know why.

[Cervaise]

1) You're a troll 2) You won't shut up.I agree with point two, but not so much on point one. He's not a troll. He's a monkey who types and wears shoes.

cite (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=387308)

:p

[magellan01]

Your mommy saying what a smart boy you are doesn't count.... Fuckwit ...Only on the same fantasy planet where you're a genius... ...Blow a goat.... Sooo...you're a masochist, and you get off on verbal humiliation?... Congrats, I guess....... Citations to any debates you've won here at SDMB? The proper response was zero. As I recall, we've tangled twice before in The Pit. Neither time ended well for you. Seems like I challenged you on something in GD once, too...and you backed off relatively quickly. I was actually hopeful you'd learned something...but I guess not. Dude, you're twisting in the breeze here. Continuing this thread is just making you look worse. You've proved my points for me: 1) You're a troll 2) You won't shut up.

Good heavens, man! Why this is exceptionally dumb, even for you. I've addressed most of your points and asinine accusations of trolliing, but your melon is either too dense or too fetid.

But the part I love the best is your attempt to shut me up—IN A THREAD THAT I OPENED! :smack: Can you not comprehend the dumbfuckness of that? Seriously, son, think about it. You come into a thread, that I started—as a GD thread, by the way—seeking clarification on a particular poster's personal insult to me in GD, and you come in here like a tough guy attacking me and you want ME to stop posting because it's so painful for you???!!! Hey, here's some advice: go read another thread. Really, it's that easy.

I mean, sheesh, if it hurts every time you slam your little dick in the car door, STOP SLAMMING YOUR LITTLE DICK IN THE CAR DOOR. Goodness man, turtles have more sense than you.

Never mind that you were not even involved in that other thread at all, or have deigned to weigh in on the substance of the OP. Why bother? Smeone you don't like (an honor, I must say) is in the pit and your jackal mentality kicks in. Join the crowd, better odds that way, right toughie?

[elucidator]

Yeah, Oakie! Why the hell did you start this Pit thread, anyway?

[EddyTeddyFreddy]

So as we head toward the end of the year, just what are the standings in the annual Dumbest Dumbshit Doper Fuckwit competition?

[What Exit?]

So as we head toward the end of the year, just what are the standings in the annual Dumbest Dumbshit Doper Fuckwit competition?
I believe FinnAgain organized it last year. Why are you nominating someone? ;)

[magellan01]

I agree with point two, but not so much on point one. He's not a troll. He's a monkey who types and wears shoes.

cite (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=387308)

:p

Ah, Cervaise. I was hoping to run into you. I wanted to compliment you on your well-crafted long post from the thread you cited. But posting and then ignoring a serious rebuttal of what you wrote loses you any moral high ground you (thought you) might have had. After that long post, I expected better of you. Seriously.

And now to pile on... Tsk. Tsk.

I just can't seem to put you in the same category as Dense Oak. Oh well.

[Ponder Stibbons]

Good heavens, man! Why this is exceptionally dumb, even for you. I've addressed most of your points and asinine accusations of trolliing, but your melon is either too dense or too fetid.

...

I mean, sheesh, if it hurts every time you slam your little dick in the car door, STOP SLAMMING YOUR LITTLE DICK IN THE CAR DOOR. Goodness man, turtles have more sense than you.

...Oh, my that's funny. That's, like, rib-hurting-ly funny.

C'mon, mag! Slam his little dick in the car door again!

Damn, I can hardly type that and keep a straight face.

[Revenant Threshold]

A non-partisan post;


You're all flippin' idiots. I am too, but at least I recognise that fact.

[elucidator]

Youre right. That is the least.

[FinnAgain]

I believe FinnAgain organized it last year. Why are you nominating someone? ;)

We do need some new nominations. Bible Man seems to have trolled himself out and gone off to greener pastures for idiots, and CBescapee is a filthy bigot, but he's a one trick pony filthy bigot who gets old fast. I've not seen anybody as purely dumb, as, say, the deservedly banned Updike.

[Lemur866]

Hello? Ever hear of Gonzomax? Or Wildfire*MM? There's no shortage of really really dumb monkeys in pants around here.

[Frank]

Hello? Ever hear of Gonzomax? Or Wildfire*MM? There's no shortage of really really dumb monkeys in pants around here.
I object! There is no evidence that either actually wears pants.

[FinnAgain]

Ahhhhhhhhhhh! You are right Lemur, I think I blocked those two from my memory. Still, I don't currently have any Rage Pointstm that I can use for them... maybe in the next little bit something will come to mind. I don't want to Pit anybody for stuff that happened months ago... but Gonzo's habit of threadshitting during the war in Lebanon sticks in my mind. I think that Xtisme already pitted him for that, though.

[Cervaise]

a serious rebuttal of what you wroteWas there one? I must have missed it.I expected better of you.And with that my world collapses.

[rayh]

A non-partisan post;


You're all flippin' idiots. I am too, but at least I recognise that fact.

Yes, I recognise you as an idiot too. :D

[Zoe]

magellan01, you talk about defending yourself as if doing so is a requirement whenever someone insults you. Have you ever considered the alternative of shrugging it off?



Cervaise:

I expected better of you.

And with that my world collapses.

Next time try putting notches in the cards.

(Exits red-faced, driving van marked Retired Teacher Cliches Unlimited.)

[kaylasdad99]

magellan01, you talk about defending yourself as if doing so is a requirement whenever someone insults you. Have you ever considered the alternative of shrugging it off?Ahem. (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7962872&postcount=88)

[Revenant Threshold]

Yes, I recognise you as an idiot too. :D Then I withdraw my complaint! ;)

[magellan01]

Ahem. (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7962872&postcount=88)

Are you really this starved for attention? This is your sixth post in this thread. Your previous five merited zero—that's right, 0—responses. No defense from me, not even a pat on the back form any of the usual suspects. And then you post this "Hey, look at me. I posted something profoundly observant and witty. Let me just direct you to it because you must have missed it somehow, and you must see it becuase it's so, well, amazingly super-great!" Are you really that lonely and insecure? Do you think that everyone, by some strange cosmic-scale coincidence, somehow missed this super-duper post—along with your other eqaully noteworthy contributions?

Wow. The irony of your last post aside (I'll let you struggle through it), just wow. How sad.

And poor Kayla. Don't you think she might be better off with a foster poster?

[DMC]

And poor Kayla. Don't you think she might be better off with a foster poster?I've tried to avoid this train-wreck, but geez, you're not just a racist homophobe, you're also an asshole.

[magellan01]

I've tried to avoid this train-wreck, but geez, you're not just a racist homophobe, you're also an asshole.

Glad to see that you're up to your usual standards.

[JustAnotherGeek]

Are you really this starved for attention?
<snip>
The irony
<snip>
And poor Kayla. Don't you think she might be better off with a foster poster?

I'm sorry; I've been staying out of this as we have not had a bellicose relationship, but this one struck me. [/b]magellan01[/b], I can't see you as anything other than a vituperative attention seeker in this thread. The above quote is just plain jerkish.

[magellan01]

I'm sorry; I've been staying out of this as we have not had a bellicose relationship, but this one struck me. [/b]magellan01[/b], I can't see you as anything other than a vituperative attention seeker in this thread. The above quote is just plain jerkish.

"Foster poster." I thought it was funny. I still think it is funny. It is funny.

[Colibri]

Are you really this starved for attention?

...

Wow. The irony of your last post aside (I'll let you struggle through it), just wow. How sad.


I must second Lemur866.

[Oakminster]

"Foster poster." I thought it was funny. I still think it is funny. It is funny.


This is typical of your "logic". You think something is true, therefore it must be true. Unfortunately, you're an idiot, and most of the things you believe are false.

[Crotalus]

I've just been reading this one up to now. If you're counting votes, magellan01, and you seem to be, I vote that you're an asshole and a jerk. The final straw was your response to kaylasdad99.

[Ima June Bugg]

Long-time lurker and current guest weighing in. Well-said at #88, Kaylasdad99; even more appropriate at #115. You go, dude!

[FinnAgain]

If we're voting; I'd say that kaylasdad99, drunk, and beaten over the head with a club would still be worth ten of this jerk-troll OP.

[kaylasdad99]

Thank you , Ima June Bugg, that was very kind of you to say.

magellan01, I am officially tired of this thread. For what it's worth, I read and post to amuse myself. The reasons you have for reading and posting are probably best known to you (although some of the speculations offered up in the course of this thread have the ring of truth, at least to me). Any attention or responses I garner amount to gravy, IMHO; nice to have, but not essential.

Anyway, as I said, I am now weary of this thread. For me, the returns in amusement have just about diminished past the point where I find it worth the effort to continue opening and reading it. Thank you for bothering to count my posts, as well as (apparently) taking the time to search the thread to see if anyone remarked on any of them.

[kaylasdad99]

If we're voting; I'd say that kaylasdad99, drunk, and beaten over the head with a club would still be worth ten of this jerk-troll OP.
Okay, now I'm about to blush.

:o

[magellan01]

I've just been reading this one up to now. If you're counting votes, magellan01, and you seem to be, I vote that you're an asshole and a jerk. The final straw was your response to kaylasdad99.

Okay. Someone comes in to a thread, repeatedly posting shit and never once weighing in on the OP, and then I finally give him one good smack and I'M the jerk.

Makes perfect sense. :rolleyes:

[kaylasdad99]

Okay. Someone comes in to a thread, repeatedly posting shit and never once weighing in on the OP, and then I finally give him one good smack and I'M the jerk.

Makes perfect sense. :rolleyes:[Bolding mine]

As to "repeatedly posting shit", I confess that I was trying to match the level of valuable content set by the OP (in terms of what I viewed as valuable content).

As to the part I bolded:

Ahem. (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7957422&postcount=19)

[Crotalus]

Okay. Someone comes in to a thread, repeatedly posting shit and never once weighing in on the OP, and then I finally give him one good smack and I'M the jerk.

Makes perfect sense. :rolleyes:Well, you got the last three words right. kaylasdad99's first post quoted part of the OP and commented on it. I think he's got a total of eight posts in a three page mess, two of which were very recent responses to supporters, and one of which was a correction of his own typing. That's repeatedly posting shit?

[Lemur866]

Magellan01, I think you need to ditch your self-pity and stop pretending to yourself that you're the lone voice of honor and truth fighting against the jerks, and that everyone else except you "starts shit", but you, you're the guy who finishes that shit.

That's just delusional. You're not fighting the jerks, you're the jerk. Except you don't have to stay that way, you can join the normal people if you try. You don't have to be the stinky kid who eats paste that everyone else hates. That doesn't mean--God forbid!--sucking up. It just means not being a flaming asshole all the time, and getting over yourself.

Think about this. Everyone...and I mean everyone...thinks you're a dork. And the common thread in all these encounters is you. If one guy thinks you're a jerk, you shrug it off. If two guys think you're a jerk, well, that's just one of those things. If ten guys think you're a jerk? That's the time for a little self-reflection, dude. And when everyone thinks you're a jerk? Time to sit yourself down, take out your soul and take a look at at. Maybe you'll decide after a little reflection that it's all the rest of us--with our schoolyard bullying and cliques and stalinist monkeys-in-pants social hierarchies--maybe we're really the problem after all. But even if that's true, you've got to figure out a way to live among us jerks without having an aneurism.

[magellan01]

Well, you got the last three words right. kaylasdad99's first post quoted part of the OP and commented on it. I think he's got a total of eight posts in a three page mess, two of which were very recent responses to supporters, and one of which was a correction of his own typing. That's repeatedly posting shit?

None of it was responsive to the questions asked in the OP. In fact, the only posters who have weighed in on what was asked are: Sage Rat, C K Dexter Haven, ME Buckner (partial), Revenant Threshold, Shodan, Cheesesteak, Elucidator (kinda), and tomndebb (partially). And I think all of the non-mods thought I had a good point. And yes, he was repeatedly posting shit, attempting to disparage. I ignored him. But when he kept it up and then attempted to call attention to the wittle gem of a post from earlier on, well, I thought he should finally be addressed.

Now, what I don't get is somebody coming into a pit thread they have nothing to do with, not trying to answer the specific questions in the OP, repeatedly posting shit, and then being surprised when they finally get a backhand across the face. :(

[Crotalus]

<snip>Now, what I don't get is somebody coming into a pit thread they have nothing to do with, not trying to answer the specific questions in the OP, repeatedly posting shit, and then being surprised when they finally get a backhand across the face. :(It appears to me that this is one item on a long list of things you don't get.

[Lemur866]

Now, what I don't get is somebody coming into a pit thread they have nothing to do with, not trying to answer the specific questions in the OP, repeatedly posting shit, and then being surprised when they finally get a backhand across the face. :(

You can't really honestly believe this, can you? Are you that out of touch with reality? Use your head for once in your life.

Y'know, I can't help but feel that if you stopped lashing out at people and pulled yourself together you could remake yourself into a reasonable facsimile of a decent human being. Wouldn't it be nice to be treated like a fellow human once in a while? But to earn that, you've got some work ahead of you.

[magellan01]

Magellan01, I think you need to ditch your self-pity and stop pretending to yourself that you're the lone voice of honor and truth fighting against the jerks, and that everyone else except you "starts shit", but you, you're the guy who finishes that shit.

Although I do think that I am honorable, I have no illusion about me having a monopoly on that quality. Amid people who cannot or will not admit their errors and maybe even apologize, or bunch of jackals just piling on for the hell of it, I'd say there is no honor in those things.

That's just delusional. You're not fighting the jerks, you're the jerk.

Good line. Counter-productive as to your apparent intent, but good line nonetheless.

Everyone...and I mean everyone...thinks you're a dork.

Everyone in this thread? Probable. Everyone on these boards? I don't think so. Everyone I interact with? Not close. But at least I now know where to go know when I want to know what "everyone" thinks.

And the common thread in all these encounters is you. If one guy thinks you're a jerk, you shrug it off. If two guys think you're a jerk, well, that's just one of those things. If ten guys think you're a jerk? That's the time for a little self-reflection, dude. And when everyone thinks you're a jerk? Time to sit yourself down, take out your soul and take a look at at. Maybe you'll decide after a little reflection that it's all the rest of us--with our schoolyard bullying and cliques and stalinist monkeys-in-pants social hierarchies--maybe we're really the problem after all. But even if that's true, you've got to figure out a way to live among us jerks without having an aneurism.

And most of the time I do. I've had interesting discussions here. I've complimented people. People have complimented me. But there's a strain of poster in GD and the Pit who are weak and would die if not a member of the vast majority, yet they look for posters who they perceive as wounded and start salivating and pawing and attacking. There's another strain, bright, good debaters, that feel the desire to attack and squash all opposition to their world view. Actually, I try to ignore both groups. But there are times I need to defend myself, and defend myself I will. This thread has been one of those times.

I do not enjoy the type of stupidity that this thread has devolved into. But I am the one doing the defending. Why do you seek to place the burden on me? I am not attacking. I am responding. Can you point to one post of mine in this thread that was vitriolic that was NOT in response to vitriol or disparagement? I don't thiink you can. Yet you point to me as the cause. People don't like my responses, understood. I rather don't care for being attacked. When the attacks stop, so will the responses. Seems pretty simple really. No?

On preview:
You can't really honestly believe this, can you? Are you that out of touch with reality? Use your head for once in your life.

Makes perfect sense to me. If you go jabbing at people you shouldn't be surprised if you finally get punched. Kinda Life 001, don't you think?

Y'know, I can't help but feel that if you stopped lashing out at people and pulled yourself together you could remake yourself into a reasonable facsimile of a decent human being. Wouldn't it be nice to be treated like a fellow human once in a while? But to earn that, you've got some work ahead of you.

See above.

[kaylasdad99]

I don't recall expressing any surprise. If I'm mistaken, could I trouble you to link to the specific post, and bold the expression of surprise?

I did not address the substance of the OP in my first post because I did not view the OP to have enough merit to justify it. The responses prior to mine did nothing to persuade me that I should view it as having enough merit.

[Lute Skywatcher]

Although I do think that I am honorable, I have no illusion about me having a monopoly on that quality. Amid people who cannot or will not admit their errors and maybe even apologize, or bunch of jackals just piling on for the hell of it, I'd say there is no honor in those things.

Good line. Counter-productive as to your apparent intent, but good line nonetheless.

Everyone in this thread? Probable. Everyone on these boards? I don't think so. Everyone I interact with? Not close. But at least I now know where to go know when I want to know what "everyone" thinks.

And most of the time I do. I've had interesting discussions here. I've complimented people. People have complimented me. But there's a strain of poster in GD and the Pit who are weak and would die if not a member of the vast majority, yet they look for posters who they perceive as wounded and start salivating and pawing and attacking. There's another strain, bright, good debaters, that feel the desire to attack and squash all opposition to their world view. Actually, I try to ignore both groups. But there are times I need to defend myself, and defend myself I will. This thread has been one of those times.

I do not enjoy the type of stupidity that this thread has devolved into. But I am the one doing the defending. Why do you seek to place the burden on me? I am not attacking. I am responding. Can you point to one post of mine in this thread that was vitriolic that was NOT in response to vitriol or disparagement? I don't thiink you can. Yet you point to me as the cause. People don't like my responses, understood. I rather don't care for being attacked. When the attacks stop, so will the responses. Seems pretty simple really. No?

On preview:

Makes perfect sense to me. If you go jabbing at people you shouldn't be surprised if you finally get punched. Kinda Life 001, don't you think?

See above.Channelling drmark2000 isn't going to win you any friends, with the possible exception of Aeschines.

[Lemur866]

I do not enjoy the type of stupidity that this thread has devolved into. But I am the one doing the defending. Why do you seek to place the burden on me? I am not attacking. I am responding. Can you point to one post of mine in this thread that was vitriolic that was NOT in response to vitriol or disparagement? I don't thiink you can. Yet you point to me as the cause. People don't like my responses, understood. I rather don't care for being attacked. When the attacks stop, so will the responses. Seems pretty simple really. No?

Yeah, you don't care for being attacked. But what if--just as a hypothetical, mind you--the attacks against you are justified? Could that ever happen?

See, you may be doing the defending, but you're an asshole defending yourself against the attack of people calling you an asshole, and you're using asshole tactics to do so.

So when you become an asshole because people accused you of being an asshole, well, all you've done is proved their point. Now, not being an asshole is not a guarantee that you'll never be called an asshole. For example, Kaylasdad99 isn't an asshole, but he's been called an asshole. But take a look at his response. He doesn't turn into an asshole in an attempt to refute the charge that he's an asshole, he reacts like a normal human being. And thereby makes the guy who accuses him of being an asshole look like an asshole. Neat trick, huh?

See, what you're doing is what Freud called "projection", one of the few psychological concepts of his that actually had merit. You know what projection is, right?

[magellan01]

I don't recall expressing any surprise. If I'm mistaken, could I trouble you to link to the specific post, and bold the expression of surprise?

I structured the sentence poorly. My apologies. I did not mean to intimate you were surprised, as you have posted nothing whatsoever to lead me to that conclusion. The surprise I was referring to was on the part of Crotalus, who seemed to think my response inappropriate. Here is what I typed:
Now, what I don't get is somebody coming into a pit thread they have nothing to do with, not trying to answer the specific questions in the OP, repeatedly posting shit, and then being surprised when they finally get a backhand across the face.

Insert "anyone" before "being surprised". Again, my apologies for porly craftiing something that incorrectly attributed something to you that was not merited or intended.

[the PC apeman]

Are you really this starved for attention? This is your sixth post in this thread. Your previous five merited zero—that's right, 0—responses. No defense from me, not even a pat on the back form any of the usual suspects. And then you post this "Hey, look at me. I posted something profoundly observant and witty. Let me just direct you to it because you must have missed it somehow, and you must see it becuase it's so, well, amazingly super-great!" Are you really that lonely and insecure? Do you think that everyone, by some strange cosmic-scale coincidence, somehow missed this super-duper post—along with your other eqaully noteworthy contributions?

Wow. The irony of your last post aside (I'll let you struggle through it), just wow. How sad.

And poor Kayla. Don't you think she might be better off with a foster poster?
That post wasn't even directed to you. If you act like a possessive tyrant with your thread and backhand posters you feel aren't up to its standards, people are going to think you're a jerk.

Jerk.

[magellan01]

Yeah, you don't care for being attacked. But what if--just as a hypothetical, mind you--the attacks against you are justified? Could that ever happen?

I'm sure that in the mind of some it is completely justified. But that doesn,t make it justified in the absolute sense. Which brings us back to universality, and what "everyone" thinks. And I'll have to go with the arena where I have infinitley more feedback: the real world.

See, you may be doing the defending, but you're an asshole defending yourself against the attack of people calling you an asshole, and you're using asshole tactics to do so.

You're good at building the insults into your seemingly reasoned analysis. But has it dawned on you that it makes your analysis appear less reasonded, never mind, objective? And what, specifically, do you have a problem with? And why?

For example, Kaylasdad99 isn't an asshole, but he's been called an asshole. But take a look at his response.

I don't know anything about Kaylasdad99 other than his posts in this thread. I consider them assholish. I ignored him, then I finally told him what I thought of him and his posts. Seems rather routine, especially in the Pit.

See, what you're doing is what Freud called "projection", one of the few psychological concepts of his that actually had merit. You know what projection is, right?

:rolleyes: Now you see, you may or may not be a jerk. I'd lean to "not", but in your oh-so-reasonable offerings you throw in little jerkish stuff like this. And that's jerkish. Which type of discussion would you prefer to have? My default is the non-jerkish.

[magellan01]

That post wasn't even directed to you. If you act like a possessive tyrant with your thread and backhand posters you feel aren't up to its standards, people are going to think you're a jerk.

Jerk.

Let's see, there must be a response here that's perfect, just perfect. Hmmm. Oh, I know:

That post wasn't even directed to you. If you act like a hall monitor with the SDMB and insult posters you feel aren't up to your standards, people are going to think you're a jerk.

Jerk.

Regarding the point of your estimation of things, just who do you think it was directed at? Hint: look at the quote box he included in his post.

[the PC apeman]

Let's see, there must be a response here that's perfect, just perfect. Hmmm. Oh, I know:

That post wasn't even directed to you. If you act like a hall monitor with the SDMB and insult posters you feel aren't up to your standards, people are going to think you're a jerk.

Jerk.

Regarding the point of your estimation of things, just who do you think it was directed at? Hint: look at the quote box he included in his post.
Glad you agree.

Here's a hint for you: directed to vs. directed at

You have the power to make this stop at any time (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=7962718#post7962718). But I doubt you will. You seem to be enjoying the attention.

[kaylasdad99]

Glad you agree.

Here's a hint for you: directed to vs. directed at

You have the power to make this stop at any time (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=7962718#post7962718). :eek: YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY MEAN THAT! He can't end it until he hits "Submit" on the last post in the thread.

And the meanies won't let him.

Well I don't really need to be the "winner", so I won't post again to the thread. I reserve the right to read it until it ceases to amuse me, though.

Have fun with the rest of it.

[Lemur866]

Well, Magellan01, I guess I was wrong. The problem really is all the rest of us. Please, continue your heroic fight against people who attack you. You truly are a martyr to the cause.

You win! Yay, you!

[magellan01]

Well, Magellan01, I guess I was wrong. The problem really is all the rest of us. Please, continue your heroic fight against people who attack you. You truly are a martyr to the cause.

You win! Yay, you!

My Israel Doctrine has been vindicated!!!

I am disappointed that you attempted what I took to be a serious discussion then decided to bow out when I didn't see things your way, while ignoring many of my points. Not really much of a "discussion" that way is it. But no matter. Another time.

[magellan01]

Well, this inanity has gone on long enough. But before I request this be closed, let's recap.

I opened a thread in GD asking a Mod for clarifications on GD rules. I provided a list of potential GD viloations, asked for rulings on those and then a ruling on what I thought was a violation in GD. Specifically, that by tomndebb.

Here is what has transpired:

1) An accustion of me being insulted in GD by a Mod.

2) Questions adressed to an Administrator seekiing rule clarifications.

3) A Mod moving my thread it here against my wishes as expressed in the OP.

4) An opinion as to the alleged violation (posted in the original thread) by an Administrator.

5) When clarification was asked of the Administrator, Administrator explains he really isn;yt the best person to answer, as he is not rthe best qualified. He says that he would like TubaDiva to get back and handle it and to passs it on to a Mod.

6) The Mod who moved it finally opines, but in a vague manner. But even then, tends to agree with my position (by offering that most of the examples wold be violations or merit a warning) but doesn't weigh in on the specific alleged insult. When pressed, he refuses to answer.

7) Four posters attempt to answer the question. (Countless others attacked, sniped, and other such nonsense.) Three of hotse who did answer (Revenant Threshold, Shodan, and Cheesesteak), seem to agree that tomndebb's statement was, in fact, an insult. Elucidator considers it a grey area and Im not completely sure where he comes out.

8)tomndebb admits that he sees how what he wrote might be construed as a personal insult. He says that was not his intent. He admits he ignored my claim.

9) I point out to him that given what he just offered, some people would think it incumbent upon them to apologize. No further respose from tomndebb.

So, we have:
tomndebb did insult me: 3
tomndebb did not insult me: 1 (with an admission that he felt unqualified to rule)
MEBuckner and elucidator I am unsure about.

Not really a conclusive set of results given the small number of those involved, but I am encouraged.

But, as it seems that TubaDiva or some other higher-up will not be weighing in to clarify the rules and, if necessary admonish a Moderator, I request that this thread be closed.

[fluiddruid]

Yippee skippy.