# Hostile Dialect; A Word, Please. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 27, 2008, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375 "2008-08-27T01:53:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375/161 "2008-08-27T19:15:36Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] The first game is tomorrow. Sometimes you don’t walk into the all you can eat bullshit buffet; sometimes they build the buffet around you and won’t let you leave. [/QUOTE] Awesome. Just awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375/162 "2008-08-27T19:17:29Z")
Amen, **HD**. It’s not necessary to accept or even tolerate all walks of life, especially those so different from your own worldview. But live and let live, yeah? ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375/163 "2008-08-27T19:20:28Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] The correct transliteration is _kunikos_ (pl. _kunikoi_), which transliterates in Latin to _cynicus_. _Kunikos_ means “dog-like.” Supposely, Diogenes was called _Kuon_ (“dog”) either because of his reportedly feral behavior (urinating and masturbating in public) or because he likened himself to the virtues of a dog (“I am Diogenes the Dog. I nuzzle the kind, bark at the greedy and bite scoundrels”). It’s unclear which came first, but he probably embraced an epithet which had already been given to him. [/QUOTE] I wasn’t trying to transliterate. I did, however, mistake the genitive for the nominative (kynos for kyon), so mea culpa. Either way, dogs have fur. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375/164 "2008-08-27T19:21:43Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] Who needs support from a moron like you? [/QUOTE] Do you want to rephrase that…into something that makes some sense? I wasn’t offering _my_ support to anything; I was begrudgingly thanking you for your often maligned, but much appreciated arbitrating. But now you can fuck off. [QUOTE=Ludovic] Ivan is obviously a gamerqueer. [/QUOTE] Look, I’ve barely got the gist of Furdom, don’t be bringing concepts like “gamerqueer” to the party yet. [QUOTE=muttrox] They were in their own room in this “mall” that you chose to walk in on and make snarky comments. Then hang around and make some more. In a mall that has clearly posted rules about not being a jerk. [/QUOTE] People don’t have their “own rooms” in a public mall, as far as I’m aware. If they don’t want people coming in their shop and laughing like a fucking drain, I suggest they should have coded signs on the doors. [QUOTE=1920s Style “Death Ray”] No, if you’d done that no one would have noticed. What you did was the equivalent of walking up to the adults in fancy dress, getting their attention so they’re all looking at you and _then_ shaking your head in bemusement, in other words, rude. If you wanted to shake your head in bemusement you could’ve just done it in privacy of your own home. Instead you went out of your way to specifically let everyone know you were shaking your head, that’s thread-shitting from where I stand. [/QUOTE] I think you know what “threadshitting” is, and it isn’t “shaking your head with bemusement” in front of a bunch of adults obsessed with fantasy animals. . [QUOTE=BubbaDog] Shit! I thought I was outed with this one. Then I realized it was just **Ivan** showing up on-time for his scheduled “Look at me” session. [/QUOTE] Was it you who predicted I’d be gone by the end of the month, in June? So much for your judgement, eh? [QUOTE=42fish] Damn, he’s on to us. OK, I’ll admit it: I’m really Troy McClure posting under this alias. [/QUOTE] I’ll be honest; it’s mainly those tigers and rabbits with insect-like wings, that I’m concerned about. The scaley and feathered creatures seem quite nice. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375/165 "2008-08-27T19:22:54Z")
[QUOTE=Hostile Dialect] No, _I_ got pitted! Don’t ruin this moment for me! :mad: 😉 [/QUOTE] Enjoy it. Getting pitted by idiots is always fun. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375/166 "2008-08-27T19:27:19Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] You had me until you said you like to sun on a rock. I accept that most self-identified furries don’t wear costumes or role-play 24/7. Still even spending a _little_ bit of time pretending to be an animal is kind of weird, and saying things like “I’m a tyger with wings” is just inviting laughter, just like I invited laughter and mockery when I grew my hair down to my ass and wore leather and studs. I even thought I was dedicated to a “heavy metal lifestyle.” I grew up, and I understand that I was not earning the right to be taken seriously. [/QUOTE] What if I said, instead, somewhere else, that I enjoyed lying out in the sun but preferred a nice rock to a beach or a lawn chair? Does it only get weird when I’ve connected it with my hobby of lizard-keeping in an amusing-to-me way? Do you take other people less seriously because they happen to enjoy the sun? What’s the distinction between “I enjoy sitting out on a rock–kinda lizardlike, in a way” and “I enjoy giving horsey rides to my toddlers”. Are most dads weirdos because they spend time pretending to be an animal for the sake of their kids’ amusement? Just because someone is inviting laughter doesn’t mean you have to laugh. It’s called being an emotionally mature individual–maybe you could try it sometime. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375/167 "2008-08-27T19:31:53Z")
> [@ivan astikov](#): > > People don’t have their “own rooms” in a public mall, as far as I’m aware. If they don’t want people coming in their shop and laughing like a fucking drain, I suggest they should have coded signs on the doors. You are by far the single densest poster I have met here in a long time, and that’s saying a lot. He was making an analogy to an MPSIMS thread, because, gee, _the entire shopping mall thing was brought up as an analogy to an MPSIMS thread_. > [@ivan astikov](#): > > I think you know what “threadshitting” is, and it isn’t “shaking your head with bemusement” in front of a bunch of adults obsessed with fantasy animals. You didn’t shake your head with bemusement, you announced to the entire thread that you were shaking your head with bemusement. If you want to shake your head at your own computer screen, nobody really cares. It’s when you jump into the equivalent of a room reserved for a club that’s into something you’re not, and shout “HEY EVERYBODY, I’M SHAKING MY HEAD WITH BEMUSEMENT! WATCH ME SHAKE MY HEAD!” that there’s a problem. Then again, the mods don’t think it’s noteworthy, so what do I know? > [@Zeriel](#): > > Just because someone is inviting laughter doesn’t mean you have to laugh. It’s called being an emotionally mature individual–maybe you could try it sometime. I don’t think he’d like it much. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375/168 "2008-08-27T19:36:26Z")
[QUOTE=Zeriel] Just because someone is inviting laughter doesn’t mean you have to laugh. It’s called being an emotionally mature individual–maybe you could try it sometime. [/QUOTE] Hey, don’t try and wrap up what accounts for humour and what context it is appropriate in, because you are going to fail miserably. ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375/169 "2008-08-27T19:42:14Z")
[QUOTE=Zeriel] Just because someone is inviting laughter doesn’t mean you have to laugh. It’s called being an emotionally mature individual–maybe you could try it sometime. [/QUOTE] If you can’t laugh at someone who is “inviting laughter”, then you sound like a pretty joyless person. Lots of things in this world are ridiculous, there’s nothing wrong with finding humor in them. If I want to mock people for their ludicrous hobby, in the Pit no less, then I’m going to do it. I don’t think coddling people like children is really all that mature either. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375/170 "2008-08-27T19:43:33Z")
Oh, and HD…the easiest thing for you to have done, would have been to ignore my unimaginative, conformist-inspired remarks, and just carry on discussing your costume patterns, and such. Still, at least you’ve got two threads worth of attention now, and a far more lively debate. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375/171 "2008-08-27T19:45:06Z")
[QUOTE=5-HT] If you can’t laugh at someone who is “inviting laughter”, then you sound like a pretty joyless person. [/QUOTE] Oh, wow. Just…bwahahahaha. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375/172 "2008-08-27T19:48:59Z")
[QUOTE=Indistinguishable] > [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > They look like losers to me, and if this picture is any indication, the average weight appears to be about three bills. Yeah, I’ll bet none of the cool kids at school eat lunch at _their_ table… Seriously, “losers” in what sense? [/QUOTE] In the sense that Diogenes the Cynic has declared them to be losers. Didn’t you get the memo that he is the sole arbiter of what is right in the universe? > [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > I like sports, but it doesn’t upset me or make me feel persecuted if someone else thinks they’re stupid. I also think that the fans who paint their faces or wear costumes look ridiculous, but at least those people don’t take themselves seriously. It’s just a goof for them. They don’t create elaborate fantasy lives around it. I don’t know, I think [Fantasy Football](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy_football_(American)) might fall under the heading of a fantasy life. “Hey! You can pretend that you own and manage your own football team!” I heard an ad on TV today that said you can now sign up for a service that will notify you when someone on your “fantasy team” does something that affects his standings. (Or something like that - I was busy with my real life at the time.) And when I Googled “Fantasy Football” there were _pages and pages_ of links of websites where you could get information and tips for playing it, so [it must be true that everyone who watches sports is into it](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10136442&postcount=140). ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375/173 "2008-08-27T19:51:39Z")
> [@ivan astikov](#): > > Oh, and HD…the easiest thing for you to have done, would have been to ignore my unimaginative, conformist-inspired remarks, and just carry on discussing your costume patterns, and such. Still, at least you’ve got two threads worth of attention now, and a far more lively debate. That’s all true, except that I find costumes stupid and juvenile. I am one attention-loving drama queen, though. That’s why I step into other peoples’ MPSIMS threads and announce loudly that I’m shaking my head at them for being obnoxious. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375/174 "2008-08-27T19:54:12Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] Man, sometimes I forget that the vast majority of the Internet is made up of emotional retards who are allergic to politeness because they think it’s a tool of the Man designed to oppress them. If you don’t like swallowing bullshit, don’t go to the all you can eat bullshit buffet! I think the furries are kind of sad, but I don’t go into their thread to tell them that because it would be _rude_. I think football is stupid, but I don’t go into their thread to tell them that because it would be _rude_. I cannot imagine anything dumber than _fantasy_ football, but you know why I don’t go in their thread to tell them that? Bingo! _It would be rude_. “Oh, but it’s okay to be rude if the people you’re being rude to are (fill in the blank)!” No, it isn’t. Sit down, shut up, and don’t click on threads about furries if you don’t like furries! Jesus Christ, it isn’t rocket science! [/QUOTE] So, if you wondered into a thread discussing say, football, and someone was suggesting that the sport provided the best environment in the world for people from a certain place to bond, and take delight in having a common enemy, who they can unite against each week, you wouldn’t feel like taking them up on their belief, or at least let them know you had a little discomfort with their certainty? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375/175 "2008-08-27T19:57:15Z")
[QUOTE=ivan astikov] Do you want to rephrase that…into something that makes some sense? [/quote] How’s this: you were threadshitting; it was obvious; non-furries noticed too. Doing it once is rude and contributes nothing, doing it twice is being an asshole. You did it at least twice, and followed it up with this Pit thread, in which you bitched without grounds about being called out for it. And as far as that goes, what do you DO here other than that kind of drive-by post? > [@](#): > > I was begrudgingly thanking you for your often maligned, but much appreciated arbitrating. It sure as shit didn’t read that way - maybe because you upped the insult quotient to “fags” for the “kids” you were shaking your head at in a good natured way. :rolleyes: I guess the “pompous, overbearing pricks” thing was supposed to apply to everybody who told you you were being stupid _except me_, but I missed the nuance. Regardless, if you’re capable of getting a clue, I suggest you do it. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375/176 "2008-08-27T19:58:38Z")
[QUOTE=ivan astikov] So, if you wondered into a thread discussing say, football, and someone was suggesting that the sport provided the best environment in the world for people from a certain place to bond, and take delight in having a common enemy, who they can unite against each week, you wouldn’t feel like taking them up on their belief, or at least let them know you had a little discomfort with their certainty? [/QUOTE] If the thread was about (and titled) “Is Football The Awesomest Thing Ever?” then go ahead. If the thread is about (and titled) “Calling All Football Fans!”, then that’s rude. I can’t believe this is confusing to anybody. ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375/177 "2008-08-27T20:04:18Z")
[QUOTE=LurkMeister] I don’t know, I think [Fantasy Football](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy_football_(American)) might fall under the heading of a fantasy life. “Hey! You can pretend that you own and manage your own football team!” I heard an ad on TV today that said you can now sign up for a service that will notify you when someone on your “fantasy team” does something that affects his standings. (Or something like that - I was busy with my real life at the time.) And when I Googled “Fantasy Football” there were _pages and pages_ of links of websites where you could get information and tips for playing it, so [it must be true that everyone who watches sports is into it](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10136442&postcount=140). [/QUOTE] Fantasy football owners aren’t pretending to really own a team, they are putting together a bunch of players and betting on their performance (even if sometimes all that’s on the line is a trophy or bragging rights). It’s simply a more creative way of gambling. The reason you see so many tips and info is because everyone is looking for inside information so they can beat the other members of the league and win something. That said, when I spend time gathering and analyzing stats before the draft, I realize that it looks silly to people that don’t play and don’t feel bad if they tell me that. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375/178 "2008-08-27T20:12:01Z")
[QUOTE=5-HT] That said, when I spend time gathering and analyzing stats before the draft, I realize that it looks silly to people that don’t play and don’t feel bad if they tell me that. [/QUOTE] I bet no one’s suggested you need therapy for it, though. There’s a pretty big line between “hey, that’s a silly hobby/costume/greek philosophy, hee hee hee” and “you’re obviously emotionally stunted because you like that hobby, seek therapy, you ridiculous loser.” (Who’re you looking at for your first round pick?) ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375/179 "2008-08-27T20:18:21Z")
[QUOTE=Bosstone] You really are a spastic little monkey, aren’t you, **ivan**? [/QUOTE] Please don’t denegrate monkeys. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375/180 "2008-08-27T20:23:58Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] How’s this: you were threadshitting; it was obvious; non-furries noticed too. Doing it once is rude and contributes nothing, doing it twice is being an asshole. You did it at least twice, [/QUOTE] No, exactly twice. And you say ‘threadshitting’, and I say ‘2 fairly good-natured, innocuous remarks’! [QUOTE=Marley23] and followed it up with this Pit thread, in which you bitched without grounds about being called out for it. [/QUOTE] If I’d made another remark in there, you’d have said take it to The Pit anyway, so I saved you making at least one extra post . Is this the sort of thanks I get? [QUOTE=Marley23] And as far as that goes, what do you DO here other than that kind of drive-by post? [/QUOTE] I wasn’t aware that Doper’s were under any obligation to DO anything - besides “Fighting Ignorance”, so are you going to point out where it tells me what these things are that we should all be doing? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hostile-dialect-a-word-please/461375.md?page=10)