# Skald the Rhymer is annoying **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 8, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631 "2012-07-08T21:22:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Enuma\_Elish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5e9695/32.png) [@Enuma\_Elish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enuma_Elish)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2012, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631/121 "2012-07-11T05:33:43Z")
I usually only post after I’ve drank a few, and I’m normally not horribly confused. However: after reading the first 13 replies, I must ask: Who the fuck is Even Steven and what the hell has he/she got to do with this thread? I honestly can’t read any further because I’m waiting for Jimmy Fallon to stop throwing pies into Kelly how-fucking-old-is-she-with-that-granny-neck Ripa’s face and put Tom Waits on . . . so I hope when I log on in the AM, someone was kind enough to explain the EvenSteven thing… ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2012, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631/122 "2012-07-11T07:13:07Z")
If anyone ever needs to know the definition of “damning someone with faint praise” this thread will serve as a great dictionary. Never have I seen so many people come to the defense of a poster with such… lack of moxie. Yeah! We like Skald… maybe… sort of… some of the time… _mumble_ ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2012, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631/123 "2012-07-11T08:27:11Z")
> [@Enuma\_Elish](#): > > Who the fuck is Even Steven and what the hell has he/she got to do with this thread? **Even seven** is the poster who started this thread, but he has since changed his username to **ScarletNumber** (presumably to avoid confusion with the poster **even sven** ). ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2012, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631/124 "2012-07-11T13:48:38Z")
The thing that bugs me about a lot of his hypotheticals is that often, it appears he wants to have a high level of control in the discussion. If someone says their choice (or issue with the hypothetical, whatever), **Skald** will then reply with why that is not valid (usually with a tortured reason that hasn’t appeared anywhere in the thread before that). Silly hypotheticals can be fun to discuss, but the OP needs to include all information s/he has determined as relevant in the OP. If someone interprets the issue differently because of a point you hadn’t even considered relevant, tough shit. They brought up an interesting interpretation or issue and you end up looking petty and controlling. “No! That is not part of how _I_ want the discussion to go! So that doesn’t count and you can’t use it!” **Skald** has included caveats or exclusions right in the OPs, which is why this annoys me. If you exclude a,b,c,d from the decision process, that’s fine. If someone posts their decision due to e and f, it’s shitty to basically be all. “aw shit! I hadn’t considered those\*! Well, you can’t use that reasoning because… Because I said so just now.” That’s changing the rules in the middle of the game because it’s not going your way, and it’s bullshit. - which is made clear by the fact he hadn’t mentioned them in the OP while mentioning others. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631/125 "2012-07-11T15:08:57Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > The thing that bugs me about a lot of his hypotheticals is that often, it appears he wants to have a high level of control in the discussion. If someone says their choice (or issue with the hypothetical, whatever), **Skald** will then reply with why that is not valid (usually with a tortured reason that hasn’t appeared anywhere in the thread before that). > > Silly hypotheticals can be fun to discuss, but the OP needs to include all information s/he has determined as relevant in the OP. If someone interprets the issue differently because of a point you hadn’t even considered relevant, tough shit. They brought up an interesting interpretation or issue and you end up looking petty and controlling. “No! That is not part of how _I_ want the discussion to go! So that doesn’t count and you can’t use it!” > > **Skald** has included caveats or exclusions right in the OPs, which is why this annoys me. If you exclude a,b,c,d from the decision process, that’s fine. If someone posts their decision due to e and f, it’s shitty to basically be all. “aw shit! I hadn’t considered those\*! Well, you can’t use that reasoning because… Because I said so just now.” > > That’s changing the rules in the middle of the game because it’s not going your way, and it’s bullshit. > > - which is made clear by the fact he hadn’t mentioned them in the OP while mentioning others. That’s a valid criticism, and I try to avoid it; I don’t mind being called on it if I do it. That said, I have frequently said in the hypos (particularly the ethical dilemma hypos), that once the OP is written, my opinion is no more definitive than any other poster’s. When I add something to the OP after the thread begins, it _should_ be to clarify a point another poster has brought up. If I do otherwise, anybody who wants to complain is probably in the right and I am probably in the wrong. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631/126 "2012-07-11T15:35:18Z")
What on earth? Someone’s admitting they are wrong, and in the Pit to boot. This is very dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631/127 "2012-07-11T15:40:37Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > What on earth? Someone’s admitting they are wrong, and in the Pit to boot. This is very dangerous. Well of course. Skald loves to be a jerk and that’s the best way to do it in the Pit. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631/128 "2012-07-11T15:49:07Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > What on earth? Someone’s admitting they are wrong, and in the Pit to boot. This is very dangerous. I can supply more weasel words if you wish. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631/129 "2012-07-11T16:02:04Z")
Might I suggest “stoat?” Or, if more specificity is needed, “Fungo Squiggly?” ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631/130 "2012-07-11T16:04:56Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Might I suggest “stoat?” Or, if more specificity is needed, “Fungo Squiggly?” I was thinking Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631/131 "2012-07-12T16:12:11Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I was thinking Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. Oh man. I reread that story the other day. I need to find the cartoon of it so I can watch it again. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631/132 "2012-07-12T17:36:11Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > If I do otherwise, anybody who wants to complain is probably in the right and I am probably in the wrong. Careful, admit that and the minions start getting uppity. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631/133 "2012-07-12T19:09:20Z")
> [@Silver\_Tyger](#): > > Oh man. I reread that story the other day. I need to find the cartoon of it so I can watch it again. I just watched it this weekend; it’s as wonderful as you remember. Here’s the [YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CrEX4MxAzA)link. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631/134 "2012-07-12T19:11:38Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Careful, admit that and the minions start getting uppity. I’m out of the Overlord business, but that’s a common misconception. The way to retain your underlings’’ respect is to be willing & able to change course when warranted; not to get so obsessed with torturing your nemesis that you pass up clear opportunities to kill them; and of course to periodically and publicly murder people plotting against you. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631/135 "2012-07-12T19:48:29Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > The thing that bugs me about a lot of his hypotheticals is that often, it appears he wants to have a high level of control in the discussion. If someone says their choice (or issue with the hypothetical, whatever), **Skald** will then reply with why that is not valid (usually with a tortured reason that hasn’t appeared anywhere in the thread before that). Yeah. Before I took remedies to combat this occurence, I’d regularly open up an interesting looking thread only to see “oh shit! It’s a Skald thread. No use posting my interesting reply, since it will only get shot down.” Now I have ways of not even having to open the thread in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631/136 "2012-07-12T19:58:41Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Yeah. Before I took remedies to combat this occurence, I’d regularly open up an interesting looking thread only to see “oh shit! It’s a Skald thread. No use posting my interesting reply, since it will only get shot down.” Now I have ways of not even having to open the thread in the first place. That’s a lot of work to avoid using the phrase _ignore list_. But there’s a rule against being explicit, I expect. ---
**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:** [May 19, 2018, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631/137 "2018-05-19T11:06:35Z")
[Oh golly gee, yet another hopelessly contrived poll, with all of the usual suspects carefully in place, you say?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=855095) I used to think (many moons ago) that these umm scenarios of his actually had a point, were meant to illustrate something crucial about the human condition, making us ponder the effects that our choices have on others. I now realize that they are just obsessive compulsive mental jerkings. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631/138 "2018-05-19T16:11:37Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > [Oh golly gee, yet another hopelessly contrived poll, with all of the usual suspects carefully in place, you say?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=855095) > > I used to think (many moons ago) that these umm scenarios of his actually had a point, were meant to illustrate something crucial about the human condition, making us ponder the effects that our choices have on others. > > I now realize that they are just obsessive compulsive mental jerkings. I’m sorry that you apparently are susceptible to **Skald** ’s mind-control compelling you to read threads you don’t want to. I’d suggest a higher quality of tinfoil. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631/139 "2018-05-19T16:25:51Z")
I, for one, am very upset. I wanted to watch _Rikki-Tikki-Tavi_ and the link is dead. ---
**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:** [May 19, 2018, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631/140 "2018-05-19T17:49:23Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > [Oh golly gee, yet another hopelessly contrived poll, with all of the usual suspects carefully in place, you say?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=855095) > > I used to think (many moons ago) that these umm scenarios of his actually had a point, were meant to illustrate something crucial about the human condition, making us ponder the effects that our choices have on others. > > I now realize that they are just obsessive compulsive mental jerkings. Yes, how dare anyone actually have fun! Everything must have some underlying purpose that betters humanity! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skald-the-rhymer-is-annoying/627631.md?page=8)