# I Pit Magiver **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 13, 2021, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-magiver/937851 "2021-03-13T21:55:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-magiver/937851/281 "2025-09-23T15:07:50Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Pinker is a piece of shit who lends legitimacy to Nazis.   Your opinion on this subject has already been noted multiple times in multiple threads. Have a nice day. šŸ™‚ ---
**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:** [September 23, 2025, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-magiver/937851/282 "2025-09-23T16:21:15Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Letā€™s just say that anyone who regards Steven Pinker and this anarchistic asshole as intellectual peers is a fucking moron. Anyone who regards Pinker as the intellectual peer of the actual legitimate anthropologist is the fucking moron. Iā€™ll take Graeberā€™s work against Pinkerā€™s pseudoscience evo-psych just-so stories any day of the week. Pinker just straight-up gets shit wrong about what heā€™s talking about,(whether mistakes or lies, who can tell) like characterizing several agriculturalist cultures as H-Gs, or believing iron maidens and choke pears were real medieval torture devices. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-magiver/937851/283 "2025-09-23T18:11:08Z")
Having read a little of both Pinker and Graeber, Iā€™m definitely voting for Graeber as the more persuasive. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-magiver/937851/284 "2025-09-23T18:24:22Z")
And AFAICT you havenā€™t even tried to refute it. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-magiver/937851/285 "2025-09-23T19:21:19Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > And the thing is - trolling usually involves faking being an idiot exactly like the sort of idiot he is. Does it even matter if heā€™s a troll? He doesnā€™t operate in good faith, he doesnā€™t actually engage in debate, heā€™s not an asset to any debate. Yeah, as has been said before, if someoneā€™s actions have the same effect as someone who was trolling, they get treated the same. The mods here are pretty wise in taking this approach IMO. And thereā€™s also the golden rule of ā€œdonā€™t be a jerkā€ to fall back on, so that you arenā€™t painted in a corner of having to endure someone toxic because they arenā€™t _technically_ a troll. Given the repeated conflicts caused by Magiver, I suspect this is a poster on borrowed time, but who the fuck knows. As I said, Iā€™ve had him on ignore for years, and Iā€™d forget about him except that I still see his name come up as a problem for other people, and I think itā€™s helpful to try to explain to anyone who hasnā€™t experienced his particular asshattery exactly what a pain he is. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2025, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-magiver/937851/286 "2025-09-28T04:03:24Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Occamā€™s Razor is a heuristic, not a final arbiter. Occamā€™s and Hanlanā€™s Razors are certainly not a final arbiter, but they are a good way to define the [Null Hypothesis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Null_hypothesis), and so establish which side has the burden of proof. If you are going to argue for an explanation that requires additional elements, in particular malice, then you are going to have to provide evidence that those additional elements are necessary to explain the observed phenomenon. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2025, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-magiver/937851/287 "2025-09-28T08:45:55Z")
Once again - humans are systems, not single phenomena. And their interactions are even more complicated phenomena. Applying tools for solving simple syllogisms and logic problems to them just does not work. Although if I _were_ to go down that route, Iā€™d point at the repeated, constant effect of this supposed pure stupidity alone and argue _ex fructibus eorum_ and jobā€™s a good un. Because pure stupidity doesnā€™t explain the _constant_ negative effect. Look at an _actual_ pure stupid poster, one of our regular Old Man Yells At Clouds types - acey comes to mind - they get people annoyed at their stupidity frequently, but not always riled up the same way every time. Malice is the missing element there. But like I said: Occamā€™s the wrong tool for the job, anyway. And Hanlonā€™s just wrong about people. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2025, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-magiver/937851/288 "2025-09-28T08:57:31Z")
I never liked Hanlonā€™s razor. I donā€™t think itā€™s useful or accurate and I think people mistake pithiness for wisdom and think just because you give something a cool name itā€™s a rule. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-magiver/937851/289 "2025-11-20T00:24:08Z")
Heā€™s up to his usual blind ā€œrepeat it until it turns trueā€ nonsense. This time in the thread from a couple years ago about the off duty pilot wasted on mushrooms who tried to switch off the engines. This search finds the post where the thread was innocently revived by **PastTense** with fresh news, which then triggered a typical **Magiver** runaway. **[Search results - Straight Dope Message Board](https://boards.straightdope.com/search?q=%40pasttense%20before%3A2025-11-19%20after%3A2025-11-18%20baggio%20order%3Alatest_topic)** ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-magiver/937851/290 "2025-11-20T01:07:43Z")
Yeah, Iā€™m done there. No logic on display. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-magiver/937851/291 "2025-11-20T02:19:35Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Heā€™s up to his usual blind ā€œrepeat it until it turns trueā€ nonsense. This time in the thread from a couple years ago about the off duty pilot wasted on mushrooms who tried to switch off the engines. I noticed his antics over there. Once an idea pops into his tiny cranium, he cannot resist stubbornly pushing it over and over again, and when challenged on it, doubling down. Which makes me wonder, has anyone ever seen **Magiver** and **DrDeth** in the same place at the same time? šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-magiver/937851/292 "2025-11-20T02:25:28Z")
I wonder if we could contrive for them to meet in a thread and take opposing viewpoints. :evil grin: ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-magiver/937851/293 "2025-11-20T02:31:27Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I wonder if we could contrive for them to meet in a thread and take opposing viewpoints Brilliant! Itā€™ll keep both of them tied up for years. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-magiver/937851/294 "2025-11-20T04:40:39Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I wonder if we could contrive for them to meet in a thread and take opposing viewpoints. :evil grin: That is indeed a beautiful plot which, if executed, would greatly benefit humanity. But I donā€™t think Discourse (or even AWS or the giant NSA data center) has enough disk space for the ceaseless outpouring of verbal diarrhea that would result! ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-magiver/937851/295 "2025-11-20T04:51:19Z")
Yeah, infinite loops and computers arenā€™t a good mix. ---
**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:** [November 20, 2025, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-magiver/937851/296 "2025-11-20T05:44:04Z")
They would both twist the words of the other, claim that they agree with each other even though it is obvious they donā€™t, then the both of them would flounce off in ā€œtriumphā€. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-magiver/937851/297 "2025-11-20T10:24:42Z")
Probably. But it might give us some insight into the age-old question about what happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object. Or maybe itā€™s more like when two immovable moving objects collide. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-magiver/937851/298 "2025-11-20T14:47:57Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Yeah, infinite loops and computers arenā€™t a good mix. No, no. Thatā€™s only if itā€™s a logic loop. We donā€™t need to worry about that with **DrDeth** and **Magiver**. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-magiver/937851/299 "2025-11-20T16:03:04Z")
Iā€™m reminded of a ST:TOS episode where Kirk defeats the intelligent but evil computer by asking it an unsolvable math question. But this time it goes a _wee bit_ differently. šŸ˜ > **Moderator** : OK contestants; the task before you is to compute pi to the last digit. **Magiver** , you won the toss backstage and will go first. > **Magiver** : The first digit of pi is ā€œ2ā€. Everyone knows that. > **Moderator** : **DrDeth** you may proceed. > **DrDeth** : Heā€™s wrong. The first digit of pi is ā€œ4ā€. See this cite [url redacted]. > **Magiver** : No, you donā€™t understand! > **DrDeth** : No, youā€™re wrong and Iā€™ve proven it. > [for another thousand posts] At which point poor old vBulletin would have blown a fuse. Just like Veeger. (Or was that the M-5 Multironic unit?) šŸ˜ ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-magiver/937851/300 "2025-11-20T17:12:52Z")
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