# To the reading comprehension challenged Re: Scylla's thread
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [April 2, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419 "2005-04-02T17:30:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 5
### Author:  [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2005, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/81 "2005-04-04T06:10:09Z")
≠
Yay!
You’re my new shodurpersav.
---
### Author:  [@Newton\_meter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newton_meter)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2005, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/82 "2005-04-04T06:51:07Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#):
>
> I’m not pointing out a typo, but I am curious … I have never seen “=/=” as a representation of “doesn’t equal” before. I’m familiar with “!=” from my limited study of C++; is “=/=” also from a programming language?
Not that I know of, but the operator “/=” is sometimes used,e.g. in the languages Haskell and Ada. Since you were curious.
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### Author:  [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2005, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/83 "2005-04-04T07:00:38Z")
> [@Primaflora](#):
>
> Sweetheart, no. I make money editing people’s books. I’m a published author. Trust me, the only colour that I wanna use when I read **Scylla** ’s emoting is my red pen.
What a pompous ass you are.
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### Author:  [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2005, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/84 "2005-04-04T07:17:01Z")
> [@kung fu lola](#):
>
> Anyone who puts their writing “out there” is fair game. “Style” is not something that is uncontrollable or unbidden in a writer. Writers can refine their style, mold it, and evolve. When you write for a teacher, for any class from middle-school English to a University 500 level Lit course, you will be graded on style on top of content. It’s pretty self-evident that style is just as important to the quality of someone’s writing as the substance. How many editions has _The Elements Of Style_ by Strunk and White, been through now? 50?
What edition is _Elements of Style for Casual Writing on an Internet Message Board When Feeling Vulnerable and Wanting to Express Yourself as Part of a Supposed Community of Like-Minded People_ at these days? I must need an updated copy, because my version doesn’t mention anything about how it’s necessary to shit on someone when he’s down, just because the forum rules allow it.
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### Author:  [@BottledBlondJeanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BottledBlondJeanie)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2005, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/85 "2005-04-04T13:34:41Z")
It now seems that our pithy Bob Newby knew a bit much for a true newby. He’s been banned. I wonder what for?
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### Author:  [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2005, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/86 "2005-04-04T13:53:56Z")
> [@BottledBlondJeanie](#):
>
> It now seems that our pithy Bob Newby knew a bit much for a true newby. He’s been banned. I wonder what for?
You can still get him back. Crtl+Shift+C “reset\_tut”, I think.
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### Author:  [@BottledBlondJeanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BottledBlondJeanie)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2005, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/87 "2005-04-04T14:14:45Z")
Somebody’s been playing the SIMS. I had no clue what you meant **waverly** until I googled it 🙂
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### Author:  [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/88 "2005-04-04T14:19:26Z")
> [@Scylla](#):
>
> So little Ms. “I am a published author and an editor,” why don’t you do me a favor. Print this post out and put it on the floor. Then you can take your red pen stick it halfway up your ass. squat over the paper and edit the shit out of it.
>
> Goddamn.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but \*now \*I am a fan. I wish I could come with stuff like that. ☹
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2005, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/89 "2005-04-04T14:58:42Z")
He’s deep. That’s what rouses such antipathy, he’s deep.
A lot of you think you’re deep. You’ll be sitting there, reading the Post Toasties box…“Monosodium malignate, calcium carcinomate, leechithin, wonder what this shit _does_…” and you have one of those Stuart Smalley moments…“Hmmm, wonder if God is a homo?”…, and you think you’re deep. Feh. My boy **Scylla** is deeper than that when he scratches his nuts!
And its not just the being deep, hell, Sartre was deep, even if it was just to compensate for being butt-ugly and French, not that much difference between being deep and being glib, shallow and sarcastic, like me. There’s also the awareness of depth, confessing to oneself and others, _sharing_ that deepitude. That takes a special kind of humility and a willingness to forthrightly share that self-awareness, nay, to _insist_ on such a generous revelation. Some will, of course, see this as a kind of _chutzpah_, but that’s just 'cause they’re shallow, glib, and sarcastic.
And dignity? Don’t even think about it! I have some dignity, carry it around in my watch pocket, in case I run across somebody who gives a shit (Hey! you never know! Could happen!). But my dignity is a modest little hillock, a near-invisible bump in a vast and featureless plain. **Scylla** got _dignity!_, rises like the north face of the Matterhorn, towering, majestic, impervious. Probably would have twice as much, if it weren’t for the humble modesty that comes from being so deep, and all.
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### Author:  [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2005, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/90 "2005-04-04T15:14:48Z")
> [@elucidator](#):
>
> He’s deep. That’s what rouses such antipathy, he’s deep.
>
> A lot of you think you’re deep. You’ll be sitting there, reading the Post Toasties box…“Monosodium malignate, calcium carcinomate, leechithin, wonder what this shit _does_…” and you have one of those Stuart Smalley moments…“Hmmm, wonder if God is a homo?”…, and you think you’re deep. Feh. My boy **Scylla** is deeper than that when he scratches his nuts!
>
> And its not just the being deep, hell, Sartre was deep, even if it was just to compensate for being butt-ugly and French, not that much difference between being deep and being glib, shallow and sarcastic, like me. There’s also the awareness of depth, confessing to oneself and others, _sharing_ that deepitude. That takes a special kind of humility and a willingness to forthrightly share that self-awareness, nay, to _insist_ on such a generous revelation. Some will, of course, see this as a kind of _chutzpah_, but that’s just 'cause they’re shallow, glib, and sarcastic.
>
> And dignity? Don’t even think about it! I have some dignity, carry it around in my watch pocket, in case I run across somebody who gives a shit (Hey! you never know! Could happen!). But my dignity is a modest little hillock, a near-invisible bump in a vast and featureless plain. **Scylla** got _dignity!_, rises like the north face of the Matterhorn, towering, majestic, impervious. Probably would have twice as much, if it weren’t for the humble modesty that comes from being so deep, and all.
As [insert deity here, athiests leave blank] is my witness, I can’t tell if you’re being serious or incredibly sarcastic.
---
### Author:  [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2005, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/91 "2005-04-04T15:17:39Z")
You are being sarcastic and glib, right?
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### Author:  [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/92 "2005-04-04T15:23:09Z")
**Weirddave** , you acted like a total jackass to come into **Scylla’s** thread the way you did. I figured this thread would be an apology. You really look like a jerk both there and here.
> [@Scylla](#):
>
> I make my money in a lucrative if unaesthetically satisfying fashion, so for me it’s just an outlet that makes me happy.
This much is obvious to anybody who reads your threads **Scylla**. Well, anybody who isn’t irrationally filled with this odd hatred for you that is.
It’s very odd how people could read **Scylla’s** thread and think that hes doing it for some kind of attention or validation. Most people on the SDMB post stuff for much the same reason that **Scylla** does. They need to vent. Get something off their chest. They do it for themselves, not anyone else. I know I do. **Scylla** just happens to be a whole helluva lot better at it than most. For some reason, this makes him the target of all this hatred and scorn. It might simply be his conservative politics, but I doubt it’s that. I think it’s simply jealosy.
**Primaflora** claims to be an editor by profession and a published author. Yet, it’s clear by reading her posts that she doesn’t have half the talent, writing skill, or charisma that **Scylla** does which makes him so popular.
He’s written things on this board about his daughter that make me want to have kids. He’s written things about hunting that gave me a better understanding of how much it means to me then I had ever realized before. He got me to try jogging, and even to walk funny for a while. His stories of horrible blimps make me laugh.
**Primaflora**? You’ve got 2500 posts, and I haven’t even ever noticed you. That makes you jealous, and you lash out at him because of envy. You and many others with you are simply jealous of **Scylla** who doesn’t even bother to proofread his posts and yet still earns the admiration of so many on the SDMB. It’s obvious, and it’s pathetic.
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### Author:  [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2005, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/93 "2005-04-04T15:27:01Z")
> [@elucidator](#):
>
> and being glib, shallow and sarcastic, like me.
This sums you up perfectly, **'luc**.
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### Author:  [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2005, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/94 "2005-04-04T15:28:49Z")
I too have been published and have written comedy material for television. I only mention this for self aggrandizement.
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### Author:  [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2005, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/95 "2005-04-04T15:38:10Z")
> [@elucidator](#):
>
> A lot of you think you’re deep. You’ll be sitting there, reading the Post Toasties box…“Monosodium malignate, calcium carcinomate, leechithin, wonder what this shit _does_…” and you have one of those Stuart Smalley moments…“Hmmm, wonder if God is a homo?”…, and you think you’re deep.
Wow. I love this. Thanks for the laugh, I definitely needed it.
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### Author:  [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2005, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/96 "2005-04-04T15:40:31Z")
I’m not quite sure what anyone who would attack the literary and style elements of a poster is thinking that poster owes them. Most folks come here and write simply because they have something they want to share. They put down what comes out and hope to evoke a feeling or sensation and hope the reader will benefit from it or at least be somewhat better for the experience. They wish to share, provide a gift and take away from it at most some satisfaction in having the story appreciated.
Why some feel the need to nitpickingly criticize that gift in accordance with conventions that the poster may or may not be aware of and likely as not doesn’t give a shit about says volumes about one person only. And it ain’t the author.
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### Author:  [@SlyFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlyFrog)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2005, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/97 "2005-04-04T15:43:21Z")
> [@Primaflora](#):
>
> Sweetheart, no. I make money editing people’s books. I’m a published author. Trust me, the only colour that I wanna use when I read Scylla’s emoting is my red pen.
> [@Pedro](#):
>
> What a pompous ass you are.
I actually understand exactly what Primaflora is saying. I’m not trying to give offense, but Scylla’s writing (at least in the controversial original post) really wasn’t good writing. It reminds me of what I thought was good writing, before I went to college. That if I wrote in over-the-top, cliched, florid prose, while avoiding the use of common words that are easily intelligible, it would somehow be impressive.
Professionals who taught courses in clean and precise writing for a living tried to train that out of me for four years. They did not succeed, unfortunately. At the same time, Scylla’s writing honestly reminds me of a lot of their “bad writing” examples given to show what not to do when writing.
Here I’m not trying to bash Scylla, I just think people are not being objective when they jump on those who say it is bad writing. As someone who has seen experts break down writing very similar to his, it is no different to me than an electrician telling someone he’s wired his circuit box the wrong way. You do not need to assume that it is simple jealousy.
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### Author:  [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2005, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/98 "2005-04-04T15:48:48Z")
> [@don't ask](#):
>
> I too have been published and have written comedy material for television. I only mention this for self aggrandizement.
Holy shit, you’re the _coolest_.
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### Author:  [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2005, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/99 "2005-04-04T16:00:40Z")
> [@SlyFrog](#):
>
> Here I’m not trying to bash Scylla, I just think people are not being objective when they jump on those who say it is bad writing. As someone who has seen experts break down writing very similar to his, it is no different to me than an electrician telling someone he’s wired his circuit box the wrong way. You do not need to assume that it is simple jealousy.
Who CARES whether it’s bad writing or not? Jesus!
I used to work as a college writing tutor, and believe me, I know me some bad writing. I also know when it is and is not appropriate to take someone to task for the quality of their writing. This was not an appropriate occasion.
Daniel
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### Author:  [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/100 "2005-04-04T16:01:21Z")
> [@Debaser](#):
>
> He’s written things on this board about his daughter that make me want to have kids. He’s written things about hunting that gave me a better understanding of how much it means to me then I had ever realized before. He got me to try jogging, and even to walk funny for a while. His stories of horrible blimps make me laugh.
Ya know, that sounds borderline obsessive and a little creepy. Jezuuuus, could you hump his leg any faster?
> [@Debaser](#):
>
> **Primaflora**? You’ve got 2500 posts, and I haven’t even ever noticed you. That makes you jealous, and you lash out at him because of envy. You and many others with you are simply jealous of **Scylla** who doesn’t even bother to proofread his posts and yet still earns the admiration of so many on the SDMB. It’s obvious, and it’s pathetic.
You haven’t noticed Primaflora and that makes her jealous? I think you give yourself way too much credit. I’ve been around since the old days and I haven’t noticed you. Does that make you jealous of. . . . who knows what?
My soon to be published (or not) prose -
\*As I walk through the garden, contemplating where I have come from and where I am going, the sweet, sweet scent of roses, lilac, and sage fills my every breath and the depths of my heart. Oblivious of the hate around me, I step into a well laid mound of dog shit and awaken to the awareness that yes, I too, am jealous of Scylla and then I stop and realize that no, it really is just a big pile of dog shit.
- diane\*
I laugh in the face of jealousy!
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