# Jackals of the Dope, I pit you! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 11, 2007, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708 "2007-04-11T22:11:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708/181 "2007-04-12T19:02:43Z")
[QUOTE=Harborwolf] But how do you regulate that? [/QUOTE] Who said it shoud be regulated? The rules are what they are. Within the rules, their is some behavior that some people find disgusting. It is their right, as paying members, to write a Pit thread to express their disgust. No change in Pit rules was requested. I think the OP is best summarized by the phrase “Fuck you, Jackals of the Dope”. I don’t think any request was made beyond that statement of disgust. The same holds for society at large and things like adultery. Adultery is not illegal, at least in democratic countries. Nor is bragging about your adultery illegal. So, what the lady in the other thread did was perfectly within the laws of society. Yet a lot of people find that behavior disgusting. It is their right to express their disgust, but I didn’t see anyone in those other threads asking for a change in the law, to make adultery illegal. When people were condemning her behavior no one came in and said, “who the fuck are you to be playing junior-cop, telling how people should behave?”, “why do you want to change the laws?”, because that would have been a strawman. But, in the case of the OP, and others who are expressing their disgust at some board behavior, people are using strawmen to attack them, such as “who the fuck are you to be playing junior-mod, telling how people should behave?”, “why do you want to change the rules?”. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/59ef9b/32.png) [@Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708/182 "2007-04-12T19:09:28Z")
[QUOTE=gazpacho] Every thread closing is a judgment call by the mods based on the specific circumstances of the thread. [/QUOTE] Seems like to me that is exactly what happened. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708/183 "2007-04-12T19:14:08Z")
[QUOTE=Harborwolf] \Just a question for you, Quiddity, Autolycus, and anybody else who wants to take a stab at it. How much is too much? If you were granted moddly powers for a day, where would you draw the line? Is there a clear line or is it one of those “I know obscenity when I see it” sorta things? \ [/QUOTE] I think the problem here is that people acting like jackals aren’t breaking a quantifiable rule, but I definitely think they are breaking the much less quantifiable “don’t be a jerk” rule. After the discussion has moved on, positions have changed, original positions have been re-visited and re-thought, and the situation has been thoroughly hashed-out, to come in at that point and go back to the original point and viciously attack the holder of the original position is a jerky thing to do. Maybe the posters who do this can’t stand the idea that they missed their chance at getting their kick at the cat with everyone else before the discussion moved on, but it’s too late at that point. Get into the thread ealier next time, instead of just being a jerk (a jerkal?). As far as I’m concerned, this is the type of jackal behaviour that **Autolycus** is (rightly) ranting about. This isn’t about people having discussions and disagreements and give-and-take (often quite loudly and aggressively); this is about people seeing someone down on the ground and giving them one more kick in the nuts instead of realizing that the fight is over, and they missed it. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708/184 "2007-04-12T19:18:12Z")
[QUOTE=Polerius] \When people were condemning her behavior no one came in and said, “who the fuck are you to be playing junior-cop, telling how people should behave?”, “why do you want to change the laws?”, because that would have been a strawman. But, in the case of the OP, and others who are expressing their disgust at some board behavior, people are using strawmen to attack them, such as “who the fuck are you to be playing junior-mod, telling how people should behave?”, “why do you want to change the rules?”. [/QUOTE] Very good point. ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708/185 "2007-04-12T19:20:01Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] I think the problem here is that people acting like jackals aren’t breaking a quantifiable rule, but I definitely think they are breaking the much less quantifiable “don’t be a jerk” rule. After the discussion has moved on, positions have changed, original positions have been re-visited and re-thought, and the situation has been thoroughly hashed-out, to come in at that point and go back to the original point and viciously attack the holder of the original position is a jerky thing to do. Maybe the posters who do this can’t stand the idea that they missed their chance at getting their kick at the cat with everyone else before the discussion moved on, but it’s too late at that point. Get into the thread ealier next time, instead of just being a jerk (a jerkal?). As far as I’m concerned, this is the type of jackal behaviour that **Autolycus** is (rightly) ranting about. This isn’t about people having discussions and disagreements and give-and-take (often quite loudly and aggressively); this is about people seeing someone down on the ground and giving them one more kick in the nuts instead of realizing that the fight is over, and they missed it. [/QUOTE] Where does asking for RSSchen to be banned fall in your continuum of jerkitude? ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708/186 "2007-04-12T19:26:18Z")
[QUOTE=Polerius] The same holds for society at large and things like adultery. Adultery is not illegal, at least in democratic countries. Nor is bragging about your adultery illegal. So, what the lady in the other thread did was perfectly within the laws of society. [/QUOTE] Nitpick: Adultery is illegal in several states. Apparently, in Maryland the fine is $10, but there are real criminal sanctions in some states. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708/187 "2007-04-12T19:28:18Z")
The internet is serious fucking business, people. **Autolytus** , **Quiddity** – take your junior mod bullshit and shove it right up your asses. (Assuming you have space, **Autolytus**.) You got a problem with a post? Report it. Otherwise, fuck off. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708/188 "2007-04-12T19:28:41Z")
[QUOTE=Polerius] Yet a lot of people find that behavior disgusting. It is their right to express their disgust, but I didn’t see anyone in those other threads asking for a change in the law, to make adultery illegal. When people were condemning her behavior no one came in and said, “who the fuck are you to be playing junior-cop, telling how people should behave?”, “why do you want to change the laws?”, because that would have been a strawman. But, in the case of the OP, and others who are expressing their disgust at some board behavior, people are using strawmen to attack them, such as “who the fuck are you to be playing junior-mod, telling how people should behave?”, “why do you want to change the rules?”. [/QUOTE] This post doesn’t even make sense. The reason no one in that thread told people to quit playing “jr-cop” for “wanting to change the laws” is because no one came in that thread and played jr-cop wanting to change the laws. There was no mention, anywhere in that thread by anyone about making adultry illegal so how you came up with your analogy is a mystery, for sure. There are rules here. Apparently, according to the powers that be, nobody broke them in that thread or any of the other threads. A shit load of _well, you didn’t break the rules, but why do you have to be so MEEEEEEEAN_ posts came after, which is what some of us are totally tired of. Don’t like meanness? Either stay out of the pit, or stay out of pit threads where people are mean. E-Z. ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708/189 "2007-04-12T19:35:14Z")
[QUOTE=alice\_in\_wonderland] There was no mention, anywhere in that thread by anyone about making adultry illegal so how you came up with your analogy is a mystery, for sure. [/QUOTE] Was there a mention in this thread, and specifically in the OP, about changing the rules? > [@](#): > > A shit load of _well, you didn’t break the rules, but why do you have to be so MEEEEEEEAN_ posts came after Same with what happened in the other thread. Most of the posts could be categorized as _well, you didn’t break the law, but why do you have to be so MEEEEEEEAN_ ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708/190 "2007-04-12T19:35:24Z")
[QUOTE=alice\_in\_wonderland] Don’t like meanness? Either stay out of the pit, or stay out of pit threads where people are mean. E-Z. [/QUOTE] Or do like I do: come to the Pit as much as you like, read and post whatever you want (barring outlawed behavior), and when people are acting like cruel, vicious assholes, call them cruel, vicious assholes and revile them for it. See? There’s plenty of room for everybody. Cheers, assholes! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708/191 "2007-04-12T19:40:22Z")
[QUOTE=Starving Artist] Or do like I do: come to the Pit as much as you like, read and post whatever you want (barring outlawed behavior), and when people are acting like cruel, vicious assholes, call them cruel, vicious assholes and revile them for it.😃 [/QUOTE] But you manage to do that without whining. It makes all the difference, doncha know. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708/192 "2007-04-12T19:41:11Z")
[QUOTE=Don’t fight the hypothetical] [QUOTE=gazpacho] Every thread closing is a judgment call by the mods based on the specific circumstances of the thread. [/quote] Seems like to me that is exactly what happened. [/QUOTE] Yes but in my opinion the thread was closed about 6 pages late. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708/193 "2007-04-12T19:42:41Z")
[QUOTE=brownie55] Where does asking for RSSchen to be banned fall in your continuum of jerkitude? [/QUOTE] Nowhere; that would fall under the umbrella of complaints about this board and/or other members. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708/194 "2007-04-12T19:43:02Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] As far as I’m concerned, this is the type of jackal behaviour that **Autolycus** is (rightly) ranting about. This isn’t about people having discussions and disagreements and give-and-take (often quite loudly and aggressively); this is about people seeing someone down on the ground and giving them one more kick in the nuts instead of realizing that the fight is over, and they missed it. [/QUOTE] Thank you **Lou** for understanding what I was trying to get at. And for the record, I’m not advocating junior modding or censorship of The Pit. My OP was an over-wrought rant against UVPS itself (there I go again), not a motion to suggest people turn their frowns upside down or any bullshit like that. ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708/195 "2007-04-12T19:43:05Z")
[QUOTE=gazpacho] Yes but in my opinion the thread was closed about 6 pages late. [/QUOTE] I’ll alert the media… ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708/196 "2007-04-12T19:43:36Z")
[QUOTE=alice\_in\_wonderland] MEEEEEEEAN\* posts came after, which is what some of us are totally tired of. Don’t like meanness? Either stay out of the pit, or stay out of pit threads where people are mean. E-Z. [/QUOTE] Oh boo hoo. Don’t like ‘I’m tired of people behaving like morons’ posts? Stay outta the Pit, then. Apparently, the ravening hoardes aren’t acquainted with the concept of ‘irony’. It’s pretty funny. And to the ‘but we’ve alllwwaaaayyyssss done it that way’ argument, so what? Big woo. ‘That we’ve always done it that way’ is the singularly lamest reason for anybody to do anything. How’s about concepts like ‘changing for the better’? I guess that kind of thing is beyond some folks’ ability to grasp. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708/197 "2007-04-12T19:45:35Z")
Change is bad. ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708/198 "2007-04-12T19:47:08Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] Nowhere; that would fall under the umbrella of complaints about this board and/or other members. [/QUOTE] So starting a new thread to kick them some more is entirely different than kicking them in the existing thread. Nope, I still don’t understand. ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708/199 "2007-04-12T19:49:09Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] Change is bad. [/QUOTE] 😃 Now c’mon - everybody chant along… ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708/200 "2007-04-12T19:49:43Z")
[QUOTE=alice\_in\_wonderland] \A shit load of _well, you didn’t break the rules, but why do you have to be so MEEEEEEEAN_ posts came after, which is what some of us are totally tired of. Don’t like meanness? Either stay out of the pit, or stay out of pit threads where people are mean. E-Z. [/QUOTE] You missed the third, completely-within-the-rules choice - complain about the things you don’t like. People might not like the complaints, but people who don’t like how things are have every right to complain about them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackals-of-the-dope-i-pit-you/399708.md?page=11)