# RO: ? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 5, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443 "2009-08-05T17:44:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443/21 "2009-08-10T03:18:09Z")
> [@cckerberos](#): > > Sometime in 2007 there was a flood of RO threads in the Pit that sparked a backlash. It was around that point that RO began to be commonly used in thread titles. It stopped being used for a while, but appears to be back. So, in the 2007’s. For about 20 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443/22 "2009-08-10T03:18:41Z")
I’m fucking outraged that the OP posted this in the Pit when it is clearly the wrong forum for such a thread. And my outrage is not even recreational, it’s targetted. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443/23 "2009-08-10T14:29:37Z")
The “recreational” part of it bugs me. While said threads and certainly (in general) not intended in this way, it implies a certain ironic detachment from the incidents in question, as in “Oh those poor sots! They sure have it bad, don’t they?” It needs a different adjective, IOW. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443/24 "2009-08-10T14:58:42Z")
It’s recrecational in the sense that the participants rarely actually _do_ anything\* about the violence porn they enjoy reading about, they just competitively try to top one another’s outrage: “I’m the mostest outraged!” “No, I’m more outraged than you!” “I’m the most outraged of all of us!” “I’m more outraged by this than all of you put together and I hope \< bad guy \> gets hit by a meteor! A meteor with AIDS!” “Well, I hope \< bad guy in RO thread \> goes to jail and gets two meteors up his/her ass so they’re ASS-RAPED by the meteors–and the meteors have AIDS and EBOLA!” so the “recreational” applies to the competitive outrage aspect, IMO rather than the violence porn fetishizing. \*It’s not like you regularly see “Oh my god. This story about the baby eaten by feral lemurs touched my heart. Because I was so moved, I joined the “Protect Our Babies from Feral Lemurs Society” just now and plan to adopt 12 lemurs and socialize them myself.” ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443/25 "2009-08-10T15:00:19Z")
Dup post. Ignore. No doubt someone will be outraged by it. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443/26 "2009-08-10T15:05:22Z")
[Thread asking this on 08/05/2009.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=527070) Link in that thread to Beginner’s Guide to Glossary of Terms on Straight Dope Message Boards ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443/27 "2009-08-10T15:46:46Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > “I’m more outraged by this than all of you put together and I hope \< bad guy \> gets hit by a meteor! A meteor with AIDS!” > “Well, I hope \< bad guy in RO thread \> goes to jail and gets two meteors up his/her ass so they’re ASS-RAPED by the meteors–and the meteors have AIDS and EBOLA!” Someone really ought to start a meteor sexual education and safety program. The AIDS outbreak in the meteor community has become most unsettling. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443/28 "2009-08-10T17:43:15Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Dup post. Ignore. No doubt someone will be outraged by it. Well yes there IS actually you heartless swine. Some of us worry about the recreational outragers of the world. They’re obviously mentally subnormal . Which makes them “Intellectually challenged” Which makes them a minority AND victims. So they are worth caring about by loving Humanist/totally devout Deists like my self unlike peoPle like YOU who laugh at them and SNEER at them and I’ve just replied to the wrong post … So I’m WUNN of them !!! How can you live with your self !!! Spwan of the undead!!! That you are!!! HAH!bet you feel bad about yourself now eh?EH? EH? EH? BASTARD. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443/29 "2009-08-10T18:38:57Z")
Recreational Outrage = OMG! Did you see what he/she did? Heinous and undefendable! Grab your torch and pitchfork and come join us. Fun will be had by all! ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443/30 "2009-08-10T18:47:04Z")
I’ve moved this thread from The BBQ Pit to About This Message Board. I’ll now try to merge it with the existing thread on this topic. ::crosses self:: \*\* Gfactor\*\* Pit Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443/31 "2009-08-10T18:56:40Z")
BTW, this may be the first SDMB [pit] example of that particular collocation: [QUOTE=Excalibre, April 2006] Recreational outrage seems to be a popular hobby around here, though this is the first time I’ve seen someone call for torture as a form of entertainment. [/QUOTE] [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=7309674#post7309674](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=7309674#post7309674) ---
**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 10, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443/32 "2009-08-10T19:40:25Z")
The problem with putting them in MPSIMS is that, while they may be pointless, they aren’t mundane. And a lot of pit threads are really RO, anyways. Any of them complaining about a famous person who does something you don’t like. Any of them about politician’s personal lives. And those that just repost a news story and say how mad they are about it. If it doesn’t affect the poster personally, the outrage is merely recreational, as it accomplishes nothing but catharsis. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443/33 "2009-08-10T20:41:25Z")
I’d argue that they pretty much _are_ mundane BigT–they’re all the same flavor of violence porn. Chocolate ice cream and vanilla ice cream are still both ice cream. On your other point, if it were up to me, politics wouldn’t be in the Pit, IMO. The stupid “No funny threads in the pit rule” \* certainly makes even less sense when you realize that political pit threads _are_ permitted. I’d rather have funny threads than political ones in the Pit. At least there’s the possiblity of some variety with the funny threads. The rules permit it–I’m not denying that–but frankly if you can’t put a coherent argument against a political type beyond “Oooh! \< Politician X \> makes me sooooo mad! S/he’s just a big poopy-head”\*\* you should get to a Romper Room board and learn better. Politics of all types should (under a Fenris-based regime\*\*\*) either go in a politics-based forum or, failing that, into GD. \*The “no joke threads” rule name is a misnomer since the first application was Esprix being banned (commuted to suspended) for posting a funny faux-outrage at another poster’s poorly phrased but obviously harmless comment. It wasn’t a classic, but it was worthy of a smile. \*\*And every single political pit thread I’ve ever seen has been some variant of that. Either “So-and-so is a poopy-head”, “People who believe such-and-such are poopy-heads” or “People who do such-and-such are poopy-heads.” \*\*Back the Fenris For Dictator program! We give you choice: beatings with terror _or_ purgings. Your choice! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443/34 "2009-08-12T14:56:53Z")
> [@Hung\_Mung](#): > > So, in the 2007’s. For about 20 minutes. And when it’s done skillfully, it’s a deft rage. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443/35 "2009-08-12T17:45:00Z")
Fenris has nailed it. Twice. RO is just soap opera crap. Sample thread titles: **Retarded boy mocked by kids at school** **Child eaten by deranged mother** **Woman sues for damages to her hairdo** ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443/36 "2009-08-12T23:18:12Z")
I’ve started a thread for a general discussion of Pit-worthiness here: [What is Pit-worthy? - The BBQ Pit - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=527897) ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443/37 "2009-08-13T01:34:43Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Dup post. Ignore. No doubt someone will be outraged by it. _raises hand_ ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443/38 "2009-08-13T02:10:11Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > _raises hand_ Could I use that as a sig? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443/39 "2009-08-13T02:25:33Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Could I use that as a sig? I don’t care. It was a throwaway line, and hardly an original thought. Feel free. “Everybody raise their hand who wants to go to The Green Door where the women’s pool league is playing tonight.” ---
**Author:** ![Hambil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3be4f8/32.png) [@Hambil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hambil)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443/40 "2011-12-13T09:55:59Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The implication is that the person is posting just to express how appalled they are by something. If you’re posting about some serial killer murdering a bunch of women it’s not like anyone is likely to offer an opposing opinion. So the threads are usually: > > “This is really horrible. Here’s a link.” > “Wow, that is bad.” > “I agree. How can people do things like that?” > “Horrible.” > “Terrible.” > “Disgusting.” > “Another vote for horrible.” > > etc. Really? That’s kind of funny. I’d avoided this forum because I thought it was some free-speech 4chan type zone where the above post would have been responded to with “Awesome” and “STFU” and “no u!”. I get treated worse than the example you gave in regular forums on here! 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro/505443.md?page=3)