MetaChat - What do you call this kind of internet poster?

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04 May 2011

What do you call this kind of internet poster? Is there an accepted term for someone who is reactionary and ignorant yet who genuinely believes what he or she is saying, and who wastes everyone’s time by derailing what could have been a good discussion into stupid arguments? Such a person is not a troll, a troll being one who deliberately says provocative or offensive things to cause trouble, so what is she or he?

post by: Orange Swan at: 12:18 | 30 comments

a Bore.

posted by The Whelk 04 May | 12:20

someone who is reactionary and ignorant yet who genuinely believes what he or she is saying

My working assumption is that in the fullness of time we'll all discover we were wrong about a lot of the things we once thought.

So, for me.... "a normal guy".

posted by philipy 04 May | 12:27

My nephew.

posted by deborah 04 May | 12:29

Tiresome.

posted by Specklet 04 May | 12:35

My internet manners are preventing me from writing the name of a former member SO BAD.

posted by msali 04 May | 12:43

I think 'blowhard' is a term that's not used nearly enough these days, for which I blame the youth. In fact, I wrote a pamphlet about it. If you'll bear with me, I will outline my arguments in great detail, as follows:

posted by elizard 04 May | 13:02

Yeah, blowhard works for me.

posted by gaspode 04 May | 13:05

My working assumption is that in the fullness of time we'll all discover we were wrong about a lot of the things we once thought.

So, for me.... "a normal guy".

Nah, I don't think this kind of person is the norm. You see, while we are all reactionary and ignorant at times, the kind of person I am thinking about is stubbornly and consistently so.

Here's an example in an article I read about rape trials years ago:

The victim testified that her rapist had held her up against a wall in order to rape her. The case was quite sound, but the jury was out for two days. Yelling was heard from the jury room. Everyone other than the jurors was mystified as to what could be going on. Finally the jury came back with a guilty verdict, and it turned out that one juror had held up the works by claiming that, since it was impossible for a man and a woman to have intercourse standing up, the victim must have made the whole thing up. The other eleven jurors knew better and, bless them, kept at the guy for two days until he gave in.

I'd have asked if the jury could be provided with twelve copies of The Joy of Sex.

On preview: Blowhard is pretty serviceable.

posted by Orange Swan 04 May | 13:08

Axe-grinder?

posted by octothorpe 04 May | 13:19

Orange Swan, that is an amazing anecdote. I don't, I just... wow.

posted by msali 04 May | 13:22

I'd call *that* kind of person an asshole.

posted by Specklet 04 May | 13:24

dufus, idiot, stooge, chump, birther...

posted by theora55 04 May | 13:34

Tireless Rebutter? Maybe crossed with Ferrous Cranus?

posted by Eideteker 04 May | 13:43

That's an extreme example, of course. But I do see this kind of thing fairly often, and it seems like the whole thread becomes an exercise in trying to prove to the person that the earth is not in fact flat — or, to use a less hyperbolic example, that the entire institution of marriage will not collapse because gay marriage is legally recognized. I'd like a handy term to refer to this kind of person.

posted by Orange Swan 04 May | 14:25

Try any of these:

cocksnot, dickwrinkle, dicko, fuckfuck, shitforbrains, asswipe, pisspot, pissypants, shitfuck, fuckshit, dogshit, dogfucker, dog's asshole

posted by Hugh Janus 04 May | 14:37

Mods, can I have a favorite button just for today so I can favorite Hugh Janus' "shitfuck, fuckshit"? PLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASE!!!!

posted by msali 04 May | 14:40

inconvenient?

posted by Firas 04 May | 14:53

Blowhard FTW, although Bore is a close second.

msali, you can have a favourite button any time you want. You just have to ask.
Unless, of course, you want it to work on MeCha ;-)

posted by dg 04 May | 17:26

The term "boor" is kind of old-fashioned but I think that's what you're looking for.

posted by JoanArkham 04 May | 18:31

Doohickie?

posted by Doohickie 04 May | 18:45

dg, I just mentally favorited both your comment and Hugh's in my head.

posted by msali 04 May | 19:42

Dumbass seems good enough. Dumb and an ass.

Sometimes I feel sorry for these people. I hope I'm not one of them.

posted by fleacircus 04 May | 20:01

A Dunning-Krugerrite.

posted by BitterOldPunk 04 May | 20:24

I think this kind of person is a variant of the crank category. From the link:

A "cranky" belief is so wildly at variance with commonly accepted belief as to be ludicrous. Cranks characteristically dismiss all evidence or arguments which contradict their own unconventional beliefs, making rational debate an often futile task.

posted by Elsa 04 May | 20:51

Ooh, crank is good! I wanted something that was descriptive without being too insulting, i.e., "self-righteous cow".

posted by Orange Swan 04 May | 21:44

without being too insulting

Yesssss. "Crank" is just insulting enough.

posted by Elsa 04 May | 22:16

Gasbag, windbag, bullheaded, hardheaded, contrarian, or my favorite, bloviating,

posted by Miko 04 May | 23:01

gadfly

posted by Firas 04 May | 23:15

IN CASE OF ABSENCE OF FAVORITE BUTTON, USE LINK: [+]

posted by Kronos_to_Earth 05 May | 00:51

That jury story is way beyond blowhard, all the way to fuckwitted douchenozzle. Jeez, I mean, really. Hard to believe it's 200X, when there are still people like that giving neanderthals a bad name.

posted by theora55 05 May | 13:42

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