# Liberal: Prove it or retract it **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 15, 2005, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314 "2005-06-15T02:21:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314/81 "2005-06-15T18:25:26Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > Oh, buttocks avatar, **whereforart** thou? Are you sure that isn’t “wherefart” thou"? :dubious: ---
**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:** [June 15, 2005, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314/82 "2005-06-15T18:28:25Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > Oh, buttocks avatar, whereforart thou? )[sub]\*[/sub]( ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314/83 "2005-06-15T18:28:27Z")
> [@RedFury](#): > > No doubt you’ll say I’m climbing on my cross, but it is a burden I must endure for others. Watch out, **EddyTeddyFreddy** and the usual suspects will pile on you. Here, I’ll distract them. You save your reputation. It’s too late for me, save yourself! 'Tis a far, far better thing I do… ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314/84 "2005-06-15T18:33:03Z")
Liberal! Medication! Disingenuous! Medication! Cyclically paranoid! Medication! Uriah Heep-like apologies and claims to do better! Medication! See you next time! Medication! ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314/85 "2005-06-15T18:39:23Z")
> [@Uncommon Sense](#): > > I think this is it. > For instance, I may purposely open and post to threads that I notice certain posters have either started or replied to. I do this because I know that they usually have interesting things to say. Whether those are things I agree with or not doesn’t matter, they’re still interesting. What WILL get me to submit a passioned reply is when I disagree with the poster. This is human nature. > So, in your case you may have certain people that open threads that you’re in because they’re interested in what you have to say (pro or con), or in the topic of the thread that you are involved in. Since it sounds like many of these posters also happen to disagree with you you will see a higher percentage of posts that disagree with you and that you may disagree with. Or that happen to offend you. I really don’t think that they _look_ for you. You’re just out there. You post alot, they read alot and you clash. Much of that clashing is going to be similar to the kind of posts you were referring to in your first post in this thread. > I don’t think the posters in question hate you or aim for you, you just happen to post some thoughtful, intelligent, and often controversial things. I think every poster, if given a few minutes to collect some data, could come up with a handful of posters that they consider to be their own personal attackers. Uncommon sense indeed. Would that it were far more common. As an analysis will bear out, I do not mind anyone disagreeing with me. I welcome disagreement. I’ve learned far more from disagreement than from agreement. Just the other day, someone in the Christian bumper sticker thread made an argument against me so compelling that I changed my mind, and thanked him for it. A similar thing occured in Great Debates just a few days before that. I _love_ good argument, whether it comes from me or from someone else. I greatly respect anyone who argues against me convincingly. But that’s not what I complain about. There is a difference between a response that says, “Lib, you’ve commited a fallacy, and here’s why…” and a response that says, “Well, here’s that fucking Liberaltarian mouthing off again”. Do you see the difference? One is a disagreement. The other is a disfunction. Review the posts in this thread, and tell me which you see. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314/86 "2005-06-15T18:43:26Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > In [this post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6236159&postcount=135), it seemed to me that you joined in a pile-on of ridicule, reinforcing a taunt from Bippy the Beardless. **Liberal** you are not an idiot, then how do you take what I said to be a taunt. I was attacking the notion that someone might be holding a gun at your head forcing you to remain in that thread with the rediculous admition that I was holding said gun to your head in order to keep you within the discussion. -1 on list of **ETF** ’s attacks against **Liberal** ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314/87 "2005-06-15T19:00:39Z")
Okay, Bippy, fair enough. Let’s say that I took you the wrong way. I’m definitely not immune to misunderstandings. In fact, let’s say that I took everything I listed the wrong way, and let’s even say that I will not even count the three that EddyTeddyFreddy claimed for herself. Maybe that way, we can wipe the slate clean. EddyTeddyFreddy, I apologize to you for naming you as a person who takes opportunities to hiss at me. My hope is that you and I can start a trend of greater understanding. We all pay to post here, and we all have the best of intentions with very rare exceptions. Can we put this behind us and move on? I thank you for your consideration of this suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314/88 "2005-06-15T19:12:38Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > It’s not an unreasonable ideal but it is a bit unrealistic. Once you’ve had many discussions with someone, their past statements and behavior are going to quite reasonably alter your view of their current statements and behavior. Your posting history affects your credibility in future debates, as it should. > > This is pretty much why we have the Pit, so members have a place to discuss and/or criticize each other’s behavior without hijacking the discussion in the more, um, useful forums. Personally, I think this is an underutilized tool. Instead it seems that there has been a shift lately toward the idea that dishonesty and obnoxiousness should be handled by staff action rather than by the membership. As a strong proponent of actual free speech (i.e. don’t whine to me about pile-ons), I much prefer the latter to the former. Good point!! ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314/89 "2005-06-15T19:15:48Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Are you sure that isn’t “wherefart” thou"? :dubious: No! I know where that is? Dam , where’s the renuzit when you need it most? ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314/90 "2005-06-15T19:17:04Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > )[sub]\*[/sub]( cool, make that an icon for newbies and we have a plan. ME first ME first ---
**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:** [June 15, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314/91 "2005-06-15T19:20:47Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > cool, make that an icon for newbies and we have a plan. ME first ME first Help yourself, asshole 😉 ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314/92 "2005-06-15T19:26:14Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Okay, Bippy, fair enough. Let’s say that I took you the wrong way. I’m definitely not immune to misunderstandings. In fact, let’s say that I took everything I listed the wrong way, and let’s even say that I will not even count the three that EddyTeddyFreddy claimed for herself. Maybe that way, we can wipe the slate clean. > > EddyTeddyFreddy, I apologize to you for naming you as a person who takes opportunities to hiss at me. My hope is that you and I can start a trend of greater understanding. We all pay to post here, and we all have the best of intentions with very rare exceptions. Can we put this behind us and move on? I thank you for your consideration of this suggestion. Thank you. That’s all I wanted, and I accept your apology. I myself am at fault for losing my temper in the Koran thread, for which I apologize, and I intend to keep better control of it henceforth. (Well, dammit, I’ll try really, really hard! 😉 ) That doesn’t mean I won’t disagree with you in the future. It does mean that I will endeavor to be civil when doing so, and will apologize if I transgress. Deal? Okay, everybody, join hands and sing! \* “Kumbaya, My Lord, kumbaya…”\* ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314/93 "2005-06-15T19:27:08Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Help yourself, asshole 😉 Hmmmm :smack: on second thought what I asked for was buttocks. Lets leave the real naugty bits out (_,_) or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314/94 "2005-06-15T19:28:22Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Thank you. That’s all I wanted, and I accept your apology. I myself am at fault for losing my temper in the Koran thread, for which I apologize, and I intend to keep better control of it henceforth. (Well, dammit, I’ll try really, really hard! 😉 ) > > That doesn’t mean I won’t disagree with you in the future. It does mean that I will endeavor to be civil when doing so, and will apologize if I transgress. > > Deal? Deal! Thank you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314/95 "2005-06-15T19:30:27Z")
And now all the trainwreck fans will turn away in disgust, muttering how they’d come to see a fight and a hockey game broke out. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314/96 "2005-06-15T19:31:08Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Are you sure that isn’t “wherefart” thou"? :dubious: and **ETF** > [@](#): > > Okay, everybody, join hands and sing! > > “Kumbaya, My Lord, kumbaya…” and several joyful noises were made unto the lord. Gosh, I’m all tingly and getting a little misty. “All we are saying, is give peace a chance” ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314/97 "2005-06-15T19:36:48Z")
Cosmosdan, you are a dear person. I will remember your kindness. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314/98 "2005-06-15T19:46:58Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Cosmosdan, you are a dear person. I will remember your kindness. Was I kind? Well, it was an accident so don’t go spreading any rumors about me. 😉 and thanks ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314/99 "2005-06-15T19:57:49Z")
> [@Lord Ashtar](#): > > If I’ve learned anything about the SDMB, it’s that there are three types of threads that must be on the front page of the Pit at all times: > [ol] > [li]A pitting of George W. Bush[/li][li]A pitting of SUV drivers[/li][li]A pitting of **Liberal** [/li][/ol] > Now I see that we are lacking #2. If someone could go start that thread, then all will be right in the universe. I followed the Presidential convoy to the US Naval Academy graduation, and I can assure you that when the President travels in D.C., he does so with a vanguard of tailgating SUVs. Does that count? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314/100 "2005-06-15T19:59:35Z")
> [@Jurph](#): > > I followed the Presidential convoy to the US Naval Academy graduation, and I can assure you that when the President travels in D.C., he does so with a vanguard of tailgating SUVs. Does that count? 😃 SUVs _and_ tailgating? We have a winner! 😃 But wait – were they being driven by blonde soccer moms talking into dell phones? :dubious: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-prove-it-or-retract-it/308314.md?page=6)