# If a poster is wrong more than half the time, would you take them seriously? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 7, 2013, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238 "2013-09-07T09:31:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/61 "2013-09-07T22:02:59Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > If take the criticisms a lot more seriously if I didn’t get the same response whether I’m right or wrong. As far as I can see, I’m mainly guilty of being a conservative on a liberal dominated board. The vast majority of the time my facts are not even directly disputed. A poster just cites something sorta related that calls my contention into question and then spikes the ball thinking they scored a touchdown wjen all they did was pick up three yards. I am also a conservative on a liberal dominated board, **adaher**. And I agree with the general observation that on this particular liberal-dominated board, the same standards are not applied – that is, a liberal who is wrong is often not subject to any particular social consequence, and a conservative is pilloried. But as frustrating as that is, it’s even more frustrating – if such a thing were possible – to read this paean to being wrong that you have offered up here. You apparently seek to solve the dilemma of unequal treatment by appealing to the liberal Teeming Millions to cut you the same break they enjoy – let it slide when you’re wrong, since “everyone makes mistakes.” Absolutely not. Perhaps IMHO and MPSIMS are fertile ground for this request; GQ and GD are not. I agree everyone should be held to the same standard; I absolutely reject the notion that the standard should be forgiving of error. You don’t like that feeling when you screw up a factual claim and people maul you for it? _Then be twice as careful making factual claims._ Don’t say that water is wet unless you’re absolutely certain you can back it up. The gravamen of useful debate is vigorous advocacy on each side – out of which strong ideas, resilient to challenge, are the ones that emerge. That’s the _raison d’etre_ for GD, and GQ to a lesser extent. In short: man up. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/62 "2013-09-07T22:33:25Z")
Indeed, strong ideas have emerged, resilient to challenge. Ours, for the most part. Yours, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/63 "2013-09-07T22:45:11Z")
Let me not miss a chance to note that I agree with Bricker, in this matter. And that you will likely never see me disagreeing cavalierly with him on matters of legal fact. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/64 "2013-09-08T00:25:43Z")
> [@Truman\_Burbank](#): > > Let me not miss a chance to note that I agree with Bricker, in this matter. > And that you will likely never see me disagreeing cavalierly with him on matters of legal fact. I agree, the few times I do take on him in legal matters is when it is clear that other experts disagree with him and I understand the reason why. And also when he steps out of the law office. Then I set an off tracking horse betting operation to get him too distracted to continue with the subject. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/65 "2013-09-08T00:41:11Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > We’re all wrong. We’re all wrong a lot. . you shouldn’t be. When discussing a topic I know something about, finance, physics, home repairs, I am not wrong a lot. In fact, I would say I’m almost never wrong, at least in respect to the facts and concepts I’m discussing. Because I actually know what the fuck I’m talking about. If I don’t, I keep quiet and let others who DO know what they’re talking about have the floor. Every time I’ve made falsifiable claims that have turned out false, it’s because I commented on a topic I didn’t fully understand. If you’re wrong a lot, it’s because you do a lot of commenting about topics you don’t know jack shit about. You should keep quiet and learn something. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/66 "2013-09-08T00:57:59Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I’m sure that will be news to many of you, this idea that in Great Debates there’s rarely a “correct answer”. This doesn’t mean you can crap out any dimwitted idea and give it equal status with a well researched and thoughtful argument. Lawyers spend a lot of time disagreeing over points of law. The justices on the Supreme Cout often disagree on a ruling. There is often not one correct answer that all trained lawyers agree on. That doesn’t mean Free Men on the Land aren’t completely full of shit. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/67 "2013-09-08T03:15:19Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > Adaher… All of us have made mistakes, but only a few select individuals are clearly unable to accept and admit it when they are wrong. You appear to be in this small subset and are treated with disdain because of it. \*\*Not because you make mistakes but because you appear to be unable to learn from your mistakes. \*\* This is a critical difference between you and those who disagree with you. > … > I wish you well, but I also wish you would act in a more sane and rational manner on this board. I grade my students down a little when they screw up. But if they don’t realize it, or don’t understand why it’s a problem, they get graded way down. If they won’t admit they made a mistake? (Well, they just don’t understand why the rest of the class loses all respect in them.) Those are the self-deluded who end up dropping out of school. ```auto I just realized something: A lot of times I have an opinion or a "fact" that sounds catchy and it's something i really wish was true. You know what I do? I shut up and wait, and read what others post. And usually, someone smarter than I am comes in and posts a position supported by logic and facts. And I think "Whew, glad I didn't post that witty-yet-dubious comment!" Listen and learn. ``` ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/68 "2013-09-08T04:10:31Z")
Things I’ve learned today: 1. Many people here believe they are rarely, if ever, wrong, because they are careful. I say those people are full of shit. 2. It’s okay to personally attack posters for being wrong outside of the pit. The rules say those people are full of shit, as do I. 3. Going by the standards articulated here about what makes a poster credible or not, most of you have proved yourselves to lack credibility, because of points 1) and 2). If you can’t be trusted to understand the basic rules of civility and the fact of your own fallibility, then you can’t be trusted to have any idea of what you’re talking about. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/69 "2013-09-08T04:16:48Z")
What did I _just_ say about shutting up? Not to mention listening and learning? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/70 "2013-09-08T04:17:01Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Things I’ve learned today: > > 1. Many people here believe they are rarely, if ever, wrong, because they are careful. I say those people are full of shit. > > 2. It’s okay to personally attack posters for being wrong outside of the pit. The rules say those people are full of shit, as do I. > > 3. Going by the standards articulated here about what makes a poster credible or not, most of you have proved yourselves to lack credibility, because of points 1) and 2). If you can’t be trusted to understand the basic rules of civility and the fact of your own fallibility, then you can’t be trusted to have any idea of what you’re talking about. So being careful with facts makes someone full of shit. That’s a strange and twisted world you inhabit. That’s what the Pit is for since we can’t tell you what we think in the other forums. Dumbass. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/71 "2013-09-08T04:28:19Z")
Nooooo, thinking you are so careful that you don’t still screw up pretty frequently makes one full of shit. Every page of every thread on this board features some mindnumbingly dumb statements that were assumed to be true but which the poster thought was too good to check. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/72 "2013-09-08T04:29:21Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Nooooo, thinking you are so careful that you don’t still screw up pretty frequently makes one full of shit. Every page of every thread on this board features some mindnumbingly dumb statements that were assumed to be true but which the poster thought was too good to check. No they don’t. Prove me wrong. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/73 "2013-09-08T04:29:40Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > So being careful with facts makes someone full of shit. That’s a strange and twisted world you inhabit. > > That’s what the Pit is for since we can’t tell you what we think in the other forums. > Dumbass. I don’t mind if you pit me. It’s the people who get personal in other forums who are full of shit. And those in this thread that think that’s just fine and normal. Which proves how much of a bubble this place is becoming. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/74 "2013-09-08T04:32:48Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > No they don’t. Prove me wrong. Actually, the claim that most posts on SDMB are right is the extraordinary claim that requires extraordinary evidence, not mine. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/75 "2013-09-08T04:36:10Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > So being careful with facts makes someone full of shit. That’s a strange and twisted world you inhabit. > > That’s what the Pit is for since we can’t tell you what we think in the other forums. > Dumbass. This deserves to be, not only QFT, but linked as a warning to others. As a famous Demotivator said once: > **[Mistakes](https://despair.com/collections/demotivators/products/mistakes)** > > It could be that the purpose of your life is only to serve as a warning to others. Not every life can be a success, just like not every vessel can be seaworthy. But there’s no shame in being one spectacular shipwreck. (Actually, there is. But we’re... [Image of a sinking ship] Mistakes It could be that the purpose of your life is only to serve as a warning to others. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/76 "2013-09-08T04:39:27Z")
ME!!! Talk about ME!!! ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/77 "2013-09-08T04:41:24Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Actually, the claim that most posts on SDMB are right is the extraordinary claim that requires extraordinary evidence, not mine. This is stupid, all cites can be checked, **your world is a place were useless information has the same value as the ones coming from experts, authorities or scientists**. You need to learn the basics. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/LdnZ1l5TxJk/hqdefault.jpg "Why the media screw up science -- 1. Sources") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdnZ1l5TxJk) Why the media screw up science Part 1: Sources ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/78 "2013-09-08T04:41:41Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Nooooo, thinking you are so careful that you don’t still screw up pretty frequently makes one full of shit. Every page of every thread on this board **features some mindnumbingly dumb statements that were assumed to be true but which the poster thought was too good to check.** And of course you never do this. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/79 "2013-09-08T04:43:05Z")
The whole point of this is that sometimes I do. And I will try to do better. Hopefully others will try to obey the forum rules a little better as well. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/80 "2013-09-08T04:59:50Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > ME!!! Talk about ME!!! No fun. You’re too reasonable! How about **deltasigma**! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238.md?page=5)