# How should the Pit be changed, if at all? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 19, 2021, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859 "2021-07-19T23:19:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 25
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859/483 "2021-08-13T19:51:45Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > And most often- people who the Pitter just plain disagrees with, but the Pitter can’t handle normal discourse and debate so has to resort to name calling. The thing is, what you’re considering “normal discourse” isn’t normal to me in my everyday life. I pitted you recently, and while I don’t want to rehash the specifics of why, I wasn’t pitting you for what I consider “normal discourse”. It was the sort of shockingly rude discourse that would lead to my cutting a person out of my circle of acquaintances if they talked to me that way. If it happened at a bar, I’d stop going to that bar. If it happened in a gaming group, one of us would be leaving that group. If it was at a party, I’d thank the host and take my leave. If I had my druthers, the sort of discourse you were engaging in is the sort that would get posters warned and banned–not for the opinions expressed (others were expressing similar opinions), but for the way they were expressed. As long as the board is going to allow what you consider “normal discourse”, I appreciate having the Pit. But if the board starts warning/banning folks for acting that way, I could see getting rid of the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859/484 "2021-08-13T20:11:35Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > {…} Ok, I will go along with that- no more personal pittings of Posters unless it is for racism, transphobia, and etc. {…} Umm, exactly who, that actually has the authority to do so, are you negotiating with? ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859/485 "2021-08-13T20:11:57Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > There is a group of members here that claim to be supportive of a kinder, gentler, more welcoming SDMB, where sexism, racism, (but not ageism) transphobia, homophobia, misogyny and all sorts of things be banned. And who can be against that? We _all_ want a kinder, gentler, more welcoming SDMB, don’t we? But that same group loudly supports a forum where it is Ok to call some poster a cocksucking cunt bitch, where internet bullying not only goes on, but it actively encouraged. I used to think the same, but it’s not true. It’s got nothing to do with wanting a kinder and gentler anything. It’s not about being polite, it’s not about treating people with respect. Everyone has an in-group and an out-group, and the in-group is protected and supported while the out-group is vilified and attacked. Different people have different in-groups and out-groups, that is all. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859/486 "2021-08-13T20:20:32Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > It’s got nothing to do with wanting a kinder and gentler anything. It’s not about being polite, it’s not about treating people with respect. The #1 rule of the SDMB is “don’t be a jerk.” Seems to me that the best way to not be seen as a jerk is to be respectful. 'Course, there’s a fine line between acting respectful and sea lioning. ---
**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 13, 2021, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859/487 "2021-08-13T20:27:21Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Umm, exactly who, that actually has the authority to do so, are you negotiating with Windmills. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859/488 "2021-08-13T20:31:03Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WEhS9Y9HYjU/hqdefault.jpg "The Windmills of Your Mind - Noel Harrison") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEhS9Y9HYjU) ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859/489 "2021-08-13T20:36:15Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > The #1 rule of the SDMB is “don’t be a jerk.” Seems to me that the best way to not be seen as a jerk is to be respectful. That rings a little hollow when there’s an entire forum dedicated to allowing people to be jerks. 🤷‍♀️ ---
**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:** [August 13, 2021, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859/490 "2021-08-13T20:45:38Z")
Great Debates does get pretty tough, but we try to keep it clean. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859/491 "2021-08-13T21:05:10Z")
If we’re going to just repeat our posts… > [@DrDeth](#): > > That is a dichotomy, _False_ dichotomy - “we” may _want_ to be welcoming to some, and hostile to others. > [@DrDeth](#): > > You can’t have both. Of course you can. Really, it’s just bullying and personal attacks on the pro-Pit posters, at this point. The irony is rich, but not unsurprising coming from someone who decries the Pit … and then Pits people… ---
**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 13, 2021, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859/492 "2021-08-13T21:07:39Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > and then Pits people… Speaking of which, has anyone checked on @DocCathode? He was pretty shaken up after the sound Pitting @DrDeth put him through. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859/493 "2021-08-13T21:11:38Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > That rings a little hollow when there’s an entire forum dedicated to allowing people to be jerks. 🤷‍♀️ Which is why I’d like to see either “no trolling” removed from [the Pit rules](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revised-forum-rules-for-the-bbq-pit-read-this-before-posting/487209) or a certain level of trolling no longer being permitted. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859/494 "2021-08-13T21:16:54Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Which is why I’d like to see either “no trolling” removed from [the Pit rules](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revised-forum-rules-for-the-bbq-pit-read-this-before-posting/487209) or a certain level of trolling no longer being permitted. I don’t see what that has to do with anything. Being a jerk != trolling. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859/495 "2021-08-13T21:19:56Z")
Is it not impossible to be the latter without being the former? ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859/496 "2021-08-13T21:30:31Z")
Probably. But it’s _definitely_ possible to be the former without being the latter. Banning certain ways of being a jerk does not stop people being jerks. Banning being a jerk only from a subset of forums does not stop people being jerks. People are allowed to be jerks here and they are unwilling to give that up, so @DrDeth is wasting his time. That’s the point. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859/497 "2021-08-13T21:34:48Z")
Boy, I’m sure glad we had that vote on what defines ‘being a jerk’ and we all agreed, even TPTB! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859/498 "2021-08-13T21:39:07Z")
Well, that is what I suspect too. > [@Skywatcher](#): > > The #1 rule of the SDMB is “don’t be a jerk.” Seems to me that the best way to not be seen as a jerk is to be respectful. Yes, because calling someone a _felching goat fucking cunt_ is _really_ respectful. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859/499 "2021-08-13T21:50:11Z")
Ahem, isn’t that a, or an, _fucking, goat felching, cunt_? ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859/500 "2021-08-13T22:32:21Z")
I suspect some people hate the Pit because they suck at it so hard. Wasn’t there that whole story about a fox and some grapes and whatnot? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859/501 "2021-08-13T22:39:52Z")
Well, we could always try calling them illiterate, couldn’t we? 😇 ---
**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:** [August 13, 2021, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859/502 "2021-08-13T22:44:02Z")
I don’t hate the Pit and I suck at it. I’m pretty much among the worst for pitting posters. My only good rant in the pit was directed at slime ball ADT salesmen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-pit-be-changed-if-at-all/946859.md?page=26)