# Sea Shepherds; Innefectual self-important dipshits **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 15, 2009, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487 "2009-08-15T02:58:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487/201 "2009-08-17T03:13:02Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > I suggest you threaten to sue the message board. That usually gets results. That’s just mean. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![wierdaaron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eada6e/32.png) [@wierdaaron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wierdaaron)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487/202 "2009-08-17T03:15:36Z")
If that doesn’t work, you could always sue the internet. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487/203 "2009-08-17T03:16:51Z")
I heard the OPU killed a hooker at their last meeting. For dinner. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487/204 "2009-08-17T03:16:54Z")
> [@wierdaaron](#): > > If that doesn’t work, you could always sue the internet. Its that whats known as tubal litigation? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487/205 "2009-08-17T03:21:17Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > Am I to take this as the official view of Creative Loafing Media, that public, prominent, and clearly untrue accusations of criminal activity on your message boards is explicitly tolerated? You are to take this as the official view of the SDMB that lodging lawsuits and threatening to lodge lawsuits is grounds for instant banning. Now, there is a separate issue as to whether posters from across the world are able to make fun, on a U.S. based message board, of public organizations and corporations that are based in other countries, given that the U.S. Constitution (as adjudicated in numerous cases of law), permits a wide latitude in mocking public figures and organizations–up to and including the U.S. President, Congress, and Supreme Court. I suspect that whatever you are claiming as “clearly untrue accusations” will be more likely seen as mockery of your politics using insults directed at your organization than some sort of actual libel. (And you might want to review all your own posts to be sure that you have not ever posted something that could be construed as libelous against any govermental or corporate entity or person before you go off half-cocked looking to take offense at general ridicule.) Go read threads in which Governor Palin or President Obama is the topic and note that a lot of things are posted that are “clearly untrue accusations.” For tort to work you will need to show damage and, recognizing that I am not a lawyer and this is not a legal opinion, I am pretty sure that nothing posted here, (aside form some of your own comments), could be construed to have damaged you or the OPU. I have no actual knowlegde of or interest in discussing what might be subject to torts. I am pointing out the rules of this board. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487/206 "2009-08-17T03:23:06Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > So, if they are going to flaunt the rules why not flaunt them well? Nitpick: It’s FLOUT the rules, not flaunt. We now return you to your regularly scheduled hippie bashing, already in progress. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487/207 "2009-08-17T03:27:20Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > Nitpick: It’s FLOUT the rules, not flaunt. Hey as long as the good ship _Steve Irwin_ doesn’t flounder! 😛 😃 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487/208 "2009-08-17T03:28:38Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > Nitpick: It’s FLOUT the rules, not flaunt. > > We now return you to your regularly scheduled hippie bashing, already in progress. He’s not a hippie, he’s a _revolutionary_. He has the Official Revolutionary Jacket and the Official Revolutionary Beard. ---
**Author:** ![SmashTheState](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@SmashTheState](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmashTheState)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487/209 "2009-08-17T03:31:29Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > I suspect that whatever you are claiming as “clearly untrue accusations” will be more likely seen as mockery of your politics using insults directed at your organization than some sort of actual libel. (And you might want to review all your own posts to be sure that you have not ever posted something that could be construed as libelous against any govermental or corporate entity or person before you go off half-cocked looking to take offense at general ridicule.) You appear to misunderstand. Ridicule directed at me is fine, up to and including accusations of criminal activity. It is specific allegations of fraudulent activity in my capacity as organizer and spokesperson for the OPU to which I object. I did not post here in my capacity as spokesperson. Nor is it “my” organization. The OPU is part of a union with thousands of members. An accusation in a public forum of the criminal misuse of union funds has serious repercussions for us. We are under constant media scrutiny, and if we fail to take action, any media could correctly state that there have been accusations of misuse of funds. I am not looking for apologies. I don’t care what opinions they hold of me, or my politics. All I want is for the people who have made these statements to make it explicitly clear that they are joking, or engaging in satire, or whatever other language they wish. There is a very large difference between ridicule and a direct accusation of fraud on the part of a union officer of record. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487/210 "2009-08-17T03:34:17Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > All I want is for the people who have made these statements to make it explicitly clear that they are joking, or engaging in satire, or whatever other language they wish. There is a very large difference between ridicule and a direct accusation of fraud on the part of a union officer of record. Dude, if you have to ask, you’ll never know. Duh. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487/211 "2009-08-17T03:39:30Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > The episode isn’t out yet, but in the preview I noted a look of surprise and alarm on the captain’s face during the collision. > > Hippies **do** crash by accident. > Hippies with ships is a pretty small subset of hippies in general. So, I’m not convinced you have a large enough statistical sample to begin drawing conclusions on the behavioral habits of seafaring hippies in general. Maybe they do ram their boats to save whales. They put spikes in trees to stop logging, why not ram a boat? > > I predict you are about to receive an ignominious denouement at the hands of the administration. Good luck with the panhandlers and have a nice life! About that tree spiking - WTF??? Someone could get killed because of that. ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487/212 "2009-08-17T03:42:40Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > Hippies with ships is a pretty small subset of hippies in general. So, I’m not convinced you have a large enough statistical sample to begin drawing conclusions on the behavioral habits of seafaring hippies in general. Maybe they do ram their boats to save whales. They put spikes in trees to stop logging, why not ram a boat? Hippies on ships…get stranded and are r[escued by oil tankers](http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/05/06/world/worldwatch/entry4995870.shtml). > [@SmashTheState](#): > > It is specific allegations of fraudulent activity in my capacity as organizer and spokesperson for the OPU to which I object. I did not post here in my capacity as spokesperson. Nor is it “my” organization. The OPU is part of a union with thousands of members Yes, but they’re ALL NAZIS! ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487/213 "2009-08-17T03:44:37Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > . We are under **constant media scrutiny** , and if we fail to take action, any media could correctly state that there have been accusations of misuse of funds. The retarded name you folks choose for the organization has probably done more damage to the cause than if they found Osama hiding in your group. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487/214 "2009-08-17T03:58:32Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > All I want is for the people who have made these statements to make it explicitly clear that they are joking, or engaging in satire, or whatever other language they wish. There is a very large difference between ridicule and a direct accusation of fraud on the part of a union officer of record. Not so much in a forum devoted explicitly to insult and mockery. Mock “accusations” made in over-the-top expressions in a forum devoted to abuse provides all the clarity of purpose that is required. The rule regarding threats of lawsuits still stands. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487/215 "2009-08-17T04:00:22Z")
Wait, we’ve still had no factual refutation of the highly credible accusations that StS routinely embezzles funds from the OPU and demands sexual favors from young runaways in place of union dues? Has anybody alerted the Canadian news media about this yet? Someone probably should. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487/216 "2009-08-17T04:11:10Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > You appear to misunderstand. Ridicule directed at me is fine, up to and including accusations of criminal activity. It is specific allegations of fraudulent activity in my capacity as organizer and spokesperson for the OPU to which I object. I did not post here in my capacity as spokesperson. Nor is it “my” organization. The OPU is part of a union with thousands of members. An accusation in a public forum of the criminal misuse of union funds has serious repercussions for us. We are under constant media scrutiny, and if we fail to take action, any media could correctly state that there have been accusations of misuse of funds. > > I am not looking for apologies. I don’t care what opinions they hold of me, or my politics. All I want is for the people who have made these statements to make it explicitly clear that they are joking, or engaging in satire, or whatever other language they wish. There is a very large difference between ridicule and a direct accusation of fraud on the part of a union officer of record. I formally accuse you and the Ottawa Panhandlers’ Union of misusing funds and willfully and knowingly engaging in fraud. Your posts here have provided enough evidence that I believe a full investigation is warranted. I make these statements not as a joke or satire. Any media outlet which wishes to quote me as the author of these allegations is free to email me, but they can rest assured that the statement “allegations have been raised about misuse of funds, fraud, and the non-consentual sodomy of the homeless by the Ottawa Panhanders’ Union” are 100% factually correct, as I am hereby alleging all of these things. You have 24 hours. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487/217 "2009-08-17T04:15:46Z")
Scylla Sorry your great thread got somewhat derailed by the SmashtheState version of the people’s court due to my comment. A different sort of entertainment I guess. I think Groucho Marx even made a brief appearance. Anyhow, time to hit the hay. Maybe some good hippie bashing is still to be had ! Blll ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487/218 "2009-08-17T04:19:05Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > As long as they’re still pissing off the squares, they have my support, moral and financial. You’re a hand puppet, aren’t you? Operated by a retarded child that’s learned everything he knows about the world from a 1972 _Life’s Year In Pictures_? No human being could really manage to keep up such an unblinkingly shallow parody of revolutionary posturing, right? Let me see that beard – I knew it, it’s fucking _felt_. Go on, who’s fist have you got up there? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487/219 "2009-08-17T04:25:06Z")
[QUOTE= SmashTheState] There is a very large difference between ridicule and a direct accusation of fraud on the part of a union officer of record. [/QUOTE] Actually, no, there isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487/220 "2009-08-17T04:50:10Z")
Let’s end the hijack about what crimes \*\*SmashTheState \*\* may or may not have committed. If you wish to accuse him of other crime, immoral activities, or general misbehavior, please at least start a new thread on the topic. We need to diversify our thread topics in the Pit anyway. **Gfactor** Pit Moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-shepherds-innefectual-self-important-dipshits/506487.md?page=12)