# 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:** 3
**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 28, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/41 "2011-04-28T14:45:19Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > 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 coaches’ house before the tourney. It was one of the most embarrassing things I’ve ever seen - bad shit talking, pussy-assed blows being thrown (and not connecting), ending with asthmatic wusses trading headlocks and ripped shirts. [Nerd fight!](http://www.freshdv.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/nerd_fight_napoleon.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Win\_Place\_Show](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/win_place_show/32/13469_2.png) [@Win\_Place\_Show](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Win_Place_Show)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/42 "2011-04-29T01:42:16Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > I SAID I’D DO IT! I SAID I’D DO IT!!! > > OK, who are you on Sitcoms Online? 😛 Geez, this post (and the one referred to) sure deserved more love [Omar The Arsonist](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j826yxjyAis) ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/43 "2011-04-29T03:05:44Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > There was a Dopefest that didn’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 didn’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. Your powers of description about what I did in that thread are about as good as the average doper’s ability to grasp my position on certain issues, so perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised. But, for the record, I didn’t disinvite anybody because I didn’t like them. I disinvited one person because they were being a complete weirdo about how the check would be split. Also, I don’t think there were any threats made. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/44 "2011-04-29T06:19:32Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > Small point of contention. Where did this meme of the Dope being smarter than the average person come from? I think it’s a degradation of the original concept, which is that Dopers are smarter than the average internet message board poster. Considering that the standard for internet posting is the comments on YouTube, it’s really not that impressive a claim. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/45 "2011-04-29T06:35:14Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I think it’s a degradation of the original concept, which is that Dopers are smarter than the average internet message board poster. Considering that the standard for internet posting is the comments on YouTube, it’s really not that impressive a claim. I was going to put this in the thrad about Dope themes in the context it is raised that it should go away. Several years ago it was raised in a similar context and I posed the question- where does it exist? The only time I see it mentioned is in the threads wishing it didn’t exist. I may read the wrong threads but I have not seen this concept being promoted (that I can recall). As to the OP’s question- a lot of people become lunatics online and are very annoying and aggressive. IRL not quite so much. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/46 "2011-04-29T06:44:43Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > But, for the record, I didn’t disinvite anybody because I didn’t like them. I disinvited one person because they were being a complete weirdo about how the check would be split. The thread has been posted here, and those interested are welcome to read it and see that your interpretation of the events has no relation to reality. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/47 "2011-04-29T09:13:29Z")
Yeah, I’m’a have to read it and find out how RR could invite or dis-invite anyone to a party that was not at his house and he was not paying the full tab for. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/48 "2011-04-29T11:41:52Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > The thread has been posted here, and those interested are welcome to read it and see that your interpretation of the events has no relation to reality. I’m taking it that you believe RR was the one or one of the ones who drank much and ditched early? ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/49 "2011-04-29T12:19:26Z")
> [@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. I’d actually turn it around somewhat - most messageboards are poorly moderated and commenters aren’t particularly careful, in my experience. It’s hardly unique to this place. “Aren’t we the smartest and best?” was a common sentiment on another board I used to frequent. I think it’s really what you suggest; the moderation is done well such that the useless noise is kept at bay yet it’s not crushingly heavy-handed. in contrast, go look at pretty much any car forum, where you have loads of dimps who probably aren’t even old enough to drive (or even out of booster seats) crapping all over the place. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/50 "2011-04-29T12:32:47Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > Small point of contention. Where did this meme of the Dope being smarter than the average person come from? Well, partly from the fact that this is one of the few major message boards whose _stated purpose_ is to reduce ignorance on any topic, AND whose origins with that same stated purpose go back to 1973. Long before the Internet, it already had built up a core tradition of evidence-based, sober answering of questions, yet with good-natured humor and open-mindedness. And, “smart” can mean many things, including “clever”, which you ascribed to the typical Doper. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/51 "2011-04-29T12:42:17Z")
I certainly think the subset of the board that I’m interested in reading is “smarter than average.” I don’t know what the point would be otherwise. Not that the board is unique in this respect. Though I have to say that as yet, and with individual exceptions, I have no notion that Dopers’ social skills compare particularly favorably. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/52 "2011-04-29T13:13:21Z")
Cite? Sorry. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/53 "2011-04-29T13:19:25Z")
> [@TokyoPlayer](#): > > I’m taking it that you believe RR was the one or one of the ones who drank much and ditched early? No–Ive never been to a dopefest (or met another doper IRL AFAIK). ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/54 "2011-04-29T13:56:31Z")
Well I did get in a fistfight one time with **samclem** over porkpie hats. (no, not really) ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/55 "2011-04-29T14:16:15Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > No–Ive never been to a dopefest (or met another doper IRL AFAIK). That thread was very confusing. The severity of vitriol from **gaffa** implied that you _were_ one of the deadbeats from the previous gathering. ---
**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 29, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/56 "2011-04-29T16:06:52Z")
The person organizing an event certainly could invite or dis-invite someone - Dopefests don’t just magically happen - someone has to organize these things and make them happen. ---
**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 29, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/57 "2011-04-29T17:08:42Z")
I don’t recall ever seeing a Dopefest thread where someone issued a general invite to a public place like a restaurant, and then don’t another Doper not to come. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/58 "2011-04-29T17:39:40Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > That thread was very confusing. The severity of vitriol from **gaffa** implied that you _were_ one of the deadbeats from the previous gathering. It appeared to me that gaffa had two unrelated angers going on at the same time: anger one - he doesn’t like Rand Rover’s politics or personality one bit, anger two - he feels he got stuck with too much of the tab at a fest that happened a couple of years before, that RR had nothing to do with. The two angers were running together a bit, for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/59 "2011-04-29T17:54:05Z")
Rand’s a clueless prick and he probably thinks of me as the douchiest liberal that ever did douche. Meh. I’d have a beer with him if we were at a Dopefest together. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-dopers-met-in-real-life-to-beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other/579801/60 "2011-04-29T18:32:45Z")
I have had a real life fight with another doper. Years ago, a doper named **Kurgan** attacked me without cause in an MPSIMS thread. I was wounded, but another doper named **There’s no way that guy’s a Spaniard** told me what **Kurgan** was after. Some things were said, and **Kurgan** pitted **There’s no way that guy’s a Spaniard** who left the board. I knew what I had to do. At the time of the Dope Fest I met my opponent in a New York City parking garage and defeated him. With this victory I won THE PRIZE which I thought was going to be all the knowledge of the Cecil, but turned out to be a novelty bendy straw with some of those plastic googly eyes glued to it. [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=2) [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=4)