Thread: How to deal with hostility on C board?

  1. #1
    Sr. Software Engineer filker0's Avatar
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    Angry How to deal with hostility on C board?

    There is a frequent poster on one of the language specific board who seems to enjoy attacking people for their ignorance, and also attacking people who's opinions differ from his/her own. He/She belittles people and tells others to disregard information provided by those people. (For the rest of this posting, I'm going to assume that the person in question is a male, as it make the writing easier.)

    Once he wrote a fairly nasty response to one of my responses to a query where I'd mistyped something (left out a '&' in one of my calls, thus making the code snippet non-functional). He didn't say "the scanf() function in filker0's post is missing a '&'", rather he attacked the post and by implication the competance of the poster. When I saw the post, I fixed my posting and sent him an e-mail. Within that e-mail, I made the mistake of pointing out that I've probably been programming in C longer than he has. (I've been programming in C since 1980, and was involved with the ANSI C committee for C89.) This was a private communication, and I never attacked him, either in the e-mail nor in the forum, but he seems to have taken it upon himself to be as rude and dismissive as possible whenever he responds to my posting. He also quoted, out of context, my assertion that I've probably been programming in C longer than he has, in order to bolster his public dismissal of me as an incompetant egomaniac in response to another posting that I made.

    I've tried simply ignoring this person. I've tried not to get personal. I've tried not to let it get to me. But it has gotten in the way of the reason I post in the first place -- to help people who need help. I've become reluctant to post replies to anything this person replies to before I do, since he seems to take offense and throw more fuel on the fire of his on-line distaste for me.

    Advice on how to deal with these situations will be appreciated.
    Insert obnoxious but pithy remark here

  2. #2
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    Personailty conflicts in my opinion should simply be treated like captured prey in a poorly maintained east-asian game trap. Don't give them anything to feed off of until they starve to death, and wither away until they're so badly decomposed they're unrecognizeable.

    When this option becomes impractical, you have a number of options. If you believe this person is behaving in an unprovoked or inappropriate manner, you can PM a moderator (or preferably administrator) and formally complain and request assistance. However, it is not the business of the administration to solve school yard fights. Just try to be mature about it, even if you think the other person isn't. If you don't want to reply to threads that person has posted in, it's your business. Unless the person breaks board rules, there isn't really anything anyone can do about that.

  3. #3
    Registered User axon's Avatar
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    ahahahhahahaa I have an idea who you're talking about. Hhahaaha

    stop whining - whiner! Posts like that will only bring more hostility your way.

    some entropy with that sink? entropysink.com

    there are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness. - franz kafka

  4. #4
    ATH0 quzah's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by filker0
    There is a frequent poster on one of the language specific board who seems to enjoy attacking people for their ignorance, and also attacking people who's opinions differ from his/her own. He/She belittles people and tells others to disregard information provided by those people. (For the rest of this posting, I'm going to assume that the person in question is a male, as it make the writing easier.)
    Oh come now filker0, you can do better than this.

    Quote Originally Posted by filker0
    Once he wrote a fairly nasty response to one of my responses to a query where I'd mistyped something (left out a '&' in one of my calls, thus making the code snippet non-functional). He didn't say "the scanf() function in filker0's post is missing a '&'", rather he attacked the post and by implication the competance of the poster. When I saw the post, I fixed my posting and sent him an e-mail. Within that e-mail, I made the mistake of pointing out that I've probably been programming in C longer than he has. (I've been programming in C since 1980, and was involved with the ANSI C committee for C89.) This was a private communication, and I never attacked him, either in the e-mail nor in the forum, but he seems to have taken it upon himself to be as rude and dismissive as possible whenever he responds to my posting. He also quoted, out of context, my assertion that I've probably been programming in C longer than he has, in order to bolster his public dismissal of me as an incompetant egomaniac in response to another posting that I made.
    You're a flat out liar. Everyone knows you're talking about me, but let's do this right if we're going to do it. Here is the post in question. You'll see just how evil and mean my reply was to him. God it must have broke his little heart reading those harsh words. Yeah, that's a hate-filled post if I have ever seen one.

    Now let's see his reply to me in email, shall we?
    Quote Originally Posted by filker0's email to me, word for word, letter for letter
    This is a message from filker0 at C Board ( http://cboard.cprogramming.com/index.php ). The C Board owners cannot accept any responsibility for the contents of the email.

    To email filker0, you can use this online form:
    http://cboard.cprogramming.com/sendm...r&userid=16701

    OR, by email:
    mailto:[email protected]

    This is the message:

    Sorry about that. I missed it. Though I'm willing to bet that I'm more experienced with C than you are. I was restraining myself from suggesting a number of improvements to his program, and I missed that as a result.
    See that? "Sorry about that. I missed it." ... Why he felt the need to appologize for missing an & is beyond me, especially since prior to that, I have no knowledge of ever typing anything in response to filker0. But let's continue, shall we?

    Immediately after that, he is sure to point out that he's more experienced with C than I am. To further that, his post immediately after mine is again him saying just how long he's been coding, and what a bad ass coder he is.

    What really ........ed him off though, was the fact that I didn't like his version of the word basically. See, if something is pretty close, and that's what's being asked, then I say, "Yeah, basically that's fine..." He didn't like that, and apparently has a problem with anyone correcting his "vast experience".

    Quote Originally Posted by filker0
    I've tried simply ignoring this person. I've tried not to get personal. I've tried not to let it get to me. But it has gotten in the way of the reason I post in the first place -- to help people who need help. I've become reluctant to post replies to anything this person replies to before I do, since he seems to take offense and throw more fuel on the fire of his on-line distaste for me.

    Advice on how to deal with these situations will be appreciated.
    Want some advice? Pull the stick out of your ass and don't get so bent out of shape when someone corrects you. Want a good example? Read today's entry. There's a link floating around about "asking good questions". Well, you need to find one that's "providing good answers". Just saying "Though I'm willing to bet that I'm more experienced with C than you are." does not make for a good answer. Your whole problem is that you can't stand anyone correcting you. That's it. Go on, go back and read that very first link. You know, the one where you missed the &. That post wasn't even directed solely at you. Furthermore, I was laughing at myself in the very same post for making a mistake. Yet, for some reason beyond us all, you got offended or felt insecure enough that you needed to email me personally to tell me you're a better programmer.

    But it's my fault that you couldn't take the evil evil correction to you missing an &. It's also my fault that you felt insecure to the point where you had to email me personally to tell me how much better of a programmer you are. Also my fault that you continually bring up that "fact" in nearly every post you make. "Well I've been writing the C standard, inbetween me writing my own printf blah blah blah.."

    Give it a rest you whiner.


    Quzah.
    Last edited by quzah; 01-11-2006 at 09:27 PM. Reason: Changed t to to, ut to out
    Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment.

  5. #5
    Registered User axon's Avatar
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    I <3 quzah

    some entropy with that sink? entropysink.com

    there are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness. - franz kafka

  6. #6
    Climber spoon_'s Avatar
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    intarweb drama is king.

    don't F with the QUZAH.
    Last edited by spoon_; 01-11-2006 at 09:43 PM. Reason: SPELLING SUCKS LOLZ
    {RTFM, KISS}

  7. #7
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    He he he. If this wasn't so funny I'd close it.

  8. #8
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    People do not like to be told that you are better/faster/more experienced than they are. Comments like
    I've been programming in C since 1980, and was involved with the ANSI C committee for C89
    doesn't impress people, it just annoys them. Instead of using this tactic, show others that you are good/fast/experienced by helping others with their problems. Increase your post count with good error-free posts, and you will slowly get the respect you are seeking.

  9. #9
    Registered User VirtualAce's Avatar
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    I have to say I'm with quzah on this one. Filker you have not just been interpreted wrongly on this board, you are wrong in many instances.

    A nice helping of humble pie is just what you need and quzah loves to bake it and feed it to folks. This is a community of people trying to help other people, not just show off how good they are. Sometimes posts can get interpreted this way when you do become a better programmer, but your posts were not of this sort. Your posts and your comments were flat out arrogance. I can't figure out why you don't understand the responses you received.

    So stop being an ass and we won't treat you like one.

    I've been programming in C since 1980, and was involved with the ANSI C committee for C89
    As has been said, this type of statement does not belong on this board. Sounds like you are saying it while hiding under mommy's skirt.

    We so need a crying smiley on this board.
    Last edited by VirtualAce; 01-12-2006 at 12:13 AM.

  10. #10
    mov.w #$1337,D0 Jeremy G's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by filker0
    (I've been programming in C since 1980, and was involved with the ANSI C committee for C89.)

    Did any one see that family guy episode where theres a quick throw back to peter having been involved in the creation of bugs bunny?

    The flash back was a board meeting, and the head of the board said some thing like
    Quote Originally Posted by director
    All in favor of the name bugs bunny, raise your hand
    (every one but peter raised their hands)
    Quote Originally Posted by director
    And every one in favor of "effren the retarded rabbit"..
    I just wanted to point out that peter was technically apart of the creation of bugs bunny, however that doesn't mean he contributed any thing.

    I'll leave you smart folks to connect the allusion here.



    ps: i hope no one corrects me on spelling, grammar, or family guy dialog.

    pss: this isn't an attack on the original poster I was just reminded of family guy and wanted to take time to promote the amazing show.
    c++->visualc++->directx->opengl->c++;
    (it should be realized my posts are all in a light hearted manner. And should not be taken offense to.)

  11. #11
    Registered User VirtualAce's Avatar
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    Mine is an attack on the original poster. Just so ya know.

  12. #12
    & the hat of GPL slaying Thantos's Avatar
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    If you truely have an issue with someone:
    User CP -> Buddy / Ignore Lists -> Ignore List -> (add name) -> Update Ignore List

    How hard is that?

  13. #13
    Registered User major_small's Avatar
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  14. #14
    Sr. Software Engineer filker0's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by bithub
    Instead of using this tactic, show others that you are good/fast/experienced by helping others with their problems. Increase your post count with good error-free posts, and you will slowly get the respect you are seeking.
    I stand by my record. I believe that you'll find, if you read all of the posts that I've made, very few errors, reasonable response speed, and a general willingness to be helpful.

    I will no longer respond to hostile comments with justification of my qualifications. I will never post, in the open, private communications (hostile or otherwise) without the permission of the sender, and I will not put the users e-mail address in any public posting.
    Insert obnoxious but pithy remark here

  15. #15
    Mayor of Awesometown Govtcheez's Avatar
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    You people are taking the internet way too f-ing seriously

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