# Do Czarcasm and I not speak the same language? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 4, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905 "2005-06-04T17:51:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![IAMBIC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@IAMBIC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAMBIC)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905/101 "2005-06-06T15:08:19Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > … the thread should have been closed [because] it was the self-important dangling of knowledge. Then why didn’t anyone in that thread say so? The thread was not about scientific knowledge. If it was, I would have picked some abstruse concept and asked: “Does anybody here know about superstring theory?” It’s precisely because it wasn’t profound that I was asking who knew, fully expecting the majority of Dopers to know. I was just wondering how many did not know. “Clear as mud?” ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905/102 "2005-06-06T15:09:29Z")
> [@IAMBIC](#): > > **NoClueBoy** , you’re very funny! **NoClueBoy** \* is\* very funny. Laugh out loud funny when he wants to be. You should check it out. ---
**Author:** ![IAMBIC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@IAMBIC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAMBIC)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905/103 "2005-06-06T15:10:39Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Actually, it does, if the thread was in MPSIMS instead of the Pit. Well then, it should have been _moved_, not closed. > [@](#): > > Free advice, and worth every penny. > > Regards, > Shodan Thanks. I think I’ve taken your post in the spirit that it was intended. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905/104 "2005-06-06T15:13:11Z")
> [@IAMBIC](#): > > In fact, I don’t talk much in real life, and I’ve been told many times that I’m a good listener. People open up to me because (are your ready for this?) I’m accepting of what they think are flaws. Well, heck, Shamus, we’ll accept you for what you think are your flaws. But we won’t pretend your flaws don’t exist and if you flat-out _ask_ us what we think are your flaws, we won’t hesitate to explain at length. Isn’t that what this thread was all about? > [@](#): > > Anyway, I like some of the things that this board offers, but I don’t intend to become a member. (Cheer or yawn, whatever.) Well, good, because if you start a Pit thread but don’t like the results, then I think you lack a fundamental understanding of how the Pit works. If you _do_ join, I suggest you stay out of the Pit entirely. If other lurkers/potential guests/potential members have been reading this, I hope its proved a useful demonstration of how not to get started (the people here are smart; don’t assume otherwise) and how not to behave if your start is a rocky one (if you ask a question in the Pit, we’re under no obligation to tailor the answer to your personal comfort level). It’s the only positive result I can envision. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905/105 "2005-06-06T15:23:31Z")
> [@IAMBIC](#): > > Actually, it’s arrogant to suggest you know “plenty” about me. > > In fact, I don’t talk much in real life, and I’ve been told many times that I’m a good listener. People open up to me because (are your ready for this?) I’m accepting of what they think are flaws. If anything, I get wrapped up while others are talking because I’m fascinated by what they’re saying. > > But, there some people that I choose not to associate with. Big surprise?Another example of irony. > > Some Dopers didn’t like the closed thread because it threatened their fragile egos. Who are \*you \* to imply that you know more than we do? > > It doesn’t matter what I say — whatever you know, you know. Some of you are really smart, some of you are less smart. None of that depends on what I say. You don’t become smarter by calling me an asshole. > > Anyway, I like some of the things that this board offers, but I don’t intend to become a member. (Cheer or yawn, whatever.) Each new post a gem…Did I call you an asshole? No. I said you were pretentious and that you don’t listen to others. I’ll extend that to include that you don’t read other people’s posts beyond scanning for your name; that ego at work again. Your last post was a minor masterpiece of pretention, btw. This bit > [@](#): > > Anyway, I like some of the things that this board offers, but I don’t intend to become a member. (Cheer or yawn, whatever.)[/ in particular. Who were you imagining you sounded like when you wrote it? George Sanders or Leslie Howard at their most insouciant, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![IAMBIC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@IAMBIC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAMBIC)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905/106 "2005-06-06T15:27:58Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > But we won’t pretend your flaws don’t exist and if you flat-out _ask_ us what we think are your flaws, we won’t hesitate to explain at length. Isn’t that what this thread was all about? Nope. It’s not about at all about my flaws. It’s about whether my thread should have been closed. > [@](#): > > the people here are smart; don’t assume otherwise But not arrogant … And, course, it’s important _to point out_ that they’re (you’re?) smart. > [@](#): > > if you ask a question in the Pit, we’re under no obligation to tailor the answer to your personal comfort level. But it seems that you have the right to tell me what my obligations are. Nobody is under any obligation to do anything on this board. You don’t have to post. You don’t to respond to a post. And you don’t have to be nice. But there many things that a poster can choose to do. I’m choosing to continue this thread. Everyone else can choose to ignore it. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905/107 "2005-06-06T15:30:20Z")
> [@IAMBIC](#): > > Then why didn’t anyone in that thread say so? Didn’t _Czarcasm_ say so? Am I missing something? > [@](#): > > The thread was not about scientific knowledge. Yeah, you’ve said that a couple of times, already. Well, my proposed alternate thread in post #63 might accomplish the stated goal of your survey/poll. Why not give something like that a shot rather than continuing to defend your seasons thread, which you admitted was flawed anyway. > [@](#): > > It’s precisely because it wasn’t profound that I was asking who knew, fully expecting the majority of Dopers to know. I was just wondering how many did not know. How exactly were you going to derive this statistic? Seriously. Count the people who claimed knowledge and compare it to those who claimed ignorance? Did you think _anyone_ was going to casually admit membership in the latter group? Was there a default assumption that Dopers who didn’t respond leaned one way or the other? You’re trying to defend the seasons thread as having had some valid purpose that should not have been cut short by a closing. How was that purpose going to be fulfilled? ---
**Author:** ![IAMBIC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@IAMBIC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAMBIC)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905/108 "2005-06-06T15:35:49Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Each new post a gem…Did I call you an asshole? No. I said you were pretentious and that you don’t listen to others. I’ll extend that to include that you don’t read other people’s posts beyond scanning for your name; that ego at work again. It’s about context, right? I didn’t mean that \*you \* (Scumpup) called me an asshole. I said (and you even quoted me): > [@](#): > > Some of you are really smart, some of you are less smart. None of that depends on what I say. You don’t become smarter by calling me an asshole. I think it’s clear that I was using “you” in a general sense, and not identifying you specifically. Sorry for the confusion. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905/109 "2005-06-06T15:37:03Z")
> [@IAMBIC](#): > > I’m choosing to continue this thread. Of course you are. If you just keep yammering long enough, you’re detractors will give up in disgust. You will be left with The Last Word and that means you won. Right? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905/110 "2005-06-06T15:40:04Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Of course you are. If you just keep yammering long enough, you’re detractors will give up in disgust. You will be left with The Last Word and that means you won. Right? I’m a dumbass. That should read “your detractors.” I bet that preview button can do some really cool shit. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905/111 "2005-06-06T15:41:27Z")
> [@IAMBIC](#): > > Nope. It’s not about at all about my flaws. It’s about whether my thread should have been closed. It turns out the two are inextricably linked, though. You may be an arrogant schmuck who can’t write a thread without the arrogant schmuckiness shining through, or a humble well-meaning guy who can’t write a thread without accidentally projectecing a convincing simulation of arrogant schmuckiness. Either way, you have a problem. > [@](#): > > And, course, it’s important _to point out_ that they’re (you’re?) smart. Heh. I thought it was self-evident, myself. In fact, I’m smart enough to know that if I started a Pit thread asking people what they thought of me or my posting style, I run quite a high risk of getting responses that may take on a less-than-loving tone. > [@](#): > > But it seems that you have the right to tell me what my obligations are. Well… yes. I’m a fully-paid member so I have the “right” to post in any of the forums, subject to the oversight of the various moderators. You have the right to disregard me, of course. > [@](#): > > Nobody is under any obligation to do anything on this board. You don’t have to post. You don’t to respond to a post. And you don’t have to be nice. I think we knew that already, but despite a lack of compulsion we chose to do so anyway. God bless freedom! > [@](#): > > But there many things that a poster can choose to do. I’m choosing to continue this thread. Everyone else can choose to ignore it. Well, you’re my latest yarn-ball so I’ll continue to amuse myself for a while longer in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905/112 "2005-06-06T15:51:58Z")
Defending assholes IS fun! Being one probably sucks, tho… This thread is no longer about the MPSIMS thread, in fact, it hasn’t been for quite some posts now. It’s about attitudes. What I (and others) perceive about you through your posts, and what you may be picking up from us. This is how the Pit works. Backfires and hijacks are common. I sometimes pretend to speak for the board population in general, even though I know I don’t. No one can, there are simply too many different people. Arrogance is common here, yes. But so is a willingness to engage in fruitful discussion (usually…). And, some of us just like to hear ourselves talk, see ourselves type. Post counts of some in this this thread bear out that truth (Yes, I see the irony - 13K+ ). However, most of us share one important quality vital for a board like this: We know we don’t know it all. Some of us (read: NoClueBoy) had to learn that lesson in an adversarial way. But, learn it we did. Here’s an axiom: Someone is always better than you at something, unless you you are undeniably at the top of your field. Hey, in a world of some six billion people, even if you _are_ a one in a million type of guy, that still means there are sixty thousand just like you. (A Whitney Brown) So, you think you’re smart. Good. Can’t have low self esteem holding one back, can we? Maybe you really are smart. I think you are. Maybe, just maybe, you’re even more intelligent than most people here, including me. Hey! That would be great news! I welcome that. But, act like a condescending (perhaps even condensating?) prick and you will be called on it. Happens all the time here. Do I want you to change? Nah… I like getting mad 🙂 Bring it on, Bay-Bee !!! As for having fans here, eventually we all gain some. I’ve gained enemies, too. Or, at least, people who can do without my posts. Comes with the territory. So, have fun while you’re here. I’m sure you’ll even come back to this thread, as it is one of the finest trainwrecks we’ve had in a while, spawning multiple Pit threads with ban warnings and pile ons of defensive, I mean defenseless, Dopers left and right. Sadly, tho, we haven’t had anyone nitpicking spelling and grammar. Fight the good fight, Drunken Spaniard. Like you, I am not left handed! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905/113 "2005-06-06T15:54:28Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > Sadly, tho, we haven’t had anyone nitpicking spelling and grammar. Well, that’s just a matter of tim. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905/114 "2005-06-06T15:58:29Z")
Shit! :smack: I forgot to say thanks to my fans. Thanks, fans. :dubious: Has anyone seen my lithium!? Interrobangs are so cool… ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905/115 "2005-06-06T15:59:04Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > Well, that’s just a matter of tim. He can’t help, he fell down the well again. ---
**Author:** ![IAMBIC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@IAMBIC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAMBIC)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905/116 "2005-06-06T15:59:32Z")
Well, I’m enjoying our exchange, too. 😃 > [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > Didn’t _Czarcasm_ say so? Am I missing something? Of course I meant \*somebody \* beside Czarcasm. That’s why I mentioned Czarcasm in the title of this thread. > [@](#): > > Yeah, you’ve said that a couple of times, already. Well, my proposed alternate thread in post #63 might accomplish the stated goal of your survey/poll. Why not give something like that a shot rather than continuing to defend your seasons thread, which you admitted was flawed anyway. Because I can’t give \*something like that a shot \* on a thread that is already closed. I understand your suggestion for any subsequent posts, but I just don’t think that the thread was so bad that it deserved to be closed. And (up until this morning) nobody had argued that it should have been. > [@](#): > > How exactly were you going to derive this statistic? Seriously. Count the people who claimed knowledge and compare it to those who claimed ignorance? Did you think _anyone_ was going to casually admit membership in the latter group? Naively, yes. When nobody did, I was about to post the answer, but then decided on a different approach (my final post in the thread) since I still felt that the issue was not about the actual science, and I realized that the attempt at a poll was lame. And I admitted it. > [@](#): > > How was that purpose going to be fulfilled? Hey, I didn’t formulate all the ramifications of the thread! It could have worked, it didn’t. Fine. And in case anyone hasn’t noticed, I was ticked off that it was closed. 😉 > [@](#): > > If you just keep yammering long enough, you’re detractors will give up in disgust. You will be left with The Last Word and that means you won. Right? Nope. No winners or losers here. I’ve already abandoned some other threads that I’ve started and I’ve been criticized for doing so. To paraphase a comment by **Bryan Ekers** : I’ll continue to amuse myself with my yarn-ball until I no longer find it amusing. Could be … right about … now. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905/117 "2005-06-06T16:00:43Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > Sadly, tho, we haven’t had anyone nitpicking spelling and grammar. I beg your pardon…I nitpicked my own error in post #110. Alas, since I’m not anyone, I guess I must be no one. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905/118 "2005-06-06T16:07:29Z")
> [@IAMBIC](#): > > I’ll continue to amuse myself with my yarn-ball until I no longer find it amusing. > > Could be … right about … now. Quitter! No…, wait! Kitten! Nah, that’s no good, either… I know! Shane! Don’t go…! ;j ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905/119 "2005-06-06T16:09:26Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > I’ll take some of your heat, Iambic. Soon, the usual gang of idiots will pile on to me, giving you a chance to get out. And that’s what you should do. Go away. Go far away. And warn others. And thuis makes me embarrassed for defending\*\* lib \*\* yesterday. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905/120 "2005-06-06T16:09:41Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > I’ll take some of your heat, Iambic. Soon, the usual gang of idiots will pile on to me, giving you a chance to get out. And that’s what you should do. Go away. Go far away. And warn others. And this makes me embarrassed for defending\*\* lib \*\* yesterday. :rolleyes: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-czarcasm-and-i-not-speak-the-same-language/306905.md?page=7)