# Q anout the Pit: what if a Pitee never responds **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 17, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-anout-the-pit-what-if-a-pitee-never-responds/285111 "2005-01-17T00:20:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-anout-the-pit-what-if-a-pitee-never-responds/285111/1 "2005-01-17T00:20:34Z")
So, you’ve decided to Pit a fellow Doper. The days go by and all the other Dopers pop in with their opinions. In fact, the other Dopers start pitting each other. Despite dozens, if not hundreds, of posts the “guest of honor” never shows up. Shouldn’t the thread be locked? ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-anout-the-pit-what-if-a-pitee-never-responds/285111/2 "2005-01-17T00:24:23Z")
No, I don’t believe so, because you can’t put a definite timeframe on a reasonable response time. I mean, say you Pit me tomorrow, but I’m out of town. Three months later, when I return, I see the thread, which was locked after two weeks. Now I can’t respond to the original thread, but have to start a new one. . . Besides, what if someone just _doesn’t_ want to reply? They’re under no obligation to do so. Tripler C’est la vie. . . ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-anout-the-pit-what-if-a-pitee-never-responds/285111/3 "2005-01-17T00:25:45Z")
Ideally the replies would stop when it becomes obvious the pitee is not looking in the pit. And the thread would be still open (but on like page 3) when/if the pitee does find it, so he/she would be able to post to it, as is his/ or her right. But things don’t always go ideally. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-anout-the-pit-what-if-a-pitee-never-responds/285111/4 "2005-01-17T00:28:17Z")
Run a search for **Handy** in the Pit. You will discover some very lengthy threads, but I am 99.44% positive you will not find **Handy** posting to any of those threads. I don’t believe he ever visited the pit or at least admitted it. The first time I was pitted I got very involved in the thread, which brought about one giant pile-out. I almost suffocated. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-anout-the-pit-what-if-a-pitee-never-responds/285111/5 "2005-01-17T00:46:34Z")
Pile-on is what I meant. :smack: [sup] **Pile-out is a whole other thing.** [/sup] ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-anout-the-pit-what-if-a-pitee-never-responds/285111/6 "2005-01-17T00:54:46Z")
> [@kniz](#): > > but I am 99.44% positive you will not find **Handy** posting to any of those threads. 99.44% of fake statistics use ‘nine’ and ‘four’ ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-anout-the-pit-what-if-a-pitee-never-responds/285111/7 "2005-01-17T01:05:18Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > 99.44% of fake statistics use ‘nine’ and ‘four’ It sounded like less than a “pure” answer to me, too. I think **kniz** tried to float that one by us. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-anout-the-pit-what-if-a-pitee-never-responds/285111/8 "2005-01-17T05:47:10Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > It sounded like less than a “pure” answer to me, too. I think **kniz** tried to float that one by us. **I very** much doubt that he was trying to softsoap your answer – besides, isn’t he on Dial-up? ::: lessee if I can coast this one through ::: ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-anout-the-pit-what-if-a-pitee-never-responds/285111/9 "2005-01-17T06:15:29Z")
Sometimes Pit threads hijack and turn into [intelligent, informative discussions.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=296586) It would be a shame to put a stop to that. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-anout-the-pit-what-if-a-pitee-never-responds/285111/10 "2005-01-17T06:18:42Z")
It depends on the nature of the pitting, but one advantage of the Pittee staying on the sidelines is that he/she can gain an understanding of what other posters think about him/her. If you join in, you will affect that process. Pit threads also give you an insight into how posters view one another, which broadly speaking are amenable to your point of view, and so on, so again they are best left undisturbed if you sit it out. Strangely, pittings also tend to go on longer if the Pittee doesn’t enter the fray. I think this may have something to do with the contrary aspect of human nature. If people think you’re enjoying the attention, you won’t get any more. ---
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-anout-the-pit-what-if-a-pitee-never-responds/285111/11 "2005-01-17T06:35:43Z")
I think that after three pages, the pitee should be required to respond or else they will be banned. ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-anout-the-pit-what-if-a-pitee-never-responds/285111/12 "2005-01-17T08:31:51Z")
I hope you’re joking. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-anout-the-pit-what-if-a-pitee-never-responds/285111/13 "2005-01-17T08:43:26Z")
> [@Berkut](#): > > I hope you’re joking. So do I. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-anout-the-pit-what-if-a-pitee-never-responds/285111/14 "2005-01-17T11:44:48Z")
It’s a Zen koan: can a poster truly be pitted if he does not read the Pit thread? You have much to learn, Grasshopper. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-anout-the-pit-what-if-a-pitee-never-responds/285111/15 "2005-01-17T12:18:52Z")
> [@cheddarsnax](#): > > I think that after three pages, the pitee should be required to respond or else they will be banned. That’s a tad strong. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-anout-the-pit-what-if-a-pitee-never-responds/285111/16 "2005-01-17T13:43:29Z")
> [@cheddarsnax](#): > > I think that after three pages, the pitee should be required to respond or else they will be banned. I think that anyone who suggests a blanket method of banning should be banned themselves. (err … like this one?! :eek: ) ---
**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:** [January 17, 2005, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-anout-the-pit-what-if-a-pitee-never-responds/285111/17 "2005-01-17T13:50:20Z")
I think it depends on circumstances. If the OP or the Pitted ask for a thread to be shut, the Mods would consider it, but I can’t see us setting a policy of always doing so. For one thing, that would require that the Moderators review each thread to see if the Pitted had responded, and that’s more work than they want to do. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-anout-the-pit-what-if-a-pitee-never-responds/285111/18 "2005-01-17T15:55:10Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > It sounded like less than a “pure” answer to me, too. I think **kniz** tried to float that one by us. Ivory reason to think you’re being a smart aleck. ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-anout-the-pit-what-if-a-pitee-never-responds/285111/19 "2005-01-17T16:00:16Z")
Let’s face it, a Pitting isn’t exactly the kind of party most people really want thrown for them, though there are those twisted souls for whom any attention is better than none. (Sideways joking aside, those who count coup by being Pitted don’t tend to thrive and survive here.) Also keep in mind a lot of people don’t read the Pit ever or even regularly. Some of the spats, er, discussions are carry-overs from Great Debates and the like. It’s not unknown for someone to be completely unaware they’ve even be Pitted. People aren’t _required_ to participate in a Pitting in their ‘honor’. Their absence rather echoes but so it goes. Posters can decide for themselves about what non-particpation means, if anything. Could be holding onself above the fray; could be avoidance of consequences. At any rate, that’s up to the reader to decide. It’s one case where what’s _not_ written is weighed along with what is. We do read all those rants, pity our poor eyes and brains, but to monitor the level and content of invective. Our lines are drawn with broad strokes but they’re still there. Answering a Pitting just doesn’t happen to be one of 'em. Veb ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-anout-the-pit-what-if-a-pitee-never-responds/285111/20 "2005-01-17T17:55:26Z")
I should be banned just for posting. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-anout-the-pit-what-if-a-pitee-never-responds/285111.md?page=2)