What's with all the nit-picking lately?

[northernsoul]

Lately, it feels like DU has bcome good place for people who want practice in flaming other people whom they probably are 99% in agreement with - over the most trivial of semantics. I'm all in favor of vigorous disagreement and constructive criticism here, but it feels like there's some kind of weird Maoist-cultural-revolution vibe where we're competing to castigate eachother over the slightest appearance of ideological impurity. Just my perceptions right now - hope I'm wrong.

[Blue-Jay]

1. Lately?!?

:rofl:

[The Straight Story]

2. When you learn how to type get back with me

:rofl:

Just kidding!

[Robbien]

9. Ha. That's a good candidate for a DUzy

What's with all the nit-picking lately?

When you learn how to type get back with me

[wryter2000]

16. How does one nominate something for a DUzy?

Nits rotting on the vines is pretty funny, too.

[Robbien]

18. Normally just sending a pm to JeffR will do it

I just sent him a pm asking him to take a look at this entire thread. Most of it is pretty funny.

[wryter2000]

32. Thanks

I love DUzy

[Patchuli]

3. I've noticed it's worse lately

more than usual. Maybe we're all just suffering from PTSD from 6 years of *!

[mikeytherat]

4. "Nitpicking" is one word.

Not to be overly critical, or anything.

:hide:

mikey_the_rat

[iverglas]

13. is not

Oxford Concise:

nit-picking fault-finding in a petty manner

Now you're probably going to tell me that fault-finding is one word ... ethnocentric xenophobe ...

[northernsoul]

24. nice picture of a dead, white european male, iverglass!

I bet nobody ever picked Einstein's nits!

[iverglas]

31. aargh, I have offended myself

http://www.allangould.com/books/humoursatire/greatbigbookhumour/books_humoursatire_greatbigbookhumour.html

Canadian humour is also like classic Jewish humour in that it is often self-deprecating; it pokes fun at Jews themselves and by doing so, magically comes out on top. Many people think that self-deprecation implies self-hatred. On the contrary. More often than not it says something far more complex: "I am only human; I have flaws," it declares; "I am willing to admit this." By poking fun at their own failings, self-deprecating comedians (whether Jew, Canadian, woman -- or WASP, for that matter) end up in far better shape than the Other to whom they are admitting their weaknesses.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3711/is_200108/ai_n8972355/pg_2

Only in self-deprecating humour is physiological relief to be expected, because of a lessening of the impact of the stressful event once we are able to laugh at our disappointments and failures. On the other hand, hostile humour, even when simply manifested as wit at the expense of others, can be an aggressive means of controlling others verbally, and thus unlikely to provide relief for either giver or receiver. In essence, the humour that is associated with competition and control is less helpful in minimizing distress, because hostile humour, even disguised as wit, does not elicit social cohesion and thus collective support for oneself. The literature seems to support this explanation, by suggesting that women are more likely to engage in and appreciate the self-deprecating form of humour, while men are more likely to both foist their wit upon others and to appreciate others' attempts to do so in the form of verbal jokes.

there being always those who don't get.

I mean, how many feminists does it take to change a lightbulb, anyhow?

We know how many Canadians ...

Ten. Four to form a parliamentary committee to discuss the changing of said lightbulb. One from the Women's Action Coalition to complain about how women are underrepresented in this joke. One from the First Nations to complain how natives were left out of the joke making process. One to duck across the border and buy a lightbulb duty-free. Someone to actually change the lightbulb. Another to buy a case of Molson's for everyone to enjoy and finally, one to drop the puck.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. a lice outbreak has been seen.

probably the fundies trying to make up for November.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

6. It's simply nit season.

They're ripe, and for some reason the illegals don't want to pick them, so the DUers have taken over the job.

I hear there will be a record harvest this year. I hope the DU nit pickers are offered enough pay to finish the job! Last year they weren't paid nearly enough, and over sixty percent of the nits ended up rotting on the vine.

[wryter2000]

15. Won't someone PLEASE think of the nits?

Rotting on the vines. What a tragedy. Those nits could have fed the homeless.

[northernsoul]

25. mmmmm, nitlicious!

Update: apparently "nitlicious" is supposed to be spelled "nit-licious."

[wryter2000]

33. Is anal-retentive hyphenated?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[ladjf]

7. You are correct.

Acutally, it has been going on for too long. That is the reason I rarely post anything. It's just too much trouble to try to argue with people who seem more interested in showing their brilliance than helping us to get rid of the thugs in power.

[TwilightZone]

8. That's pretty much the norm, though it seems to be cyclical.

Unfortunately, it'll likely get much worse when the primary season really gets going.

[northernsoul]

27. been here since 2002, I know what you mean

sometimes I just take a little vacation from DU for a several weeks - maybe this means I'm due for one again.

[TwilightZone]

29. Not such a bad idea.

In my experience, a little time off always seems to help regain a little perspective. :)

(And ignore anyone who tells you that you just need to "toughen up".)

[porphyrian]

10. A number of things:

1) It's always like this somewhere, especially in GD.

2) People are frazzled and tired of waiting for an end to this war, this administration and the irritatingly-slow progress of Congress (even if it is faster than it's been since these asses took over our White House).

3) A number of extremely sensitive subjects have hit the news/our discussions recently, and passions are high, on top of already being frazzled and tired.

4) You may be simply choosing to read threads that are more contentious than what you're used to or normally read.

5) People are already campaigning for 2008, so Primary Madness is polarizing us somewhat.

6) Compared to our total membership, the number of people doing as you say probably aren't more than a fraction of the total.

7) Or, you may be absolutely correct.

[Felinity]

11. Agreed.

There was a thread I read this morning about the safety of the HPV vaccine, and the insults were flying at the OP writer, with not intent to engage in a reasonable debate. I was curious to see how people felt/what they knew about the topic, as I have not formed an opinion and have some reservations about vaccines in general.

My time was pretty wasted, and I was disgusted by the knee-jerking.

[treestar]

36. I think you have it quite right

I hate when the only response to an OP is rude dismissal. If they don't want to discuss the topic they can skip it, but they put in their "how dare you even bring this up?" phrases - an attempt at intimidation. They are trying to make the subject seem "beyond the pale" and trying to intimidate anyone who wants to discuss it.

[Double T]

12. As Iraq has several different Muslim religious factions warring, the same is true........

of the different Democratic political factions warring here on DU. Iraq and DU are perfect examples of failed diplomacy; so let's get back to the wars.

[Turbineguy]

14. OK, I noticed a marked change

after SOTUS.

Everything that Bush said was bullshit, but it was well done. I think we expected a more knuckle dragging performance, but as it turns out, doing the SOTUS isn't like rocket surgery, especially if you've had your synonym toast for breakfast.

Things got a little shrill around here afterwards. That's just my opinion, and we all know what they say about those!

[Missy M]

17. I wish you were wrong but your perceptions are right on.....

today for the first time ever I wanted to use the 'ignore button' but I didn't. I have been discouraged lately from posting and some days I tell myself I'm through with DU, but I come back because it's still the best place. Maybe things will change.

[nam78_two]

19. Isn't it nit-picky to nit-pick about the nit-picking on DU?

;). Or something like that. There was an idea in there somewhere....
I am sleepy..

[northernsoul]

23. didn't you get the memo? - "nitpicking" is one word!

dang, now I'm sleepy too.

[ret5hd]

20. each other is two words. (nt)

[quinnox]

21. the purity police are always around

I usually ignore them. I don't care what they think my reactions should be to whatever insignificant thing that is turned into a mountain from a molehill.

[The Backlash Cometh]

22. It's the curse of liberalism.

It's a gift to be able to see the fine details of an argument, but a curse because they can't let go of high ideals. Like riding the high horse on the high road, as Bush might put it.

[karlrschneider]

26. bcome?

:rofl:

[northernsoul]

28. dammit karl, I can't be troubled with petty details like vowels!

Hey, at least I didn't make a typing error in a response ripping somebody else for making a typing error. ;-)
Good catch, I stand thoroughly abashed. Maybe this is why I flunked out of secretarial school.

[karlrschneider]

30. N vwls r ncssry mng frnds!

:D

[wryter2000]

34. You went to sectarian school?

Why am I talking to you?

[Kablooie]

35. All the freepers find their group to boring now so they've come over here.

And hope to stir things up.

[longship]

37. Lately?

What dya mean, lately? Us DUers are justifiably proud of our nitpicking.

Either get it right, or don't post. :evilgrin:

[alfredo]

38. Site - Sight

Get it straight.


Main Entry: site
Pronunciation: 'sIt
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, place, position, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French sit, site, from Latin situs, from sinere to leave, allow
1 a : the spatial location of an actual or planned structure or set of structures (as a building, town, or monuments) b : a space of ground occupied or to be occupied by a building
2 a : the place, scene, or point of an occurrence or event <a picnic site> <the crash site> b : one or more Internet addresses at which an individual or organization provides information to others <an FTP site>; esp : WEB SITE



Main Entry: sight
Pronunciation: 'sIt
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English gesiht faculty or act of sight, thing seen; akin to Old High German gisiht sight, Old English sEon to see
1 : something that is seen : SPECTACLE
2 a : a thing regarded as worth seeing -- usually used in plural <the sights of the city> b : something ludicrous or disorderly in appearance <you look a sight>
3 a chiefly dialect : a great number or quantity b : a good deal : LOT <a far sight better> <not by a damn sight>
4 a : the process, power, or function of seeing; specifically : the physical sense by which light stimuli received by the eye are interpreted by the brain and constructed into a representation of the position, shape, brightness, and usually color of objects in space b : mental or spiritual perception c : mental view; specifically : JUDGMENT
5 a : the act of looking at or beholding b : INSPECTION, PERUSAL c : VIEW, GLIMPSE d : an observation to determine direction or position (as by a navigator)
6 a : a perception of an object by or as if by the eye <never lost sight of the objective> b : the range of vision <was nowhere in sight>
7 : presentation of a note or draft to the maker or draftee : DEMAND
8 a : a device that aids the eye in aiming or in finding the direction of an object b plural : ASPIRATION <set her sights on a medical career>
- in sight : at or within a reasonable distance or time
- on sight : as soon as seen <ordered to shoot on sight>
- out of sight
1 : beyond comparison
2 : beyond all expectation or reason
3 -- used as a generalized expression of approval
- sight for sore eyes : one whose appearance or arrival is an occasion for joy or relief