# A pitting of Liberal and the Mods that let it happen. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 18, 2007, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723 "2007-02-18T17:54:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 29
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2007, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723/561 "2007-02-21T23:23:54Z")
[QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness] This board is, without exception, primarily a form of entertainment for all its users. That includes me, that includes Lib, that includes prr. It is not a place where principle is important, because the stakes here are so damn low. Minds are very rarely changed, and real public policy is never affected… [/QUOTE] Speak for yourself. **Polycarp** , **Liberal** , **PRR** , \*\*Der Trihs \*\* and others have made points on these boards that have caused me to do some serious thinking and introspection. It was from this web site that I got my idea for the master’s thesis I’m working on. I’d like to think that, on a rare occasion, I’ve even offered some insight and personal knowledge that helped someone think through something very important to them. True, \*\*PRR \*\* frequently posted stuff that made me ask, “This guy agrees with me!?” But the time or two that he slapped me down (for making stupid assertions without re-checking facts, for instance) I had it coming. He’s a witty, intelligent fellow with rough edges and an obviously strong personality. I’ll miss him. I hope he puts the five c-notes to good use. I don’t think the whole episode has damaged the integrity of SDMB. There are times when some of these threads resemble a Wild West shootout, but for the most part the discourse is intelligent, respectful, witty and enlightening. Yes, we sometimes indulge in long threads of fart jokes, kitten pictures and other nonsense, but the Great Debate, General Information, and even The Pit stand head and shoulders above any other general discussion board on the Internet today – and that includes Slate’s Fray and Salon’s Table Talk. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723/562 "2007-02-22T01:00:29Z")
[QUOTE=tomndebb] Is there a reason you keep dragging my name into this silliness? [/QUOTE] Hey, don’t blame me; blame whoever wrote the Gospel of St. Matthew. This was all set in motion thousands of years ago. We’re all just hapless bystanders to Fate, man. I wish I could choose to believe otherwise, but there it is. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723/563 "2007-02-22T01:20:02Z")
[QUOTE=Terrifel] Hey, don’t blame me; blame whoever wrote the Gospel of St. Matthew. This was all set in motion thousands of years ago. We’re all just hapless bystanders to Fate, man. I wish I could choose to believe otherwise, but there it is. [/QUOTE] So, this thread was predestined to happen? Shit. Well, I just came back from Ash Wednesday Mass me-self, so “from dust we come, and to dust we shall return.” right? Sorry, maybe that was a little random. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723/564 "2007-02-22T01:35:23Z")
[QUOTE=Autolycus] So, this thread was predestined to happen? Shit. Well, I just came back from Ash Wednesday Mass me-self, so “from dust we come, and to dust we shall return.” right? Sorry, maybe that was a little random. [/QUOTE] But is the dust on your forehead from the burning of last year’s palm fronds? I hear it’s just not the same if it’s random ashes. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723/565 "2007-02-22T01:40:39Z")
Nevermind was I was going to post. It wasn’t this! ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723/566 "2007-02-22T03:03:26Z")
[QUOTE=EddyTeddyFreddy] But is the dust on your forehead from the burning of last year’s palm fronds? I hear it’s just not the same if it’s random ashes. [/QUOTE] It is from last year’s palms, and well, no, it’s not the same. For example, this ash will protect me against demon possession and any stray imps or goblins my neighbor might have in his backyard. You know, right next to the mandrake bulbs. I kid. I kid! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723/567 "2007-02-22T03:20:48Z")
[QUOTE=Autolycus] It is from last year’s palms, and well, no, it’s not the same. For example, this ash will protect me against demon possession and any stray imps or goblins my neighbor might have in his backyard. You know, right next to the mandrake bulbs. I kid. I kid! 😃 [/QUOTE] :dubious: But does your neighbor know you’re just kidding? I mean, some folks take it personally when they see the line of garlic-strung crucifixes go up along the property line. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723/568 "2007-02-22T16:23:21Z")
[QUOTE=Autolycus] It is from last year’s palms, and well, no, it’s not the same. For example, this ash will protect me against demon possession and any stray imps or goblins my neighbor might have in his backyard. [/QUOTE] Yeah that’s we always said. You know if you didn’t get there early it was probably from Fr McGowan’s ashtray, right? So you’re safe from demons, and Alive With Pleasure! ---
**Author:** ![Quentin\_S.Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/43a26b/32.png) [@Quentin\_S.Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quentin_S.Smith)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723/569 "2007-02-22T17:30:51Z")
OK, I just spent a half-hour reading this. Wow! Is this board always like this? Much more active and “interesting” than other message boards I’ve visited. Anyway, I came here to say that I’m an atheist too, and think that religious people would be better off if they stopped believing in an unprovable supernatural being, and if the poster (Liberal) paying $500 to have atheists leave the board is keeping the offer open, I’ll take him up on it. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723/570 "2007-02-22T17:49:42Z")
[QUOTE=Quentin S. Smith] . . . if the poster (Liberal) paying $500 to have atheists leave the board is keeping the offer open, I’ll take him up on it. [/QUOTE] I don’t think that was a general offer to a class of posters, but rather a specific offer to a specific poster. Tris ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723/571 "2007-02-22T17:55:54Z")
[QUOTE=Quentin S. Smith] if the poster (Liberal) paying $500 to have atheists leave the board is keeping the offer open, I’ll take him up on it. [/QUOTE] I thought you said you had _read_ the thread. No such offer is being (or has been) extended. ---
**Author:** ![Quentin\_S.Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/43a26b/32.png) [@Quentin\_S.Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quentin_S.Smith)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723/572 "2007-02-22T18:02:55Z")
I was hoping that maybe “Liberal” would be willing to open it to all other atheists? Sorry. I should have said (j/k). Though I wouldn’t mind getting an extra $500. If I may ask, out of curiosity, what did this “prr” do that was so special to get him the offer? ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723/573 "2007-02-22T18:04:50Z")
That too has been mentioned, reiterated, debated, argued about, sniped over, and ranted in this thread. Tris ---
**Author:** ![Quentin\_S.Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/43a26b/32.png) [@Quentin\_S.Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quentin_S.Smith)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723/574 "2007-02-22T18:10:18Z")
I saw the general picture, but I was wondering about any specifics showing how obnoxious prr really was. Could this have been over-sensitivity on the part of the Christian portion of this board? Of course if this is a topic that is unpleasant or is better left unspoken, I can withdraw. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723/575 "2007-02-22T18:17:25Z")
Read [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=407718) thread (if you want to put yourself through the ordeal). Myself, I followed the first couple of pages, before I decided it was just an attention-whoring “look at me!” post followed by a bit of a “Yes, let’s” pile-on, and I lost interest. There’s this Far Side cartoon that shows a bunch of cowboys explaining to their trail boss how it came to pass that one of their horses was being roasted over the cook fire. I kinda get the feeling this developed in a similar fashion. ---
**Author:** ![Quentin\_S.Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/43a26b/32.png) [@Quentin\_S.Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quentin_S.Smith)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723/576 "2007-02-22T18:21:37Z")
Thanks, I have to go now, but I’ll take a look at it later. There is so much to read here! ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723/577 "2007-02-22T18:43:13Z")
[QUOTE=Quentin S. Smith] OK, I just spent a half-hour reading this. Wow! Is this board always like this? Much more active and “interesting” than other message boards I’ve visited. [/quote] Welcome to the Dope, **Quentin**. The drama here (in the Pit) can be likened to an Andy Warhol v. Andy Kaufman bitchslapfest with 1,000 Howard Cosells commentating on the sparring; a human trainwreck to be sure…every day, every month, every year. Enjoy. > [@](#): > > Anyway, I came here to say that I’m an atheist too, and think that religious people would be better off if they stopped believing in an unprovable supernatural being, It all comes down to personal experiences in life, each unique and the belief system (or non-belief system) bears that out. Hard to say who would benefit or who wouldn’t in such a broad stroke. > [@](#): > > and if the poster (Liberal) paying $500 to have atheists leave the board is keeping the offer open, I’ll take him up on it. No offense, but your stock is an IPO, whereas **prr** is a bluechip that has been setting new 52 week highs on a daily basis for the last 12 months. **Liberal** , in his POV saw great value in buying **prr** ’s silence. Good luck to both in making the transaction successful. ---
**Author:** ![Nancarrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@Nancarrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nancarrow)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723/578 "2007-02-22T18:48:48Z")
[QUOTE=Triskadecamus] That too has been mentioned, reiterated, debated, argued about, sniped over, and ranted in this thread. Tris [/QUOTE] Hmm. “Pseudotriton ruber ruber”. “prr” “Quentin S Smith” “qss” = “prr”+1, so to speak. Just saying, is all. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723/579 "2007-02-22T18:51:44Z")
[QUOTE=Nancarrow] Hmm. “Pseudotriton ruber ruber”. “prr” “Quentin S Smith” “qss” = “prr”+1, so to speak. Just saying, is all. [/QUOTE] Ooh! CoInkyDinky? You be the judge. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723/580 "2007-02-22T18:55:04Z")
[QUOTE=Quentin S. Smith] I saw the general picture, but I was wondering about any specifics showing how obnoxious prr really was. Could this have been over-sensitivity on the part of the Christian portion of this board? Of course if this is a topic that is unpleasant or is better left unspoken, I can withdraw. [/QUOTE] Disclaimer: As one of his 'defenders’, my POV could be considered slanted. **PRR** : Had started going after theists in a manner that angered them a lot. He did so in such a way that some other atheist, looked at his postings as hurting their own arguments or just plain being rude for the sake of rudeness. Ultimately, Liberal is the only one that can answer why he made the offer. It looked at first like a semi-joke offer and then the two stubborn individuals butted heads until \*\*PRR \*\* appears to have done everything possible to goad Liberal into standing by the offer. I would say that by that point, \*\*PRR \*\* had decided he had enough and it would be time to leave especially if he could $500 to make the decision easy. Indeed, he asked me not to screw the deal. Therefore, PRR manage to anger many theists and some atheists. He was considered unnecessarily rude. This was why he was elevated to this special category. {Done with being objective} Personally, I think it was some over-sensitivity on the part of the Christian portion of this board. BTW: This thread was a chiding of Liberal for acting in such a poor way by making the offer, a remonstration of the Mods for allowing it and a plea to not allow it to happen again. The Mods & Admins seem to agree that this needs to be pretty much a one-time event. The rest seems to have been worked out. Jim [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723.md?page=28) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pitting-of-liberal-and-the-mods-that-let-it-happen/392723.md?page=30)