# Thank you, Dopers and (eventually) Pitters! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 9, 2007, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500 "2007-02-09T15:18:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500/221 "2007-02-15T21:59:59Z")
The offer was rejected by **prr** , actually. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500/222 "2007-02-15T22:08:21Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] The offer was rejected by **prr** , actually. [/QUOTE] Respectfully, it wasn’t. PRR said he’d take it, and Liberal suddenly wasn’t so gung-ho about the offer. Liberal claimed that he didn’t believe PRR would really go away, so the weaseling began. PRR then said he’d take it in installments over 6 months, and would have himself banned to show good faith. Liberal insisted that PRR wait 2 years before getting the money, put it in escrow, etc. That was a change in the terms of the original offer, which was essentially, “I’d pay you $500 to just go away.” Read over the thread, Shodan. Liberal’s bluff got called and he punked out. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500/223 "2007-02-15T22:43:26Z")
**Ruby** , the condition in **Lib** ’s original offer was that **PRR** signal his acceptance by **stopping posting** – which he did not do. At which point **Lib** declined to adjust the terms to suit **PRR**. Without maligning either man, I think it’s safe to say that the “meeting of the minds” needed for a valid contract did not occur. Which, perhaps, says something about **PRR** – he values posting here enough to refuse an offer of $500 to stop doing so. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500/224 "2007-02-15T22:52:05Z")
[QUOTE=Rubystreak] You did, did you? How? Just curious, since it seems like what happened was you punked out. I think a lot of people would be interested in how you “worked it all out.” [/QUOTE] [Bryan](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8251071&postcount=158) Give the $500 to some worthwhile charity before you blow it on magic beans or something shiny. [Me](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8251208&postcount=160) Actually, that gives me an excellent idea. From now on, for every post from Pseudotriton Ruber Ruber that I see and that I believe is in the manner of how I described his MO in the original post I made, I will contribute money to a Christian charity. [JSGoddess](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8251228&postcount=162) I think that’s super. [Me](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8251243&postcount=163) Great! Peace. [Bryan](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8251298&postcount=164) That’s a capital idea, actually, though I say this in the hope that the Christian charity you’ve chosen runs soup kitchens or homeless shelters or something else socially beneficial. [Me](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8251308&postcount=165) We’re all on the same page. Agreed. etc… (Feel free to read the rest of the posts that followed.) ---
**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:** [February 15, 2007, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500/225 "2007-02-15T22:56:47Z")
[QUOTE=Rubystreak] Respectfully, it wasn’t. PRR said he’d take it, and Liberal suddenly wasn’t so gung-ho about the offer. Liberal claimed that he didn’t believe PRR would really go away, so the weaseling began. PRR then said he’d take it in installments over 6 months, and would have himself banned to show good faith. Liberal insisted that PRR wait 2 years before getting the money, put it in escrow, etc. That was a change in the terms of the original offer, which was essentially, “I’d pay you $500 to just go away.” Read over the thread, Shodan. Liberal’s bluff got called and he punked out. [/QUOTE] That’s not a bluff being called, that’s just a failure to reach mutually agreeable terms. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500/226 "2007-02-15T22:57:22Z")
[QUOTE=Polycarp] **Ruby** , the condition in **Lib** ’s original offer was that **PRR** signal his acceptance by **stopping posting** – which he did not do. At which point **Lib** declined to adjust the terms to suit **PRR**. Without maligning either man, I think it’s safe to say that the “meeting of the minds” needed for a valid contract did not occur. Which, perhaps, says something about **PRR** – he values posting here enough to refuse an offer of $500 to stop doing so. [/QUOTE] You’re too honorable to tell a deliberate lie, **Poly** , so I’ll just assume you’ve forgotten that “\*\*Liberal’s \*\* original offer (ending post # 42)” read: “So I have a possible offer for you. If I give you $500, will you just go away?” End of post. I promptly accepted this offer, and ONLY THEN did all the conditions emerge, beginning with his statement that since I would of course agree that I was not to be trusted, I would need to first stop posting for two years and only then would I get money from him. How he was to send me this money, and a myriad of other details, was to remain unknown to me because if I as much as posted even to inquire about these technicalities, I would be violating his terms. He then told me (in a later post) his intentions to leave the money in escrow with you or Tris, with which I agreed to comply. Shortly after a little further weaseling, his offer changed to a donation to a Christian charity whenever I posted again,which is hardly me “refusing” his offer. Please go back and review this sequence, and let me know if you wish to continue reiterating your version of events, in which case I will review my high opinion of your honorable character. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500/227 "2007-02-15T22:59:58Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] That’s not a bluff being called, that’s just a failure to reach mutually agreeable terms. [/QUOTE] And how was I to reach “mutually agreeable terms,” \*\* Miller\*\*, if one of those terms was that I was never to post again, even to inquire as to the terms? Do you define “mutual” as “unilateral”? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500/228 "2007-02-15T23:00:40Z")
So I have a **possible** offer for you\*\*.\*\* **If** I give you $500, **will you** just go away\*\*?\*\* ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500/229 "2007-02-15T23:06:42Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] So I have a **possible** offer for you\*\*.\*\* **If** I give you $500, **will you** just go away\*\*?\*\* [/QUOTE] And what part of “Yes” did you have trouble understanding? Btw, I’ve decided that every time I see the word “Liberal” I’m going to donate a million bazillion dollars to some cause that you detest, once I figure out what cause bothers you the most. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500/230 "2007-02-15T23:16:05Z")
[QUOTE=pseudotriton ruber ruber] Btw, I’ve decided that every time I see the word “Liberal” I’m going to donate a million bazillion dollars to some cause that you detest, once I figure out what cause bothers you the most. [/QUOTE] The United States Treasury. Enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500/231 "2007-02-15T23:29:20Z")
Okay, so that’s out, you being a thouroughly dishonorable scumbag and all. I mean to go through all your posts painstakingly, and weigh various causes you have disparaged, engage a few consultants to compare the vitriol you spouted on each of them, derive some system of adjusting for time (weighing more heavily those causes you’ve disparaged most recently), and only then begin distributing the massive amounts of money to this cause. IOW, you’re totally full of shit in vowing to donate money to a Christian charity as well. Not that I care what you say you’re going to do in the future, or how you choose to donate your money, but since we have no way to judge what charitable contributions you’ve made in the past or intended to make in the future, your offer to pay me money for leaving the SD has now become only slightly less meaningful than my offer to donate a million gazillion dollars. Do you think you’ve managed to convince anyone that your weaseling out of your “offer” to me represents anything other than your self-serving and devious nature? Oh. Wait. You seem to have convinced **Polycarp** and **Miller** and **Shodan** that you’re anything other than a lying weasel. My bad. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500/232 "2007-02-15T23:41:49Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] That’s not a bluff being called, that’s just a failure to reach mutually agreeable terms. [/QUOTE] Well, I guess you can look at it that way. To me, the terms were deliberately made so far out there that who would ever agree to them? If you give me a frillion dollars, I’ll give you a kidney! That doesn’t mean that my kidney is “for sale” in any real way. (Especially since I get to define “frillion” too!) ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500/233 "2007-02-15T23:47:15Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] That’s not a bluff being called, that’s just a failure to reach mutually agreeable terms. [/QUOTE] You’re a clever guy **Miller**. I’m curious, do you honestly believe **prr** would ever see his green had he dropped off the face of the earth like **Liberal** intended with his offer? [QUOTE=Liberal] Since I’m sure you will agree that you are not to be trusted, here’s the deal. As of the timestamp of this post, if you do not post for two years, then I will send you $500 and just take your word that you will never post again. You may signify your agreement by your immediate compliance. [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Liberal] Speculations about what I might have done notwithstanding, Pseudotriton Ruber Ruber, you nullified the offer anyway by posting. [/QUOTE] Is that acting in good faith? Should anyone accept such terms? Are such offers genuine? I’d like to hear your opinion if you’d care to give it. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500/234 "2007-02-15T23:50:01Z")
I have read this thread I have to vote on the side of **Liberal** weaseling on his original offer. ---
**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:** [February 15, 2007, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500/235 "2007-02-15T23:51:10Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Speculations about what I might have done notwithstanding, Pseudotriton Ruber Ruber, you nullified the offer anyway by posting. I’d missed that post, which pretty much undercuts my defence of **Liberal** ’s offer. My bad. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500/236 "2007-02-15T23:51:56Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] So I have a **possible** offer for you\*\*.\*\* **If** I give you $500, **will you** just go away\*\*?\*\* [/QUOTE] He said YES. SoPAY the man his $500. He will go away. He said he’d have himself banned once your check cleared. So send the check, let him get your money (how does he know YOU don’t bounce checks?), and then he’ll leave. Seems straightforward, but no. When purchasing goods, you have to give the vendor your money before you get your product or service. You want the goods, FOR TWO YEARS, before you pay. Bullshit. What sensible person would agree to this? No one. That’s what you were counting on. Your whole “donating to Christian charities” thing is adding insult to injury, and gets a big :rolleyes: from me. Let’s face it, you never intended to pay PRR. You shot from the hip with your offer, and when you were called on to make good, you wanted to set unilateral terms and not allow PRR any way to discuss it with you. Of course he didn’t comply; PRR did what any reasonable person in a business transaction would do, which is suss out the deal and actually have cash in hand before rendering the service. You think your bait and switch lets you out honorably? No way. Bad deal, dishonest buyer. If this were an eBay transaction, you’d get a -1 feedback. Shodan, Miller, Polcarp: Try, just try, to think about this whole mischegas objectively, without emotion, without prejudice against PRR. It’s clear that Liberal did not act in good faith with his offer. I think making excuses for him and letting him off the hook is just totally unfair. You might not like PRR, and your reasons might be entirely valid. That does not make Liberal’s behavior right and OK. Isn’t it a Christian virtue to behave honorably and with integrity, esp. towards your enemies? Liberal is not doing this. It seems so clear to me that I’m surprised to find you normally honest and cool people defending him. ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500/237 "2007-02-16T00:11:14Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] I’d missed that post, which pretty much undercuts my defence of **Liberal** ’s offer. My bad. [/QUOTE] Thank you for your answer. To **Liberal** , like that charity schtick matters any. You’re free to do whatever you want with your money of course. How that is remotely relevant I have no idea. To make good on your offer you should put the money in escrow or better yet, admit you were wrong and made a mistake, as I believe the first option would bring down the hammer on you from the mods and I have no interest in that. It’s just a matter of justice. Your cheap shot to malign **prr** ’s character says a lot more about you than it says about him. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500/238 "2007-02-16T05:25:48Z")
There’s an easy way to resolve the **Lib/prr** brouhaha: Have a contest to see who’ll be offered more money to go away by their fellow Dopers. **Polycarp** is a reliable fellow; he could hold the deposits. Each Doper would be free to send in the amount s/he’d be willing to pay to see one or the other depart the SDMB. We’d set a deadline – say, two weeks? – within which to make contributions to the “Off the Island” fund for the contestant of choice. **Polycarp** would total up the amounts tendered and declare who’d raised the larger sum, which would be paid to the exiting Doper; the other fund to be donated to a charity of the winning Doper’s choice. Heck, we could even make side bets on who wins/loses, and the dollar spreads. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500/239 "2007-02-16T06:49:59Z")
How much for me to leave? Tris ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500/240 "2007-02-16T06:53:20Z")
[QUOTE=Triskadecamus] How much for me to leave? Tris [/QUOTE] Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm… I found a nickel, two quarters, and a Canadian dime in the sofa cushions – will that do? 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-dopers-and-eventually-pitters/391500.md?page=13)