# brightpenny, you're a loathesome bitch **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 12, 2006, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670 "2006-01-12T15:52:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670/41 "2006-01-12T18:43:54Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > Ya know, I’ve been raped, and I’ve been flamed on this very message board when I said something stupid. > > I honestly can’t say there were any similarities. At all. Not even a little bit. When a comedian is not doing well on a particular night, he says “I’m dying here”. Are there any similarities between actually dying and not doing well at a comedy club? Nope. At all. Not even a little bit. And yet people still say it. And no one complains. Or, if someone’s hungry, they say “I’m starving to death”. Have you ever starved to death? I assume it must not be a very pleasant experience. And yet we don’t give people grief for saying “I’m starving to death”. Having said that, I think **brightpenny** overreacted when she said "“It felt like a gang rape”, and she should aknowledge that. Nevertheless, for everyone here to come in and pretend to be shocked - shocked! - that anyone compares everyday experiences to extremely tragic events (like death, starvation and rape) is complete bullshit. (Unless of course they go around giving stern warnings to anyone who says “I’m dying here”, or “I’m starving to death”, etc) ---
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670/42 "2006-01-12T18:46:04Z")
**Alice** , I didn’t intend to cause any harm to you or anyone. I deeply apologize for that. If I’d known the term pile-on before that, I would have used it. I have experienced what I described, however. I can’t imagine ever intentionally saying anything mean or nasty to anyone, and I try to treat others with the respect I wish for myself. I tease, banter, play, but not mean. Although I’ve been here for a few months, I didn’t realize that there was a general fondness for pile-ups and meanness here. I will repeat this for the third (fourth?) time. I was uncomfortable with it, so I avoided the forums that participated in that and expected better in the other forums. My mistake. **Miller** is right. I don’t belong here. \*\* Excalibre\*\*, don’t email me again, or I’ll report you for harrassment. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670/43 "2006-01-12T18:47:34Z")
**brightpenny** , I’d like to agree with what **Revtim** said. One of Cecil’s oft-quoted first lines in an answer was something like : If bullshit was cornflakes, you’d be General Mills. I’ve always thought he should have said Kelloggs. Stick around. ---
**Author:** ![Hoodoo\_Ulove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/58956e/32.png) [@Hoodoo\_Ulove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoodoo_Ulove)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670/44 "2006-01-12T18:50:34Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > . . . I said that the rape metaphor upsets me . . . Maybe this isn’t the board for you. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670/45 "2006-01-12T18:53:00Z")
> [@brightpenny](#): > > **Alice** , I didn’t intend to cause any harm to you or anyone. I deeply apologize for that. If I’d known the term pile-on before that, I would have used it. I have experienced what I described, however. I can’t imagine ever intentionally saying anything mean or nasty to anyone, and I try to treat others with the respect I wish for myself. I tease, banter, play, but not mean. Funny. That’s all you got in the original GQ thread, and you reacted (and are still reacting) like someone beat your puppy. Yea, you had a few pointed comments thrown your way. But it just wasn’t as bad as you’re making it out to be. _This_ thread, on the other hand, has some a small amount visciousness in it. But if you think this thread is bad, you really don’t have much experience with the internet in general and this board in particular. > [@brightpenny](#): > > Although I’ve been here for a few months, I didn’t realize that there was a general fondness for pile-ups and meanness here. I will repeat this for the third (fourth?) time. I was uncomfortable with it, so I avoided the forums that participated in that and expected better in the other forums. My mistake. **Miller** is right. I don’t belong here. You know, you may be right. This is coming from someone who thinks **Spongemom** got railroaded and does have a place in our community. > [@brightpenny](#): > > **Excalibre** , don’t email me again, or I’ll report you for harrassment. OK, you definitely don’t belong here. Hell, I don’t think you belong on the internet at all, if you think (a) a friendly email from **Excalibre** is harassment, or (b) you can do a damned thing about what you receive in your email box. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2006, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670/46 "2006-01-12T18:53:59Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > **brightpenny** , I’d like to agree with what **Revtim** said. One of Cecil’s oft-quoted first lines in an answer was something like : If bullshit was cornflakes, you’d be General Mills. I’ve always thought he should have said Kelloggs. Stick around. Sez [Cecil](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_097b.html): > [@](#): > > Jonathan, I have a shameful confession to make. Many years ago, in response to a particularly dimwitted letter, I wrote, “If ignorance were cornflakes, you’d be General Mills.” Priceless, eh? Here’s the confession: General Mills doesn’t make cornflakes. However, it was funnier that way. … Just a little insight into the twisted world of the media, where you never want to let the facts get in the way of a good joke ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670/47 "2006-01-12T18:54:35Z")
For crissakes, nobody was “mean” to you, and **Excalibre** was not fucking harassing you. As for your germphobia about having your suitcase searched, it sounds like you might have obsessive-compulsive disorder. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670/48 "2006-01-12T18:56:08Z")
Report him? To whom? The Authorities? Get real. Grow a pair and come back soon. ---
**Author:** ![liberty3701](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@liberty3701](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liberty3701)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670/49 "2006-01-12T18:57:23Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > Nevertheless, for everyone here to come in and pretend to be shocked - shocked! - that anyone compares everyday experiences to extremely tragic events (like death, starvation and rape) is complete bullshit. But “I’m dying here” and “i’m starving to death” have become so part of our discourse that everyone knows that they’re meant merely as hyperbole; people have been saying it for generations. Comparisons to rape, however, is not considered as appropriate for whatever reason, so equating it as you did is not a valid comparison. Most anyone with a native intuition in the English language would know that, and know that the gang rape remark is totally out of line, even if it may not be as bad as, say, dying. ---
**Author:** ![TheBoneyKingofNowhere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@TheBoneyKingofNowhere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoneyKingofNowhere)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670/50 "2006-01-12T18:59:20Z")
> [@brightpenny](#): > > **Alice** > \*\* > Excalibre\*\*, don’t email me again, or I’ll report you for harrassment. Wow . . . I really think you’re going overboard… I mean, you obviously aren’t going to admit to overreacting in the first place, and now it just looks like you’re trying to make a point that nobody bought in the first place. Deep breaths, take a break, and come back after awhile. Maybe have a drink in the meantime. . . ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670/51 "2006-01-12T18:59:43Z")
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**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670/52 "2006-01-12T18:59:45Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > When a comedian is not doing well on a particular night, he says “I’m dying here”. > > Are there any similarities between actually dying and not doing well at a comedy club? Nope. At all. Not even a little bit. > > And yet people still say it. And no one complains. > > Or, if someone’s hungry, they say “I’m starving to death”. Have you ever starved to death? I assume it must not be a very pleasant experience. And yet we don’t give people grief for saying “I’m starving to death”. > > Having said that, I think **brightpenny** overreacted when she said "“It felt like a gang rape”, and she should aknowledge that. > > Nevertheless, for everyone here to come in and pretend to be shocked - shocked! - that anyone compares everyday experiences to extremely tragic events (like death, starvation and rape) is complete bullshit. > > (Unless of course they go around giving stern warnings to anyone who says “I’m dying here”, or “I’m starving to death”, etc) Except “I’m dying here” and “I’m starving to death” are expressions that have passed so far into common usage that nobody who uses the phrases is even thinking about their literal meanings. Saying “I feel like I was gang-raped” isn’t in the same category. It would be more like getting into an argument and being berated and saying “I feel like a Tutsi who’s had his hands chopped off by a band of Hutus with machetes”. It may be just as grossly exaggerated as saying “I’m dying” or “I’m starving to death”, but you’re being disingenuous if you think the social context is the same and the statements therefore carry the same weight. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670/53 "2006-01-12T19:00:50Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > (Unless of course they go around giving stern warnings to anyone who says “I’m dying here”, or “I’m starving to death”, etc) I do that quite often. Plus, you are accounting for neither tone nor context. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670/54 "2006-01-12T19:03:24Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > Nevertheless, for everyone here to come in and pretend to be shocked - shocked! - that anyone compares everyday experiences to extremely tragic events (like death, starvation and rape) is complete bullshit. I think you’re proving our point. Those phrases are acceptable because they’ve worked their way into the vernacular. Are you hoping that “I feel like I’ve been raped” does the same? Whenever we let someone like **brightpenny** say what she said we desensitize the word a little more. ---
**Author:** ![Feydeau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Feydeau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feydeau)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670/55 "2006-01-12T19:04:23Z")
> [@brightpenny](#): > > \*\* > Excalibre\*\*, don’t email me again, or I’ll report you for harrassment. Perhaps, if you’re really that skeeved by having someone from this message board send you an email, you should consider removing from public view your email address. Just sayin.’ ---
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670/56 "2006-01-12T19:05:40Z")
here we go again. please. just. leave. me. alone. a board rule says no harrassment, which i assumed included emails referring to rape. you all get to object to the use of rape but I don’t. I get it now. let this die. please. ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670/57 "2006-01-12T19:07:55Z")
> [@brightpenny](#): > > **Excalibre** , don’t email me again, or I’ll report you for harrassment. Now look what you went and did. You’re hurting **Excalibre** ’s feelings. You’re nothing but a big meanie. And probably a rapist, too. I wouldn’t be surprised if he went crying home to momma and never came back to this message board again. {{{{{{{{{{ **Excalibre** }}}}}}}}}} Hope that makes you feel better, **Exy**. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! \*You really \*\*are \*_a psycho!!_ ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670/58 "2006-01-12T19:10:00Z")
> [@brightpenny](#): > > here we go again. please. just. leave. me. alone. You know whom you should report? The person who’s holding a gun to your thread and forcing you to open this thread. I’m sure that’s against _some_ law. ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670/59 "2006-01-12T19:10:41Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > **brightpenny** , I’d like to agree with what **Revtim** said. One of Cecil’s oft-quoted first lines in an answer was something like : If bullshit was cornflakes, you’d be General Mills. I’ve always thought he should have said Kelloggs. Stick around. Bullshit again. One more stupid justification of what happened in the GQ thread. Just because Cecil can say something in his column does not mean we can say it in any forum on the SDMB. Is it within the rules to answer a GQ question with “If ignorance were cornflakes, you’d be General Mills”, or "Listen, you [chump](http://straightdope.com/classics/a1_016) " ? ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670/60 "2006-01-12T19:13:18Z")
The more I think about the “Excalibre, don’t email me again” comment, the more you strike me as Stupid. Not just ignorant; hell, everyone’s ignorant of something. That’s the human condition. You came to this message board not knowing its culture and bumbled around a bit. Well, that happens. But now you’re casting about blaming everyone else for your own foibles. Like in this case. If you don’t want to be emailed, go to your profile and hide your goddamned email!! Blaming others for your mistakes is total bullshit. > [@brightpenny](#): > > here we go again. please. just. leave. me. alone. > > a board rule says no harrassment, which i assumed included emails referring to rape. you all get to object to the use of rape but I don’t. I get it now. > > let this die. please. You really, really, really, really, fucking really don’t understand this board. You really need to just fucking leave right now. This board is obviously not for you. You want this subject to die? Stop reading this thread! You’ll never be bothered with it again! Idiot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightpenny-youre-a-loathesome-bitch/339670.md?page=4)