# Assholes, the jealous, and mediocretins. Cemetary Savior, spoke-, Fessie, Treis, etc **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 12, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-the-jealous-and-mediocretins-cemetary-savior-spoke-fessie-treis-etc/303591 "2005-05-12T19:24:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-the-jealous-and-mediocretins-cemetary-savior-spoke-fessie-treis-etc/303591/1 "2005-05-12T19:24:06Z")
I responded to [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=315954&page=1&pp=50), and [was wooshed.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6144214&postcount=10) I misunderstood the topic under discussion and [apologized for my mistake](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6145283&postcount=52). But then of course I had the mediocrity crew jump on me, and take me to task for daring to (gasp!) tell a true story about my time in highschool, or point out that nature or nurture, intelligent parents are likely to have intelligent kids. Shame on me. Snarking started with Treis assertion (surely based on exhaustive research), that [intelligent children never have problems in school due to their intelligence.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6144328&postcount=22) (In Treis’ world, I can only guess that membership in the Chess club or playing the flute carries as much social clout as being on the football team.) It just goes from there. cemetary and spoke- decide that talking about my experience in high school must make me a bragart! Why, by relating the fact that some intelligent kids do face problems due to the fact that they’re not ‘normal’ is beyond the pale! We all know that people, **especially children** are very accepting of difference, and teasing/bullying never, ever, goes on in school. Luckily enough, I have luminaries such as spoke- telling me that, why, I should just lie! When I’ve got a story about my childhood, if it involves me talking about the social dynamic in regards to intelligence… why, I should just make shit up! I should be talking about “a friend”. That’s the ticket, rampant dishonesty. Now, for pure ‘rabid asshole’ points, we have fessie, who has decided to suggest that I should neither have children, nor try to be a ‘breadwinner’. For bonus points, evidently responding to arguments that others are using to attack me with is nonsensical! Joy! So I pit these fucks, whatever their driving motivation might be. Jealousy, idiocy, being rancid assholes, what have you. And we wonder why America has a creeping culture of anti-intellectualism? ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-the-jealous-and-mediocretins-cemetary-savior-spoke-fessie-treis-etc/303591/2 "2005-05-12T19:34:58Z")
No, no, sweetie, keep working on that reading comprehension. I said that you definitely **should** have children, and that it would be more fun if your gf is the better wage earner so that you could stay home w/them! Twins! No, triplets! Three little yappy mouths running around. That would be cool! ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-the-jealous-and-mediocretins-cemetary-savior-spoke-fessie-treis-etc/303591/3 "2005-05-12T19:36:58Z")
I goooot pitted! I goooot pitted! And the babies are napping! Rats, phone call, can’t play anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-the-jealous-and-mediocretins-cemetary-savior-spoke-fessie-treis-etc/303591/4 "2005-05-12T19:37:29Z")
Hey genius, you misspelled “cemetery.” ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-the-jealous-and-mediocretins-cemetary-savior-spoke-fessie-treis-etc/303591/5 "2005-05-12T19:39:28Z")
Don’t diss Spoke. Spoke is the coolest ol’ timer of us all. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-the-jealous-and-mediocretins-cemetary-savior-spoke-fessie-treis-etc/303591/6 "2005-05-12T19:40:07Z")
What does “mediocretins” mean? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-the-jealous-and-mediocretins-cemetary-savior-spoke-fessie-treis-etc/303591/7 "2005-05-12T19:45:26Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Don’t diss Spoke. Spoke is the coolest ol’ timer of us all. Gosh, thanks **Lib**. Why I… …Hey!..Wait a minute! Is that some of that “irony” I’ve read so much about here lately? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-the-jealous-and-mediocretins-cemetary-savior-spoke-fessie-treis-etc/303591/8 "2005-05-12T19:45:49Z")
What is with you Star Wars fanboys? The movie doesn’t even come out until next week, and… Oh, mediocretins. Not midichlorians. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-the-jealous-and-mediocretins-cemetary-savior-spoke-fessie-treis-etc/303591/9 "2005-05-12T19:46:36Z")
> [@askeptic](#): > > What does “mediocretins” mean? I’m pretty sure that those are those things in Star Wars that makes somebody a Jedi. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-the-jealous-and-mediocretins-cemetary-savior-spoke-fessie-treis-etc/303591/10 "2005-05-12T19:48:20Z")
While I certainly wouldn’t presume to speak for you, **FinnAgain** , I can say that my own test scores, national debate achievements, and academic plaudits did not make it difficult for me to relate to others. It was my vanity. Growing up was hard because I was a dick. You, of course, might have had a different experience. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-the-jealous-and-mediocretins-cemetary-savior-spoke-fessie-treis-etc/303591/11 "2005-05-12T19:48:44Z")
> [@fessie](#): > > No, no, sweetie, keep working on that reading comprehension. No no coward, [take responsibility for what you say](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6151974&postcount=123). Or are you going to hide behind sarcasm now? By the way, then [telling me I should have kids, as an insult, and that I should hope that someone else can earn a living wage…](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6152056&postcount=127) that’s not exactly a retraction or an apology. Spoke: Yes, I’m dysgraphic and have trouble writing properly. Do you want a cookie or a medal? **Liberal** : However cool he may be, he was acting like a rabid asshole in the thread which was refrenced. **Askeptic** : Kinda like a Pink. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-the-jealous-and-mediocretins-cemetary-savior-spoke-fessie-treis-etc/303591/12 "2005-05-12T19:49:48Z")
> [@askeptic](#): > > What does “mediocretins” mean? A step above epsilon semi cretins? ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-the-jealous-and-mediocretins-cemetary-savior-spoke-fessie-treis-etc/303591/13 "2005-05-12T19:52:47Z")
**Finn** A Pink what? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-the-jealous-and-mediocretins-cemetary-savior-spoke-fessie-treis-etc/303591/14 "2005-05-12T19:53:14Z")
“Dysgraphic?” There you go throwing around those polysyllabic words again. You’re _know_ gonna have to dumb it down for me. Does “dysgraphic” mean “too stupid to learn spelling?” ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-the-jealous-and-mediocretins-cemetary-savior-spoke-fessie-treis-etc/303591/15 "2005-05-12T19:54:43Z")
Oh Boy, is it time for our occasional pit of the bad spellers? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-the-jealous-and-mediocretins-cemetary-savior-spoke-fessie-treis-etc/303591/16 "2005-05-12T19:54:55Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > Gosh, thanks **Lib**. Why I… > > …Hey!..Wait a minute! Is that some of that “irony” I’ve read so much about here lately? Nope, no irony. The rest of us ol’ timers constantly get caught up in these pissing matches and drama contests. Meanwhile, you just kind of wander all around the party, pausing occasionally to talk to people who aren’t screaming at each other. I don’t know if you’re old enough to remember the Keep On Truckin’ guy, but whenever I think of you, I picture you as him. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-the-jealous-and-mediocretins-cemetary-savior-spoke-fessie-treis-etc/303591/17 "2005-05-12T19:56:50Z")
> [@Maeglin](#): > > While I certainly wouldn’t presume to speak for you, **FinnAgain** , I can say that my own test scores, national debate achievements, and academic plaudits did not make it difficult for me to relate to others. Honestly, It was never a question of being able to relate to others. When people at my school didn’t treat me as a test score, or a collection of vocabulary words, we got along fine. Hell, I had friends in virtually every clique there was in school. But, for instance, I’d answer a teacher in class and a few people would call out “Speak English!” because, of course, I’d used a word which either they didn’t know or was a ‘ten dollar word.’ A teacher of mine once read one of my essays to the whole class, and I got teased mercilessly for being a “teacher’s pet”, etc… Now, I was never lacking for friends, and always had a circle of friends around me, but the mindset in my highschool was decidedly anti-intellectual. > [@Maeglin](#): > > It was my vanity. > Growing up was hard because I was a dick. > You, of course, might have had a different experience. I’m sure. There are various schools, in various enviornments, in various social condidtions, etc… I’m sure at some schools this wasn’t an issue. I know it was at mine, and would want to protect my children from such hardship. Why that became a point of contention is beyond me. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-the-jealous-and-mediocretins-cemetary-savior-spoke-fessie-treis-etc/303591/18 "2005-05-12T19:58:15Z")
Clearly, I am not immune to the lure of a good pissing match. (See above.) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-the-jealous-and-mediocretins-cemetary-savior-spoke-fessie-treis-etc/303591/19 "2005-05-12T20:00:52Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > **Liberal** : However cool he may be, he was acting like a rabid asshole in the thread which was refrenced. I had a look at the thread just in case he’d changed over the years. But nope. Same ol’ Spoke. When you read him, think of a guy with a half-smile, holding two beers, one of which he’s ready to give you as soon as you take your head out of your ass long enough to see it. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-the-jealous-and-mediocretins-cemetary-savior-spoke-fessie-treis-etc/303591/20 "2005-05-12T20:02:17Z")
Personally, I didn’t think FinnAgain said anything particularly arrogant or untoward in the original thread, and I don’t think he deserves being attacked over it. Of course that won’t stop anyone from jabbing him with a stick until he goes berserk. Fire away boys, enjoy yourselves. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-the-jealous-and-mediocretins-cemetary-savior-spoke-fessie-treis-etc/303591.md?page=2)