Rules regarding personal insults in The Pit

[amanset]

Can someone let me know what the rules regarding personal insults in The Pit actually are? According to the post “Restricted language in the Pit” the rules is as such:

The following expressions should not be directed at other posters.

cunt and variants, e.g., cuntlapper
motherfucker
cocksucker
fuck you and variants, e.g., go fuck yourself, fuck off and die
suck/lick my dick/cock and variants

Expressions not referred to above but which are normally considered vulgar (e.g., asshole, dick, prick, bitch, kiss my ass) are subject to the following limitations:

• occasional use only
• no posts consisting solely or mainly of vulgarities.

Don’t play games. For example, don’t say, “X [some offboard personality] is a cunt, and you’re like X.”

This list is subject to revision.

I am interested in what qualifies as “occasional use only”.

I ask as I am currently involved in a discussion with Finn Again in this thread:

Finn Again's Wake

So far, in the nine posts he has directed to me I have been referred to as:

A troll.
A liar on multiple occasions, probably as many as twenty or more.
An idiot.
Full of shit.
A piece of filth.
Scum.
A “moral pervert” seven times.
A moron.
A trolling idiot.
A son of a whore.
A son of a bitch (twice).
A moral leper.
Fucking chimp-pawn.
Filth.
Moral filth.
A weasel.
A very fucked up person.
Meshugena.
Addicted to dishonesty.
A disgusting person.
Dishonest.

All within nine posts. Only nine.

I have now reported this behaviour twice. The first time I was told that he had not broken the rules. The second time I was told that I should refer to the previous report and that if I didn’t like it I should (a) put him on ignore, (b) leave the thread or (c) both.

So, my question is, how many insults does it take for it to be no longer “occasional”?

I also take exception to the references to my Mother as both a whore and a bitch, as well as the constant lying that I had supported actions that many would consider anti-semitic. I have repeatedly asked Finn Again to show me exactly where I did this. He has yet to show me, but continues to refer to me as a liar and someone that supports anti-semitic actions.

I doubt I need to explain the seriousness of public accusations of supporting actions that could be considered as anti-semitic.

So please, can I have a clarification of the rules as, from where I am sitting, Finn Again has way, way, way overstepped the mark.

I tried to deal with this personally via reporting posts but due to the unsatisfactory response of the moderators in question I have decided to post here instead.

[Gfactor]

I am unaware of any pit rule that mentions “personal insults.” We’ve got one that deals with “expressions which are normally considered vulgar.” It permits occasional use, and I’ve said before that I’m not going to put a numerical limit on them.

[amanset]

@Gfactor

I am unaware of any pit rule that mentions “personal insults.” We’ve got one that deals with “expressions which are normally considered vulgar.” It permits occasional use, and I’ve said before that I’m not going to put a numerical limit on them.

Even then, there were reams of “expressions which are normally considered vulgar”. I am particularly unhappy about the references to my Mother being a bitch and a whore, as well as the seven counts of “moral pervert”.

It wasn’t occasional. It was in every single reply to me. Every single one.

[Gfactor]

@amanset

Even then, there were reams of “expressions which are normally considered vulgar”. I am particularly unhappy about the references to my Mother being a bitch and a whore, as well as the seven counts of “moral pervert”.

It wasn’t occasional. It was in every single reply to me. Every single one.

1. Son of a bitch isn’t vulgar. *Compare *, e.g., Bitch Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster *with *Asshole Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster (“usually vulgar”).

2. In any case, insults against one’s mother are staples of the Pit. Indeed the rule you quoted deals with expressions directed at other posters–not at their mothers. http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11378592&postcount=32

3. “moral pervert” isn’t vulgar, either. It’s an insult, which is what the Pit is for. The same can be said of most of the other items on your list.

4. Given points 1-3, I disagree with your assertion that there were “reams” of vulgarities.

[Sleeps_With_Butterflies]

@amanset

Even then, there were reams of “expressions which are normally considered vulgar”. I am particularly unhappy about the references to my Mother being a bitch and a whore, as well as the seven counts of “moral pervert”.

It wasn’t occasional. It was in every single reply to me. Every single one.

If it is any consolation, I think most people understand just how dishonestly he argues and how often he howls these insults so you can pretty much ignore them because few people put any stock in what he’s saying.

Troll is one of his very favorites and you have to just give him that one.

[amanset]

@Gfactor

1. Son of a bitch isn’t vulgar. *Compare *, e.g., Bitch Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster *with *Asshole Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster (“usually vulgar”).

Your own link contains a link specific for “son of a bitch”. Clicking that gives:

Main Entry: son of a bitch
Pronunciation: \ˈsən-ə-və-ˌbich also ˈsəm-ˌbich; as an interj ˌsən-ə-və-ˈbich
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural sons of bitch·es \ˌsən-zə-ˈbi-chəz
Date: 1671
sometimes vulgar : bastard 3 —sometimes used interjectionally to express surprise or disappointment

@Gfactor

2. In any case, insults against one’s mother are staples of the Pit. Indeed the rule you quoted deals with expressions directed at other posters–not at their mothers. http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11378592&postcount=32

The statement in itself is still vulgar, especially in the way it was used in that thread.

@Gfactor

3. “moral pervert” isn’t vulgar, either. It’s an insult, which is what the Pit is for. The same can be said of most of the other items on your list.

I would disagree, but fair enough. I’d disagree with “most of” though.

@Gfactor

4. Given points 1-3, I disagree with your assertion that there were “reams” of vulgarities.

Well given that your are incorrect, using your own link, on points 1 and 2 I disagree with your opinion on this.

[KarlGauss]

A ‘piece of shit’ I could tolerate. And, I’d even brook the occasional ‘fucking chimp-pawn’. But, ‘meshugena’ is beyond the pale. That momser.

[amanset]

@Sleeps_With_Butterflies

If it is any consolation, I think most people understand just how dishonestly he argues and how often he howls these insults so you can pretty much ignore them because few people put any stock in what he’s saying.

Troll is one of his very favorites and you have to just give him that one.

I know. That’s pretty much why he was pitted.

You’d think that someone that is allegedly so well versed in Jewish history would understand the stigma of even being implied to agree with actions that could be seen as anti-semitic.

You’d think that moderators would understand that and deal with it. Apparently not. I’m still amazed that I managed to get a warning out of it all. My first in over a decade of being a member here (that I can remember anyway).

[KarlGauss]

@amanset

Even then, there were reams of “expressions which are normally considered vulgar”. I am particularly unhappy about the references to my Mother being a bitch and a whore, as well as the seven counts of “moral pervert”.

Please keep in mind that the thread directed at him/her opened with the lovely:

@1st line of Pit Thread OP

You disingenuous, sadly predictable but poisionous soured piece of shit!

[amanset]

@KarlGauss

A ‘piece of shit’ I could tolerate. And, I’d even brook the occasional ‘fucking chimp-pawn’. But, ‘meshugena’ is beyond the pale. That momser.

Yeah, that was a bit pithy on my part. Let’s just say I was in a bad mood and I didn’t exactly care for insults, no matter how weak, in a foreign language.

Maybe I should have thrown some Swedish his way.

[amanset]

@KarlGauss

Please keep in mind that the thread directed at him/her opened with the lovely:

That’d be relevant if I’d have written that, but I didn’t. I don’t think I even make an appearance until page five.

[Gfactor]

@amanset

Your own link contains a link specific for “son of a bitch”. Clicking that gives:

Main Entry: son of a bitch
Pronunciation: \ˈsən-ə-və-ˌbich also ˈsəm-ˌbich; as an interj ˌsən-ə-və-ˈbich
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural sons of bitch·es \ˌsən-zə-ˈbi-chəz
Date: 1671
sometimes vulgar : bastard 3 —sometimes used interjectionally to express surprise or disappointment

The statement in itself is still vulgar, especially in the way it was used in that thread.

Good point but your complaint was that he was calling your mother a bitch, right?

@amanset

I also take exception to the references to my Mother as both a whore and a bitch,

I would disagree, but fair enough. I’d disagree with “most of” though.

Even assuming “sometimes vulgar” = “normally considered vulgar” (I don’t agree, by the way), and resolving every close case in your favor, I get (non-vulgarities bolded):

A troll.
A liar on multiple occasions, probably as many as twenty or more.
An idiot.
Full of shit.
A piece of filth.
Scum.
A “moral pervert” seven times.
A moron.
A trolling idiot.
A son of a whore.
A son of a bitch (twice).
A moral leper.
Fucking chimp-pawn.
Filth.
Moral filth.
A weasel.
A very fucked up person.
Meshugena.
Addicted to dishonesty.
A disgusting person.
Dishonest.

Which is most of them, especially if we count each “moral pervert” as a separate non-vulgarity.

[Miller]

In addition to Gfactor’s points, it’s also worth noting that “occasional use” can be taken two ways: occasional within a post, or occasional within the history of the poster in question. I interpret it in the second fashion: if all someone ever does on the SDMB is call people names, that’s arguably grounds for moderator intervention. If the bulk of someone’s posts are innocuous, but he sometimes gets into fights where he heavily front-loads his posts with insults, I consider that “occasional use,” even if the number of insults within that specific thread is extremely high.

[Oakminster]

@Miller

If the bulk of someone’s posts are innocuous, but he sometimes gets into fights where he heavily front-loads his posts with insults, I consider that “occasional use,” even if the number of insults within that specific thread is extremely high.

Heh. I might resemble that remark.

That said, the current Pit is MPSIMS with a little extra hot sauce. Sad, really. It was much more entertaining before it got defanged during “The Unpleasantness” last year.

[bucketybuck]

Bearing in mind my opinion of Finnagain is about as low as a dwarf conga the point has to be made.

Its the pit. Suck it up.

[amanset]

@bucketybuck

Bearing in mind my opinion of Finnagain is about as low as a dwarf conga the point has to be made.

Its the pit. Suck it up.

I’ll admit that in my annoyance I mistook the vulgarities to meen personal insults. Then again, one could easily argue that the very concept of a personal insult is vulgar.

Let’s just say that I am particularly unimpressed with the repeated attempts to portray me as an anti-semite whilst at the same time refusing to say why. Hell, the only time he has explicitly stated anything it turns out his “proof” of me having views that could be considered anti-semitic happened hours after he started claiming I had those views.

As I have already stated, one doesn’t need to explain the seriousness of someone publicly claiming that one has views that could be considered anti-semitic. Roll in the insults and vulgarities and, well, you end up with a pretty pissed off amanset.

[amanset]

For those not sure as to what the alleged anti-semitic views were, Finn Again repeatedly - and without any sort of evidence even when directly asked for links to posts - stated that I supported the rounding up of Jews, including those in international waters, and keeping them in concentration camps

[KarlGauss]

@amanset

That’d be relevant if I’d have written that, but I didn’t. I don’t think I even make an appearance until page five.

It’s highly relevant - it set the tone for the thread.

[leander]

@amanset

For those not sure as to what the alleged anti-semitic views were, Finn Again repeatedly - and without any sort of evidence even when directly asked for links to posts - stated that I supported the rounding up of Jews, including those in international waters, and keeping them in concentration camps

Seriously, don’t sweat it. There’s something not quite right there. See **Sleeps **post above.

Really not worth getting bothered by at all. And most dopers know that.

[amanset]

@leander

Seriously, don’t sweat it. There’s something not quite right there. See **Sleeps **post above.

Really not worth getting bothered by at all. And most dopers know that.

I guess so. I just wish the moderators would do something about someone that is so easy to throw such disgusting accusations around, whether in The Pit or not.