# Hail the US troops, change membername in YELLOW RIBBON. Or get banned. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 25, 2004, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600 "2004-12-25T18:24:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600/261 "2004-12-27T21:03:50Z")
**Gaudere** , I hear and obey. But I would humbly submit that for two years the OP has been harassing a large proportion of the people on this board. I came back into this thread because I resented the OP’s “Silence, little girl!” but now I’m really out. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600/262 "2004-12-27T21:08:17Z")
> [@Mehitabel](#): > > But I would humbly submit that for two years the OP has been harassing a large proportion of the people on this board. I think that if anything **Alde** annoys a large portion of the people on the board, but as of yet I’ve not seen him harass anybody. You, on the other hand, have a great big hardon for him. A great big girl-hardon? Now **that** is disturbing. Seriously, if you can’t stand to read his posts, there are remedies. ---
**Author:** ![ZombiesAteMyBrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ZombiesAteMyBrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZombiesAteMyBrain)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600/263 "2004-12-27T21:13:36Z")
> [@Mehitabel](#): > > Last time I try to take a possibly interesting poster and try to reform him. How sharper than a serpent’s tooth is an ungrateful Belgian. 😃 Oh, is that what you’ve been doing - trying to reform him? And you apparently want him to be grateful for this - which other posters see as stalking and harrassment?? And, after being told hundreds of times, you persist with this fantasy that he is a Belgian? I wonder what percentage of your posts this year concern Aldebaran or his country of origin? Quite a large one, I would imagine - having read many of them. Can I suggest a New Year’s resolution - that you put your serpent’s teeth away and forget about this obsession of yours - which, believe me, is extremely tedious. Surely you have other topics to write about. ---
**Author:** ![Aldebaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600/264 "2004-12-27T21:18:02Z")
> [@Gaudere](#): > > I did read it as Aldebaran actually threatening violence againt US soldiers. So in your opinion, if I say that something I read makes me **feel** as… I am actually doing what I feel. Tell me then how can I be doing what I described I feel when I am typing a post on a message board? Tell me also: why is your perceived “threatening violence” against US soldiers who are with their very presence in a country they have no right to be, in your view so violent? All while their very presence in said country,their violence inside that country is constantly threatening my friends there, has killed a little girl I knew there, brings in life-danger my friends constantly is nothing to you, as in: Nothing I should see as threatening anyone that is dear to me. Advocating invasions of other nations in my region is also nothing I can see as threatening to me. As long as US soldiers are doing the invasions and committing the vioence, everything is “cool” to you. > [@](#): > > As I recall, people have been warned in the past for wishing painful death upon US soliders, advocating killing all muslims, killing the french, strafing baptist churches… Can you give me an example of a warning to a member who advocated violence against Muslims? Remember: Iraqis are Muslims. > [@](#): > > Generally I see saying you want to take a gun and shoot people, particularly ones who are a category of people who post on this board, as a bit jerkish. Correction: You see it as “jerkish” when it comes to be aimed at US’ers. Not at all when it comes to Iraqis or Muslims in general = including me. You didn’t see anything wrong with threads advocating/defending/proposing violence to Muslims in Islamic nations. Proof: The thread itself where I posted my comment. There are many like them. > [@](#): > > If Aldebaran was just venting, well, OK, but the Pit is for venting, not GD. I shall give you notice every time I see an other member “venting” against Muslims or Islamic nations. Maybe I should go take a look at GD right now? > [@](#): > > And something like “it makes me want to join the reisistance” would have been OK, Really? Where is the difference? Do you think Iraqis throw tomatoes at the US soldiers when they join the resistence? > [@](#): > > but since he directly mentioned shooting soliders and since Aldebaran does say he lives in the area and can presumably get a gun and actually shoot soldiers, So? I have much more US soldiers in my region who **have guns** and who **did shoot** at friends I have there and who **did kill** a little girl I know there. There is nothing "presumably to **that**. It happened. I still happens. Face reality. Welcome to the real world of what the US soldiers actually **do**. > [@](#): > > and we do have american soldiers on this board…I don’t think that’s cool. Now be surprised: I don’t think it is “cool” at all to have US soldiers occupying Iraq, shooting at my friends in Iraq, having killed the little girl of one of their friends. I also don’t find it “cool” to see US soldiers posting on this message board that they are ready to go join the others to occupy the nation of my firends, to shoot at them, to kill their children. I don’t find it “cool” to read members giving their support to this army, calling for the killing of all Iraqis who dare to resist the invaders, cheering with every Iraqi that gets killed by US soldiers because he “dares” to fight them **inside his very own country where the US solderis are the invaders = the ENEMY of the Iraqis who fight them** etc… etc… You on the other hand seem to think all that is quite “cool” and you indicate that I get banned if I don’t agree with your perception of “coolness”. Our perception of “coolness” shows a considerable difference in facing the reality “as is”. Salaam. A ---
**Author:** ![Aldebaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600/265 "2004-12-27T21:21:54Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > But I should say I understand the visceral feeling in the word “shoot”. I honestly wonder how the modding would have gone had **Alderbaran** said “I feel like grabbing a gun and joing the fight” I honestly wonder how the reaction would have been if I had posted that I wanted to go to Iraq to side with the US soldiers to help them shoot at Iraqis resisting the occupation. How many do you think would have fallen over me with applaud and congratulations because I finally became convinced of the “good side” of this criminal war? Salaam. A ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600/266 "2004-12-27T21:29:38Z")
> [@](#): > > Can I suggest a New Year’s resolution - that you put your serpent’s teeth away and forget about this obsession of yours - which, believe me, is extremely tedious. Surely you have other topics to write about. Weird how that is pretty much applicable to Aldebaran. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600/267 "2004-12-27T21:37:41Z")
**SA** : Thank you kindly ~bows humbly~ **Dropzone** : I didn’t mean to suggest that he hadn’t been working at his English, but to be honest I lurked for only about six months before I registered, and I don’t really recall many, if any, of **Alde** ’s earlier posts. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600/268 "2004-12-27T21:56:13Z")
> [@](#): > > _Alderbaran said:_ > I honestly wonder how the reaction would have been if I had posted that I wanted to go to Iraq to side with the US soldiers to help them shoot at Iraqis resisting the occupation. > How many do you think would have fallen over me with applaud and congratulations because I finally became convinced of the “good side” of this criminal war? Well you seem to follow the ME threads, did you notice this actually happening? ps to **Eva Luna** , I should not have left the impression that the mods at that time allowed wonton war-mongering. They definately counselled a reigning in of tempers and I have no complaints of their work during that trying time. It’s just I don’t remember them complaining about people talking about joining up (themselves or relatives)and fighting whatever war got started next. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600/269 "2004-12-27T22:11:37Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > wonton war-mongering Is that war-mongering that comes in a flat Chinese noodle? Anyway, IMO, the warning was bollocks. **Aldebaran** didn’t actually threaten anyone; nor did he say anything that hasn’t been said directed towards non-US people, that didn’t get a warning. Maybe he did it in the wrong forum. But that’s the only fault. Also, **Mehitabel** , you’re freaking me out now. You really need to have a word with yourself. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600/270 "2004-12-27T22:16:47Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Is that war-mongering that comes in a flat Chinese noodle? Yeah, but twenty minutes after the war you want to invade another country. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600/271 "2004-12-27T22:39:28Z")
> [@](#): > > **Aldebaran** : > I honestly wonder how the reaction would have been if I had posted that I wanted to go to Iraq to side with the US soldiers to help them shoot at Iraqis resisting the occupation. That is the heart of the matter, isn’t it? Shouldn’t we then report posts which support war? It is intellectually and emotionally dishonest to pretend that making war is not, at its core, wishing death on someone. (aside to **Aldebaran** ) > [@](#): > > Women in general feel they need to educate men, shaping them into their wished = “reform” them to the ideal they dream of that it exists. [White horse, knight], all of that. From my point-of-view, for you to say that about “women in general” is the equivalent of someone calling Arabs “towel heads.” Besides, I hope that you will extend to me the courtesy of not blaming her tiresome behavior on her womanhood. It is more likely related to eating too much endive, living in mauve-colored air, or going to jazz clubs. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600/272 "2004-12-27T22:52:26Z")
See, just to make this explicit… > [@Aldeberan](#): > > Whenever I read threads like this, I fee like getting a gun, going to Iraq and start shooting there at the criminals who invaded and keep it under occupation. Verdict? Ban worthy if repeated. (I take it that’s what the ‘jerk’ warning is for) > [@clothahump](#): > > Frankly, when 9/11 happened, my first response was that we should simply turn that entire part of the world into glass that glows in the dark for the next century. And every time I see cowardly, murdering scum cutting off someone’s head, the thought crosses my mind again. Verdict? Can’t be bothered, no warning. Stating a desire to join the insurgency? Jerkish. Stating a desire to commit genocide against the entire ME? Fine n’ dandy. There do not exist enough rolleyes in heaven and earth. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600/273 "2004-12-27T23:27:01Z")
True as far as it goes, **Finn** , but you’re overlooking the unreality of hyperbole. If I say “Some mornings I feel like consigning the entire human race straight into the flames of Hellfire!” that lacks the impact of “I’m going to bust my mail carrier in the face with a hammer, break his front teeth out”, that is shocking because plausible. Elements of reality make the difference. I am quite certain **Clot** is talking shit, because I know he has no capacity to do such a thing, nor, God willing, will he ever. But any damn fool can go and pick up a weapon, point it and pull that little lever-like thingy. But there is also an element of prejudice, that one must freely admit. Those soldiers are my people, right or wrong. The “insurgent” might have every right to be there, might have every right to take up arms against his enemy. I may agree intellectually with his every point of contention. But the soldier is my people, and justice has nothing to do with it. If he seeks to hurt or kill one my own, he is my enemy as well. War is madness, justice, morality, humanity turn to dust. Another of the ten thousand reasons why such horror is to be avoided at almost any price. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600/274 "2004-12-27T23:35:15Z")
I too am worried about the lack of mod attention to the vile posts by **clothahump** and **Martin Hyde**. Especially in this thread. Not that their behavior gives Alde a free pass to advocate violence. It does, however, raise the issue if he in fact has a point when complaining about double standards. I know that **guadere** is held in high regard by many posters, but I would very much like to see her explain this. ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600/275 "2004-12-27T23:44:46Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > True as far as it goes, **Finn** , but you’re overlooking the unreality of hyperbole. If I say “Some mornings I feel like consigning the entire human race straight into the flames of Hellfire!” that lacks the impact of “I’m going to bust my mail carrier in the face with a hammer, break his front teeth out”, that is shocking because plausible. Elements of reality make the difference. > > I am quite certain **Clot** is talking shit, because I know he has no capacity to do such a thing, nor, God willing, will he ever. But any damn fool can go and pick up a weapon, point it and pull that little lever-like thingy. > > But there is also an element of prejudice, that one must freely admit. Those soldiers are my people, right or wrong. The “insurgent” might have every right to be there, might have every right to take up arms against his enemy. I may agree intellectually with his every point of contention. But the soldier is my people, and justice has nothing to do with it. If he seeks to hurt or kill one my own, he is my enemy as well. > > War is madness, justice, morality, humanity turn to dust. Another of the ten thousand reasons why such horror is to be avoided at almost any price. I repudiate this completely. Moral courage calls on you to set aside ties of kinship and support the party with the better claim to justice. The tragedy is when both parties have sound claims yet one must lose. That tragedy is compounded when lives are the consideration. Then we have the case that there must be undeserved loss of life. Where should that loss fall? On the party with the weaker claim to justice. In Iraq, on US soldiers. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600/276 "2004-12-27T23:55:01Z")
**Luc** : Good points, however, as I understand it, the injunction against wishing death has nothing to do with one’s capability of executing such a plan. Personally I see no substantial difference between “I feel like killing all the black people I can.” And “I feel like nuking the entire ME.” YMMV. **The Gaspode** : Agreed and seconded. ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600/277 "2004-12-28T00:01:09Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > Verdict? Can’t be bothered, no warning. Or maybe the mods didn’t see it. Did you report it? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600/278 "2004-12-28T00:02:26Z")
Entirely true. It makes no difference. I might prefer if it were otherwise, but it isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600/279 "2004-12-28T00:03:40Z")
> [@Berkut](#): > > Or maybe the mods didn’t see it. Did you report it? Am I even allowed to answer this? It seems rather jerkish to me to be talking about who you’ve been reporting to the mods… ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600/280 "2004-12-28T00:07:57Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > Am I even allowed to answer this? Good question, I dunno. When I see questionable stuff that passes without a warning, my first thought is that they just didn’t see it, rather than assuming any bias on their part. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-the-us-troops-change-membername-in-yellow-ribbon-or-get-banned/281600.md?page=15)