# Talk about avoiding reality. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 9, 2012, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615 "2012-06-09T13:57:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615/101 "2012-06-11T16:27:32Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > To be fair, that wasn’t **BigT** – that was **TriPolar**. Shhh…she’s losing it. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615/102 "2012-06-11T16:27:59Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Right here, you tiny-dicked, rage-monkey Big words (at least for you they’re big, one of them even has two syllables). Aren’t you the guy who cleans the cages at the zoo? > [@](#): > > You’d prefer people just “ignore” Quasi, you’d prefer him to make posts into a vast, deafening silence with no response or challenge, than to have his opinions treated like they were worthy of discussion. And the “piling on” was roughly 1 (one) guy engaging him and treating his arguments as worthwhile plus a bunch of people arguing about a (granted, nasty) three-word insult. > > Given that Quasi was already concerned that his posts weren’t getting through, were being monitored, etc (He recently had a thread asking if the mods were pre-examining his posts), I think doing him the courtesy of debating his arguments and treating him like he’s here and a participant is better than “ignoring”. Yes. I’d prefer people ignore Quasi’s outbursts when they know what they are. But I suppose you stare at people with cleft palates (don’t bother claiming i’ve made up a false equivalence between Quasi’s condition and a cleft palate, i’m making a real equivalence between you and indecency). Anyone who has a problem with Quasi’s posts should go cry to the mods. They’re the arbiters of the rules on this board. He hasn’t asked for special treatment, and he had the decency and integrity to withdraw to satisfy his own standards. If he breaks the rules let the mods handle it as they see fit. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615/103 "2012-06-11T17:07:19Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Anyone who has a problem with Quasi’s posts should go cry to the mods. They’re the arbiters of the rules on this board. He hasn’t asked for special treatment, and he had the decency and integrity to withdraw to satisfy his own standards. If he breaks the rules let the mods handle it as they see fit. You really don’t see it do you? You’re arguing for exactly what I was asking for EXCEPT you also want to condemn people who treated Quasi in exactly the manner he specifically asked to be treated. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615/104 "2012-06-11T17:11:26Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > To be fair, that wasn’t **BigT** – that was **TriPolar**. > [@kayaker](#): > > Shhh…she’s losing it. Ha! 😃 Well, with my new found immunity, I’d like to say: FUCK ALL, Y’ALL! I bet you guys, like, declaw your cats and shit then make them live outside. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615/105 "2012-06-11T17:23:37Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > You really don’t see it do you? > > You’re arguing for exactly what I was asking for EXCEPT you also want to condemn people who treated Quasi in exactly the manner he specifically asked to be treated. I’m condemning those who continue to smear him for an involuntary response when they know he’s not around to defend himself. At least you’ve got the guts to come to this thread and fight it out with someone who can respond. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615/106 "2012-06-11T17:25:37Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > The assholes who knew about **Quasi** ’s condition could have ignored him. Instead they goaded him. I hope I’m alive long enough to see them deteriorate so I can laugh at them. [Moderating] **TriPolar** , wishing harm on other posters is a violation of the board rules. Don’t do this again. No warning issued. [/Moderating] ---
**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:** [June 11, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615/107 "2012-06-11T17:27:40Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I’m condemning those who continue to smear him for an involuntary response when they know he’s not around to defend himself. At least you’ve got the guts to come to this thread and fight it out with someone who can respond. Who’s smearing him? If anyone’s “smearing him” it’s the people who insist that he should be getting special treatment. Like I said, I have no beef with **Quasi** whatsoever. Likewise, I have no problem with **mhendo** , other than he might have went just a wee overboard. Let’s see some examples of these “smears” you keep talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615/108 "2012-06-11T17:53:53Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Big words (at least for you they’re big, one of them even has two syllables). Aren’t you the guy who cleans the cages at the zoo? No, but in your cage, you must see so many people cleaning up after you, I can see how someone with your limited intelligence can get easily confused. > [@](#): > > Yes. I’d prefer people ignore Quasi’s outbursts when they know what they are. Oddly, Quasi specifically _did NOT_ want that. But I understand that you think you’re better than Quasi and your whims override his very real instructions. [quote] But I suppose you stare at people with cleft palates [/quote No…I don’t. But I _do_ grant them the courtesy of assuming they have something worthwhile to say, so if I can’t understand something they’ve said, I’ll ask them to repeat it. Following your advice, I’d just smile, nod, and pat them on the head, like you’d have us do with Quasi. > [@](#): > > (don’t bother claiming i’ve made up a false equivalence between Quasi’s condition and a cleft palate, i’m making a real equivalence between you and indecency). Are…are you mentally ill? I mean–you’re debating points that no-one has made outside of your head. > [@](#): > > Anyone who has a problem with Quasi’s posts should go cry to the mods. They’re the arbiters of the rules on this board. He hasn’t asked for special treatment, and he had the decency and integrity to withdraw to satisfy his own standards. If he breaks the rules let the mods handle it as they see fit. Again–are you mentally ill? No-one but you has a problem with Quasi’s posts–no-one’s “run to the mods” other than his threats of physical violence (which I’ve said repeated that that mods handled well–a mild admonishment/reminder, since it clearly wasn’t a serious threat). Most people have treated him like an adult with dignity. You and your ilk are upset because you don’t have him around so you can condescend and feel superior to him. It’s pretty loathsome of you to point-blank ignore his stated wishes about being treated with respect and having the dignity of having his posts taken seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615/109 "2012-06-11T21:55:27Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Yes. I’d prefer people ignore Quasi’s outbursts when they know what they are. But I suppose you stare at people with cleft palates (don’t bother claiming i’ve made up a false equivalence between Quasi’s condition and a cleft palate, i’m making a real equivalence between you and indecency). The issue isn’t with **Quasi** ’s threats to **mhendo**. They were, as everyone realised, a symptom of the dementia, and treated as such. The problem was his continued lucid insults, and the fact that certain people think he should get a free pass on _that_ due to his condition. Which is patronising bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615/110 "2012-06-11T21:57:51Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > The issue isn’t with **Quasi** ’s threats to **mhendo**. They were, as everyone realised, a symptom of the dementia, and treated as such. The problem was his continued lucid insults, and the fact that certain people think he should get a free pass on _that_ due to his condition. Which is patronising bullshit. I haven’t subscribed to that. If it’s a problem in moderating it should be discussed in ATMB. There’s no reason to assume a charitable interpretation of posts in this forum. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2012, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615/111 "2012-06-11T22:54:49Z")
Holy burning ears, Batman! I knew there were still some people ragging on me in the Google Doodle thread, but i didn’t realize until just now that the incident had spawned a whole new thread of its own. Nor did i realize, until reading this thread, that **Quasimodem** had decided to take a break from the boards, apparently as a result (partly or primarily) of our confrontation. I had previously decided to bow out of the Google Doodle thread, because it seemed clear to me that everyone had made up his or her mind about the incident and that there was pretty much nothing i could say that would change what anyone thought about my actions there. My first inclination was to do the same with this thread, but there are a couple of things i would like to say before leaving the issue alone altogether. The first thing i’d like to do is reiterate that the insult i directed at **Quasi** was done in response to what i felt were insulting remarks directed at me, and at others who disagreed with **Quasi** ’s opinion. More importantly, it seemed to me that **Quasi** was posting clearly and lucidly in that thread, and even if i didn’t care for the content of his posts, the posts themselves followed a line of reasoning that is quite common in the United States, especially among the older generation and among conservatives. As i said in the Google Doodle thread, there is a strong current of “honor the military at any cost” in America, and this often comes with a large side-order of indignation directed at anyone who dares to criticize the military in any way. This was a thread about an internet widget, and i wasn’t interested in being accused of historical ignorance or insensitivity to military sacrifices just because i didn’t care that Google failed to put a D-Day doodle on its homepage. As i also said, i was accused of being a “friend to Saddam” when i expressed opposition to the Iraq War, and i’m sick of this sort of 100% Americanism that is sometimes used as a bludgeon in American political debates. If i had believed that **Quasi** ’s posts about the issue were colored by an episode of dementia, and that he was simply ranting, i would have let it go. But it’s precisely because he seemed to be well aware of the argument that he was making that i decided to give it back. It’s worth noting, too, that while i have been aware for some time of **Quasi** ’s condition, i don’t follow him around the board, and i don’t follow his blog, so i don’t keep track of how bad (or not) it actually is. Out of curiosity, i looked up (using Google and the SDMB search engine) every instance i could find where i had been in the conversation with **Quasi** over the past year. I found four threads, and in every one of those he was completely lucid and as capable of making an argument as anyone else around here. Here they are, if you’re interested. [People who pretend to not understand boarding groups for airplanes.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=641894&page=2) [Well, Apparently I Have A “Diesease”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=652101) [Lockerbie bomber dies.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=652446) [I pit the Olympics. This is the final straw.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=652346&page=2) In three of the four cases, **Quasi** and i interacted directly. Here’s our discussion in the Lockerbie bomber thread, which **Quasi** himself started: > [@Lockerbie Bomber Dies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lockerbie-bomber-dies/622529/8): > > Sorry. I know you guys like cites. It was a news story and those are all the specifics I remember. I think it was Homeland Security that picked this up from a spy. > > Quasi > [@Lockerbie Bomber Dies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lockerbie-bomber-dies/622529/10): > > I’m not doubting your honesty **Quasi**. I’m sure you did see such a story. I am, however, rather skeptical about how likely such an incident would be, and how much of a threat this sort of thing actually poses. > > Basically, i disagree with your assertion that America has relaxed its vigilance too much. I’ve seen no evidence that it has. > [@Lockerbie Bomber Dies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lockerbie-bomber-dies/622529/12): > > Well, compare Frankfurt, Germany’s airport to our own, and you’ll see a huge difference. I don’t want to get into the pat-down/body scanner thing, but having landed at Frankfurt many times, I’ve seen pairs of soldiers patrolling the hallways with their Uzis very regularly since Sept. 9, 2011. I understand also that Frankfurt is a hub which will see more of the dangers we will, but we sure have had some close calls. > > [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/05/09/al-qaeda-bomb-master-hides-devices-in-pets-and-personal-electronics-us/](http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/05/09/al-qaeda-bomb-master-hides-devices-in-pets-and-personal-electronics-us/) > > Thanks > > Q And here’s **Quasi** ’s post in the carry-on luggage thread: > [@People who pretend to not understand boarding groups for airplanes.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-pretend-to-not-understand-boarding-groups-for-airplanes/612686/61): > > I have a little 22" carry-on suitcase and when I fly, it’s pretty much _always_ international. I belong to this loosely-formed Rick Steves “One Bag Club”, and absolutely all I need for a 10-12 day trip fits into that thing, so no checked baggage fee for me. I also have a courier bag that goes under the front of my seat where I keep all the stuff I may need during the flight. > > So I’m all legal, got my boarding pass, the correct seat and all I have to do is settle in, right? > > Wrong. No room in my overhead compartment (again, not that I need it), but part of that space is _mine_, dammit. _Somebody_ got on board with one of those over-size things and they caused everything to be shifted toward the front/back of the airplane. Oh yeah, what’s that announcement about “some of your bags may have shifted during the flight”? Bullshit. There’s no damn _room_ for them to shift! 🙂 > > I try not to be a Nazi about it, but it sure is a wrong way to begin a Trans-Atlantic flight. > > Q And his post during our exchange in the Olympics thread: > [@I pit the Olympics. This is the final straw.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440/69): > > Thanks for all the cites, **mhendo**! > > Okay, one more comment and I’ll leave it y’all’s capable hands. > > Maybe it’s time to “re-invent” the Olympics? Subsidize Greece with some funds, let them put people to work improving what they have and mount a massive ad campaign along the lines of “Greece! now the permanent home of the Olympics!”, or some such drivel. > > Solving 2 problems at the same time? Their sucky economy and relieving other countries from the burden and cost of hosting them? > > As you can tell, I’m not really good at logistics. That’s why I’m friends with YOU guys!😃 > > Quasi All of these posts show, to me at least, no signs at all of dementia or any other mental problem. He made fine posts, and engaged clearly and knowledgeably in multiple discussions. I’m not arguing here that **Quasi** ’s disease is somehow less serious than people are making out; i’m simply arguing that what i’ve quoted here is typical of MY experiences with **Quasi** , and that these experiences determined how i saw him as a poster, and how i responded to him when he said something that irked me. I knew of his problems, but it always seemed to me that they had little effect on him here on the Dope. Yes, i knew there had been a couple of blow-ups, but **Quasi** is far from the only person who has ever had one of those on these boards. My point here is not to change people’s minds about whether i was over the top in my posts to **Quasi** in that thread. Even some people who have defended me have said that they thought i should have been more temperate, and i respect their difference of opinion on the matter. My point is simply to note that i was dealing with him based on my understanding of his competence, as demonstrated in my interactions with him. More importantly (to me, at least), my point is also to rebut accusations like this: > [@Google's doodle today will obviously recognize D-Day, right? Wrong. It's about drive-ins.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googles-doodle-today-will-obviously-recognize-d-day-right-wrong-its-about-drive-ins/624277/169): > > I also think that word choice was intentional, needlessly cruel, and says much about the character of the asshat that used it. and this: > [@BigT](#): > > No one will not ever get a pass from me for what mhendo did. He knew that Quasi wasn’t understanding what was going on. He decided to do what he could to make him feel bad anyway. That’s the mindset of a bully–take the person who is disadvantaged and single them out. He admitted that he was given pause before he did it, which means he knew it was wrong, but then he rationalized it away so he could do it anyways. The fact that he thinks what he did was right is the reason I felt the need to call him on his shit. These posts not only take issue with my actions, but claim to know what was going on in my mind. They criticize what i did (which i can live with), but also argue that i did it precisely because i knew that **Quasi** was in trouble, and that i wanted to hurt him becaue he’s a defenseless old man with a mental disease. If beating up on an old guy with dementia is something that i so clearly enjoy, i wonder why i had all of those cordial exchanges with **Quasi** in the threads quoted above? I mean, his condition has been known around the boards literally for years now, and yet i waited until last week to spring my dastardly, bullying trap. Not only that, but i had friendly conversations with him just a few weeks before, in order to lull him into a false sense of security. I even disagreed with him about airport security, and yet did so in a friendly manner, just so he would be further tempted to think of me as a reasonable person. If you believe all that, i have some swampland in Florida you might be interested in. I’ve laid out, as clearly as i can, my thought processes. Those who believe that i deliberately set out to target **Quasi** probably won’t have their minds changed by my explanation, even though one person grasped my thought processes pretty much perfectly: > [@Google's doodle today will obviously recognize D-Day, right? Wrong. It's about drive-ins.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googles-doodle-today-will-obviously-recognize-d-day-right-wrong-its-about-drive-ins/624277/172): > > Well, from reading **mhendo** ’s subsequent explanations, it seems to me that his thought process went something like, “That post is ridiculous. I’m going to call that guy a stupid douchebag…wait, no, it’s Quasi. He has Alzheimer’s. I should probably go easy. Wait, no, I’m not going to treat him like a child. He says he doesn’t want that. I’m going to treat him like I treat everyone else! I’m going ahead with my douchebag post.” Exactly. I recognize that the post itself was intemperate. But i’ve been here for over ten years now, and anyone who has had interaction with me in the pit knows that i can be intemperate at times. I’ve called plenty of people on this message board worse names than i called **Quasi** , and included in that number are plenty of people whom i respect and like. I’ve had insult-laden run-ins with **John Mace** , **Bricker** , **RickJay** , **Shot From Guns** , **Silenus** , **constanze** , **DiosaBellissima** , and a bunch of others. In any cases, i actively like the people that i’ve insulted, and in others i don’t know them that well but have nothing against them. As i said in the other thread, i tend not to let these things carry over from one discussion to another, unless i have constant run-ins with an individual over a period of time. My point here is that the insult i threw at **Quasi** was, like most of the ones i throw, something done in the heat of the moment that would be just as quickly forgotten. I tend to treat the insults i receive in exactly the same way; i burn about them for a while, but don’t let them prevent me from polite interaction with the person in other threads. It was not some calculated, nefarious attempt to bully a helpless old man, no matter what motives others might impute to me. I’m not going to apologize for what i said or did. If i have one regret in this whole incident, it’s that it seems to be the main reason for **Quasi** deciding to take a break. I regret this particularly because of what i said in the last paragraph: for me, this was just a typical Pit confrontation that was never designed to go any further, and that would not have changed in any way my normal, cordial relations with **Quasi** in other threads. I like and respect him just as much as i did this time last week, and i hope he comes back. I still disagree with him about the need for a D-Day Google Doodle, though. That’s my say on this matter, and i see no need to weigh in further on it, so i’ll leave it there. Oh, except for one thing… > [@BigT](#): > > Because of **mhendo** , Quasi may die earlier than he was supposed to. Jesus Christ on a Cracker, you are fucking retarded. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615/112 "2012-06-12T01:04:33Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Anyone who has a problem with Quasi’s posts should go cry to the mods. They’re the arbiters of the rules on this board. He hasn’t asked for special treatment, and he had the decency and integrity to withdraw to satisfy his own standards. If he breaks the rules let the mods handle it as they see fit. This post is pretty funny in light of the subsequent [crying to the mods](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=654919) over the non-warning he received from Miller a few posts later. “Let the mods handle it, they’re ones who make the rules around here.” “How dare you warn me, I demand a retraction! :mad:” ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615/113 "2012-06-12T01:13:42Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > This post is pretty funny in light of the subsequent [crying to the mods](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=654919) over the non-warning he received from Miller a few posts later. > > “Let the mods handle it, they’re ones who make the rules around here.” > “How dare you warn me, I demand a retraction! :mad:” If you read that thread you will see that I object to the false premise of the moderator comment. I have no choice within the board rules but to bring up that subject in ATMB. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615/114 "2012-06-12T01:15:52Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Jesus Christ on a Cracker, you are fucking retarded. Seen as performance art, it’s fucking brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615/115 "2012-06-12T05:49:32Z")
**mhendo** , that was perhaps the most well thought out and perfectly executed post I have read by a poster defending himself. Good show, sir. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615/116 "2012-06-12T05:58:09Z")
Indeed. Bravo. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615/117 "2012-06-12T06:53:23Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > The first thing i’d like to do is reiterate that the insult i directed at **Quasi** was done in response to what i felt were insulting remarks directed at me, and at others who disagreed with **Quasi** ’s opinion. More importantly, it seemed to me that **Quasi** was posting clearly and lucidly in that thread […] I don’t agree with the overly critical drama surrounding your responses and I chose to simply say you should have taken the high road in that situation, but I do have to say that this is utter bullshit. It isn’t that you chose to respond in kind, at least as far as I’m concerned, or whether or not you thought at that moment you were responding to a perfectly lucid poster. It was your particular choice of words. Whether deliberately or maybe even reflexively because he was obviously getting you worked up to a froth, you selected a phrase that was sure to hit hard and below the belt. You could have called him an asshat, shitstain, dickhead, or any number of things to actually respond in kind, but you hand-selected a phrase you thought would have the most stopping power based on your personal knowledge of his real life situation. I have never seen you use that particular phrase in response to anyone during any number of heated pit exchanges though I admit maybe you have and I just didn’t notice. Like I said, I don’t think you did anything more important or dramatic than that, but it was like using a weight in your glove to ‘win’ what you are saying you believed was a perfectly fair match. In however many posts, you couldn’t get your point across and got more and more angry until you reached for a secret weapon. I think it was the lowest road you could have taken under the circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615/118 "2012-06-12T15:15:43Z")
:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615/119 "2012-06-12T15:54:53Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > In however many posts, you couldn’t get your point across and got more and more angry until you reached for a secret weapon. A secret weapon? Are you fucking kidding? It’s no more a “secret weapon” than me calling **Tripolar** a sanctimonious twit. It’s the first thing that popped to mind and there wasn’t any reason to change it. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615/120 "2012-06-12T19:03:31Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > A secret weapon? Are you fucking kidding? It’s no more a “secret weapon” than me calling **Tripolar** a sanctimonious twit. It’s the first thing that popped to mind and there wasn’t any reason to change it. Oh noes, you can’t say that! Now **Tripolar** is going to DIE because of you! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-about-avoiding-reality/624615.md?page=7)