# Coberst -- shut the fuck up already **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 25, 2006, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200 "2006-08-25T14:40:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200/61 "2006-08-28T02:15:02Z")
Hmph. Pretty much proves my point. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200/62 "2006-08-28T02:38:43Z")
**twickster** , no _that_ was a fair response, thank you, until you got to this point: > [@](#): > > \*I am repeatedly, and deliberately, calling coberst sophomoric. The word means, literally, “wise fool” – as in someone who parrots the words of others without understanding what they mean. She does parrot the words of others. It remains to be seen whether she understands what they mean. Thank you for getting to the heart of why I haven’t been able to engage in a really meaningful dialogue with her. I wasn’t certain myself. I certainly _want_ to. Who is cutting edge these days? ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200/63 "2006-08-28T02:41:39Z")
Sorry. I meant to say: “ **Now** that was a fair report…” ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200/64 "2006-08-28T02:52:35Z")
> [@Dewey Finn](#): > > Not just there. If you do a web search on “Would you be interested in some disinterested knowledge?” (the title of one of his early threads), you’ll find that he started the same thread on several other message boards, with the same OP. And my guess is that he’s also posted to other boards that aren’t searchable by Google. Damn. I just tried this. He/She’s prolific if nothing else, which may explain a lack of responses/debate. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200/65 "2006-08-28T03:11:40Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > She does parrot the words of others. It remains to be seen whether she understands what they mean. I would argue that if s/he did, s/he would be do so. YMMV. > [@](#): > > Who is cutting edge these days? I am not now, and never have been, a philosopher, so even if I knew WTF s/he was blathering on about, I doubt I’d be able to provide any helpful reading suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200/66 "2006-08-28T05:50:30Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Now I could be wrong, but after reading two or three of **coberst’s** posts, I have the distinct impression that she is a remarkable woman and not a man. Just call it a hunch. **coberst** has said that he is a 72 year old retired engineer. He might be a she, but 72 year old female engineers are quite rare. (Alas.) I get the impression that he did not have an exciting career, and now has finally time to think and read, quite commendable. I’ve noticed that a characteristic of someone who has just been introduced to a new area is to get excited about an insight, and broadcast it to everyone, without really thinking that others have had the same insight. (I’ve done it myself, a long time ago.) People who do this are usually 40 - 50 years younger than he is. His great sin, imo, is that he seems to refuse to believe that anyone not agreeing with him has a point worth listening and responding too. Most young people who emit glurge have professors or bosses they must listen to to help them shape up. So, I think **twickster** ’s use of sophmoric is exactly on the money. I hope he grows up soon. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200/67 "2006-08-28T18:40:18Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > \*I am repeatedly, and deliberately, calling **coberst** sophomoric. The word means, literally, “wise fool” – as in someone who parrots the words of others without understanding what they mean. This is bogus for two reasons: [ul] [li]Arguing from etymology is fallacious.[/li][li]‘[Sophomore](http://www.answers.com/sophomore&r=67)’ doesn’t come from those roots anyway. It may have been influenced by them through folk etymology, but it actually comes from a word meaning ‘sophistry’ or ‘dialectical exercise’.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200/68 "2006-08-28T19:29:06Z")
**shrug** Okay, fine, I’m wrong about the etymology (or not – I don’t have time to research it right now, I’m on my way out); the meaning of the word is in line with what I am trying to convey: [ul] [li]immature: showing the naive lack of judgement that accompanies immaturity ( disapproving ) (Encarta)[/li][li]conceited and overconfident of knowledge but poorly informed and immature \ (Merriam Webster)[/li][li]Exhibiting great immaturity and lack of judgment: sophomoric behavior. (American Heritage)[/li][\*]suggestive of or resembling the traditional sophomore; intellectually pretentious, overconfident, conceited, etc., but immature: sophomoric questions. ([Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com))[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200/69 "2006-08-28T19:35:53Z")
His [homepage](http://www.septemberscholar.com/), for your perusal. He’s male, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2006, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200/70 "2006-08-29T10:49:21Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > This is bogus for two reasons: > [ul] > [li]Arguing from etymology is fallacious.[/li][li]‘[Sophomore](http://www.answers.com/sophomore&r=67)’ doesn’t come from those roots anyway. It may have been influenced by them through folk etymology, but it actually comes from a word meaning ‘sophistry’ or ‘dialectical exercise’.[/li][/ul] Googled “sophomore etymology,” and the [first hit](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/msophomore.html) was to a Staff Report by **bibliophage** – consider my ignorance successfuly fought. As I said above, though, “sophomoric” was the word I wanted, regardless of its etymology. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2006, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200/71 "2006-08-29T12:28:56Z")
> [@Eleanor of Aquitaine](#): > > I have found **coberst** ’s posts intriguing, because I experience a strange, physical inability to read the words. It’s like the text is in soft focus, or in an illegible font. And I think I hear harp music. I know exactly what you mean. Apart from the harp music. It’s a bit like **Justhink** , only not nearly so obnoxious and aggressive (remember **Justhink**?) - from a distance, it’s a string of English words that look as though they not only ought to make sense, but are also saying something vitally important, however, you start reading it, and the next thing you know, you snap back to attention, realising you’ve been staring idly into space for three minutes. **Coberst** has discovered the verbal equivalent of the fractal mind-eating basilisk. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2006, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200/72 "2006-08-29T12:32:48Z")
Or to put it another way, extracting meaning from irrationality following a recurring rationale under the methodical bandwidth while negating abstracts, perverts many stages of existential selection, thus enabling irrationality as a sentient symbol in an irreversable system by calculating the collective pipeline of encrypted rationale. Moreover, working backwards in stages from a structured frequency based on the associative stage, whilst negating recursion in an external rationale of implied methodical supression, the associative thought-form perpetuates our mechanism of external abuse. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2006, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200/73 "2006-08-30T14:29:15Z")
I don’t believe he’s contributed a single word to any thead he didn’t start. It’s all about him. And him needs to quit hanging around with Mr. Obvious and get a life. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2006, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200/74 "2006-08-30T14:54:02Z")
> [@Captain Amazing](#): > > At least he’s putting his stream of consciousness posts in IMHO now instead of Great Debates. [What](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=385689) [gives](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=385890) [you](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=383784) [that](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=383965) [idea?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=383852) [Hmm?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=383485) [What?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=383288) [Cheerful](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=383593) [optimism?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=383059) ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200/75 "2006-08-31T01:06:07Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > **coberst** has said that he is a 72 year old retired engineer. Maybe he fell out of the cab and hit his head. And the fireman and conductor didn’t find him until the next day. That could explain things. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200/76 "2006-08-31T10:55:39Z")
I am about halfway done on coding _ **autoberst** _, a program that I hope will simulate the posting style and language of **coberst**. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2006, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200/77 "2006-09-01T17:34:33Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I am about halfway done on coding _ **autoberst** _, a program that I hope will simulate the posting style and language of **coberst**. So you finished coding and now you’re [testing it in GD, right?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=386459) Thought so. Good job. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200/78 "2006-09-01T17:42:40Z")
Oh dear god, he’s getting worse instead of better. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200/79 "2006-09-01T17:46:30Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Oh dear god, he’s getting worse instead of better. I tried to engage him in a conversation, but his responses didn’t seem responsive. I began to experience the sensations described by **Eleanor of Aquitaine** , above. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2006, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200/80 "2006-09-01T18:45:32Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Oh dear god, he’s getting worse instead of better. As the man himself says, “It is complicated. You must pay attention.” Or, at least, maybe _you_ can. Pay attention, I mean. Me, I only ever seem to get about a third of the way into one of his OPs before I begin obsessing about pocket lint. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coberst-shut-the-fuck-up-already/370200.md?page=5)