no more humor

  • Thread starter William Sommerwerck
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William Sommerwerck

Guest
The recent nasty exchanges between me and other people in this group have
forced me to do some thinking. (You might try thinking. It can be an
enlightening experience.)

I've come to two conclusions. The first that most people are boring, humor-
and wit-impaired un-self-aware folk who wouldn't understand a sentence
written in plain English even if it were parsed by Dr Frank Baxter.

The second is that UseNet groups are not social groups. They provide a
medium for sharing and learning -- and that should be their alpha and omega.
I'm not here to entertain the group -- or to convince others that I'm Oh So
Terribly Clever.

I have therefore decided, when commenting, that I will stick to the subject
at hand. No personal remarks, nothing sarcastic, ironic, or even just funny.

I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do, not because I'm
intimidated by lunk-headed idiots.


If you give me your attention, I will tell you what I am:
I'm a genuine philanthropist - all other kinds are sham.
Each little fault of temper and each social defect
In my erring fellow-creatures, I endeavor to correct.
To all their little weaknesses I open people's eyes,
And little plans to snub the self-sufficient I devise.
I love my fellow creatures -- I do all the good I can --
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!

To compliments inflated I've a withering reply,
And vanity I always do my best to mortify.
A charitable action I can skillfully dissect,
And interested motives I'm delighted to detect.
I know ev'rybody's income and what ev'rybody earns,
And I carefully compare it with the income-tax returns.
But to benefit humanity however much I plan,
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!

I'm sure I'm no ascetic; I'm as pleasant as can be.
You'll always find me ready with a crushing repartee.
I've an irritating chuckle, I've a celebrated sneer,
I've an entertaining snigger, I've a fascinating leer.
To ev'rybody's prejudice I know a thing or two --
I can tell a woman's age in half a minute -- and I do.
But although I try to make myself as pleasant as I can,
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!


--
"We already know the answers -- we just haven't asked the right
questions." -- Edwin Land
 
Posted to SER only.


On Wed, 24 Mar 2010 05:52:52 -0700, "William Sommerwerck"
<grizzledgeezer@comcast.net>wrote:

The recent nasty exchanges between me and other people in this group have
forced me to do some thinking. (You might try thinking. It can be an
enlightening experience.)

I've come to two conclusions. The first that most people are boring, humor-
and wit-impaired un-self-aware folk who wouldn't understand a sentence
written in plain English even if it were parsed by Dr Frank Baxter.

The second is that UseNet groups are not social groups. They provide a
medium for sharing and learning -- and that should be their alpha and omega.
I'm not here to entertain the group -- or to convince others that I'm Oh So
Terribly Clever.

I have therefore decided, when commenting, that I will stick to the subject
at hand. No personal remarks, nothing sarcastic, ironic, or even just funny.

I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do, not because I'm
intimidated by lunk-headed idiots.
Click to expand...
Most people are not mind readers. When you call people names without
indicating your thoughts are spawn from humor they tend to take them
seriously. This is why there are adopted methods to clue the reader of
things like </sarcasm on> </sarcasm off> <g> =grin, <G> big grin,
<BEG> big evil grin, <SEG> shit eating grin, ROFL etc.....

Be funny, humorous, sarcastic. Have friends. But do it the right way
in making sure that the wording you use can't be taken the wrong way.
 
On 24/03/2010 12:52, William Sommerwerck wrote:
The recent nasty exchanges between me and other people in this group have
forced me to do some thinking. (You might try thinking. It can be an
enlightening experience.)
Click to expand...
If you had used a smiley, you could have avoided so much ....

(No Smiley)

--
Adrian C
 
On Wed, 24 Mar 2010 05:52:52 -0700, "William Sommerwerck"
<grizzledgeezer@comcast.net> wrote:

The recent nasty exchanges between me and other people in this group have
forced me to do some thinking. (You might try thinking. It can be an
enlightening experience.)

I've come to two conclusions. The first that most people are boring, humor-
and wit-impaired un-self-aware folk who wouldn't understand a sentence
written in plain English even if it were parsed by Dr Frank Baxter.

The second is that UseNet groups are not social groups. They provide a
medium for sharing and learning -- and that should be their alpha and omega.
I'm not here to entertain the group -- or to convince others that I'm Oh So
Terribly Clever.

I have therefore decided, when commenting, that I will stick to the subject
at hand. No personal remarks, nothing sarcastic, ironic, or even just funny.

I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do, not because I'm
intimidated by lunk-headed idiots.


If you give me your attention, I will tell you what I am:
I'm a genuine philanthropist - all other kinds are sham.
Each little fault of temper and each social defect
In my erring fellow-creatures, I endeavor to correct.
To all their little weaknesses I open people's eyes,
And little plans to snub the self-sufficient I devise.
I love my fellow creatures -- I do all the good I can --
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!

To compliments inflated I've a withering reply,
And vanity I always do my best to mortify.
A charitable action I can skillfully dissect,
And interested motives I'm delighted to detect.
I know ev'rybody's income and what ev'rybody earns,
And I carefully compare it with the income-tax returns.
But to benefit humanity however much I plan,
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!

I'm sure I'm no ascetic; I'm as pleasant as can be.
You'll always find me ready with a crushing repartee.
I've an irritating chuckle, I've a celebrated sneer,
I've an entertaining snigger, I've a fascinating leer.
To ev'rybody's prejudice I know a thing or two --
I can tell a woman's age in half a minute -- and I do.
But although I try to make myself as pleasant as I can,
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!
Click to expand...
Now, see, that is funny. <g>
 
Most people are not mind readers. When you call people names
without indicating your thoughts are spawn from humor they tend
to take them seriously. This is why there are adopted methods to
clue the reader of things like </sarcasm on> </sarcasm off
g> =grin, <G> big grin, <BEG> big evil grin, <SEG> shit-eating
grin, ROFL etc.....

Be funny, humorous, sarcastic. Have friends. But do it the right way
in making sure that the wording you use can't be taken the wrong way.
Click to expand...
I appreciate your remarks, but this is also an issue of "maturity". I
shouldn't be spending my time making jokes. HDNWOTW and (especially) SDNWOTW
are valid observations.

There's an old saw about "You can be clever, or you can be nice, but you
can't be both." I'm reaching an age where I would rather be seen as nice
than as clever. (I know I'm clever; I don't need to prove it to anyone.)
 
On 3/24/2010 7:52 AM, William Sommerwerck wrote:
I have therefore decided, when commenting, that I will stick to the subject
at hand. No personal remarks, nothing sarcastic, ironic, or even just funny.

I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do, not because I'm
intimidated by lunk-headed idiots.
Click to expand...
Gee thanks pal.

I think your other answer was more to the point.

William wrote in response to my question:
Do you go out of your way to be an ass, William?
Yes. It is my raison d'etre.
Click to expand...
The problems you have with others on usenet are due to a combination
of things.

1. You come across as a pompous ass.
2. You have to be right, and will defend an error no matter how far
into the corner you've painted yourself.
3. And you tend to post replies without fully understanding what it
is you're responding to. (Which is either a reading comprehension
issue, or just plain lazy and skimming for talking points.)

I could go on, but...see #3 above.

Jeff
 
1. You come across as a pompous ass.
Click to expand...
Too bad. And you don't?


2. You have to be right, and will defend an error no matter
how far into the corner you've painted yourself.
Click to expand...
Absolutely wrong. I'm one of the few people I know who's willing (most of
the time, not always) to admit he's wrong.


3. And you tend to post replies without fully understanding
what it is you're responding to. (Which is either a reading
comprehension issue, or just plain lazy and skimming for
talking points.)
Click to expand...
Some truth to that. But I'm not the only person who comes in late to
discussions and sometimes makes mistakes.

You talk as if I were the only human being who got into arguments or caused
a fracas on UseNet. There's plenty of blame to go around. Human beings,
myself included, stink, Mr. Angus. Or haven't you ever noticed?

It's such a pleasure to converse with someone such as yourself, who knows
he's always right about everything.
 
On 3/24/10 09:11 , Jeffrey Angus wrote:
On 3/24/2010 7:52 AM, William Sommerwerck wrote:
I have therefore decided, when commenting, that I will stick to the
subject
at hand. No personal remarks, nothing sarcastic, ironic, or even just
funny.

I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do, not because I'm
intimidated by lunk-headed idiots.

Gee thanks pal.

I think your other answer was more to the point.

William wrote in response to my question:
Do you go out of your way to be an ass, William?
Yes. It is my raison d'etre.

The problems you have with others on usenet are due to a combination
of things.

1. You come across as a pompous ass.
2. You have to be right, and will defend an error no matter how far
into the corner you've painted yourself.
3. And you tend to post replies without fully understanding what it
is you're responding to. (Which is either a reading comprehension
issue, or just plain lazy and skimming for talking points.)

I could go on, but...see #3 above.

Jeff
Click to expand...


Jeff, that's why I rarely see his posts. He's been filtered for
years.

My only comment, here, is a remark I made about a Program
Director who had the same personality as William. I made the remark
during a staff meeting at CBS Radio:


"Awww...he's OK. He just doesn't know it."
 
Jeff, that's why I rarely see his posts. He's been filtered for
years.

My only comment, here, is a remark I made about a Program
Director who had the same personality as William. I made the remark
during a staff meeting at CBS Radio:
"Awww...he's OK. He just doesn't know it."
Click to expand...
You're one of the most pompous people I've ever seen on UseNet. Who are you
to judge my personality, or anyone else's?
 
"William Sommerwerck" <grizzledgeezer@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:hod72d$el1$1@news.eternal-september.org...
1. You come across as a pompous ass.

Too bad. And you don't?


2. You have to be right, and will defend an error no matter
how far into the corner you've painted yourself.

Absolutely wrong. I'm one of the few people I know who's willing (most of
the time, not always) to admit he's wrong.
Click to expand...
Go back to # 2
 
William Sommerwerck wrote:

The recent nasty exchanges between me and other people in this group have
forced me to do some thinking. (You might try thinking. It can be an
enlightening experience.)

I've come to two conclusions. The first that most people are boring,
humor- and wit-impaired un-self-aware folk who wouldn't understand a
sentence written in plain English even if it were parsed by Dr Frank
Baxter.

The second is that UseNet groups are not social groups. They provide a
medium for sharing and learning -- and that should be their alpha and
omega. I'm not here to entertain the group -- or to convince others that
I'm Oh So Terribly Clever.

I have therefore decided, when commenting, that I will stick to the
subject at hand. No personal remarks, nothing sarcastic, ironic, or even
just funny.

I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do, not because I'm
intimidated by lunk-headed idiots.


If you give me your attention, I will tell you what I am:
I'm a genuine philanthropist - all other kinds are sham.
Each little fault of temper and each social defect
In my erring fellow-creatures, I endeavor to correct.
To all their little weaknesses I open people's eyes,
And little plans to snub the self-sufficient I devise.
I love my fellow creatures -- I do all the good I can --
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!

To compliments inflated I've a withering reply,
And vanity I always do my best to mortify.
A charitable action I can skillfully dissect,
And interested motives I'm delighted to detect.
I know ev'rybody's income and what ev'rybody earns,
And I carefully compare it with the income-tax returns.
But to benefit humanity however much I plan,
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!

I'm sure I'm no ascetic; I'm as pleasant as can be.
You'll always find me ready with a crushing repartee.
I've an irritating chuckle, I've a celebrated sneer,
I've an entertaining snigger, I've a fascinating leer.
To ev'rybody's prejudice I know a thing or two --
I can tell a woman's age in half a minute -- and I do.
But although I try to make myself as pleasant as I can,
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!
Click to expand...
My, the group has sunk to new lows...sigh.

Used to be that the genesis of a thread wherein we engaged in group
flagellation required a topic from outside our membership (politics,
prideful ignorance).

Therefore, I forward the suggestion that, before we excoriate Mr.
Sommerwerck for any perceived character flaws, we first start by drawing
out his views regarding, say, G.W. Bush, or the Health Care debacle.

We can then REALLY get the fur flying.

--
J. D. Leach
Columbus, Indiana USA
Ploughing my Jingle into Clough-Brengle
http://thermionic.uuuq.com
 
William Sommerwerck wrote:
Jeff, that's why I rarely see his posts. He's been filtered for
years.

My only comment, here, is a remark I made about a Program
Director who had the same personality as William. I made the remark
during a staff meeting at CBS Radio:
"Awww...he's OK. He just doesn't know it."

You're one of the most pompous people I've ever seen on UseNet. Who are you
to judge my personality, or anyone else's?


Maybe some people just get pompous when they are hidden from view. Like
Click to expand...
people who rage from the comfort and safety of their automobile. Ken
 
William Sommerwerck wrote:
Jeff, that's why I rarely see his posts. He's been filtered for
years.

My only comment, here, is a remark I made about a Program
Director who had the same personality as William. I made the remark
during a staff meeting at CBS Radio:
"Awww...he's OK. He just doesn't know it."

You're one of the most pompous people I've ever seen on UseNet. Who are you
to judge my personality, or anyone else's?


"I have therefore decided, when commenting, that I will stick to the
Click to expand...
subject at hand. No personal remarks, nothing sarcastic, ironic, or even
just funny."

Gee, you just violated your own decision.
 
You're one of the most pompous people I've ever seen
on UseNet. Who are you to judge my personality, or
anyone else's?

"I have therefore decided, when commenting, that I will
stick to the subject at hand. No personal remarks, nothing
sarcastic, ironic, or even just funny."

Gee, you just violated your own decision.
Click to expand...
I /was/ sticking to the subject at hand. Which is supposed to be electronic
service and repair.
 
William Sommerwerck wrote:
You're one of the most pompous people I've ever seen
on UseNet. Who are you to judge my personality, or
anyone else's?

"I have therefore decided, when commenting, that I will
stick to the subject at hand. No personal remarks, nothing
sarcastic, ironic, or even just funny."

Gee, you just violated your own decision.

I /was/ sticking to the subject at hand. Which is supposed to be electronic
service and repair.
Click to expand...
Uh-huh.
 
"buzz" <buzz@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:hoe09h$8no$2@news.eternal-september.org...
William Sommerwerck wrote:
You're one of the most pompous people I've ever seen
on UseNet. Who are you to judge my personality, or
anyone else's?

"I have therefore decided, when commenting, that I will
stick to the subject at hand. No personal remarks, nothing
sarcastic, ironic, or even just funny."

Gee, you just violated your own decision.

I /was/ sticking to the subject at hand. Which is supposed to be
electronic
service and repair.



Uh-huh.
Click to expand...
Goosh!
 
"William Sommerwerck" <grizzledgeezer@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:hod1uh$9lg$1@news.eternal-september.org...
The recent nasty exchanges between me and other people in this group have
forced me to do some thinking. (You might try thinking. It can be an
enlightening experience.)

I've come to two conclusions. The first that most people are boring,
humor-
and wit-impaired un-self-aware folk who wouldn't understand a sentence
written in plain English even if it were parsed by Dr Frank Baxter.

The second is that UseNet groups are not social groups. They provide a
medium for sharing and learning -- and that should be their alpha and
omega.
I'm not here to entertain the group -- or to convince others that I'm Oh
So
Terribly Clever.

I have therefore decided, when commenting, that I will stick to the
subject
at hand. No personal remarks, nothing sarcastic, ironic, or even just
funny.

I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do, not because I'm
intimidated by lunk-headed idiots.
Click to expand...
<snip irrelevances>

I really don't understand all of this. On how many occasions over the years,
have we discussed how careful we have to be using humour, friendly sarcasm,
and other forms of written wit, when discussing topics via the medium of
usenet, given how many different nationalities will be involved in the
thread at any time, and how many of them might not be native
English-speakers ?

Your attempt at a joke - if that is truly what it was - would have been
fine, although possibly not actually understood by non-native
English-speakers, if you had just left it at the apparent play on words. It
was when you added the "you moron" to the end of it, that it ceased to have
any humourous content, and started to sound like a mistaken reaction to
something you *thought* had been said. It certainly 'felt' that way to me as
a rightpondian, and apparently did to everyone else, including your own
countrymen, who really should have understood the whole sentence as being a
joke, if that's what it was.

Your response seems disproportionate, and is actually only making you look
more like having all of the negative character traits that you are at pains
to persuade us all that you don't have.

Even if your initial post that started all of this, was not a mistake, its
concept in an attempt at humour, was. Best to just cut your losses on this
one I think, and admit that on reflection, making the comment, however
humourously intended, was actually, of itself, a mistake ...

Arfa
 
On Mar 24, 7:52 am, "William Sommerwerck" <grizzledgee...@comcast.net>
wrote:
The recent nasty exchanges between me and other people in this group have
forced me to do some thinking. (You might try thinking. It can be an
enlightening experience.)

I've come to two conclusions. The first that most people are boring, humor-
and wit-impaired un-self-aware folk who wouldn't understand a sentence
written in plain English even if it were parsed by Dr Frank Baxter.

The second is that UseNet groups are not social groups. They provide a
medium for sharing and learning -- and that should be their alpha and omega.
I'm not here to entertain the group -- or to convince others that I'm Oh So
Terribly Clever.

I have therefore decided, when commenting, that I will stick to the subject
at hand. No personal remarks, nothing sarcastic, ironic, or even just funny.

I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do, not because I'm
intimidated by lunk-headed idiots.

If you give me your attention, I will tell you what I am:
I'm a genuine philanthropist - all other kinds are sham.
Each little fault of temper and each social defect
In my erring fellow-creatures, I endeavor to correct.
To all their little weaknesses I open people's eyes,
And little plans to snub the self-sufficient I devise.
I love my fellow creatures -- I do all the good I can --
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!

To compliments inflated I've a withering reply,
And vanity I always do my best to mortify.
A charitable action I can skillfully dissect,
And interested motives I'm delighted to detect.
I know ev'rybody's income and what ev'rybody earns,
And I carefully compare it with the income-tax returns.
But to benefit humanity however much I plan,
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!

I'm sure I'm no ascetic; I'm as pleasant as can be.
You'll always find me ready with a crushing repartee.
I've an irritating chuckle, I've a celebrated sneer,
I've an entertaining snigger, I've a fascinating leer.
To ev'rybody's prejudice I know a thing or two --
I can tell a woman's age in half a minute -- and I do.
But although I try to make myself as pleasant as I can,
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!

--
"We already know the answers -- we just haven't asked the right
questions." -- Edwin Land
Click to expand...
You should at least give Gilbert and Sullivan credit for that little
bit of prose.
 
hr(bob) hofmann@att.net wrote:
On Mar 24, 7:52 am, "William Sommerwerck" <grizzledgee...@comcast.net
wrote:
The recent nasty exchanges between me and other people in this group have
forced me to do some thinking. (You might try thinking. It can be an
enlightening experience.)

I've come to two conclusions. The first that most people are boring, humor-
and wit-impaired un-self-aware folk who wouldn't understand a sentence
written in plain English even if it were parsed by Dr Frank Baxter.

The second is that UseNet groups are not social groups. They provide a
medium for sharing and learning -- and that should be their alpha and omega.
I'm not here to entertain the group -- or to convince others that I'm Oh So
Terribly Clever.

I have therefore decided, when commenting, that I will stick to the subject
at hand. No personal remarks, nothing sarcastic, ironic, or even just funny.

I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do, not because I'm
intimidated by lunk-headed idiots.

If you give me your attention, I will tell you what I am:
I'm a genuine philanthropist - all other kinds are sham.
Each little fault of temper and each social defect
In my erring fellow-creatures, I endeavor to correct.
To all their little weaknesses I open people's eyes,
And little plans to snub the self-sufficient I devise.
I love my fellow creatures -- I do all the good I can --
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!

To compliments inflated I've a withering reply,
And vanity I always do my best to mortify.
A charitable action I can skillfully dissect,
And interested motives I'm delighted to detect.
I know ev'rybody's income and what ev'rybody earns,
And I carefully compare it with the income-tax returns.
But to benefit humanity however much I plan,
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!

I'm sure I'm no ascetic; I'm as pleasant as can be.
You'll always find me ready with a crushing repartee.
I've an irritating chuckle, I've a celebrated sneer,
I've an entertaining snigger, I've a fascinating leer.
To ev'rybody's prejudice I know a thing or two --
I can tell a woman's age in half a minute -- and I do.
But although I try to make myself as pleasant as I can,
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!

--
"We already know the answers -- we just haven't asked the right
questions." -- Edwin Land

You should at least give Gilbert and Sullivan credit for that little
bit of prose.
Click to expand...
Shhhhh! William probably believes he is the actual author.
 
William Sommerwerck wrote:
Most people are not mind readers. When you call people names
without indicating your thoughts are spawn from humor they tend
to take them seriously. This is why there are adopted methods to
clue the reader of things like</sarcasm on> </sarcasm off
g> =grin,<G> big grin,<BEG> big evil grin,<SEG> shit-eating
grin, ROFL etc.....

Be funny, humorous, sarcastic. Have friends. But do it the right way
in making sure that the wording you use can't be taken the wrong way.

I appreciate your remarks, but this is also an issue of "maturity". I
shouldn't be spending my time making jokes. HDNWOTW and (especially) SDNWOTW
are valid observations.

There's an old saw about "You can be clever, or you can be nice, but you
can't be both." I'm reaching an age where I would rather be seen as nice
than as clever. (I know I'm clever; I don't need to prove it to anyone.)


If one cannot be both nice and clever, one isn't being all that clever.
Click to expand...
There really are clever ways to please someone, or to choose just the
right birthday present, or to provide help when needed.
 
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