# TVeblen-I'm not impressed **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 21, 2005, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942 "2005-01-21T17:47:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942/21 "2005-01-21T18:37:57Z")
Don’t listen to 'em, Cartman, er, **Grienspace**! I’m sure it’ll work. Go for it. Yaaay \*\*Grienspace! Fly fly fly! ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942/22 "2005-01-21T18:42:00Z")
> [@grienspace](#): > > To receive opinion and judgement from my fellow posters is one thing, but to be officially told that I should be ashamed of myself is quite another. I can’t let this go unanswered. The funny thing is, at no point did TVeblen tell you, officially or otherwise, you should be ashamed of yourself. There’s a world of difference between expressing dismay at a person’s incapacity for shame and telling him he should be ashamed of himself. ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942/23 "2005-01-21T18:42:30Z")
> [@missbunny](#): > > I did not for one second think 9/11 or Osama bin Laden when I saw “USAMA” on the front page. Maybe I’m in the minority or maybe I’m just not looking for conspiracies at every turn. You’re not alone there, at least. Since it was in caps, I was thinking it was an acronym. Perhaps it meant the user was a member of the US Army Medical Association or some such. IOW, there was no instant association with 9/11. **Grienspace** , let it go. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942/24 "2005-01-21T18:50:15Z")
I always thought of that evil mastermind as **O** sama bin Laden. **grienspace** , you jumped the gun here. Put the thread down, back away slowly, and return to your corner. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942/25 "2005-01-21T18:52:23Z")
Wait, wait, wait. **grienspace** actually pitted someone _who has never posted_ simply for having the username **USAMA** because he believes the first name Usama/Osama itself is patently and inherently offensive? And now _he_ is pitting a mod over that thread? That’s… amazing. I hope he can spare time from his busy schedule of screaming at clouds and writing manifestos to come back here and tell us what other first names and/or acronyms should be avoided to spare his delicate consitution. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942/26 "2005-01-21T19:02:29Z")
I’m with **gobear** here. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942/27 "2005-01-21T19:02:50Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I always thought of that evil mastermind as **O** sama bin Laden. Nope, Usama and Osama are the same word with different transliterations, like Beijing and Peking. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942/28 "2005-01-21T19:09:06Z")
> [@missbunny](#): > > I did not for one second think 9/11 or Osama bin Laden when I saw “USAMA” on the front page. I thought it was USA Massachusetts or Maine, or Maryland or whatever the heck one of thoes Em-Ay states it stands for. I can never get those abbreviations right ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942/29 "2005-01-21T19:12:18Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > I’m with **gobear** here. I dunno, I’m more with Giraffe on this. I like the image of someone screaming at clouds and threatening to write a letter to the local editorial board about their behavior. Question for grienspace: Do you prefer to tromp around (a) in a hairshirt, (b) in animal furs, or (c) stark naked (chickenbone in beard optional)? ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942/30 "2005-01-21T19:14:44Z")
Even if USAMA did choose his name in homage to OBL, as long as he doesn’t come in here and start praising terrorists, then who cares. Nobody would ever know so what’s the difference. If someone called himself Adolf or Josef or Atilla, would it bother anyone? I mean, would anyone know he was secretly referring to Hitler, Stalin, the Hun, if he never specified that? What if someone names himself Tsunami - should he be shunned? How about Earthquake? USAMA to me was U-S-A-M-A - said as individual letters. I thought USA-from-Massachusetts, or “USA Ma [mom].” You know that Barack Obama guy? Well every time I hear his name I think Osama bin Laden just for one second. I am deeply offended. He should immediately destroy his birth certificate and change his name to Stanley. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942/31 "2005-01-21T19:16:19Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > Nope, Usama and Osama are the same word with different transliterations, like Beijing and Peking. I think what Ivylass is getting at is that in the American media, he’s generally referred to as “Osama”. I too thought of an acronym, not Osama Bin Laden. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942/32 "2005-01-21T19:16:27Z")
**Grienspace** - you’re an intolerant fucktard with the common sense of a bowl of creamed corn. And who gives a flying fuck if you feel it’s irresponsible mod behavior? Seems to me that 99% of the posters in this thread think your actions were jerkish and irresponsible, but that doesn’t seem to bother you in the slightest. I hope your sister marries a perfectly nice Arabic fellow named Usama and proceeds to fuck him silly every damn night. Especially if she’s a screamer and they’re in the room next door. ---
**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 21, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942/33 "2005-01-21T19:16:37Z")
I’m just praying that **USAMA** turns out to be a decent individual, because if he turns out to be a total schmuck, **grieny** will never let us hear the end of it. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942/34 "2005-01-21T19:17:16Z")
I asked my baby Jesus butt plug what he thought about all this. His answer? “Me H. Christ! What an asshole! (And I ought to know.)” Just thought the teeming masses would like to know… ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942/35 "2005-01-21T19:17:51Z")
> [@grienspace](#): > > Your [post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5743830&postcount=71) is unacceptable to me. Then by all means refuse the charges. Asshole. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942/36 "2005-01-21T19:21:10Z")
> [@NCB](#): > > I asked my baby Jesus butt plug what he thought about all this. His answer? > > “Me H. Christ! What an asshole! (And I ought to know.)” > Just thought the teeming masses would like to know… I don’t know what kind of medication you’re on, but you need to send me some, along with the new keyboard you owe me. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942/37 "2005-01-21T19:23:58Z")
**Guin:** _I’m just praying that USAMA turns out to be a decent individual, because if he turns out to be a total schmuck, grieny will never let us hear the end of it._ Doesn’t matter. Even total schmucks are entitled to the presumption of innocence. Even if **USAMA** turns out to be the ravingest, frothingest, terrorist-cheerleader wackjob that ever spewed on these boards, that still wouldn’t retroactively justify **grienspace** in staging a pre-emptive Pitting of a brand-new poster he knew absolutely nothing about. Gee, it just occurred to me that my own nick is uncomfortably similar to the name of an evil East Asian dictator. I wonder why **grien** let me live so long. ---
**Author:** ![Good\_Egg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Good\_Egg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Good_Egg)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942/38 "2005-01-21T19:24:56Z")
> [@missbunny\[/QUOTE](#): > > You know that Barack Obama guy? Well every time I hear his name I think Osama bin Laden just for one second. I am deeply offended. He should immediately destroy his birth certificate and change his name to Stanley. Stanley Bin laden? ---
**Author:** ![Try\_As\_I\_Might](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@Try\_As\_I\_Might](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try_As_I_Might)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942/39 "2005-01-21T19:25:07Z")
Grienspace, I’m with GoBear. Don’t take this crap. Stand up for what you know is right!! Raise your fist in the air with the olympic protesters in the face of the opposition! ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942/40 "2005-01-21T19:26:13Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > Wait, wait, wait. **grienspace** actually pitted someone _who has never posted_ simply for having the username **USAMA** because he believes the first name Usama/Osama itself is patently and inherently offensive? And now _he_ is pitting a mod over that thread? There is precedent for pitting posters based on their username. A user by the name **coldfiresucks** got a pitting. I remember reporting a user by the name of **unclebeersucksegg** as soon as I saw it pop up on the “welcome our newest member” area. I even [pitted a guy by the(then) name of **Polycarp& #9668;**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=193662). Most of these were fairly obvious trolls and have since been banned. I got a mild bit of blowback from my pitting and it seemed well deserved. The subject popped into MPSIMS and [started a thread about it](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=196938), called my suspicions “acrimonious accusations” and later asked for his name to be changed to [**Uncle Tony**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?s=&action=getinfo&userid=36680). He was welcomed by our very own **Polycarp** and then lurked for several months before revealing himself to be, [via his third post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=3904066#post3904066), if not a troll, a pretty nasty character. He was banned pretty much instantly. The real **Polycarp** [expressed relief that his name was no longer similar to the nasty individual in question](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=202243&page=4&pp=50). Granted the cases I mention above have much more support for their suspicions than **grienspace** does. In the case of my pitting it was pretty clearly a well-known poster’s name followed by an attempt to produce a non-printing character(in most web character sets) which would have made the names nearly identical. And I was right in the end, but that doesn’t mean I was right to question it publically initially. Perhaps a discreet email to the mods so they could research his IP address to see if he was a returning troll or something would have been better. In any event I certainly didn’t pit **Coldfire** , who closed my thread, and say I refused to accept his decision. That would have been stupid and I had much more evidence for my accusation than **grienspace** does. Enjoy, Steven [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tveblen-im-not-impressed/285942.md?page=3)