Pineapple Express: Someone Is Wrong on the Internet?

payn · 2026-03-18T16:00:58+0000

prabe said:
There is a phrasing that comes up from time to time, "does not suffer fools gladly," that I used to think meant someone was awesomely smart and clever and had no patience for people who weren't; now I think it tends to mean they treat people badly. I'm working on ... not treating people badly that way, it's not always easy.

I always took it as not entertaining foolish behavior and ideas. "count me out" not "you're an idiot" but maybe the latter is the intended meaning?

Dannyalcatraz · 2026-03-18T16:07:18+0000

payn said:
I always took it as not entertaining foolish behavior and ideas. "count me out" not "you're an idiot" but maybe the latter is the intended meaning?

It’s a phrase that has…broad utility.

prabe · 2026-03-18T16:24:27+0000

SkidAce said:
Like many quotes about behavior and wisdom, its both.

Taken to an extreme it treats people poorly with a broad condescending brush stroke.

On the other hand, how long should you suffer someone who has proven them selves to be a "fool"?

Yeah, there's middle ground between not being a sap and not being an asshat, and I'm working on landing there more than I used to. (I suspect a lot of "doesn't suffer fools gladly" starts from "feeling like a sap," but I have no evidence for the position that isn't autobiographical.)

Ryujin · 2026-03-18T16:25:29+0000

prabe said:
There is a phrasing that comes up from time to time, "does not suffer fools gladly," that I used to think meant someone was awesomely smart and clever and had no patience for people who weren't; now I think it tends to mean they treat people badly. I'm working on ... not treating people badly that way, it's not always easy.

The meaning is dependent upon the context of "fool."

prabe · 2026-03-18T16:27:11+0000

Ryujin said:
The meaning is dependent upon the context of "fool."

Yeah, probably. I guess my point is I'm (much) less of a fan of it than I used to be. At least by default, if that makes sense.

Gradine · 2026-03-18T16:31:14+0000

trappedslider said:
at least it's not star wars

Ryujin said:
"I'm not rude. I'm just brutally honest!"

Scribe · 2026-03-18T16:40:59+0000

SkidAce said:
On the other hand, how long should you suffer someone who has proven them selves to be a "fool"?

2 or 3 examples, and that's it. Depending on severity of the case.

prabe · 2026-03-18T16:50:19+0000

Scribe said:
2 or 3 examples, and that's it. Depending on severity of the case.

It might depend on the rest of the person, as well, of course. You probably shouldn't tolerate me blathering about IT stuff, but I at least hope I might have strengths in other areas.

billd91 · 2026-03-18T16:58:10+0000

Wow. Sometimes what we say about ourselves really is truth in advertising.

Scribe · 2026-03-18T17:11:01+0000

prabe said:
It might depend on the rest of the person, as well, of course. You probably shouldn't tolerate me blathering about IT stuff, but I at least hope I might have strengths in other areas.

At this stage everyone, other than my wife, is on a short leash. Just how it is.