# Why does the SDMB condone cyber bullying? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 21, 2015, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-condone-cyber-bullying/715576 "2015-03-21T07:28:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2015, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-condone-cyber-bullying/715576/1 "2015-03-21T07:28:32Z")
> **[Broomstick - Does His Ass Say rebeW or Not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=752033)** > > The story starts at post #26 of this thread. No, it’s a real story, he really does have the reverse “weber” on his ass, but since I can’t exactly reproduce the font from the grill I improvised. I thought most people would realize that. At some... And you guys can’t say you don’t know about it as Miller posted there and even seems to join in. At the very least he knew and condoned it. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2015, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-condone-cyber-bullying/715576/2 "2015-03-21T09:35:36Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > [Broomstick - Does His Ass Say rebeW or Not? - The BBQ Pit - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=752033) > > And you guys can’t say you don’t know about it as Miller posted there and even seems to join in. At the very least he knew and condoned it. Dude, what’s going on in that thread is pretty much what the Pit is for. I agree it isn’t the best way to resolve differences (which is probably why they rarely get resolved around here and people hate each other for a long time–past death even) but it’s been standard forever. I for one am actually impressed that someone finally had the nerve to bring this up. Not that I personally am all upset about all this, but they’ve been complaining behind her back about this for a _long_ time. Though they picked a crappy story to be the final straw. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2015, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-condone-cyber-bullying/715576/3 "2015-03-21T10:43:09Z")
Number of posts by **DrDeth** in the thread: 12. Number of posts by **Broomstick** : 0. It seems to me like **Broomstick** has the right attitude. It’s the Pit, where people are allowed to say nasty things. If you don’t like it, don’t read it. **Broomstick** doesn’t seem to be offended, or if she is, she’s not dignifying any of her hecklers with a response. If it bothered her, I’m sure she’s capable of bitching about it on her own behalf. She’s been around the Dope long enough to handle herself and doesn’t need a white knight. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2015, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-condone-cyber-bullying/715576/4 "2015-03-21T12:01:40Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Not that I personally am all upset about all this, but they’ve been complaining behind her back about this for a _long_ time. Boy, little pitchers have big ears!😃 [Etymology of the phrase.](http://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/little_pitchers_have_big_ears) ---
**Author:** ![splatterpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@splatterpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/splatterpunk)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2015, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-condone-cyber-bullying/715576/5 "2015-03-21T14:40:52Z")
I’m with the OP. I think the Mods should backtrace the offending posters and report them to the State Police AND the Cyber Police. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2015, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-condone-cyber-bullying/715576/6 "2015-03-21T14:59:34Z")
I think the general consensus in that thread is that \*some \*posters put more relish on their grilled burgers than others, but no one really cares all that much, except those people who don’t like relish. I’d pretty much choose an entertaining story over facts any day, other than in GQ or GD that is. But no, I didn’t see any bullying and I don’t think any was intended. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-condone-cyber-bullying/715576/7 "2015-03-21T15:13:39Z")
What exactly is cyber-bullying? If someone is attacked in a thread it is simple to simply not read the thread anymore. When I think of bullying it means something you can’t get away from–the bully follows you from place to place. I doubt if Broomstick is being attacked in every thread he/she participates in. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2015, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-condone-cyber-bullying/715576/8 "2015-03-21T15:14:46Z")
> [@splatterpunk](#): > > I’m with the OP. I think the Mods should backtrace the offending posters and report them to the State Police AND the Cyber Police. There’s a CSI:Cyber now. This broomstick bullying would make an awesome episode. Maybe add in one of the bullies hacking into her car and driving it off a cliff. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2015, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-condone-cyber-bullying/715576/9 "2015-03-21T15:52:13Z")
I agree with the OP. The bullying being heaped on **Green Bean** in that thread is unconscionable. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2015, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-condone-cyber-bullying/715576/10 "2015-03-21T16:13:34Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I agree with the OP. The bullying being heaped on **Green Bean** in that thread is unconscionable. It’s true. I’m totes cancelling my MySpace over it. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-condone-cyber-bullying/715576/11 "2015-03-21T16:22:55Z")
I’m still surprised trolling is allowed, when it is started in the rules it is a violation. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-condone-cyber-bullying/715576/12 "2015-03-21T17:27:48Z")
Well said, OP! I’m just sorry you didn’t speak up sooner, before the mods cyberbullied that poster who was pretending to be a horny quadriplegic or that other poster who was pretending to be a different horny quadriplegic or that dude who pretended to be a transexual or all those posters who pretended to be different people with multiple accounts. Fighting ignorance is all well and good, but when you start applying the smallest modicum of scrutiny to people’s unbelievable stories, well, that’s simply going too far. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2015, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-condone-cyber-bullying/715576/13 "2015-03-21T17:31:57Z")
Every bar needs a place to step outside. The Pit is ours. Anyone “bullied” can hit right back with almost anything they care to say, and because we have the Pit and we have such diligent moderating, it stays there. All as it should be where adults frictate against each other. Hardly “cyberbullying” in the “teen-gangs-up-on FB and Twitter” model. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2015, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-condone-cyber-bullying/715576/14 "2015-03-21T17:50:44Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > It seems to me like **Broomstick** has the right attitude. It’s the Pit, where people are allowed to say nasty things. If you don’t like it, don’t read it. **Broomstick** doesn’t seem to be offended, or if she is, she’s not dignifying any of her hecklers with a response. If it bothered her, I’m sure she’s capable of bitching about it on her own behalf. She’s been around the Dope long enough to handle herself and doesn’t need a white knight. Seconded. That thread is in essence a pitting of **Broomstick** ’s stories, with accusations of recidivist untruthfulness, which she seems to be ignoring and treating along the lines of “knock yourselves out, dudes”. It’s within the spirit of the Pit from both sides. I seem to recall pittings _ **do** _ get stopped on people who can’t defend themselves. But strictly a Pit thread is not an instance of cyberbullying. If people start threadshitting everywhere **Broomstick** ’s seen to go on about this, well then it starts moving in the direction of cyberstalkery and needs stopping. Or if there’s evidence that any of the participants are expanding harassment to other venues. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2015, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-condone-cyber-bullying/715576/15 "2015-03-21T17:57:34Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > … but when you start applying the smallest modicum of scrutiny to people’s unbelievable stories, well, that’s simply going too far. I know! It’s just so wrong to point out things that are unbelievable. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2015, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-condone-cyber-bullying/715576/16 "2015-03-21T18:49:55Z")
The inside cover of Reader’s Digest had a blurb: “Do you have an amusing anecdote? Send it to us!” I love those Reader’s Digest amusing anecdotes. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2015, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-condone-cyber-bullying/715576/17 "2015-03-21T19:15:36Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > I seem to recall pittings _ **do** _ get stopped on people who can’t defend themselves. I have also had mods PM me with a note that someone was tap-dancing on me or something I posted… I doubt I’m alone there. ---
**Author:** ![Emiliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2015, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-condone-cyber-bullying/715576/18 "2015-03-21T19:43:46Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I have also had mods PM me with a note that someone was tap-dancing on me or something I posted… I doubt I’m alone there. Say what? ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2015, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-condone-cyber-bullying/715576/19 "2015-03-21T19:46:48Z")
The irony of DrDeth going to the mat on this one is that he agrees that the accusation is correct! > [@cochrane](#): > > If it bothered her, I’m sure she’s capable of bitching about it on her own behalf. She’s been around the Dope long enough to handle herself and doesn’t need a white knight. Yup. And that brings up another irony - one common theme in so many of her stories is “I can take care of my own damn self.” It is perhaps worth noting that he doesn’t even bother to say anything nice about her. I really don’t understand why he started this thread. > [@JRDelirious](#): > > But strictly a Pit thread is not an instance of cyberbullying. If people start threadshitting everywhere **Broomstick** ’s seen to go on about this, well then it starts moving in the direction of cyberstalkery and needs stopping. As I said in the pit thread, one of the reasons I started it was that I was starting to see the accusations in other threads. In fact I almost posted similar things, but opted not to hit “submit.” Getting it out in the open seemed like it would be better for everyone. So there’s the third irony, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2015, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-condone-cyber-bullying/715576/20 "2015-03-21T21:00:38Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > The irony of DrDeth going to the mat on this one is that he agrees that the accusation is correct! > > As I said in the pit thread, one of the reasons I started it was that I was starting to see the accusations in other threads. In fact I almost posted similar things, but opted not to hit “submit.” Getting it out in the open seemed like it would be better for everyone. So there’s the third irony, I guess. You just dont get it? First of all, yes the bullying has spread. Next- it’s only a cute anecdote-the “truthiness” doesnt matter. I tell a shaggy dog story about my “Uncle Sid” who had a miscarriage of justice occur to him _just because his was peeling a apple on a street corner_. The story didnt happen, I dont even have a Uncle Sid.\* It’s a joke, son.\* But if someone tried to call me on it as if it was a lie- I’d deny it- since anyone trying to track down the “truth” of such a obvious funny\* anecdote is so stupidly clueless that they dont deserve a explanation. We had a thread a while ago where a honest to gawd neo-nazi holocaust denier came in and started his lies (he was good tho, he started out very subtly with a half-truth, then got into the lies. ) That sort of thing really is a “LIE!”. It’s hurtful, it spreads misinformation, and it condones racism and genocide. Where’s his PIT thread? Where is the stalking, five page long pit thread, and repeated accusations? Whether or not her little humorous anecdote is true or not makes no difference. No one is hurt by it not being true, there’s no misinformation being spread, nothing dangerous. She’s trying to amuse us, not spread racist lies. But NOOO! you want to pick on her for her funny little story, you want to make _that_ supremely unimportant thing the line where you make a stand for the truth. :rolleyes: You dont want the truth, you cant possibly care about her little story, \*you just want to harass her. \* That’s cyberbullying. - Ok, I’ll accept “_attempt to be_ funny anecdote”- to be sure, not everyone gets it or thinks it’s funny. I dont care. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-condone-cyber-bullying/715576.md?page=2)