Per Ed, a parody thread is a mild pitting.
Of course, the reason sneetches are not a perfect substitute is they encapsulate the character but not the action of complaining to authority.
There is no requirement that a pit thread insult anyone.
No, but there are perceptions.
But that is not one of the perceptions, or at least not one of the significant ones.
Really?
That you’re required to insult someone in order to start a thread in the Pit? I don’t think that’s a common belief.
Not to start one, but once what’s-his-name or you-know-who starts posting you won’t be able to resist the provocation.
Let’s roast the usual suspects. If we don’t know what they did to deserve it, they will. 
Most Pit threads are there to rant about something without necessarily insulting an individual (on or off the board). It’s only a minority that are attack threads.
If anyone thinks that the Pit is just a throw down area to go at people, they haven’t spent much time there.
I mostly avoided the Pit for a long time due to the stereotype. Now I spend most of my time there; the more relaxed atmosphere in the Pit sparks some great discussions.
Right. I used to spend a lot of time in the Pit. I know what it is, and I’d put personal insults on a list of Things Most Likely to See. Doesn’t mean it’s required or anything, but insults are certainly associated with the Pit, yes.
I am exactly the same as you. I stayed away for years, and now I probably spend most my time there.