# Yes, Marley23, you are stupid

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-marley23-you-are-stupid/474081>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [November 23, 2008, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-marley23-you-are-stupid/474081 "2008-11-23T05:58:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 18\
**Page:** 6

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**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-marley23-you-are-stupid/474081/101 "2008-11-24T17:00:06Z")

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I’m from the South, and “knock it off” isn’t insulting to me at all.

\*\*Marley23 \*\*is pretty heavy handed in his moderation.

Is an e-mail really private? Any more private than a letter? If someone sends me a letter, isn’t it my property, to do with as I please? I’ve always thought so, but will be happy to be corrected if wrong.

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**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:** [November 24, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-marley23-you-are-stupid/474081/102 "2008-11-24T17:07:26Z")

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> [@Contrapuntal](#):
>
> Is an e-mail really private? Any more private than a letter? If someone sends me a letter, isn’t it my property, to do with as I please? I’ve always thought so, but will be happy to be corrected if wrong.

That is a good question. It seems like a letter or Email that contains information of a personnel nature does imply some need for asking before making it public. At least to be polite if for no other reason.

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**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-marley23-you-are-stupid/474081/103 "2008-11-24T17:10:55Z")

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> [@What\_Exit](#):
>
> That is a good question. It seems like a letter or Email that contains information of a personnel nature does imply some need for asking before making it public. At least to be polite if for no other reason.

I agree that politeness requires one to ask permission before publishing such. I just wonder at the appeal to “privacy.” Once you have sent it, it’s pretty much out of your hands.

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**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:** [November 24, 2008, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-marley23-you-are-stupid/474081/104 "2008-11-24T17:13:42Z")

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> [@Contrapuntal](#):
>
> I agree that politeness requires one to ask permission before publishing such. I just wonder at the appeal to “privacy.” Once you have sent it, it’s pretty much out of your hands.

I think you are correct. You can hope for privacy but have no expectation for it beyond politeness.

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**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:** [November 24, 2008, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-marley23-you-are-stupid/474081/105 "2008-11-24T17:23:41Z")

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> [@Sapo](#):
>
> Now in all seriousness, I think that just quoting the offending paragraph and stating what rule it is breaking serves both clarity and brevity. We don’t need to be told to follow the rule, just a quick reminder of what the rule is and that TPTB found you in breach of it.

Because it’s not always a case of someone breaking a clear-cut rule in an obvious way. And there often isn’t one particular offending paragraph or statement.

When my kid starts acting up, I’ll say “behave yourself” or some such. I’m not telling him that he’s broken any specific rules. I’m warning him that if continues the behavior, there will be consequences.

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**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-marley23-you-are-stupid/474081/106 "2008-11-24T17:25:15Z")

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> [@What\_Exit](#):
>
> I think you are correct. You can hope for privacy but have no expectation for it beyond politeness.

And when someone makes a disingenuous/false statement (or what one perceives to be a disingenuous/false statement) in public, it’s arguable that politeness is no longer applicable.

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**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-marley23-you-are-stupid/474081/107 "2008-11-24T17:49:36Z")

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Here is the link to the question being asked on the open board:

[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10274708](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10274708)

On that note; I’m out of here. I shan’t ask for the thread to be closed, as some may still be interested in one of the hijacks, but I shall no longer participate. If the mods feel that the hijacks are not worth keeping it open, that’s fine by me.

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**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-marley23-you-are-stupid/474081/108 "2008-11-24T19:51:47Z")

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> [@twickster](#):
>
> \<snip\>  
> What I find so fascinating about all of this is that once **Frank** stepped down as mod, all of a sudden he started going after his former colleagues with a single-mindedness that suggests years of pent-up resentment. What’s got his panties in a twist?

This echoes my question from post #6 of this thread that still hasn’t been answered. If **Frank** wants to go after mods now that he is no longer one of them, I’m curious as to why.

As for the “knock it off” hijack, I don’t find it particularly offensive. On the other hand, I can see where some people might - I was raised that “shut up” was very rude, and I have learned since that there are many people in the world who say “shut up” as casually they say, “Have a nice day.” My point - you can’t please all the people all of the time, so you just have to please yourself.

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**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-marley23-you-are-stupid/474081/109 "2008-11-24T20:17:26Z")

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If Frank affects a tough-guy persona, it’s only because he has to. You know what happens to ex-pigs when they get sent to gen pop?

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**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:** [November 24, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-marley23-you-are-stupid/474081/110 "2008-11-24T20:25:52Z")

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My problem with “knock it off” is that it’s _too_ polite. Jesus Christ, what is this board coming to, that all these wilting violents are running around, wringing their hands over the mods not being “polite” enough?

I suggest the immediate implementation of the phrase, “Do it again and I’ll twist your tits off,” until the board population as a whole grows a thicker skin.

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**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-marley23-you-are-stupid/474081/111 "2008-11-24T20:30:13Z")

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> [@Contrapuntal](#):
>
> If someone sends me a letter, isn’t it my property, to do with as I please? I’ve always thought so, but will be happy to be corrected if wrong.

I’m open to correction from an Intellectual Property lawyer on this one, but while the physical letter may belong to a recipient, the writer retains copyright of the contents: that is why although I can sell my love-letters from J.R.R. Tolkien at auction, I can’t publish them without permission of his estate.

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**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-marley23-you-are-stupid/474081/112 "2008-11-24T20:36:08Z")

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> [@featherlou](#):
>
> This echoes my question from post #6 of this thread that still hasn’t been answered. If **Frank** wants to go after mods now that he is no longer one of them, I’m curious as to why.

I’m thinking, as he is no longer a mod, he doesn’t have to answer to anyone. Just like the rest of us. Unless you’re going to start handing out warnings.

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**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-marley23-you-are-stupid/474081/113 "2008-11-24T20:50:27Z")

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> [@Miller](#):
>
> …all these wilting violents are running around…

Heh.

And **Omegaman** – he is, of course, not obligated to explain – it is damned intriguing, though, don’t you think?

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**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-marley23-you-are-stupid/474081/114 "2008-11-24T21:52:04Z")

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> [@Omegaman](#):
>
> I’m thinking, as he is no longer a mod, he doesn’t have to answer to anyone. Just like the rest of us. Unless you’re going to start handing out warnings.

I could. It probably wouldn’t go over well, though.

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**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-marley23-you-are-stupid/474081/115 "2008-11-24T21:58:47Z")

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> [@featherlou](#):
>
> I could. It probably wouldn’t go over well, though.

Well just in case you decide to, let’s just forget I said anything.🙂

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**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-marley23-you-are-stupid/474081/116 "2008-11-24T22:10:59Z")

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> [@twickster](#):
>
> Heh.
> 
> And **Omegaman** – he is, of course, not obligated to explain – it is damned intriguing, though, don’t you think?

I think so. But living is such a complex operation. It’s like fending off the dragons fire with only a little shield. Or having lived through a war, or any number of other hard, hard and I do mean fucking hard ass things thrown at you. Sometimes you get tired of holding up your shield, of fending off what seeks to harm you. That greasy dork Nietzche at least got part of it right. It may not make you stronger, but it will make you harder. Strength doesn’t mean shit against a hard heart.

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**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-marley23-you-are-stupid/474081/117 "2008-11-25T00:11:39Z")

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> [@featherlou](#):
>
> … so you just have to please yourself.

Whoa! TMI, my friend.

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-marley23-you-are-stupid/474081/118 "2008-11-25T00:44:02Z")

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> [@NineToTheSky](#):
>
> Why not just say ‘there are raisins in that elephant’? The fact that no-one will know what the hell you’re talking about is a side issue; at least no-one, except, perhaps, elephants (who aren’t great readers of the SD, so that’s probably a risk worth taking) will be offended.

Sure, the elephants don’t read the Board all that much, but a blabbermouth Giraffe might just tell them, and then…whoa, Jumbo! :eek:

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