# Der Trihs, a moment of your time, if you would. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 13, 2007, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089 "2007-02-13T22:53:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![buns3000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c89c15/32.png) [@buns3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buns3000)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089/61 "2007-02-14T11:48:55Z")
[QUOTE=shefDave] Which would prove what? You seem to be implying that he’d get the shit beaten out of him, and that you’d be ok with that. When did “things that’d get you hospitalised for saying in a local bar” become the standard for what’s an acceptable viewpoint? [/QUOTE] Count me in as someone who finds it slightly hypocritical for folks to be criticising **Der Trihs** for wishing death on American troops while at the same time (implicitly) wishing physical violence be inflicted on him. ---
**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:** [February 14, 2007, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089/62 "2007-02-14T11:55:15Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] But… but… you’re the one who _said_ it was a problem: “The problem, of course, is that as soon as someone joins whose son is a member of the Iraqi insurgency, the admins face a problem”. I thought you and I were agreeing that the decision on what is acceptable speech and what is hate speech is essentially arbitrary. Now, I’m just confused. 😃 [/QUOTE] I said that something else is a problem. It’s a problem for the admins who set up a messageboard in a particular way and who wish to maintain an internal consistency (which currently exists, even if you have trouble seeing it). “PC speech,” as you called it, is not in general a problem in private situations. I hope this helps with your confusion! Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089/63 "2007-02-14T12:13:08Z")
[QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness] I said that something else is a problem. It’s a problem for the admins who set up a messageboard in a particular way and who wish to maintain an internal consistency (which currently exists, even if you have trouble seeing it). “PC speech,” as you called it, is not in general a problem in private situations. I hope this helps with your confusion! [/QUOTE] Not really. But then, I’m sure you’re right and I just “have trouble seeing it”. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089/64 "2007-02-14T12:38:18Z")
[QUOTE=buns3000] Count me in as someone who finds it slightly hypocritical for folks to be criticising **Der Trihs** for wishing death on American troops while at the same time (implicitly) wishing physical violence be inflicted on him. [/QUOTE] Someone wishes death on me and my colleagues and the finest people I’ve known. I wish he’d spout off his opinions in public around people like me. What’s so hard to understand? Maybe a better way to phrase it would be, “I wish I could reach through the internet and communicate with Der Trish in a kinesthetic way.” ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089/65 "2007-02-14T13:26:46Z")
[QUOTE=severus] Well, **Der Trihs** is annoying (although I must admit that the raw emotion in his posts sometimes gives me a sort of rush), but I’ll say that **Left Hand of Dorkness** has a point, and this point has also been made in the past: Der Trihs is constantly being pitted for wishing death on American soldiers in Iraq (for whatever reason, mainly because he considers that it is immoral for them to be there, even if they are only doing their jobs, because he considers that the war itself is immoral and doing whatever to help pursue it is therefore immoral). On the other hand, if someone wishes death on the insurgents, no one is going to say anything: they’re terrorists, and they’re scum, right? Not necessarily: even if they are terrorists (and I don’t think it’s always the case), they are basically fighting for the independence of their nation, or to protect their ethnic/cultural group, or some other cause. They are not “evil”, not more than the American soldiers anyway. But this is a war, and people die. Der Trihs’s posts stand out because he is rooting for the enemy and not for our boys (well, your boys). And also because he is declaring that the US soldiers are immoral, something that I wouldn’t do, but also wouldn’t do for the insurgency either. But really, what is the moral difference between wishing that the American army in Iraq be destroyed, and wishing that the insurgency be destroyed? If there is one (and something else than “the US army is trying to bring democracy, which is good, while the insurgency is trying to destroy it”, since that’s not obvious and I don’t think I’d necessarily see it this way if I were an Iraqi), I’d like to hear it. Der Trihs at least reminds us of this fact. [/QUOTE] Well, it is just the sort of moral equivalence you seek to draw here that many—I—find so revolting. If the insurgents were attacking troops only, you _might_ be able to make the point you attempt to. But that is sadly not the case. If you do not see a striking difference in kind between troops killing people who insist on violence and those very people intentionally killing innocent men, women, and children, I’d suggest that you should focus more analysis in that area. Even when the actions of our troops unintentionally and inadvertently result in the death of innocents, the moral statements made are world’s apart. [QUOTE=severus] As for the people who are suggesting he leave the country: not only does this sound a lot like “love it or leave it” (and congratulations to **magellan01** for holding in his reflexes and pointing out that letting him talk is the American thing to do), but Der Trihs has already said that he doesn’t want to move to another country since he’d hate it just as much as he hates the US right now. So why bother? [/QUOTE] Given his experiences of being disliked and bullied, pergaps he would find himself being hated less. Less hate directed at him \> he feels better about himself \> he is less angry and spews less shit \> he becomes less hated \> he feels less hated \> he feels better about himself \> repeat. Maybe not such a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089/66 "2007-02-14T13:26:59Z")
[QUOTE=bluethree] Someone wishes death on me and my colleagues and the finest people I’ve known. I wish he’d spout off his opinions in public around people like me. What’s so hard to understand? Maybe a better way to phrase it would be, “I wish I could reach through the internet and communicate with Der Trish in a kinesthetic way.” [/QUOTE] He said he’d rather US troops died than the people of Iraq. Fuck it, I can agree with the sentiment. I’d rather coallition troops were out of there and no-one was getting killed, no question. However if that’s not an option, I think seeing as we’re the ones who invaded them, I don’t see why it’s better for Iraqis to die than our troops. If that offends you to the point you’re driven to violence, that’s too bad. Have a look at the relative level of Iraqi casualties to US/UK, and then tell me why that’s right? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089/67 "2007-02-14T13:35:28Z")
[QUOTE=magellan01] If the insurgents were attacking troops only, you _might_ be able to make the point you attempt to. But that is sadly not the case…Even when the actions of our troops unintentionally and inadvertently result in the death of innocents, the moral statements made are world’s apart. [/QUOTE] Unfortunately, there’s numerous incidents to demonstrate that the insurgents aren’t the only ones to be playing fast and loose with Iraqi civilians. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13459928/](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13459928/) Trying to claim that the coalition has moral superiority is frankly laughable. ---
**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:** [February 14, 2007, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089/68 "2007-02-14T13:37:34Z")
[QUOTE=tagos] Not that I wish death on anyone but Trihs is consistent in his belief that the Coalition are the bad guys and so he wishes for their defeat. Those who support the coalition are quite happy to wish all insurgents dead. Some of you cheer on their killing and you shrug your shoulders and say ‘shit happens’ when Coalition forces wipe out wedding parties and inflict other ‘collateral’ damage. By taking sides in any conflict we implicitly wish death and destruction on the other side. That some people here have friends and relatives serving over there cannot make his comments hate speech without it cutting both ways and stopping all discussion, debate and pit ranting. This is just a pile on of someone whose views are unpopular. I’m not that keen on them myself but at least he has the courage to follow the logic of his convictions. [/QUOTE] Can you show me a post of someone who has said he wishes all the “insurgents” in Iraq were dead? For me, it goes way beyond his wishing death on US Soldiers. He spreads ignorance like no one else around here. He shits all over anyone who hold religious beliefs and is constantly making absurd insinuations about US public officials-- that they torture for the fun of it… that type of stuff. He’s a vile, unthinking, idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089/69 "2007-02-14T13:44:19Z")
[QUOTE=Gary Kumquat] If that offends you to the point you’re driven to violence, that’s too bad. Have a look at the relative level of Iraqi casualties to US/UK, and then tell me why that’s right? [/QUOTE] You agree that _all armed services members_ in Iraq are murdering scum and deserve to die, yet pretend moral superiority over one “driven to violence?” It isn’t right that so many Iraqis have died. It isn’t right that we are there in the first place. It does not follow that all armed service members are murdering scum who deserve to die, and claiming so is stupid beyond belief. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089/70 "2007-02-14T13:51:27Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] You agree that _all armed services members_ in Iraq are murdering scum and deserve to die, yet pretend moral superiority over one “driven to violence?” [/QUOTE] Well fuck me sideways, I thought it might be at least a couple more posts before someone tried misquoting as a tactic, but clearly I’m too optimistic. Tell you what, how about you quote the part where I “agree that _all armed services members_ in Iraq are murdering scum and deserve to die”, there’s a good orifice. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089/71 "2007-02-14T13:52:13Z")
[QUOTE=Gary Kumquat] Unfortunately, there’s numerous incidents to demonstrate that the insurgents aren’t the only ones to be playing fast and loose with Iraqi civilians. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13459928/](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13459928/) Trying to claim that the coalition has moral superiority is frankly laughable. [/QUOTE] Yes, it happens. And when it does it’s called things like “murder”. And people are held accountable and removed from duty and then punished. What happens when the other side chops off someone’s head or blows up a school full of children? They get lionized among there own. Maybe you can point to an example of one of the insurgents being locked up or kicked out of the group because he was too violent or murderous. To not either see or acknowledge that makes you no better than Der Shit himself. Oh, and nice try with “numerous”. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089/72 "2007-02-14T13:56:57Z")
[QUOTE=Gary Kumquat] Well fuck me sideways, I thought it might be at least a couple more posts before someone tried misquoting as a tactic, but clearly I’m too optimistic. Tell you what, how about you quote the part where I “agree that _all armed services members_ in Iraq are murdering scum and deserve to die”, there’s a good orifice. [/QUOTE] You agree with Der Trihs’ sentiment. That is precisely his sentiment. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089/73 "2007-02-14T14:02:51Z")
[QUOTE=magellan01] that makes you no better than Der Shit himself. Oh, and nice try with “numerous”. [/QUOTE] Sweet cocking christ, you’re trying to insult someone by changing their screen name from Der Shirt to Der Shit? Please tell me you felt embarrased about that level of playground retort upon hitting the submit key. As for nice try with numerous, care to explain what the problem is with it’s usage? You don’t agree there’s been a number of such incidents? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089/74 "2007-02-14T14:07:53Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] You agree with Der Trihs’ sentiment. That is precisely his sentiment. [/QUOTE] Pathetic. Just snivellingly pathetic. In case you struggle to find the post you refer to, perhaps a whole twenty lines of text above yours, let me remind you: “ **He said he’d rather US troops died than the people of Iraq. Fuck it, I can agree with the sentiment.** I’d rather coallition troops were out of there and no-one was getting killed, no question. However if that’s not an option, I think seeing as we’re the ones who invaded them, I don’t see why it’s better for Iraqis to die than our troops.” Try a little bit fucking harder next time. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089/75 "2007-02-14T14:12:52Z")
[QUOTE=magellan01] Yes, it happens. And when it does it’s called things like “murder”. And people are held accountable and removed from duty and then punished. What happens when the other side chops off someone’s head or blows up a school full of children? They get lionized among there own. Maybe you can point to an example of one of the insurgents being locked up or kicked out of the group because he was too violent or murderous. To not either see or acknowledge that makes you no better than Der Shit himself. Oh, and nice try with “numerous”. [/QUOTE] You are ignoring ‘collateral damage’ that arises from deciding military gains outweigh civilian casualties and generally putting our own soldier’s lives above those of the people you are meant to be helping as the safety first approach of US troops mandates. ‘Collateral damage’ aren’t magic words that wipe away the blood on our hands. It’s weasel words for not caring enough to check properly in the case of bombed wedding parties or caring more about military objectives when shelling a city. And the coalition share in the responsibility for every death resulting from the situation we created. Which is not to excuse the murdering bastards waging their own civil war (any and all involved with ethnic cleansing and civilian attacks I happily wish dead). In the end I hold Bush and Blair as ultimately responsible as they wilfully lied our countries into the war and implemented an Occupation of monumental ineptitude. And to a lesser extent I blame every war supporter who aided and abetted them with their wilful blindness to reality. ---
**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:** [February 14, 2007, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089/76 "2007-02-14T14:20:10Z")
[Quote=bluethree] Someone wishes death on me and my colleagues and the finest people I’ve known. I wish he’d spout off his opinions in public around people like me. What’s so hard to understand? Maybe a better way to phrase it would be, “I wish I could reach through the internet and communicate with Der Trish in a kinesthetic way.” [/Quote] Why do you wish this? Would you physically attack him if he did? Do you consider it morally correct to harm someone who has in fact committed no physical harm to you? Do you actually beleive you could not be arrested and charged for attacking someone simply for them having expressed an opinion you don’t agree with? Christ almighty, get a grip. Yes, **Der Trihs** is a first-class jerk, but the people here who are saying they’d like nothing better than to get their hands on him are pretty disgusting as well. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089/77 "2007-02-14T14:21:13Z")
[QUOTE=Gary Kumquat] Pathetic. Just snivellingly pathetic. In case you struggle to find the post you refer to, perhaps a whole twenty lines of text above yours, let me remind you: “ **He said he’d rather US troops died than the people of Iraq. Fuck it, I can agree with the sentiment.** I’d rather coallition troops were out of there and no-one was getting killed, no question. However if that’s not an option, I think seeing as we’re the ones who invaded them, I don’t see why it’s better for Iraqis to die than our troops.” Try a little bit fucking harder next time. [/QUOTE] This is what he said – > [@](#): > > Contempt. Hatred. They are fools and scum, and I hope the Iraqis manage to kill them before they kill the Iraqis. In response to this question – > [@](#): > > What is your attitude toward military enlistees? All armed services members in Iraq are enlistees. According to your asshole buddy, they are all scum who deserve to die, something he is actively hoping for. Perhaps you should turn on the light before jumping into bed with someone. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089/78 "2007-02-14T14:25:58Z")
[QUOTE=Gary Kumquat] Sweet cocking christ, you’re trying to insult someone by changing their screen name from Der Shirt to Der Shit? Please tell me you felt embarrased about that level of playground retort upon hitting the submit key./QUOTE] I just love the fact that you focused on that and not the rest of the paragraph. A statement in itself that you got squat. [QUOTE=Gary Kumquat] As for nice try with numerous, care to explain what the problem is with it’s usage? You don’t agree there’s been a number of such incidents? [/QUOTE] Oh-boy. You slid “numerous” in there to make it appear as if it was a more common occurrence than it is. Again, it’s telling that you would comment on this and not the rest of what I wrote. Now why don’t you respond to the rest? Here it is again: > [@](#): > > Yes, it happens. And when it does it’s called things like “murder”. And people are held accountable and removed from duty and then punished. What happens when the other side chops off someone’s head or blows up a school full of children? They get lionized among there own. Maybe you can point to an example of one of the insurgents being locked up or kicked out of the group because he was too violent or murderous. Try a little harder this time. Actually if you just trying would be an improvement. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089/79 "2007-02-14T14:26:45Z")
[QUOTE=El\_Kabong] Why do you wish this? Would you physically attack him if he did? Do you consider it morally correct to harm someone who has in fact committed no physical harm to you? Do you actually beleive you could not be arrested and charged for attacking someone simply for them having expressed an opinion you don’t agree with? Christ almighty, get a grip. Yes, **Der Trihs** is a first-class jerk, but the people here who are saying they’d like nothing better than to get their hands on him are pretty disgusting as well. [/QUOTE] Oh, please! I’ll bet you 10 bucks that **Der Trihs** would never say the things he does to a real serviceman in real life, because he knows perfectly well it would earn him a punch in the nose. People don’t “attack” people for having a different opinion, they do so for personally insulting them. Which is what **Der Trihs** does when he says something like this to military personnel. **Oakminster** was merely pointing out that it’s really easy to hide behind message board anonymity when you are using fightin’ words. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089/80 "2007-02-14T14:28:00Z")
I think I have said it in a prior \*\*Der Trihs \*\* pitting. I strongly disagree with what he says. I am a Navy Vet, my father is an Airforce Vet, my Nephew-in-law is an Army Vet. I have friends still in the service. I thought part of why we all served was to defend the rights of people like **Der Trihs** to make assinine statements like he does? You know we are all sworn to protect all of the Bill of Rights. Jim [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-a-moment-of-your-time-if-you-would/392089.md?page=5)