You’re right.
The comments are dressed up in finery and address groups rather than individuals. Direct insults are not his style.
If someone ticks me off, I either let it go or I say what’s on my mind. I’m not very good at making oblique references to Genghis Khan or going through the back door with a post about my brother.
But that’s me. We all have our quirks.
True, but the original thread was absolutely filled to the brim with backhanded and veiled insults. And the Pit thread that Euty closed was literally just one big insult to anybody who had opposed the idea.
Euty, apology is accepted, and shows what a deeply wonderful individual you are. But while you may have gone over the top, I’m not even sure that the apology was necessary. Lib seems to be an expert at pushing buttons, and you gave into it, which is understandable and easily excused. But if you felt that the apology is warranted, I can do nothing but stand in awe of your sense of honor.
Well Euty, I thought your post was 100% appropriate.
One of the reasons I like the SMBD is that people are generally civil to each other and usually not too big to apologize if they got too excited. I suppose that the Pit may be appropriate for a flame now and then, but I don’t see that it makes anyone really feel any better about themselves or anyone else. Venting is good but maybe more appropriate in a proper therapy group. The self-pity/martyr post like the one Lib made seems to me to be far less offensive than something like what is going on over at the trash Handy thread. Frankly, the energy being expended there is sickening.
Let’s face it, anyone who has more than a few hundred posts on this board must have a few screws loose (the Good Lord knows that includes me first). Let’s try to remember that the people who were intentionally trying to hurt others and spread ignorance have been banned and show some tolerance for each other.
Given the philosophies of the season, I thought that Libertarian was being thankful. Could that be the case? Or was he really over-doing the martyr bit, as has been suggested?
I’d hate to put words into his mouth, or intentions into his heart. He’d never do such a thing to any of us.
Well, Euty I’ll give you the nod in this case. Lib was pretty much out of line all along and you just lost it there at the last.
Apologies are always appreciated, but not always given.
Hey, are you intercepting our moderator email? It seems like you read my proposed response! 
I never really liked the “<Moderator> is the greatest.” threads, and I don’t really care if the thread was closed or not, but Libertarian is dead in my eyes.
Albert? Did you READ the thread in question? Lib did nothing but ascribe the most vicious of motivations to people who didn’t think his popularity contest was the greatest thing since sliced bread. He repeatedly deplored people’s intentions as being jealous.
I just assumed Albert forgot a smilie.
Maybe samclem ;). If not, he’s got a terminal case of Ned Flanderism.
Folks First of all Happy Thanksgiving…
Secondly, I have a slight of Opinion here that may seem to some rather trifle but this is my professional opinion.
I have read many of Libertarian’s posts. He certainly appears to have a level head most of the time and seems to me most of his posts and points come straight from a plexus, however, this post Euty unleashed unto, this seems a little off track. I myself have an older brother. He was a very popular guy in HS and everyone liked him. He certainly brought a lot of joy to the house and was well liked by most. In human terms he is successful and happy some 15 years later. It has never occured to me to blame him or his accomplishments for anything.
We were raised in a very egalitarian middle-class family. And of course we had our disfunction as does everyone.
Libertarian with this admittance ->
…speaks of a different boggle here. One that is evident. You see Libertarian usually demonstrates uncommon acumen whilst discussing most philosophical and logistical points. So this last statement to me at least demonstrated something different. Why shouldn’t his brother in their boyhood have not gotten a superlative stating he was most likely to succeed? This in itself seems very un-libertarian to me. Obviously, there was some kind of grievence or something to this award, because ‘crying foul’, ‘huffing’ and ‘envy’ are natural reactions to a boy receiving a superlative. Class mates, friends, siblings who wanted the honor of being voted for, took nothing in the wake of the winner, especially when it comes to voting for class superlatives.
Libertarian is demonstrating something completely different than a mask for a befouled self. I personally think ‘he’ is demonstrating a religiously thought about, perfectly monitored penance. Self monitored for long periods. This infact has a different name, and it is called self reflection. Someone may not have been feeling themselves either lately or now. Possibly this person should think about changing their name to Egalitarian
and start including themselves as E.Q.U.A.L.
It’s funnier without the smilie.
What’s the Pit coming to? If we don’t stop this right now, we’ll have “expert witnesess” in here next.
[sub]still wondering exactly what profession would add weight to one’s Pit comments[/sub]
I do not feel that there is any need for Eutychus55 to apologize. In my opinion the sitution was handled correctly…
Up until the point that OpalCat opened a new thread: My thoughts on running board awards. I wondered at the time why no moderator issued any warnings. There had just been a nasty exchange of posts on the subject which resulted in the original thread being locked. I feel that OpalCat’s thread was entirely out of line and should have been locked also. If i were Libertarian i’d be pissed. Hell, i’m pissed FOR Libertarian and feel that he(?) has suffered an injustice in this regard.
Well, this certainly got blown the fuck out of proportion.
FWIW,I think Lib’s thread should be re-opened. The first thread was closed by Coldfire on the grounds that it was in the wrong forum. His Pit thread was then closed because . . . why? Because Euty thought it was in poor taste, apparently. A Pit thread in poor taste? Dios fucking mio! I am shocked – shocked! – to find that poor taste is festering in the pit.
Look, I appreciate all the hard work the mods do around here, and of course I recognize that this is in no way, shape, or form my call to make . . . but I’d still like to see a better explanation for the most recent thread closing. I think we should have a place where complaints can be registered in a creative and unconventional (read: possibly offensive) way – a place where people are free to make asses out of themselves (not that I feel Lib was doing this, but let’s not forget that he was drawing criticism well before Euty closed the thread). I think the Pit is clearly that place. I can’t imagine what line it is that Lib’s thread crossed that would warrant its closing (aside from its being heartfelt). Anyway, thanks.
– Jer
P.S. => As an aside, I’d also like to register my disappointment that we’re no longer likely to see Lib’s thoughts on the matter since he was officially warned to shut up or else. What’s wrong with a discussion of board etiquette wherein a person disagrees with a moderator?
Closing a tread such as Lib’s pit thread is usually a waste of time as somebody, in this case Euty himself, will open up a thread asking why it was closed, conformation or the rules etc.
As I said in the original thread I found the reaction to Libs idea OTT to say the least. I looked upon it as a light hearted affair. I was looking forward to the award ceremony thread with winners gushing like Hanks/Paltrow, losers sneering(in jest) the odd poster filling seats when other posters left. Somebody hosting the thread, the fashions etc. etc. etc.
What I thought could be a light hearted bit of craic(fun) was for other people something entirely different.
My 2euros
Now IMO this is bullshit.
From http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=100477
WTF. He can’t defend himself because YOU told him he couldn’t.
All this over sentiments that are nowhere near as strong as pit threads/arguments I’ve seen in my time here.
I’ve always played by the rules, agreed with Mod.'s/Admin. Mailed my issues with things and generally just enjoyed this place but this is ridiculous.
I don’t get it, why can’t someone use their dead brother as leverage in an arguement if they want (esp in the pit). I admit I am lost, and can’t really follow things. What rule did he break that he can’t make another post like that again without being banned?
You might want to read my closing remarks in the actual thread to find out why it was closed.
llamasex, using a vague anecdote about a deceased relative in an argument doesn’t break any board rules. You’re absolutely right.
We never figured we’d need special rules to prevent people from posting tacky crap like that. And I don’t think we DO need those rules. I think Libertarian’s posts in that regard speak for themselves. Make of that what you will. I know I thought it was very, VERY tacky.