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Small-Scale Question Sunday for June 18, 2023

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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May I get the Voice of the People on this:

Am I in fact a Thundering Bitch?

I'm currently having a kerfuffle with an absolute infant elsewhere (claims to be a rough, tough, absolutist monarchist; gets their knickers in a twist when faced with some very mild 'this is what absolutism in practice would look like') and really the bad effect of German philosophers on the growing mind, I blame Thomas Carlyle for being a gateway drug, Protect Our Kids Now!

But aside from that, I'm enjoying myself way too much teasing them and they are currently frothing at the mouth. I should stop it. I will stop it. So long as they don't yap some more little ankle-biting miniature dog yaps at me.

But am I a bitch? Be frank, be honest, be as Absolutist Monarchist as you wish!

We all contain multitudes. I'm sure you have some Thundering Bitch tendencies, we all do.

In my mind, internet forums are a proper forum for letting out one's inner Thundering Bitch. Personally, I love to troll opposing sports team fans in season, but Absolutists are equally fair game.

So the question is, are you really having fun? Is this good for you? Is it bleeding over into other aspects of your life where Thundering Bitch is a less appropriate affect? Are you hurting people close to you? If the answers are Yes, Yes, No, No; then you're fine, go at it.

If it's the sort of place where people are making fun of each other all the time, then no.

If it's your nephew on Facebook or something, then yes.

Anyway, how did it end up? Did they give up and go to eat or something?

They sort of stopped with a final insult and I left it at that.

It amused me more than anything, and that's the danger signal for me. If I get really mad, I'm liable to steam in with both fists swinging and pick up a warning pretty quickly.

But when it's 'twelve year old in the schoolyard' level insults, that makes me find it funny to poke at them. Like a cat playing with a mouse. Not very nice on my part. I should just depart with my head held high trailing clouds of dignity as I mount my high horse to head for the moral high ground, but ... "will this silly person keep calling me names and for how long?" is too too tempting.

I'm not sure what kind of response you are looking for here, or what is your sincere intent in posting this question. Do you want people to say "Yes, you're a Thundering Bitch" so you can get properly fired up and respond in kind? Or "There, there, no, of course you're not"? Are you doing genuine introspection here, or are you just curious what your public image is, or were you bored and felt like seeing what kind of responses you'd get?

I do not think you're a "Thundering Bitch." But I think you know perfectly well why people (elsewhere, without rules forbidding such personal attacks) might call you that. You like being belligerent and you like a good brawl, and once you're pissed off you think you're in a street fight and all rules go out the window. We've had this conversation many times. I would find your antagonism less aggravating if you were less thin-skinned about it.

Are you doing genuine introspection here

I'm trying to. I do want feedback on the impression I leave. I don't want "oh no you are funny and we love you" and I don't want "yeah fuck off cunt". But I do want to work on my flaws where I can. I know that only reporting half of a conversation doesn't give much to really go on, but yeah: am I being a bitch, or just having fun?

Well, yes. For a certain definition.

When you really get rolling, you have a certain self-righteousness. I assume it’s part and parcel with how much fun you’re having. A reasonable person might describe that as bitchy.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing, unless you think it falls under “wrath.”

I would never describe you this way based on your posts here, but the fact you felt the need to come here and ask would indicate you're feeling a bit guilty.

Not guilty as such, but am trying to rein it in because the other guy is a one-track mind type. E.g. does not realise that "abuse" is a term that also encompasses "abusive language" such as calling someone "you absolute filth" and so he's very busy yelling "you accused me of abuse then pretended you said 'abusive language' you liar!"

I mean, in this circumstance it is very damn tempting to hit him over the head with several dictionaries and tell him to go learn how to read in order to understand fluid and literate speech, but that would be going too far.

Didn't read what you are speaking off, but getting too serious/personal on pseudonomous forums is clownish behavior.