# "This will not end well" - A suggestion **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 14, 2010, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-will-not-end-well-a-suggestion/524887 "2010-01-14T03:59:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-will-not-end-well-a-suggestion/524887/1 "2010-01-14T03:59:52Z")
Can we do away with this? [In this thread for example](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=547185) it is the very first response. At worst it’s threadshitting and at best it’s the equivalent of “pulls up lawn chair” or “brings out popcorn” both of which are not allowed if I remember correctly. It feels like it’s enticing a pile-on and nothing more. [sup]Apologies to **Idle Thoughts**.[/sup] ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-will-not-end-well-a-suggestion/524887/2 "2010-01-14T04:08:33Z")
Well, if we’re going to start banning certain phrases, then let’s go ahead and make a list. Everything that annoys you or me or anybody else will be OUT. Or we could go ahead with that whole free speech and don’t be a jerk thing. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-will-not-end-well-a-suggestion/524887/3 "2010-01-14T04:23:45Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > Well, if we’re going to start banning certain phrases, then let’s go ahead and make a list. Everything that annoys you or me or anybody else will be OUT. Or we could go ahead with that whole free speech and don’t be a jerk thing. It’s not like I’m over here frothing about it, it is just a suggestion. This is a message board that is privately owned, free speech doesn’t enter into it. Don’t believe me? [Check it out.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-will-not-end-well-a-suggestion/524887/4 "2010-01-14T04:25:48Z")
I just think it’s better to have general rules like ‘don’t be a jerk’ and look at each incident, than to ban certain phrases. But, if we were to ban certain phrases, then everyone would have their own little pet peeve they’d want banned, and if they did it for you they’d have to do it for everyone, and… it wouldn’t end well. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-will-not-end-well-a-suggestion/524887/5 "2010-01-14T04:29:10Z")
I had thought that the pulling up of a lawnchair was already a warnable offense? Same with popcorn. Why not just report the post and and explain your position in the little box where you get to explain why you’re reporting it. I write several sentences in those things and I guarantee the mods tire of my shit. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![tacoloco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tacoloco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tacoloco)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-will-not-end-well-a-suggestion/524887/6 "2010-01-14T04:37:10Z")
I don’t think the comment had any material effect on the tenor or direction that thread took. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-will-not-end-well-a-suggestion/524887/7 "2010-01-14T04:51:42Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > At worst it’s threadshitting and at best it’s the equivalent of “pulls up lawn chair” or “brings out popcorn” both of which are not allowed if I remember correctly. There is no current prohibition against “pulling up a lawn chair” etc in the Pit rules, and there hasn’t been for quite some time. In any case, that rule applied only in cases where one poster pitted another (since it was seen as being akin to promoting “let’s you and him fight” without taking sides on the issue at hand). It did not apply to more general pittings, such as “Americans who think differently than I do” like the case in hand. I don’t see how “this will not end well” is threadshitting; it expresses a definite opinion that the OP is being rash and will be subject to a lot of criticism from other posters. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-will-not-end-well-a-suggestion/524887/8 "2010-01-14T06:33:46Z")
Forgiven! ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-will-not-end-well-a-suggestion/524887/9 "2010-01-14T06:52:07Z")
That ended well. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-will-not-end-well-a-suggestion/524887/10 "2010-01-14T07:14:33Z")
That’s because no one predicted otherwise. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-will-not-end-well-a-suggestion/524887/11 "2010-01-14T12:59:53Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > There is no current prohibition against “pulling up a lawn chair” etc in the Pit rules, and there hasn’t been for quite some time. I thought it was still in effect! I didn’t know that it was gone. Kudos to the mods who removed that stupid rule\*! 🙂 \*That was one of those rules that fall under the “piddly little shit that annoys a few people” category which just diminish the real rules. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-will-not-end-well-a-suggestion/524887/12 "2010-01-14T13:36:36Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > I thought it was still in effect! I didn’t know that it was gone. Kudos to the mods who removed that stupid rule\*! 🙂 Please note, although no one cares about a specific phrase, the concept “You two fight and I’ll goad you on” is almost always being a jerk. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-will-not-end-well-a-suggestion/524887/13 "2010-01-14T13:47:48Z")
So, is it only the actual commenting on enjoying watching 2 tards, or 2 heavyweights laying into each other that makes you a jerk? I can’t be the only one who finds some of these occasional conflicts entertaining, surely? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-will-not-end-well-a-suggestion/524887/14 "2010-01-14T14:24:56Z")
I am not a Pit mod, but it is my understanding that “I’m enjoying watching these two go at it” is fully equivalent to " \*\*pulls up a lawn chair and pops a brewski \*\* " and is allowable under the current Pit rules. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-will-not-end-well-a-suggestion/524887/15 "2010-01-14T15:09:10Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > I thought it was still in effect! I didn’t know that it was gone. I have to say, considering the amount of commentary you often offer on the rules, it might be helpful to actually read them.😉 Just sayin’.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-will-not-end-well-a-suggestion/524887/16 "2010-01-14T16:11:49Z")
See? That was totally mean and hurtful. I’m emotionally damaged now. ☹ 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dorothy\_Mantooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b77776/32.png) [@Dorothy\_Mantooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorothy_Mantooth)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-will-not-end-well-a-suggestion/524887/17 "2010-01-14T18:42:12Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > Please note, although no one cares about a specific phrase, the concept “You two fight and I’ll goad you on” is almost always being a jerk. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-will-not-end-well-a-suggestion/524887/18 "2010-01-14T18:58:08Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > I am not a Pit mod, but it is my understanding that “I’m enjoying watching these two go at it” is fully equivalent to " \*\*pulls up a lawn chair and pops a brewski \*\* " and is allowable under the current Pit rules. It’s too funny how differently people read things. I always think of this as an attempt at quelling the dispute. If someone aimed it at me, I might actually review my behavior to see if it was, in fact, spuriously pugnacious. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-will-not-end-well-a-suggestion/524887/19 "2010-01-14T20:00:09Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > It’s too funny how differently people read things. I always think of this as an attempt at quelling the dispute. If someone aimed it at me, I might actually review my behavior to see if it was, in fact, spuriously pugnacious. “Spuriously pugnacious.” I love it. Probably should morph into “spariously pugnacious.” ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-will-not-end-well-a-suggestion/524887/20 "2010-01-14T20:03:23Z")
_pulls up a lawn chair_ What? Somebody had to say it! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-will-not-end-well-a-suggestion/524887.md?page=2)