# Seriously, can't something be done about handy? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 25, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082 "2003-11-25T01:20:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082/21 "2003-11-25T02:52:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SmackFu \* > \*\*ntucker, you did a fine job of hijacking that thread with your attack on handy though. Is that being a bigger jerk? \*\* Maybe it was. I sure hope people don’t see it that way, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t hesitate before hitting “send” on that first post. I tried to keep it non-pit-worthy, however, and my subsequent posts in that thread were dedicated to helping the OP by pointing out handy’s misinformation. If the OP had taken handy’s answer at face value, he might have ended up going and buying a new printer or just giving up entirely. ---
**Author:** ![wakimika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f08c70/32.png) [@wakimika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wakimika)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082/22 "2003-11-25T02:57:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SmackFu \* > \*\*ntucker, you did a fine job of hijacking that thread with your attack on handy though. Is that being a bigger jerk? \*\* You guys usually call what **ntucker** did “fighting ignorance,” so why should **Handy** get a handjob? ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082/23 "2003-11-25T03:05:50Z")
handy can do that himself ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082/24 "2003-11-25T03:16:17Z")
Searching on **handy’s** posts finds that I’m rarely even reading most of the GQ threads that he’s posting to (mostly computer questions). However [in this thread on gnats](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&postid=4269414#post4269414), six hours after I post a link with scientific info that clearly answers the OP, **handy** comes along with an “I think…” bullshit of a post. It is annoying that after doing the research for the OP, that a follow-up post ignores it and increases ignorance rather than fights it. From what I understand, purposely posting false info is a jerk offense. I hope a warning goes out. Peace. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082/25 "2003-11-25T03:22:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ntucker \* > > **I’m not asking for a hard ban on this behavior – I’m asking for moderators to use their Cecil-given discretion to treat egregious examples as “being a jerk” and warn him off this habit.** It’s been done. In fact, **handy** has been instructed that he’s [no longer _allowed_ to post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=1818146#post1818146) in threads with medical questions because of exactly this type of behavior. If he does, he’s banned. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Lynn Bodoni, Administrator_ > > **handy** , you _specifically_ are warned not to post medical advice, because of your history. Take heed, if you ignore **manhattan’s** warning I WILL revoke your posting privileges. > > Lynn > Cecil’s own Angel of Death ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082/26 "2003-11-25T03:30:41Z")
And here’s **manhattan’s** [original warning](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=1815966#post1815966) (bolding mine): > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by manhattan_ > > > [@](#): > > > > _Originally posted by handy_ > > > > Qadgop, the doctor gives me antibiotics about twice a year for bronchitis, it’s quite an acceptable treatment, if you didn’t notice. > > > > Plus, you missed the obvious. In order to get antibiotics for bronchitis the OP has to visit the doctor. Which, once again is obvious, the doctor would know whether or not to prescribe them. duh. > > No, you miss the obvious. You are not qualified. **I am tired of you giving bad and potentially dangerous advice to our membership.** > > So I am making this official. You are not to give advice in any medical thread to anybody ever again. For any reason. > > This is an official warning. Your continued ability to post on this site is in jeopardy. ---
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082/27 "2003-11-25T03:37:39Z")
Right, except that obviously doesn’t solve the problem. He simply increases the amount of misinformation he posts on other subjects. I’m not going to claim that the plethora of wrong computer-related answers he’s giving are “potentially dangerous” or anything – I just think they’re worth discouraging due to the fact that they lessen the quality of this otherwise excellent source of information (the SDMB, not handy :)). ---
**Author:** ![lucwarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@lucwarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucwarm)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082/28 "2003-11-25T05:58:36Z")
Here’s a thought: Somebody could prepare a “handy” disclaimer > [@](#): > > We, certain concerned users of the Straight Dope Message Board are posting this message to alert other users that **handy** consistently posts incorrect and erroneous information in the General Questions forum. We have given up on trying to correct his misinformation as he is incredibly prolific. Moreover, when confronted evidence that he is incorrect, he simply dodges, weaves, and weasels – anything except admit he is wrong. > > Thus, none of us will respond to his posts, except to post links to this statement. > > We note that **handy** has been banned from offering medical advice, but as a group, we take no position as to whether he should be banned entirely from the board. We simply post this disclaimer to warn other users. The disclaimer could then link to a thread in which a couple hundred users have posted their assent to the above disclaimer. Or perhaps the disclaimer could be in the linked thread itself. That way, nobody has to waste time responding to his nonsense, but new users are warned. ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082/29 "2003-11-25T06:08:40Z")
Since the only forum that requires dealing primarily with facts is General Questions, isn’t there a way to ban handy from just that forum? ---
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082/30 "2003-11-25T06:16:47Z")
**lucwarm** , I think that’s a great idea. If you start the thread, I’ll post my assent to it. If you don’t want to, I’d be happy to start it. Perhaps it would be most effective if people were encouraged to simply post their assent (or dissent, I suppose), rather than rehash all the arguments. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082/31 "2003-11-25T06:17:41Z")
Can’t we just let him post “…” for all his posts. He gets to increase his post count. Nobody is confused by his piss poor advice and really it’s not much different from the content he seems to offer anyway. Everyone is happy. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082/32 "2003-11-25T06:45:02Z")
How 'bout if the board just does away w/ the post counter all together? I don’t know for sure, but I think it would save a lot of wear and tear on the Hamsters. Probably do away with a lot of ignorance as well. Reduce the traffic, speed up the board. Somewhere along the way, someone got the idea that MORE posts = More respect or something? I’m not quite sure what. Sounds contrary to several examples I could mention. I don’t need to know what the individual count is do YOU? ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082/33 "2003-11-25T06:48:23Z")
Well I think it can be useful. Helps me identfy the old timers and the newbies. Maybe just have it freeze at 1000? ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082/34 "2003-11-25T07:00:50Z")
Not really, post count isn’t a reliable way to tell how LONG someone’s been here. Their registration date is posted. Besides **Cecil** has fewer posts than most of us and he’s not what you’d call a “newbie” is he? Oh, I went ahead and started a thread for this OP. Sorry about the HIJACK. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082/35 "2003-11-25T07:16:35Z")
**Darkhold** …[Here’s that link.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=225314) ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082/36 "2003-11-25T07:19:16Z")
Man, I miss **manhattan**. There has never been, and likely will never be another Mod that can lay down the strong pimp hand like him. Even **Lynn** in all her glory is a distant second place. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082/37 "2003-11-25T07:45:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lucwarm \* > \*\*Here’s a thought: Somebody could prepare a “handy” disclaimer > > > [@](#): > > > > We, certain concerned users of the Straight Dope Message Board are posting this message to alert other users that handy consistently posts incorrect and erroneous information in the General Questions forum. We have given up on trying to correct his misinformation as he is incredibly prolific. Moreover, when confronted evidence that he is incorrect, he simply dodges, weaves, and weasels – anything except admit he is wrong. > > > > Thus, none of us will respond to his posts, except to post links to this statement. > > > > We note that handy has been banned from offering medical advice, but as a group, we take no position as to whether he should be banned entirely from the board. We simply post this disclaimer to warn other users. > > The disclaimer could then link to a thread in which a couple hundred users have posted their assent to the above disclaimer. Or perhaps the disclaimer could be in the linked thread itself. > > That way, nobody has to waste time responding to his nonsense, but new users are warned. \*\* Is doing the things you mention **handy** doing in this “disclaimer” somehow different from being a jerk? Honestly, I’ve never run afoul of **handy** (I don’t go into GQ much, having usually not much time for reading long threads). But he’s been pitted so many times, and allowed so many excuses, that it makes one wonder. If I posted a bunch of misinformation about medicine in GQ, over and over, after repeated warnings, would I be told “not to post about medicine anymore,” or would I be banned? I don’t know, and I don’t aim to find out. I have no idea what the reasons behind all his may be, nor am I making any guesses; I am simply pointing out a situation that looks strange to me. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082/38 "2003-11-25T08:32:29Z")
Maybe he’s a real life version of those brainteasers. You mean handy at a crossroads. One road leads to certain doom, the other to a golden palace. You are allowed to ask only one question. What do you ask? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gyan9 \* > \*\*Since the only forum that requires dealing primarily with facts is General Questions, isn’t there a way to ban handy from just that forum? \*\* Yes, but I doubt that the admins would be willing to expend the effort to customize the board for the sake of handy. ---
**Author:** ![mrsam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5ac83/32.png) [@mrsam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrsam)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082/39 "2003-11-25T08:35:58Z")
I think we should change his sig to: > [@](#): > > **handy** , so stupid even [Cecil](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=100679) insulted him. and force him to use it with every post. In all seriousness though, couldn’t we do something about his post count like **Colibri** suggested. ---
**Author:** ![lucwarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@lucwarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucwarm)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082/40 "2003-11-25T10:57:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ntucker \* > **lucwarm, I think that’s a great idea.** Thanks, I can’t take credit though. They used to do stuff like that on USENET in response to some of the kooks. \*\* > [@](#): > > If you don’t want to, I’d be happy to start it. \*\* Go wild. \*\* > [@](#): > > Perhaps it would be most effective if people were encouraged to simply post their assent (or dissent, I suppose), rather than rehash all the arguments. \*\* Agree; it shouldn’t be a thread to debate whether he should be banned; it shouldn’t be a thread to bash him. It should be like a petition. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-cant-something-be-done-about-handy/215082.md?page=3)