# Octopus here's your own thread to shit all over **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 6, 2018, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550 "2018-06-06T15:40:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Delicious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@Delicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delicious)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550/122 "2018-06-07T07:55:00Z")
> [@Jake\_Bullet\_Traffic\_Control](#): > > I’m not sure how he’s managing this, but **octopus** is winning this the shit out of this thread. Everyone piling on to attack him is, somehow, coming off worse. I agree with this assessment, well played **octopus** ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550/123 "2018-06-07T10:03:58Z")
> [@Jake\_Bullet\_Traffic\_Control](#): > > I’m not sure how he’s managing this, but **octopus** is winning this the shit out of this thread. Everyone piling on to attack him is, somehow, coming off worse. Yeah, no. All he has done is taken the bait and swallowed it hard. He still completely contradicts himself, whining about how everyone is so mean, while deliberately coming up with ways to attack them. He has not convinced a single person that they were wrong to attack him, nor that his behavior was acceptable in the other threads. There are two win conditions in online arguments: Your opponents agree that you are right and they are wrong, or third parties come in and clearly think you are right and they are wrong. Everything else is a draw. It seems you are falling for the tactic described in [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmVkJvieaOA). To win, he would have to successfully defend himself. But, instead, he’s just always on the attack, creating the illusion of winning, since he never defends. But, the thing is, your tone has nothing to do with whether you win or lose. What matters in an argument is whether you have convinced people of your claims being correct. And I am rather certain that most people still see **octopus** as the asshole who hijacks threads with his bullshit. And, yes, I know. I could have been short and snappy. But it doesn’t fucking matter. What matters at the end is whether people believe you. I’ve “won” threads before despite literally everyone attacking me, because, later on, people actually repeated my own logic in a new thread, acting like it was their idea. That’s winning. ---
**Author:** ![Jake\_Bullet\_Traffic\_Control](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3da27b/32.png) [@Jake\_Bullet\_Traffic\_Control](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake_Bullet_Traffic_Control)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550/124 "2018-06-07T10:38:10Z")
Whatever. I see a bunch of posters getting increasingly exasperated while their target laughs at them, turns their insults against them, and just generally seems to be having a great time tweaking their noses. You think anyone here cares about _arguments?_ Please. This thread was created to rip on **octopus** and on that score it’s a miserable failure. At least half the people who’ve taken it upon themselves to “bring him down” have been reduced to various stages of online meltdown. **Drunky Smurf** has gone off the deep end, **fervour** seems to be literally losing his mind, **Mr Dibble** is coming off as just another mean spirited internet bully, and what’s **octopus** doing? Showering them with fake Bingo points while laughing his ass off. Win for **octopus**. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550/125 "2018-06-07T10:56:05Z")
He’s winning here, but he hasn’t won yet. I encourage him to dedicate 100% of his straight dope posts to winning this thread, because that’s what it’s gonna take. > [@Kahlil Gibran](#): > > Said a skunk to a tube-rose, “See how swiftly I run, while you cannot walk nor even creep.” > Said the tube-rose to the skunk, “Oh, most noble swift runner, please run swiftly!” ---
**Author:** ![fervour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@fervour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fervour)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550/126 "2018-06-07T11:28:11Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > He’s winning here, but he hasn’t won yet. I encourage him to dedicate 100% of his straight dope posts to winning this thread, because that’s what it’s gonna take. You’re worthwhile. If that shit isn’t banned by the weekend, I’ll eat my hat. He has said we are worthless. Why is he here if we’re worthless? ---
**Author:** ![fervour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@fervour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fervour)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550/127 "2018-06-07T11:47:18Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Ah, people complain when there is no lurking to observe board culture and people complain when people read a bit about the board and the infamous members within. > > You know an artist that can help me with that animated avatar? You all have animated avatars yet? How is this not a bridge too far? How is this not contempt for everyone here? I’m serious. I want to understand how this doesn’t qualify as being a jerk. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550/128 "2018-06-07T12:14:31Z")
I would have said that sanctimonious whining from **BigT** is another hit on the **octopus** bingo card, but it is like the center square - everyone gets it anyway. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550/129 "2018-06-07T12:20:02Z")
> [@Jake\_Bullet\_Traffic\_Control](#): > > **Mr Dibble** is coming off as just another mean spirited internet bully Hey. I resent you comparing me to **octopus**. ---
**Author:** ![fervour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@fervour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fervour)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550/130 "2018-06-07T12:22:45Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I would have said that sanctimonious whining from **BigT** is another hit on the **octopus** bingo card, but it is like the center square - everyone gets it anyway. > > Regards, > Shodan You are another who hates everyone but keeps showing up. I don’t think you a troll. A crack head maybe. You have your own poison. It’s true enough. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550/131 "2018-06-07T12:28:42Z")
Well, this thread is clearly a good use of the poor overworked server. ---
**Author:** ![Delicious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@Delicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delicious)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550/132 "2018-06-07T12:38:25Z")
> [@fervour](#): > > You are another who hates everyone but keeps showing up. I don’t think you a troll. A crack head maybe. You have your own poison. It’s true enough. That’s discriminatory against people with cracked heads, you should be ashamed! ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550/133 "2018-06-07T12:47:32Z")
> [@fervour](#): > > You are another who hates everyone but keeps showing up. I don’t think you a troll. A crack head maybe. You have your own poison. It’s true enough. **fervour** , ‘incoherent meltdown’ has already been called. Can you try another tack? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![fervour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@fervour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fervour)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550/134 "2018-06-07T13:35:01Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > **fervour** , ‘incoherent meltdown’ has already been called. Can you try another tack? > > Regards, > Shodan Nope ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550/135 "2018-06-07T16:33:37Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > He’s winning here, but he hasn’t won yet. I encourage him to dedicate 100% of his straight dope posts to winning this thread, because that’s what it’s gonna take. Clever. You get a stamp. I should actually make Bingo cards for this. > [@BigT](#): > > Yeah, no. All he has done is taken the bait and swallowed it hard. He still completely contradicts himself, whining about how everyone is so mean, while deliberately coming up with ways to attack them. He has not convinced a single person that they were wrong to attack him, nor that his behavior was acceptable in the other threads. > > There are two win conditions in online arguments: Your opponents agree that you are right and they are wrong, or third parties come in and clearly think you are right and they are wrong. Everything else is a draw. > > It seems you are falling for the tactic described in [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmVkJvieaOA). To win, he would have to successfully defend himself. But, instead, he’s just always on the attack, creating the illusion of winning, since he never defends. > > But, the thing is, your tone has nothing to do with whether you win or lose. What matters in an argument is whether you have convinced people of your claims being correct. And I am rather certain that most people still see **octopus** as the asshole who hijacks threads with his bullshit. > > And, yes, I know. I could have been short and snappy. But it doesn’t fucking matter. What matters at the end is whether people believe you. I’ve “won” threads before despite literally everyone attacking me, because, later on, people actually repeated my own logic in a new thread, acting like it was their idea. > > That’s winning. Shodan did call the stamp correctly. But I like you anyways BigT. You try to be noble. But you have analyzed this wrong. There isn’t arguing in the Pit. I mean there is to a point. Oooh a contradiction. What the Pit has really devolved into is a place where people can be their truer selves. It’s where bullies get free reign to harass, stalk, gaslight, and gang up to try to silence those they don’t like. And the concept you haven’t gotten through your head is that fighting back is different than unprovoked attacks. And believe me, they don’t want agreement with a point in a debate. They want uniformity of thought and submission. I can do what they do. I can go to every Pit thread they are in. Post recipes do what drunky does and paste links of junk. I could. I don’t. Why, because unlike these fools who mock, ridicule, and abuse in multiple forums I have a sense of restraint. Fervor, don’t eat your hat. Just lay off the mushrooms. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550/136 "2018-06-07T16:36:10Z")
> [@fervour](#): > > How is this not a bridge too far? How is this not contempt for everyone here? I’m serious. I want to understand how this doesn’t qualify as being a jerk. Of all the content in the Pit that would rise to the level of being-a-Jerk-while-in-the-Pit which is like finding a unicorn you chose that quote? You can’t be serious. That does get a :dubious:. Good job. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550/137 "2018-06-07T16:37:48Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > I don’t. Why, because unlike these fools who mock, ridicule, and abuse in multiple forums I have a sense of restraint. Oh, you’re no fun. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550/138 "2018-06-07T16:41:05Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Oh, you’re no fun. > > Regards, > Shodan Are you fishing for a Bingo stamp? I was hoping you’d help judge. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550/139 "2018-06-07T16:46:50Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Are you fishing for a Bingo stamp? I was hoping you’d help judge. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550/140 "2018-06-07T16:53:38Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > off the mushrooms. Good for you. Will you start making sense now? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550/141 "2018-06-07T16:54:16Z")
Oh look, **Morgenstern** is posting a complete list of his thoughts. Regards, Shodan [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550.md?page=8)