# Down with Gluttony **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 8, 2000, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880 "2000-01-08T17:58:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880/101 "2000-01-14T05:08:00Z")
Again with the Paul? Sheesh, I thought “subliterate doofus” was a damn nice turn of phrase. Now I think it’s an insult to doofi everywhere. * * * Livin’ on Tums, Vitamin E and Rogaine ---
**Author:** ![tergivesater1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c77e96/32.png) [@tergivesater1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tergivesater1)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880/102 "2000-01-14T05:14:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by SINsApple: > \*\*Okay, everyone clean out your ears (or rather eyes) and listen up. (especially you Techchic68!!!) > Never once did terg equate having money to evil. The point he was making (if I interpreted correctly, and I think I did) was that it is sad that people feel that happiness comes with owning possessions. I admit it is nice to have things. I like to collect books. But owning useless or unused “things” in order to validate your life is a sad way to be. Collecting records, especially of a favorite artist is different from insisting on having extravagant possessions. > Terg was simply saying that it would be a much nicer country to live in if people validated their lives by the good they did and the lives they touched rather than the things they owned. > At the university I attend the motto is “educating for lives of service.” I completely respect the students who are going here for just that reason–to learn a trade which will help them function responsibly in society. I don’t respect the kids who go here because it is, in and of itself, a status symbol. Those are the people who go out in life and buy baby grand pianos and multiple spas just so they can say they own a baby grand piano and multiple spas. Those are the people that make me disappointed in our society. > Wealth is not akin to evil, and I want to reiterate that Terg never implied that it was. Nor did he ever say wealth and/or giving to charity should be regulated. > Diane: although I was disgusted by your need to tout your wealth, no one is going to say that you are in the class that Terg is disgusted with. You seem to be using your wealth to raise smart, healthy children. That is not the same as “keeping up with the Jones’” by acquiring unused things. Although I am curious who’s money you used to get through school, I have a sneaking suspicion it was money you got in the divorce settlement from that husband who worked while you were at home. > No one is denying that some people with wealth do good things with it. And I don’t believe Terg ever said that ALL wealthy people are greedy and/or extravagant. He said he wished people would get their priorities straight and help others atleast as much as they help themselves. If those people with those possession give to charity–Wonderful! Think how much better it would be though if they decided to only live comfortably and used the extra they would have bought “things” with to help society. That would be even better. No one is saying what the wealthy should or should not do with their money. Let them do what they want, but then don’t tell me I can’t be disappointed in them for not giving a rat’s ass for their fellow man. > By the way, all you people who blamed the poor for their situations are assholes, that is no different than saying that all wealthy are greedy bastards. > Also techchic, you have made the worst assumptions I have seen in this thread. How can you assume that your father has worked any harder in his life than others, or that he had more/worse stresses in his life than Terg. You don’t seem to know Terg in real life, therefore, making assumptions about him and touting your father as better than him simply makes you look like an elitist bitch. Sorry if I offended. > > \*\* ## THANKS FOR LISTENING SINsApple. You eloquantly captured the very essence of what I’ve been saying. Your reading comprehension is off the charts! If you ever need a letter of recommendation for law school, please look me up. I’d be honored! terggie ---
**Author:** ![tergivesater1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c77e96/32.png) [@tergivesater1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tergivesater1)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880/103 "2000-01-14T05:26:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by manhattan: > \*\*Again with the Paul? Sheesh, I thought “subliterate doofus” was a damn nice turn of phrase. > > Now I think it’s an insult to doofi everywhere. > > \*\* I see you’re still around ManHan. The home office of the Security Exchange Commission must be slow in getting their investigative reports up to the Justice Department. Let me give you a bit of advice for when you do get arrested. If you drop your bar of soap in the shower, don’t pick it up.😮 Let me know if you need a good SEC lawyer. * * * terggie ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880/104 "2000-01-14T05:33:00Z")
You may or not be fascinated to know that from time to time I _teach classes_ to SEC lawyers on fraud detection in financial statements. And if by some chance I ever went over to the dark side, my jail cell would be larger than your apartment. Not including the tennis courts. But thanks for playing. We’ve got some Turtle Wax for you. Try a new flame, you insult to doofi. * * * Livin’ on Tums, Vitamin E and Rogaine ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880/105 "2000-01-14T06:00:00Z")
\*\* [/QUOTE] I see you’re still around ManHan. The home office of the Security Exchange Commission must be slow in getting their investigative reports up to the Justice Department. Let me give you a bit of advice for when you do get arrested. If you drop your bar of soap in the shower, don’t pick it up.😮 Let me know if you need a good SEC lawyer. \*\* [/QUOTE] Actually, Manny more likely might want to consider the services of somebody well-versed in the law of defamation – this is getting perilously close here . . . . And given the quality of what Manny has posted over the months, and what this thing has posted, can there be any doubt about the outcome of THAT case? ## -Melin “I’ll never argue with a lawyer again.” – The Devil Himself. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880/106 "2000-01-14T06:17:00Z")
Terg, you are getting nastier and nastier. Sheesh - maybe you don’t like your grammar and spelling corrected, and maybe you think that some of the people here are too anal about it. And you know, perhaps they are. And you know the best way to respond to that? Just say “Oh, I misspelled that! Oops!” and get back to the _real_ issue at hand. And you know what? They _are_ right about your spelling and grammar. And I am someone who would never pretend to be an expert, or claim to have flawless grammar/spelling. But you used the wrong word for the Subject title of this thread, and then it just goes downhill from there… But it isn’t really about the fact that your grammar and spelling are less than flawless, it’s that you are being so pissy about it. Also, you are being so pissy and petulant about encountering so many people who are contradicting you. God Forbid anyone disagree with _you_ - right? And if someone actually has more advanced grammar skills than you? Well, that can’t be, so you’ll just tell them to go to Hell. Charming. _That’ll_ win a debate. Just tell the people who are disagreeing with you to go to hell. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880/107 "2000-01-14T07:03:00Z")
yosemite, I am confused…will you explain? Seriously I don’t know what comments you are talking 'bout in this thread…please quote. 'Sides, I am tired and ready for bed so maybe I will read through all of tergi’s posts tomorrow morning. Anything would help me now \< grin \> been a rough last two days. ---
**Author:** ![tergivesater1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c77e96/32.png) [@tergivesater1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tergivesater1)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880/108 "2000-01-14T07:30:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by techchick68: > > As for my father, it took him a lot of years to have any comprehension over what my mother did to me. He was so involved in his business he was oblivious… > > I honestly don’t know what pulled me through the pain of enduring all those years of pain and sadness… > > \*\* Teacherchick your quote above is a perfect example of the point I’ve been trying to make. Your dad lost his focus during a critical period in your life. While you, a vulnerable, nine year old, were drowning in a sea of sadness, crying for a life raft, his head was buried in his business and girlfriend’s lap. Now, am I saying he was he a bad, wretched, evil person for not rescuing you? No…a doofus maybe? We’ll have to ask Paul. Am I saying that his MONEY is to blame? Of course not. SINsapple got it right. See his post. What your dad obviously didn’t, but should have, realized was that YOU WERE HIS MOST PRECIOUS POSSESSION. YOU WERE HIS FINEST JEWEL. Not his business. Not his financial successes and the toys they could buy. YOU,YOU,YOU WERE HIS RICHES. George Bailey would not have overlooked your desperation. His had his priority ducks lined up correctly. I’m saying that like George…all of us, including the poor, need to focus more of our energies and resouces on helping others. Sometimes those “others” will be strangers in the Balkans, and sometimes they’ll be our own family members. When each of us moves a tiny bit in that direction, the world becomes a better place. Hopefully, your dad has now, or will someday soon, be headed your way with that life raft… if he comes, be sure and forgive him for not getting there sooner. * * * terggie ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880/109 "2000-01-14T07:36:00Z")
Sorry Techchick, I’m tired too…I probably did a very poor job indeed in my last post. I cannot guarantee I’ll do much better with this one. It seems to me that tergivesater1 was getting more and more petulant in this thread. The pissiness over the spelling and grammar thing - (and I am not saying that she wasn’t entitled to not like it being criticized) but her response was thus: > [@](#): > > We’re not in school. We’re not being graded. YOU’RE NOT OUR TEACHER…so take your silly rules and go where you’ll be most appreciated…To Hell. Gripe gripe gripe, whine whine whine. Someone corrected her grammar, or a certain reference, or whatever. Boo hoo. OK, I haven’t been on SDMB that long, but one of the first things I noticed was that the people here _will_ correct each other’s spelling and grammar, literary references, etc. And I’ve seen a lot of “the corrected” take it all with graciousness. So this petulant “Go to Hell” stuff is whiney, in my opinion. But, well, this _is_ the BBQ Pit, after all. Also, all the damned caps - the “shouting”. That is a common stock reaction to some contradictory posts - she types in all caps, “shouts” back! Sigh. OK, it’s late, and I may have not expressed myself well in this post, or the last. It’s late. But I think that many of us have brought forth some well-thought-out ideas, and we get more than our fair share of “all caps shouting” as a response from tergivesater1. Well, like I said, this _is_ the BBQ Pit! So, it was a general rant about terg ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880/110 "2000-01-14T07:41:00Z")
> [@](#): > > So, it was a general rant about terg This is SO FREAKIN’ FREAKY! I did **not** add that last (quoted above) line to my post. I swear I did not. I think this “upgrade” in SDMB’s software has made things go wonky. It was like it was tacked on to the bottom of my post, without my consent. Too weird. However, whoever wrote that (quoted above line) is correct. I was just getting sick of the all-caps stuff, etc. ---
**Author:** ![tergivesater1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c77e96/32.png) [@tergivesater1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tergivesater1)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880/111 "2000-01-14T07:52:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by manhattan: > \*\*You may or not be fascinated to know that from time to time I _teach classes_ to SEC lawyers on fraud detection in financial statements. > > And if by some chance I ever went over to the dark side, my jail cell would be larger than your apartment. Not including the tennis courts. > > But thanks for playing. We’ve got some Turtle Wax for you. > > Try a new flame, you insult to doofi. > > \*\* ## Ok, you win. Your dick’s bigger than mine. I’m a golfer, I can’t compete with tennis courts. terggie ---
**Author:** ![tergivesater1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c77e96/32.png) [@tergivesater1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tergivesater1)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880/112 "2000-01-14T08:37:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Melin: > > * * * I see you’re still around ManHan. The home office of the Security Exchange Commission must be slow in getting their investigative reports up to the Justice Department. Let me give you a bit of advice for when you do get arrested. If you drop your bar of soap in the shower, don’t pick it up.😮 Let me know if you need a good SEC lawyer. \*\* [/QUOTE] Actually, Manny more likely might want to consider the services of somebody well-versed in the law of defamation – this is getting perilously close here . . . . And given the quality of what Manny has posted over the months, and what this thing has posted, can there be any doubt about the outcome of THAT case? -Melin \*\* [/QUOTE] ## If I were an in-house “litigation” attorney for a “national insurance company,” I’d leave defamation claim referrals to real lawyers. You’d be well advised to do the same. terggie ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880/113 "2000-01-14T09:00:00Z")
Sheesh. I could do without the copious quotes in bold type too… ---
**Author:** ![tergivesater1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c77e96/32.png) [@tergivesater1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tergivesater1)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880/114 "2000-01-14T09:41:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by yosemitebabe: > \*\*Terg, you are getting nastier and nastier. Sheesh - maybe you don’t like your grammar and spelling corrected, and maybe you think that some of the people here are too anal about it. And you know, perhaps they are. And you know the best way to respond to that? Just say “Oh, I misspelled that! Oops!” and get back to the _real_ issue at hand. > > And you know what? They _are_ right about your spelling and grammar. And I am someone who would never pretend to be an expert, or claim to have flawless grammar/spelling. But you used the wrong word for the Subject title of this thread, and then it just goes downhill from there… But it isn’t really about the fact that your grammar and spelling are less than flawless, it’s that you are being so pissy about it. Also, you are being so pissy and petulant about encountering so many people who are contradicting you. God Forbid anyone disagree with _you_ - right? And if someone actually has more advanced grammar skills than you? Well, that can’t be, so you’ll just tell them to go to Hell. Charming. _That’ll_ win a debate. Just tell the people who are disagreeing with you to go to hell.\*\* Why is it okay with you that a handful of these pompussies have license to hand out criticisms like they are jelly beans? Where is it written that in response to that criticism, you and I are suposed to say, “Oops, so sorry, won’t happen again. So sorry, so sorry.” Where? Why is it okay for them to call me an “IT” and a…, well, a “subliterate doofus” and not subject themselves to your criticism? Who are these people who make the rules and why don’t you and others call them to task for being so Nunish? Every one of my jabs has been defensive. Every one was in response to first being skeeeewered by one of them, including most recently by the offensive defense counsel, Melinoma who referred to me as “IT.” The very least she could have done is add a T. Isn’t she being nasty? Why don’t you take her to task for it? Why is it only okay for her to be nasty? WHY? Would that be a rule violation? I didn’t just tell PEDEGOD PAUL, THE PRICK to go to hell. That came at the very end of my post. Why didn’t you comment on that? Seems to me there are three sets of rules in operation here? One for the “PedeGOD” bees who regularly dole out barbs when any of their rules are broken; one for the Drone “Wanna” bees who aspire for PedeGod status but must be stung repeatedly when they get out of line, or fail to show proper deference to the rules; and, one for the “Interloper” bees, my group, WHO HAVE NOT LEARNED THE RULES and must be severely punished, especially if they sting back. GIVE ME A BREAK, YOSEMITEBABE AND SHOW ME WHERE ITS WRITTEN THAT THE PedeGOD BEES get to make ALL the rules? Well, its late, gotta be in court at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow. Maybe, I’ll see Mel there? Luv ya * * * terggie ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880/115 "2000-01-14T10:18:00Z")
Ooh, better watch the blood pressure there! What a treat…lots of bold quotes, _and_ lots of caps! 😉 The “rules” about all caps being considered “shouting” (and therefore considered rude) is one of the most common of “rules” of the Internet. (Yes, the Internet _does_ have RULES.) Are you a newbie, or just terribly clueless? Just check out any recent book (or web site) covering “netiquette” and you can read all about it, and a few other things as well. I cannot recall every post you wrote, or every post directed at you. I am not saying that you have to _like_ the criticism. But whining and “shouting” about it is unseemly. Also, my general impression of this entire thread is that when people were responding to your OP, _you_ responded back with entire paragraphs in all caps. You were “shouting” back your answers. So, if things escalated from there, your “shouting” certainly had a part in it. ---
**Author:** ![Crystalguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dbc845/32.png) [@Crystalguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crystalguy)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880/116 "2000-01-14T12:39:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Mullinator: > \*\*Oh, now I get it. Thanks Crystal, your boardname is quite apropos. > > \*\* As in if I have “too much” money, I still don’t have “enough” money. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880/117 "2000-01-14T13:42:00Z")
OK, jackass. Number one, my name is not Paul. Got it? It’s Phil. You may refer to me as “Phil,” or “Mr. Dennison,” or “Mr. Steve Martin” if you so choose. Cripes, my name is all over the MB. Number two, I, not Melin, referred to you as “it,” primarily because I have no clue what your gender is and, as it happens, am monumentally uninterested in the answer. Now, on to someone else: > [@](#): > > think a very basic fact is being ignored here. Natural resources are finite. Money, houses, and pianos are not natural resources, nor are they finite; and in fact the things out of which they are most commonly made are, for the most part, renewable resources. > [@](#): > > The fact that one person has > more than they need means that someone else will have less. I used to believe this, too. Turns out it isn’t true, though. > [@](#): > > The fact that the person with more has > “earned” it is irrelevant to the fact that by having this excess, he is condemning others to starvation, > exposure to the elements, and so on. This really is not true either. Emotional appeal does not an argument make. If wealth was finite, American GDP (or any other country’s GDP, for that matter) would never increase, it would only be shifted around between business segments. > [@](#): > > Language style and usage is not an exact science. It doesn’t > demand perfection. No, but if I said, “Geez, that homeless guy was just sitting there on the curb puking all over himself like Jay Gatsby,” people would probably think I was pretty dumb and didn’t know what I was talking about. > [@](#): > > We don’t have to be perfect sspelllers. We don’t have to conform our styles, > metaphors, and words to your, or any other, rigid set of rules. We don’t have to be precise. No, but you should try to, say, get basic stuff right if you want people to take you seriously. Hell, you read another thread in which people addressed me by name, and you still think I’m named “Paul.” * * * “It’s my considered opinion you’re all a bunch of sissies!”–Paul’s Grandfather ---
**Author:** ![renaissanceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@renaissanceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/renaissanceman)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880/118 "2000-01-14T14:24:00Z")
Tergivesater1, What follows is not skewerism; it’s just candid observation by a fellow poster. There’s an awful lot of “me” and “them” in your last post, isn’t there? In an open forum type of discussion, whenever one begins to feel like it’s “me” against the rest of “them”, shouldn’t one examine their position, or the responses they made, that led them to feel that “persecution”? If one uses the English language carelessly in a debate, and is called to task for it, then the only response one can make to that criticism IS, “Oops, you’re right”. That’s just common sense; it’s not written anywhere. (For example, if I point out to PL Dennison that I think he meant to say, “…a cinematic allusion…”, not “illusion”, I would be surprised and disappointed if he called me a pedagogue and a prick for pointing that out!). No one posting in response to you has anything to go on but what you wrote. Thus, YOU control the tone and tenor of those responses. If you think those responses are nasty, you oughta look and see what prompted them. I thought your hierarchical structure for this board pretty interesting and amusing, if not a little paranoid. But then I’m just a “new” BEE, maybe I don’t possess your discernment skills. ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880/119 "2000-01-14T14:44:00Z")
Oh, boo-fuckin-hoooo, wah wah wah. If you can’t handle the criticism or keep up, maybe this board isn’t for you. I am beginning to have serious doubts that someone who has such bad grammar, bad spelling, no comprehension of something as simple as a name or post credit, and is so easily thrown into fits of hysteria, could have passed the Bar. ## If in fact (I have doubts) you really are an attorney, it is no wonder that you aren’t making the big bucks. \>^,^\< KITTEN Fluff yer hair Beula, I’s feelin frisky - M.S. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880/120 "2000-01-14T17:05:00Z")
> [@](#): > > If I were an in-house “litigation” attorney for a “national insurance company,” I’d leave defamation claim referrals to real lawyers. You’d be well advised to do the same. ::laughs:: Right. Given that, as part of the General Counsel’s office, I oversee, oh, let’s just say a whole bunch of 'em, in addition to representing the Company directly myself. Don’t bother sending in your resume, though. So what was the last case you had where the potential exposure (non-personal injury related) was $100 million? I just settled one last week – the amount is confidential – and another one walked in my door on Tuesday. -Melin [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-with-gluttony/3880.md?page=7)