# Collounsbury, if you don't mind? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 6, 2002, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681 "2002-06-06T15:27:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681/21 "2002-06-06T19:47:02Z")
Well, as I am neither a teacher nor a professor, I have no fucking interest in teaching. I make an argument, the process is debate. If the person I am arguing with accidentally learns something from it, its all up to them. My favored forum is called Great Debates, not Great Teaching. In the end, I write for me, I spend enough fucking time writing for others. In other matters: Amazight is indeed the term berberophones generally prefer in North Africa, but it is not a universally accepted term. It really refers, historically, to a specific group (although the meaning is general). There is a “Berberness” movement, Amizghiriya I believe is it is commonly called. Well, trivia. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681/22 "2002-06-06T20:14:03Z")
If I may…I’d like to flesh out my response, since i know collunsbury looks at me like a little ignorant theatre major girl. When comparing you to Jesus Christ, I was looking for a figure who was so omnipotent and the highest of the high that no one dare question or try to stand above him. I appreciate that you know everything about everything and am envious, but it’s as if you are sitting back in your throne saying 'look at these silly people talking about something that I have completely figured out…how small of them" And also, the ego portion is that your posts strike me as if you’re coming in to say “I KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS AND NOBODY ELSE SHOULD EVEN RESPOND ONCE I HAVE”. We have other experts on the boards. So, you’re right, I shouldn’t have compared you to Jesus…because you are NOT the be all end all. Although I appreciate your admission of being arrogant. Carry on ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681/23 "2002-06-06T20:22:36Z")
I remain a bit confused about **Collounsbury’s** take on the OP [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=119034), but at least I now know that: [ul][_]The OP’s 5 cites were uninformative. [_] **december** didn’t trouble himself to find better cites.[_]The student speaker made a major boo-boo.[_]Bush made a major boo-boo.[_]The President’s rhetoric cannot be expected to exceed that of a college senior.[_]Daniel Pipes is a dishonest f_ck.[_]Pipes is conducting an idological crusade. (_“Crusade”_? "It’s OK when **I** use the word.)[/ul]It must be a painful burden to live on the same planet with ordinary mortals. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681/24 "2002-06-06T20:24:21Z")
**elucidator** , having knowledge others do not is in no way a reason to provide them with an “auxiliary asshole.” And the term “[carrying capacity](http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=carrying%20capacity)” doesn’t generally refer to how much weight something can carry. In this particular case I think you meant “[air-speed velocity](http://www.mwscomp.com/movies/grail/grail-01.htm).” Or should I have ripped you a new one because I knew something you didn’t? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681/25 "2002-06-06T20:27:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > If I may…I’d like to flesh out my response, since i know collunsbury looks at me like a little ignorant theatre major girl. No. You seem to think of yourself that way, however as you do tend to bring it up. > [@](#): > > I appreciate that you know everything about everything and am envious I most certainly do not know everything about everything. I know a lot about a few narrow topics, on which I post. I refrain from posting on matters which I am poorly informed. Jealousy all in all is not very productive in this connection, it makes as much sense as me being jealous of your knowledge of theatre, which would be silly. Concentrate on who you are. > [@](#): > > So, you’re right, I shouldn’t have compared you to Jesus…because you are NOT the be all end all. Shrug, well as I am not Xtian I don’t really think of some dead fellow as the be all and end all. > [@](#): > > Although I appreciate your admission of being arrogant. Have I ever denied this? ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681/26 "2002-06-06T20:37:49Z")
I really have no good reason to be posting here, as I don’t often post in GD, but: **pld** made a well-thought out, non-malicious OP giving **Collounsbury** some advice on his posting style. **Collounsbury** came in, didn’t take offense where no offense was meant, acknowledged that **pld** has a point and said he’s taking it as constructive criticism. I’m terribly, terribly impressed. As well, since **C** has obviously gotten the point, I hope no one else bothers to pile on. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681/27 "2002-06-06T20:39:22Z")
I just have a hard time trying to visualize The Big C. On the one hand I see this James Bond figure, sipping a Martini in his tux, tapping out an idle note to the SDMB while waiting for some beautiful but dangerous babe to brief him on his mission or pump him for information. On the other hand I can also see this smelly guy in a wife beater tshirt in a roach filled apartment who only knows what he’s talking about because he and a friend smuggled Hashis across Turkey 20 years ago when he was still young and not burned out. Not knowing which it is is the fundamental dichotomy that frustrates my dealing with the C-meister. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681/28 "2002-06-06T20:56:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by december \* > I remain a bit confused about **Collounsbury’s** take on the OP [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=119034), but at least I now know that: Was I really so unclear December or did your critical facilities get thrown for a loop? > [@](#): > > [ul][li]The OP’s 5 cites were uninformative. [_] **december** didn’t trouble himself to find better cites.[_]The student speaker made a major boo-boo.[_]Bush made a major boo-boo.[_]The President’s rhetoric cannot be expected to exceed that of a college senior.[_]Daniel Pipes is a dishonest f_ck.[_]Pipes is conducting an idological crusade. (_“Crusade”\*? "It’s OK when **I** use the word.)[/ul][/li] Well you did manage to ignore, unsurpisingly, the part where I actually gave you the word and its meanings, including information on its form. I may add you abstract away from my comments putting in context my feelings that both crusade and jihad are perfectly fine words, but one has to look out for usage. Not really that hard, now is it? > [@](#): > > It must be a painful burden to live on the same planet with ordinary mortals. Drinking large amounts of Bacardi helps. I prefer it white by the way, and with mango juice, if you care to contribute a few liters. And let me note andros is correct in his reply. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681/29 "2002-06-06T21:02:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by december \* > I remain a bit confused about **Collounsbury’s** take on the OP [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=119034), but at least I now know that: Was I really so unclear December or did your critical facilities get thrown for a loop? > [@](#): > > [ul][li]The OP’s 5 cites were uninformative. [_] **december** didn’t trouble himself to find better cites.[_]The student speaker made a major boo-boo.[_]Bush made a major boo-boo.[_]The President’s rhetoric cannot be expected to exceed that of a college senior.[_]Daniel Pipes is a dishonest f_ck.[_]Pipes is conducting an idological crusade. (_“Crusade”\*? "It’s OK when **I** use the word.)[/ul][/li] Well you did manage to ignore, unsurpisingly, the part where I actually gave you the word and its meanings, including information on its form. I may add you abstract away from my comments putting in context my feelings that both crusade and jihad are perfectly fine words, but one has to look out for usage. Not really that hard, now is it? > [@](#): > > It must be a painful burden to live on the same planet with ordinary mortals. Drinking large amounts of Bacardi helps. I prefer it white by the way, and with mango juice, if you care to contribute a few liters. And let me note andros is correct in his reply. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681/30 "2002-06-06T21:20:45Z")
> [@](#): > > In the end, I write for me, I spend enough fucking time writing for others. And this is the part I honestly do not understand. Why bother to write for yourself? If it is just for yourself, why spend the time proofreading, and polishing, and hitting submit? Why waste time waiting for pages to load? If it isn’t to teach–if you honestly don’t give a flying flip whether or not anyone learns anything, or if anyone’s mind is changed about anything–than the oly motive I can even begin to imagene is that it gives you pleasure to make someone look foolish not in their own eyes (since you don’t care if they get it) but in the eyes of the pepole who already agree with you anyway. When you come in and eveserate some new guy who is an idiot, and we all know he’s an idiot because he gave it away very clearly in his OP, you look like a black-belt in karate seriously wounding a 14 year old look-at-me-I’m-so-cool punk. On maybe one level it’s amusing that the punk gets his comeupance, but if the karate master dosen’t even care about teaching the punk a lesson, he just cares about hurting him, and showing that he’s so tough that he can, well, that’s gross. ---
**Author:** ![Kamandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5daacb/32.png) [@Kamandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamandi)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681/31 "2002-06-06T21:25:12Z")
Man, this thread started out with such promise. A polite admonishment, a courteous and thoughtful response - it was beautiful. I should have known it couldn’t last. All Pit threads don’t have to end up as slapfests, you know. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681/32 "2002-06-06T21:34:30Z")
Could we all give **Collounsbury** some breathing room? Yes, he can be arrogant, but so can many other posters. I also see no need for the genuflecting toward him. He’s an American who speaks Arabic and possesses a great deal of information on MENA politics and culture. That doesn’t make him the love child of Albert Einstein and Lawrence of Arabia, as you people seem to think. **PLD** knows all there is to know about the Beatles, but people aren’t kissing his ring as an intellectual Don Corleone. I find C’s posts enlightening, but not omniscient. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681/33 "2002-06-06T21:35:37Z")
> [@](#): > > All Pit threads don’t have to end up as slapfests, you know. How 'bout a _slap ‘n’ tickle_ fest then? Who’s interested? Manda Jo? Jarbaby? LaurAnge? Phil? ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681/34 "2002-06-06T21:39:15Z")
We’re gonna listen to [Squeeze](http://www.squeezefan.com/Songbook/Slap_and_Tickle.htm) together? Count me in! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681/35 "2002-06-06T21:48:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Manda JO \* > And this is the part I honestly do not understand. Why bother to write for yourself? If it is just for yourself, why spend the time proofreading, and polishing, and hitting submit? Why waste time waiting for pages to load? I am sure that anyone who has read my posts can tell I spend absolutely no time proofing or polishing them, and as I have DSL lines, the delays are not really that much of a factor, so you rather do lead yourself astray. But that aside, why bother? Because it entertains me. See drastic’s perceptive post for an aspect. I’m also a rather aggresive and competitive person, I suppose that is how I got where I am. None of this is particularly attractive, but such is life, I see no reason to posture on a damned message board. If people want a motherfucking education, they can go lay down some dinero for an education. Arguments, except, in clinics, are free. Aside to gobear, although your second observation is quite valid, I don’t think that the thread is inherently unfair to me and it is always valuable to be critiqued. Aside on the slapfest, see that would have been the pitting I would have enjoyed, but well, with such a reasonable start this was rather doomed to be what it is. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681/36 "2002-06-06T22:09:09Z")
> [@](#): > > But that aside, why bother? Because it entertains me. See drastic’s perceptive post for an aspect. I’m also a rather aggresive and competitive person, I suppose that is how I got where I am. None of this is particularly attractive, but such is life, I see no reason to posture on a damned message board. On the schoolyard, bullies find it entertaining to pick on people that are weaker than themselves. It may just be who they are, and they feel no drive to control thier impluses on a playground. But I think less of people who justify being assholes on the basis of “that’s just who I am.” We’re all assholes deep down inside: it’s a matter of choosing to show it. I’ve no problem with you at all when you stick to argueing with your intellectual equals–which includes the regular posters in GD. But I really think that your behavoir towards people who are intellectual cripples–both in abilty and exposure to ideas–compared to most of us borders on the cruel. They’re such easy targets that I find it disturbing you take enough pleasure in hitting them to make it worth the bother. If you don’t feel compelled to educate them, that’s fine. But don’t smack them upside the head and send them running instead. Just quietly back out of the thread and let those who do enjoy educating have the space to do so. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681/37 "2002-06-06T22:19:43Z")
You know something Collunsbury? Sometimes you go into overkill on a point, to prove a point. My problem is I can’t figure out if that is a flame or a compliment. Jar: > [@](#): > > In other words Collunsbury: > > Jesus Christ called. He wants his ego back. That wasn’t what phil wrote, and you know it. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681/38 "2002-06-06T22:30:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scylla \* > \*\*I just have a hard time trying to visualize The Big C. > > On the one hand I see this James Bond figure, sipping a Martini in his tux, tapping out an idle note to the SDMB while waiting for some beautiful but dangerous babe to brief him on his mission or pump him for information. > > On the other hand I can also see this smelly guy in a wife beater tshirt in a roach filled apartment who only knows what he’s talking about because he and a friend smuggled Hashis across Turkey 20 years ago when he was still young and not burned out. > > Not knowing which it is is the fundamental dichotomy that frustrates my dealing with the C-meister. \*\* Myself, I always see him wearing a pith helmet. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681/39 "2002-06-07T00:00:53Z")
I very much enjoy C’s posts and find them informative and interesting. As for ‘bullying’, for the most part it seems the target has asked for it (hell, begged for it). I do, however, wish that ‘fucking’ and ‘motherfucking’ weren’t so prevalent in his GD posts. It gets very tiresome wading through the invective. Hey, C – I challenge you to go cold turkey: one week without posting ‘fucker’, ‘fuck’, ‘motherfucker’, ‘motherfucking’ or other variants in GD. I know it’d be a tough test of willpower, but I have full confidence in you. (Maybe you could swear in Arabic and provide invective footnotes.) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681/40 "2002-06-07T00:08:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Manda JO \* > On the schoolyard, bullies find it entertaining to pick on people that are weaker than themselves. It may just be who they are, and they feel no drive to control thier impluses on a playground. But I think less of people who justify being assholes on the basis of “that’s just who I am.” We’re all assholes deep down inside: it’s a matter of choosing to show it. As you wish, no skin off my nose. However in re this: > [@](#): > > I’ve no problem with you at all when you stick to argueing with your intellectual equals–which includes the regular posters in GD. But I really think that your behavoir towards people who are intellectual cripples–both in abilty and exposure to ideas–compared to most of us borders on the cruel. They’re such easy targets that I find it disturbing you take enough pleasure in hitting them to make it worth the bother. If you don’t feel compelled to educate them, that’s fine. But don’t smack them upside the head and send them running instead. Just quietly back out of the thread and let those who do enjoy educating have the space to do so. Well, I do take exception to this last criticism for I don’t think it is valid. I approach every engagement like I approach a fencing match, my goal is of course to win within the rules and with a style which is pleasing to me, personally. I engage the same way whether there is an audience or not – and as fencing is not the most popular sport, there rarely is other than other fencers, which is to say potential combatants. I don’t approach it as a drill, I don’t approach it as teaching someone to fence, I approach it as the object is to hit home and as hard as the rules permit, to press the opponent until the very end. [sub]I am partial to sabre I confess, although those damn cuts on the back of the head from the whippier blades are a pain.[/sub] For a match, it matters not one fucking whit if the opponent is experienced or not, he or she stepped on the piste for a bout, not for a fucking drill. If you want fucking drills, stay in GQ or IMHO. Back out of a match my fucking ass. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collounsbury-if-you-dont-mind/112681.md?page=3)