Re: Superstratum

[Brock Coles]

[Followup to alt.usage.english.neologism]

"Peter Moylan" wrote in message news:5360eeb0$1...@dnews.tpgi.com.au...
>
>On 30/04/14 16:25, Guy Barry wrote:
>> "Dr Nick" wrote in message
>> news:87zjj3b...@temporary-address.org.uk...
>>>
>>> Peter Moylan <pe...@pmoylan.org.invalid> writes:
>>>
>>>> On 30/04/14 04:24, James Hogg wrote:
>>>>> Peter T. Daniels wrote:
>>>>>> On Tuesday, April 29, 2014 7:29:28 AM UTC-4, Mack A. Damia wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Mere groupthink.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> You are Jenn and I claim my 110 pesos.
>>>>>
>>>>> You beat me to it!
>>>>>
>>>> I read this just as I was about to post the same thing.
>>>
>>> Until I read your posts I hadn't thought it. But now I have I am
>>> hypnotically compelled to agree.
>>
>> I don't think that's a fair comparison at all. I can't imagine Jenn
>> posting any of the obnoxious, poisonous stuff that's been posted by this
>> particular character.
>
>I suspect you've been whooshed. Yes, Mack has posted some offensive
>comments lately, but it will probably turn out that he forgot his
>medications or something like that. (We used to have the same problem
>with Chuck.)

I have not been "whooshed". Mack is undoubtedly the most unpleasant
character we've had on the group for a long time. He's thoroughly
intolerant of anyone who doesn't share his narrow point of view; thinks that
his own opinions based on speculation are far superior to anyone else's,
however well-informed; dismisses serious research as "a link to some rag
that may have been written by a hack"; and generally belittles everyone who
disagrees with him, claiming he has evidence for his beliefs that he never
provides, while ignoring evidence for everyone else's beliefs that they
willingly provide. There is no one else on the group remotely like that.

This thread was bad enough, but his comments in the "Limericks" thread were
the last straw. Les Danks gently pointed out that one of his lines would
have scanned better if he'd changed it slightly, and he took it as a
personal insult, belittling everyone in the thread who dared to suggest the
same thing. What the hell was all that about? I've been reading this group
on and off for five years and I have never come across anyone with an
attitude like that.

>In any case, the comments above aren't saying that he is
>like Jenn in every respect. They were triggered solely by the "mere
>groupthink" contribution.

No, he's much more unpleasant. Whatever you think of her posting style,
Jenn means no harm whatsoever. She's probably on the wrong group, and could
find what she wants more happily elsewhere. "Mack" (or whatever his actual
name is) appears to be out to cause trouble. You can say what you like
about Jenn, me, PTD or anyone else, but we are not here to deliberately
cause trouble. Everyone else clearly wants to fit in (apart from Rey, who
clearly takes a delight in being the outsider). He seems to be here for a
fight.

>One of the things that keeps this group alive and healthy is a shared
>sense of humour. So, naturally, when Mack comes up with a Jennish
>comment we can't help bursting out laughing. That's all it was. No need
>to over-analyse.

I don't think you've analysed it enough.

--
Brock Coles (aka Guy Barry)