# Is the Straight dope a Dictatorship? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 15, 2002, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999 "2002-08-15T11:49:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Montezuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@Montezuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montezuma)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/41 "2002-08-16T14:40:26Z")
Another example of one exerting power over another! ---
**Author:** ![Sparc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Sparc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparc)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/42 "2002-08-16T14:51:35Z")
Another example of the non-dictatorial peer regulating aspect of the SDMB, I would rather say. ---
**Author:** ![Montezuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@Montezuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montezuma)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/43 "2002-08-16T14:59:03Z")
Do you guys think that there is a considerable number of people on this board, who are members, try to bully on some very rare occasions (I hope) other members into forcibly accepting there beliefs. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/44 "2002-08-16T15:02:16Z")
No, not really. I’ve seen people try to blind others with confusing or misleading arguments, and I’ve seen people offer very well-researched and persuasive arguments. I haven’t see brute force work, and I’d be surprised if it did. ---
**Author:** ![Montezuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@Montezuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montezuma)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/45 "2002-08-16T15:13:58Z")
oh right, It must be my weirdself percieving it as bullying . ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/46 "2002-08-16T15:17:47Z")
I suppose it depends what you mean by bullying. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/47 "2002-08-16T15:18:33Z")
If the straight dope is a dictatorship, then it is a strange one. How many other dictatorships exist where someone tries a [coup d’etat](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=106495&highlight=cecil+replacement) and aren’t exiled or slaughtered? Of Course, **Fenris** could be posting from inside a dungeon. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/48 "2002-08-16T15:19:47Z")
What’re they gonna do, font you to death? ---
**Author:** ![Montezuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@Montezuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montezuma)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/49 "2002-08-16T15:20:41Z")
HA! ROTFLMAO ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/50 "2002-08-16T15:20:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Montezuma \* > \*\*Another example of one exerting power over another! \*\* “Oh, now we see the violence inherent in the system. Come see the violence inherent in the system! Help, help! I’m being repressed!!” – _Monty Python and the Holy Grail_ “Oh, there you go again, hiding behind a smokescreen of bourgeois cliches.” – Ringo Starr, _A Hard Day’s Night_ ---
**Author:** ![Sparc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Sparc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparc)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/51 "2002-08-16T16:51:37Z")
> [@](#): > > oh right, It must be my weirdself percieving it as bullying . Montezuma, is all this about that a few times in the last months you’ve had your posts receive rhetorical broadsides sinking them instantaneously, sails, deckhands, cannons and all? If that’s the case you are complaining of the level of debate here in GD… The ‘dictatorship’ provides for pleasure boating as well if you’re into bobbing around on yachts rather than rhetorical Armada style battling you know. There is also a pond where liberal use of tenterhooks and bludgeons with cutlasses and flogging at the mast is the sport. If that doesn’t catch your fancy either you can take regatta classes or just sail for sport on two other peaceful lakes in the care of our beloved leadership. Long live the Admiralty! Captain Sparc Montezuma, is all this about that a few times in the last months you’ve had your posts receive rhetorical broadsides sinking them instantaneously, sails, deckhands, cannons and all? If that’s the case you are complaining of the level of debate here in GD… The ‘dictatorship’ provides for pleasure boating as well if you’re into bobbing around on yachts rather than rhetorical Armada style battling you know. There is also a pond where liberal use of tenterhooks and bludgeons with cutlasses and flogging at the mast is the sport. If that doesn’t catch your fancy either you can take regatta classes or just sail for sport on two other peaceful lakes in the care of our beloved leadership. Long live the Admiralty! Captain Sparc ---
**Author:** ![Montezuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@Montezuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montezuma)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999/52 "2002-08-16T16:55:04Z")
I wasn’t complaining, I was apologising. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-straight-dope-a-dictatorship/123999.md?page=2)