Monday, July 28, 2008

Yeah, that was odd

I started half a dozen posts tonight before I finally gave up and called for some outside help. Thankfully I do have at least one friend in the world, and he suggested that I respond to the truly incredible outpouring of comments that we witnessed this morning here on TRS. So I'll try.
What can I say? This is what happens when a bunch of guys get together and decide to have a little fun. First, my apologies if anyone was offended. As I mentioned, we're guys, and we tend to write bombastic statements without thinking of the consequences. Is this an excuse? Of course not. What is a good excuse is that I think I can safely say that I, TRS, didn't indulge in any truly horrific statements; that honor was left to others. Still, it is my blog, and I suppose that I'm in some way responsible for it. Still, this is America, we have a first amendment, and I don't think that anyone was too hurt by anything that was written tonight.
Be all this as it may, it's funny as I look back at the last hour or so and remember the thrill that was rushing through my veins; what would the next comment look like? Who would say something incredibly crazy next? In short, it was a fun time while it lasted.
Now that it's all over, it's left to me to pick up the shreds and try to weave some sense out of the whole episode. I don't really mind this, because it requires a philosophical bent of mind, with which most of us are equipped at 2:00 AM. So here's how it's going to work: I'll go through each of the major commenters from the binge, and see if I can summarize their position in a reasonable manner.
It all started with me, TRS, at 11:27 PM. Throughout the discussion I was alternatively "lol"ing, and spent the rest of the time trying to respond to the comments. I was trying to stay above the fray and moderate things a bit, though I was spectacularly unsuccessful at the latter, as is apparent from even a cursory glance at the comments.
At 12:17 I responded to Nemo, and inadvertently started the whole thing, which I've only just realized now, actually. I wasn't even trying to insult anyone; all I was doing was making the observation that sabra's comments were often a bit difficult to understand. This innocent observation opened a deluge, which only ended at 1:40 AM.
The opinions expressed by Messieurs TRC (the real chauvinist) and his worthy opponent, "feminist", were grossly exaggerated. Entertaining, but grossly exaggerated.
Nemo tried to inject a bit of reason into the whole affair, but his efforts were apparently swept aside by the tidal wave that was TRC and Feminist. By the way, I assume that everyone here knows the origins of the word "Chauvinist". If not, click here. And here. Good person. I was going to write "Good boy" over there, but that might have opened me up to charges of chauvinism. In order to allay any fears in that direction, I'd like to quote Linus, of Peanuts fame, "I love humanity. It's people that I hate."
Sabra was dealt with rather harshly, I admit, though this may be due to her taking liberty's with certain sacred rites that had long been established here at TRS. These include granting The Almighty Editor grave respect, second only to TRS himself, which she patently failed to do. In short, some would say (of course I would never dream of saying something like this) she got what was coming to her.
And that seems like a pretty good way to sew this particular bad boy up.

41 comments:

Anonymous said...

what about a merkos shlichus report? what did u do on merkos shlichus?

Leo de Toot said...

Dear Mr. Real Shliach:

94 comments!! If you were a follower of the greatest team game in the world (cricket) you would be rejoicing at approaching that important measure of a batsman's success, a "century." Regardless, a fascinating exchange of personalities. My only regret is that having to make the 6:26 in the morning precluded me from joining the fray.

Applauding a fine innings against some fierce bowling,

L d Toot.

Just like a guy said...

Anon: I would reference you to a previous post where I made note of the fact that when you do something more than three times, it gets a bit boring to report it. Listen; Veni, Vidi, Vici. What more can I say?

LdT. And once again, I fall at the end, close but no cigar.

Anonymous said...

Sabra,

Now that I'm fully awake and have read the 94 comments of last night, I realize that I was wrong; I was sick; I was a bastard; I was insensitive; I was dumb; I was immature; I acted like a man: write first; think later.

I'm sorry. Please accept my apologies.

Anonymous said...

At least one thing was accomplished last night!

Anonymous said...

TRS, Maybe you should realize that we don't NEED your moderation. Either jump into the fray, or watch from a distance.

e said...

Well, it was fun (at least for me). I hope the lady folks didn't mind it too much. How's Cheerio feeling about this?

Nemo said...

I learned nothing last night. Which is precisely the problem when you stay online arguing senselessly until 2 AM.

Nemo said...

Eliezer- Isn't it funny how four different commenters commented just now, within the course of two minutes from 12:33-12:35?

e said...

Nemo, life is just chock full of surprises.

Nemo said...

That's the second time you've used that expression to me (hint: the last time had to do with a blue shirt). Get original.

Nemo said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nemo said...

Why is it that no one wants to add on to the sacred "94?"

e said...

Nemo, I've used it multiple times because life really IS chock full of surprises.

Nemo said...

Yes, but is it not also brimful of surprises? Howabout replete with surprises?

My life happens to be abounding, abundant, adequate, ample, bountiful, brimming, bursting, capacious, clear, cloyed, complete, comprehensive, copious, crammed, crowded, engrossed with, entire, exhaustive, filled, filled up, fraught, glutted, good, gorged, gutted, laden, liberal, orotund, overflowing, packed, perform, plenary, plenteous, plentiful, plethoric, plump, replete, resonant, rich, rotund, round, sated, satiated, satisfied, saturated, sonorous, stocked, stuffed, surfeited, teeming, thorough, torrential, total, unabridged, uncut, and unexpurgated with surprises!

Anonymous said...

The Real Shliach -
You are a shliach of whom, may I ask??
I chanced upon your "name", your title, and browsed thru some stuff here and am wondering if you feel your name befitting to be a messenger of our Rebbe. Would the Rebbe, your m'shalaich, be proud of you?
What do you think?
Unless I am mistaken and you are under some different mission, I personally am embarrassed for my Rebbe.

Chazak V'ematz in all your holy work!

Just like a guy said...

Man, it's so nice to see so many comments without my participation; I was busy on MS the whole day, and couldn't contribute.
Passerby: I'll try and deal with you tonight (get ready for touchy-feely everyone).

Anonymous said...

Perhaps so many comments BECAUSE you did not participate...:)

Nemo said...

Oh please. You don't have to answer people like that. Care for a thesis?

Anonymous said...

Oh and -
I'm not claiming that I'm perfect and making the Rebbe proud... HOWEVER one needs to be careful with the title they give themselves for the M'shalaich can demand from you... did you live up to your name....?
Which reminds me why we don't write titles on a Matzayva...

AND - don't need to bother answering people like me.... I'm moving on...to more mature/interesting/tochen'dike stuff....

Anonymous said...

Good for you.

Just like a guy said...

Here are some lyrics for the new TRS theme song:

Can you smell the love? It's so nice in here,
Can you smell the love? Everyone is friends in here,
All you really have to do is pretend that there's someone reading your comments,
And then maybe you'll realize that it's sometimes nice to be nice

Everyone like the song? Feel free to add lyrics and find a tune or two.

e said...

Listen, I know I've ruined my credibility. I know you won't believe me. But I am NOT the passerby; I am Not Anonymous; and I am Not why do Lubavitcher think that anyone gives a damn when they patronize to others?

I was not near a computer when these things were put up.

While I often play around, I NEVER lie about my identity when asked point blank. (TRS can attest to that.)

I am just as curious as you as to the identity of this person/these people. Perhaps TRS can check their IP's to confirm that they're not me.

Just like a guy said...

Wow!

Just like a guy said...

In other words, this is getting quite complicated.

e said...

In yet other words, there is a nut out there, and he ain't me.

TRS, can you check the IPs? check out http://www.ip2location.com/

Just like a guy said...

Unfortunately, we haven't yet invented the technology that will allow us to go back in time and see who hit us when. In other words, these anonymous attackers will have only their own consciences to answer to. Of course, if they're psychopathic, and there's a lot of evidence to support that possibility, then they wont pay any price for their dastardly crimes.

Nemo said...

Eliezer, is that an admittance by omittance (this line could have come straight out of Torah Thoughts in Simple Words) that you are the Real Chauvinist?

I don't think a (Eliezer?) necessarily constitutes point-blank questioning, so the possibility is still in the air ....

BTW, I admit to putting up one (1) of the poser comments in the past 24 hours.

Just like a guy said...

Oh? Which one? I'm fascinated.

e said...

An (Eliezer?) does not constitute point-blank questioning, which is why I lied after receiving the (Eliezer?).

Just like a guy said...

I didn't quite understand that one either.
BTW, which Beis Hamikdash was destroyed because the Jews didn't say the Berachos before learning, and what's the source for that?

e said...

It was the first. The source is gemara. I think Baba Kama.

Just like a guy said...

Yasher Koach.

e said...

My bad. Baba Metzia 85a and b. Check out http://come-and-hear.com/babamezia/babamezia_85.html

Just like a guy said...

Such service! You're hired.

e said...

Also, I'm not 100% sure it was the first. could have been number two.

Just like a guy said...

I checked out that link, but couldn't find it. What am I doing wrong?

e said...

The link didn't work or you couldn't find it on the page?

Just like a guy said...

The latter

e said...

Read the bottom of amud alef and the top of amud beis

Just like a guy said...

OK, got it. I assumed it would be a more obvious reference. The mention of prophets does seem to indicate that it is the first Temple, but it'll take a little looking in a real Gemara, which I (shockingly) don't have here, to figure it out.