# Why the Pit is necessary **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 7, 2005, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130 "2005-10-07T01:36:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130/21 "2005-10-07T14:21:37Z")
> [@the raindog](#): > > You’re not a member of the NRA by chance? 😉 I seem to have missed the joke. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130/22 "2005-10-07T14:27:12Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I seem to have missed the joke. You’ll have to pry it out of **the raindog’s** cold dead hands. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130/23 "2005-10-07T14:28:27Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Hence the pit. This is where we can spot the elephants. Elephant’s aren’t spotted, even in the Pit. _Giraffes_ are spotted. :wally ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130/24 "2005-10-07T14:30:06Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I seem to have missed the joke. You made a slippery slope argument, similar to the NRA’s argument that any form of gun control will inexorably lead to the banning of all firearms. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130/25 "2005-10-07T14:30:59Z")
I concur with all the reasonable logical arguments for the usefulness of The Pit. And, allow me to be the first to call you all fucktards. Because that has become my favorite word. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130/26 "2005-10-07T14:33:04Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Elephant’s aren’t spotted\*, even in the Pit. _Giraffes_ are spotted. :wally :wally you too, pal. Haven’t you seen Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? \*What does it mean to say “Elephant Is Aren’t Spotted”? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130/27 "2005-10-07T14:35:40Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > You made a slippery slope argument, similar to the NRA’s argument that any form of gun control will inexorably lead to the banning of all firearms. Well…OK. But I do think it’s reasonable here, if we start pruning the SDMB to contain only what is “important”, then MPSIMS is surely on the list. Plus I have heard people discuss getting rid of it before. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130/28 "2005-10-07T14:39:09Z")
Interesting adwords digression… we’ve mentioned elephants enough that the ads are for elephant decor, elephant gifts, and saving endangered species. I’m waiting for an ad for the DVD release of the Gus Van Sant movie to pop up. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130/29 "2005-10-07T14:43:56Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > :wally you too, pal. Haven’t you seen Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? Of Course I’ve seen Rudolph. I even have [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=48886&highlight=rudolph) thread bookmarked, so I can bring it out every year like an Old Xmas ornament. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130/30 "2005-10-07T14:45:51Z")
Color me clueless, but is there talk of ridding the SDMB of the Pit? I really must go into GD and ATMB more often. Why would you get rid of such a source of entertainment–the Pit is life in all its messy glory and pain. Think I may have swallowed a melodrama pill with my breakfast bagel… ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130/31 "2005-10-07T14:55:42Z")
> [@Xploder](#): > > > [@duffer](#): > > > > Thanks for your time. And because it’s the Pit, I must mention Giraffes are just silly animals. Though the hide would make for an awesome winter pimp coat! > > Plus, with that long neck, you have a nice, built-in scarf! No, make the hide into trousers, and use the neck for a codpiece. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130/32 "2005-10-07T14:58:59Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > No, make the hide into trousers, and use the neck for a codpiece. > > Regards, > Shodan Maybe you like folding it in half but it seems pretty uncomfortable to me. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130/33 "2005-10-07T15:05:26Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > _In Russia, Pit fucks you!_ > Ok, I’ll stop. I just came in here to cast my vote for liking the Pit, and keeping it…I am not a huge participator and people really annoy me here sometimes, but I still think it’s useful and necessary. And honestly, who cares if it’s useful and necessary? Someone takes away the Pit, next the \*\*asshole \*\* is going to go after my beloved MPSIMS, because that’s not strictly useful or necessary. > > And then I’ll be \*really \* pissed. First they came for the PIT but I said nothing. Then they came for the IMHO but I said nothing. Then they came for Cafe Society and still I said nothing. Now they have come for MPSIMS and there is no one left to speak for me. ☹ 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130/34 "2005-10-07T15:15:27Z")
That was in my mind, jrfranchi. That’s why I’m speaking up now! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130/35 "2005-10-07T15:19:03Z")
In poetry and prose often the choice of words determines the impact of the piece. And sometimes fuckface, smegmabreath, or cuntlips are the words you need to use. That is one reason the pit is needed. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130/36 "2005-10-07T15:21:15Z")
Almost before we spoke, we swore… ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130/37 "2005-10-07T15:24:04Z")
The Pit is good, the Pit hold gems like [The horror of blimps](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=160851) The Pit often gets great debates were the language can be loser, the most snarkier and the Cite less respected. I found my first pit thread Cathartic and somewhat embarrassing in retrospect but it was a good learning tool and off loaded a Whole Lotta of Hate. Not that it is really at risk, but please keep the pit. If you don’t like the pit, try pitting it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130/38 "2005-10-07T15:40:03Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > The Pit is good, the Pit hold gems like [The horror of blimps](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=160851) > The Pit often gets great debates were the language can be loser, the most snarkier and the Cite less respected. > I found my first pit thread Cathartic and somewhat embarrassing in retrospect but it was a good learning tool and off loaded a Whole Lotta of Hate. > > Not that it is really at risk, but please keep the pit. If you don’t like the pit, try pitting it. 😉 **jrfranchi** Thank you for that link. That was hilarious. That is the essence of a"well crafted invective." If one in 100 threads had that level of wit, intelligence and pure story telling I’d be the Pit’s biggest supporter. (FWIW I’m not specifically calling for the end of The Pit ,and I know my opinion means little/nothing. I just think it degrades the overall value of the SDMB) It’s also clear that not everything needs to be as heavy as The Invasion Of Iraq to be pitworthy. (Although I think that thread could have fit nicely in MPSIMS) How’d he pull that off without using the word ‘c\*nt’ once? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130/39 "2005-10-07T15:42:31Z")
I like the pit. It acknowledges the existence of non-high minded & inappropriate message-board usage. It is an outlet for emotional strategies that exist, whether excellent folks like **raindog** want them to or not. I also get most of my news from the pit. ---
**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:** [October 7, 2005, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130/40 "2005-10-07T15:46:44Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Color me clueless, but is there talk of ridding the SDMB of the Pit? Not from anybody who counts. Just the usual dainty types who confuse a lack of spine with a higher intellect. Oh, hey **raindog** , didn’t see you there! Anyway, what it boils down to is, some people take the Pit waaaaaay to seriously. Sure, people get in “fights” here. But they’re really pretty meaningless, when you get right down to it. I’ve been involved in vicious, poisonous, hundred-post-long fights with posters in here, and less than a month later had a grand ol’ time hanging out in a bar with them at a Dopefest. Most of the posters I’d most like to meet in real life are the ones I’ve had the most violent disagreements with online. Yeah, things can get pretty heated in here, but the end of the day, its just the internet. Calling someone an asshole in here has about as much bearing on reality as, say, shooting them in the head in _Counter Strike_. It ain’t real life, folks. Don’t take it so seriously. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-pit-is-necessary/325130.md?page=3)