# What were you THINKING? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 13, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532 "2023-10-13T19:36:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 363
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2026, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7631 "2026-07-14T20:13:50Z")
I’m not sure where you’re going with this. In my normal, day to day life, it’s an expression heard regularly. It’s not considered a personal attack to anyone in my peer group, so far as I’m aware. It may be considered _on the road_ to a personal attack, but doesn’t quite reach that level. Of course, mileage varies. @Aspenglow , @Atamasama , you and the rest of the internet apparently disagree. It’s not worth a huge, involved, protracted discussion or argument about it. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2026, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7632 "2026-07-14T20:23:15Z")
If it helps **Superdude** , I kinda get where you’re coming from. I mean, yes, IMHO it’s 100% a personal attack, but that particular phrase is often used as a hyperbolic excess amplifier on an otherwise rational statement. IRL, we would benefit from tone, air quotes, or the exaggeratedly rolled eyes to further de-emphasize the attack, but that’s frankly not possible here in text/emoji world. > [@Superdude](#): > > It’s not worth a huge, involved, protracted discussion or argument about it. Is as good a way as any of moving past it. [joke] That is, it’s good for “a low-down, double-dealing, backstabbing, larcenous perverted worm! Hanging’s too good for him. Burning’s too good for him! He should be torn into little bitsy pieces and buried alive[!](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082509/quotes/?item=qt0311230&ref_=ext_shr_lnk)” [/joke] ---
**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:** [July 14, 2026, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7633 "2026-07-14T20:55:25Z")
**Sternn!** ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2026, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7634 "2026-07-14T21:34:32Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > If it helps **Superdude** , I kinda get where you’re coming from. I mean, yes, IMHO it’s 100% a personal attack, but that particular phrase is often used as a hyperbolic excess amplifier on an otherwise rational statement. And I am serious that I didn’t even register it as such, even directed at me. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2026, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7635 "2026-07-14T21:51:04Z")
Well then, echoing @LSLGuy from above, a round of applause for everyone trying to work this out in good faith, especially @Superdude ( **STERNN!** ) and @Atamasama as the appropriate parties trying to explain their intent in good faith. I’m so proud of you all! 🥲 – sneaks around the corner, hands out unspecified numbers of bills to his cronies, and spaces the lot of 'em – ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2026, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7636 "2026-07-14T22:44:28Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > > [@ParallelLines](#): > > > > If it helps **Superdude** , I kinda get where you’re coming from. I mean, yes, IMHO it’s 100% a personal attack, but that particular phrase is often used as a hyperbolic excess amplifier on an otherwise rational statement. > > And I am serious that I didn’t even register it as such, even directed at me. Wow, language varies. I can’t see that as anything other than a personal attack. It’s not about the content of the post, for sure. I mean, it’s not the meanest personal attack I’ve ever seen. But i certainly intend to continue moderating it as a personal attack in my forums ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2026, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7637 "2026-07-14T22:52:23Z")
The military is infamous for blistering insults delivered as the mildest of rebukes. Their power is judged by how many you string together. One is just friends being friends. After about 5 in a row we’re _starting_ to get hostile. IME police, fire, & EMS are similar. So are all-male sports teams. Not that that standard should apply here. But there is a multi-million person constituency where it does. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2026, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7638 "2026-07-14T22:53:52Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I mean, it’s not the meanest personal attack I’ve ever seen. But i certainly intend to continue moderating it as a personal attack in my forums I am not disputing that it’s a personal attack; the language is personal, a bit crude, and certainly negative. But it just didn’t register in the moment as one to me. I saw the note and said, oh yeah, that _was_ a personal attack. But I didn’t even notice until after your note. It wasn’t something that I immediately felt as an attack in the moment as I was reading it. I didn’t take offense to it or anything, and it didn’t bother me. That doesn’t mean I disagree with you about it being a personal attack, because I do agree. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2026, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7639 "2026-07-14T23:02:26Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > But I didn’t even notice until after your note. _My_ note. And I’m not @Miller, but it’s probably long past time for everyone to cease discussing moderation outside of ATMB. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2026, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7640 "2026-07-14T23:06:26Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > _My_ note. Gah, sorry, my mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2026, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7641 "2026-07-14T23:07:56Z")
No biggie. I’m not offended being mistaken for @puzzlegal. But really, the discussion over the note has gone on long enough, in this _poster’s_ opinion, unless it takes place in the appropriate forum. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2026, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7642 "2026-07-15T00:27:38Z")
I thought that _complaints_ about moderation go in ATMB. This is straight up butt kissing. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7643 "2026-07-15T00:42:44Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I thought that _complaints_ about moderation go in ATMB. This is straight up butt kissing. 🙂 Oh, well, in _that_ case… 😉 ETA: It kind of kicked off here: > [@Superdude](#): > > (personally, I don’t think it warranted mod intervention, but I can’t be arsed to make an issue out of it). Which I did interpret to be a bit of a complaint about moderation. I let the back-and-forth go for a long time before saying anything. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7644 "2026-07-25T18:27:54Z")
I’m sorely tempted to put right-wing asshole and traitorous advocate for Alberta secession **Uzi** on ignore. It’s all the more annoying as he’s lecturing us on Alberta secession from Hong Kong, where I’m sure he has a firm grip on the latest political climate in Alberta. Still, I hesitate to put him on ignore as his delusional idiocy is strangely fascinating to watch, and now with his second Warning in the thread about PM Mark Carney, I suspect he may soon be at least thread-banned if not site-banned, making my decision moot. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7645 "2026-07-25T18:46:53Z")
His ignorance and smug superiority are fascinating to watch. I don’t know nearly enough about Canadian politics to participate, but I’ve been reading that thread periodically. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7646 "2026-07-25T20:14:48Z")
Me too. Although I’ve poked back at him a time or three about philosophical generalities, not the details of Canadian personal politics. Not my place. His absolute certainty about his cartoon version of reality is so classically Fascist propaganda victim. Stupid fuck. I’m infuriated with every sentence, but like an ongoing train wreck, just cannot bear to look away. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7647 "2026-07-25T21:58:26Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > It’s all the more annoying as he’s lecturing us on Alberta secession from Hong Kong Shit, I would _never_ have said he isn’t actually in Alberta, from his posts. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7648 "2026-07-25T22:55:28Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > … > It’s all the more annoying as he’s lecturing us on Alberta secession from Hong Kong … I did not know that Alberta was planning on seceding from Hong Kong. I thought a region had to already be part of someplace before they can secede from it. 😉 🤪 Makes me wonder whether he’s in finance and has a large bet placed that will pay off handsomely if, and only if, Alberta succeeds at seceding. Motivated reasoning is the best (yeah, right) kind. ---
**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:** [July 25, 2026, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7649 "2026-07-25T22:56:42Z")
Did he ever live there or does he have family there? Any connection at all? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7650 "2026-07-25T23:50:10Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Did he ever live there or does he have family there? Any connection at all?   I have no idea. Given his track record, anything is possible – he may be a former Albertan who’s in Hong Kong to make a pot-o-money on some shady deal, or is just lying about his location. What irks me the most is that he’s totally onside with the small gang of miscreants pushing for Alberta secession, many of whom have shady if not outright criminal backgrounds, and are supported by overseas actors like Russian agents and a gang of criminals operating out of the Netherlands whose main objective is to destabilize and break up Canada. Alberta separatism is also supported by certain “51st state” lunatics within the Trump administration. In reality, the chances of even holding a legitimate referendum on the issue are almost nil, and the chances of it actually passing are zero. I really should put him on ignore for fear that I may someday lose it and post something that gets me in trouble, but watching the delusional asshole really does have the fascination of watching a train wreck. He’s basically a one-trick pony who keeps whining about government regulation and believes that fossil fuels should be extracted with wild abandon and squirted out through pipelines everywhere, and Alberta – Alberta alone – should wallow in the resultant riches like Saudi Arabia. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=362) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=364)