# To all the lovely readers of CNN.com... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 24, 2013, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232 "2013-05-24T15:19:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232/21 "2013-05-24T16:51:20Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Most of the reader comments on every site on the internet are bad. There’s no point hoping for reasonable comments, they don’t exist. “Bag of assholes with the good ones picked out” was a recent description here, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232/22 "2013-05-24T17:06:56Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > [del]fire[/del] twister > > {del} {/del} If you use [noparse][noparse][/noparse][/noparse] around a bit of code, the board won’t use it so you don’t need to use curly brackets. [noparse][noparse][del]test[/del][/noparse][/noparse] will display as [noparse][del]test[/del][/noparse] That way people see exactly what you did. It’s also great for NSFW links because it’s extremely easy to copy and paste (no searching for blank spaces) and it carries through when the post gets quoted. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232/23 "2013-05-24T17:37:54Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > “Bag of assholes with the good ones picked out” was a recent description here, IIRC. Whoever said that, I think they’ve managed to win the thread _in absentia_. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232/24 "2013-05-24T17:57:52Z")
Here in California we frequently hear things like “Too bad about the earthquake/wildfire but seriously, if you are going to live there…”. Then again most people think everyone in California lives on a hillside mansion, is in show business or high-tech and eats granola, so y’know…the masses are pretty much idiots. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232/25 "2013-05-24T18:58:49Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Whoever said that, I think they’ve managed to win the thread _in absentia_. Yay, I win! ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232/26 "2013-05-24T19:02:40Z")
If you’re going to read the comments, at least learn the difference between heartfelt opinions and obvious trolling. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232/27 "2013-05-24T19:36:32Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > If you’re going to read the comments, at least learn the difference between heartfelt opinions and obvious trolling. It can be hard to tell the difference. A lot of the really extreme positions are quite heartfelt and happy to have found a soapbox to express them, nothing like trolling intended. Those are the sad ones - “I am as ignorant as a box of rocks and biased 90 degrees out of reality, but here’s what I think…” ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232/28 "2013-05-24T19:49:43Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > A Fire Strike Twister would be kinda cool. A Fire Strike Twister Earthquake Flood Plague of Locusts would be way cooler. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232/29 "2013-05-24T20:01:53Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > With all due respect, electing Tom Coburn and James Inhofe to the U.S. Senate stands as evidence to the contrary. 🙂 Which means that 100% of the Oklahomans are guilty? Even the children? Of course CNN comments are nuts; 95% of the sites out there make this place look like the Algonquin Roundtable. The _Houston Pres_s has an article on [What It’s Like To Live in Tornado Alley](http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2013/05/oklahoma_storms_what_is_it_lik.php). It explains a lot; I’m still glad I live in the Hurricane Section of Texas–not the Tornado Section. But every area has a potential for problematic events… ---
**Author:** ![panaccione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232/30 "2013-05-24T20:23:37Z")
> [@artemis](#): > > There is no place on this continent that is not at risk of natural disasters, many of which do way more damage than a tornado and kill far more people on average when they happen, so it wouldn’t even make sense to do so. Slight nitpick, but is this accurate? I’ve lived in PA my whole life and have never experienced a tornado, massive flood, earthquake, hurricane, or anything remotely close to a natural disaster. The worst that happens around here is a blizzard. ---
**Author:** ![bleach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bleach/32/3106_2.png) [@bleach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bleach)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232/31 "2013-05-24T20:41:53Z")
**panaccione** , you must live in an isolated part of PA because I lived there too and experienced [tornados](http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/Pennsylvania), [earthquakes](http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/historical_state.php#pennsylvania), and [hurricanes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Pennsylvania_hurricanes). Oh yes, and there was the [Johnstown flood](http://www.jaha.org/FloodMuseum/history.html), which was considered to be a massive flood. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232/32 "2013-05-24T20:56:38Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > If you’re going to read the comments, at least learn the difference between heartfelt opinions and obvious trolling. Poe Slaw. ---
**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232/33 "2013-05-24T21:03:24Z")
> [@panaccione](#): > > Slight nitpick, but is this accurate? I’ve lived in PA my whole life and have never experienced a tornado, massive flood, earthquake, hurricane, or anything remotely close to a natural disaster. The worst that happens around here is a blizzard. And I’ve lived in the Midwest either in or very near Tornado Alley for most of my life, and have never experienced a tornado, either - or anything worse than a blizzard. But I did live in PA for about 16 years (in Hershey), and experienced Hurricane Fran - and within a year of my moving back to the Midwest, an F3 tornado leveled Campbelletown PA, just 3 miles down the road from my old house. There really isn’t any place in the continental US that’s free of disasters. But you wouldn’t know that from the way the readers of most websites blather in the aftermath of one. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232/34 "2013-05-24T21:04:08Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I’ve given up on CNN. I can’t stand having to sit through a 15 to 30 second commercial before they let me see the story. I just look elsewhere for my news fix on those stories. I’m still trying to figure out why close to everything online these days even _has_ to be in video format. What happened to text? Not everyone has unlimited high-speed net connectivity, after all. I’m sure I saw something recently about how a significant percentage of Internet users are still on dial-up. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232/35 "2013-05-24T23:25:16Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > I’m still trying to figure out why close to everything online these days even _has_ to be in video format. What happened to text? > > Not everyone has unlimited high-speed net connectivity, after all. I’m sure I saw something recently about how a significant percentage of Internet users are still on dial-up. They’re looked upon like the people who live in modest homes in Tornado Alley: they’re assumed not going to buy what the sponsors are selling anyway. Because of course they should be paying for Hi-Speed just like they should be building hardened homes, why aren’t they :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![panaccione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232/36 "2013-05-24T23:28:01Z")
> [@bleach](#): > > **panaccione** , you must live in an isolated part of PA because I lived there too and experienced [tornados](http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/Pennsylvania), [earthquakes](http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/historical_state.php#pennsylvania), and [hurricanes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Pennsylvania_hurricanes). > > Oh yes, and there was the [Johnstown flood](http://www.jaha.org/FloodMuseum/history.html), which was considered to be a massive flood. Oh yeah. I knew that. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232/37 "2013-05-24T23:32:45Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > When a reporter who should know better asks a leading question like [Blitzer](http://samuel-warde.com/2013/05/the-most-embarrassing-wolf-blitzer-moment-of-the-week/) did, you can tell that CNN is rapidly approaching rock bottom. Agreed. A new low for WB and CNN. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232/38 "2013-05-24T23:50:01Z")
> [@Doctor\_Who](#): > > Stop. Reading. Comments. > > Seriously this goes for every site I’ve ever seen. From CNN to YouTube to the local paper website to almost every blog in existence. The people who have the time and motivation to put their comment out there are exactly the people you shouldn’t let in your head. This is true for anonymous posters, people with the courage to post with their real name and city of residence available tend to add to the conversation in my opinion, whether or not I actually agree with them. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2013, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232/39 "2013-05-25T00:11:16Z")
Can we extend this pitting to the obnoxious assholes who go on Facebook to tell everyone that the tornado was a sign that the nation needs to return to God? :rolleyes: I really, really wish I weren’t related to these people… ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232/40 "2013-05-25T18:05:34Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > “Fire twister” was my favorite part of the OP. I’m sorry to find out it was a typo. And even better, the tornado of fire has Biblical precedent too! (Exodus 13:21-22, where God accompanied the Israelites fleeing Egypt, in a pillar of fire.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-lovely-readers-of-cnn-com/659232.md?page=3)