# Is "you have no understanding" okay out of the Pit? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 14, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636 "2010-11-14T15:29:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636/61 "2010-11-17T21:54:01Z")
Your \*mom \*has no understanding. Awwwwww _snap!_ ---
**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:** [November 17, 2010, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636/62 "2010-11-17T23:09:34Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > The question in the title wasn’t even touched on in post #3, the vast majority of which was spent (as \*\*SFG \*\*correctly notes) on “tu quoques,” rather than addressing the specific examples I was asking about. I still have no idea whether I can say that another poster “has no understanding of” the subject under discussion, if I’ll be admonished for saying that in so many words, whether I can’t say it but \*\*Colibri \*\*can, whether anyone is liable to be admonished for saying that outside the Pit, and I’ve asked for clarity on these specific quiestions so often, I can only conclude that it is a deliberate act of obfuscation not to answer “yes” or “no.” You have no understanding of post #3. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636/63 "2010-11-17T23:41:48Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > You have no understanding of post #3. Thanks so much for clarifying it for me. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636/64 "2010-11-18T06:31:29Z")
> [@](#): > > **Czarcasm** : My ghod, even if the mods bowed to your silly request and listed all the variations of all the words and phrases that were appropriate in each forum at which times by which people, the first thing you would do is come up with something not on the list and post it. And when he does that, by all means he should be figuratively raked over the coals. But that’s not what he did in this thread, is it? He was very specific about asking if those words were appropriate for an obvious reason. > [@](#): > > **Shot From Guns** : Rarely, if ever, is their behavior admonished directly by another staff member in public. Your comprehension skills are much, much better than Tom’s and Colibri’s. You understood the implication of what I was saying. Or maybe they _did_ understand it also, but chose to pretend to infer something else. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636/65 "2010-11-18T16:04:52Z")
When you see every question, suggestion, or criticism as a personal attack, it’s very easy to become overly defensive. ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636/66 "2010-11-18T23:44:09Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Your \*mom \*has no understanding. > > Awwwwww _snap!_ I don’t… understand. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636/67 "2010-11-19T16:05:38Z")
> [@Trans Fat Og](#): > > I don’t… understand. Apparently it’s transmitted genetically. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636/68 "2010-11-21T15:40:19Z")
Does anyone think I got an answer to "Is “you have no understanding’ okay out of the Pit?” If so, can you tell me if the answer is “Yes, it’s okay” or “No, it’s not okay”? Does anyone think I didn’t get a clear answer, and that I don’t deserve one, so ha ha ha? Does anyone think I do deserve a clear answer, but unfortunately the question must be left up to context, how the Moderator feels that day, previous tone of other posters in the thread, whatever? ---
**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:** [November 21, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636/69 "2010-11-21T16:26:59Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Does anyone think I got an answer to "Is “you have no understanding’ okay out of the Pit?” If so, can you tell me if the answer is “Yes, it’s okay” or “No, it’s not okay”? I answered you a week ago, in post #13. > [@Colibri](#): > > Remarks such as “You have no knowledge [on a particular subject]” in my experience are pretty common in GQ (and probably GD). I would not technically regard them as insults, but they may be rude. I clarified further in post #16: [QUOTE=Colibri] [QUOTE=pseudotriton ruber ruber] Okay, just as I thought. I should refrain, but you’re within your rights, merely being rude, to use those words outside the Pit. Got it. Loud and clear. Thanks for confirming. [/QUOTE] “Within your rights” doesn’t apply here. You don’t have a “right” to be rude. As I said, if you use such words outside the Pit you may be asked to dial it back. [/QUOTE] Since those words are not a direct personal insult, they would not be subject to an official warning on first instance. However, you might be asked to dial it back; and if you made a deliberate habit of using such words after being instructed not to, you could be subject to a warning. > [@pseudotriton ruber ruber](#): > > Does anyone think I do deserve a clear answer, but unfortunately the question must be left up to context, how the Moderator feels that day, previous tone of other posters in the thread, whatever? Yes, it does depend on context, as you are aware but evidently don’t want to accept as an answer. I also addressed this before: [QUOTE=Colibri] Now, in practice we do allow a good deal of incivility in some forums outside the Pit. How much to allow is largely a judgement call. When a discussion is becoming heated, participants may be asked to dial it back. You should refrain from being rude to other posters outside of the Pit. [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=pseudotriton ruber ruber] If it is okay, then I will use those words freely whenever I think they’re appropriate in or out of the Pit, and I will cite this thread as my basis for thinking it’s okay to use those terms. [/QUOTE] This kind of comment misses the point entirely. It’s not particular words or phrases that are against the rules, it’s how they are used. So yes, it does depend on context. Most posters in this thread seem to understand this. I’m not going to keep answering the same question (or variants of it) over and over again just because you don’t like the answers you have been given. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636/70 "2010-11-21T17:07:49Z")
What I don’t like is the fact that I HAVEN’T been given answers, but if that’s the best you’re going to offer me, I’ll simply note that it’s also what I expected to get in the OP: [QUOTE= me, in the final graf of my OP] Of course I expect a non-answer such as “it all depends on context,” because I understand that there is one set of rules for Mods to follow, even when they not posting as Mods, and another set for such lowly posters as myself, but I would like to see something on the record about this. [/QUOTE] What you’re saying is that you give yourself a free pass to be rude to me, because you’re not technically violating any rule, but I’m not to be rude in the same exact way using the same exact language to other posters, which is what I understood all along, and which is why I was reluctant to open this entire thread in ATMB, as you requested I do. It was a sucker bet, which I took, so congratulations. You’ve gotten what you wanted, which was to waste my time seeking answers that I’d never get. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636/71 "2010-11-21T17:17:54Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > What you’re saying is that you give yourself a free pass to be rude to me, Sorry, this makes no sense at all. I’ve said I was wrong and apologized for it. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636/72 "2010-11-21T17:36:22Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > What I don’t like is the fact that I HAVEN’T been given answers, but if that’s the best you’re going to offer me, I’ll simply note that it’s also what I expected to get in the OP: > What you’re saying is that you give yourself a free pass to be rude to me, because you’re not technically violating any rule, but I’m not to be rude in the same exact way using the same exact language to other posters, which is what I understood all along, and which is why I was reluctant to open this entire thread in ATMB, as you requested I do. It was a sucker bet, which I took, so congratulations. You’ve gotten what you wanted, which was to waste my time seeking answers that I’d never get. Why do you keep narrowing the focus to you? Everything that has been answered is generalizable to the posting community at large. It appears to me that on this point you are being willfully obtuse, but what for what reason I cannot fathom. The answer to your question remains: The context in which any statement is made is considered for any poster and may or may not warrant mod comment. Posters making rude comments, even those that do not specifically break rules but may be adding to an increasingly inflammatory tone to a discussion, may be asked to dial it down. Regardless of who that poster may be, which includes you. ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636/73 "2010-11-21T21:00:50Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Apparently it’s transmitted genetically. Necessary Beckian comment: You know WHO ELSE made snide remarks on the subject of genetics? 😉 ---
**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:** [November 22, 2010, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636/74 "2010-11-22T10:32:08Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Thanks so much for clarifying it for me. I thought it might clarify things a little seeing as I used the exact phrase in your OP, we’re not in the Pit and I didn’t get warned, therefore the phrase itself is not against the rules and this is what you want to know yes? If I did get warned or a mod note for that post I expect it would be because it may be perceived as bating you, though that was not the intention. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636/75 "2010-11-22T17:00:42Z")
I’m baffled anyone would think “You have no understanding” isn’t OK. I’ve seen more heated phrasing in GD all the time. Does anyone think the following would be against the rules: “If man evolved from apes, why are there still apes?” “You have no understanding of evolution.” You could say that it is unnecessary and rude, but it is not against the rules. I’ve seen mods request people tone things down when discussions get overheated, but they don’t give out warnings unless people start repeatedly ignoring mod instructions. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636/76 "2010-11-22T18:32:55Z")
Jesus Christ, what does it take to get through? The Mods have told you over and over again “YES! Being rude is against the rules! Insults outside the Pit are against the rules! No, it is NOT OK!” They have also told you over and over again that there is no guarantee that a particular incident will result in the warning, “note,” admonishment, or banning that it deserves. They, Ed Zotti, the Chicago Reader, and all right-thinking Dopers WANT things to remain vague and loose; this allows a little freedom and fun to prevail, while retaining the ability to slap down behavior that will make the place intolerable. The rules are not meant to provide a clear line for you to stand next to, “this much of a jerk and no further!” It’s more like radiation; there’s an unshielded mass of Authoritah at the Jerk center of the Dope, radiating Mod particles. If you walk right up to it, you’ll die quickly of Moderation Poisoning; keep just a little distance, and you might recover. Farther out in the hot zone, you’ll probably only experience the milder symptoms of moderation poisoning, but repeated exposure will still kill you. On the outskirts of the hot zone, severe symptoms are rare; some people live there and have developed a tolerance, but statistically the death rate is higher, and residents never seem entirely healthy. Visitors are usually OK, but are occasionally struck down, and occasionally a high-energy Mod particle will make it out of the hot zone and nail somebody (this is rarely harmful, but some individuals are sensitive). It’s these last two categories that draw most complaints; people just can’t seem to get it into their heads that moderation is a statistical phenomenon. They see one person nearly die on his first visit to the hot zone, they see another guy living deep inside the zone who never even seems to get sick, and they say “hey, that’s not fair!” No matter how many times you explain the statistics, and that the old fart is sicker than they think – he’s just not a fucking crybaby about it – they demand consistency and safety from a random universe. They demand a Line of Safety, and a line is drawn, someplace where the chance of a moderation interaction seems very small. But then someone catches that one-in-million Mod particle, and the people scream: “You said we were safe!” And it’s explained, again, that there IS no safety – the only way to be 100.0% safe from moderation is to live in some other universe – one with no Jerk center, but a uniform distribution, or one with no Authoritah in it. Me, I like it here. I find a little Jerk refreshing, and a little risk, too; so do most people here – that’s why they live in a town built so close to it. If you’re that scared of a little random moderation, maybe this isn’t the town for you. Maybe you should just go live way the hell out in the boonies where the chance of moderation really is damn near zero; but you won’t meet anyone there, and for my money you might as well be dead. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636/77 "2010-11-22T19:55:45Z")
> [@Nametag](#): > > I find a little Jerk refreshing Sure, but be careful or you’ll go blind. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636/78 "2010-11-22T23:33:39Z")
Yeah? You know else who’s blind? Justice! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636/79 "2010-11-24T01:12:41Z")
> [@Nametag](#): > > Yeah? You know else who’s blind? Justice! > > 😃 Yeah? You know WHO ELSE always brought up Justice? Superman, that’s who! 🆒 ---
**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:** [November 24, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636/80 "2010-11-24T01:16:21Z")
> [@Trans Fat Og](#): > > Yeah? You know WHO ELSE always brought up Justice? > > Superman, that’s who! 🆒 “Justice may be blind…but it can see in the dark.” -Nicholas Marshall [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-have-no-understanding-okay-out-of-the-pit/560636.md?page=5)