# Bitterness, bitterness, bitterness! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 29, 2000, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitterness-bitterness-bitterness/14178 "2000-02-29T10:55:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![upstatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ce73a5/32.png) [@upstatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/upstatic)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitterness-bitterness-bitterness/14178/1 "2000-02-29T10:55:00Z")
I’ve only been here a few days not but have noticed something amazing. There are more bitter ‘members’ here than at the local retirement home. It seems to me that everyone is trying to duel each other with MORE sophisticated answers, and it’s beginning to make me sick. People, realize that the more you think about what you type, the more you sound too damn technical and too damn cold, yeah, COLD! (I’m sure that others have noticed this.) So, my question is as followed: WHY are there so many bitter people here? * * * R.J.D. ---
**Author:** ![ultress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7c8e57/32.png) [@ultress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultress)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitterness-bitterness-bitterness/14178/2 "2000-02-29T11:54:00Z")
Birds of a feather flock together. I haven’t seen any COLD people here, maybe I’m one of them and that’s why. * * * _I’ve learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it._ ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitterness-bitterness-bitterness/14178/3 "2000-02-29T12:22:00Z")
Ahem. You rang? * * * **Coldfire** * * * _ **"You know how complex women are"** _ - Neil Peart, **Rush** (1993) ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitterness-bitterness-bitterness/14178/4 "2000-02-29T13:28:00Z")
Where have you been hanging out, here? The **BBQ Pit** lends itself quite nicely to bitterness, venom, acrimony, etc. If you don’t enjoy it, stay away from it. **Comments on Cecil’s Columns** and **Comments on Mailbag Answers** will both bring out differences of opinion (sometimes sharp), but I haven’t encountered actual bitterness, there. **General Questions** does have one regular poster who appears to be a professional misanthrope, but he hardly dominates the Forum. Any bitterness (as opposed to dispute) in **Great Debates** is generally a reflection of ongoing personal interactions and it ebbs and flows. Similarly, bitterness in **MPSIMS** tends to cycle in and out and you may have hit a low end of the cycle. **About This Message Board** usually reflects immediate issues. Since we were just hacked and down for most of a week, there is a certain amount of bitterness reflected there, today. Wander back through a few weeks worth of posts and notice that no single emotion will dominate for long. (If bitterness really bothers you, keep to **General Questions** which is about the least emotional forum.) * * * Tom~ ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitterness-bitterness-bitterness/14178/5 "2000-02-29T13:45:00Z")
Bitter and cold? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm much more civilized here than on many other message boards where so many varied topics come up. Stick around a while and you might change your opinion… ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitterness-bitterness-bitterness/14178/6 "2000-02-29T13:57:00Z")
The one area where I would agree that the people here are bitter, is when a new person comes in to get the answer to a single question, and then never become part of the message board. Frequently the poster is asking a question that was just asked last week by a different newbie, and their total post count will never go beyond 10 or 11, even if you check it a year from now. Sometimes I wonder if they even stick around long enough to read the answer. (If it’s not a stupid, or often repeated question, the dopers will love to answer it). Stick with this messagbe board, you’ll find that it’s a community. New and Improved Enright3 ---
**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitterness-bitterness-bitterness/14178/7 "2000-02-29T14:33:00Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve only been here a few days Exactly. Don’t jump to conclusions. Great group of folks here. ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitterness-bitterness-bitterness/14178/8 "2000-02-29T14:34:00Z")
All of those above answers stink and make me sad to be a board memeber. I would post a response but am too wrapped up in my own downtrodden emotions to do o at this time. * * * You say neato, check your libido, and roll to the church in your new tuxedo. ---
**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitterness-bitterness-bitterness/14178/9 "2000-02-29T16:39:00Z")
Boy, am I slow on the uptake today! Mul, your post actually made me stop and think for a minute until my “sarcastic” alarm went off! (I’ve really got to get that thing into the shop - it’s been sticking lately). ---
**Author:** ![upstatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ce73a5/32.png) [@upstatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/upstatic)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitterness-bitterness-bitterness/14178/10 "2000-02-29T16:41:00Z")
That’s where you’re wrong, BunnyGirl. My only being here a few days has nothing to do with the way that members treat other members. I witness the verbal bashing. I watch members try and out-wit others. It’s not a comfortable place to be. I’m not jumping to conclusions. In a sense, my eyes are “virgin;” they aren’t used to seeing such attacks. There is no ‘grammar hierarchy’ here. Try and be kind to your fellow answer seekers. Just respond to the questions, without sarcasm, and add a joke here and there. Q: What do get if you cross a crooked politician and a bad lawyer? A: Chelsea Clinton * * * R.J.D. ---
**Author:** ![upstatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ce73a5/32.png) [@upstatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/upstatic)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitterness-bitterness-bitterness/14178/11 "2000-02-29T16:46:00Z")
If I was at all misleading, I am not referring to the majory of the members. But there are some bitter people here. Not to mention names(Alphagene). Anyone ever see that Seinfeld where Elaine has the Tweetie Pez Machine? I have the same one. * * * R.J.D. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitterness-bitterness-bitterness/14178/12 "2000-02-29T16:49:00Z")
Upstatic, Are you sure you aren’t mistaking healthy debate for bitterness? The thing that I love most about this place is the back-and-forth. Many times, IRL, trying to find someone to have a healthy, intelligent debate is like pulling teeth. Not so here. There are articulate, intelligent folks from all walks of life here, so of course you’re going to have some jerks in the group. Just like IRL. And if people sometimes getting slightly huffy in the heat of debate is a side effect of everyone here coming and expressing thoughts and sharing knowledge, I’ll gladly put up with it. I take a lot from here and don’t expect it to be candyland all the time. Just my $.02. ---
**Author:** ![RM\_Mentock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitterness-bitterness-bitterness/14178/13 "2000-02-29T16:50:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by upstatic: > \*\*Not to mention names(Alphagene). \*\* You sound bitter. Do you want to talk about it? * * * rocks ---
**Author:** ![Ursa\_Major](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a88e57/32.png) [@Ursa\_Major](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ursa_Major)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitterness-bitterness-bitterness/14178/14 "2000-02-29T17:26:00Z")
I have only crossed paths with you twice since you came here, upstatic. [http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000517.html](http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000517.html) In this one you lodge a complaint about how Cecil doesn’t anticipate every possible question that a reader might have after reading one of his columns and how there should be links to the answers to these questions. Several posters pointed out why your request was not only impractical but unreasonable. I think the concensus was that you should, perhaps, do your own research if you are truely interested in finding out more about a topic. [http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/005607.html](http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/005607.html) In this one you made the remarkable claim that the Woolworth building was paid for with 13 million dollars worth of loose change. I simply pointed out the inconsistancies of the story and the unlikelyhood of your claim. I still await some supporting evidence for what smells like an urban legend. If all you want is for your criticisms and undocumented claims to be heard and unchallenged, then might I suggest you are posting on the wrong board? Most of us don’t mind when we are proven wrong. That’s part of the learning process. You seem to feel that if someone does not agree with you, they are being bitter. Those with thin skins and the inability to admit when they are wrong don’t last long here. ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitterness-bitterness-bitterness/14178/15 "2000-02-29T17:27:00Z")
upstatic wrote > [@](#): > > I witness the verbal bashing. I watch members try and out-wit others. It’s not a comfortable place to be. What’s bad about watching members try to outwit each other. Most of the thred (in MPSIMs at least, since that and the pit are my main stomping grounds) eventually turn into farcefests. Verbal bashing is along the same lines. If you say something stupid, unfounded, illogical, or poorly supported, you will get called on it. Makes us all better by having to be sharper and more thoughtful. I fail to see how that is a bad thing. As for you being here for a few days and casting judgment on what you have seen, I can only imagine what your thoughts would have been during Formeragent, Phaedrus, or any number of other goings-on we have had around here. Sit back, learn poster personalities by watching there styles, and enjoy it. I feel safe in sayng the majority of posters don’t come here or leave here bitter, so don’t use the traits of the few and apply them to the many. And BunnyGirl, glad your sarcasm meter caught that. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if sarcasm translates well on a post. * * * You say neato, check your libido, and roll to the church in your new tuxedo. ---
**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:** [February 29, 2000, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitterness-bitterness-bitterness/14178/16 "2000-02-29T17:38:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by tomndebb: > **General Questions does have one regular poster who appears to be a professional misanthrope, but he hardly dominates the Forum.** You’re talking about **me** , aren’t you, Tom? Bastard. * * * Uke ---
**Author:** ![Ursa\_Major](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a88e57/32.png) [@Ursa\_Major](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ursa_Major)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitterness-bitterness-bitterness/14178/17 "2000-02-29T17:44:00Z")
Whew! I thought Tom meant me. Thanks for taking the heat, Uke. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2000, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitterness-bitterness-bitterness/14178/18 "2000-03-01T06:04:00Z")
On reason that upstatic may think folks here are bitter is that his opening salvo on the board was to make an overall comment on how the Straight Dope website and Cecil’s columns should be run. [http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000517.html](http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000517.html) Specifically, he asked why Cecil’s columns did not have url links to other relevant information (and didn’t follow the board convention of putting in a reference to the column he used as an example). He got firm but polite answers explaining that Cecil’s column was a newspaper column that was started 27 years ago, long before the internet was popular. He remained a bit indignant that Cecil or the management of this (free) website did not go back and annotate the archives. There was some sharp back and forth, as there usually are in such cases. It seems to me that upstatic if not injected bitterness into the debate, at least raised the level, calling for response in kind. ---
**Author:** ![Vestal\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5e9695/32.png) [@Vestal\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vestal_Blue)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2000, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitterness-bitterness-bitterness/14178/19 "2000-03-01T06:09:00Z")
Oh lighten up, static! If you nose around a little, you’ll see I’ve taken and given my share of ‘barbs’. Welcome to life! I find this board a refreshing, lively virtual community! If you’re looking for a dull, genteel “after you, Alphonse” sort of environment, please keep hunting, and with no hard feelings. Otherwise, welcome aboard, let’s have some fun! * * * VB Cowabunga Buffalo Bob! ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2000, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitterness-bitterness-bitterness/14178/20 "2000-03-01T06:28:00Z")
**Ukulele Ike** : > [@](#): > > You’re talking about me, aren’t you, Tom? > > Bastard. **Ursa Major** : > [@](#): > > Whew! I thought Tom meant me. Ummm. No, to both of you. (And I prefer sumbich to bastard.) **upstatic** : > [@](#): > > I’m not jumping to conclusions. . . . my eyes. . . aren’t used to seeing such attacks. You’re the irony meter safety inspector, aren’t you? * * * Tom~ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitterness-bitterness-bitterness/14178.md?page=2)