# I would like to give Coldfire a medal. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 3, 2004, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-give-coldfire-a-medal/253324 "2004-07-03T02:58:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-give-coldfire-a-medal/253324/1 "2004-07-03T02:58:06Z")
Citation: For extraordinary heroism as Badass Muthafuckin Clog-stompin’ Moderator, MPSIMS Forum, Straight Dope Message Board in support of Operation DON’T BE A FUCKING JERK on 2 July, 2004. While on standard patrol, Mod. **Coldfire** noticed that in a [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=264508) where multiple persons were attempting a civilized, informal discussion, outside the Designated Flaming Zone, one **Muffin** was being a fucking jerk, and promptly drew his standard issue Windmill-Powered Dutch Stomping Clogs and told the offendor to Shut the Fuck Up. Thank you, Mod. **Coldfire** , for your brave and heroic service. PS: **Muffin** is a fuckin’ tool. There’s a time and a place, ya know? ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-give-coldfire-a-medal/253324/2 "2004-07-03T03:04:57Z")
Why does **Muffin** remind me of the hippy in Futurama that gets eaten by the guy from Omicron Persei 8? I bet that guy eats popplers too. ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-give-coldfire-a-medal/253324/3 "2004-07-03T03:14:07Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > …promptly drew his standard issue Windmill-Powered Dutch Stomping Clogs and told the offendor to Shut the Fuck Up. You don’t even want to _know_ where he stuffs the tulips. Not that it isn’t festive in it’s perverse way, and probably provides great slides at proctology conventions. Veb ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-give-coldfire-a-medal/253324/4 "2004-07-03T03:18:23Z")
I’m as much a tree-hugging pacifist bleeding-heart liberal as the next guy, and I’m strongly opposed to the war. And I agree that **Muffin** was being a complete tool and a total jack-ass. Men and women are sacrificing their lives, both literally and in the sense of being separated from the ones they love, out of dedication to a country that lets jerk-offs like **Muffin** denigrate them. You want to protest, asshole? Do what you can to get rid of the administration that would foster this war. Don’t try to piss all over the Americans who are honor- and duty-bound to fight for their country. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-give-coldfire-a-medal/253324/5 "2004-07-03T03:44:01Z")
Just read an posted to the thread in question. Any way we can locate **Muffin** and, Idaknow, beat him up? What a colossal piece of shit! I hope… (volume turned down to avoid “wish for death” from being broadcast) … and you can tell that to **Muffin** ’s _mother_! ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-give-coldfire-a-medal/253324/6 "2004-07-03T03:53:54Z")
Bravo, **Friedo**. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-give-coldfire-a-medal/253324/7 "2004-07-03T04:13:50Z")
> [@SolGrundy](#): > > I’m as much a tree-hugging pacifist bleeding-heart liberal as the next guy, and I’m strongly opposed to the war. > > And I agree that **Muffin** was being a complete tool and a total jack-ass. Hear, hear! My sentiments exactly. And in honor of the ClogMeister himself, that rockin’ stompin’ ass-kickin’ Mod for the Gods, an apropos passage from one of his faves: [Golden Earring] Yeah there’s a storm on the loose Sirens in my head Wrapped up in silence All circuits are dead Cannot decode my whole life spins into a frenzy Help I’m steppin’ into the twilight zone The place is a madhouse Feels like being cloned My beacon’s been moved Under moon and star Where am I to go Now that I’ve gone too far (repeat) Soon you will come to know When the bullet hits the bone Soon you will come to know When the bullet hits the bone [/Golden Earring] RAWK ON, **Coldfire**! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-give-coldfire-a-medal/253324/8 "2004-07-03T04:40:56Z")
I agree. That was some righteous moderation. Haj ---
**Author:** ![elfbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b782af/32.png) [@elfbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfbabe)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-give-coldfire-a-medal/253324/9 "2004-07-03T04:47:18Z")
Christ… This, THIS is why people think that pacifists hate those serving in the military. It’s so stupid. This guy’s a First Lieutenant. He didn’t decide to go to war in Iraq. We don’t even know why he’s in the military - maybe it was the only way he could pay for college or get a decent career. Sheesh. And the people he killed? They were members of an opposing military force and were, that very second, trying to kill him and his platoon - not prisoners, noncombatants, children, anything. He didn’t choose to be where he was and doing what he was. But he did choose to be a total supremely awesome badass. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-give-coldfire-a-medal/253324/10 "2004-07-03T04:48:20Z")
Did I miss the memo? Where was it said that oppisition was not allowed in MPSIMS? If you can’t take criticism of your posts…don’t make the post. Trust me…if anyone knows criticism…I do. Why not just ban political posts from MPSIMS? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-give-coldfire-a-medal/253324/11 "2004-07-03T04:53:37Z")
Are you seriously that fucking obtuse? You are either a very interesting computer program or a deliberate idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-give-coldfire-a-medal/253324/12 "2004-07-03T04:57:34Z")
Oh, bite me. If you can’t separate the heroics of a junior officer who risked his life to do his job from your comfortable-I’m-safe-in-the US-knee-jerk political opinions, I feel sorry for you. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-give-coldfire-a-medal/253324/13 "2004-07-03T05:01:39Z")
If the posts above are directed at me…I am a disabled Nam vet. Not that it means anything. I just hate seeing free speech stifled by any one, ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-give-coldfire-a-medal/253324/14 "2004-07-03T05:08:00Z")
There’s a difference between criticism and assholery, and Muffin crossed the line. We understand that he is in full and complete opposition to the war in Iraq. But he went too far when he stomped into a congratulatory thread and called the soldier in question a murderer in the midst of an attempt to honor his bravery. That’s not dissent. That’s being a jerk. There’s a difference. Muffin could’ve easily opened a Pit thread if he felt it necessary to gank about the guy being a murderer or moreover, if he felt that the thread in MPSIMS was out of place. he didn’t, he was out of line and he was called on it. Good on Coldfire, and hopefully, hopefully, Muffin and others will learn a lesson here. There are times, places and respectful, appropriate ways of dissenting, arguing and protesting. That wasn’t it. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-give-coldfire-a-medal/253324/15 "2004-07-03T05:10:15Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > If the posts above are directed at me…I am a disabled Nam vet. > > Not that it means anything. > > I just hate seeing free speech stifled by any one, Your sentence was cut off; hopefully you weren’t being censored and having your right to free speech stifled. Seriously, please don’t try to bring free speech into this. It’s just tiresome. First of all, there _is_ no right to free speech on this forum. It’s a private message board, with moderators. More importantly, those moderators do not squelch dissenting opinions. Don’t even try to suggest that they do. There are plenty of threads on both sides of the issue, plenty of places where **Muffin** ’s bullshit would’ve been tolerated. But the most important reason is this: just because you have the right to say something, and just because you’re _allowed_ to say something, doesn’t make it appropriate. The laws of courtesy and decency should supercede the laws about freedom of expression. **Muffin** was being a jack-ass, pissing on an unrelated thread with an inappropriate argument. That’s rude. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-give-coldfire-a-medal/253324/16 "2004-07-03T05:10:49Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > Did I miss the memo? > > Where was it said that oppisition was not allowed in MPSIMS? > > If you can’t take criticism of your posts…don’t make the post. In the words of our vice President **Reeder** , Go Fuck yourself! Did you even look at the text of Chontosh’s citation? It reads like an episode out of Sargent York’s career. If you don’t know who that is, go rent the movie. Despite opposing our damned fool war in Iraq, I’m very pleased to see evidence that the US military still makes men that can do the right thing under horribly fucked up circumstances. It is not Mr. Chontosh’s fault that he happened to be in Iraq. The location of the battlefield makes no difference to his stunning display of quick wits, bravery and initiative. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-give-coldfire-a-medal/253324/17 "2004-07-03T05:17:17Z")
I am not saying that the man doesn’t deserve our kudos. I am saying that **muffin** has the right to voice his/her opinion as long as it falls inside the boards guidelines. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-give-coldfire-a-medal/253324/18 "2004-07-03T05:18:57Z")
> [@TVeblen](#): > > You don’t even want to _know_ where he stuffs the tulips. Not that it isn’t festive in it’s perverse way, and probably provides great slides at proctology conventions. > > Veb [Fred Rogers]Kin yew say Heironymous Bosch? Ah knew yew could.[/FR] ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-give-coldfire-a-medal/253324/19 "2004-07-03T05:19:57Z")
**Reeder** , I’ve always left you alone because I agree, in spirit, with your political leanings and In general I recognize in you a decent ability to think. Silence = acceptance and all that. But let us have a look at context with regard to **muffin** ’s post shall we? While Muff recognizes the horror of so many killed in a conflict in which we have no legitemate business (I’m sure you can relate to this), the context of his post borders on the trollish. This because he is bashing the Lt’s decision to exercise the only expedient option in an ambush: “kill everything that fucking moves!” Come ON! Haven’t you ever experienced the joy of an ambush? He was being a jerk. As this forum forbids this one type of activity, he definitely deserved a bitch slap. The Mod even acknowledged his right to post the same opinion in another thread. I see no violation of the right both of us served to defend–I see someone “gettn’ told” for exercising his right to be a dick in an inappropriate thread. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-give-coldfire-a-medal/253324/20 "2004-07-03T05:20:01Z")
I can even spell sergeant. Can you? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-give-coldfire-a-medal/253324.md?page=2)