# Ah, milroyj, we barely knew ye. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 13, 2005, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660 "2005-05-13T11:28:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/holmes)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660/41 "2005-05-13T15:21:04Z")
He was flat out wrong and lacked the intellectual honesty admit it; even after being drowned in facts, all he could must was a “maybe”. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660/42 "2005-05-13T15:21:58Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Really, this notion that the admins are conspiring to get rid of conservatives is ridculous. If that was the case, why would they single out the dumbest one on the board? Why not go for the smarter ones who can actually do some rhetorical damage in a debate? This is an excellent point. If **Bricker** or **Shodan** or **Jodi** or **John Mace** or any of a number of other conservatives\* were banned, I’d be truly upset: despite our differences, I like to think we have good productive conversations, and I definitely find myself learning from them. **milroyj** never taught me anything, never participated in an honorable, civil discussion. Banning him is pretty much a boon to the conservative viewpoint around here, in much the same way that **Chumpsky’s** departure was a boon to the liberal viewpoint. Daniel - conservative compared to me, even if some of you don’t consider yourselves conservative ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660/43 "2005-05-13T15:23:46Z")
“You’re being a dick. You’ve been warned several times now. Please stop being a dick, or you will be banned.” For those of you crying foul over **millroyj** ’s “bullshit” banning, why is this concept so difficult to grasp? ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660/44 "2005-05-13T15:27:40Z")
> [@andros](#): > > “You’re being a dick. You’ve been warned several times now. Please stop being a dick, or you will be banned.” > > For those of you crying foul over **millroyj** ’s “bullshit” banning, why is this concept so difficult to grasp? The Great Tinfoil Shortage of 2005 is into its 4th month in some parts of North America. Try and have a little sympathy. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660/45 "2005-05-13T15:32:57Z")
> [@Metacom](#): > > …some would say that **Hentor** was acting like an unreasonable ass in that thread… …and they would be wrong. Hey! [Speaking of being an unreasonable ass in that thread…](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6145888&postcount=137) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660/46 "2005-05-13T15:42:47Z")
It can be argued that **milroyj** ’s infractions are no worse than the infractions of other posters who are as yet unbanned. However, I don’t think the admins only take infractions into account when deciding wether or not to ban someone. Positive contributions seem to be taken into consideration as a counterweight. So, while you can say that **Diogenes** did the same thing here, or **rjung** did the same there, both of them have, on occasion, actually added something of worth to the board. The same simply cannot be said for **milroyj**. He added no knowledge, no insight, no _worth_ to the boards. On his very best day, he could still post nothing that rose above mildly stupid. For the most part, his posts were staggeringly dumb, and wildly offensive. Good riddence to bad rubbish, as far as I’m concerned, and like **LHoD** , I’d think the conservative posters would be ecstatic that he’s gone, as all he ever did was undermine their positions. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660/47 "2005-05-13T15:48:27Z")
I thought he was an asshole. Other than spiteful and snarky bullshit, he really had nothing to say at all. In most flamewars, once you cut through the verbage, something is being said. This guy had nothing to say at all. It’s the Pit. We can call each other anything and everything. We can act like assholes. But, even assholery has its limits. A lot of us have “danced around” the limits of even the Pit rules, and gotten away with it. But, after so many warnings, and so many dogpiles against you, shouldn’t you start wondering if maybe you are out of line? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660/48 "2005-05-13T16:00:10Z")
Whereas I miss certain others who have been banned in the last year, **milroyj** won’t join that list. Get that many warnings for being a jerk, and you get what you deserve. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660/49 "2005-05-13T16:17:15Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > I brought it up to make a point about how stupid it is to bring up irrelevant shit about candidates’ families and how that’s a game that everyone can play. It had a rhetorical purpose to it. Please don’t misrepresent what I say. I’m not misrepresenting you in any way. The only “point” that you made is that when **milroyj** does it to one of your pets, it’s horrible and nasty and badbadbad. When [you do exactly the same fucking thing](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=4509253&highlight=Laura#post4509253) - well, that’s different. What a pea-brain you are. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660/50 "2005-05-13T16:21:47Z")
Is **milroyj** the guy who hates Canada? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660/51 "2005-05-13T16:24:03Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > When [you do exactly the same fucking thing](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=4509253&highlight=Laura#post4509253) - well, that’s different. Um, it is different. **milroyj** was coming out of nowhere with a dumbass comment. **Diogenes** was throwing in his opinion on an existing thread. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660/52 "2005-05-13T16:27:06Z")
Are your knees getting sore, Shodan? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660/53 "2005-05-13T16:27:11Z")
I have to side with the “\*this banning is bullshit \*” crowd. Too snarky in the pit? That’s what the pit is for. _That’s what makes it fun_. If that kind of thing gets to ya, you might want to hang out in another forum. ---
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660/54 "2005-05-13T16:28:30Z")
No matter what point of view you’re taking on a poster, you can easily find rifle through the archives and find posts that corroborate your thoughts. However, putting particular posts aside, I think the important thing to note is the poster’s _general demeanor_. Certain people-- regardless of their conservatism or liberalism, or whatever other labels you want to put on them-- have a way of being consistently nasty, inflammatory, and unnecessarily provocative. I know I’m not the only one who can detect instantly whether someone is arguing out of a sincere wish to establish a point through adult-level discussion, or whether they’re trying to force their views through mean-spirited attacks, mockery, and ridicule. Now, I realize that for certain people, that is the only way they know to have an argument (despite the fact that they are rarely constructive dialogues); but it doesn’t mean that we should enable these types of interaction simply because that is all certain posters know. I feel that it reduces the overall quality of discourse, and creates an atmosphere of negativity and hostility. Perhaps the final straw did occur in the BBQ Pit; I’m not sure that this is relevant. You can still flame another poster without being mean-spirited. Why can’t we have good discussion and still go home as friends at the end of the day? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660/55 "2005-05-13T16:30:13Z")
**Shodan** , reading more of that Laura Bush thread, I agree that **Diogenes** was inappropriate there–although again, not in the same way that **milroy** was. I wonder, can you point me to a single constructive, content-rich post of **milroy’s**? I mean, you’re awful good at digging up posts to make **Diogenes** look bad; can you make milroy look good? Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660/56 "2005-05-13T16:32:31Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > …can you make milroy look good? There’s not enough lipstick and mascara in the world. Possibly not even in the universe. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660/57 "2005-05-13T16:33:38Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > I have to side with the “\*this banning is bullshit \*” crowd. > > Too snarky in the pit? That’s what the pit is for. _That’s what makes it fun_. If that kind of thing gets to ya, you might want to hang out in another forum. Accusing a poster of molesting his own child goes quite a bit beyond “snarky.” ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660/58 "2005-05-13T16:35:24Z")
Honestly, the number of times milroyj was inapropriate and out of line are too many to count. He was never anything but nasty, angry, mouthy, and derisive in any thread I’ve ever seen him take part in. Even in fora in which that behavior was strictly prohibited-hence the high number of warnings. I’d say the SDMB is a better place for it. Sam ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660/59 "2005-05-13T16:35:56Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I’m not misrepresenting you in any way. > > The only “point” that you made is that when **milroyj** does it to one of your pets, it’s horrible and nasty and badbadbad. > > When [you do exactly the same fucking thing](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=4509253&highlight=Laura#post4509253) - well, that’s different. > > What a pea-brain you are. > > Regards, > Shodan Is that the best you can do? A paranthetical snark? That is really lame. You know what I didn’t do? I didn’t start a thread demanding to know why Laura Bush wasn’t in jail and calling her a murderer. I also never complained about Milroy attacking one of my “pets,” (whatever that means). I just pointed out when he was being stupid or when he was being factually in accurate. Here’s something I said in the Ted Kennedy thread: > [@](#): > > Sober people have accidents all the time. I’m also sure that more than a few panicky, narcissistic assholes would probably put self-preservation- including political self-preservation- ahead of reporting such an incident in a timely manner. > > there is no evidence that TK was drunk or that the accident itself was a result of negligence or malice on his part. He is fair game for not calling the cops, perhaps even for not trying to save the girl, but calling hm a “murderer” is nonsense. As you can see, I called Senator Kennedy a “narcissistic asshole” and said that he was answerable for not leaving the scene, for not calling the cops and perhaps for not trying to save that young woman. I was just taking issue with the accusation that he was a “murderer” or that there was any evidence that he was drunk at the time of the accident. Does that sound like I was defending a “pet” or just trying to correct some outright bullshit? ---
**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:** [May 13, 2005, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660/60 "2005-05-13T16:41:48Z")
> [@GaWd](#): > > Honestly, the number of times milroyj was inapropriate and out of line are too many to count. He was never anything but nasty, angry, mouthy, and derisive in any thread I’ve ever seen him take part in. Even in fora in which that behavior was strictly prohibited-hence the high number of warnings. > > I’d say the SDMB is a better place for it. > > Sam Precisely my thoughts on this banning. I can’t think of a single time I read a post by him that offered anything substantive. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-milroyj-we-barely-knew-ye/303660.md?page=4)