# To the reading comprehension challenged Re: Scylla's thread **URL:** \ **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:** 9
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/162 "2005-04-05T02:12:26Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > A real homeless person is too hungry to be funny. Likewise, someone who’s really hurting is too distraught to be all philosophical and shit. Ah, for a moment there I thought you said “a person who’s really hurting is too distraught to be funny,” and I was thinking if that were true, I wouldn’t be able to react to a lot of life. ---
**Author:** ![SlyFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@SlyFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlyFrog)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/163 "2005-04-05T02:31:09Z")
> [@Pedro](#): > > Of course they are not being objective. It hardly seems appropriate to go around attacking people because of their writing style when they are venting. Do you give literary critiques to every OP in the Pit, or just the ones you got a hard-on for? You’re free to do it and someone else is free to call you on it, unless they are breaking THE rule. I think it’s a worse offense to be a pompous ass. I don’t think the original attacks was simply because the writing style was poor. I think the original attacks were because the writing style made it look like a false plea for sympathy from a grandstanding drama-queen whose real intent was to seek attention for his dazzling and brilliant writing. I think it was when others chimed in about how good his writing is that people began taking issue with the style itself. There have been others here who have also falsely tried to play on people’s emotions in different ways. They have also been called out. It has nothing to do with the style of writing; in this particular case, the writing was simply the sign that something was up. ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/164 "2005-04-05T02:31:51Z")
Please explain why your prickish behavior towards Gobear shouldn’t be noted simply because it has been “run into the ground”? Do you deserve a special pass to be an asshole when it comes to Gobear or Demo but those with a bad history with Scylla shouldn’t be allowed to ever snipe at him? Why? What makes you so special? (FWIIW, I have never had a run in with Scylla (that I remember). I don’t think about him one way or another, I just think his style of writing is comical). I know that I have had my share of turns being an asshole on the SDMB, so I am certainly not going to scold others for doing the same while trying to convince them I fart sunshine. You doing so just makes you look like a hypocrite. I will gladly do a search and post a link to each and every assholish thing you have written if that’s what you really want me to do. You know you haven’t been nice, er I mean, \kind\ to others in the past, so get off your high horse. If you insist on examples you will have to be patient as I have a kid with homework who needs the computer and my attention. I may not be back online until tomorrow evening. If someone else wants to search, feel free, otherwise you’ll just have to take a back seat to my real life. ---
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/165 "2005-04-05T02:37:33Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > I don’t have a **personal** grudge against **Scylla**. That’s not necessarily what I meant by that comment; what I meant was that he isn’t entitled to the benefit of the doubt (the way he might be in a friendship situation), a point you expressed so eloquently when you posted: > [@](#): > > :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/166 "2005-04-05T03:19:49Z")
> [@kung fu lola](#): > > Surely, I can’t be the only person in the world who hates _Tears in Heaven_? > > But seriously, I haven’t said anything against Scylla personally. You won’t find a single post of mine in the original trainwreck thread. I just read some stuff about this offboard and it made sense to me. I’ve been careful not to make this personal. I’d also ask you to bear in mind that everything I’ve said, would be my opinion no matter whose post I was criticizing. If the freakin’ record is reviewed, the same can be said for me. The only reason I commented was because…well, here’s the order: 1. OP 2. Sympathetic posts 3. one-liner about **style of post** (note: NOT content.) 4. Defenders of Scylla’s **style** disagree with (3). 5. I describe why I don’t think the **style** is sacred. 6. I’m somehow a “hater” who has “put effort into” demeaning _ **Scylla** _ or dismissing his problems as unimportant. > [@SlyFrog](#): > > I think it was when others chimed in about how good his writing is that people began taking issue with the style itself. Exactly. Let it be noted that while I understand why Henry Miller was important, I think he was a hack, and I’ve never made it all the way through the first chapter of _Wuthering Heights_ because it puts me to sleep. I’m not saying I’m any kind of a literary critic. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/167 "2005-04-05T03:28:20Z")
> [@SolGrundy](#): > > _Arrrgh, could that **RedFury** be any more annoying? It’s not enough that he had to be a **total ass** to me in that thread about tort reform two years ago – now he’s posting his flowery MPSIMS shit in **my BBQ Pit**!!! He might as well have used smileys or flirting!!!_ > > Nice typing, faggot! Dude, that was my straight man routine. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/168 "2005-04-05T03:56:31Z")
\*::: Yawn ::: \* ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/169 "2005-04-05T05:14:14Z")
> [@Diane](#): > > This sentiment would be a hell of a lot easier to buy if we hadn’t witness both you and Lezlers act like total pricks to others in the past. I guess the ideas of just plain being kind to others and not being a jerk are matters of whether or not it is a person you like. > > You ain’t fooling anyone with your holier-than-thou bullshit so knock it off. Oh for crying out loud. Yes, **Diane** , you don’t like me, _we get it_. I don’t think I’ve gotten into it with you in at least a year or so though, so it’s pretty sad that you’re still riding my ass at every opprotunity. If you can find a post of mine in which I make some snarky, nasty comment making fun of some mundane detail like writing style in response to an OP written by someone who’s obviously dealing with some personal issues, then please, go ahead and point out my hypocracy. You’ll probably have a hard time with that though, considering I’ve matured past junior high school. You should try it, it’s fun. Unless you can muster up the creativity needed to either come up with something a little more original than your “oh, I couldn’t care _less_ what you say or think” response that we all know is coming or another one of your patented nasty little drive-by’s, please save your breath and don’t even bother responding. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/170 "2005-04-05T05:43:24Z")
Ah, now I get it. I hope you’ll forgive the intrusion, **Diane** , but I was wondering how I could’ve pissed off such a devoted and hard-working mother, so I did a search for threads that involved the both of us. I’m guessing [this is the one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=264330&page=1&pp=50)? The one that started with an MPSIMS thread where a poster was lamenting that her relationship had ended, she’d lost everything, was feeling worthless, and you and your pals went in and shat on her and everyone trying to console her? And then started a separate “I wasn’t just being a bitch it’s just that I don’t want to coddle the girl and plus look what she did wrong!” thread trying to simultaneously defend yourself and keep piling on her? Wow, what a difference a year makes, huh? And: what, is Livejournal down or something? You want to save some time for the kid’s homework, and save everyone else on the boards the feeling of deja vu, you can just re-read all my responses to that thread. It’s eerily applicable to this one. I still stand by everything I said; the only regrets I have are that I kept it going for so long, and that I re-used the _Strunk and White_ joke here, making it seem like I need to get new material. Well, that and the fact that I spent so much time typing when it’s clear that it didn’t make a damn bit of difference. But hey, what the hell, my high horse could use some exercise: > [@Diane](#): > > Please explain why your prickish behavior towards Gobear shouldn’t be noted simply because it has been “run into the ground”? Do you deserve a special pass to be an asshole when it comes to Gobear or Demo but those with a bad history with Scylla shouldn’t be allowed to ever snipe at him? Why? What makes you so special? Apart from my mom’s frequent reassurances that I’m special, nothing. That’s the depressing part: the stuff I’m talking about isn’t all that special; it should be common sense to mature adults. Stuff like the idea of having “a bad history” with a stranger on the internet is petty and borderline obsessive. Or that if I’ve just in the past week ended an over-long and drawn-out argument with another poster, with both of us saying our piece and then agreeing to leave each other alone, it really would make me a prick if I were to bring any of that up again. Or that the nonsense with **Demo** ended amicably both online and in person (as far as I’m aware), and it’s just stupid for anyone to try and bring up something for which I’ve already made amends. Or that “being allowed to snipe at someone” is a pretty juvenile right to be arguing so passionately (and frequently) for. > [@Diane](#): > > (FWIIW, I have never had a run in with Scylla (that I remember). I don’t think about him one way or another, I just think his style of writing is comical). As you’ve mentioned, several times already. Of course, it’s nothing _personal_. It just _absolutely needed_ to be said in that thread, and it bears repeating. > [@Diane](#): > > I will gladly do a search and post a link to each and every assholish thing you have written if that’s what you really want me to do. You know you haven’t been nice, er I mean, kind to others in the past, so get off your high horse. > > If you insist on examples you will have to be patient as I have a kid with homework who needs the computer and my attention. I may not be back online until tomorrow evening. If someone else wants to search, feel free, otherwise you’ll just have to take a back seat to my real life. Hey, take your time. I’m sure the rest of the board awaits with quivering anticipation. If you like, you can even start a “Post your grievances with **SolGrundy** here” thread. Everything I’ve said on here, I either stand behind completely (although most likely wishing I hadn’t been so long-winded), or I’ve already recanted it or apologized for it. A genuine apology, not just “yeah, well you’re an asshole too!” And who knows, you might be able to find up something, and if there’s some other past grievance that’s causing someone else out there gallstones that they’ve never addressed, I’d like to hear about it. Even if you don’t want to go to all that trouble, that’s fine, but I’ll insist you make some kind of response. Because I take accusations that I’m a hypocrite and an urepentant asshole pretty seriously. Even when it’s coming from someone I don’t respect. And then once you’ve done that, could you get find a little bit more time and maybe get back to the point? Address the question of why it’s so fundamentally important that you and others keep pointlessly sniping at people, trying to knock them down, even when it’s unwarranted. Is “He was asking for it! Just look at the way his post was all tarted up!” supposed to be a valid justification? When there are so many people posting genuine bullshit on these boards that genuinely deserve to get called fuck-heads, why waste your time on the people who aren’t doing anything worse than _annoying_ you? And before you start with the calling me a “drama queen” and lamenting about the pussification of the BBQ Pit, take a moment, count to ten, and ask yourself this: do you really want to be having this same conversation again next year? I can already look at stuff I posted a year ago and see how I’m a better person now than I was then (still working on the long-windedness), and I hope to be even better next year. Do you have any aspirations higher than “yeah I know I’m a bitch but at least I’m no hypocrite like that guy!” Like maybe being able to say, “Hey, look! I’m not a bitch anymore!” Wouldn’t that be neat? We could all have a party to celebrate! ---
**Author:** ![Daisy\_Mae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daisy\_Mae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daisy_Mae)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/171 "2005-04-05T08:29:56Z")
> [@SolGrundy](#): > > Apparently, my “holier-than-thou” routine isn’t bullshit. I really am better than you. And quite humble to boot. Amazing! ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/172 "2005-04-05T08:42:42Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > Yeah, actually, it should be [clean and precise]. Heh. I tend to agree with you. My point still stands, though. Quality writing is subjective, even among professionals. For example consider [José Saramago](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%E9_Saramago) (see under Style). Certainly not what I would call clean and precise, yet he won a Nobel for literature. > [@](#): > > My criticism of **Scylla’s** writing style was that I didn’t understand what he was getting at. I still think that’s a valid criticism for any kind of writing, from venting to ad copy. I agree. I bailed the moment I figured it was turning into a feel-good thread. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/173 "2005-04-05T09:40:50Z")
Okay, you know what? Fuck that. If anybody wants to make a valid complaint about me (other than being too damn handsome), it should be that I let arguments drag on way too long. I shouldn’t be going on page 4 of a thread that’s already derailed, all “bring it!” and encouraging people to start flame wars against me. I’ve already said my bit, a couple times over, and if I were an adult I’d just drop it. So I will. Let the clucking noises commence! ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/174 "2005-04-05T11:02:51Z")
> [@Pedro](#): > > For example consider [José Saramago](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%E9_Saramago) (see under Style). Certainly not what I would call clean and precise, yet he won a Nobel for literature. Which has prompted me to ask if maybe those old guys in Scandinavia were not smoking dope that day. I can’t get past two chapters of any Saramago book without getting all twitchy. I am either too stupid to enjoy his books or much smarter than those Nobel Academy guys. Take your pick. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/175 "2005-04-05T11:21:43Z")
> [@BobN00by](#): > > Heh heh. Don’t flatter yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/176 "2005-04-05T11:48:09Z")
> [@lezlers](#): > > Oh for crying out loud. Yes, **Diane** , you don’t like me, _we get it_. I don’t think I’ve gotten into it with you in at least a year or so though, so it’s pretty sad that you’re still riding my ass at every opprotunity. We haven’t “gotten into it” in over a year yet I am “still riding your ass at every opprotunity”. Which is it? Don’t flatter yourself, I had forgotten all about you until I saw your name pop up in this thread. Sorry to burst your bubble. > [@solgrundy](#): > > Blah blah blah You just keep telling yourself that. FWIIW regarding the crack about LiveJournal. If you are referring to the anonymous bullshit, believe it or not (I really don’t care), I do not participate in that chickenshit crap. If I have something to say, I will say it under my own name. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/177 "2005-04-05T12:04:23Z")
I haven’t seen so many grumpy people gathered in one place since my last Bengals game. It’s a beautiful spring day here in Ohio and I am going to go walk the dog and feed some ducks. I suggest you all do the same. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/178 "2005-04-05T12:10:56Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > I haven’t seen so many grumpy people gathered in one place since my last Bengals game. Well, there have been 68 participants up to this point, so yeah, I guess it is a lot like a Bengal’s game. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/179 "2005-04-05T12:13:40Z")
Well, there have been 68 participants up to this point, so yeah, I guess it is a lot like a Bungle’s\* game. \*Sorry to nitpick, but I just had to fix your spelling error ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/180 "2005-04-05T12:33:39Z")
Buckeye humor. May the dark gods call me into the abyss if it ever makes sense to me. ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419/181 "2005-04-05T12:42:05Z")
> [@SlyFrog](#): > > I don’t think the original attacks was simply because the writing style was poor. I think the original attacks were because the writing style made it look like a false plea for sympathy from a grandstanding drama-queen whose real intent was to seek attention for his dazzling and brilliant writing. Gee, tell us how you really feel! > [@](#): > > I think it was when others chimed in about how good his writing is that people began taking issue with the style itself. Point taken. However taking issue with the style is different from saying the OP is… > [@](#): > > a false plea for sympathy from a grandstanding drama-queen whose real intent was to seek attention for his dazzling and brilliant writing. when he is down because of… something or other involving brain surgeries and ghosts. Putting this crap about writing style aside for a moment, I think **Scylla** always has interesting things to say (with one notable recent exception :D). So like I said, all this vitriol seems inappropriate. Anyway I don’t feel all hot and bothered by that behaviour. I’m sure Scylla is a grown person and he can take it. If I don’t reply anymore don’t think it’s because I’m ignoring you, I just feel a bit silly giving so much importance to this matter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reading-comprehension-challenged-re-scyllas-thread/297419.md?page=10)