I think we rely on the BBQ Pit to solve too many of our problems from other threads. At the very least, I see the pit as a crutch for those too lazy or too insecure to actually confront the offender within the original debate.
I have seen numerous times where person X said something which could be seen as offensive and been called down to the pit to sling mud around. Person X goes down, says that you 1) completely misinterpreted the post, 2) twisted the words or 3) failed to get the joke. The OPer of the pit thread thinks about it a bit, says “yeah…I guess you’re right.” Meanwhile a pile-on commences.
I have seen many times where person X did say something offensive and was called to the pit. Person X determines that what he or she said really was offensive and apologizes for being rude. Meanwhile a pile-on commences.
I have seen trolls get pitted for statements they made within 10 minutes of making them. Trolls are trolls people! They make these statements to draw attention to themselves and rile people up. Guess what you just did? That’s right. Double their audience.
What do all of these have in common? At no point in any of them did the OPer of the pit thread even consider saying “excuse me Person X, but what did you mean by that last post?” At no time did the OPer say “I disagree with your offensive statements and I’m willing to explain it through points A, B, and C.”
Even if they’re trolls you can do this. Why? How do you know they’re a troll until you at least confront them in that very thread and ask them or debate them?
How hard would this be? How many needless pit threads would we save? How many useless pile-ons of the person being pitted could we avoid? But time and time again people refuse to do this.
You run to the pit like it’s your mommy’s skirt. Well maybe mommy should start saying it’s time to actually stand your ground and confront your problems head on rather than fling rocks from a little safe haven.
And now I will refute by saying that I am not talking about one specific thread. You’ll note that I did not provide a link to any thread in my OP. Further, I had three seperate scenarios from many threads both past and present that I have seen.
To debate all of them, to call each and every thread into question individually, would be counter productive at best and annoying as hell to all involved at worst.
actually -Endar has touched on my most recent theory. (my prior one, that **december ** is really Wildest Bill version 2.5 has gained some acceptance).
The likelihood that your pit rant is ill conceived and/or mountain over a molehill (which remains my most favorite Fresh Prince moment), can be deduced by your ‘post/reply’ ratio.
so, if you feel compelled to reply individually (damn near) to each reply, perhaps you shouldn’t have posted it at all.
Umm… that’s what the Pit is for, so we don’t HAVE to confront the offender within the original debate. That’s called a “hijack”, and it can ruin the thread for those who AREN’T caught up in a hissy fit.
Hijacking the thread is one thing, SPOOFE. But to automatically run to the pit before even asking the other person for clarification strikes me as a bit too reactionary.
It doesn’t have to be a hissy fit. If one side misinterprets the other side and they clear it up, there’s no need for a pit thread.
If one side sees the error of their ways, there’s no need for a pit thread.
All I’m asking is for people to take one post, ONE POST, and ask the person who you’re upset with for clarification or elaboration, before running like a madman to the pit where a pile on ensues, and maybe we can avoid a lot of agrivation and confrontation that otherwise happens on a regular basis around here.
Ah, gotcha. You’re referring primarily to the phenomenon of “Desire To Be The First To Take Someone To Task”, an affliction that results in someone automatically assuming that a wry joke or awkwardly-worded post is insulting and/or offensive.
