# Stick to your IMHO / Cafe Society inanity if you can't handle GQ **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 16, 2005, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-to-your-imho-cafe-society-inanity-if-you-cant-handle-gq/294788 "2005-03-16T08:44:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-to-your-imho-cafe-society-inanity-if-you-cant-handle-gq/294788/1 "2005-03-16T08:44:53Z")
My Very First Pit Thread by **ntucker** , age \ Once upon a time there was a [thread about Pool](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=306026&page=1&pp=50). It was in the General Questions forum, and spurred a fairly detailed discussion of variations on pool rules (official BCA rules versus “bar rules” being the thrust of the discussion after a bit). Dopers across the land were happily throwing in their two cents about their experiences with bar rules, and how and why they differ from BCA. **CurtC** , a BCA rules type of guy, expressed some surprise that lots of bar rules type of folk aren’t even familiar with the BCA rules he prefers. To further the discussion, he decided to sum up the main differences (from memory and stated as such, mind you) between bar rules and BCA rules. One of his points was that in BCA pool, there’s no worrying about what’s the “honorable” shot to take, which is nice because in bar rules, varying definitions of what shots are “honorable” can cause disagreements. His post was very helpful and, as far as your humble narrator could see, about as correct as could be expected given the ever-changing nature of bar rules. Little did he realize that **Large Marge** is a bar rules player and finds BCA players to be “sissies.” Realizing that this mild insult might be written off as good-natured ribbing, she decided that she needed more animosity if she was going to successfully start a fight. “You official rules players think you’re soooooo high and mighty,” she seemed to shout, betraying her deep-seated insecurities and general shit-headed nature, “why do you have to look down on us bar rules folks?”, ignoring the fact that nobody had done anything of the sort. Then, in order to cement her nomination for Asshole of the Thread, she decided to “correct” **CurtC’s** list in a rather rude fashion, ignoring the fact that she simply read it wrong, and he was, in fact, not misrepresenting her beloved bar rules. She followed it up with an implication that anyone who doesn’t want to worry about nit-picking what’s “honorable” during a game must be against the idea of playing honorably, in effect, accusing **CurtC** of playing dishonorably. After some chiding by your humble narrator for having falsely maligned **CurtC** and generally come across as an argumentative wanker, **Marge** successfully turned the thread into a Marge-versus-the-Reasonable affair where she eventually lost all hope of productive discourse by, upon having seen **CurtC** use the term “we” in reference to himself and **Sam Stone** (because they shared the same point of view on an issue), responding with the brilliant, “We? Are you afraid to confront me by yourself?” It was at this point that the participants in the thread knew they were dealing with a complete fucking idiot. But make no mistake: she is a **macho** idiot. She’s tough, she’s certain she’s played waaaaaay more bar rules pool than me (based on what, we’ll never know), and oh yeah, she has some pretty unbelievable claims about how good she is at pool (that behind-the-headstring shot on an 8-ball in the kitchen is easy? You’re talking out of your ass) Then, after being told by **Sam Stone** that calling me a “pompous ass” was uncalled for, **Marge** finally reveals her beef with me: I have apparently been warring with her in other threads. Ignoring the fact that that’s a really stupid excuse to go on the offense in General Fucking Questions, **it’s not even remotely true**. So far as I can find, I have never responded to her in any other thread, and I’ve only even participated in one thread in common with her, the extent of which was a [throwaway joke post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5935350&postcount=148) that did not disagree with her in any way. And nobody wished death upon anyone, and they all lived happily ever after. The End. The moral of this story is: Fuck you, **Large Marge** ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-to-your-imho-cafe-society-inanity-if-you-cant-handle-gq/294788/2 "2005-03-16T09:11:41Z")
Nothin’ to say: just want to applaud the OP for a bloody well written post. ::applause:: ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-to-your-imho-cafe-society-inanity-if-you-cant-handle-gq/294788/3 "2005-03-16T12:31:23Z")
Ok, I got to post 25 and had to stop before my head exploded. She does have some valid points but she’s being a real bitch about it. I also disagree with her assertations that there is “animousity” between bca players and bar rules player. I play at a bar that has a pretty good mix of both. It’s pretty well understood in that bar (And other bars that I go to for that matter) that bar rules are pretty much whats implied if you’re playing with a stranger. If you expect to play bca you’d better speak up. And as far as her little slam on Texans go. Most folks I know will be happy to oblige you and _play_ bca rules as long as you’re willing to walk us through it. It’s called Texas hospitality. 😉 As far as I can tell, bca rules are for league players who are actually trying to win a “prize” so to spreak. If it’s just a friendly game over a couple of beers, (This especialy rings true if you aren’t even ON a league) then by all means, play by the bar rules. It’s just for fun anyway. (OR if your like me maybe a couple of bucks or a beer or two… …_or thfree…hic-up_) ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-to-your-imho-cafe-society-inanity-if-you-cant-handle-gq/294788/4 "2005-03-16T14:33:37Z")
Texas Sissy Bar player here. I work with a guy who’s on a BCA team going to the Nationals in Vegas in May (I sure hope I haven’t got my sanctioning bodies mixed up…he’s going to some big-ass pool tourney in Vegas in May). Anyway, we drop into one of the local Texas Sissy Bars after work and shoot a few games some Fridays. This is a guy with a carbon fiber break cue, shit like that. We just shoot a few games and never once have rules been mentioned. When in bar, shoot bar. I tend to think some people are just assholes. Me and my coworker have fun, even though I’m not in his league. You can have fun if you check your asshole at the door. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-to-your-imho-cafe-society-inanity-if-you-cant-handle-gq/294788/5 "2005-03-16T17:32:12Z")
Yeah, **Large Marge** annoyed me a little in a recent [IMHO thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=305210), in which the OP had two Wintel laptop PCs, and was asking for advice on which one to sell and which one to keep. **Large Marge** ’s advice? > [@Large Marge](#): > > Keep the Mac When the OP pointed out that he didn’t have a Mac, **LM** said, “Yes, that was my point.” :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [March 16, 2005, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-to-your-imho-cafe-society-inanity-if-you-cant-handle-gq/294788/6 "2005-03-16T17:54:03Z")
And [this lovely example](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=5922429#post5922429) of subtly trying to accuse a poster of being an animal hoarder, then asking, “Why are you so defensive!” when called on it. ---
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-to-your-imho-cafe-society-inanity-if-you-cant-handle-gq/294788/7 "2005-03-16T18:08:41Z")
Oh geez, she’s a macsturbator too. Ferchrissakes. (Nice word, by the way. I hope it catches on) I’m sure she’ll come in here and say she’s just “plain spoken” or whatever words blowhards use to excuse being blowhards. Hey **Marge** , you big tough thing, you. I’m still curious to hear about these other threads where you claim I’m bothering you. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-to-your-imho-cafe-society-inanity-if-you-cant-handle-gq/294788/8 "2005-03-16T18:25:37Z")
Wow. At the bar that I go to most often, someone who knows which end of the stick is used to hit the white ball is considered a know-it -all. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2005, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-to-your-imho-cafe-society-inanity-if-you-cant-handle-gq/294788/9 "2005-03-16T18:48:48Z")
If only there was a way to keep the first 10 posts or so of a thread and dump the rest… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2005, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-to-your-imho-cafe-society-inanity-if-you-cant-handle-gq/294788/10 "2005-03-17T01:38:17Z")
> [@vetbridge](#): > > Wow. At the bar that I go to most often, someone who knows which end of the stick is used to hit the white ball is considered a know-it -all. What? You mean the _colors_ of the balls matter? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2005, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-to-your-imho-cafe-society-inanity-if-you-cant-handle-gq/294788/11 "2005-03-17T02:36:12Z")
> [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > What? You mean the _colors_ of the balls matter? Don’t be silly. They’re all the same - what difference could the color make?? ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-to-your-imho-cafe-society-inanity-if-you-cant-handle-gq/294788/12 "2005-03-17T02:37:20Z")
I probably lost my cool more than I should have in that pool thread, but goddamn she was irritating me beyond belief. In the several posts I made, I can’t tell you how many times I actually had to edit out insults and the like before posting. I’ve never before had the experience of repeating to myself, over and over like a mantra, “This is GQ. This is GQ.” She is one of the most unpleasant posters I’ve ever seen. Now there’s two names on here I simply cannot stand. At least the other seems to be mostly reasonable and informed, but has messageboard turrets or something where he seems to completely lose it for no reason. **Marge** , on the other hand, does not appear to have any redeeming posting value whatsoever. Good pit thread. (How dare you disbelieve her 50% boast. 50% is an F, which is failing! Obviously, a good player makes the majority of all shots, regardless of difficulty.) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2005, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-to-your-imho-cafe-society-inanity-if-you-cant-handle-gq/294788/13 "2005-03-17T03:13:56Z")
Yeah, I really had to bite my tongue in that one, too. And I’d be more than willing to put my money where my mouth is. If she can make the bank shot I described 5 out of 10 times, I would gladly pay to see it. ---
**Author:** ![galt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@galt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galt)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2005, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-to-your-imho-cafe-society-inanity-if-you-cant-handle-gq/294788/14 "2005-03-17T03:45:38Z")
Personally, I liked the “I wasn’t exaggerating” statement after the 50% claim was challenged. Uh, I’m not sure how to put this, lady, but if you claim you can make 50% when you can’t actually make 50%, that’s called exaggerating. Whether you were honestly deluding yourself about how great you are or whether you were flat-out full of shit, it’s still an exaggeration. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2005, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-to-your-imho-cafe-society-inanity-if-you-cant-handle-gq/294788/15 "2005-03-17T04:59:58Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Don’t be silly. They’re all the same - what difference could the color make?? Actually, in pool, once you go Black, you can’t go back. ---
**Author:** ![Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eada6e/32.png) [@Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_You_Big_Red_Fire_Engine)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2005, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-to-your-imho-cafe-society-inanity-if-you-cant-handle-gq/294788/16 "2005-03-17T15:04:25Z")
> [@gatopescado](#): > > Actually, in pool, once you go Black, you can’t go back. And the real aim of the game is to sink the white ball and the black ball both at the same time before sinking anything else! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-to-your-imho-cafe-society-inanity-if-you-cant-handle-gq/294788/17 "2005-03-17T19:11:17Z")
> [@Duke of Rat](#): > > You can have fun if you check your asshole at the door. Me, I check mine in the mirror. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-to-your-imho-cafe-society-inanity-if-you-cant-handle-gq/294788/18 "2005-03-18T09:44:21Z")
Guess I shoulda stuck her name in the title or something… ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-to-your-imho-cafe-society-inanity-if-you-cant-handle-gq/294788/19 "2005-03-18T10:42:36Z")
> [@Go You Big Red Fire Engine](#): > > And the real aim of the game is to sink the white ball and the black ball both at the same time before sinking anything else! 😉 Yeah! That’s the way I’ve always played it. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-to-your-imho-cafe-society-inanity-if-you-cant-handle-gq/294788/20 "2005-03-18T15:33:35Z")
> [@ntucker](#): > > Guess I shoulda stuck her name in the title or something… Did you put a link to this thread in the pool thread? Because that is the recommended protocol for this type of thing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-to-your-imho-cafe-society-inanity-if-you-cant-handle-gq/294788.md?page=2)