# This is not a Regards, Shodan pitting **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 26, 2008, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548 "2008-11-26T13:53:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548/61 "2008-11-26T23:40:07Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > Mayhaps you’d better jump in, **Shodan** , and explain that post. Time to start backpeddlin like a motherfuck, shoddyboy. This should be interesting… ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548/62 "2008-11-26T23:52:53Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > Rereading it now, I wonder if I misread it. Mayhaps you’d better jump in, **Shodan** , and explain that post. I’m uncertain where the “sheer doesn’t mean insincere” thing came from - but to my interpretation sheer in that context means only, singularily (to go from the definitions **RTF** posted, definition b). In that sense, then, it appeared that **Shodan** was not saying he realises his posts (made for whatever reason) will stir up the Usual Suspects but chooses to anyway, nor that he does so for a mix of those other reasons plus the ability to stir up trouble, but for the sole and singular purpose of enjoying the ensuing trouble. That he posted for the sheer purpose of enjoying that reaction - that his motivation was trolling and that alone. ---
**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:** [November 26, 2008, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548/63 "2008-11-26T23:56:10Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > No, if you are just going to repeat shit, it isn’t as much fun. Three paragraphs of horseshit, where you simply repeat the lie that “sheer” means “insincere” is unimaginative. > > See, that another of the things that drives maroons like you crazy - I don’t fall for your bullshit. You can troll away as hard as you want. As long as you are amusing me, I will poke you again and again, for the sheer fun of laughing at you. > > Now, if you weren’t stupid, you would realize that 'sheer" in that context means just what it does in every other. Obviously, it does not mean that I am not laughing at you, or that I don’t think you are a complete dolt. Obviously, I do. > > But that’s only if you weren’t stupid. As it is… More evasive crap from the evasive crapmeister. In this bit, you claim that I “simply repeat the lie that ‘sheer’ means ‘insincere’,” probably on **Shodan** ’s principle that any misstatement becomes true if repeated often enough. Of course, I never claimed that “sheer” means “insincere,” or made any claim resembling that one. The only sentence of mine in this thread containing both words “sheer” and “sincere” is this one: > [@](#): > > Now “sheer” as I read it means that, even if there is no earthly value to it other than your entertainment, not the value of representing your sincere beliefs, or any other value, you would and will still post these things It in no way begins to define “sheer” as meaning “insincere.” I don’t even need the adjective “sincere,” which simply intensifies the noun “beliefs,” but you carry on exactly as if you’re saying something substantial with this bit of piffle, and you bellow and you roar precisely as if you were making some kind of point here. but your intent is plainly to make me run around and stomp out all sorts of diversionary fires that you’ve started and then to give up in frustration and tears. Do you think I’m having a hard time refuting your idiotic posts? This is simple child’s stuff for me, easy to keep pointing out what simpleminded diversionary tactics you’re using, and easy to keep proving to casual readers how this amounts to trolling on your part. If you were smart, you’d simply stop digging your own grave, but if you were smart, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. ---
**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:** [November 27, 2008, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548/64 "2008-11-27T00:17:10Z")
This from M-W in the context he obviously meant it: _Main Entry: 3sheer Function: adjective Etymology: Middle English schere freed from guilt, probably alteration of skere, from Old Norse skærr pure; akin to Old English scīnan to shine Date: circa 1568 1obsolete : bright , shining 2: of very thin or transparent texture : diaphanous 3 a: unqualified , utter \ \ b: being free from an adulterant : pure , unmixed c: viewed or acting in dissociation from all else \_ Having said that, I’m not having much of a problem with this myself. **Shodan** reads something he wants to respond to and in the course of composing it realizes that it’s gonna really piss off one or more of the ‘usual suspects’, people who have more often than not been flinging insults his way to begin with. So then, posting the very same thing he was gonna post anyway, he punches the Submit button with enthusiasm and a bit of a ‘Hell, yeah, this’ll show their ass!’, and he takes sheer (unqualified, utter) pleasure in doing so. In other words, the pleasure he may take is the icing on the cake but not the cake itself. And let’s be honest, every snarky and/or insulting remark made on this board, regardless of the forum, is done with the deliberate intent to piss someone off. If the criterion for trollery was posting with piss-off intent, this board would lose many of its most active posters. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548/65 "2008-11-27T00:27:02Z")
Funny, I always saw him as an irreverent little [Garden Gnome.](http://goodcomics.com/sdmb/shodan.jpg) ETA: Sorry, Shodan… I couldn’t resist. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548/66 "2008-11-27T00:43:37Z")
imagine that, SA defending Shoddy. Who would’ve thunk it? ---
**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:** [November 27, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548/67 "2008-11-27T00:55:47Z")
If the defense is valid, what difference does it make who posts it? ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548/68 "2008-11-27T00:59:15Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > If the defense is valid, what difference does it make who posts it? So you’ll be checking _M-W_ to get the definition of the word \*valid \*now, I take it? ---
**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:** [November 27, 2008, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548/69 "2008-11-27T01:03:34Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > I’d say that encapsulates the liberal nature of this board. Which is OK. But it certainly drives a stake into the argument that the SDMB is politically neutral. I’m trying to remember the last time i actually saw that argument. To my knowledge, every single liberal and leftist here acknowledges that we are the majority on this board. Hell, i’ve heard leftists and liberals lamenting how few conservatives we have to debate with. Can you find me even a single instance in, say, the last year, when a regular, in-good-standing member of this board (i.e., not a 3-post hit-and-run member) has claimed that it is politically neutral? ---
**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:** [November 27, 2008, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548/70 "2008-11-27T01:15:36Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I’m not having much of a problem with this myself. **Shodan** …takes sheer (unqualified, utter) pleasure in doing so. > > In other words, the pleasure he may take is the icing on the cake but not the cake itself. And let’s be honest, every snarky and/or insulting remark made on this board, regardless of the forum, is done with the deliberate intent to piss someone off. Except, my dear fuckwit, the word “sheer” did not qualify the pleasure he took in the acting of pissing people off, but rather it qualified the “entertainment value of watching the meltdowns” for him. In other words, the entire, whole, complete point of pissing people off was to gain pleasure from their agitation. A better definition of trolling cannot be had, for love or money. And, please, let’s do be honest. You are, I take it, then confessing to every snarky remark of yours being made iwth the deliberate intent to piss people off? That’s very interesting because when I have occasion to snark, it’s often to amuse people, to point out gently some unwitting remark they may have made about themselves, sometimes to preen or play the fool. It’s very good to hear your confessional, however, and I hope you won’t mind if I remind you and others of your declared intent from time to time. ---
**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:** [November 27, 2008, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548/71 "2008-11-27T01:28:23Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > That’s very interesting because when I have occasion to snark, it’s often to amuse people, to point out gently some unwitting remark they may have made about themselves, sometimes to preen or play the fool. Oh, goody! Then perhaps you’ll be kind enough to describe which harmless motivation was the intent behind your use of “my dear fuckwit”. I’m going with playing the fool myself. ---
**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:** [November 27, 2008, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548/72 "2008-11-27T01:37:43Z")
No, that was intended to dispense faux-civil abuse. That’s still allowed in the Pit, right? Right. So your point is…? That I wasn’t pretending to like you in the Pit? Guilty as charged. ---
**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:** [November 27, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548/73 "2008-11-27T01:40:42Z")
I might pretend to like you, however, even in the Pit from time to time, if you weren’t an infected dirtbag spewing self-contradictory and ignorant lies every time you open your pustule. But unfortunately that’s what you are, and that’s why I can’t pretend very well. If you were curious. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548/74 "2008-11-27T01:57:02Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > I surely was not insulting you. What it is is indicative of a change that’s happened around here over the years such that you have to defend **Shodan** from troll accusations, unthinkable when I started here, and that you intimated, perhaps unintentionally, that conservatives don’t fit in a “place like this”. I thought that’s what you meant, I just wasn’t 100% sure. And my intimation was indeed intentional…we DON’T really fit in. It takes someone fairly tenacious and/or not afraid to be in the minority. [QUOTE=pseudotriton ruber ruber] So as long as I consider you to be an idiot, then it’s okay to post shit that makes you go berserk, like pretending you don’t know my user name or claiming I have no evidence for posting things you don’t believe? I hate to belabor the point with so profound an ignoramus as you, because you won’t get the point no matter how heavily I hammer it into your forehead, but you did claim a few posts up that you post things that cause certain Dopers to go berserk for the “sheer” entertainment value of watching them react. Now “sheer” as I read it means that, even if there is no earthly value to it other than your entertainment, not the value of representing your sincere beliefs, or any other value, you would and will still post these things. [/QUOTE] Oh, come on, **PRR** , that’s hogwash. There is nothing about “sheer entertainment value” that says he does not believe the things he posts. He’s just saying that he might not bother posting if he didn’t know that people would be outraged that he has the temerity to hold unpopular opinions. Let’s face it, there probably IS no other value to it other than his entertainment. He IS representing his sincere beliefs, and he’s still accused of not being sincere, so that can’t be the value. He probably isn’t going to convince anyone around here to change their minds, so that can’t be the value. So, tell me, what IS the value of posting here, to him? I guess he could cry over the fact that everyone disagrees with him, and run away, but that wouldn’t be much fun for anyone, now, would it? > [@](#): > > The use of the word “sheer” clearly implies that you will post provocative things whether or not you actually believe them to be true or even plausible. Tell me how that is to be distinguished from “trolling.” I don’t think it implies that, at all. ---
**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:** [November 27, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548/75 "2008-11-27T02:04:37Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > I might pretend to like you, however, even in the Pit from time to time, if you weren’t an infected dirtbag spewing self-contradictory and ignorant lies every time you open your pustule. But unfortunately that’s what you are, and that’s why I can’t pretend very well. It’s nice to get confirmation from time to time that one is doing one’s job well. ---
**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:** [November 27, 2008, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548/76 "2008-11-27T02:07:34Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > I don’t think it implies that, at all. You may join the ranks of those who don’t understand what “sheer” means, then. It means “pure.” It means “unalloyed.” It means, my dear, that it is a complete justification for his posting provocative stuff, solely to agitate his readers. “Sheer” entertainment value means that if he does nothing other than entertain himself, he feels wonderful about pissing people off, especially because he considers them to be idiots. As you admit, “Let’s face it, there probably IS no other value to it other than his entertainment.” That’s trolling, pure and simple. It’s not that I think it’s impossible that \*\*Shodan \*\* actually believes some of the crap he defecates here once in a while–it’s just that, by own admission (and yours) it’s not necessary for him to believe the shit he spews. Just being entertained by the reactions he stirs up is a wholly satisfying reason for him to extrude a few more entertaining turds. You may spin that any way you choose, but my needle is stuck on “TROLL.” ---
**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:** [November 27, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548/77 "2008-11-27T02:10:33Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > It’s nice to get confirmation from time to time that one is doing one’s job well. So let me understand you better: you think it’s your job here to try to make me frustrated and angry? If so, you’ll have to do a lot better than that. If not, please explain your “job” as expressed in your post. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548/78 "2008-11-27T02:13:15Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > You may join the ranks of those who don’t understand what “sheer” means, then. It means “pure.” It means “unalloyed.” It means, my dear, that it is a complete justification for his posting provocative stuff, solely to agitate his readers. “Sheer” entertainment value means that if he does nothing other than entertain himself, he feels wonderful about pissing people off, especially because he considers them to be idiots. As you admit, “Let’s face it, there probably IS no other value to it other than his entertainment.” That’s trolling, pure and simple. It’s not that I think it’s impossible that \*\*Shodan \*\* actually believes some of the crap he defecates here once in a while–it’s just that, by own admission (and yours) it’s not necessary for him to believe the shit he spews. Just being entertained by the reactions he stirs up is a wholly satisfying reason for him to extrude a few more entertaining turds. You may spin that any way you choose, but my needle is stuck on “TROLL.” No, my dear, I never admitted any such thing. He’s only saying that long past the time when he realizes the conversation is going nowhere, he persists, because it’s funny to see people blow a gasket. There are plenty of folks around here who will go round and round in circles, arguing the same points for a zillion pages. Why are they doing it? Because for one reason or another, it amuses them to do so. He’s just willing to admit that it’s basically pointless. I mean, we are ALL here for sheer entertainment. What the hell else are we all doing? ---
**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:** [November 27, 2008, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548/79 "2008-11-27T02:19:51Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > You may join the ranks of those who don’t understand what “sheer” means, then. It means “pure.” It means “unalloyed.” Correct. > [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > It means, my dear, that it is a complete justification for his posting provocative stuff, solely to agitate his readers. See, now this is where you go offbase, mon dipshit. Taking pure and unalloyed pleasure in making the post does not exclude the concomitant appropriateness of the message contained in the post itself. In other words, sheer refers to the pleasure he found in posting a message that he would have posted anyway. Pleasure and content are not the same thing, nor does the one exclude the other. ---
**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:** [November 27, 2008, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548/80 "2008-11-27T02:31:43Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > So let me understand you better: you think it’s your job here to try to make me frustrated and angry? If so, you’ll have to do a lot better than that. If not, please explain your “job” as expressed in your post. No, my job here is to call 'em as I see 'em. The fact that you may become frustrated and/or angry as a result (a conclusion one would be hard pressed not to arrive at given your rather animated description of me above) is merely a consequence/side benefit. Pretty much the same case as with **Shodan** , come to think of it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-a-regards-shodan-pitting/474548.md?page=5)