Let's get real about SDMB, you cybernerds!

The BBQ Pit
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“Truth is like sunshine. People used to think it was good for you.”
[RIGHT]-- Nancy Gribble/Redcorn[/RIGHT]

All right you Straight Dopers. Time for a reality check. Does anyone out there remember a classic skit on Saturday Night Live in which William Shatner is the guest speaker at a meeting of Trekkies?

At one point he looks at all these pathetic people with their Spock ears and open-fingered salutes and angrily blurts out: “Look people, get a life! Move out of your parents’ basement. Get laid! You have taken a simple little fun TV show we did in the 60s and turned it into a monumental waste of time!”

I feel much the same way about SDMB. I have been warned by Der Trihs and other posters that I lack objectivity and that I will lose the respect of the others on these message boards unless I confine myself to the exchange of objective information.

What a load of shit!

First of all, do you seriously believe I care if the fictional person “Valteron” (It is NOT my real name d. . . . .uuuuh!) is not greatly respected by a bunch of similarly anonymous cybernerds who have nothing better to do with their money and time than to pay for the right to post their blatherings on this web site day after day?

I mean, think about it, folks!!! PAYING $14 A YEAR FOR THE RIGHT TO GIVE YOUR OPINION??? The only thing more humiliating would be paying for sex.

Now take a typical member whom I will not name (he knows who he is). He has been a member just over a year and has posted over 3,500 times, an average of 9.31 times a day. ALMOST 10 TIMES A DAY FOR A YEAR! This guy is in his late 30s and lives in California for Chrissake!!! And this is all he has to do? (P.S. He is into sci-fi: pass the Spock ears!)

Now, I myself have been a member since April and I have posted an average of 1.49 times a day. (I even view that as a lot) But I am willing to admit that I am a cybernerd loser. I know I am a pile of prejudices and preconceived notions. But at least I have the honesty to admit it. Why do you think I frequent suicide sites? Because although I am AT PRESENT too much of a coward to do it, I clearly recognize that I am of no objective or intellectual value on a world scale except maybe as fertilizer.

Are the posters on this site really objective, scientific, logical? Bullshit!!!

If we were all posting objective facts and analyzing them objectively and without emotion, would we not all come to the same conclusions?

As only one example among many, look at the innumerable threads about Israel and the Middle East. Has anyone ever said, “Gee, I didn’t realize that fact, I think I will become pro-srael or anti-Israel?”

Why are over 90% of Jews pro-Israel and over 90% of Muslims anti-Israel? Are they accessing the same objective information?

Can you show me one case where Der Trihs converted a believer to atheism?

A wise man once said “Remember that nobody is as interested in what you are saying as you are.”

Objectivity? Detachment? What a crock! The next time one of you wants to preach to me about my lack of objectivty, take a good look at some of your own postings. Is there one of us that does NOT have an axe to grind no matter how much they disguise it?

Look, folks, I paid $14 for a ride on this whore and if you don’t like what you see, look away until I am done. If the cost of that is your respect, I’m tremblin’ in my boots!

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Who’re you again?

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Peace be with you .

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I’ve paid for sex.

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There’s nothing like paying $14 so you can tell a bunch of folks who have paid $14 dollars that they’ve wasted their $14. :rolleyes:

Firstly, I think that Shatner would probably be the first to say that the SNL skit was a humorous poke at the stereotype of Star Trek fans, but is not an accurate or meaningful analysis of whether Trek fandom was a worthwhile hobby compared to others.

Secondly, we pay because we derive satisfaction from being able to post here, nothing more, nothing less. I don’t pay for the right to do anything, I just pay to be able to have fun in the specific way that this board provides.

And yes, any information comes through a slightly tainted lens. That doesn’t mean there isn’t merit or truth in attempting, each in our own way, to see things a little more clearly. Giving up on objectivity because “nothing is objective” is one of the most non-productive attitudes there is. It’s like giving up on being on time because “it’s impossible to know exactly what time it is anyway, and the measurement of time is arbitrary,” or giving up on improvement because, “nothing will ever be perfect.”

If there is a good example on this board of what a truly useless discussion looks like, the OP is it.

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Der Trihs told you you lack objectivity? :eek:

Jesus. That boggles the mind. That’s like Ann Coulter telling you you’re coming across a little shrill.

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Live long and prosper.

Oh wait. Given the topic of many of your posts, not sure that’s what you wanted to hear.

Here’s some better advice: Learn to ignore Der Trihs. Unless you are really serious about suicide then I guess it wouldn’t matter.

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Me too… once, in 1960, for 20 minutes…

I got a refund on the last portion of the half hour…

You can’t buy much with fifty cents.

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Wait, no, hold on:

My fictionial persona, which doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with me, has paid for sex.

There we go.

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Giraffe, sadly, it apt in this instance. Scary, eh.

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I take it that penis ensued.

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MPSIMS/IMHO: answer: Yes, I remember that episode.

GD answer:

You can’t analyze anything without emotion, and due to the experiential equivalent of parallax there is no objectivity of the sort that you speak of.

GQ answer:

There have been threads in which people have talked about how they have changed their minds about some major issue as a consequence of this board, so although I’m not answering the specific questions you pose, the answer to what I perceive to be the underlying question is “yes”

ATMB answer: The $14 you paid entitles you to search and to post for the period of a year. You are still constrained, formally by the rules of the board and informally by the attitudes and customs of the board as a community. Your $14 doesn’t entitle you to do anything you damn well see fit.

BBQ Pit answer: Don’t let the wooden swinging thingie with the hinges catch you on the dorsal surfaces during the process of your exit.

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Gods and devils! This has got to be the funniest thing I’ve ever seen tossed off with a completely straight face! Der Trihs told you that you will lose respect! That you aren’t objective!! The only thing that would make this perfect is if he’d have said that you were coming accross at too anti-American and that really you need to back off a bit on religion, m’kay.

I’m having trouble containing my peals of laughter here…GODS! Der Trihs? Really? Please post a link if you have it. I wonder who the other posters were…

I can think of a few that would make this priceless…

-XT

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But was it $14?

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Ah, the Internet Message Board. Where people go to tell other people that they’re wasting their time. I love the smell of flameout in the morning. It smells like… VICTORY!

I can guess. :Rolleyes: With nothing to go on except your rant, however, I’m going to guess that you’re not suicidal. You’re just an attention whore.

I couldn’t agree with you more. But please don’t off yourself. The world needs clowns.

Muddy Waters once said that you can’t lose what you never had. Who are you, and why do you think I care that you’re dissatisfied? You don’t seem to have a clue what anybody here is about, so why do you think your insights matter to me?

The really funny thing is that when this episode is over, Valteron will be left wondering why nobody was awestruck by his pronouncements. At least his $15 will contribute to the survival of the board.

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Well, I don’t know. I mean, you’re right. This is just a message board, we do pay about $15 a year to post, and you’re right, nobody’s really objective. I know that I have my biases and prejudices, and I’m sure everyone else does too. You’re also right that as long as you pay your membership fee (and follow the rules), you can post pretty much whatever you want on here.

On the other hand, on the bigger subject, though, you’re more wrong than you’re right. The only thing you have on here that defines how people see you are your posts. People will read your posts and judge you by them. They’ll judge whether or not you know what you’re talking about, and they’ll judge whether you’re worth listening to and responding to. And if other people respect your posts, if they take you seriously, then they’re going to be more willing to respond to them, and constructively respond. And it’s a lot more fun to post here when other people take you seriously and respond, debate, and argue with you.

And, remember also, that a lot more people read each thread than respond to it. So, I know that (taking your pro-Israel example), that, while my pro-Israel arguments probably won’t convince people who are really anti-Israel, no matter how good they are. But maybe there’s somebody reading the thread who doesn’t really know much about the situation, or doesn’t have a strong opinion. Maybe if I make a good enough argument, he’ll read my posts and say, “Wow, Captain Amazing really makes a good argument and lays out the facts really well. Maybe he’s got a point.” I know there are some people here who’s posts I like to read, even if I have nothing to do with the threads they’re posting in, just because they’ve really impressed me with their command of facts and their posting style. I always feel like I’ve learned something, or understand the topic better, when I read those posts. And sometimes I’ve even learned things from people who I’ve argued with. :slight_smile:

Now, I don’t know what people think of me around here. Maybe I’m being a hypocrite here…maybe people look at my posts and say “What a maroon!” But I do think I’ve gained something from this board…I’ve made some friends, at least, one or two really good ones. And I’ve gotten better at stating my opinion and backing it up. I’ve also learned a lot about a whole lot of subjects. And I don’t know that I would have gained nearly as much if I just took the attitude, “The hell with all of you.”

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Really? I don’t know anything about this poster (never heard of him/her before this thread), but…seriously? :smack:

-XT

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Now see, you’ve taken that totally out of context, because later in that skit, shatner explained that he was only adopting the persona of the evil Kirk from the first season episode “The Enemy Within” and besides…wait, I gotta go, moms calling me upstairs for dinner.

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Everybody pays for sex.

One way or another.

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I’ve paid John Corrado for sex.