# "If this was in the Pit".... is this a personal insult? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 30, 2016, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-was-in-the-pit-is-this-a-personal-insult/767267 "2016-09-30T03:46:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-was-in-the-pit-is-this-a-personal-insult/767267/1 "2016-09-30T03:46:49Z")
Just wondering, as I was just about to say this to someone, but then I thought the better of it. It seems like one. The implication is clearly “…then I would tell you to #@&%\*! yourself with a &\*#\*@, and a \*@^, and your grandma, too.” Maybe it isn’t, though. I don’t have any examples handy, but I swear that I’ve seen similar phrases around here on occasion. Unless I’m imagining it. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-was-in-the-pit-is-this-a-personal-insult/767267/2 "2016-09-30T03:49:18Z")
I wouldn’t say it’s an insult per se, but it’s sufficiently aggressive that it could get you a mod note. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-was-in-the-pit-is-this-a-personal-insult/767267/3 "2016-09-30T04:00:40Z")
OTOH IMHO it is completely fair to acknowledge that more completely sharing your thoughts about a particular poster’s comments would be inappropriate for the current forum and would require moving the conversation to a Pit thread. If that action is “sufficiently aggressive that it could get you a mod note” then I’ve at least never witnessed it. And I’ve held myself back from posting more Pit-like in a non-Pit forum by such an acknowledgement. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-was-in-the-pit-is-this-a-personal-insult/767267/4 "2016-09-30T04:00:40Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I wouldn’t say it’s an insult per se, but it’s sufficiently aggressive that it could get you a mod note. Thanks. Makes sense. Good to know. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-was-in-the-pit-is-this-a-personal-insult/767267/5 "2016-09-30T04:16:14Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > OTOH IMHO it is completely fair to acknowledge that more completely sharing your thoughts about a particular poster’s comments would be inappropriate for the current forum and would require moving the conversation to a Pit thread. If that action is “sufficiently aggressive that it could get you a mod note” then I’ve at least never witnessed it. And I’ve held myself back from posting more Pit-like in a non-Pit forum by such an acknowledgement. I’m just telling you how I might moderate such a remark. It depends on the context and to what extent the posters have been scuffling already. Perhaps you haven’t been moderated for such remarks, but it’s probably better to avoid them. Of course, if you are actually going to Pit someone you may announce that in the thread. ---
**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:** [September 30, 2016, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-was-in-the-pit-is-this-a-personal-insult/767267/6 "2016-09-30T11:40:19Z")
Looks like someone Junior Modding himself… ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-was-in-the-pit-is-this-a-personal-insult/767267/7 "2016-09-30T12:12:21Z")
It seems to me to depend on exactly what is said: “If this were the Pit I’d call you a troll” - Obvious attempt at circumventing the rules on what can be said outside the Pit. “If this were the Pit I could say what I really think” - Grey area. I could see it being modded either way. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-was-in-the-pit-is-this-a-personal-insult/767267/8 "2016-09-30T12:31:34Z")
Yeah, depending on the circumstances I might well mod that. Anyone feeling that strongly about something should actually start a pit thread. Choosing the approach above is pretty lame and could be seen as an indirect insult. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-was-in-the-pit-is-this-a-personal-insult/767267/9 "2016-09-30T12:58:28Z")
No one ever used that phrase that I’ve seen but I’ve been threatened with pittings a couple times (and seen a few others) because someone didn’t care for my view/opinion. I gave it about the same attention the Mods did; pretty much none which to me is about what it deserves. Use it as **Pearse** says, as a way to get around the rules, it would probably draw a note. Use it more in a conversational manner and you could be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-was-in-the-pit-is-this-a-personal-insult/767267/10 "2016-09-30T13:55:23Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > It seems to me to depend on exactly what is said: > > “If this were the Pit I’d call you a troll” - Obvious attempt at circumventing the rules on what can be said outside the Pit. > > “If this were the Pit I could say what I really think” - Grey area. I could see it being modded either way. The first one I would moderate. The second one I might step in if it is part of an escalation that shouldn’t be in a MPSIMS thread. Context dependent of course. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-was-in-the-pit-is-this-a-personal-insult/767267/11 "2016-09-30T14:43:04Z")
So a person gets a note for what a mod thinks they would say? Or is it an aggressive tone outside the Pit because if the latter there are a ton of posts that should get modded. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-was-in-the-pit-is-this-a-personal-insult/767267/12 "2016-09-30T14:57:50Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > It seems to me to depend on exactly what is said: > > “If this were the Pit I’d call you a troll” - Obvious attempt at circumventing the rules on what can be said outside the Pit. > > “If this were the Pit I could say what I really think” - Grey area. I could see it being modded either way. How about if we create the Pit thread, then say, “If this were the Pit I could say what I really think. In fact, let’s take it there so I can.” (with included link to Pit thread) To me, that would be totally non-aggressive, and quite within the rules due to the creation of the Pit thread. ---
**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:** [September 30, 2016, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-was-in-the-pit-is-this-a-personal-insult/767267/13 "2016-09-30T15:08:52Z")
Or a simple “Taking this to The Pit”, with the link. Even less aggressive. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-was-in-the-pit-is-this-a-personal-insult/767267/14 "2016-09-30T15:28:56Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > So a person gets a note for what a mod thinks they would say? No, because stating that you want to insult them is itself aggressive. > [@](#): > > Or is it an aggressive tone outside the Pit because if the latter there are a ton of posts that should get modded. If you think a post should be modded, then report it. Note that none of the mods have said that such a remark necessarily _would_ get modded, just that it might be depending on context. Better to avoid it. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-was-in-the-pit-is-this-a-personal-insult/767267/15 "2016-09-30T16:06:25Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > How about if we create the Pit thread, then say, “If this were the Pit I could say what I really think. In fact, let’s take it there so I can.” (with included link to Pit thread) > > To me, that would be totally non-aggressive, and quite within the rules due to the creation of the Pit thread. I’d certainly not mod that. I’d even approve of the phrasing. The are points for style in this life, you know. ---
**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:** [September 30, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-was-in-the-pit-is-this-a-personal-insult/767267/16 "2016-09-30T17:59:06Z")
I’d mod the OP’s statement for saying “if this was” instead of “if this were.” This would at least defuse the current tiff as it is replaced by arguments among the board’s grammarians. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-was-in-the-pit-is-this-a-personal-insult/767267/17 "2016-09-30T18:01:58Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > I’d mod the OP’s statement for saying “if this was” instead of “if this were.” This would at least defuse the current tiff as it is replaced by arguments among the board’s grammarians. I don’t think “mod” is a verb. 😉 ---
**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:** [September 30, 2016, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-was-in-the-pit-is-this-a-personal-insult/767267/18 "2016-09-30T18:09:55Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > I don’t think “mod” is a verb. Although if you get on their bad side they can get quite verbal. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-was-in-the-pit-is-this-a-personal-insult/767267/19 "2016-09-30T18:29:26Z")
Please move this thread to the Pit - I have some… uh… _poetry_ I want to share. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-was-in-the-pit-is-this-a-personal-insult/767267/20 "2016-09-30T18:52:41Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > I’d mod the OP’s statement for saying “if this was” instead of “if this were.” This would at least defuse the current tiff as it is replaced by arguments among the board’s grammarians. OP speaking. That seems fair. I don’t always talk so good, but I’ll happily accept any grammar-related mod notes, warnings or banninations. In my defense, FWIW, my native language is Muppet Swedish. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-was-in-the-pit-is-this-a-personal-insult/767267.md?page=2)