Sometimes it can take a lot to keep one from taking on the often unnecessary role of the equalizer causing things to escalate even further, spiraling down into a blackhole of snark/gripe/'tude.

My mom always likes to take on the neighborhood troublemakers, putting herself in harms way when she could let the pros handle it. I even found myself yesterday letting someone know they were "#1" - it didn't get me anywhere.

One thing I want to ask is that regulars please not post snarky comments under made-up names

Great, and I was just getting ready to lay down some snark under my alter-ego, Ramone of Cross Keys.

The weather doesn't help.

Dios mio

Bless you EL.

I certainly had some nasty in me last week and I ashamed that it leaked out. The weather is exerting a lot of negative energy, plus the usual personal sturm und drang.

Here is a small gift to everyone in this icky clime. I found a great way to get rid of all the gnats that are everywhere. Take a glass or jar and pour in a layer of vinegar. A half an inch will do. Add a drop of dish soap to break the surface tension of the liquid. [from LifeHacker blog]

Gnats are attacted to the smell, because it reminds them of rotting fruit. They land and drown. I've gotten some full sized flies as well.

Love your neighbors, murder your bugs.

Sweet trick, OMG. Some of these GD flies (usually of the fruit variety) are small enough to sneak through my screen door's screen. They must DIE.

Hey, I have a great idea: since the weather is so steamy, rather than snark, choose double (and in the case of some of our more accomplished regulars (Hi, Lissa, Trixie, Camille and OMG!) quadruple entrendre.

As a mostly lurker, occassional commenter, I must admit that I am feeling less and less like I even want to check in here. Some people seem to enjoy exchanging snarky or insulting comments. Not me, I get enough of that other places. I used to really like reading this blog, but not so much recently.

Was it Dorothy Parker??
" if you don't have anything nice to say about someone then...
sit down right here beside me"

That's "entendre". Grrr. Sigh. Code RED. Must clean contact lenses AGAIN.

Just like the weather there are cycles in the moods of this semi-random community. I have faith in its essential goodness. Don't despair Tweety, the tide has turned (mixed metaphor). We are fairly good at self-regulation with the occasional and sometimes welcome crack of the whip from stiletto-healed Dear Leader.

Say, YumPo, you go first, my entendre is in the shop.

P.S. My gnat trap catches tiny white flies that are actually invisible before the slaughter. Who knew there was so much airborne meat?

Let's talk about ice cream. Nobody is grumpy with ice cream.

Tweety Cat - Don't give up on us! While yes, sometimes certain comments get under my skin, I just try to ignore and move on. I agree that we have to do that too much in the real world, and the sandbox should be a place of refuge.

I also like to think that sometimes the intent of a comment is not interpretted correctly via the written word. Just joking versus mean spirited insults. But, I may just be naive, or it's the Libra in me.

What's a metaphor?
To keep the cows in.

I'm with you Tweety Cat. I used to check in everyday to read this blog, but lately it has just become a "regulars club".
Even the guest posts have become less about food and dining, and more about how clever someone can write.
Adios, Ramon de los llaves de los cruces y amigos!

Hue, it was Alice Roosevelt Longworth who owned a pillow embroidered with, "If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me." (The actual quote may be different, but I haven't found an online photo of the pillow to clarify the issue.)

Tweety Cat said what I have been thinking for a while also...

I finally found the link for the pillow photo. It actually read: "If you can't say something good about someone[,] sit right here by me[.]"

NickinEC, that's a shame you feel that way. EL posts a lot of information about the Baltimore dining scene for everyone to read and comment upon, or not. I lurked for over a year before I felt comfortable enough to comment for the first time, and although I read every day, I may not comment every day.

The guest posters are guest posters for a reason: they offer a unique perspective and stimulate discussion in ways the daily posts may not. The authors have the freedom to choose topics and write within certain boundaries set by EL.

If you don't like the point of view of one or more, that's fine, but perhaps a post has encouraged you to think. You never have to agree.

But if I stop visiting I'll miss such things as: "what's a metaphor?" :)

I've always viewed this blog as a dinner conversation. Food has brought us together, but the conversation is not entirely about food.

I would hate to see this blog go the way of chowhound where off topic comments are deleted, or the way of the other food blogs in this town where three comments on a single post crashes the server.

Exactly!

I've only been reading and commenting on this blog for a short time, but, the conversation here is usually quite civil. I enjoy reading the banter that goes back and forth between the regulars. Trixie is right, sometimes just joking doesn't come through right, especially for someone who is not familiar with the blog and its regular posters. Keep up the good work guys/gals and please, don't become the Haters that I have been reading over at Z on TV. I believe someone commented to EL the other day about the mean people over there.

Bravo, RoCK! (Can you bring the wine next time, please?)

PHSSSST

That was the sound of me opening a can of Haterade.

Just Kidding:-)

RayRay -- I love your comments. They always make me laugh.

I love it here.
It's amazingly civilized compared to most of the joints I've checked out.
I can try to sympathize with folks who think it's too clubby. But I know from first-hand experience that if you jump in, you'll be welcomed. And if you jump out, you'll be missed.
I'm more often than not daunted by the level of knowledge, humor, insight, and wisdom offered by many of the D@L regular commenters. I simply cannot keep up with many of them when it comes to knowledgeable commentary on fine dining in Baltimore. Or much else, for that matter. So I don't try.
More than anything, I'm astonished that EL allows me to continue my goofy wednesday guest post (note to people with taste: EL always flags my post, making it easy to avoid). It is the highlight of my week, great therapy, and one of the few remaining threads tying me to that wonderful newsroom.
God bless you all. Yes, even you pathetic snarkoleptics.
Hey, RayRay: What's a henway?

About 3 - 4 lbs.

jl - You hit it on the head for me also. When I was just a lurker, I was slightly intimidated in joining in. Not knowing in being the new kid on the block whether I would be accepted (dang, now I have the NKOTB Hanging Tough song stuck in my head). But the more I read, the more obvious the welcoming atmosphere became.

And yeah, sometimes the topic of conversation is well over my head (probably more times then I would like to admit). But to me, that does not mean people are trying to be "too" clever or trying to isolate others. It just means we have a lot of pretty damn smart and humorous folks here. I have learned more on this blog, and not only about food, which is why I love it.

RayRay, correct. Though I've often wondered if that's with or without feathers.

Thank goodness for the "Preview" feature. Many times it has given me the time to review my words and decide "No, I really don't want to say that here."

" if you don't have anything nice to say about someone then...
sit down right here beside me"

For me, that line will always belong to Clairee in Steel Magnolias.

I don't repeat gossip.
Pay attention the first time.

Hue, I believe hmpstd got it right about the Alice Roosevelt Longworth quote. But Dorothy Parker also made many memorable remarks, some even suitable for a food blog, such as:

Ducking for apples -- change one letter and it's the story of my life.

Camille, here is my favorite from Ms. Parker:

I wish I could drink like a lady, I can take one or two at the most, Three and I'm under the table, Four and I'm under the host.”

I always wanted to be a fly on the wall watching Dorothy Parker and Tallulah Banks drink together.

Time to host a party.

Ho-kay, I will take the anti-snark pledge (raising hand solemnly). But I don't think I have ever posted anonymously or under a made-up name (on purpose anyway).

It's times like this when people get snarly that I miss RtSO the most.

Having read this blog for awhile now, I have to agree with Robert of Cross Keys who likened it to a dinner conversation. I may not get all the in-jokes, but I would feel it a privilege to be seated next to any of the regulars. What would it be like to share an after dinner port and cigar with the likes of RayRay, RoCK, Owl Meat, jl, and Bucky?

I always enjoy the postprandial poetry readings and literary discussions, even when they're above my head, I learn something. The occasional musical interludes are an amusing diversion. And not to be missed, the late night entertainment provided by the charmingly effervescent ladies.

Ms. Large, you throw a fabulous dinner party. Thanks for the invitation.

B>)

No one gets all of the jokes here. Both T.S. Eliot and shart initially went over my head. Fortunately, google came to rescue.

"What would it be like to share an after dinner port and cigar with the likes of RayRay, RoCK, Owl Meat, jl, and Bucky? "

I have to agree with Messrs Flanders and Swann:

Have some Madeira, m'dear!
It's very much nicer than Beer;
I don't care for Sherry, one cannot drink Stout,
And Port is a wine I can well do without;
It's simply a case of Chacun a son GOUT!
Have some Madeira, m'dear!

>>>Hue, it was Alice Roosevelt Longworth who owned a pillow embroidered with, "If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me." (The actual quote may be different, but I haven't found an online photo of the pillow to clarify the issue.)

I think it was Thumper's mother who said that to her son in the Walt Disney classic Bambi. My wife still cries when watching it.

Forgive me if this goes through twice, I initially received an error message. But what I said before is how great it is that a post initially on snarkers and ill feelings has turned into confirmation of what a wonderful community, or dinner table we have. And how much this blog provides for many of us. Cheers to all!

Point (and a hug) to Trixie!

I stand corrected and so I shall sit!
Was it Ms Parker who when asked to use horticulture in a sentence came up with
"you can lead a whore to culture but you can't make her think"?

What jovial times! But where am I? and into what a delicious riot of things am I rushing? I -- I who must be cut short in the midst of my days, and taste no more of 'em than what I borrow from my imagination.

JL and RayRay, when are youse gonna take your act on the road? (rim shot)

Hue, that's my favorite Dorothy Parker quote.

JL and Trixie, you very eloquently expressed how i feel about this blog. I love this neighborhood!

Jack, according to IMDb, Thumper quotes his father's advice as: "If you can't say something nice ... don't say nothing at all." If Thumper followed that advice, he wouldn't be allowed to sit next to Mrs. Longworth, who was far more interested in hearing (and dishing) the dirt.

Now there's a nickname that better reflects the character here: The Dinner Party – More Dorothy Parker, less Sesame Street.

"Dinner Party" makes me think of Judy Chicago.

Amanda C, you have something there, but we are more than just dinner (don't forget breakfast, lunch and snacks!) We embrace Dorothy Parker and her wit, but there is also room for the occasional Muppet song.
And RoCK is right that no one gets all the jokes and asides every time. Even Owl Meat has admitted to ignorance on occasion. Some of the music quotes leave me saying to myself "Wha?" And I don't think I even want to know what shart means.

Dorothy Parker is great, but no one has Tallulah Bankhead beat for great quotes.

My favorite is "If I had to live my life again, I'd make the same mistakes, only sooner"

Dorothy Parker is great, but no one has Tallulah Bankhead beat for great quotes.

My favorite is "If I had to live my life again, I'd make the same mistakes, only sooner"

Dahlink, what the world needs is more muppets based on Dorothy Parker and Tallulah Bankhead.

Drat ... late to the dinner party again!

It's so hot ... it must be time for Vacation Bible School!

"Pure as the driven slush"

it must be time for Vacation Bible School!

Where it's Yahweh or the highway.