I was taking part in the thread in question and thought straight into an official warning a bit harsh but I don’t think
can be taken as anything but a personal insult.
Mind you when I first read Askance’s post with the all the abrupt “No’s” in it I though he was being unnecessarily combatative. I had to reread it a number of times before I understood where he was coming from. As I said in one of my posts
A shame an interesting thread got bogged down in unhelpful wrangling.
I agree that it’s a distinction which cuts hairs. However, there is in fact a reason that people will use the progressive aspect with the normally stative verb be, and that is to refer to someone’s momentary state of being–effectively, their action. In other words, it’s not the verb itself which marks the difference, but the aspect in which it was used. Again, not that I think it really matters here.
Another voter for warranted warning for a clear rules violation. Don’t call another poster a dick in GQ.
That said, I can understand why Martini Enfield described Askance’s action that way.
Is “umbrage” what happens when Lamont Cranston gets really pissed?
Hello? Is this thing on?
I laughed.
The “report post” is there for a reason. If you object to the remarks of another poster, report the post and let the moderators deal with it. It’s never appropriate to take matters into your own hands by responding with an insult when you feel offended.
In this case, however, I don’t even see any basis for your allegation that Askance was “acting like a jerk.” In his post, all he posted was “no” in regard to your statement. This may have been curt, but calling it “condescending” seems a bit of a stretch. On the contrary, your response to him seems to be a bit condescending itself (“since you’re clearly an expert on the Burma campaign”). His reply to you after that was completely straightforward, and I don’t detect any snark in it. In the circumstances, I find your remark about “wafer-thin skin” in your OP to be a bit ironic. (I might say, however, if we started moderating every condescending remark made on this board, this would be a more than full time job.;))
In deciding whether to issue a note vs. a warning, I took several factors into account. First, the insult was blatant, serious, and personal. Saying someone is “being a dick” is calling them a dick; it’s not something directed at their post but at them personally. Second, you are a long term poster who should be fully aware of the rules of GQ, and of the procedures for reporting a post. Third, as indicated above, your response was essentially unprovoked and way over the top with regard to anything that had previously gone on in the thread.
Martini Enfield, I think you are generally an excellent poster, and make a positive contribution to the board. I acknowledge that my reference to a possible suspension was overly harsh, and I apologize for that. As you say, you have no previous warnings and as of now you are not close to being a candidate for administrative action. My remark was due to irritation at seeing a long-term poster who should know better commit an offense that was so blatant that you left me little choice as to issue a warning or not. I’d rather not see a poster who does make a positive contribution to the board allow themselves to overreact in the way that you did and get in trouble. Next time you get annoyed with someone, I would really appreciate it if you would report the post and not put me in the position of having to issue you a warning.
The Warning was fine. I wish that in GD especially people who should know better and still choose to use direct personal insults drew immediate Warnings and not just a polite request to tone it down if they feel like it, please, if it’s not too much trouble.
um·brage *noun * \ˈəm-brij\
A feeling of pique, resentment, or sudden anger at being poked in the eyeball by the spiked rib of a carelessly opened umbrella
I tried to take Umbrage. But I couldn’t find it on the map.
The OP had better give that umbrage back. It’s mother is going to be looking for it.
Whoa there, I’m sure you didn’t mean to do the same thing Martini Enfield did … did you?
Just in case it needs to be restated, in ATMB and in all other forum areas not called The Pit, it is against the rules to call people derogatory names. As referring to someone as a dick is not a compliment, I don’t think you meant to do this or to go there.
ATMB too, it seems.
Mumbrage
I took Umbrage but had to abandon it and retreat because of overextended supply lines.
I took umbrage with me to the movies last night. (didn’t put out, though)
Let me guess: umbragecore? What an annoying genre.
Well, not really, but in this particular case it’s kind of hard to discuss the topic at all without doing so unless one doesn’t think it was true.
Go ask Dolores.
Is there ever a point where there is such overwhelming agreement as to the dickishness, that. . .n/m.
I remain, as ever, completely befuddled how it is any more polite to insult the post instead of the poster.
That being said, as the rules stand, Enfield hasn’t a leg to stand on.