# The minty green and Ex Tank appreciation thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 6, 2002, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696 "2002-06-06T16:39:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![The\_Ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696/81 "2002-06-12T00:37:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by minty green \* > Do you really think I haven’t reconciled my positions on your rhetorical questions with my statements in that thread? I certainly find it likely that you have found a way to reconcile the apparent discrepencies, however the exact manner in which you have done so is of interest to me. > [@](#): > > (1) Some issues should be subject to democratic action. Guns are one of them. Some issues should not be subject to democratic action, such as matters of individual conscience. Are you clear on the distinction? I am not clear on what **you** consider the distinction to be. Nor do I understand why it is that you, having determined that you personally do not consider them to subject to the same rules, appear to expect that others will agree with you as to what rules would apply to what situation. Once you allow that democracy is not always a virtue, doesn’t it become a matter of personal opinion when it still, and when it is not? > [@](#): > > (2) Uh, yeah. WWII was a “political dispute.” Never mind that we were attacked by Japan and had war declared on us by Germany. :rolleyes: Do you actually have a counterargument, or are smilies all you have to offer? Is this “we were attacked” supposed to establish that it political issues were not involved? Did opposition to the draft cease to be a political issue after the Kent State incident because “they were attacked”? ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696/82 "2002-06-12T01:15:05Z")
So, is there anybody out there who thinks Ryan’s inquiries are worth responding to? Because personally, I find no entertainment value in play along with his childish attempts to play such games. If anyone else is actually interested in the answers (like you can’t predict them), just let me know which ones to respond to. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696/83 "2002-06-12T01:16:41Z")
" . . . playing along with his childish games." Let’s see, does :smack: work yet? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696/84 "2002-06-12T06:17:44Z")
Is there anything, specifically, that you consider to be evidence of a game? I honestly would like to know what causes this reaction, so that I would have the opportunity to prevent it. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696/85 "2002-06-12T11:48:06Z")
> [@](#): > > Is there anything, specifically, that you consider to be evidence of a game? I honestly would like to know what causes this reaction, so that I would have the opportunity to prevent it. Well, taking you at your word (and assuming you didn’t understand all the times other people have told you this), I’d have to say it’s your habit of parsing others’ posts into individual comments that are ripped completely out of the context of your opponent’s argument. It’s your focus on the literal, grammatical meaning of the sentences typed by your opponent instead of on the factual veracity of his/her assertions or the subject and conclusions of his/her overall thesis. Your tactics can easily be perceived as “semantic games” which detract from a good debate, and are the reason some posters no longer wish to engage you in discussion. The above is just MHO, of course. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696/86 "2002-06-12T12:14:53Z")
Exactly, **xeno**. I mean, can you imagine watching this thread get hijacked onto the causes of WWII, which would probably lead to something else entirely two posts later, which would then get hijacked onto something else again? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696/87 "2002-06-12T12:53:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xenophon41 \* > \*\* it’s your habit of parsing others’ posts into individual comments that are ripped completely out of the context of your opponent’s argument. It’s your focus on the literal, grammatical meaning of the sentences typed by your opponent instead of on the factual veracity of his/her assertions or the subject and conclusions of his/her overall thesis… \*\* [Vivesection by vb code!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=87747&perpage=50&highlight=argumentum&pagenumber=2) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696/88 "2002-06-12T20:36:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xenophon41 \* > Well, taking you at your word (and assuming you didn’t understand all the times other people have told you this), I’d have to say it’s your habit of parsing others’ posts into individual comments that are ripped completely out of the context of your opponent’s argument. It’s your focus on the literal, grammatical meaning of the sentences typed by your opponent instead of on the factual veracity of his/her assertions or the subject and conclusions of his/her overall thesis. So can you give an example of a comment and its original context, and an explanation of how the lack of the latter significantly changes the former? Can give me an example of undue focus on the literal, grammatical meaning? Furthermore, how am I unique in this regard? In the same thread, minty green said > [@](#): > > But you freely admit that there are “infinite” reasons you might kill us all, and you reserve the right to do so. > > Yeah, I’m thinking it might be a good idea to place some substantive restrictions on the right to bear arms. After all, it’s just self-defense to take away the guns of somebody who threatens to harm me. managed to twist my words to make it sound like minty green > [@](#): > > Exactly, xeno. I mean, can you imagine watching this thread get hijacked onto the causes of WWII, which would probably lead to something else entirely two posts later, which would then get hijacked onto something else again? I really don’t see how you being able to imagine something bad happening is a substantial criticism. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696/89 "2002-06-12T20:51:33Z")
DNFTR ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696/90 "2002-06-12T21:06:27Z")
**TR** , I have long since decided to follow for myself the sage advice **minty green** gives above. If you would like to start your own “The Ryan Appreciation Thread”, feel free. Maybe someone will come in and hijack it into a continuance of an old argument with _you_. Have fun. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696/91 "2002-06-12T21:28:49Z")
The Ryan, get a fucking clue. You’re the biggest buzzkill on these boards. People don’t post responses to you because they’re tedious, and consistently tangential. Develop a thicker skin and the ability to intuit. Until then, bugger off little man. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696/92 "2002-06-13T01:40:08Z")
Yet again I sincerely ask for constructive criticism, and yet again I get vague, general statements posted with great rancor. Just whose irrationality are you trying convince me of, yours or mine? ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696/93 "2002-06-13T12:12:43Z")
Bullshit. I gave you a [whole damn thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=57710&highlight=Ryan) of constructive criticism over a year ago. (Look what good it did.) Should I link to any of the **many** less conciliatory Pit threads about you, **TR**? If you can’t learn from criticism, why should we continue to gift you with it? ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696/94 "2002-06-13T13:06:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xenophon41 \* > Bullshit. Cite? > [@](#): > > I gave you a [whole damn thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=57710&highlight=Ryan) of constructive criticism over a year ago. What makes you think that that criticism was constructive? Main Entry: con·struc·tive Pronunciation: k&n-'str&k-tiv Function: adjective Date: circa 1680 1 : declared such by judicial construction or interpretation \ 2 : of or relating to construction or creation 3 : promoting improvement or development \ - con·struc·tive·ly adverb - con·struc·tive·ness noun > [@](#): > > (Look what good it did.) The fact that you are incapable of seeing what good it did does not mean that no good was done. > [@](#): > > Should I link to any of the **many** less conciliatory Pit threads about you, **TR**? Define “many.” > [@](#): > > If you can’t learn from criticism, why should we continue to gift you with it? What makes you think I didn’t learn anything? ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696/95 "2002-06-13T13:12:23Z")
Thanks Phil. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![My\_Darn\_Snake\_Legs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@My\_Darn\_Snake\_Legs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/My_Darn_Snake_Legs)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696/96 "2002-06-14T06:39:08Z")
I’m going to ignore the name calling and other bullshit that I have just skimmed in the last two pages. I usually disagree with **minty** on the gun rights issue, but that doesn’t stop him from being a guy I’d happily toss back a few beers with again. Cheers boys. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696/97 "2002-06-14T12:10:56Z")
“Usually”? You mean you agreed with me on something? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![My\_Darn\_Snake\_Legs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@My\_Darn\_Snake\_Legs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/My_Darn_Snake_Legs)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696/98 "2002-06-14T14:08:30Z")
Well I wouldn’t go that far, but I seem to remember that there was something that I didn’t completely disagree with. :smack: Or maybe it was on some other topic…who knows? ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696/99 "2002-06-14T14:34:12Z")
I’m pretty sure we can agree that the first Evil Dead flick is clearly the greatest horror movie of the last 25 years. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ace\_of\_Swords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@The\_Ace\_of\_Swords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ace_of_Swords)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696/100 "2002-06-14T15:05:14Z")
Evil Dead? Prince of Darkness vastly #1! “Don’t get me wrong, normally I love being dominated by women, but…” 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-minty-green-and-ex-tank-appreciation-thread/112696.md?page=6)