# On the appopriateness of pointing out that another poster is full of shit in the pit **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 13, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-appopriateness-of-pointing-out-that-another-poster-is-full-of-shit-in-the-pit/499688 "2009-06-13T21:06:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-appopriateness-of-pointing-out-that-another-poster-is-full-of-shit-in-the-pit/499688/1 "2009-06-13T21:06:47Z")
I see it was outside the pit. At any rate, I believe there is [a lot of precedence](http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=site%3Aboards.straightdope.com+-%22The+BBQ+Pit%22+%2B%22your%7Cyou%27re+full+of+shit%22&aq=f&oq=&aqi=&fp=DLh7wmTRH1c) for telling posters they are full of shit outside of the pit. ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-appopriateness-of-pointing-out-that-another-poster-is-full-of-shit-in-the-pit/499688/2 "2009-06-13T21:19:29Z")
Is telling someone they are full of shit really the same as saying they have no taste in music? It means, “What you just said isn’t true. I don’t believe it. You’re speaking without thinking. What you are saying is bullshit. It has no basis in fact.” Professor of Philosophy Harry Frankfurt on [bullshit](http://www.gwinnettdailyonline.com/articleB5BD6D4417AF444DBD8F9770AA729B26.asp). Anyway, I probably wouldn’t say such a thing outside the pit. But you should be more consistent in banning posters for these offenses. ---
**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 13, 2009, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-appopriateness-of-pointing-out-that-another-poster-is-full-of-shit-in-the-pit/499688/3 "2009-06-13T21:55:24Z")
> [@alterego](#): > > Anyway, I probably wouldn’t say such a thing outside the pit. But you should be more consistent in banning posters for these offenses. What exactly are you asking, or complaining about? If you are asking about **Q.E.D.** , he has not been banned, but suspended for one month. And he was not suspended on the basis of a single post, but due to a history of insulting posts, and having a previous suspension. Regarding the use of “you’re full of shit” outside the Pit you’ll have to make a better case than the Google Links that you provided. You show 16 examples. Of these: 1. Received a warning. 2. Not directed at another poster. 3. Received a warning. 4. This is a thread from 2002. Standards may have been a bit looser then. 5. Not directed at another poster. 6. Not directed at another poster. 7. Not directed at another poster. 8. Not directed at another poster. 9. Not directed at another poster. 10. Not directed at another poster. 11. Not directed at another poster. 12. Not directed at another poster. 13. Thread from 2000. See number 4. 14. Not directed at another poster. 15. Thread from 2001. See number 4. 16. Not directed at another poster. At least from this evidence, the last time “you’re full of shit” was directed at another poster, and did not receive a warning, was seven years ago. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2009, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-appopriateness-of-pointing-out-that-another-poster-is-full-of-shit-in-the-pit/499688/4 "2009-06-14T11:24:06Z")
A brief footnote to **Colibri** ’s most excellent research: even if a usage escaped warning, that’s not evidence that the term is tolerated. Mods can’t be everywhere and can’t possibly read every post. We rely heavily upon people reporting suspected violations of the rules, and we certainly act on those. So, even if you find a place where “you’re full of shit” escaped warning, it only means that no one reported it and no moderator saw it. When a person is stopped for speeding, the argument that others did it and didn’t get caught… well, that doesn’t impress the judge. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2009, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-appopriateness-of-pointing-out-that-another-poster-is-full-of-shit-in-the-pit/499688/5 "2009-06-14T11:42:54Z")
> [@alterego](#): > > At any rate, I believe there is [a lot of precedence](http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=site%3Aboards.straightdope.com+-%22The+BBQ+Pit%22+%2B%22your%7Cyou%27re+full+of+shit%22&aq=f&oq=&aqi=&fp=DLh7wmTRH1c) for telling posters they are full of shit outside of the pit. (Colibri demolishes the examples given) > [@alterego](#): > > “What you just said isn’t true. I don’t believe it. You’re speaking without thinking. What you are saying is bullshit. It has no basis in fact.” So, **according to your definition** , this thread is bullshit? :eek:😃