# Der Trihs Pitting du jour **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 7, 2011, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714 "2011-01-07T04:39:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 22
**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:** [May 11, 2014, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714/421 "2014-05-11T23:19:18Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > So I would open “IMHO John Mace (or whomever) has a profoundly misguided perspective?” in IMHO? Really? You were discussing posting style, not perspective. You could post a thread offering advice about how someone could improve his posting style, or you could make it more generically about “a certain posting style”. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714/422 "2014-05-11T23:37:24Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Yeah, but constructive criticism about a posting style can become a hijack if it goes into any real sort of detail. Emphasis added to show at least what I had in mind. Sorry I wasn’t clear though. I meant the hypothetical thread to be about a posting style of a particular poster. That belongs in the pit, even if the criticism is wholly constructive. There have been plenty of posts in the pit like that. A number threads have a mix of constructive and non-constructive critique. [Old example from 2002](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=111921) about a now banned (insufferable) poster. Also and separately, it’s convenient to have a personal discussion in a forum where you have the option making personal attacks. Again though, there’s no obligation in the pit to use harsh language. Not that I’ve never done so: I’m just stating longstanding policy. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714/423 "2014-05-12T01:02:34Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You were discussing posting style, not perspective. You could post a thread offering advice about how someone could improve his posting style, or you could make it more generically about “a certain posting style”. You ever get tired of telling people what the fuck to do? ---
**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:** [May 12, 2014, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714/424 "2014-05-12T01:11:16Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > You ever get tired of telling people what the fuck to do? Go fuck a cactus. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714/425 "2014-05-12T01:25:49Z")
Guess not. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714/426 "2014-05-12T01:30:13Z")
Nevermind… ---
**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:** [May 12, 2014, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714/427 "2014-05-12T02:08:38Z")
**MfM** and I were having a perfectly civil discussion. No one is forcing you to read any of this. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714/428 "2014-05-12T02:19:35Z")
Yeah, I have to admit that **bobot** _at best_ appeared to misunderstand John Mace’s post. Mace wasn’t nagging me. If anything, I was over-personalizing my point. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714/429 "2014-05-12T02:43:14Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Yeah, I have to admit that **bobot** _at best_ appeared to misunderstand John Mace’s post. Mace wasn’t nagging me. If anything, I was over-personalizing my point. I think being civil in the Pit is expressly forbidden. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714/430 "2014-05-12T13:28:18Z")
Yeah, now I’m definitely with those who say that **Terr** was just as bad. I think he might also be a sociopath. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714/431 "2014-05-12T13:35:25Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Yeah, now I’m definitely with those who say that **Terr** was just as bad. I think he might also be a sociopath. It’s cool. I think you might be an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714/432 "2014-05-12T13:38:29Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > It’s cool. I think you might be an idiot. Well, the feeling’s mutual. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714/433 "2014-05-12T16:54:45Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > It’s cool. I think you might be an idiot. There’s no “might” about it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714/434 "2014-05-12T17:12:57Z")
Hat tip to **Vinyl Turnip** , whose [post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17366026&postcount=26) made it instantly clear why DT was being an idiot in that thread. > [@](#): > > The mirror of your argument would be that pro-choice people support abortion rights not because they care about the mother’s welfare, but because they are all bloodthirsty monsters who derive actual physical pleasure from the thought of torturing and murdering defenseless babies. I can’t recall ever hearing any poster, nor any abortion opponent anywhere, say this. Even the staunchest anti’s see the other side as misguided, thoughtless, selfish, with priorities out of whack… nobody (that I know of) says that pro-choicers are driven by blood lust. If they did, it would be just as ludicrous as your cartoonish portrayal of their motivations, and just as unwelcome in Great Debates. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714/435 "2014-05-12T18:12:22Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Hat tip to **Vinyl Turnip** , whose [post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17366026&postcount=26) made it instantly clear why DT was being an idiot in that thread. I absolutely agree with you. Vinyl had the post of the thread with that one. ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714/436 "2014-05-12T18:20:54Z")
Without addressing whether or not the warning was deserved, the issue here is that **DT** is just too passionate about his opinion here to be able to address it rationally. Without condoning or condemning his opinion, it seems clear to me that he believes that most or all abortion proponents are motivated by mysogyny and don’t want to empower women. That’s a point that can reasonably be discussed in GD. Where he fails is by taking that perspective to the extreme and he essentially cede the argument out or irrationality when he makes a comparison to the KKK. The opposite point, as mentioned, is comparing abortion to murder, again without condoning or comdemning, I think is a reasonable point worthy of discussion, and is a reasonable counterpoint to the asserted motivation of mysogyny. If, however, someone comes in, and rants about how all proponents of legalized abortion like to murder little babies because they’re possessed by the devil and it’s part of their sick fantasies and devil worship… yeah, they should have been warned too. Even if it’s an honestly held view, it’s toxic to a debate and it only serves to derail the discussion. It’s not really any different from any other debate that goes on here where some people might have unpopular opinions. For instance, I’ve seen tons of debates about the intelligence of races on these boards, and it’s reasonable to argue that those who are proponents are racist, but if they start calling them Nazis and comparing them to Hitler then, even if we agree with that perspective, those people are only hurting the cause and they deserve a warning. By all means, abortion is a passionate subject for a lot of people, and I think it’s worth debating, but if one person can’t see the other side as a group of reasonable people who disagree, either the other side isn’t reasonable and not worth debating, or that person can’t be reasonable about that topic, and should appropriately recuse himself from the discussion. I appreciate **DT** ’s passion, the problem is, his passion often blinds him in being able to stay in a rational realm with his opinion. To a certain extent, believing that his perspective is honestly held, and I would tend to agree, he’s gotten leeway for being rash with how he expresses it, but eventually people just get tired of it. Despite that I don’t agree with most of his opinions–for instance, while I am a proponent of legalized abortion, I don’t think opponents are primarily motivated by mysogyny–I think the varied opinions and the passion for them are what make the debates here interesting to observe and participate in, and so I’d like to see him find a way to temper his passion in GD and stay to the rational realm of the argument, but if he can’t do that, and based on that thread that seems unlikely, then he just may have let it alone. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714/437 "2014-05-12T19:19:15Z")
> [@Blaster\_Master](#): > > so I’d like to see him find a way to temper his passion in GD Don’t do it Der Trihs. Don’t let these pro-lifer apologists silence you. God made sure you were born and gave you a voice for a reason. Praise be to you and him always! 🙂 🙂 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714/438 "2014-05-12T19:25:02Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Don’t do it Der Trihs. Don’t let these pro-lifer apologists silence you. God made sure you were born and gave you a voice for a reason. > Praise be to you and him always! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Well, I’m speaking from my passionless side. From a perspective of entertainment, a flameout can certainly be amusing. If it’s going to happen, might as well enjoy it. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714/439 "2014-05-12T19:27:04Z")
Ban for the Band God! ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714/440 "2014-05-12T20:35:51Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Also, Der’s problem is he speaks in absolutes. “Conservatives hate women.” Instead of “Too many conservatives are motivated by hatred of women.” > > The later is certainly true. Really? How about a cite on that one? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714.md?page=23)