# Why does anyone bother starting a Pit thread?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-bother-starting-a-pit-thread/478183
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [December 21, 2008, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-bother-starting-a-pit-thread/478183 "2008-12-21T13:30:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-bother-starting-a-pit-thread/478183/1 "2008-12-21T13:30:00Z")
For all you Pit thread starters, what do you hope to achieve? Why are you so tightly wound that someone else’s behavior on an anonymous message board inspires you to write critical posts about them?
At that moment in time the most important thing in your life was how much poster X gives you the shits. How is this possible?
You have no outside entertainments?
You are just sitting there fuming about someone else’s post?
No TV? No radio? Don’t own a book? No hobbies? No loved ones?
Are you hoping to create the one Pit thread that changes someones opinion?
Can anyone who has started one tell me what they hoped to achieve and what they actually did achieve.
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### Author:  [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-bother-starting-a-pit-thread/478183/2 "2008-12-21T13:34:46Z")
I could ask the same of you at the moment, since you seem to be critical of those who Pit others on this board. 😃 What are **you** intending?
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### Author:  [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-bother-starting-a-pit-thread/478183/3 "2008-12-21T13:35:32Z")
It’s cathartic to rant. I’ve never hoped to achieve anything other than getting something off my chest.
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### Author:  [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-bother-starting-a-pit-thread/478183/4 "2008-12-21T14:09:23Z")
Generally, if my ass hasn’t gotten kicked around the block a few times recently, I Pit someone, preferably someone on the Boards, and then I very quickly am able to fulfill my “Fair Share of Abuse” quota. I think that’s how it generally turns out around here.
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### Author:  [@Punintentional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punintentional)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-bother-starting-a-pit-thread/478183/5 "2008-12-21T14:14:59Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#):
>
> At that moment in time the most important thing in your life was how much poster X gives you the shits. How is this possible?
Are you always doing the most important thing in your life?
How is it possible that at this moment in your life the most important thing to you is why other people are bothering with a random board on the internet?
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### Author:  [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-bother-starting-a-pit-thread/478183/6 "2008-12-21T15:08:48Z")
I’d chalk it up to boredom, myself. I only ever once started a Pit Thread, but it didn’t pit anyone on this board so I can only hazard a guess as to why people pit other posters. But if I had to pick a reason, I’d pick boredom.
Is anyone truly worked up about another poster, to the point that it ruins their day? I doubt it. More likely we’ve just been socialized to react a certain way to perceived slights–like it or not, the pit is part of the social culture of this board, not only to vent anger but to attempt to modify behavior through the implementation of public shame. It’s kind of a normal part of civilization in general, just not as easily recognizable in this electronic format. If you think about it, we’re sort of like a village. Every village has its misfits and wrongdoers, its public disputes, its controversies–the Pit is kind of like our City Hall.
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### Author:  [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-bother-starting-a-pit-thread/478183/7 "2008-12-21T15:18:54Z")
Wouldn’t it have made a bit more sense to ask this question in the Pit?
ETA: On second thought, that approach would have instantly undermined itself, wouldn’t it?
EATA: With that in mind, the OP’s username is humorously apropos. Comedy!
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### Author:  [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-bother-starting-a-pit-thread/478183/8 "2008-12-21T15:18:58Z")
Hey, I never thought of it this way. I mean there is Google for any questions. There is TV friends books the great outdoors I mean there are any number of things why for instance does someone post MPSIMS threads in an annoyed imperious tone when there is so much else to do?
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### Author:  [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-bother-starting-a-pit-thread/478183/9 "2008-12-21T15:29:35Z")
I don’t think I’ve ever pitted another Doper. I have, however, used that forum to bitch about something in my life that was irritating me. It was a nice way to get it out of my system without dumping on family or coworkers. I posted, then moved on, and no puppies were kicked as a result. Win-win!
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### Author:  [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-bother-starting-a-pit-thread/478183/10 "2008-12-21T17:02:13Z")
I see \*some \*use for the pit, but it often seems to me it is the same people doing the pitting over and over and I often wonder if they are addicted to anger - and how they can manage to have the energy to \*be \*angry so often. My life is tough enough without being angry at the drop of the hat.
But each to their own. No doubt they often wonder how I can manage so many MPSIMS posts - which probably comprise the majority of my posts. (I’m only guessing, but here and Cafe are where I post the most.)
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### Author:  [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-bother-starting-a-pit-thread/478183/11 "2008-12-21T17:04:28Z")
I’ve never pitted another Doper either. I think I’ve started maybe two or three Pit threads. The first one is the only one I can remember.
I only posted to get something work related off my chest (abusive/mind-game playing boss), and felt a little better just because it was out of my system.
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### Author:  [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-bother-starting-a-pit-thread/478183/12 "2008-12-21T19:30:24Z")
I don’t think I’ve ever pitted another Doper. Actually I don’t think I’ve ever done anything but mini-rants, but it’s just a way to bitch and get it out so I can go on with my day.
You never bitch about anything? You never get pissed and need to rant? Lucky you.
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-bother-starting-a-pit-thread/478183/13 "2008-12-21T19:36:25Z")
I’ve moved this to IMHO, although given the OP’s tone I wouldn’t be surprised if it does end up in the Pit.
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### Author:  [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-bother-starting-a-pit-thread/478183/14 "2008-12-21T19:48:13Z")
My personal belief is that most people are, to quote Mike Tyson, addicted to chaos. There’s a weird pleasure that people get from creating and engaging in drama, creating and relieving tension, fighting tooth and nail and then retreating to lick wounds. I think it’s something quite primal.
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### Author:  [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-bother-starting-a-pit-thread/478183/15 "2008-12-21T19:53:54Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#):
>
> No TV? No radio? Don’t own a book? No hobbies? No loved ones?
You do realize that there are equivalents to Pit threads in all of these life forums as well don’t you? Ever heard of radio talk shows with listener call ins, editorial pages, fights among hobbyists about which is the perfect technique, or bitch sessions among family? I guess not. I have no idea why you segregate the Pit from the others. They are all just an extension of human nature/needs and a great way to give feedback to an audience.
Your OP doesn’t make much sense at all because a lot of Pit threads are legitimate debates and still more others are legitimate complaints.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-bother-starting-a-pit-thread/478183/16 "2008-12-21T20:15:09Z")
Never pitted another poster either. I prefer to respond directly, when attacked, rather than start a pile-on.
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### Author:  [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-bother-starting-a-pit-thread/478183/17 "2008-12-21T23:44:06Z")
“No TV? No radio? Don’t own a book? No hobbies? No loved ones?”
This I would ask the OP, who has over 10,000 posts. 😉
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### Author:  [@Racer1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Racer1)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-bother-starting-a-pit-thread/478183/18 "2008-12-22T00:37:19Z")
I’m just a bit of a b\*\*\*\*\*d and like to swear and act irrationally. Don’t think I’ve pitted other posters specifically though.
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### Author:  [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-bother-starting-a-pit-thread/478183/19 "2008-12-22T00:37:40Z")
> [@Klaatu](#):
>
> “No TV? No radio? Don’t own a book? No hobbies? No loved ones?”
>
> This I would ask the OP, who has over 10,000 posts. 😉
And two Pit threads started\*, albeit not wildly successful ones.
\*many years ago.
ETA: Just saw this.
Is this a puzzle?
> [@Racer1](#):
>
> b\*\*\*\*\*d
I think it needs a few more clues.
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### Author:  [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2008, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-bother-starting-a-pit-thread/478183/20 "2008-12-22T00:41:50Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#):
>
> ETA: Just saw this.
> Is this a puzzle?
>
> I think it needs a few more clues.
Bastard.
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