# Fighting Ignorance? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 31, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707 "2003-08-31T00:02:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707/121 "2003-09-01T16:13:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Boo Boo Foo \* > \*\*But worse yet, in the last decade the USA has given us Britney Spears, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, 'NSync, and The Back Street Boys - and I, for one, am TOTALLY pissed off. \*\* What, you don’t want them either? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Train\_Song](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Black\_Train\_Song](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Train_Song)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707/122 "2003-09-01T16:30:16Z")
I don;t want to get into a huge tiff here but if there’s a discussion going on that the Mod and other members feel worthy enough to engage in then where are posts like this any help?: > [@](#): > > Muffin: In the finest tradition of Wildest Bill’s “Gotcha ya!” we now have milroyj’s “Fucko off.” As fine a rejoinder as one might expect from such a clear thinking and well spoken person. and this: > [@](#): > > Muffin: Actually, you are the joke. Get over yourself. and: > [@](#): > > Desmostylus: Muffin is mean in precisely the same way that you are witty and intelligent. That is, you seem to think it’s true, but no-one else does. and: > [@](#): > > Jack Batty: milroyj, you’re searching for clarification of rules that don’t exist on paper. There is no chapter, verse, nor sub-section on what can be said and what can’t. About your, and my, only recourse is to either trust the moderators to moderate, or post somewhere else. This is what I meant when I said in a previous thread that some members seem to have a pack mentality. It’s nothing more than a verbal stoning. If there’s a topic being discussed (as dumb as it may seem to you) and other people are taking part in it in a civilized manner, why start flinging shit all over the place? How were any of those comments helpful? ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707/123 "2003-09-01T16:35:00Z")
**Jersey** perhaps you’re confusing “attacks on fundies” with “attacks on _you_ personally.” ---
**Author:** ![nisosbar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@nisosbar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nisosbar)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707/124 "2003-09-01T16:41:15Z")
> [@](#): > > How were any of those comments helpful? They’re not helpful, of course, anyone can see that. I would suggest that you consider that the SDMB has over 30,000 members. With a membership base that large, there will be all kinds of people posting here. Like most members of the general public engaging in discussion, most SDMB members will probably exercise good judgment; others won’t, mostly just sometimes, but occasionally frequently. Putting 2 and 2 together, we can see what must have led the unknown person to coin the phrase: “Consider the source.” ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707/125 "2003-09-01T17:52:31Z")
As **Dex** has pointed out several times, there are differing standards in the various fora. This thread by **Aldebaran** is an anti-American rant, not a debate. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=208187&perpage=50&pagenumber=1](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=208187&perpage=50&pagenumber=1) And to those of you who use the “attacking the government, not the people” defense, I respectfully disagree in this case. > [@](#): > > 1. that the USA isn’t worth one single grain of a sign of respect let be credibility attributed to its government, **and to the nation in general** bolding added He is clearly attacking a nation, not a government, and in the wrong forum. If another poster said the same things about say, Saudi Arabia, or Palestinians, they’d be run out of town on a rail. Maybe I am as stupid as you all think I am, but I really don’t understand why anti-American rants are given a pass in GD. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707/126 "2003-09-01T20:06:13Z")
milroyj, You’ll need to try again. First, his list of 7 statements had the following header, which I’m hoping you just failed to notice, as context is very important: > [@](#): > > Seen the fact that the current US president and government managed to convince about the entire world In other words, our president and government have given the world these seven impressions. I don’t necessarily agree with all of his points, but I don’t see how it can be construed as bashing the American people. There **are** people in the world who think we’re all a bunch of war mongering hawks wanting to take over the world, just as there are Americans who think that all Muslims are terrorists. Our government’s policies are partially to blame for the former, while a few terrorists are partially to blame for the latter. The other portion of blame falls on those ignorant enough to actually use such a broad brush. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707/127 "2003-09-01T20:15:03Z")
I forgot to mention, he asked two perfectly valid questions in that OP, thus making it a debate, not a rant. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707/128 "2003-09-01T20:18:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rooves \* > \*\* > How were any of those comments helpful? \*\* They’re not, including the one I made that you didn’t mention. Except I think the final one from Jack Batty is a bit helpful and isn’t of the same mudslinging variety as perhaps the others are. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707/129 "2003-09-01T20:27:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by milroyj \* > \*\*No we don’t. Not one bit. Why should we? \*\* So if you don’t “give a shit” about what the rest of the world thinks why do you throw your rattle out of your pram everytime you think a non-american has slighted the US? ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707/130 "2003-09-01T20:30:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DMC \* > **I don’t necessarily agree with all of his points, but I don’t see how it can be construed as bashing the American people.** The part about the American nation not being worthy of a single grain of respect is America-bashing. Why is it allowed in GD? ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707/131 "2003-09-01T20:42:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by milroyj \* > \*\*The part about the American nation not being worthy of a single grain of respect is America-bashing. Why is it allowed in GD? \*\* You need to re-read **DMC** ’s post above. Read it very slowly; say the words out loud if it helps. ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707/132 "2003-09-01T20:49:06Z")
Who needs to re-read posts? You haven’t answered the question at all. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707/133 "2003-09-01T21:16:11Z")
milroyj, Are you reading my posts? In the quoted section, you’ll see that he makes the statement that the world thinks that way due to the administration. I don’t agree with him, as most people are perfectly capable of separating the actions of our administration from the actions of the people, but it’s not America bashing. I’d never say that no one has ever bashed Americans in general on this board, as bashing happens quite frequently. Just ask the French, Muslims, Atheists, Pro-choicers, Pro-lifers, Christians, Blacks, and many others, all of whom have been bashed as a whole. It’s wrong, it happens, and if you see it, rebutt it or report it. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707/134 "2003-09-01T21:26:27Z")
Rooves, you should check on which forum we are in. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707/135 "2003-09-01T21:55:00Z")
There is a rather large difference between saying “The US is a piece of shit.” and “The Prez and gov’t have convinced a lot of folks that the US is a piece of shit.” ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707/136 "2003-09-01T22:02:45Z")
Oh, and Rooves, the next time you come after me for my responses, you might try also including the posts that instigated the responses. Quite frankly, we don’t have a debate here. What we have is milroyj flopping around like a dead fish, making horrid accusations against the mods, telling posters to fuck off, and calling posters dipshits. If you have a problem with my calling him on it, so be it, but don’t go whinging on about milroyj being subject to a group stoning. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707/137 "2003-09-01T22:05:17Z")
There’s nothing wrong with wanting reasonable discussion, even here. I don’t think **Rooves** was out of line. ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707/138 "2003-09-01T22:11:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Muffin \* > \*\*Rooves, you should check on which forum we are in. \*\* We are in the Pit. How was **Rooves** out of line for the Pit? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707/139 "2003-09-01T22:15:40Z")
Rooves is not out of line for the pit, and neither have I been out of line for the pit. Even you have not been out of line; incredibly dense, but not out of line. ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Train\_Song](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Black\_Train\_Song](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Train_Song)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707/140 "2003-09-01T22:20:35Z")
Thank you Dan. Like I said, I’m not trying to start a tiff Muffin but if Milroyj is using logic (however flawed you might think it is) to convey his point in a topic that other people find interesting enough to respond to, then it’s his prerogative to do so without ridicule just for the sake of ridicule. Don’t use the location of the thread as an excuse for your own behavior. It’s the BBQ pit, not the snake pit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/198707.md?page=8)