Why does it always come down to this? WHy is virtually every poster who is NOT a long-time, already dismissed user that posts something not popular immediately labeled a troll or a sock?
In his (or her) own half-assed way, the OP is right. If a topic is an SDMB “sacred cow”, no matter how obviously wrong or obviously right the post is, it is inceredibly easy to predict how the posting user will be recieved based on which side of the fence the post falls.
If the post falls on the SDMB-positive side (GLBT tolerant, atheistic, pro-Dem/liberal, pro-Princess Bride, etc. etc.), users here will fall all over themselves to equivocate the posting and spin it to a coherent and logical thoght process. If however it is a post NOT generally accepted, the poster is abused, excoriated and pilloried with such a vengeful and personal force that it is sometimes scary for the well-being of the ATTACKER in terms of their mental well-being.
There are many many people who have to get over themselves in this place. The talk of tolerance and respect for opinions and lifestyles of others is NOT just for your side. We have thread after thread talking of bigotry and intolerance while that same intolerance continues post after post, just for the things with which the majority (or perhaps vocal minority) here opposes.
I oppose navel-gazing crap-peddlers calling themselves “scientists.” I oppose new-age bullshit being treated as seriously as molecular theory. A person persists in doing these things which I oppose - loudly and publicly - in a place designed for being obnoxious and loud, publicly. I respond by being obnoxious and loud publicly back.
If these things I oppose are themselves not worthy of opposition, please explain why. If there is another forum in which I should have expressed my loud, obnoxious opposition to this fruitbat, please point me in its direction.
This isn’t taking up a lot of my time or energy or anger; I enjoy getting my hate on occasionally, love the sound of my own voice (as I have previously noted), and really, really enjoy swearing. It’s a shame how heinously unevolved I am.
Well at least you’re honest with yourself. My problem is not necessarily with the “opposition to this fruitbat”, but with the vitriol for someone who’s views “isn’t taking up a lot of my time or energy or anger”.
The crowds here get stirred up into a frenzy with the sight of a “heretic”. It’s both amusiing and concerning to see the self-righteousness of some of these self-professed evolved, critically thinking,absurdly intelligent posters devolve into a braying jack-ass within a post or two.
I don’t think he/she/it is any of those things because of being new or holding an unpopular opinion. As I said in the rest of my post, he/she/it gives that vibe off (at least to me, YMMV) somewhat because of posting their first post in the Pit and (so far) ONLY posting in the pit and creating another topic out of a matter that could have just been added to the already existing topic.
To me, this topic isn’t any different than the usual “This board is too strict, why should I pay?” or “Man, this board sucks, give me one reason why I should stay.” topics. My way of thinking is, if you’re really going to judge the whole board on one or two topics, then maybe the place isn’t for you after all.
But see the thing is its not the judging the whole board on one or two topics, but its the reception one gets when one crosses the groupthink of those one or two topics.
Are we saying if you aren’t with us, you’re agin us and therefore get to stepping?
And to me, that’s all well and good if someone thinks or feels that way. That’s not the issue for me here.
The issue is the fact that this guy/girl registered yesterday. Yesterday. Been here a little over 24 hours now and they have 10 posts…and all ten posts are in the Pit.
There used to be a rule here that if all of your (or a majority of your) posts were in the pit (and held in comparison for how long you’ve been registered), that your membership would or might be in jeopardy. And for good reason, I feel.
Now right now it seems to be fine…but what about if the OP has 20 or 50 or 100 posts and they’re all just in this topic alone and no other forum or topic? I mean, already it’s ten.
Me, I’d think s/he’d want to branch out a bit. Explore the finer things that the board does have to offer. So s/he’s pitting the groupthink. Cool. That’s his/her right. Meanwhile, why not talk about some other things in other topics like CS or GD? The more he/she just posts in here, the more he/she just looks like a one-trick pony.
Why? Why does a person have to post in other forums to ameliorate the concerns of other posters? What business is it of yours WHERE a person posts? I don’t post in GQ or CCC. Most of my posts, or a goodly percentage thereof, are here in the Pit.
Why? Because that’s where my interests lie. That’s where the threads that catch my attention are. MPSIMS is a perfect name, mundane and pointless. CS and TGR are light and fluffy, like a Krispy Kreme, fun but not entirely satisfying. GD is a complete oxymoron. It is neither great nor a debate. The other ones that I am missing… well they don’t seem to have much to them.
I have been called a sock and a troll from the beginning though I have stated that I have lurked for a LOOOONG time and thus have some of the backstory on some things. If I were to have started my first post with Bush sucks and fuck the Christians, I would’ve been prolly more warmly received (not that I give a rat’s ass)
But what does it matter to you what forums a person posts to? YOU would like to think he/she would want to branch out, but what is to you if they don’t? Doesn’t make them a troll or a sock or a one trick pony. Jesus H Christ, how many tricks can a pony have in less than 24 hours and ten posts? This may be his or her gored ox. Maybe this is what got the person to actually sign up and post.
…and as is karmic, this prolly WILL be a one trick troll and thus fuck it up for new posters thereafter.
You seem to be assuming a lot of things about me. I don’t care where anyone posts. I just saw that this guy/girl has only posted in the Pit so far and displayed my own opinion about it: That it looks weird. I then gave my opinion of what I’ve seen it usually meant. If you don’t share that opinion or disagree…more power to you.
(The scene: My house. A shabbily dressed man with an ill kempt beard waves his hands and beats on my front door then enters my house yelling “The world is coming to an end. Repent! Repent!” over and over and won’t stop regardless of what I say)
This is not my beautiful stapler.
Oh, and KGS is not a poor mentally ill victim being assaulted by a mob. He is a garden-variety dipshit whose curb-kicking is entirely deserved.
Virtually all here would agree that credulous spouters of woo have the right to their opinions, to live in the community, work in jobs whose output is not adversely affected by their beliefs, marry other credulous spouters of woo and spout woo at their unfortunate offspring.
On the other hand there is no agreed-upon right to spout woo in a public forum aimed at fighting ignorance and be gratified by a respectful reception.
Explore the finer things that the board does have to offer. So s/he’s pitting the groupthink. Cool. That’s his/her right. Meanwhile, why not talk about some other things in other topics like CS or GD? The more he/she just posts in here, the more he/she just looks like a one-trick pony.