# How do I ban smart-assed individuals who post in my general questions? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 24, 2019, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159 "2019-08-24T14:52:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159/61 "2019-08-26T20:18:31Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Oh, I see now. _He’s_ the guy who already knows everything. His mission in life is to show everyone how smart he is and how little they know. Makes perfect sense now. I actually went and skimmed over a bunch of threads he’s created and he definitely isn’t that kind of poster. The vast majority of his threads are in GQ and he’s often careful to thank people who post answers in them. Most of his GQ questions are very specific (honestly, many would be better suited to more focused forums rather than a general knowledge board like ours), and so only got a few replies. So - two factors: staying almost entirely in GQ and almost exclusively starting “one and done” question and answer threads, which tend to have less snark than longer discussions. I think Ficer67 should come back and keep asking questions - he just needs to remember that he’s going to occasionally catch some good-natured smart-assery from time to time: even in GQ. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159/62 "2019-08-26T20:41:02Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I agree that \*\*excavating \*\*wasn’t being a smartass, he was only given the only factual answer he could give. But as for the “humor is allowed after the factual answer is given,” I don’t think that helps. Suppose someone has a question, “Why do I get so many yeast infections” or “why is one of my testicles so much larger than the other,” then the knowledge that they’ll get a factual answer, but then \*thereafter \*be subjected to subsequent teasing and mockery is still a deterrent to their asking what’s on their mind. Despite the high level of snark (which AFAICT has always been present in GQ) I think sensitive issues normally are discussed sensitively. If someone were to ask, for example, “How much does it cost for\* in vitro\* fertilization?” anyone who came in with a smart-ass answer would be rightfully hooted out of the thread, and perhaps right off the board. It’s the legitimate but not earth-shatteringly serious questions that are snark bait. Unfortunately for\*\* Ficer67\*\* that’s exactly the category “ways to deal with a PDF” falls into. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159/63 "2019-08-26T20:43:04Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > I actually went and skimmed over a bunch of threads he’s created and he definitely isn’t that kind of poster. The vast majority of his threads are in GQ and he’s often careful to thank people who post answers in them. > > Most of his GQ questions are very specific (honestly, many would be better suited to more focused forums rather than a general knowledge board like ours), and so only got a few replies. So - two factors: staying almost entirely in GQ and almost exclusively starting “one and done” question and answer threads, which tend to have less snark than longer discussions. > > I think Ficer67 should come back and keep asking questions - he just needs to remember that he’s going to occasionally catch some good-natured smart-assery from time to time: even in GQ. Well, he shouldn’t leave on my account. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159/64 "2019-08-26T21:56:25Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Despite the high level of snark (which AFAICT has always been present in GQ) I think sensitive issues normally are discussed sensitively. If someone were to ask, for example, “How much does it cost for\* in vitro\* fertilization?” anyone who came in with a smart-ass answer would be rightfully hooted out of the thread, and perhaps right off the board. > > It’s the legitimate but not earth-shatteringly serious questions that are snark bait. Unfortunately for\*\* Ficer67\*\* that’s exactly the category “ways to deal with a PDF” falls into. Yeah, that’s true. It’s been stated before that misogynistic replies and other answers of that sort won’t be tolerated and will be dealt with by the mods. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159/65 "2019-08-26T23:32:15Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I’m an IT support professional, been doing it for decades. Helping people with questions like that is what I do. And substantively, that answer is what I would have given. Me too, for quite a few years. And that was absolutely \*not \*the answer I would have given. I don’t understand how it could come across as anything other than sarcastic and condescending. It may be that you could have phrased the same answer, in substance, in such a way that it didn’t come across that way. Or that your organization is a bit looser than my employer. But I wouldn’t have done it. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159/66 "2019-08-26T23:34:16Z")
Coupla things. As was mentioned up there, wiseneimer remarks are part of the charm of this place. Was how many books from the Straight Dope columns you have read? Are you familiar with the newspaper column itself or who Cecil Adam’s is? The much beloved MAD magazine used to have an ongoing series articles called " snappy answers to stupid questions" . It predates The Straight Dope by decades. If you are fond of that kind of humor than you have found a home. If you are irritated by it you might want to veer over to reddit ! Or…learn to embrace it and be welcome here!! Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk ---
**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, 2019, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159/67 "2019-08-27T00:36:51Z")
> [@Ficer's other thread](#): > > What do you call the phenomenon when a professional charges you a consultation fee, but then informs you of everything you already know, and talks to you as if you don’t know anything… > > I am looking for the name of a hustle. And, every professional has done this to me, doctors, lawyers, engineers, computer technicians, carpenters, plumbers… Possibly the phrase he was looking for is Dunning-Krugerfication. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159/68 "2019-08-27T04:17:21Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > What I want to now is, how did the OP get away with calling someone a smart-ass in GQ? The participants thought the remark was too stupid to report. They handled it themselves. What I want to know is why someone who’s been on the board since 2002 apparently doesn’t know what it’s like and how it works but blows up suddenly. Whatever. ---
**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:** [August 27, 2019, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159/69 "2019-08-27T05:32:42Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Don’t know if \*\*Ficer67 \*\*is still with us, but in case he’s still reading: > > **Ficer** , what you have to do is pre-empt the anticipated responses in an OP like that. If you mentally anticipate that someone is going to give you a response like, “Just mentally add up the discrepancy in the PDF pages,” then mention that in your OP itself. Say, “I know that I can simply mentally add 9 pages to the page I want to search for, but is there a way to circumvent that so I can actually get to page 141 directly simply by typing in “141” instead of having to do mental-math gymnastics?” > > Otherwise you end up with the frustrating situation \*\*TokyoBayer \*\*highlighted, where you say “80% of people will suggest Thing X and I know Thing X but want a solution other than Thing X” and people will give you Thing X. Oh no. That doesn’t prevent people from doing that. You can explicitly state something like I did, and you’ll still get responses suggesting you do what you have already rejected. There are lots of posters who give stupid advice or opinions. Right now in GQ, there’s a thread about Chinese using English names which is filled with irrelevant personal anecdotes and bad speculation. If the OP were to take it personally he would be throwing his computer out the window by now. You just need to have thicker skin. Considering the other thread started by this OP, it seems they have a pretty thin skin in general. ---
**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:** [August 27, 2019, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159/70 "2019-08-27T10:42:13Z")
> [@Ficer67](#): > > Ok People, > > I am entertaining the thought that I could have done a better job of handling Excavating’s condescending and presumptuous remark. As Mr. Finn has pointed out, I could have said, “Thanks…” Not “Thankyou”? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159/71 "2019-08-27T10:46:04Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > “why is one of my testicles so much larger than the other,” The question is, “why is one of my testicles so much smaller than the other two?”. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159/72 "2019-08-27T12:23:57Z")
I think I’ll break ranks here and say I prefer not to see the kind of first response that the PDF thread received. (assuming there is no back story from other threads…a dangerous assumption to make at times) It was a mildly funny workaround given with a bit of a condescending tone that didn’t actually tell the OP anything new. The response didn’t say any form of “unfortunately there is no way to do that” or “it is difficult because of X, Y, and Z”. Rather it was just a funny post for the sake of being clever. It is certain the OP already knew this workaround. But I freely admit that I am more conservative than most when it comes to the “keep the first response straight” guideline. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159/73 "2019-08-27T13:14:08Z")
The thing is that we don’t know what the OP knows. Sometimes the obvious solution hasn’t occurred to them or they forgot. Unless the OP tells us what they have tried, we are likely to suggest something “obvious” like that. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159/74 "2019-08-27T13:34:26Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > The thing is that we don’t know what the OP knows. Sometimes the obvious solution hasn’t occurred to them or they forgot. Unless the OP tells us what they have tried, we are likely to suggest something “obvious” like that. Nothing wrong with suggesting something obvious. That wasn’t my point. I don’t read the first response to that thread as an honest helpful response–it’s more of a joke post. That’s just my opinion, and as I alluded to I realize many feel this kind of snark is part of the culture here and enjoy it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159/75 "2019-08-27T13:38:03Z")
I really didn’t read it as a joke post. It seemed an entirely sincere suggestion. I really don’t see how the OP and others thought there was snark there. FYI, here it is, to refresh your memory. > [@PDF Page numbers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdf-page-numbers/839158/2): > > This is easy. In your mind, add 9 to the page you want to go and you’ll be there! > > For example, if you want to go to page 34, add nine and get 43. Then tell it to go to page 43 and you’ll be at page 34. > > Or, if you wanted to go to page 43, add nine and get 52. Tell it to go to page 52 and you’ll be on page 43. > > Easy-Peasy, Lemon-Squeezy . ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159/76 "2019-08-27T14:21:48Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I really didn’t read it as a joke post. It seemed an entirely sincere suggestion. I really don’t see how the OP and others thought there was snark there. > > FYI, here it is, to refresh your memory. Now, I did initially read it as a joke post, hence my lamenting joke answers in GQ. I’ve since been shown that it was most likely a legit answer, of a sort anyway, and that rather disarms my criticism. But it does strike me as an ‘answer lite’. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159/77 "2019-08-27T14:38:27Z")
“Doctor, it hurts when I do this.” “Well, don’t do that.” “I am new to New York. How do I get to Carnegie Hall?” “Every day - you must practice!” AKA “if I wanted to get where you want to go, I wouldn’t start from where you are.” Yes, they’re answers, but… Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159/78 "2019-08-27T14:50:18Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > “Doctor, it hurts when I do this.” > > “Well, don’t do that.” > > “I am new to New York. How do I get to Carnegie Hall?” > > “Every day - you must practice!” > > AKA “if I wanted to get where you want to go, I wouldn’t start from where you are.” > > Yes, they’re answers, but… But I don’t see how this pertains to the answer given in the thread being talked about. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159/79 "2019-08-27T15:23:04Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I really didn’t read it as a joke post. It seemed an entirely sincere suggestion. I really don’t see how the OP and others thought there was snark there. > > FYI, here it is, to refresh your memory. The snark, IMHO, is in the “Easy-Peasy, Lemon-Squeezy” comment and also part of the tone (the exclamation mark, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159/80 "2019-08-27T15:34:45Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > But I don’t see how this pertains to the answer given in the thread being talked about. Reboot your computer, and then read the thread again. Regards, Shodan [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-ban-smart-assed-individuals-who-post-in-my-general-questions/839159.md?page=5)