# Libertarian is STILL an idiot. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 8, 2004, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174 "2004-07-08T21:37:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174/41 "2004-07-09T01:22:00Z")
> [@Exgineer](#): > > I re-read my post, and took a good long look at the thread I put it in, and I have come to an inescapable conclusion. > > I’m an idiot. [Nelson] HA-ha! You’ve mispoken! MisPOKEn! [/Nelson] ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174/42 "2004-07-09T01:27:16Z")
You don’t know the half of it, **Bryan**. My first post here was no miracle of clarity, and I suddenly realized that I was wasting my time anyway. On preview: Shit. Now I’m doubly an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174/43 "2004-07-09T01:31:38Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > If you’re saying that I am not allowed to refer to him as Libertarian, even in the Pit, while I am allowed to call him an asshole, I surely don’t understand it, and it seems to me to be a clear and egregious abuse of Mod power–to define “acting like a jerk” as “pissing TVeblen, personally, off.” Oy. It’s like being a petty little adolescent, continually calling someone by a name, just to ruffle feathers, over and over and over and over and over again. Nobody cares, but you make an issue of it anyway. It’s childish. It’s tedious. It’s petty. That would be my interpretation of it anyway. Can’t speak for anyone else, of course (and certainly can’t speak for a mod!). I presume that you’d call any of us “asshole” after we did something specifically to you or expressed some assholish attitude and you were commenting on that. If you called someone asshole every time you addressed them, just because you _could_ and you wanted to make some infantile point, I’d personally think that would make you kind of jerkish too. > [@](#): > > Grudgingly understood. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174/44 "2004-07-09T01:44:13Z")
> [@TVeblen](#): > > Nor in this Cafe Society thread]([http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=262812&page=1&highlight=libertarian](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=262812&page=1&highlight=libertarian)) where you not only repeatedly called him "Libertarian’’, complete with red highlighting. Uh, **Veb**? If we follow your link, we’ll see ‘libertarian’ highlighted in red, whether or not **lissener** coded it that way. Minor nitpick. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174/45 "2004-07-09T02:02:18Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > If you’re saying that I am not allowed to refer to him as Libertarian, even in the Pit, while I am allowed to call him an asshole, I surely don’t understand it, and it seems to me to be a clear and egregious abuse of Mod power–to define “acting like a jerk” as “pissing TVeblen, personally, off.” But of course if that is your decree, I understand that I must follow it if I remain here. Fine. Grudgingly understood. It’s really very simple. You’re not being singled out, in spirit or in logic, so pouting won’t help. We wouldn’t allow anyone to jump into random threads using “screen names” that are actually insults harkening back to long-standing grudges, e.g. “Cat De-clawer”, “Fat Basher” “Circumcision Butcher”, “PC PrimaDonna”, etc. It isn’t acceptable to drag insulting nicknames for other posters all over the boards. It’s distinctly rude, not to mention annoying, to other posters who actually don’t want to watch you re-ignite old battles over and over and over again. If you don’t like my decision, feel free to make your case to the admins. Veb ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174/46 "2004-07-09T02:03:12Z")
**Lissener** , I personally think the point is overwrought but has a few merits, in terms of what “Liberal” and “Libertarian” mean in political contexts not referencing our Doper colleague in America. And it’s your privilege to be as suave or intemperate as you feel a given issue demands of you. However, I do feel it very important to note that the term is in no way outmoded. Liberal retains its classic Gladstonian meaning throughout Europe, where the political left wing deplores a win by the Liberal Democrats or equivalent. The U.K. and even Canada come close to the classic meaning in their political parties’ names. Only in the U.S.A. is “liberal” descriptive of strongly leftist positions. I concede that it’s confusing. But on a board that permits a wide variety of monikers from a variety of sources, it’s to be expected. And I think it’s his privilege to select a name that suits his own self-image, not one that fits our perceptions of him. I can recall a couple of years ago when I gave you a genteel but heartfelt comment that you surely weren’t _“lissening”_ to what I “said” in a post which I thought was fairly clear about my position on some issue or other but which you totally misconstrued. ---
**Author:** ![Shaolinrabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Shaolinrabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shaolinrabbit)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174/47 "2004-07-09T02:29:23Z")
No offense **Lissener** but seriously, you should take some time off. The SDMB mods are pretty laid back, and so far I haven’t seen one single someone out. When you start arguing with them for three or four posts it’s a good sign that you’re approaching meltfown. You probably won’t take the advice, since no one does, but trust me, you’re getting close to the thread with the first response of: ::pulls up lawn chair:: 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174/48 "2004-07-09T02:37:59Z")
**lissener** , are you honestly missing **Veb** ’s point, or do I need to post in that other thread you started again? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174/49 "2004-07-09T02:41:51Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Please explain the proper schedule for me, Jeff, since my timing is all you seem to have a problem with. Unless that’s a front for what you’re really objecting to . . .? IME, pit threads started to avoid starting or continuing a hijack are usually done within 24 hours of the offense that prompted the ire. Waiting so long strikes me as unusual but if you’re going to stick to your explanaton, so be it. Doesn’t matter to me one way or the other. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174/50 "2004-07-09T03:16:34Z")
Not that it makes much difference since I have no credibility either, but I understand where you’re coming from lissener. I always assumed that he chose the name Liberal, then acted like a dick over and over again, just to make liberals look bad. Now I understand that there’s actually a reason he calls himself Liberal, and the fact that he acts like a dick and makes liberals look bad, is entirely coincidental. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174/51 "2004-07-09T03:35:35Z")
Libertarian is an idiot? When come back bring news. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174/52 "2004-07-09T03:41:24Z")
Libertarian is an idiot? When come back bring news. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174/53 "2004-07-09T05:14:34Z")
He changed it under duress, he recieved a “Libertarian message:” two dead mackeral in a casserole dish. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174/54 "2004-07-09T05:16:30Z")
> [@TVeblen](#): > > Because you don’t get to choose a particular name for any other poster, especially when the intent is solely to keep long-term disagreements right at the forefront. I would submit that misuse of any poster’s username for any reason is automatically being a jerk. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174/55 "2004-07-09T06:02:00Z")
Sez you, **This Year’s Model** … bah, more like **_Last_ Year’s Model** … 😃 ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174/56 "2004-07-09T06:09:18Z")
Honestly, there are so many moronic things **Libertarian/Liberal** has said, that pitting him for changing his username is nitpicking by comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174/57 "2004-07-09T06:11:24Z")
> [@SPOOFE](#): > > Sez you, **This Year’s Model** … bah, more like **_Last_ Year’s Model** … > > 😃 I actually got that one within my first five posts, if I remember right. Think you’re original, eh? 🙂 OK, so ‘any reason’ may be too strong. But in general, I still don’t like fucking with people’s names, in real life or here. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174/58 "2004-07-09T06:11:43Z")
> [@SPOOFE](#): > > Sez you, **This Year’s Model** … bah, more like **_Last_ Year’s Model** … > > 😃 Sez _you_, GOOFE! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![bodswood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e68b1a/32.png) [@bodswood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bodswood)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174/59 "2004-07-09T06:14:47Z")
When someone called my ‘bodsworth’ on another thread - whether by mistake or deliberately, I don’t know, but I’d just joined so it was probably just a mistake - I thought it was an improvement on the original. Anyway, pseudonyms are just like national flags to me. Nothing to get too steamed up about. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174/60 "2004-07-09T06:41:20Z")
I’m sorry but-- don’t people call each other names in the Pit all the time? Goat-felcher, mother-fucker, ass-hat, on and on and on… and so the epithet **Libertarian** is the name-that-shall-not-be-named? The straw that breaks the camel’s back? I think not, **TVeblen**. Your measure of what ‘being a jerk is’ is way off today. Get a grip, man. It doesn’t matter that you think it’s lame or childish. This is the pit and\*\* Liberal \*\* has been pitted. And not for the first time, either. The guy’s a royal pain in the ass who thinks we should live in some anarchy where it seems you pay for firefighters upfront or they let your house burn down. Fuck him. Calling him **Libertarian** is tame. I call him a nauseating, bitter old misanthrope. He should be purged from this board. Shame on you for attacking someone who politely aired their complaint against an utter asshole. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-is-still-an-idiot/254174.md?page=4)