Is being called an asshole funny?

[Touchdown]

I get so sick of this bullshit stereotyping and insipid generalizations that happen in this place. "Oh' it's just a joke! Your so thin skinned. Get over yourself! You need to buy some humor."

What's it to you if I find myself living in the South at some point in my life? What kind of nasty human do you think I am for driving a car you disapprove of? Why do you care which TV show I like to watch, what kind of food I eat, or whether or not I smoke (either or both)?

I'm not smoking in your house. I'm not driving you in my Bimmer (not Beemer) to the Olive Garden. I'm not forcing you to have a steak wrapped in bacon. I'm not expecting you to like the humidity or insects in Tennessee, and you don't have to watch Hee Haw. I've got TiVo.

This kind of shit is not different than when we get pissed that the Repubs make shit up about liberals all the time. To wit...

We're all bolsheviks
We are all gun grabbers
We want to have interventions with terrorists
we're surrender monkeys
We "look French"
We all are 'card carrying' lesbians... yes, even the men!

You know the rest.

Now for DU
Smokers are the scum of the earth... No. they're addicted to a very strong drug.
SUV drivers are sociopathic destroyers of the Earth.
BMW drivers are "arseholes" HAHAHAHA! Funny! Get it? I said "Arsehole" because it's soooo true and true is funny!!!!!:eyes:
Southerners are all a bunch of... too many familial relationship innuendos to list.
Gays are too pushy about marriage rights.
Anybody who watches 24 is a right wing fascist.

How about trying something. I know it might not be as fun as making shit up about your fellow countrymen/women, but just once, instead of pushing some bullshit personality trait on someone else, why don't you fucking ask them why they like that show, how they ended up living there, why they chose to buy that car, tv, other product, or eat that dead animal?

Isn't it the real liberal thing to do?

[Orrex]

1. I've been called a funny asshole. Does that count?

[imdjh]

3. Is yours different?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

4. You're not funny ............. n/t

[Orrex]

13. Brazillions disagree with you

They think I'm goddamn hilarious.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

14. You can't count, either ........... n/t

[Orrex]

16. It's pronounced 'either'

[Tangerine LaBamba]

20. Wrong again . it's pronounced "to-may-to" ..... a/l/t

That stands for ............... oh, never mind ............. it's funny ................. you wouldn't get it........

[Orrex]

25. You know what's funny? You. Trying to make a joke.

But not the joke itself, you see. It's the attempt. So it's metafunny.


And I never metafunny I didn't like.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

36. OK. Sorry ...........

I was just fooling around. No offense intended...............

[Orrex]

38. Whatever

You should know that I posted something really nasty about you here.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

39. I apologize ........

I really thought we were just fooling.

Again, I'm sorry. I meant no offense. . . . . . .

[Orrex]

52. Hmm...

This text-based medium is really crap, sometimes.

Your first reply made me wonder, but the ones after that made it clear that you were joking. Sorry if I came off as a jerk or gave you the impression that you'd offended me.

:pals:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

58. Oh, good ............

You're right - this medium doesn't allow for subtlety, and I was so surprised at what I thought was you being upset, that I got upset, and pulled back.

This, though, is the kind of misunderstanding - the kind that ends well - that i can live with.

Thanks, and you're still not funny - ;)

:pals: for sure............................

[Touchdown]

5. If your a cartoon robot who drinks liquer, possibly

:hi:

[imdjh]

2. If I were to call a 24 watcher anything, it would be "incredibly patient"

It's the longest fucking 24 hours in the history of the world.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

6. Obviously,

you never had my mother-in-law visit ..................

[EOTE]

61. Muted horn. NT.

[flvegan]

7. Damn.

That BMW thread really pissed you off I guess.

[Touchdown]

8. Yeah it did. Guilty. That's what Bi-Polar does.

...Makes you think that somehow my reasons for buying that car had any merit where it concerned those who already made shit up about me.

It works in funny ways.

[flvegan]

11. Okay, I'll ask.

I saw you mention it in the other thread, and you've brought it up here.

What were your reasons for buying your BMW?

I can think of a number of reasons for such a purpose. What was/were yours?

[Touchdown]

18. Wow. Somebody asking. How novel.

Actually no snark intended. It's just so original here.

I had 3 friends who were still driving their 20-30 year old cars, which looked like they came off the showroom floor, with 200k+ miles on them. It looked like a well built, reliable car for me to keep using well into my late 40s or 50s (I was 39 when I bought it). I wanted something quiet, since I got tired of the engine and road noise from my 10 year old Mazda sportster. The 3 year old Caddy was too expensive, but the 2 year old BMW (2001) was the right price...and you know what? I love the car. It handles, steers, brakes and maneuvers better than any of my other cars. 2 were better at accelerating. One, my '85 Accord had less repairs.

[flvegan]

24. So you took your life experience

(feedback from friends, trusted folks) considered what you wanted from a car, and bought a car that met those things. You believe you got a good bargain, you're happy with it, and nobody died to put it in your garage. Perfectly sound reasons. And you still enjoy it. Excellent. Keep enjoying it.

Happy motoring.

[imdjh]

30. All kidding aside.

My nephew's BMW was a very good car as was my mom's Mercedes. Neither one of them did the 1,000,000 mile thing, but then neither one of them were maintained like a fine European touring sedan.

[imdjh]

10. I didn't see the BMW thread, but it is a stupid car.

it's expensive and to my knowledge it's not the best at anything.

[flvegan]

17. That's not entirely true. SOME are expensive, but

they're also at a certain competitive price point with other expensive cars. While to me, I could find an alternative I'd rather have to any BMW, that's my opinion. The M-series BMW has proven time and again that it is to be considered as a potential Best In Class. The M3 and the M5 are magnificent cars (I haven't driven any of the others, so I can't comment on the rest of the line).

[imdjh]

26. A BMW pulled my hair once

I've never found them to be comfortable. But I did go look before I posted, and the convertible is probably a good one if you want one and have the money. I'm getting old and I'm not as well off as I once was- so I buy things that I want to last and have minimum maintenace. APPLE, Sony, Nikon, and Toyota, 100% cotton, leather, wood, and tile.

[MADem]

44. If you live in Europe, BMW and Mercedes are like Ford and Chrysler

They're common and everywhere, and you can buy 'em in a wide range of styles and degrees of affordability. It's only in USA that they're considered "luxury" cars.

[Mopar151]

64. They're actually very good cars

Expensive, and a little quirky. The main problem is that they seem to attract some amazingly jerky, snobbish owners. But I've seen a 400,000 mile M3 that was still a good looking, good driving car - it just wasn't worth an 8K$ reman engine.
If you actually drive one, you'll either get what they're best at, or you should stick to Soobs 'cuz good cars are lost on you.

[MrSlayer]

9. I was recently told that I am the ideological peer of a Taliban member.

Shrug it off dude, it's just idiots on a message board.

[imdjh]

12. I'll see your Taliban and raise you three "You're disgusting"s in one thread.

[Touchdown]

21. You serious? I think you beat the "Your a dick!" I got.

This was 3 years ago on DU. Nobody ever deleted the post.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

22. My Ignore list

can beat up your Ignore list ...........................

[imdjh]

27. LOL - I don't use that, I would just sign out and look anyway.

[MrSlayer]

46. Were you actually being disgusting?

Three times? The thread didn't involve bestiality and coprophilia did it?

[obxhead]

15. Maybe we can all be the exactly same one day

then the world would just be sooo much fun.

and for the record... the Z4 is the funnest car I've ever had the chance to drive. :)

[tularetom]

23. Is your avatar the SC state flag?

Forgive me for saying this but it looks sorta...Islamic?

:shrug:

[obxhead]

28. yep

lol, I haven't even thought to change it since I just moved out of the state. :)

[Journeyman]

19. Lot of small minded bigots on this board, of many stripes . . .

best not to give them much credence in your life. Remember, it's character that counts, not reputation.

[imdjh]

29. Isn't it odd that no one ever calls a slut "generous"?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

35. I call him

"popular."

[ContinentalOp]

31. Was it made in the U.S. by union labor?

It wasn't? Fascist!

[Touchdown]

63. It was made by union members, in socially democratic Germany

as opposed to plutocratic United States who blames the UAW for the follies of the Pontiac Aztec and Dodge Durango.:P

[QueenOfCalifornia]

66. I Recommended this OP

because you said what I have thought and also said here. I once said something like this: "I don't give a shit what car you drive, if you are voting for Democrats where you live, you're okay with me." - Of course I was flamed for that but is didn't shock me...

I watch 24

I am probably the only antiwar activist that does (or admits to watching it.)

Am I going to go to Hell? No... because I am certain that Hell is a state of mind. Jack Bauer is not haunting my dreams and I know that waterboarding is torture and not "enhanced interrogation."

I have owned 2 Mercedes - I loved those cars because they never lost their value - (I bought them both used) They were the best cars I ever had. If you want a BMW, get one and enjoy it.

I personally don't like bacon wrapped around a steak - It's an issue of the pork flavoring a good cut of beef that bothers me. If you want to eat it - go on ahead. I've tried it and didn't like it so much.

And as for the Pontiac Aztec... It is perhaps the ugliest POS I have EVER seen. And yes, I remember American Motors. Whoever designed the Aztec should have been fired but whoever put it into production should pay everyone who has had to look at it... Ugh.

[bluesbassman]

32. The desire for moral superiority can be just as strong

as the lust for power and riches.

You make some great points Touchdown, but don't hold your breath waiting on the morally superior to ask questions, too risky to their position.

[ohheckyeah]

33. I smoke,

I own guns, I live in the south, I eat red meat, I drive an American made car, and I watch NASCAR. Good thing I don't much care what people I don't know think.

Sorry you've been getting a bunch of shit. Try not to take it too personally.

[Fumesucker]

34. Meh, I live in the South, drive an old SUV and just let the snark roll off my back..

I didn't pay anything for my Trooper, it doubles as a tractor around the property if I want to pull a log to the cut pile or grade off the gravel driveway and it triples as a photography blind when I do wildlife shoots.

Yes it gets crappy mileage but I don't drive all that much anyway.

I've had a Bimmer and liked it a lot, it was an old one too but had an extremely smooth six cylinder in it and got well over 30 mpg.

Gays should be free to marry anyone they please and I hope they keep pushing for that right.

I don't think smokers are scum at all, in fact I love three smokers, but they are almost all addicted to one of the most addictive drugs on the planet.

I can't watch 24 because it's just so stupid I can't suspend my disbelief, I just annoy everyone around me by pointing out all the bullshit they get completely wrong, like low earth observation satellites (Keyhole) that hover over one spot (physically impossible)..

[Old and In the Way]

37. Anonymous, political boards are like that.

Bunch of opinionated bastards. :-) If there was a DU scale of political/social perfection, I'd probably score a 3.865 out of 10.

[Gregorian]

40. And this is what came to my demented mind when I read your post.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpHkXgcyKgM

[Missy Vixen]

41. I am grateful on a daily basis that I do not have to deal with

ninety-nine percent of those who post on this site IRL. I've met a couple of them (SeattleGirl and flamingyouth,) and they are delightful. I hope to see them again soon.

I've read some stuff here that makes my blood run cold. Who the hell are these people?

I'm not perfect. I freely admit it. There are others here who've never made a mistake in their lives, and live to castigate others for whatever perceived shortfall they're guilty of today.

And, BTW -- I attend a national conference yearly in my profession. I'm not crazy about Dallas, but the men in Atlanta and Dallas -- if it weren't hotter than hell, I'd consider living there. They treat women like ladies, and even though I'm sure I'll get my feminist card taken away for this one, I have to admit that I enjoyed it.

[Ghost in the Machine]

42. Sometimes it's a compliment....

:hi:

[Quantess]

43. I didn't like the BMW thread, either.

It's just another superficial way to judge people.

The superficial judging tells more about the judger than the one being judged, in most cases.

[Runcible Spoon]

45. "Gays are too pushy about marriage rights."

+10000000000000000 for including that. I'm so sick of hearing that civil rights are like undelivered ponies. Fucking immature idiocy from those who are more concerned with People magazine articles of Obama than they are about policies which profoundly affect the lives of real people every day.

[autorank]

47. k*r Somebody serious about real politics

Never makes sense to offend those on your side and it's really crazy to call those on the other
side assholes since we need everybody to get on board for some heavy lifting to turn things around.

Excellent post.

You might like this. "Us versus Them"
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0803/S00402.htm

[Adsos Letter]

48. No, it isn't...

all of the examples you cite are simply shorthand for opinions based on broad generalizations, without consideration for the complexity of decision making, or individual situations.

The anonymity of messageboards can give people false courage, as well as allowing people to sling imprecations and insults, whose real motivations is known only to themselves.

Name-calling avoids rational discuusion, and substitutes personal insult for reasoned debate.

[struggle4progress]

49. To profit from DU, one requires the ability to ignore a certain number of stupid poopie heads

I find it worthwhile anyway

[HooptieWagon]

50. Some DUers feel THEY should dictate what car you should drive.

I've had a '72 tii for years - 350K miles. Great little car... funny it used to be considered a "liberal" car like Saab or Suburu, now it's disapproved by the car nazis. :shrug:

[ms liberty]

51. I live in the South, own a gun, and we've got a BMW motorcycle...

As can be seen in my sig line pic. We also own a VW GTI, and a big honkin' pickup truck that gets about 15 MPG (and sits in the garage 99.9% of the time!) - so I'm with you! Especially re: the South. The South bashing gets a bit old sometimes, and most of DU apparently thinks the South is one homogeneous region where everyone is exactly alike.

Kinda annoying, huh?

[Touchdown]

70. And what's with the real liberals are veginarians thing?

Every liberal knows that you can't really belong unless you go to the weekly barbecue aborted baby back picnics on Wednesdays. That's the only place where your going to find out where the next mud orgy is taking place.
:crazy:

[glitch]

79. NOT most of DU, just a few blowhards.

After awhile you don't see them anymore (cuz they're on ignore ;))

[cherish44]

53. I drive an SUV

It was awarded to me in my divorce. It's a gas guzzler but dammit, it's paid for. I'm a college grad and right now the only job I can find is a minimum wage part time job. So yeah, I'm stuck with it. And NO I'm not riding my fucking bike 40 miles round trip every day.

[QC]

54. It's what passes for Wildean wit around here the past year or so. n/t

[Patiod]

55. I bet smokers get just as much shit at FR

I was in Vegas at a reunion last month, and sitting at a bar (100% - 0% restaurant) that still allowed smoking. My girlfriend and I lit up for old times sake - we used to smoke together in college.

Both of us are "periodic smokers" who have always been able to have a cigarette now and again without needing to smoke regularly. Neither of us smoke regularly at home, and we both figured we weren't going to get drunk or gamble away all our money or be whores, but why not indulge in this one little vice in a place where no food was served, it was still allowed, we were surrounded by other smokers and the fans were going full blast? And we made a point to sit at a table well out of sniffing range of our nonsmoking friends (although the ventilation system sucked the smoke right up and away from anyone else, so it wasn't an issue)

Oh my God, you would have thought we were trying to set fire to an old lady.

The other girls descended on us, shrieking about us killing ourselves.

And the Faux "News" peoople were as vociferous as the Liberals - they all thought they needed to police us.

Ugh. Politics matters not. Judgemental busybodies will still be judgemental busybodies, regardless of their leanings.

[nichomachus]

56. I get called an asshole at least twice a day

usually by myself.

The latest was an hour ago when I went out to bring something to the trash and locked myself out. (Thank God I've learned to leave a spare key hidden.)

[unapatriciated]

57. I've been called a freeper, concern troll and...

just to make sure the name calling was "fair and balanced" a purist.
It doesn't bother me as much now as when I first started posting, but it still bothers me.
It's amusing, when I'm called a freeper, since I have been a liberal D longer than some of them have been alive.
I used to feel I needed to post my liberal credentials, now I just shake my head and skip posting a response.

[Romulox]

59. I'm confused...does the OP drive a BMW SUV?

:hi:

[snooper2]

60. haven't seen this post in about 6 months...

Guess it was due again..

:rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

62. Love Your OP!

I can relate to so much in it. It's funny how fucking purist, irrational and closed minded some can be here. I do just laugh at them though.

I had an OP like this one too once. It was one of my all time favorite flamewars. Check it out:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=998375

[Occam Bandage]

65. Nobody says "smokers are the scum of the earth."

Smokers just don't like being reminded that their hobby not only kills them and anyone who lives in the same household, it aggravates lung conditions in everyone who happens to be near them whenever they light up. Rather than blame themselves or the cigarette manufacturers, they blame the guy who coughs and asks the smoker to please stop filling public places with irritants and carcinogens.

[Touchdown]

67. Thank you for your advice and facts.

Unsolicited as they may be, you just proved my point by ignoring the larger message to focus on your pet do-gooder cause.

[countingbluecars]

68. I followed that post last

night and saw your exchanges with the poster. I was also called thin skinned for complaining about the stereotyping. I guess I'm just an "arsehole" too!

[Echo In Light]

69. Anonymous medium of the internet allows people to spout off w/o fear of violence

Certain personality types will use this type of consequence-free medium specifically because that way the person(s) they're railing against or belittling aren't able to walk right up to them and bust their jaw and shatter their cheek bones for running their big mouth ...which, like it or not, is indeed a VERY real potential when you say certain things, or take a specific tone, w/many people.

That's why I usually avoid that type of thing, or key posters who often use that approach w/others that you can almost guarantee they don't in real, face to face life.

[glitch]

71. You are better than me. I try to avoid those posters but every once in awhile I succumb.

For no benefit to anyone whatsoever. :banghead:

[Echo In Light]

72. Ha...well, we've all been there. It's easy to respond in kind, & that's what those type of posters..

...count on, so that when someone responds in the same tone w/them, they can feign the high road, tsk-tsk them, and then claim those they intentionally provoke aren't following DU's rules.

When I was a kid there was always a loud mouth sissy like that in every neighborhood - they'd start shit they're unable to finish, mouth off to others from a safe distance, be the first to run to a parent if someone throttled their shit, even though their big mouth is what instigated the entire matter, etc. You know the kind, and they love talk radio/internet for those very obvious reasons.

[glitch]

73. They've been successful at getting quite a few of the more interesting DUers banned too.

Good rule: smile and nod and walk away, just like you would in real life.

[Echo In Light]

77. Many such instigators are cowards in real life, hence their provocational online approach

Maybe it's how I grew up, but I'm actually less inclined to smile and walk away in real life as I am when confronted by snide, online blowhards using the medium to bolster an aspect of themselves they apparently find lacking in real life.

These types are easy to identify, just look for the tone of the words that one rarely encounters in real life, outside of maybe in a bar, and in most instances you're reading the words of someone who would never have the balls to say such things in that tone to anyone's face, precisely cause they know it would lead to violence.

I was a drummer in underground metal bar bands for several yrs from the late 80s - mid 90s, and although I didn't necessarily go about looking for that kind of trouble, in that environment one quickly learns how to read and size people up. Most guys who sound like some of the more a-holish online posters are usually 100% bluffers unless they've got the protection of a group of friends backing em up - then you gotta tread carefully if you're outnumbered!

[glitch]

78. I used to work downtown Seattle in the middle of the night and take public transportation

Getting to the bus safely meant smiling and nodding and walking away. Our different approaches may be due to our different genders. ;)

But I often had to deal with aholes in the business world, the best way is to not react to them, simply say what you need and keep on topic. When they realize you won't take their bait they usually give up, although some may follow you around for awhile before they do, but they always do.

They're actually pretty sad people. They crave attention and they can only rely on getting the negative kind. If they aren't getting enough attention at work and home that's probably when they hit the bars and people like you have to deal with them in a more direct manner.
Sorry about that, but thanks! :hi:

[Echo In Light]

81. Your approach is the wiser one, to be sure!

Re street crazies, I tend to avoid those scenarios, but then again we live in a rural/small city area w/o too much of that - unless the person, even tho obviously unstable to some extent, seems friendly, or in need.

Yrs ago I recall standing in a grocery store parking lot discussing Bush/Cheney for over an hr w/a complete stranger who clearly looked homeless, or who had jumped the fence or missed a few doses or something, haha ...but the dude was very intelligent and insightful. He was walking by and commented on an Orwell bumper sticker on my old Monte Carlo. Luckily I didn't have any perishables that quickly needed a fridge!

Re work environment...yeah, that's a toughie. About ten yrs ago I worked at a small liberal arts college, and out of the blue they quite unfortunately brought in a few ex-military people to oversee the maintenance dept (BIG mistake for that sleepy community) and I definitely didn't make any friends w/them and their ilk - it actually provided lessons on how to confront/interact w/those real strident types w/o resorting to inflammatory language or fists. Either way it's never easy. Where I work now tho, most people, including the management, are liberal/progressive leaning, so there isn't as much friction. I tend to like it that way.

Nice talkin with you :hi:

[glitch]

82. Likewise! nt

[spanone]

74. depends on the asshole

[Fuzz]

75. Sometimes

[cherish44]

76. Personally I like being called an asshole

I means I made an impression :)

[glitch]

80. I was looking for the "You're an Asshole" song about Bushco on Youtube

it's a great song but I haven't found it yet. I did find this though:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPnv8UvKFzc&feature=related

[cherokeeprogressive]

83. Depends on the context.

[MedleyMisty]

84. Hmm

I totally get the South thing. I usually try to share my stories of actually growing up and living here and point out that people are individuals everywhere and that we don't actually have a machine that we're put through either at birth or when we move here that makes us all completely alike, but I imagine it doesn't do a whole lot. A lot of humans appear to need stereotypes and mental boxes arranged in a hierarchy to make sense of the world and their brains for some reason have a problem where they can't imagine people they don't know being unique individuals. Also, the South serves as a good scapegoat. If they can pretend that bigotry only exists here, they don't have to acknowledge it in their backyard and they can pretend they are pure and good even though, for example, they may live in a large Northern city and move to where the "good" (read white and rich) schools are because they would never send their precious kids to school with poor black kids.

The car thing - I admit that there can be extenuating circumstances. But when I see someone who just drives around a city where it hardly ever snows in a new Hummer, my first thought generally is "asshole". Generally people who have a lot of money, especially the ones who feel the need to show it off with conspicious consumption, are assholes. Not always, of course, but it's enough of a pattern that I think it's a reasonable assumption as long as you're not totally close-minded about it and are open to the possibility of non-asshole rich people. I guess how that translates to message boards is - read someone's post for the content and context before automatically judging them.

Smoking - my father smoked. He died when I had just turned seven of a heart attack, but the autopsy showed he was developing emphysema. I stood at his casket and thought "Why did you smoke?" Before he died, we all constantly had respiratory problems. After he died, those cleared up. I am not going to think that smoking is A-okay and fine and good and that I should just let other people make me sick. On the other hand, my father was one of the greatest humans I've ever known. You can both not want your lungs affected by secondhand smoke (my husband can hardly breathe around it) and think of smokers as human.

TV shows- eh. TV in general seems awfully stupid and boring and brain cell killing and full of propaganda to me, but whatever. I might make some negative inferences about your general level of mental ability if, say, you're like a couple of the shows on a mostly talk radio station around here and don't talk about anything but celebrities and reality shows and people's physical appearances, but mostly I don't really care. If you're here on DU, you obviously care about more than what's in tabloids.

And lastly, food. There are some moral issues there. Personally I'm cool with the food chain, but I've got major problems morally with our meat industry. That doesn't mean I'm a vegetarian - I admit that I am not perfect and that I do occasionally ingest the products of the meat industry. I just think it's morally important to be mindful of your effect on the world. Eat meat if you want, but you should be aware of how it got to you.