# Pitting the bigots I see in my Facebook news feed **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 9, 2019, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748 "2019-07-09T01:25:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748/41 "2019-07-11T17:18:53Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Which makes it even **more** cowardly, by your own silly rationale, for you to (anonymously) hurl obscenities at him on an internet messageboard that he’ll never see. You are cravenly using the safety of your obscurity and inability to get access to Trump as an excuse to shit-talk him behind his back. > > A more rational way of looking at it is that anybody is allowed to complain in the BBQ Pit about anything they don’t like, and venting anonymously about somebody else’s political views, whether you know them in person or not, has nothing to do with courage or the lack of it. Bullshit. Trump is a public figure, not some random asshat on Facebook. Completely different scenario. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748/42 "2019-07-11T21:36:12Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Bullshit. Trump is a public figure, not some random asshat on Facebook. Completely different scenario. Bullshit. **Kimstu** ’s logic is applied accurately. That move, **Oakminster** , was total chickenshit. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748/43 "2019-07-12T16:52:48Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Bullshit. > > **Kimstu** ’s logic is applied accurately. That move, **Oakminster** , was total chickenshit. Blow me you sanctimonious pissant. How’s that? ---
**Author:** ![Scoobysnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Scoobysnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoobysnax)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748/44 "2019-07-12T18:58:48Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I have two Canadian friends who supported Trump. They stopped posting about him long ago. I’m guessing they came to their senses, but who knows? > > So, out of 237 friends only two used to support Trump, but don’t appear to any more. Oh wait, make that three. A previous SDMB member (since banned) connected with me. I keep him around for the entertainment. > > Even my Canadian conservative friends are anti-Trump. Mind you Canadian Conservatives are not really like US conservatives. I have an Aunt in Barrie that loves Doug Ford. I currently have her hidden from my feed. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748/45 "2019-07-12T20:28:37Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Bullshit. Trump is a public figure, not some random asshat on Facebook. Completely different scenario. I’m not following your reasoning, here. Why does Trump being a public figure make it a different scenario? ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748/46 "2019-07-12T20:34:57Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Why does Trump being a public figure make it a different scenario? It doesn’t, as far as the courageousness or cowardliness of venting about his politics on an anonymous messageboard is concerned. There is nothing wrong with anonymously complaining about Donald Trump, one’s unidentified Facebook pals, or anybody else here in the BBQ Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748/47 "2019-07-12T20:58:19Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I’m not following your reasoning, here. Why does Trump being a public figure make it a different scenario? Because commenting on a public figure is not the same as some random asshat on the internet. People on this very forum are capable of ascertaining, from media reports, whether Trump should or should not get sodomized in whichever colorful way I previously suggested. We have no way to evaluate random asshats on Facebook. Our OP may be well grounded in fact, with sound reasoning to support his position…or he may be the random asshat blathering on about other people that no one here will ever know anything about. Executive summary: Public Figures–fair game for public bashing. Private figures, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748/48 "2019-07-12T21:05:04Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Blow me you sanctimonious pissant. Fuck you and the horse you rode in on. Kiss my hairy ass. ---
**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 12, 2019, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748/49 "2019-07-12T21:05:18Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Executive summary: Public Figures–fair game for public bashing. Private figures, not so much. [Something changed in the past dozen years?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=405823) ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748/50 "2019-07-12T21:06:24Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Because commenting on a public figure is not the same as some random asshat on the internet. From the point of view of the public figure or random asshat who will never know they’re being anonymously bitched about on a forum they’re unaware of, it’s exactly the same. Which is why it’s so silly to pretend that anonymously bitching about anybody on an internet forum explicitly dedicated to anonymous bitching somehow demonstrates a lack of courage. > [@Oakminster](#): > > We have no way to evaluate random asshats on Facebook. Our OP may be well grounded in fact, with sound reasoning to support his position…or he may be the random asshat blathering on about other people that no one here will ever know anything about. Doesn’t matter. This forum does not require posters to restrict their anonymous bitching only to subjects whose objective Pittability can be independently evaluated by other posters. And furthermore, the issue of independent evaluation by other posters of the objective validity of the Pitting has jack-shit to do with the issue of the Pitter’s personal courage. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748/51 "2019-07-12T21:10:20Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > [Something changed in the past dozen years?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=405823) Really? You are digging up a 12 year old post? God you people are obsessed. And that post is a comment on a fucking news story…again NOT some random asshat on Facebook. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748/52 "2019-07-12T21:11:55Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > From the point of view of the public figure or random asshat who will never know they’re being anonymously bitched about on a forum they’re unaware of, it’s exactly the same. Which is why it’s so silly to pretend that anonymously bitching about anybody on an internet forum explicitly dedicated to anonymous bitching somehow demonstrates a lack of courage. > Doesn’t matter. This forum does not require posters to restrict their anonymous bitching only to subjects whose objective Pittability can be independently evaluated by other posters. And furthermore, the issue of independent evaluation by other posters of the objective validity of the Pitting has jack-shit to do with the issue of the Pitter’s personal courage. Go shove broken glass up your cunt. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748/53 "2019-07-12T21:23:10Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Go shove broken glass up your cunt. It’s the Pit, dude. If you can’t handle being told that your argument is silly without melting down into infuriated obscene exhortations advocating violent harm… …then you’re in exactly the right forum. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748/54 "2019-07-12T21:27:19Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > It’s the Pit, dude. If you can’t handle being told that your argument is silly without melting down into infuriated obscene exhortations advocating violent harm… > …well then, you’re in exactly the right forum. I’m not melting down. Just think you’ve been unnecessary asshole-ish to me, so giving it back to you. But, fair warning, I’m about to go have an early dinner with my wife. Odds are good I won’t be back here on this forum until Monday. If you want to keep saying mean things on the internet, you’ll just have to wait until then to see if I deem anything worthy of a reply. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748/55 "2019-07-12T21:35:24Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Just think you’ve been unnecessary asshole-ish to me […] If you want to keep saying mean things on the internet :dubious: S’okay, I think the point has been made. ---
**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 12, 2019, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748/56 "2019-07-12T21:39:59Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > that post is a comment on a fucking news story…again NOT some random asshat on Facebook. No, a “random asshat who will never know they’re being anonymously bitched about on a forum they’re unaware of.” ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748/57 "2019-07-12T21:54:21Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I’m not melting down. Just think you’ve been unnecessary asshole-ish to me, so giving it back to you. > > But, fair warning, I’m about to go have an early dinner with my wife. Odds are good I won’t be back here on this forum until Monday. If you want to keep saying mean things on the internet, you’ll just have to wait until then to see if I deem anything worthy of a reply. Enjoy your dinner and your Friday night date. And fuck you and the horse you rode in on! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748/58 "2019-07-12T22:43:40Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Go shove broken glass up your cunt. [Moderating] This is violating our rules about threatening or wishing harm on another poster. Please avoid making posts like this in the future. No warning issued. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748/59 "2019-07-12T22:45:16Z")
That out of the way… > [@Oakminster](#): > > Because commenting on a public figure is not the same as some random asshat on the internet. People on this very forum are capable of ascertaining, from media reports, whether Trump should or should not get sodomized in whichever colorful way I previously suggested. We have no way to evaluate random asshats on Facebook. Our OP may be well grounded in fact, with sound reasoning to support his position…or he may be the random asshat blathering on about other people that no one here will ever know anything about. > > Executive summary: Public Figures–fair game for public bashing. Private figures, not so much. What an enormously stupid standard. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748/60 "2019-07-15T15:47:51Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > [Moderating] > This is violating our rules about threatening or wishing harm on another poster. Please avoid making posts like this in the future. > > No warning issued. > [/Moderating] I disagree. I did not threaten or wish harm to anyone. I suggested they perform an action that could have unfortunate consequences, no different than suggesting they go sodomize themselves with a rusty chainsaw or various other colorful displays of…unaffection…commonly bandied about here. But it’s a new week and all, so Hakuna Matata. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-bigots-i-see-in-my-facebook-news-feed/836748.md?page=4)