# "Comical OCD pattern of argumentation" is a personal insult? Really? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 29, 2016, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436 "2016-08-29T22:19:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436/61 "2016-09-01T13:33:38Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > What other interpretation–that he thinks a “factual reference” is unable to be insulting? I don’t think he’s lying, I just don’t think he has a very good understanding of what an insult is. Not sure why he brought that up originally, because he said in post #25 that factual statements can be insulting. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436/62 "2016-09-01T15:50:51Z")
I’m content to let this go now, and thanks all for the feedback, and especially those who saw my side of it. But I just want to respond to some of the recent comments that arose in the interim, specifically focused on the one below, because it seems that not everyone is clear on my original argument and my defense of it. I’m more than happy to let this whole thing die but I do want to ensure clarity about what I was originally saying, and especially to dispel the notion that I was intentionally trying to do something underhanded. > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > What other interpretation–that he thinks a “factual reference” is unable to be insulting? I don’t think he’s lying, I just don’t think he has a very good understanding of what an insult is. The interpretation in question is the one that I gave in the OP when I said that I was “disparaging his arguments, and specifically disparaging the series of statements that I had just listed” rather than intending to disparage the poster. **Measure for Measure** summed it up well: The allegation was that **wolfpup** ’s respondent was focusing on irrelevant factual corrections, while dodging the main argument, which was unaffected by said factual corrections. To curb such discourse makes the fight against ignorance more difficult. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19591456&postcount=13](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19591456&postcount=13) The purpose of the silly poem was to sarcastically highlight that fact, the original Ogden Nash poem being a harmless bit of doggerel about a language purist. The question that I originally asked is what part of this was insulting enough to garner a warning, and the interesting thing is that no one seems to exactly agree. The original warning seemed to highlight the “OCD pattern of argumentation” phrase, but as I described, that was a criticism of what I felt was an obsessive and pedantic style of argument, as **MfM** noted above, and not against the poster. Then there was the implication that it was the poem. Perhaps the fact that I had customized it with poster’s name gave offense. Maybe it was perceived as a stealth effort to inject an insult. But I just saw it as a creative way to poke fun at the style of argument the poster was using. Then there was the assertion that it was the “humor-impaired” phrase that was a clear insult. But the adjective “humor-impaired” has been directly applied to other posters on the SDMB in the past without consequence, such as [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9937705&postcount=14) and [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7200612&postcount=21) and [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13333436&postcount=16), so one can at least say that not everyone shares the belief that it’s an insult. We also commonly say that someone has been “whooshed” and we might say that someone doesn’t get the joke or seems often not to get jokes and it’s not clear that any of those are necessarily insults, either. Some might even agree with it as applying to themselves. As some have surmised, it wasn’t my primary intent here to try to get the warning reversed – it’s not like I’m trying to maintain a reserve so I can unleash insults in the future! It was just what I said it was – an expression of genuine surprise and an interest in broader feedback, which I have received, both positive and negative. > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I will not speculate as to whether his misunderstandings are therefore deliberate or whether he genuinely misunderstands my post on so many interlocking and fortuitous levels. **I would recommend that he read charitably** , and if he thinks he’s caught someone in a mega-gotcha, **read one more time to be absolutely sure his interpretation is the most charitable one**. Emphasis mine. **LHoD** , you wrote that to someone else in defense of one of your own posts. I quote it here just to say that I would have been grateful to have had such a charitable interpretation of my own post and intentions. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436/63 "2016-09-01T18:06:55Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Then there was the assertion that it was the “humor-impaired” phrase that was a clear insult. But the adjective “humor-impaired” has been directly applied to other posters on the SDMB in the past without consequence, such as [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9937705&postcount=14) and [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7200612&postcount=21) and [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13333436&postcount=16), so one can at least say that not everyone shares the belief that it’s an insult. We also commonly say that someone has been “whooshed” and we might say that someone doesn’t get the joke or seems often not to get jokes and it’s not clear that any of those are necessarily insults, either. Some might even agree with it as applying to themselves. Firstly, just because something wasn’t moderated doesn’t mean it’s OK. There is no telling whether those were reported. They’re also all 5 years old or older, and there has been an effort in the last 2 years or so to make GD more civil than it had been in the past by being a bit more strict in enforcing the rules. I think you probably know that, but maybe not. Look at the [recent thread **Bricker** started in this forum.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=803149) ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436/64 "2016-09-01T18:07:37Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Then there was the assertion that it was the “humor-impaired” phrase that was a clear insult. But the adjective “humor-impaired” has been directly applied to other posters on the SDMB in the past without consequence, such as [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9937705&postcount=14) and [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7200612&postcount=21) and [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13333436&postcount=16), so one can at least say that not everyone shares the belief that it’s an insult. We also commonly say that someone has been “whooshed” and we might say that someone doesn’t get the joke or seems often not to get jokes and it’s not clear that any of those are necessarily insults, either. Some might even agree with it as applying to themselves. Your most recent cite is from 2011, and none of the cites are from Great Debates. Are you unaware of the shift in civility in Great Debates, and of the higher standard it’s being held to, especially in terms of what gets warned? Being whooshed describes an event, not a personality trait. Are you clear on the difference between them? > [@](#): > > Emphasis mine. **LHoD** , you wrote that to someone else in defense of one of your own posts. I quote it here just to say that I would have been grateful to have had such a charitable interpretation of my own post and intentions. A charitable reading does not mean that no judgment is applied. It simply means that if there are multiple reasonable, plausible interpretations of a post, you choose the best one. In your case, it’s unambiguous that “humor-impaired” is a negative trait you’re using to describe **Bone** ’s personality. That’s exactly what an insult is. There’s no charitable reading by which that isn’t an insult. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436/65 "2016-09-01T19:02:07Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Dr. Deth - > > I trust you recognize this, but some things are worth saying anyway. The civility bar has been raised, for better or worse. The options are to adapt or ship out. I’ll opine and concede that the old civility line was brighter and clearer. But methinks the new one is clear enough. Regardless, it is what it is. Also, recall that the bar was raised with widespread though perhaps not unanimous support. I agree. But we also run the risk of getting rid of interesting posters who actually contribute. If this had been a simple mod Note, I would concur. Whenever a Mod has to impute motives that aren’t clear, it’s never a time for a Warning. That is what Note are for.\* “This appears like some sort of veiled personal insult. Those are not tolerated in GD. No warning issued, but you need to dial it back and tone it down.”\* ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436/66 "2016-09-01T19:36:50Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I agree. But we also run the risk of getting rid of interesting posters who actually contribute. If this had been a simple mod Note, I would concur. Whenever a Mod has to impute motives that aren’t clear, it’s never a time for a Warning. That is what Note are for.\* “This appears like some sort of veiled personal insult. Those are not tolerated in GD. No warning issued, but you need to dial it back and tone it down.”\* “Humor-impaired” is not veiled. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436/67 "2016-09-01T20:04:10Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > “Humor-impaired” is not veiled. Nor is it an insult. Some people just dont have a very good sense of humor. There’s no shame in it, nothing wrong with it, they are not ostracized from police society, no approbation. People are different. It’s like saying “he doesn’t like Opera” Or " he takes things too seriously". Personal observations, sure, but not insults. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436/68 "2016-09-01T20:11:06Z")
Would it be an insult to say you are argumentative? I am. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436/69 "2016-09-01T20:20:40Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Nor is it an insult. Yes it is. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436/70 "2016-09-01T20:21:28Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > “Humor-impaired” is not veiled. OK, look, I don’t want to seem like I’m insisting on bickering over these issues, rather than just trying to amicably conclude the discussion, but I feel compelled to object to some of the observations that are being made, to wit: - “humor-impaired” was never called out as the reason for the warning, so I don’t know why you keep focusing on that one term as the reason the warning was justified. - I’ve cited three occasions where “humor-impaired” was used in the past without even a comment or mod note. **John Mace** suggested that perhaps mods never saw it, but the first of those threads where someone was called “humor-impaired” included **Marley23** as an active participant, and the second one was actually directed _AT_ **RickJay**. It’s hardly plausible that mods didn’t see it! - You stated that the most recent cite is from 2011 and that things have changed. Yes, but isn’t it also fair to point out that the last update to the rules in GD was 2008? Of course I’m aware that **JC** has been applying stricter standards than mods in other forums, but equally obviously (at least I hope it’s obvious) I didn’t think that post was over the line, for the reasons I cited, or I wouldn’t have made it. To be fair, in retrospect (in which things are always clearer) the respondent poster’s sense of humor or lack thereof didn’t add anything to my argument and it would have been best to omit it, insulting or not. And I can see how “OCD” could be taken the wrong way and I would substitute some comment to the effect of “the argument is persistently focused on an irrelevant detail that has nothing to do with the real issue at hand” which at least is not subject to misinterpretation. But really, the whole gist of my post was to post a funny (IMO) variant of an Ogden Nash poem as a humorous way of highlighting what I regarded as the poster’s relentless and irrelevant pedantry. What if I had just posted the original, unaltered Nash poem without the preceding commentary (which was actually what I had before I embellished it)? Would that have been OK? Or should I also assume there is also some unwritten rule to the effect of “don’t try to be funny when criticizing someone’s argument, and especially don’t try to be creatively funny”? I think it would have been OK, but I can’t be sure. Unwritten rules are like that. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436/71 "2016-09-01T20:32:57Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > - I’ve cited three occasions where “humor-impaired” was used in the past without even a comment or mod note. **John Mace** suggested that perhaps mods never saw it, but the first of those threads where someone was called “humor-impaired” included **Marley23** as an active participant, and the second one was actually directed _AT_ **RickJay**. It’s hardly plausible that mods didn’t see it! **RickJay** became a moderator [in 2011.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=612482&highlight=RickJay) That thread was from 2006. **Marley** became a moderator [in 2008.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=460315&highlight=Marley23) Just a few months before that thread, but he was in MPSISMS, not CS. Different forum, Different Date, not a moderator for that Forum. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436/72 "2016-09-01T20:33:04Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > - “humor-impaired” was never called out as the reason for the warning, so I don’t know why you keep focusing on that one term as the reason the warning was justified. > [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > You were warned for your entire post. I find that word to be the clearest example of insult in your post, but also consider the OCD comment to be over the line. The poem was also used to insult Bone. Creatively criticizing a post would involve comparing the post to a foolish utterance. You coopted another poem (an act I didn’t find especially clever or creative, but that’s not really relevant) in order to compare Bone to the professor in the poem. That’s not criticizing the post, that’s criticizing the poster. It’s possible to be clever and creative in a post in great debates without overstepping limits. If I got warned for an attempt to be clever and creative, I’d probably back away from making such attempts in the future. Which is incidentally what happened to me awhile ago. I sarcastically suggested that another poster was intellectually disabled. My post only made sense if it was read with the implication, “Of COURSE you’re not intellectually disabled, therefore comparing yourself to someone who IS intellectually disabled is a terrible comparison!” Without that implication, my post would have been a complete non sequitur. However, Chance didn’t appreciate that implication, so I got a warning. So I’ve drastically toned down that sort of sarcasm in GD. Your case, I think, is a much clearer case of straightforward insults. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436/73 "2016-09-01T20:42:58Z")
Just to summarize my take on this: 1. It would have been much better had **JC** focused on the “humor-impaired” part than on the “OCD” part, as I think the “OCD” part was questionable as to being an insult or not. 2. The rules have been tighter in GD specifically in the past few years. Comparing what happened in other forums 5 years ago is not really relevant, even if a moderator had seen the phrase in question. 3. It’s always a mod judgment call whether to issue a warning or a note, so this is completely MHO: A note would have been better, especially since there was heat being generated by both posters and they were s clearly locked in an argument without an end. Best to just tell them both to calm down. But I don’t see **wolfpup** as the sort of poster who is going to spiral downward into a warnings tornado, so chalk it up to a learning experience and move on. One warning doesn’t mean much. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436/74 "2016-09-01T20:54:14Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Just to summarize my take on this: > > 1. It would have been much better had **JC** focused on the “humor-impaired” part than on the “OCD” part, as I think the “OCD” part was questionable as to being an insult or not. > > 2. The rules have been tighter in GD specifically in the past few years. Comparing what happened in other forums 5 years ago is not really relevant, even if a moderator had seen the phrase in question. > > 3. It’s always a mod judgment call whether to issue a warning or a note, so this is completely MHO: A note would have been better, especially since there was heat being generated by both posters and they were s clearly locked in an argument without an end. Best to just tell them both to calm down. But I don’t see **wolfpup** as the sort of poster who is going to spiral downward into a warnings tornado, so chalk it up to a learning experience and move on. One warning doesn’t mean much. I can agree with all that–including with the idea that a note might have been a better approach. Especially if both sides were locking horns (I only read the warned post and the warning, staying out of gun control threads like a pregnant woman in a Zika neighborhood). ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436/75 "2016-09-01T21:11:05Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > 1. It’s always a mod judgment call whether to issue a warning or a note, so this is completely MHO: A note would have been better, especially since there was heat being generated by both posters and they were s clearly locked in an argument without an end. Best to just tell them both to calm down. But I don’t see **wolfpup** as the sort of poster who is going to spiral downward into a warnings tornado, so chalk it up to a learning experience and move on. One warning doesn’t mean much. I will concur here, thanks for being a voice of reason. that isnt meant as a insult!😛 I want to say that yes, our Op stepped very close to being over the line IMHO, and so a Mod stepping in was a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436/76 "2016-09-01T21:25:37Z")
Just to clarify - I consider accusations of mental illness to be insulting and consequently I reported it. Other people may have reported it as well but I am not privy to that information. I’ve personally worked extensively in the field of mental health and it’s something I don’t joke about. The other items in the post like the humor/sarcasm, and the poem etc. _by themselves_ would not have caused me to report a post. I chose this course of action rather than respond tit for tat which is frowned on. Calling out factual errors no matter how relevant has always seemed welcome on the board and is one of the things I appreciate. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436/77 "2016-09-01T21:48:58Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > Just to clarify - I consider accusations of mental illness to be insulting and consequently I reported it. Other people may have reported it as well but I am not privy to that information. I’ve personally worked extensively in the field of mental health and it’s something I don’t joke about. The other items in the post like the humor/sarcasm, and the poem etc. _by themselves_ would not have caused me to report a post. I chose this course of action rather than respond tit for tat which is frowned on. > > Calling out factual errors no matter how relevant has always seemed welcome on the board and is one of the things I appreciate. That explains why that part of it was called out in the warning. Thank you for the clarification, **Bone**. It makes more sense now, notwithstanding that it wasn’t my intent, but intent isn’t always the whole story. And I apologized for the offense that it caused, though at the time I didn’t quite understand why it had caused it. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > It’s always a mod judgment call whether to issue a warning or a note, so this is completely MHO: A note would have been better, especially since there was heat being generated by both posters and they were s clearly locked in an argument without an end. Best to just tell them both to calm down. But I don’t see **wolfpup** as the sort of poster who is going to spiral downward into a warnings tornado, so chalk it up to a learning experience and move on. One warning doesn’t mean much. Thanks, **John** , that seems to wrap it up nicely. And thanks **LHoD** – we seem to have this strange relationship where I agree with your positions most of the time and appreciate your often eloquent posts, yet we keep having spectacular clashes over (as you recently said) unimportant stuff! So I will choose to ignore your personal insult that my fabulous poem was “an act I didn’t find especially clever or creative”. 😉 Anyone can see that that thing was a work of art! Thanks **DrDeth** , **BigT** , and others for supporting my side. All we need now is a benevolent mod to close this. Stick a fork in it – it’s done. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436/78 "2016-09-01T21:59:28Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > Just to clarify - I consider accusations of mental illness to be insulting and consequently I reported it. Other people may have reported it as well but I am not privy to that information. I’ve personally worked extensively in the field of mental health and it’s something I don’t joke about. The other items in the post like the humor/sarcasm, and the poem etc. _by themselves_ would not have caused me to report a post. I chose this course of action rather than respond tit for tat which is frowned on. > > Calling out factual errors no matter how relevant has always seemed welcome on the board and is one of the things I appreciate. Just to be clear… when you mention “mental illness” are you talking about the OCD reference or something else? Not to make light of OCD, but people often use that term in a non-clinical sense. It would never have occurred to me that the poster thought you literally suffered from OCD. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436/79 "2016-09-01T22:18:52Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Just to be clear… when you mention “mental illness” are you talking about the OCD reference or something else? Not to make light of OCD, but people often use that term in a non-clinical sense. It would never have occurred to me that the poster thought you literally suffered from OCD. Yes, I am connecting OCD with mental illness. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436/80 "2016-09-01T22:25:08Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Just to be clear… when you mention “mental illness” are you talking about the OCD reference or something else? Not to make light of OCD, but people often use that term in a non-clinical sense. It would never have occurred to me that the poster thought you literally suffered from OCD. I agree with John here. I am a little “ocd” myself, I always have to double check I locked the door. Yes, there is a mental disorder by this name, but there’s no way our Op was indicating that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comical-ocd-pattern-of-argumentation-is-a-personal-insult-really/764436.md?page=5)