# A question about permissible and non-permissible remarks in Great Debates **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 3, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342 "2010-11-03T16:20:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342/21 "2010-11-03T18:09:22Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I made an Animal House reference in response to an obvious mistake in the thread title. If you feel that’s unnecessary, really - too bad. It was a joke and it’s well within bounds in any SDMB forum. And considering I let **Blinking Duck** off with a note rather than a warning for calling me an asshat, I don’t think there’s anything to complain about. Sorry man, I missed that reference. That snark was quite good and not meant to be much of an insult. Can’t believe I missed that reference…that is a favorite movie. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342/22 "2010-11-03T18:15:32Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Continuing on to directly imply that the poster did not commit the error by mistake, but rather because of a crappy education… That was being a dick. > > The fact that your dickish response was followed by a serious answer merely highlights the dickishness of your response IMO. [Moderator Note] This is ATMB. Let’s dial it back here. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342/23 "2010-11-03T18:18:12Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > You may have meant it in a “funny” way, but for those not intimately familiar with the dialog of a 32 year old movie, it certainly could be construed as insulting. It sure could. It could also be construed as mild chiding or poking fun. For those who construe it as an insult, I suggest lightening the fuck up - it was a joke, son. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342/24 "2010-11-03T18:31:01Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > You may have meant it in a “funny” way, but for those not intimately familiar with the dialog of a 32 year old movie, it certainly could be construed as insulting. If you’re not familiar with Animal House, the comment can’t be an insult because it wouldn’t make any sense at all. > [@BlinkingDuck](#): > > Ahhh I see this has started. I just want to point out to the powers that be that Marley is being unreasonable. > > He wants to insult but then run behind moderators hat when I return it. > > I find his behavior inconsistent and cowardly. Calling somebody an asshat is not snark. It’s name calling, and that’s definitely against the rules. There isn’t a blanket rule against snark, which as I understand it is supposed to involve a little pointed humor. If you’d answered me with an insulting comment from the movie or something like that, I’d have smiled and moved on. I think giving a mod note for what you said was fair. (My post did start the whole thing.) I was making a joke about your history teacher as an excuse for the mistake in the thread title. I realize you didn’t take it that way (although to be honest I wasn’t sure how serious your reply to me was). But I wasn’t trying to call you an idiot or anything else, and I’m sorry if it came off that way. I’ve made plenty of mistakes here that were worse than that one. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342/25 "2010-11-03T18:40:10Z")
Does it really have to be “all or nothing” with you folks? O.K. I propose that, for a period of one month, all mods and admins treat the members with nothing but dry respect(no kidding, no jokes, no light snark). During that same month, all posters must treat each other, and the mods, the same way. No sarcasm, no sniping, no snarking, no attacking etc. Could you do it? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342/26 "2010-11-03T18:40:38Z")
Let’s not pretend there’s anything like evenhanded responses to such-type snarky remarks. I can recall getting the shit blasted out of me, by **Tom** in GD, for implying that some debating adversary had missed an essential afternoon of his early schooling. Mods can plainly slide across fields of shit without getting their hair mussed FAR more easily than us lowly peons. The simple (and accurate) explanation is “Do as I say, not as I do.” ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342/27 "2010-11-03T20:26:53Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > By this reasoning, shouldn’t I issue you a warning for this remark?😉 Of course, and that was my point. Or am I being whooshed? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342/28 "2010-11-03T20:31:36Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Does it really have to be “all or nothing” with you folks? O.K. > I propose that, for a period of one month, all mods and admins treat the members with nothing but dry respect(no kidding, no jokes, no light snark). During that same month, all posters must treat each other, and the mods, the same way. No sarcasm, no sniping, no snarking, no attacking etc. > Could you do it? I can, and usually do. ETA: Crap. Missed the part about other posters. Can’t claim to be snark-free on a regular basis there. But I am usually reasonably polite with mods. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342/29 "2010-11-03T20:38:22Z")
Nm. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342/30 "2010-11-03T20:40:45Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I can, and usually do. > > ETA: Crap. Missed the part about other posters. Can’t claim to be snark-free on a regular basis there. But I am usually reasonably polite with mods. The floor would be soaked with blood from all the tongue-biting. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342/31 "2010-11-03T21:50:17Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > Of course, and that was my point. Or am I being whooshed? No warnings were issued in the original thread to anyone. What is your point, exactly? ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342/32 "2010-11-03T21:57:25Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I made an Animal House reference in response to an obvious mistake in the thread title. If you feel that’s unnecessary, really - too bad. It was a joke and it’s well within bounds in any SDMB forum. And considering I let **Blinking Duck** off with a note rather than a warning for calling me an asshat, I don’t think there’s anything to complain about. Personal opinion: If another moderator or admin. was online, you would probably have been well advised to have him/her do any Mod Note that might be needed in a thread you’re using snark in, simply to avoid the issue that’s come up here. Not intended as criticism but as advice on apparent conflict of interest avoidance. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342/33 "2010-11-03T22:01:38Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > That was the idea. I’m not sure how Eeyore got involved. [Explanation](http://customvinyldecalsnstickers.com/eeyore_hat_0306.gif) ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342/34 "2010-11-04T00:54:04Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > I can recall getting the shit blasted out of me, by **Tom** in GD, for implying that some debating adversary had missed an essential afternoon of his early schooling. Cite? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Clark\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c77e96/32.png) [@Clark\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_K)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342/35 "2010-11-04T03:36:35Z")
The mods around here need to be _more_ snarky and sarcastic. That’s part of the board’s appeal, and it sure beats the brusque dismissals and deadpan rudeness that sometimes pops up. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342/36 "2010-11-04T10:10:23Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > You may have meant it in a “funny” way, but for those not intimately familiar with the dialog of a 32 year old movie, it certainly could be construed as insulting. A couple of months ago I got warned for the same thing in GQ. A reply to me made no sense. I replied “English motherfucker, do you speak it?”, a well understood reference to Pulp Fiction for anybody under the age of 30 and not a shut-in, and a film a lot younger than Animal House. When I queried **Colibri** , his response was that moderators cannot be expected to understand every cultural reference: > [@Colibri](#): > > Look, I (and other readers of the thread) can’t be expected to recall every line of dialog from a movie to be able to tell whether you are quoting something Yet, here we have a moderator using another snarky reference from a film which was initially understood as an insult. Where is the consistency? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342/37 "2010-11-04T11:02:38Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > Yet, here we have a moderator using another snarky reference from a film which was initially understood as an insult. Where is the consistency? Quit whining. Out of context, your quote calls another poster a motherfucker. Out of context, Marley’s quote calls someone not very familiar with WWII dates. If you can’t tell the difference, you need a different board to frequent. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342/38 "2010-11-04T11:17:32Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Out of context, Marley’s quote calls someone not very familiar with WWII dates. If you can’t tell the difference, you need a different board to frequent. Sure, there’s a difference in degree, possibly. Though I’ve never seen “English motherfucker, do you speak it” used in anything other than a jocular fashion. Perhaps you’re new to this Internet thing? However, the rule’s against insults period — not a certain grade of insult. In which case, taken out of context, Marley’s quote is _still_ an insult (and was taken as one by originally by the guy at whom it was aimed — hence the need for this thread). ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342/39 "2010-11-04T13:14:47Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > Sure, there’s a difference in degree, possibly. “Possibly”? You’ve got to be kidding me. Saying there’s “possibly” a difference between “motherfucker” and “your history teacher was Bluto” is laughable, disingenuous at best. > [@](#): > > However, the rule’s against insults period — not a certain grade of insult. In which case, taken out of context, Marley’s quote is _still_ an insult (and was taken as one by originally by the guy at whom it was aimed — hence the need for this thread). Taking insult at something that isn’t insulting is a deficiency best cured by sacking up and putting on a pair of big boy pants. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342/40 "2010-11-04T13:38:50Z")
> [@Gfactor](#): > > **Rushgeekgirl** , I split this question off from this thread: [we should be able to say whatever we want about the mods - About This Message Board - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=583390) into its own thread so it would have more visibility and not distract from the other thread. If you have a suggestion for a different thread title for this one, please let me know. > > **Gfactor** > ATMB Moderator Ahhhh I was sooo confused this morning. I knew I didn’t start a thread! It’s a fine title and thank you. I didn’t mean to stir up trouble, I was just curious about the rules, that’s all. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-permissible-and-non-permissible-remarks-in-great-debates/559342.md?page=3)