# Thank you, Sam Stone! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 10, 2004, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161 "2004-08-10T06:37:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [August 10, 2004, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161/41 "2004-08-10T22:17:12Z")
> [@Binarydrone](#): > > Can you share the context of this for those of us playing from home? Why, certainly! I’m glad you asked! Recently there was a thread where a particular poster was coming in for a bashing. (The poster in question shall remain nameless as he’s already had his three or four days in the barrel and probably wouldn’t appreciate having his name drug into this. **rjung** seems to be his friend so hopefully he’ll honor this as well.) Anyway, this is a poster I think quite highly of despite the fact we’re political opposites. I wrote _three posts_ in his defense. \*\* rjung\*\* then came blundering along in his usual stupid and out-of-it way, and apparently, based on nothing more than the fact he’d seen my name in the thread and that he knew this other poster and I were ususally at odds, jumped to the conclusion I had been attacking him as well, and posted a message insulting me along with two of the other posters who actually had been criticizing him. The pittee _himself_ then came into the thread to take up for me, explaining that I had actually been coming to his aid. But did **rjung** then apologize for jumping to conclusions about my posts and wrongfully insulting me? Nope. Instead, he posted some lame excuse about not being able to cope with his lawn sprinklers and substituted another critical posters name for mine, with nary a word to me. Okay, fine. I let it go. Days went by. Then **jungie** takes it upon himself to enter another thread I was in and post an insult to me there, completely out of the blue but within the context of the thread. I had said nothing to him since the thread described above, so I took the opportunity to tell him I was still waiting for an apology for his misrepresentation of me in the previous thread. But, did he take the high road and elect to be a bigger man? Did he do the right thing and acknowledge he had jumped to a erroneous conclusions and apologize to me. Nope…not at all! His response? I have to _prove_ myself worthy of an apology, which, in his opinion, I haven’t done. Another poster came into the thread and replied as follows: “Uh, no…I don’t think that’s the way it works.” In other words, “You fucked up **jungie** , so be a man and admit it and apologize!” Did an apology follow? Nope. Friend **rjung** has continued to hold to the immature and petty at the expense of doing the right thing. Hence my post to this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161/42 "2004-08-10T23:38:43Z")
Remember - just 84 days left until Election Day. ---
**Author:** ![New\_Iskander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/db5fbb/32.png) [@New\_Iskander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Iskander)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161/43 "2004-08-10T23:42:52Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > An oft-pondered mystery, to be sure. You mean, you ponder? Ponder oft? You mean, you care? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161/44 "2004-08-10T23:52:15Z")
Exactly! ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161/45 "2004-08-10T23:54:08Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Remember - just 84 days left until Election Day. Like that’ll make a diff. The take-a-number countdown thing at the DMV hits zero, too. Then it resets and starts over. ---
**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:** [August 11, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161/46 "2004-08-11T00:26:07Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Can you tell us a \*better \* reason? I can think of _all sorts_ of better reasons. Going out of his way to insult other posters just for disagreeing with him spring immediately to mind, for some reason. > [@](#): > > How about his decision to call Kerry’s men, those who were there and risked their lives in a way he can only imagine, \*liars \* for no apparent reason other than political convenience? Is that worth pitting? Not really. For whatever reason, he thinks this swiftboat group has some degree of credibility. I can’t imagine why, but he seems to be earnest about it. He’s not, so far as I can tell, ignored any points offered in rebuttal. He’s not started slinging insults because he’s run out of arguments. He’s not made up any lies on his own, which is very much distinct from believing in the lies made up by others. He’s not even used the Swifties accusations as an excuse to bash Kerry, he’s just being obstinate about giving _both_ sides the benefit of the doubt: he’s not willing to write off either side’s version of events. > [@](#): > > I also marvel at his attempts, reiterated here by **ivylass** , to equate allegations with fact. Ain’t the same, o’course - the Bush AWOL allegations turned out to be fact, the SBV"T" stories turned out to be partisan bullcrap. Many of us do think that facts matter, but not predictable ol’ **Sammy**. How about _that_? Is that Pitworthy? Not by half. The AWOL allegations are facts, now? I’m as eager to believe them as you are, and I don’t think the excuses and explanations offered to date have been credible, but I’ve yet to see anything that I’d be comfortable calling a “fact.” I, personally, believe them, but that’s an interpretation of the available data. Just as my disbelief in the Swifties accusations is an interpretation of the available data. **Sam** has a different interpretation, is all. Why do you post here, anyway? I come here because I’m interested in healthy debate. A good debate, of course, requires a good opposition, and **Sam Stone** is just that. He debates in good faith. He doesn’t resirt to insults when he runs out of arguments. He doesn’t subvert his own morality to support the part line. He’s not afraid to concede a point, but he doesn’t abandon his position just because he’s been proven wrong on a side issue. In short, he’s _exactly_ the sort of poster we need more of around here, on both sides of the aisle. > [@](#): > > It’s been said before, and I’ll steal it now: \*\*Sam \*\* has clearly decided to fill the much-needed void here left by the departure of **december**. Oh, that’s lovely. Uncalled for, inaccurate, _and_ unoriginal. Congrats on your hat-trick, **Elvis**. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161/47 "2004-08-11T00:40:46Z")
> [@Binarydrone](#): > > Can you share the context of this for those of us playing from home? I’ll step in because I’m indirectly involved. I got pitted a little while ago for an unrelated issue. **Starving Artist** defended me in that thread even though we’re usually on opposite sides. **rjung** attacked **SA** as well as a couple of other posters apparently without reading **SA’s** posts and making assumptions about what he was doing in the thread. I came in and told _rjung_\* that SA was _defending_ and didn’t deserve to get his shit jumped for _that_ thread at least. Rjung really never acknowledged his mistake in that thread and as far as I know still hasn’t. Personally, I try to keep disagreements contained in their respective threads and not carry over personal grudges from one thread to another. I think that rjung just doesn’t like SA and it’s been coloring his interactions from one thread to another. He’s been reacting somewhat to SA in an \*ad hominem[/] manner rather than really directly engaging his posts (or apparently even reading them in one thread). So anyway, there it is. Rjung pounced on SA without reading his posts and made incorrect assumptions. We _do_ have a custom of apologizing when we’re wrong around here, especially when it comes to misrepresenting what another poster has said, and lingering animosity from previous battles should not have stopped rjung from just admitting he got something wrong at least in one case. By the way, with regards to _this_ thread, I don’t really think that **Sam** has said anything especially Pit worthy either. I’ve been heavily involved in those Swift Boat debates and I don’t think Sam’s gone over the line on anything. I think he’s chosen a poor hill to defend and that he’s pretty much losing that battle but he’s fought it fairly and within the paramaters of a reasonable debate. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161/48 "2004-08-11T03:15:14Z")
Oh, bestill my heart! Over 8,000 messages, and _finally_ a pitting! **rjung** , you took my virginity! The least you could do is kiss me. **Neuroman** said: > [@](#): > > Having read the thread in question, I give this pitting a 2/10. Weak. No! I want my first pitting to be a _good_ one! Can’t you at least give him a gentleman’s ‘6’? Trying grading him on the curve or something. **elucidator:** You’re right. I haven’t regaled you with enough of my poetry. So… **A Haiku for Osama** - Hiding in a cave Somewhere in Afghanistan Freezing my nuts off - ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161/49 "2004-08-11T03:19:21Z")
That’s not a proper haiku. Haiku’s supposed to start with an image of nature: _Bright orange flowers No, wait, they’re FAE bombs Get out of the cave!_ ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161/50 "2004-08-11T03:25:45Z")
Hey, I’ve got over 9,000 messages. How time flies. **Rickjay** : Heh. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161/51 "2004-08-11T04:21:39Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > By the way, with regards to _this_ thread, I don’t really think that **Sam** has said anything especially Pit worthy either. I’ve been heavily involved in those Swift Boat debates and I don’t think Sam’s gone over the line on anything. I think he’s chosen a poor hill to defend and that he’s pretty much losing that battle but he’s fought it fairly and within the paramaters of a reasonable debate. I disagree. In my opinion, he’s been nothing more than a mouthpiece for a right-wing organization that has yet to present any credible evidence as to their claims. He has “cut and pasted” their arguments here as if they are fact without being forthright in their attributions. He has quoted, vigorously, John Kerry saying something, even though he has not to this point either found a source for the quote nor (unless I missed it) retracted the assertion. He has followed lockstep with the Swiffers in shifting the argument from their dubious charges about Kerry’s actions in earning his medals to a completely unrelated allegation that he lied about being in Cambodia. I am shocked that you find these to be reasonable parameters for debate. On the other hand, they are completely in keeping with my experiences of **Sam Stone** here, who has no compunction about posting with authority incredible and consistently rightward biased claims that typically end up proving false. A recent example I have noted several times would be his charges about Joe Wilson. Despite the charges being decimated in the relevant thread, he will still post to another thread a line about “Joe Wilson being on a rampage.” To quote Judge Smails: “The man’s a menace!” ---
**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:** [August 11, 2004, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161/52 "2004-08-11T04:21:58Z")
Crag of Canada Sam Stone soldiers on, fighting A futile battle. Oh, and since this IS your very first Pitting: Fuck that asshole shit! Swift boatload of buttmunchers! Sam, they’ve felched your mind. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161/53 "2004-08-11T06:00:13Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > We _do_ have a custom of apologizing when we’re wrong around here, especially when it comes to misrepresenting what another poster has said, and lingering animosity from previous battles should not have stopped rjung from just admitting he got something wrong at least in one case. You don’t apologize to the bug you trod on while jogging down the sidewalk, do you? Same principle here. > [@Sam Stone](#): > > Oh, bestill my heart! Over 8,000 messages, and _finally_ a pitting! **rjung** , you took my virginity! The least you could do is kiss me. Hold on, lemme get my 2 x 4… ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161/54 "2004-08-11T06:11:47Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > Oh, bestill my heart! Careful what you wish for. Soon enough, soon enough. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161/55 "2004-08-11T06:43:41Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally Posted by Diogenes the Cynic > > We do have a custom of apologizing when we’re wrong around here, especially when it comes to misrepresenting what another poster has said, and lingering animosity from previous battles should not have stopped rjung from just admitting he got something wrong at least in one case. > > You don’t apologize to the bug you trod on while jogging down the sidewalk, do you? Same principle here. Ya know, I am going to vote for Kerry because I suspect that he is microscopicaly marginaly better than Bush, but posts like this make me hope for a Bush win, just to watch you liberal idiots twist in the wind and explode with your own self rightiousness. We haven’t got anyhthing close to a credible candidate in this election, so all that’s left is the entertainment value. It’s win/win, baby! ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161/56 "2004-08-11T06:49:50Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > Ya know, I am going to vote for Kerry because I suspect that he is microscopicaly marginaly better than Bush, but posts like this make me hope for a Bush win, just to watch you liberal idiots twist in the wind and explode with your own self rightiousness. We haven’t got anyhthing close to a credible candidate in this election, so all that’s left is the entertainment value. It’s win/win, baby! Why do you generalize _rjung’s_\* comment to all liberals? How was his comment even political? ---
**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:** [August 11, 2004, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161/57 "2004-08-11T07:18:14Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > You don’t apologize to the bug you trod on while jogging down the sidewalk, do you? Same principle here. That’s okay, keep it up, putz! You show your ass with each new post. (You really are a dumbass, aren’t you?) ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161/58 "2004-08-11T07:53:59Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > I think **Brutus** is great fun – the last one with Albania cracked me up. Admittedly I have a sick and perverted sense of humour. **Calm Kiwi** , liberals are such bores, you should come and join us on the dark side, it’s much more fun over here - and I promise I’ll never mention your former infatuation with your Prime Twat. I agree **Brutus** is fun. Predictability always is. Like fart jokes and pies in the face…they always get a giggle. Alas I am still infatuated with the Prime Twat (ok infatuted is a very strong word. I do like her more then the scary dick who wants to be next though). Twat is always bettwer then dick 😃 I am scared of the dark. Mind you your line of dark maybe more twilight then midnight 🙂 ---
**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:** [August 11, 2004, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161/59 "2004-08-11T08:04:13Z")
**Diogenes** , I’m glad to see you had no qualms about being associated with the little spat going on between me and **rjung**. Thank you for chiming in here on my behalf. (I know, I know…we have an election to fight over, but I appreciate it just the same.) 🙂 ---
**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:** [August 11, 2004, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161/60 "2004-08-11T08:05:34Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > Twat is always bettwer then dick 😃 I don’t suppose this would be a good sig line, huh? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-sam-stone/259161.md?page=4)