# Have any dopers met in real life to beat the shit out of each other? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 26, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801 "2011-04-26T18:52:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/21 "2011-04-27T17:48:38Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > I have met a Doper in real life and gotten spanked. Does that count? > > šŸ˜ƒ Pictures, or it didnā€™t happen. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/22 "2011-04-27T18:06:19Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Pictures, or it didnā€™t happen. Oh, god, there better not be pictures. Or someoneā€™s going down. And not in a good way. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/23 "2011-04-27T18:12:09Z")
> [@FrustratedIdiot](#): > > Itā€™s funny that a poster named Omar would start a thread about a fire. ā€œLook at it, Omar!ā€ I SAID Iā€™D DO IT! I SAID Iā€™D DO IT!!! OK, who are you on Sitcoms Online? šŸ˜› ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/24 "2011-04-27T18:30:02Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > There was a Dopefest that didnā€™t happen once, because the person who started the thread is pretty universally disliked, started putting conditions on how things would be done (incluing how the dinner bill would be split), and started dis-inviting Dopers who expressed interest in attending, because he didnā€™t like them. There were some threats made. > > Still, people chose to stay home rather than get together and rumble. We are a smarter bunch than most. [That was an awesome thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=525859) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/25 "2011-04-27T18:32:01Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > All I can provide is that I heard that story or one a lot like it. More than one, as I recall. > > The opportunies surely exist at Dope Fests and if youā€™re known to have abused somebody who might show up at one, youā€™d best go armed. However, the ones I have attended have been calm and friendly. Maybe assholes stay away from such events? There was a Dopefest that gave rise to a sudden and very loud argument and cursing in Gettysburg a few years ago. It was unexpected and I am sure unplanned. But no actual fighting. Still a pretty bad moment at an otherwise fun and family friendly gathering. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/26 "2011-04-27T18:42:12Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > [That was an awesome thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=525859) [There was a followup thread that got, umā€¦ ā€œbetterā€.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=526335) ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/27 "2011-04-27T18:44:39Z")
There was another Dopefest where somebody started mooning people. This was in someoneā€™s home and the host wasnā€™t particularly happy about it. ---
**Author:** ![Woeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Woeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Woeg)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/28 "2011-04-27T18:50:31Z")
I know people that read the Dope that I would love to meet up with to beat the shit out of each otherā€¦ ā€¦but weā€™re all members of the SCA, so we do that kinda thing for fun, not anger. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/29 "2011-04-27T19:49:13Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > an otherwise fun and family friendly gathering. Thatā€™s pretty much what Dopers are, we may disagree, vitriolically, but weā€™re smarter than the av-er-age bear (Iā€™ve noticed thatā€™s what sets Dopers apart in my book) and know that that isnā€™t the way to resolve arguements in real life. I remember back in my BBS days I would argue passionately with another poster about politics, he was right right I was left wing. He was almost always wrong, never listened to my arguements, and frustrated the shit out of me when weā€™d post - at least in the politics board. Other boards, he had some great stories, and when we met at the regular BBS meets, he was the one I spent most of my time tlakiong with because heā€™s such an interesting guy. Politics rarely came up (and it was usually teasing each other in a lighthearted way). While Iā€™ve never been to a Dopefest (too far away), Iā€™d like to think taht at them the great maxim by Linus Van Pelt is obeyed: ā€œThere are three things one should never discuss in mixed company: politics, religion, and the Great Pumpkin.ā€ (The fact we talk about controversial issues on boar is because, well, itā€™s a message board that has a place to discuss those topics!) I gather if I met those that frustrate me on the board in real life, Iā€™d wind up buying them a beer. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/30 "2011-04-27T20:22:46Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > [That was an awesome thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=525859) This is possibly the most entertaining thing I have read all week! Small point of contention. Where did this meme of the Dope being smarter than the average person come from? I find it a little self-aggrandizing. I would say that the Dope is well moderated, and most posters take care to be thoughtful and grammatically correct. Iā€™d actually turn it around somewhat - most messageboards are poorly moderated and commenters arenā€™t particularly careful, in my experience. BTW, I really enjoyed my one Dopefest in Boston - **Winston Smith** and **Robot Arm** are cool people, as well as everyone else I met that evening. And the bill, to my knowledge, was split fair and square. šŸ™‚ Anyone want to fight me? Or maybe Iā€™ll start an Austin Dopefestā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/31 "2011-04-27T20:53:13Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > Small point of contention. Where did this meme of the Dope being smarter than the average person come from? I find it a little self-aggrandizing. I would say that the Dope is well moderated, and most posters take care to be thoughtful and grammatically correct. Iā€™d actually turn it around somewhat - most messageboards are poorly moderated and commenters arenā€™t particularly careful, in my experienceā€¦ Once again you and I seem to see eye-to-eye. Careful Hippy. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/32 "2011-04-27T20:53:48Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > There was a Dopefest that didnā€™t happen once, because the person who started the thread is pretty universally disliked, started putting conditions on how things would be done (incluing how the dinner bill would be split), and started dis-inviting Dopers who expressed interest in attending, because he didnā€™t like them. There were some threats made. Yeah, it was based on my one Dopefest experience where a small group insisted on dining on the roof of the restaurant - where only appetizers were served, screwing over those of us who were there for an actual meal. Filling up on appetizers is the most expensive possible way to dine. The situation was made much worse by the number of people who drank like fish, threw a $20 on the table and skedaddled before the bill came. I wound up contributing an additional $60 (I believe) to keep the host from being totally screwed and swore to never attend another one of these things without individual checks. ---
**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:** [April 27, 2011, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/33 "2011-04-27T21:00:11Z")
Why, I oughtta ā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/34 "2011-04-27T21:33:07Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > Small point of contention. Where did this meme of the Dope being smarter than the average person come from? I find it a little self-aggrandizing. I would say that the Dope is well moderated, and most posters take care to be thoughtful and grammatically correct. Iā€™d actually turn it around somewhat - most messageboards are poorly moderated and commenters arenā€™t particularly careful, in my experience. I assume it is based on the fact that people will challenge you to back up your claims with cites, especially in Great Debates. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/35 "2011-04-27T21:35:49Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Yeah, it was based on my one Dopefest experience where a small group insisted on dining on the roof of the restaurant - where only appetizers were served, screwing over those of us who were there for an actual meal. Filling up on appetizers is the most expensive possible way to dine. The situation was made much worse by the number of people who drank like fish, threw a $20 on the table and skedaddled before the bill came. I wound up contributing an additional $60 (I believe) to keep the host from being totally screwed and swore to never attend another one of these things without individual checks. Holy crap. You should come to a SoCal Dopefest. We always end up leaving really nice tips (I think one time it was close to 50%) because everyone throws in plenty of money. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/36 "2011-04-27T21:38:15Z")
> [@Silver Tyger Girl](#): > > Holy crap. You should come to a SoCal Dopefest. We always end up leaving really nice tips (I think one time it was close to 50%) because everyone throws in plenty of money. Sure, but that area of the country has a long, glorious tradition of ostentatious tipping. This was Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/37 "2011-04-28T01:14:14Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Sure, but that area of the country has a long, glorious tradition of ostentatious tipping. This was Chicago. That sucks that the people you were with were so sucky or terrible at math. I been to many Dope events and hosted many and never had a problem like that. Even one in Chicago but that one probably doesnā€™t count as there were only 3 of us. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/38 "2011-04-28T01:31:58Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > I assume it is based on the fact that people will challenge you to back up your claims with cites, especially in Great Debates. Thatā€™s true, but that is more of a point that this is an evidence-based community than people being ā€œabove average intelligence.ā€ Because, frankly, I didnā€™t become a member of this community in lieu of a Mensa membership. People here are mostly cool, interesting, a little nerdy, which I think describes me to an extent. I work at a university so itā€™s easy to find the company of smart people, but my favorite folks while very clever are humble, funny, and decent. Which trumps the ā€œsmarter than averageā€ label. Back to the issue of DopeFights. It reminds me of the time I was doing academic decathlon in HS and two of the senior guys got into a fight at our coachesā€™ house before the tourney. It was one of the most embarrassing things Iā€™ve ever seen - bad shit talking, pussy-assed blows being thrown (and not connecting), ending with asthmatic wusses trading headlocks and ripped shirts. Now I want to instigate a squabble between two Dopers. It would be awesome to watch. The pee seat lady at the Chicago Dopefest really made an impression, eh? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/39 "2011-04-28T01:41:29Z")
I was going to answer yes, but it turns out that guy wasnā€™t actually a doper, he just had a funny name. Oh well, sorry about that dude. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/40 "2011-04-28T14:39:58Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > \ > > Anyone want to fight me? Or maybe Iā€™ll start an Austin Dopefestā€¦ I am planning to visit Texas some day (maybe when **Lynn Bodoni** comes through with her offer to hire me as a gardener). Iā€™ll pencil you in. šŸ™‚ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801.md?page=3)