# C K Dexter Haven: WTF? (mild) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 12, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-k-dexter-haven-wtf-mild/472364 "2008-11-12T16:08:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-k-dexter-haven-wtf-mild/472364/1 "2008-11-12T16:08:30Z")
In the thread [When was the Old Testament written?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=492446), **Polycarp** refers to the authors of a recent Staff Report as “ **Dex** and whatsisname that fell out the window”, a joking reference to **Eutychus** , whose [Biblical namesake](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutychus) actually did fall out a window. For some reason, **C K Dexter Haven** deems this to be a grave insult and issues a formal warning to **Polycarp** : > [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > Meanwhile, Moderator Hat on: **Polycarp** , a comment like “whatsisname that fell out the window” is pretty much a personal insult that doesn’t belong here. **Eutychus** did a great job on those reports with me (I basically handled Old Testament and he handled New) and snide little asides are not called for. When pressed for details by another poster, he then cryptically writes, > [@](#): > > Email me if you feel the desparate, overwhelming need to know. It doesn’t need to be discussed here. May I be the first to ask, “ **WTF???** ” **Dex** , did you just get completely whooshed here? Try as I might I cannot fathom any possible way of interpreting **Polycarp** ’s epithet as anything other than a light-hearted and roundabout way of referring to **Eutychus** by invoking a memorable mythological story. While I don’t have time to look up examples now, I’m sure I’ve seen such things happen here _dozens_, if not hundreds, of times before. When a poster chooses a username from literature, pop culture, or mythology, it’s not uncommon for them to be named indirectly by referring to some aspect of or event associated with their namesake. Unless there’s something I’m completely missing here, I think you owe **Polycarp** a retraction and an apology. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-k-dexter-haven-wtf-mild/472364/2 "2008-11-12T16:22:47Z")
I’m not much for second-guessing the mods (annoying job, no pay, herding cats, etc.) but, **Dex** , you obviously didn’t get **Polycarp’s** reference or you would have known he was only alluding to the name and not saying anything about **Euty** as a person or a poster. If you don’t understand the meaning of a remark, or how it was intended, it wouldn’t kill you to ask for clarification before handing out rebukes for impropriety. Even if you strongly suspected a “snide little aside” in this case, **Poly** is one of the few posters to whom you should have extended the benefit of the doubt – especially since in the very same comment you took as a snide aside, he said that both of you had done a terrific job. In short, it very obviously was _not_ a personal insult, and you look kind of dumb, frankly, for having taken it as one. I don’t think you need to fall on your sword about it, but maybe dial down the paranoia. And yeah, I think you owe **Poly** a little apology. ---
**Author:** ![wmfellows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@wmfellows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wmfellows)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-k-dexter-haven-wtf-mild/472364/3 "2008-11-12T16:27:37Z")
I have to say I had the same “huh” reaction. Now I didn’t get the Biblical angle, but that was rather hard to read as an insult. Let me second the above observations. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-k-dexter-haven-wtf-mild/472364/4 "2008-11-12T16:31:39Z")
I’m pretty sure Dex’s comment did not count as a formal warning, FWIW. Usually such a warning is explicitly stated as such. However, I agree that the admonishment seems ill conceived. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-k-dexter-haven-wtf-mild/472364/5 "2008-11-12T16:34:31Z")
While we are waiting for Dex to come and apologize, could someone recap the mythological tale of Eutychus for me? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-k-dexter-haven-wtf-mild/472364/6 "2008-11-12T16:35:44Z")
From **Dex** ’s comment… > [@](#): > > Email me if you feel the desparate, overwhelming need to know. It doesn’t need to be discussed here. … there seems to be more to it. Maybe **Euty** really did recently fall out a window, metaphorical or otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-k-dexter-haven-wtf-mild/472364/7 "2008-11-12T16:36:18Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > While we are waiting for Dex to come and apologize, could someone recap the mythological tale of Eutychus for me? Thanks. > **[Eutychus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutychus)** > > Eutychus /ˈjuːtɪkəs/ (Greek: Εὔτυχος) was a young man (or a youth) of Troas tended to by St. Paul. Eutychus fell asleep due to the long nature of the discourse Paul was giving, fell from a window out of the three-story building, and died. Paul then embraced him, insisting that he was not dead, and they carried him back upstairs alive; those gathered then had a meal and a long talk which lasted until dawn. This is related in the New Testament book of the Acts of the Apostles 20:7–12. > Though some ... > [@](#): > > Eutychus was a boy tended to by St. Paul. He fell asleep due to the long nature of the discourse Paul was giving and fell from his seat out of a three story window. Paul then picks him up, insisting that he is not dead, and carries him back upstairs; those gathered then have a meal and a long conversation which lasts until dawn. Paul leaves, and Eutychus is found to be alive. This is related in the New Testament book of Acts 20:9-12. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-k-dexter-haven-wtf-mild/472364/8 "2008-11-12T16:36:25Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > I’m pretty sure Dex’s comment did not count as a formal warning, FWIW. Usually such a warning is explicitly stated as such. If that’s the case, my apologies for the misinterpretation. It certainly seemed like a warning to me, but whatever it was, the “Moderator Hat on” makes it undoubtedly _ex cathedra_. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-k-dexter-haven-wtf-mild/472364/9 "2008-11-12T16:36:35Z")
\*\*Dex \*\*wrote to me privately (I’m the other poster who pressed him for details) and it was clear to me that he just over-interpreted the reference to **Euty** , in a ironic way that calls much more attention to the situation that he was hoping to keep suppressed. But we needn’t berate him further for making an honest and well-intended error, and I’m certainly satisfied that he was merely and innocently trying to keep the snark down to a minimum. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-k-dexter-haven-wtf-mild/472364/10 "2008-11-12T16:53:39Z")
It is certainly not my intention to berate the guy, but if he made an honest and well-intentioned error that led him to publicly chastise **Polycarp** , then IMO he owes him an apology. I’m not saying it must be publicly extended, but an apology does seem to be in order. It’s also not my intention to harp on it, so this is my last post in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Dan\_Norder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@Dan\_Norder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dan_Norder)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-k-dexter-haven-wtf-mild/472364/11 "2008-11-12T17:24:57Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > But we needn’t berate him further for making an honest and well-intended error If that’s what it was, he should just say so and apologize. If he already has somewhere, great. If not, then let the berating continue. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-k-dexter-haven-wtf-mild/472364/12 "2008-11-12T17:25:09Z")
I am all cool with the whoosh, provided that Dex acknowledges it and retracts his admonishment. It happens to everyone. What I don’t get is the need to be all douchey about a request for clarification. “desparate (sic), overwhelming need”? One doesn’t need a desperate overwhelming need in order to want further details about something. One just needs to want to know. Why is there need to put down the person asking the question even before the question is asked? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-k-dexter-haven-wtf-mild/472364/13 "2008-11-12T17:26:12Z")
It’s kinda like, don’t insult people — that’s MY job. ---
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-k-dexter-haven-wtf-mild/472364/14 "2008-11-12T17:54:09Z")
It reminds me of that great movie, ‘The Philadelphia Story’ where some dumbass ends up falling in love with the woman he once divorced. What a buffoon! ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-k-dexter-haven-wtf-mild/472364/15 "2008-11-12T18:53:42Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > I’m pretty sure Dex’s comment did not count as a formal warning, FWIW. Believe me, from experience, pretty much any admonition from a mod and especially an admin is a formal warning. Explicitly stating so is a courtesy they do not always extend. And in fact, “mod hat on” _is_ an explicit statement of a formal warning, IME. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-k-dexter-haven-wtf-mild/472364/16 "2008-11-12T19:14:36Z")
I knew the origin of the screen name Eutychus (a biblical character who fell out the window) from having Eutychus explain it a long time ago, but when I first read Polycarp’s comment, I thought he was referring to Eutychus not being a moderator any more and it was only upon seeing this thread that the lightbulb came on over my head. I agree that Polycarp was making some biblical joke, not referring to another SDMB event. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-k-dexter-haven-wtf-mild/472364/17 "2008-11-12T19:21:31Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > I agree that Polycarp was making some biblical joke, not referring to another SDMB event. For **Poly** the default position is, I believe, that he’s making a biblical reference. Even when he’s ordering a cheeseburger. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-k-dexter-haven-wtf-mild/472364/18 "2008-11-12T19:34:08Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Believe me, from experience, pretty much any admonition from a mod and especially an admin is a formal warning. Explicitly stating so is a courtesy they do not always extend. And in fact, “mod hat on” _is_ an explicit statement of a formal warning, IME. For whatever it’s worth, you’re completely wrong. We forget to do the “mod hat” type stuff sometimes, but not all admonitions are warnings and we try to make the distinction clear. **Dex** did not describe his post as a warning and didn’t make any note of it, so it looks like it was not a warning. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-k-dexter-haven-wtf-mild/472364/19 "2008-11-12T19:35:39Z")
I posted in the original GQ thread explaining that I had intended the Biblical analogy (and, in a senior moment, couldn’t remember **Eutychus** ’s username but did remember where he got it from, and apologizing to **Eutychus** for any unintended insult he might have read into it. In **Dex** ’s defense, he is of Jewish faith, and might not get the reference to the Eutychus character in Acts that I intended. **Dex** , if I had made some stupid joke based on Orpheus, you’d have been 100% within your rights to give me an official warning (and I know this was a remonstration not up to warning level). But I have less than 30 PMs in my box as it stands – would it have hurt to have asked before a public bawling-out? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-k-dexter-haven-wtf-mild/472364/20 "2008-11-12T19:36:27Z")
I can’t figure out how **Polycarp** ’s words would be an insult even ignoring the biblical reference. What would the insult have been supposed to be? -FrL- [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-k-dexter-haven-wtf-mild/472364.md?page=2)