# Is it me or .... ? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 30, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552 "2013-08-30T00:51:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/141 "2013-09-02T00:10:00Z")
> [@Penny](#): > > Is it just me or are you folks needlessly verbose? I have to say, as a newb I’m finding it such a turn off to have to slog through so much faux intellectual posturing to get to the point. Is this how this place rolls? > > (Please be gentle. I’m new 🙂 ) 😛 it’s true some have diarrhea of the mouth, I skim my bad. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/142 "2013-09-02T00:22:18Z")
> [@Penny](#): > > Does piling on a whack of words make people feel better about themselves while debating? I’m asking in sincerity. I have no idea what other people think feel or believe in this matter. In fact, I don’t give a shit. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/143 "2013-09-02T00:28:30Z")
> [@Penny](#): > > What’s the difference between a legitimate rant and trolling? I take issue with needless verbosity and faux intellectualism, which I have encountered on this board. Is that not a fair thing to rant about? We really need to see some examples of what you’re talking about. Post some quotes which you feel show needless verbosity and faux intellectualism. And we’ll read them and decide if we agree. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/144 "2013-09-02T00:31:43Z")
> [@Penny](#): > > What’s the difference between a legitimate rant and trolling? I take issue with needless verbosity and faux intellectualism, which I have encountered on this board. Is that not a fair thing to rant about? Who are you to decide what’s needless verbosity and what is faux intellectualism? It’s not like its an objectively measurable characteristic of something. What litmus test do you use? ---
**Author:** ![Penny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@Penny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penny)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/145 "2013-09-02T01:01:40Z")
Lacking in substance is my test Ivory. A post that is just a string of words, usually ones that are not commonly used, that fails to address the issue at hand. I like to think of it as a demonstration of vocabulary over true understanding or reasonable thought. In my experience, I have found those who employ such tactics are compensating for lack of intellect. It’s like older men buying hot sports cars to compensate for their waning sex appeal or men who buy jacked up trucks to compensate for their small penises. I have also found those who nitpick at things like minor grammatical errors are attempting to look clever by trying to tear others down. It becomes a battle for superiority and shows insecurity. This of course excludes those who point out errors to be helpful or to educate. ---
**Author:** ![yawuntz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a5b964/32.png) [@yawuntz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yawuntz)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/146 "2013-09-02T01:03:27Z")
> [@Penny](#): > > I did Ayatollah but then I washed my face. 😉 This is one of the crudest, most shocking things I’ve ever read on this board. Meet? ---
**Author:** ![Mathematics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@Mathematics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathematics)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/147 "2013-09-02T01:07:54Z")
This thread is hilarious because you’re doing exactly what you claim other people are. You haven’t given any examples. You just keep saying, “people are overly verbose and use big words without actually saying anything!” Who? What? Where? When? Why? This is the Pit; you can be specific. ---
**Author:** ![SirGalahad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/71c47a/32.png) [@SirGalahad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirGalahad)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/148 "2013-09-02T01:13:09Z")
> [@Penny](#): > > Lacking in substance is my test Ivory. A post that is just a string of words, usually ones that are not commonly used, that fails to address the issue at hand. I like to think of it as a demonstration of vocabulary over true understanding or reasonable thought. In my experience, I have found those who employ such tactics are compensating for lack of intellect. It’s like older men buying hot sports cars to compensate for their waning sex appeal or men who buy jacked up trucks to compensate for their small penises. > > I have also found those who nitpick at things like minor grammatical errors are attempting to look clever by trying to tear others down. It becomes a battle for superiority and shows insecurity. This of course excludes those who point out errors to be helpful or to educate. Penny, most of the usual suspects see these things you enumerate as “features”, not “bugs”. The drama is part of the attraction of the board. It’s like a very slow reality show where Chris Matthews and Jon Stewart pick on Earl Hickey and Larry the Cable Guy. Embrace the irony. You thought it was just about fighting ignorance. It’s also about fighting with the ignorant. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/149 "2013-09-02T01:14:31Z")
> [@Penny](#): > > Lacking in substance is my test Ivory. A post that is just a string of words, usually ones that are not commonly used, that fails to address the issue at hand. I like to think of it as a demonstration of vocabulary over true understanding or reasonable thought. In my experience, I have found those who employ such tactics are compensating for lack of intellect. It’s like older men buying hot sports cars to compensate for their waning sex appeal or men who buy jacked up trucks to compensate for their small penises. Then criticize content and not word count. Harping on word count makes you look foolish. Criticizing lack of content (few words or many) can be a legit complaint. Ascribing motives (trying to make themselves look smarter than they are) is a distraction and strawman argument. And support your own position if that’s your complaint. The argument that this behavior is pervasive on this board and that you can broad-brush everyone with it requires some serious support. So far, your posts are light on content, wordy or concise. ---
**Author:** ![Penny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@Penny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penny)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/150 "2013-09-02T01:21:37Z")
I will as I post. I can only tell you what I have observed in terms of faux intellectualism. I see it often both on and off the board. If you note, my argument was firmed more as a question than a statement, which many have answered. It would seem my hypothesis is not supported by opinion or evidence provided in this thread. Be careful not to ascribe my motives as you have cautioned the same of me. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/151 "2013-09-02T01:25:17Z")
> [@Penny](#): > > I will as I post. > > I can only tell you what I have observed in terms of faux intellectualism. I see it often both on and off the board. > > If you note, my argument was firmed more as a question than a statement, which many have answered. It would seem my hypothesis is not supported by opinion or evidence provided in this thread. > > Be careful not to ascribe my motives as you have cautioned the same of me. I have no clue what your motives are and made no claim to know. You’re the one claiming why people are wordy (in your opinion). You’ve said it many times. You’ve laid out exactly what you think other people’s motives are- and conclude it’s a form of faux intellectualism. That you are so sure that you know it when you see it is a form of confirmation bias. Do you every go back and interview the people you mentally put in the faux intellectual “row” to confirm your conclusion? If not, you suffer from confirmation bias. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/152 "2013-09-02T01:51:28Z")
> [@Penny](#): > > What’s the difference between a legitimate rant and trolling? At some point you apologized for trolling. That serves as an admission of guilt. Don’t use the “T” word and you’ll get along fine. ---
**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 2, 2013, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/153 "2013-09-02T02:06:06Z")
“…attempting to look clever by trying to tear others down. It becomes a battle for superiority and shows insecurity.” Mirror, meet Penny. Penny, meet mirror. Still waiting for Penny to add some value… ---
**Author:** ![Penny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@Penny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penny)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/154 "2013-09-02T02:25:54Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I have no clue what your motives are and made no claim to know. > > You’re the one claiming why people are wordy (in your opinion). You’ve said it many times. You’ve laid out exactly what you think other people’s motives are- and conclude it’s a form of faux intellectualism. That you are so sure that you know it when you see it is a form of confirmation bias. Do you every go back and interview the people you mentally put in the faux intellectual “row” to confirm your conclusion? If not, you suffer from confirmation bias. I always review. People can move between rows. If they prove me wrong in my initial assessment, they move. It’s rare that it happens though. ---
**Author:** ![Penny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@Penny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penny)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/155 "2013-09-02T02:27:10Z")
> [@Truman\_Burbank](#): > > “…attempting to look clever by trying to tear others down. It becomes a battle for superiority and shows insecurity.” > Mirror, meet Penny. Penny, meet mirror. > Still waiting for Penny to add some value… I’m not trying to look superior. I know my place 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Penny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@Penny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penny)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/156 "2013-09-02T02:29:12Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > At some point you apologized for trolling. That serves as an admission of guilt. Don’t use the “T” word and you’ll get along fine. Thanks 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/157 "2013-09-02T02:58:51Z")
Forget being trolled. I think this was an attempt at negging. ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/158 "2013-09-02T03:01:01Z")
> [@Penny](#): > > That is the point of communication isn’t it? To get your point across? If I grunt and point to my mouth and belly or say “I’m hungry” do you not understand a want for food? > > There is also a difference between typos, auto correct and lacking knowledge of grammar. Mr. Door, I already addressed the auto correct grammar issue above. LTR? \*If I grunt and point to my mouth and belly or say “I’m hungry” do you not understand a want for food? \* Oh, baby, I understand what you want, and isn’t food. And I’ll give it you. And you’ll like it. (Attention. She wants attention. What, you thought I was referring to something else?) ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/159 "2013-09-02T03:06:12Z")
> [@Penny](#): > > I always review. People can move between rows. If they prove me wrong in my initial assessment, they move. It’s rare that it happens though. But it’s still your assessment, right? If they prove it to you how? What does “moving between rows” mean anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/160 "2013-09-02T03:13:06Z")
> [@Penny](#): > > I like Twain and like to use the language of the people. He had a strong opinion on verbosity as well. Wasn’t it Twain who may (or may not) have said “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to talk and remove all doubt.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552.md?page=9)