# The non-rhetorical pit of Aeschines or Time Adventures: episode I **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 24, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-rhetorical-pit-of-aeschines-or-time-adventures-episode-i/225872 "2004-01-24T19:20:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-rhetorical-pit-of-aeschines-or-time-adventures-episode-i/225872/41 "2004-01-27T09:12:12Z")
> [@IWLN](#): > > Very good. Substitute _“bitch”_ for _madam_ and _“do”_ for _suffice_ and we’ll have you sounding normal in no time.🙂 I should easily choose the strange over the normal, madam, were it true that you exemplified the latter. ---
**Author:** ![IWLN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5ac83/32.png) [@IWLN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IWLN)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-rhetorical-pit-of-aeschines-or-time-adventures-episode-i/225872/42 "2004-01-27T09:21:24Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > I should easily choose the strange over the normal, madam, were it true that you exemplified the latter. Alas, wounded to the quick by a pompous asswipe. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-rhetorical-pit-of-aeschines-or-time-adventures-episode-i/225872/43 "2004-01-27T09:25:24Z")
> [@IWLN](#): > > Alas, wounded to the quick by a pompous asswipe. :rolleyes: Madam, next time please use toilet paper; it’s softer. And next time please don’t tell us about your sanitary accidents. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-rhetorical-pit-of-aeschines-or-time-adventures-episode-i/225872/44 "2004-01-27T11:03:03Z")
So, what exactly did you mean by “The followers of Ptolemy on this board”? And, for that matter, were you challenging anyone in specific for satisfaction? I’m reasonably sure that, in such a varied group, at least one member of this board is equipped to respond to your request in one way or another. Is english your second or third language? Were you raised by large tomes? Do you not understand the difference between philosophical groups of ancient greece and a mode of thought that is based on judging the preponderance of the evidence? The preponderance of the evidence, by the way, seems to suggest that you have changed merely your words and not your actions. Perhaps you would care to do some light research on out of body experiences, and report your actual conclusions, keeping in mind that extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof, that a premise must be falsifiable, and if there are two or more ways something may happen, the simpler answer is more likely to be true. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-rhetorical-pit-of-aeschines-or-time-adventures-episode-i/225872/45 "2004-01-27T11:11:51Z")
Reason _is_ my ruler, **Aeschines**. That is why a smarmy declaration of Conversion To Skepticism after ten pages of skeptic-bashing across two threads is, as we skeptics say, insufficient evidence. And be you skeptic or fool or Christ incarnate, your vicious, emotionally charged opinion of your enemies has no place in a truly sincere apology. However, I expect no apology from you; I demand none; you owe me none. I do not have the power to require it of you, but I would be pleased to see reform. I also owe you no apology. I will not apologize for my opinion. If you are not expected to apologize for asserting your opinion of the behavior of your opponents, I am free to express my opinion of your behavior here, and I have done. That is why this forum exists within the SDMB. One is never required to attend one’s own Pitting; indeed, it is not always a very good idea. I am comfortable with my own behavior on the SDMB, in this forum and others, and the few regrets I have don’t involve any discussions that required you, sir. If my reform is called for, someone will surely make it known to me by starting a Pit thread in my own dubious honor, and the Pit will judge whether I am deserving or unworthy of that attack. By counting your supporters here in the Pit, you may see how you have thus far been judged. If you wish to be sincere, apologize without rancor, without exception, without exclusions and qualifications and justifications and reasons, and proceed to live up to your apology without fanfare. Contrition should not come in quintuplicate with two signatures in red ink. Apology is not _quid pro quo_. Remorse does not need to get in the final word. ---
**Author:** ![IWLN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5ac83/32.png) [@IWLN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IWLN)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-rhetorical-pit-of-aeschines-or-time-adventures-episode-i/225872/46 "2004-01-27T11:41:17Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > Madam, next time please use toilet paper; it’s softer. And next time please don’t tell us about your sanitary accidents. Here it is. Your first _real_ victory. I concede. I am unable to formulate an appropriate response. You’re the _man_ **Aeschines**. It doesn’t give you skeptic status, but it does mean you won a pissing contest with a woman. Savor it. > [@](#): > > _by Aeschines_ > I have given up all but my dignity–that you cannot have. Double check that dignity. It may have recently went missing on you.😉 ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-rhetorical-pit-of-aeschines-or-time-adventures-episode-i/225872/47 "2004-01-27T12:38:48Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > It was meet of Mr. Czarcasm to shut down the thread in question, as I only intended to post those last words and be done with it; in any event, I was at that point a changed man. I assume you all had the chance to recognize this before girding your loins for this battle, or, should I say, halter party. Have I been cheated here? No-one came round to gird my loins…and I was looking forward to some loin girding. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-rhetorical-pit-of-aeschines-or-time-adventures-episode-i/225872/48 "2004-01-27T13:29:53Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > I have given up all but my dignity–_that_ you cannot have. _How_ can we deprive you of that one thing which you have never possessed? **Aeschines** – in Kindergarten, we had a kid who was just like you. Until we stuck his tongue in the electric socket, when the teacher wasn’t looking. After that, he was fine. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-rhetorical-pit-of-aeschines-or-time-adventures-episode-i/225872/49 "2004-01-30T20:47:05Z")
Cool! So glad this thread was opened. I wanted to ask **Aeschines** in the Remote Viewing thread, but didn’t realized until I was engrossed in it that it had been locked… You have a Masters Degree in Science, but in what field? Personally I have a Bachelor of Arts but that does no good in helping people understand what I studied (Mass Communications in case anyone was curious…yes yes, it’s a sham degree, I know) I’m curious to know what you majored in that helps reinforce your beliefs in the supernatural. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-rhetorical-pit-of-aeschines-or-time-adventures-episode-i/225872/50 "2004-01-31T02:44:48Z")
I think you missed the memo **Max Carnage** : Remember, like Dr. Science, he has a masters degree… in Science! 😃 The Ghost thread reminded me of one favorite Dr. Science bit: “Q- Who was Casper the Friendly Ghost before he died? A-Cartoon parapsychologists believe that, in his previous life, Casper was Elmer Fudd. Note the same up-turned nose and oversized bald head. As punishment for a life of rabbit hating, Fudd must haunt the earth in the company of insipid ponies" ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-rhetorical-pit-of-aeschines-or-time-adventures-episode-i/225872/51 "2004-02-13T14:31:12Z")
Why do Pit threads only go to page 2? ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-rhetorical-pit-of-aeschines-or-time-adventures-episode-i/225872/52 "2004-02-14T02:20:10Z")
Magic. The Pit Elves always build the pages _juuuuust_ the right size. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-rhetorical-pit-of-aeschines-or-time-adventures-episode-i/225872.md?page=2)