# Mods, can't you tell Snowboarder Bo to shut up? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 14, 2012, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483 "2012-01-14T05:02:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483/341 "2012-01-18T05:05:19Z")
> [@Waenara](#): > > I don’t believe that anyone who is fluent in English could seriously think there is no significant different between _annoy_ and _offend_. Unless, of course, that person were to find themselves in a very deep hole with a shovel. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483/342 "2012-01-18T05:07:35Z")
> [@Waenara](#): > > Oh please. The purpose of a thesaurus is to list similar or related words, but they are not always synonyms. From [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thesaurus): > > I don’t believe that anyone who is fluent in English could seriously think there is no significant different between _annoy_ and _offend_. Did you miss the part where one of the definitions of “offend” is “to annoy”? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483/343 "2012-01-18T05:11:22Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Did you miss the part where one of the definitions of “offend” is “to annoy”? What you missed is that it’s a PART of one of the definitions. When a person is offended, they are obviously annoyed. But when a person is annoyed, they are not necessarily offended. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483/344 "2012-01-18T05:15:00Z")
Sorry if I overlooked it and this is a repost, but as usual _there’s an [XKCD](http://xkcd.com/1004/)for that_. ---
**Author:** ![splatterpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@splatterpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/splatterpunk)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483/345 "2012-01-18T05:16:08Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Did you miss the part where one of the definitions of “offend” is “to annoy”? Yeah! “offend” = “annoy”, just like “Let’s go to the quarry and throw shit down there” = “LOL” Just like “Dude, stop posting that stupid shit” = “Wow, Bo, that is some clever shit there.” What the fuck’s wrong with you people? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483/346 "2012-01-18T05:25:43Z")
> [@Lord\_Ashtar](#): > > What you missed is that it’s a PART of one of the definitions. When a person is offended, they are obviously annoyed. But when a person is annoyed, they are not necessarily offended. Hmmm. Maybe you’re right. Let’s see… Offend means to irritate, to annoy… Annoy means to irritate… well, that seems like the same words. Offend means to hurt or cause pain… Annoy means to molest or harm… that certainly seems like the same thing. But hey, don’t let a little thing like a fact get in the way of an argument. Keep on yelling long and loud enough, and maybe people will start to believe you. At least, that seems to be the _m.o._ of so many people here, on this website devoted to fighting ignorance. Good luck with that. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483/347 "2012-01-18T05:37:33Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Hmmm. Maybe you’re right. Let’s see… Offend means to irritate, to annoy… Annoy means to irritate… well, that seems like the same words. > > Offend means to hurt or cause pain… Annoy means to molest or harm… that certainly seems like the same thing. > > But hey, don’t let a little thing like a fact get in the way of an argument. Keep on yelling long and loud enough, and maybe people will start to believe you. At least, that seems to be the _m.o._ of so many people here, on this website devoted to fighting ignorance. > > Good luck with that. Goddamn, you’re dense. Dense doesn’t mean dense, it means something else. But I won’t say what. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483/348 "2012-01-18T05:47:38Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > Unless, of course, that person were to find themselves in a **very deep hole** with a shovel. Like a quarry, perhaps? > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Hmmm. Maybe you’re right. Let’s see… Offend means to irritate, to annoy… Annoy means to irritate… well, that seems like the same words. But there are subtle, yet important, distinctions in the way we use these words, and in the feelings they describe. As an example, your obtuseness on this issue does not offend me, but it sure is annoying and irritating. ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483/349 "2012-01-18T05:50:51Z")
> [@Lord\_Ashtar](#): > > Goddamn, you’re dense. > > Dense doesn’t mean dense, it means something else. But I won’t say what. My favorite metaphor for denseness, which perfectly describes **Bo** : The man is so dense that light bends around him. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483/350 "2012-01-18T06:34:08Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I apologize for trying to use facts to rebut another poster’s argument. These are the critical steps in the process of rebutting with facts: 1. Find a “fact” 2. Rebut Now, you were pretty good at step #2. I think you showed a real natural ability, smooth delivery, good form, great execution all in all. However, step #1, well, let’s just say there are a few of us that are throwing rocks in the quarry right now. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483/351 "2012-01-18T08:36:26Z")
> [@j666](#): > > In B minor with strings. > > (I am considering making that my catchphrase.) C# with horns for double entendre. ( and be my gast. ) ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483/352 "2012-01-18T08:36:49Z")
> [@Lord\_Ashtar](#): > > I didn’t know that every time I was annoyed, I was also offended! Thank you for setting me straight. When I was a kid, my uncle used to play that annoying “got your nose” game every time he came to visit. If only I’d had access to [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) back then, I would have called CPS and turned Uncle Joe in for molesting me. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483/353 "2012-01-18T08:45:55Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I don’t write them for mental masturbation. In order to be sure, you throw in something controversial or… annoying… no, not into the quarry. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483/354 "2012-01-18T08:52:03Z")
> [@Astroboy14](#): > > So I was wrong? > > Well Fuckety-Ass FUCK Fucking Hell! Well, I was wrong too then… I thought FAFFH was: Fred Astaire Faps Florence Henderson. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483/355 "2012-01-18T09:11:24Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Except when people interject in threads where it is used to complain about it. Then it derails threads. Sometimes sabotage is a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![Suil\_Dubh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Suil\_Dubh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suil_Dubh)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483/356 "2012-01-18T12:40:07Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > But hey, don’t let a little thing like a fact get in the way of an argument. Keep on yelling long and loud enough, and maybe people will start to believe you. At least, that seems to be the _m.o._ of so many people here, on this website devoted to fighting ignorance. usadbo ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483/357 "2012-01-18T13:06:56Z")
> [@brittekland](#): > > Sometimes sabotage is a good thing. Sometimes it’s an awesome thing. Now let’s go throw stones in the Hole in the Sky. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483/358 "2012-01-18T13:30:06Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Hmmm. Maybe you’re right. Let’s see… Offend means to irritate, to annoy… Annoy means to irritate… well, that seems like the same words. > > Offend means to hurt or cause pain… Annoy means to molest or harm… that certainly seems like the same thing. > > But hey, don’t let a little thing like a fact get in the way of an argument. Keep on yelling long and loud enough, and maybe people will start to believe you. At least, that seems to be the _m.o._ of so many people here, on this website devoted to fighting ignorance. > > Good luck with that. Wow. Did you know that words can have multiple meanings? Context is very important in deciphering what words mean. A little while ago I mentioned that you were equivocating. I would quote wikipedia, but since it’s gone ‘dark’, I’ll just mention that the following to the wiki article: Equivocation: > [@](#): > > It is the misleading use of a term with more than one meaning or sense (by glossing over which meaning is intended at a particular time). See? What you are doing is equivocating. You have found that **some usages** of both terms (annoy, offend) are the same and you have concluded that all uses **must include this particular subset**. By your logic, everyone who has been annoyed by your ‘quarry’ comment has been physically injured - is this your stance? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483/359 "2012-01-18T15:38:36Z")
I remember trying to lawyer my way out of arguments with my parents using a 14-year-old’s logic. When they’d finally sigh and roll their eyes, I took it as a sign that I’d won. If I could go back and give that kid some advice, it would be this: Look, sprout, just STOP. Trust me on this one: you’re not half as clever as you think you are, and it shows. You start off on shaky ground and you lack the tools to free yourself from your own traps. When people give up arguing with you, it’s not because you won, it’s because they realize that it’s pointless to continue—you lack the reasoning skills and self-awareness to even understand why you’re wrong. You’re like a cornered rat looking for any semantic pinhole you can wriggle through. They’re taking pity on you, because they know you’re at that stage when you’re right about everything and there’s nothing to do but wait until you grow out of it. With any luck, that’ll happen soon enough and you’ll have the skills to argue in good faith, like an adult. Meantime, go read some more books. Oh, and all that stuff about pot causing brain damage? It’s bullshit, just like you thought. But it doesn’t exactly make you smarter either, so take it easy, OK? Best Wishes, **The Ghost of Turnip Future** ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483/360 "2012-01-18T16:12:50Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Oh, and all that stuff about pot causing brain damage? It’s bullshit, just like you thought. But it doesn’t exactly make you smarter either, so take it easy, OK? Actually, I read a recent study that showed showed long term changes to brain due to smoking pot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-cant-you-tell-snowboarder-bo-to-shut-up/609483.md?page=19)