# alright, tomndeb, how about right here?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [January 24, 2000, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018 "2000-01-24T19:17:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 3

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2000, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018/41 "2000-01-25T15:35:00Z")

</div>

Yeah! Neatly done, Zen Samurai!

[salute to Tom]

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2000, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018/42 "2000-01-25T16:10:00Z")

</div>

Oh, come on!

I should point out that I disagree with a point that **Phaedrus** kept harping on. This is a message board, not real life. That is not to say that we aren’t real people who can make genuine friends and genuine enemies, here. However, taking injury from someone else’s opinion on this relatively anonymous forum just seems like a waste of personal energy.

There are people, here, whom I like and people whom I respect and people whom I dislike and people whom I do not respect. And you would probably have to set up a Venn graph to describe all the permutations that different people fall into. (Like/respect, like/disrespect, dislike/respect, dislike/disrespect, all of the above, none of the above.) I watch people get on each others nerves on one subject and watch that irritation spill into other threads on different subjects and think “What a waste of energy.” I do enjoy watching some of the feuds. I would enjoy them more if, once a feud was ended, the participants would treat their next encounter as a fresh start. Unfortunately, I see posters still being mad at each other _months_ after some fairly innocuous incident.  
Sorry, that is just too much emotional baggage for me to carry around.

So when I disagree with a specific post, I try to limit myself to responding to that post without dragging in all the emotional history that I may have with that post_er_.

This is not the only way to behave. This is how _I_ behave to maintain my enjoyment, here.

I’m not going to hash over my exchange with **mipsman** on the “Why are Jews persecuted?” thread. I said what I wanted to say, there, and the link is up above for anyone who thinks they will find it interesting. (They won’t.) I can easily see where my post could be considered an attack _on_ **mipsman** (although I would not have characterized it as such). I have no problem with **mipsman** wanting to dump back on me. I’m sure that a lot of people on this MB would agree with him that I come off as some sort of PC attitude cop. I would not agree with that assessment, but I see no reason to deny anyone an opinion.

I do _not_ feel that I have vanquished **mipsman** on this thread. He vented on me at my suggestion, and I’m cool with that. (In the Olympic flaming category, I’m afraid that I’d only give him a **5.7**. His prose didn’t build in power, using either cadence or imagery (preferrably both) to culminate in a total destruction of my psyche. Good effort, but you can’t dance to it. OTOH, reviewed as an essay, I would give it a solid **B+**. It set forth his opinions with clarity and imagination, leaving no question as to the context in which he wrote or the areas in which he felt I had transgressed from the propriety of responsible posting. (A bit more work on the rhythm and cadence, and I’d give him an **A** –style does count.)) That final parting shot, aside, I’m simply not about to engage in some sort of personality warfare that attempts to crush the opposition. **mipsman** does not fall into any “dislike” or “don’t respect” category that I maintain and I see no reason to continue this as a feud.

* * *

Tom~

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2000, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018/43 "2000-01-25T16:35:00Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> Originally posted by Majormd:  
> **Hell, I was just pissed 'cuz my MRE stand wasn’t doing too well. Wine & popcorn are for sissies.**

MRE= Three lies for the price of one.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2000, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018/44 "2000-01-25T16:43:00Z")

</div>

Back to GD with you, Tom! You’re just too damned _reasonable_ for the Pit! 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mipsman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mipsman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mipsman)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2000, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018/45 "2000-01-26T01:32:00Z")

</div>

tomndeb, you are certainly a very calm, reasonable person(s). On reflection, I realize that I had no cause to think that you own an Explorer. Yue Han, what do you have in mind that might cause me regret?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Yue\_Han](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/eada6e/32.png) [@Yue\_Han](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yue_Han)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2000, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018/46 "2000-01-26T01:45:00Z")

</div>

Uh; mipsman; look around. You’ve just about apologized to Tom and everything has settled down.

> [@](#):
>
> Back off know, before you regret this.

See, you backed down. So it’s over. My point was, if you didn’t, you would end up looking foolish and be considered pathetic by the assembled here.

If you’d carried on your ranting, if you’d refused to let this go, you would regret that action by making yourself look whiny and pathetic in public.

As I said, this thread isn’t about me. I wasn’t considering doing anything to make you regret this-- I was just pointing on that you might end up doing so if you pursued it.

–John

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![John\_John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@John\_John](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_John)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2000, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018/47 "2000-01-26T02:17:00Z")

</div>

John, I thought mipsman was pretty damn funny and I think tom did too. I think you missed his humor.

mips, I see tom in a 72 dark blue Pinto.

* * *

The truth is generally seen, rarely heard. Gracian.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SINsApple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@SINsApple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SINsApple)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2000, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018/48 "2000-01-26T02:21:00Z")

</div>

Why do so many of the people who post on here insist on forming little high school like bands who insist on forming a protection posse around other people? Why did you people feel the need to tell the flamer off for Tom? Did you think Tom wasn’t man enough to do it himself? If someone has a problem with another poster let that person take it up with the person and keep your scrawny butts out of it. (However I did laugh wholeheartedly at the crowd setting up for the show down, I wouldn’t have wished away those posts for the life of me!)

* * *

“I celebrate myself, and sing myself, and what I assume you shall assume, for every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.” --Whitman

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2000, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018/49 "2000-01-26T02:58:00Z")

</div>

–Throwing my beer down in disgust–  
And I paid a five dollar cover for this???!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2000, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018/50 "2000-01-26T04:00:00Z")

</div>

So, **PunditLisa** , who was collecting? I think **mipsman** and I deserve a cut and _I_ sure haven’t seen any cash.

.  
.  
.  
.  
.  
.  
.  
.  
.  
.  
.

If it matters: 72 green Pinto in 73-75, 75 yellow Rabbit in 75-83 (179,000), 83 red Rabbit in 83-92 (182,000), 8? gray Aries in 92, 88 black cherry Caravan in 93-99 (189,000), 95 white Caravan 99-present. (My cars are as dull and practical as I am.)

* * *

Tom~

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fuzzy-wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b38774/32.png) [@fuzzy-wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzy-wuzzy)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2000, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018/51 "2000-01-26T04:16:00Z")

</div>

well you didn’t really get that many posts on the thread. You kinda let it fizzle out before you even started. Maybe you should start earlier in the day. At any rate we gotta use the $5 cover charge to pay for all the beer, wine, and milk duds left over cause you didn’t even keep it going long enough to finish any of the refreshments off. And here we have all these lawn chairs and not many people showed up because the entertainment was below standard. You really gotta do better next time guys or they won’t let you back in the pit.

* * *

“Do or do not, there is no try” - Yoda

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2000, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018/52 "2000-01-26T09:21:00Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> Originally posted by PunditLisa:  
> **–Throwing my beer down in disgust–  
> And I paid a five dollar cover for this???!**

## Now _this_ is called Alcohol Abuse, kids. **UncleBeer** , it looks like li’l Lisa needs a good spanking!

**Coldfire**

* * *

_ **"You know how complex women are"** _

- Neil Peart, **Rush** (1993)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![John\_John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@John\_John](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_John)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2000, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018/53 "2000-01-26T11:28:00Z")

</div>

tom

> [@](#):
>
> If it matters: 72 green Pinto in 73-75

Sheeeeeeeeet! Can I call it or what.

* * *

The truth is generally seen, rarely heard. Gracian.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2000, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018/54 "2000-01-26T14:57:00Z")

</div>

Of course, you’re only 25 years and six cars off.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2000, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018/55 "2000-01-26T22:36:00Z")

</div>

A spankin’? Promises, promises.

Actually watching UncleBeer throw himself on the floor to lap up my tossed beer was worth the admission price!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2000, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018/56 "2000-01-26T22:44:00Z")

</div>

And another perfectly good potential shitstorm, straight down the crapper.

Does this disprove the old saw, “Where’s there’s smoke, there’s fire”?

Why the hell is this carpet fuzz stuck to my tongue?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![John\_John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@John\_John](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_John)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018/57 "2000-01-27T00:03:00Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> Originally posted by tomndebb:  
> **Of course, you’re only 25 years and six cars off.**

## It’s the thought that counts.

The truth is generally seen, rarely heard. Gracian.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mipsman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mipsman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mipsman)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018/58 "2000-01-27T03:34:00Z")

</div>

Yue Han, I am not apologizing. People who are liberal consciences irritate me. I have no fear of “looking foolish or be(ing) considered pathetic”. I said what I wanted to say. However, you did threaten me. Tomndeb is/are someone(s) who, on occasion, write things I disagree with. I took a shot on one such occasion. You, however, have a subsidiary, one might even say hopelessly insignificant role here. Your two posts show the sort of low level unpleasantness which tarnishes the soul of all who come in contact with it. However, you are not one to dwell on, lest I waste a good temper.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![WallyM7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5e925/32.png) [@WallyM7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WallyM7)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018/59 "2000-01-27T03:58:00Z")

</div>

mipsman, your characterization of Yue Han is way, way off the mark. And he didn’t threaten you. How do you threaten somebody with pixels? When he said “back off or you’ll regret this” he obviously meant that you’d get your ass flamed but good.

That didn’t happen, and that’s great. But never think that Yue Han’s role is “hopelessly insignificant here.”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Yue\_Han](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/eada6e/32.png) [@Yue\_Han](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yue_Han)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018/60 "2000-01-27T04:05:00Z")

</div>

Alright… I’ll post here again if you really want me to.

First, I think his characterization of my role being insignificant was within this thread. Maybe I’m wrong, though.

Anyway. Apparently mipsman wants me to come back and argue with him. Otherwise, he would not repeatedly bob this thread back up, calling me out.

Unfortunately, I don’t want to argue with mipsman. I’ve tried to extricate myself from what should be a dead thread (after all, the flamer and flamed have come to peaceable terms) and this is teh last I’ll say anything here. If it wasn’t the first thread on the list, I wouldn’t drive it up by posting in it all.

Mipsman, if you want to start another flame topic this week, about me this time, you’re welcome to. I won’t show up, but you can, as always, do whatever you want.

–John

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alright-tomndeb-how-about-right-here/4018.md?page=2)
