# To the Comedians who troll the Great Debates forum. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 16, 2005, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511 "2005-06-16T08:21:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511/41 "2005-06-16T17:55:01Z")
If it’s of any significance, the OP of the example thread did once [damn me to hell.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=143992&p=2593864) And in IMHO, too! :eek: :eek: :eek: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511/42 "2005-06-16T17:56:15Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > We need _more_ humor in GD. A couple of jokes in a heated thread can help diffuse tension and allow debate on the topic to continue without devolving into shouting matches. I doubt such jokes have ever derailed a debate that had any legs. Dopers are far too opinionated to let a handful of bad puns stop them from stating their piece. If an ostensibly serious thread does turn into nothing more than a jokefest, it’s probably because nobody felt a serious answer was warranted. Besides which, a couple of one-liners help keep the thread at the top of the forum, increasing the chances that someone with something substantial to add will read it. > > In short, the OP is wrong about everything, and is way uptight to boot. I agree wholeheartedly, it is often key to keeping a thread civil to inject a little humour. If wiseasserry is out of place it gets ignored, else it brings a smile and reduces tension that would really derail a Great Debate into a shouting match. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511/43 "2005-06-16T18:04:44Z")
The gum of all religion is the commandment ‘Thou shall not disfigure the sole.’ ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511/44 "2005-06-16T18:08:45Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > The gum of all religion is the commandment ‘Thou shall not disfigure the sole.’ [Channelling OP] Oh, yeah! That reminds me! No non sequiters either, damnit! [/Channelling OP] ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511/45 "2005-06-16T18:15:52Z")
“Yes, so it appears that the fiscal earnings increased by roughly 5.3% over the last quarter, possibly due to the new regulatory…” “Hey, did you hear the one about Michael Jackson and Terry Schaivo?” “YOU MOTHERFUCKING BASTARD!!! I’LL KILL YOU!!! DIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIE!!!” ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511/46 "2005-06-16T18:19:53Z")
> [@What Is Schwa](#): > > The Great Debate forum is crawling with would-be comedians. To them I say: leave the talking to those who have substance to add. You must be visiting a different great debates than the one I’m familiar with. At any given moment, there are no more than 4 people participating who even capable of adding anything of substance; and at most 2 active topics worthy of discussion. Comedians are the catfish of this little ecosystem. If they weren’t scavenging up the offal, the whole pond would be muck. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511/47 "2005-06-16T18:21:34Z")
> [@LindyHopper](#): > > Comedy _gold_. I dunno. It seemed pretty obvious, especially since I handed him the straight line on a silver platter. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511/48 "2005-06-16T18:24:26Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > GD people strike me as the most serious, un-fun bunch ever. And those are the ones making jokes. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511/49 "2005-06-16T18:34:57Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Look, I know where you’re coming from, but I think it’s nice that the tone in GD is not always one of constant seriousness. I once had a debate judge laughing so hard that she almost fell out of her chair. We still lost the round, though. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511/50 "2005-06-16T18:41:51Z")
See Schwa, in post #38 I totally tried to hijack and was completely ignored. People were more interested in staying on topic by explaining what a tool you are. Nobody took the bait. Proves my point, if the thread has merit it will not be hijacked, even if a few people try to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511/51 "2005-06-16T18:44:06Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > If enough people want to start a “clever hijack” thread, they also can certainly do so. To hijack someones thread is rude. If you think it’s stupid, fine. If it’s here in the PIT you can say so, _or you always have to option of just plain not posting._ :rolleyes: A hijack is only possible if no one is interested in the OP. Don’t want your threads hijacked? Write better OPs. If no one is talking about you topic, it’s cause no one cares about your topic. If people do care about your topic, they’ll post about it, regardless of jokes or other digressions. > [@](#): > > Some jerks here use “joke hijacking” as a way of “winning” a debate they are loosing badly on thought points. I’ve never seen this happen. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511/52 "2005-06-16T18:54:19Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > What if it’s a debate about jokes? Those belong in IMHO. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511/53 "2005-06-16T19:28:24Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > A hijack is only possible if no one is interested in the OP. Don’t want your threads hijacked? Write better OPs. If no one is talking about you topic, it’s cause no one cares about your topic. If people do care about your topic, they’ll post about it, regardless of jokes or other digressions. If you are not interested in the OP, fine.Then either post in some other thread, or start one yourself. Hijacking is rude, and your opinion- although valid- doesn’t mean that everyone else thinks that the thread isn’t interesting. It is certain however, that a badly enough hijacked thread will prove to be uninteresting to those who might have found the original OP to be fascinating. What makes \*\*YOU \*\*the arbiter of how interesting a thread is to the entire SDMB? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Pashnish\_Ewing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8797f3/32.png) [@Pashnish\_Ewing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pashnish_Ewing)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511/54 "2005-06-16T19:28:41Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > I dunno. It seemed pretty obvious, especially since I handed him the straight line on a silver platter. Shut up, dropzone. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511/55 "2005-06-16T19:30:46Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > What makes \*\*YOU \*\*the arbiter of how interesting a thread is to the entire SDMB? :rolleyes: My irony meter just exploded. Again. I’ve got to remember to turn it off before getting on the SDMB. ---
**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:** [June 16, 2005, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511/56 "2005-06-16T19:32:55Z")
> [@askeptic](#): > > See Schwa, in post #38 I totally tried to hijack and was completely ignored. People were more interested in staying on topic by explaining what a tool you are. Nobody took the bait. Proves my point, if the thread has merit it will not be hijacked, even if a few people try to do it. You call that a hijack? This is a hijack… “OK everybody, we’re taking this thread to Cuba or I’m blowing up the hamster wheel and everybody with it!” ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511/57 "2005-06-16T19:35:21Z")
For a pound, I won’t hijack this thread to Luton. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511/58 "2005-06-16T19:36:03Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > What makes \*\*YOU \*\*the arbiter of how interesting a thread is to the entire SDMB? :rolleyes: We could ask the same thing of **You**. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511/59 "2005-06-16T19:36:26Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > If you are not interested in the OP, fine.Then either post in some other thread, or start one yourself. Hijacking is rude, and your opinion- although valid- doesn’t mean that everyone else thinks that the thread isn’t interesting. And if there are people who think the thread is interesting, they’ll post to it, regardless of what I have to say. > [@](#): > > It is certain however, that a badly enough hijacked thread will prove to be uninteresting to those who might have found the original OP to be fascinating. Once again, cite? You keep saying this, but I’ve never seen any evidence of it. Where’s your proof for this claim? > [@](#): > > What makes \*\*YOU \*\*the arbiter of how interesting a thread is to the entire SDMB? :rolleyes: Precisely the same thing that makes you the arbiter of what constitutes an acceptable post in a GD thread. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511/60 "2005-06-16T19:41:13Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > My irony meter just exploded. Again. I’ve got to remember to turn it off before getting on the SDMB. Nonsense. It is very possible, in fact not uncommon - for a member to start a thread that will interest only a tiny % of the posters here. But that thread may be of intense interest to those few. And, there is nothing wrong at all with starting a thread that will have only a very few interested in it. To then come by, and find that you\*, oh god and arbiter of all that can possibly be interesting on the SDMB :rolleyes: finds that that thread isn’t interesting to _you_- still doesn’t give you the right to come in, hijack it, and be a jerk. It is certainly NOT “being a jerk” to start a limited interest thread. But it can “being a jerk” to hijack a thread. Dudes have been warned for it. YMMV of course, there is no specific “don’t hijack” rule that apllies to the entire SDMB. \*the generic & impersonal “you” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-comedians-who-troll-the-great-debates-forum/308511.md?page=4)