# Personal insults? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 29, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-insults/508193 "2009-08-29T20:27:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-insults/508193/1 "2009-08-29T20:27:21Z")
In this [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=529447)I made several disparaging comments about FinnAgain’s posts in GD. I specifically tried to comment on his posts and not on him. TubaDiva has said that I have hurled lots of personal insults. I disagree. So my question is, did I make personal insults or did I attack the posts and not the poster? ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-insults/508193/2 "2009-08-29T20:51:02Z")
From the linked thread: > [@tomndebb, get in or get out](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-get-in-or-get-out/507683/92): > > For someone who seems to pride himself on his mad debating skillz, you’re not very good at reading comprehension, are you? This, e.g., is certainly a personal insult. You claimed that kind of comment is common in GD. If so, it shouldn’t be. If reported, I suspect there would be official intervention. I was surprised that you received “Further action may well be pending” as opposed to “Don’t do it again,” but I don’t know what your history of infractions and warnings might be. Of course, I’m not a mod, so my opinion is nothing more than my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-insults/508193/3 "2009-08-29T21:06:58Z")
Here’s an [example](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11346665&postcount=5)of the “reading comprehension” comments in GD. And here’s tomndebb’s [comments](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11398673&postcount=126)on a similar post: > [@](#): > > Snowboarder Bo, your comments in post #107 may not, technically, be over the line in GD, (although it would be a close call), but they are clearly in violation of my remarks in Post #101. > > Dial it back–a lot. > > [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-insults/508193/4 "2009-08-29T21:20:33Z")
Geez, first **mswas** , now **leander**. My remarks to **mswas** apparently made no difference to him at all. Nevertheless - **leander** , you know perfectly well that **tomndebb** has never been wrong, is not wrong now, and never will be wrong, world without end. amen. If you are looking for a detailed explanation, you won’t get it. If you are attempting self-immolatioin, well, good luck and save me a marshmallow. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-insults/508193/5 "2009-08-29T21:23:04Z")
I was assuming that the “personal insults” were regarding FinnAgain not tomndebb, though of course with the vague comment from TubaDiva it’s hard to tell. Color me confused. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-insults/508193/6 "2009-08-29T21:53:46Z")
> [@leander](#): > > And here’s tomndebb’s [comments](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11398673&postcount=126)on a similar post: Well, that certainly gives mixed signals. It may be a rule violation, but it may not be. And it’s not exactly a warning, but sort of a pre-warning warning. But it is official action of some sort, and it does indicate that such cracks are considered bad form. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-insults/508193/7 "2009-08-29T22:51:24Z")
As I’ve opined in the thread in question, that post clearly contains a personal insult. I love this pattern, not unusual around here: When have I ever done that?? Oh, ok, but someone else did it and got away with it!! :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-insults/508193/8 "2009-08-29T22:59:42Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > As I’ve opined in the thread in question, that post clearly contains a personal insult. > > I love this pattern, not unusual around here: > > When have I ever done that?? > > Oh, ok, but someone else did it and got away with it!! :dubious: Oh come on. I conceded in the oringal thread that my “reading comprehension” comment was the only thing \*close \*to a personal insult, and even the mods are not sure if it is (see tomndebb’s post above). And even you have agreed that this is a far cry from “filled with your personal insults to people”. (Frankly I think I just pissed off TubaDiva by pointing out her ignorance in the Atalaya thread.) ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-insults/508193/9 "2009-08-29T23:57:03Z")
> [@leander](#): > > Oh come on. I conceded in the oringal thread that my “reading comprehension” comment was the only thing \*close \*to a personal insult, and even the mods are not sure if it is (see tomndebb’s post above). > > And even you have agreed that this is a far cry from “filled with your personal insults to people”. > > (Frankly I think I just pissed off TubaDiva by pointing out her ignorance in the Atalaya thread.) From your first post, it looked like you were soliciting others’ opinions. Then you wanted to argue with them. Now it looks like you want to continue old arguments - and we haven’t even reached post #10! > [@](#): > > (see tomndebb’s post above). What I saw was a mod saying that a behavior **might be over the line** and admonishing a poster **not to do it again**. It does not establish that such comments are acceptable - quite the opposite, in fact. It might truly be inconsistent modding. So what? “Everyone else was speeding!” will not get you out of a ticket. But it might be that the mod noted that the poster’s transgression was preceded and followed by posts that did not contain personal insults, which might have earned him some clemency. Compare: > [@tomndebb, get in or get out](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-get-in-or-get-out/507683/84): > > FinnAgain’s usual frothing at the mouth nasty tone and attitude. > [@tomndebb, get in or get out](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-get-in-or-get-out/507683/88): > > FinnAgain’s typical spittle flecked rants. > [@tomndebb, get in or get out](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-get-in-or-get-out/507683/95): > > My “cite” was that entire page of your usual over the top vitriol. As I said, it’s unfortunate that you can’t get that little tick under control, but that’s really your problem, not mine (thank Og). Comments such as “usual frothing at the mouth nasty tone and attitude” and “typical spittle flecked rants” _are_ personal insults, not related to a specific post or thread. Are you really going to say they weren’t intended to be personally insulting? ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-insults/508193/10 "2009-08-30T00:11:06Z")
You’re right - I was soliciting opinions. I disagree with yours - all those posts you quoted were specifically (and deliberately) pointed at his posts and not his personality. (In fact, I noted that I think he’s probably a smart fellow.) In any event, I respect your opinion even if I disagree with it. ---
**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:** [August 30, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-insults/508193/11 "2009-08-30T00:54:53Z")
> [@leander](#): > > You’re right - I was soliciting opinions. I disagree with yours - all those posts you quoted were specifically (and deliberately) pointed at his posts and not his personality. I guess I’m confused about how a post (rather than a poster) can “froth at the mouth.” Seems to me that’s pretty clearly a comment about a poster rather than a post. In any case, you were certainly stereotyping a poster’s type of posts. Note the difference between: ACCEPTABLE: Your post #42 in this thread is mere ranting. NOT ACCEPTABLE: You are ranting yet again, as you always do. The mods will certainly agree that sometimes there’s a fuzzy line between personal insult and derisive debate. And there is certainly sometimes “uneven” moderation, for a variety of reasons – not least of which is whether someone reports an offense. The speeding ticket is a reasonable analogy. Some people, some times, get away with something that someone else gets caught at. That’s life. We’d prefer that it not happen that way, we’d prefer every crime was caught, but we as mods are neither omniscient nor ominpresent. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-insults/508193/12 "2009-08-30T01:05:48Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > I guess I’m confused about how a post (rather than a poster) can “froth at the mouth.” Seems to me that’s pretty clearly a comment about a poster rather than a post. > > In any case, you were certainly stereotyping a poster’s type of posts. Note the difference between: > ACCEPTABLE: Your post #42 in this thread is mere ranting. > NOT ACCEPTABLE: You are ranting yet again, as you always do. > > The mods will certainly agree that sometimes there’s a fuzzy line between personal insult and derisive debate. And there is certainly sometimes “uneven” moderation, for a variety of reasons – not least of which is whether someone reports an offense. The speeding ticket is a reasonable analogy. Some people, some times, get away with something that someone else gets caught at. That’s life. We’d prefer that it not happen that way, we’d prefer every crime was caught, but we as mods are neither omniscient nor ominpresent. Fair enough. I retract those comments and shall in the future try to be clearer about attacking the posts and not the poster. I’m still unclear about the “people” I have insulted (save for FinnAgain), so I don’t really know who or what else Tuba was referencing. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_Stream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@Carol\_Stream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_Stream)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-insults/508193/13 "2009-08-30T01:20:15Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > The mods will certainly agree that sometimes there’s a fuzzy line between personal insult and derisive debate. And there is certainly sometimes “uneven” moderation, for a variety of reasons – not least of which is whether someone reports an offense. The speeding ticket is a reasonable analogy. Some people, some times, get away with something that someone else gets caught at. That’s life. We’d prefer that it not happen that way, we’d prefer every crime was caught, but we as mods are neither omniscient nor ominpresent. Where’s the “fuzzy line” in this post? > [@](#): > > As opposed to somebody like curlcoat, who I just want to garrote with her own intestines to do the world a favor And the Mod just shrugged his shoulders and said “No warning issued.” Wha? ---
**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:** [August 30, 2009, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-insults/508193/14 "2009-08-30T12:02:05Z")
> [@Carol\_Stream](#): > > Where’s the “fuzzy line” in this post? > And the Mod just shrugged his shoulders and said “No warning issued.” Wha? I don’t know the context, but I would assume something that over-the-top was actually a joke. Still, a smiley would have helped. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-insults/508193/15 "2009-08-30T12:12:04Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > In any case, you were certainly stereotyping a poster’s type of posts. Note the difference between: > ACCEPTABLE: Your post #42 in this thread is mere ranting. > NOT ACCEPTABLE: You are ranting yet again, as you always do. Don’t people know the difference between the nominative and genitive cases anymore? What the hell are they teaching in schools? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-insults/508193/16 "2009-08-30T12:32:09Z")
> [@Carol\_Stream](#): > > Where’s the “fuzzy line” in this post? > > > [@](#): > > > > As opposed to somebody like curlcoat, who I just want to garrote with her own intestines to do the world a favor > > And the Mod just shrugged his shoulders and said “No warning issued.” Wha? Because of who it’s aimed at. 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:** [August 30, 2009, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-insults/508193/17 "2009-08-30T13:02:34Z")
context would help… ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-insults/508193/18 "2009-08-30T13:24:45Z")
Here’s the [context](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=529348) (post 94). It’s in the pit, which pretty much does away with any “fuzzy line” factor as regards personal insults. **Gfactor** ’s note was regarding wishing death on a poster, not insults. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-insults/508193/19 "2009-08-30T14:37:27Z")
I think you meant [post 95](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11494698&postcount=95). ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-insults/508193/20 "2009-08-30T14:45:08Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > I think you meant [post 95](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11494698&postcount=95). Yes I did. Thanks. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-insults/508193.md?page=2)