Hmmm…“proving which one of [us] is more intelligent”. That one can work like Adam Smith’s “Invisible Hand”–in our selfish desire to show off, we are forced (by all the other smart people around here) to actually post things that are intelligent and not stupid. Thus, we really do dispel ignorance, even if we do it partly to show off. You also need to distinguish between forums. Of course people get flamed in the Pit. That’s what it’s for. But anyone who only posts to humiliate people who make mistakes won’t last long in Great Debates or General Questions.
Posting in the wrong forum just clogs up the smooth workings of the place, that’s all. A first offense shouldn’t earn anything more than a statement by a moderator “This post really seems to belong in…”–something I see all the time. If a poster never learns what goes where, then yes, that person will deservedly earn a certain amount of irritation from everyone else.
There can be a fine line between jumping people for not having used Google or searching the archives, and helping to teach them how to find things for themselves. Simply saying “Hey, there’s this cool site called ‘Snopes’ that’s a good place to check out ‘urban legends’ and e-mail glurge and so forth” isn’t necessarily an attack; it can actually be a way of helping someone learn about a new (to them) and valuable resource.Sure, there’s no sense in being a jerk about it. Still, laziness isn’t an endearing trait.
And “fighting ignorance” includes calling people on it when they post things which aren’t true. As for “unpopular” opinions–why are they unpopular? If they’re unpopular because they are based on lies or untruths, they deserve to be refuted. But, this is a pretty diverse board–no opinion about God or politics or philosophy is likely to be found without defenders if that opinion is reasonably stated and backed up with good arguments and (where appropriate) factual information. If an opinion doesn’t have many or any defenders around here–opinions like Holocaust denial or Moon hoaxes or young Earth creationism–there’s probably a good reason why.
You also need to distinguish between actual flames, and humor. It was almost inevitable that someone would hunt down a spelling or grammar error and point it out to you. No one says it’s actually a valid refutation of any serious point–it’s a joke, see?
Well, okay, not quite. But there’s definitely a dead animal involved.
No, Jack.
**
In this case, it’s a different OP, and a different thread. Just seems to be the same damn attitude.
Well, first of all, Photog, I’d like to thank you for lumping everybody into this nice little category you’ve lined up for us. I personally don’t care about who gets to post to a thread first, or who is more intelligent, and as a pretty much rank newbie, I certainly couldn’t care less about who has more experience on the board.
Well, maybe for some people, it is. I’ve noticed that particular problem occasionally, in the time I’ve been here. But for the most part, I’ve found a fairly good number of really nice, intelligent people to talk to, and had some really cool conversations. Not everyone has been friendly. Not everyone has been nice. Not everyone has agreed with me. And some people have been a bit on the abrasive side in the way that they presented themselves and their opinions. But that’s how it goes. But in order for a place like this to function, you have to have rules. And if you’re posting something in the wrong forum, then expect to be corrected. Everybody else has (or should have) taken the time to figure things like that out before they open their mouth and make a post. If that’s a problem for you, then you have my pity. Rules of that nature are part and parcel of any society. And if you make a social faux pas, then expect to get shouted down for it. And go on. If you want to learn something around here, then it isn’t very difficult. If you want to bitch about how people react to you, then, well, you can do that, too. But don’t expect to be well-received for your criticism. And if you can’t take getting piled on for such things, learn not to make those mistakes. And learn to give as good as you get. Or throw in the towel and go home. But there is no point at all to whining about it.
Photog is merely asking us to look at ourselves. When he found this place, he thought it would be fun. But he soon learned that’s not what this place is about.
And he is sad. No wait. He is angry. He is sad and he is angry.
We should examine ourselves and pay attention to what he says. He’s just trying to help.
Take a walk, asshole. It’s been done. To death.
Nothing new here, folks. Go grab a beer. You won’t miss anything.
Oh my God, thank you for giving me my first real laugh in a long time. I have not literally laughed out loud since uh…forever, but I did then.
Hehehe, I’m still chuckling.
Actually there were TWO misspellings in the OP (well, two which I noticed): in addition to spelling “an” as “and,” the {ahem} poster misspelled “misspell” as “mispell.”
Unless, of course, he/she/it/whatever was actually bitching about folks pelling incorrectly. What the heck is “pelling?”
I’m sorry, we seem to have accidentally ordered too many drama queens this week. We’ll need to do a quick Inventory Reduction sale or something. Maybe in a month or two we can give your posting the attention it’s due.
Don’t listen to this person, Jack! We won our independence from Britain more than 47 years ago! We can spell it however we damn well please!
Just don’t misspell “Funkadelic”.
I know, Monty. But in my unseemly haste to be the first to point out an error in the OP, I only saw the “and orgasm” one. By the time I noticed the other one, the point had been made.
Oddly, photog seems not to have noticed we were being ironic.
Frankly, photog, I think you’re either opening too many of the wrong threads… or you’re mistaking the voices of a few idjits with the opinions of the crowds.
There are scads of fair, reasonable people on these boards. Who participate in like manner. I realize sometimes they’re overshadowed by the people with ego issues, but with some selective reading I find I enjoy this place a good bit.
