Sea Shepherds; Innefectual self-important dipshits [Archive]

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Scylla

08-14-2009, 09:58 PM

So, I just watched Whale Wars for the first time.

There is a ban on commercial whaling. The Japanese still whale for "research," but they are really just killing as many whales as they can for commercial purposes. The lie offends me. The flaunting of international law offends me.

Apparently the Sea Shepherds are a badass splinter group from Greenpeace that go out there and put themselves on the line to stop the whaling.

I tuned in expecting that it would be pretty cool and admirable, like the Deadliest Catch but with justice.

What a bunch of dipshits these guys are. The Whalers killed four whales right in front of the Sea Shepherds, pulled them onto the processing boat and processed them, no problemo.

The Sea Shepherds have this big beautiful boat called the "Steve Irwin." It seems like it has every amenity. That Captain's cabin is sumptuous with tasteful art and expensive wooden furniture. There are beautiful murals throughout the boat. Everybody wears cool Patagonia clothes. They have cool symbols with skulls and crossbones where the crossbones are whaling harpoons. They have a cool helicopter with a retractable hangar.

There's a whole bunch of handsome guys and attractive hippy women looking all concerned and talking about their emotions and feelings. They cry when the whale gets killed. They talk about how they will never get past it and how it sticks with them forever. They comfort each other.

I dated a hippy chick for a while, and I know the drill. All the sensitivity and emoting and drama and pretending at purpose, like they're the only ones who understand, and then the comfort sex. That's why all the handsome guys stick around.

That's thing that pisses me off. The fact that they believe their bullshit. They drive around on a big old comfortable boat paid for by donations from people they've convinced that they're actually doing something worthwhile. They even believe that they are committed and that it's worthwhile. They really don't admit to themselves that it's just plain fun to be a privileged and attractive young person going off and having fun adventures in exotic locations.

Rich non-hippies usually go off on adventures, spend lots of money on self-indulgent things and don't do anything more worthwhile but at least they don't pretend they're serving a higher cause doing it.

These guys and girls were all talking about how committed they were and how they would rather risk their lives and die if necessary than see whales get killed. Apparently they never did before tonight. The whalers thought it was bad PR to kill whales in front of the Sea Shepherds. Tonight though they just ignored they just ignored the Sea Shepherds for the innefectual pussies that they are and whaled right in front of them.

The Sea Shepherds didn't do shit. They talked a big game about following the processing ship and trying to stop the transfer... but they did nothing, risked nothing. They tried to get close and throw some Butyl acid onto the processing ship to spoil the meat, but the Captain got all nervous when they got close and the guys couldn't reach .

Oh, the Butyl acid. They have these little bottles that they try to throw. Idiots! This is a perfect example. Let us say that I convince people to give me 20 or 30 million so I can buy a nice luxury boat and spend pleasant months cruising around having fun with attractive people and.... Stopping whaling.

But... I can't stop the whaling because there's a fleet of vessels and one processing ship and I have only one boat, so yes, I can interfere with one harpoon boat but they have several and while I'm occupied with one the others hunt. So, in the event a whale gets killed I have a contingency plan. I'll block the processing ship ramp... Oh, but I'm too scared (notice the harpoon ships have no problem getting close,) so I have a backup plan. I'll throw butyl acid onto the ship to spoil the meat and make it useless.

When you come to think of it, besides the intimidation factor of having a bunch of attractive hippies on a party ship nearby, the butyl acid is really the only actual meaningful deterrant they have.

All this money and effort to be there and do something... and they have some few bottle that they are trying to toss at the ship by hand.

Idiots.

I mean, if you're serious about this, and you know they have water cannons, than maybe, just maybe, instead of having an extra helicopter bay, or a designer desk, maybe you spend a couple of hours in the machine shop and make an air cannon out $10 worth of PVC pipe so that you can accurately shoot your butyl acid at range instead of trying to lob it by hand.

Maybe you take more than a couple of dozen little bottles. You know, so you can do something meaningful.

Hurling glass is dangerous and innefetcive. Maybe you fill a bunch of paintballs with butyl acid, load them into a sabot made out of ten cents worth of stryrofoam and completely and assuredly saturate the processing deck a a safe distance.

Maybe you take some of the butyl acid with you in the helicopter and while the harpoon are stopped for twenty minutes with the dying whale.... maybe you drop the butyl acid into the water on the whale from the helicopter, destroying the meat before they even have the chance to process it.

If I was on the ship, that would have been my plan. I could have built it myself. I could have fired it myself. If I was on that ship right now, I'd be smoking week, and getting all kinds of sex from hot hippy chicks who thought I was wonderful for saving the whales.

But they didn't take me. They didn't ask me to go. They didn't ask me what they should do. Instead they took Gunther some tall good-looking bearded nordic dude, and when the whales got killed Gunther emoted about how tragic it was and how much it affected him and all the hippy girls cried and hugged him.

The Captain went downstairs into his spacious well decorated cabin and sat behind his very expensive looking custom desk, to be alone (but the film crew came with him to film his solitary reflection.) He was so disturbed he didn't answer the phone when the bridge called him (because you know, like, another whale was being killed and processed.) The filming of his solitary reflective moment was too important to be interrupted by anything as mundane as trying to interfere with whaling (which I thought was the whole point of this multi million dollar floating hippy party.)

But the film crew was there to film his solitude. That's what was important.

Give me a break.

Perhaps they've had better days, and performed admirably. You wouldn't know it from this episode.

That's the problem with these fucking hippies. It's all about how they feel, how they look, the style and what have you.

I'd rather be an evil conservative and focussed on actually getting shit done. That's what I do. I get shit done. I don't fuck around if I'm doing shit. I do it. I don't worry about how it makes me feel. I don't ponder it's significance, or try to place a metaphysical context around it.

You want to stop the whaling? Put Dick Cheney on the boat. Put me on the boat. Doubtless the attractive hippy chicks won't want to be on the boat to have sex with us because we'd actually working to accomplish something rather than getting in touch with our feelings. Probably they'd be too horrified to have sex with us once we started capturing japanese whalers and waterboarding them to find out the location of the fleet.

We might not have a lot of sex, but we'd piss off the whalers and do some damage.

Besides the two shamefully blindingly obvious ideas of making the minimal effort to use the butyl effectively, here are some more ideas good ideas they could use if they were seriously interested in doing something besides floating around pretending to be important and having fun:

1. Foul the propellers of the whaling ships.

2. Get some harpoons yourself (why are the whalers the only ones with harpoons?) When the whalers kill a whale shoot it with a harpoon filled with butyl acid and destroy the meat.

3. Get some water cannons yourself. The whalers are pretty effective keeping the Sea Shepherds away by shooting water cannons (because they are competant and professional.) If you had water cannons you could shoot them at the guys trying to harpoon the whales or at the bridges of the ship making it impossible to steer accurately. You could do all kinds of cool stuff.

4. The whalers have a detterant noise weapon they shoot off when the shepherds get too close that makes it hard for the Shepherds to do anything (again, because the whalers are competant.) Whey don't the Sea Shepherds invest some of their furniture and pot money into a noise weapon to interfere with the whaling?

5. I understand that there is a sonar type thing that whales don't like and run away from. WHy don't the Sea Shepherds buy one of those and use it near the whaling fleet to chase the whales away?

Bunch of idiots.

billfish678

08-14-2009, 10:12 PM

Gawd,

What a perfect post :)

It works best if you read it aloud in Cartman's voice.

An Gadaí

08-14-2009, 10:17 PM

Flaunting means something different to flouting.

newcrasher

08-14-2009, 10:18 PM

Why do you hate whales?

billfish678

08-14-2009, 10:27 PM

Why do you hate whales?

His post made me so irritated at the whale savers that it makes me want to root for the other side !

Eonwe

08-14-2009, 10:50 PM

Well said. As a guy with strong hippie leanings, I just cannot stand people who feel too much and do too little. If it really matters as much as you go on about it, then start getting practical about how to solve the problem!

And, on a related note, do research and spend your time working on effective solutions and lifestyle changes, not just the ones that look good on TV, impress other hippie-minded people, or feel good but actually do very little.

crowmanyclouds

08-14-2009, 10:54 PM

SteveG1

08-14-2009, 11:23 PM

Butyric acid, dipshit, butyric acid (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butyric_acid) !

CMC fnord!
Oh and if you'd actually watched the series from the start you'd know that the butyric acid attacks were effective. That's why Japanese whaling vessels have water cannons and anti-butyric acid bottle netting.
Maybe we can meld it with Junkyard Wars. Each week, both "teams" have to scrounge up parts to make something bigger and better, to stay one step ahead of the other side.

Too bad the Mythbusters Brown Note didn't work, thay would be fun to watch.

Sorry Scylla, but the one time I tried to watch that Whale Wars show, it just put me to sleep. I mean, at least the snow crab fishermen actually DO things.

Projammer

08-14-2009, 11:36 PM

You do have some points, but some of your ideas and arguments have significant flaws as well.

Air cannons. Exactly the same thought I had watching this and previous episodes. Any highschooler could put one together in a weekend. Why aren't they? Dunno.

Prop fouling. They tried it in an earlier episode and the gear was cut up by the prop. Maybe they'll have better luck next time they try it. I question their choice of materials. heavy nylon rope. While stronger than steel in tensile strength, it is much easier to cut.

Water cannons. The Steve Irwin isn't large enough to mount really effective ones.

Sonic weapon. The LRAD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Range_Acoustic_Device). Again, it's a matter of relative target size and numbers of targets. If they had one ship to harass each of the harpoon ships it might be an effective strategy. The factory ship is too large to engage and if they go after one harpoon ship, there are still three to operate unimpeded.

Whale scaring sonar. Same problem. More hunter ships than harrassers.

Dropping butyric acid from the helicopter. Not sure, but I think they'd run afoul of aviation regulations. Pilot loses license and they lose their best recon tool.

But I do agree, they aren't nearly as effective as they could be.

MOIDALIZE

08-14-2009, 11:37 PM

The hippies have their own navy now?! Great, what's next, a balloon armada protecting the forest from lumberjacks by draping giant AIDS quilts over the trees?

BoBettie

08-14-2009, 11:47 PM

I"m actually watching this right now-my husband DVRed it I guess from earlier. I was thinking many of the exact same things. I mean, that's a LOT of work for very little payoff, by the looks. Wouldn't time and money be better spent documenting what is happening and lobbying for the "research" loophole to be closed?

The new episode just came on and they almost hit their own helicopter with a flare. Um...WTF? Wake up!!

Boyo Jim

08-15-2009, 12:12 AM

How DARE you suggest spending pot money on whales! Let the whales get their own pot. They could smoke a helluva splif through that blowhole, I wanna tell you!

SmashTheState

08-15-2009, 12:21 AM

MOIDALIZE

08-15-2009, 12:26 AM

"The squares?" Are you one of those people who pierced his ear 6 times to make a statement?

Snarky_Kong

08-15-2009, 12:27 AM

Hire one of the Somali pirating ships. I'm sure they're sick of getting killed by marines and hacked up by Egyptians by now. They'd totally kill some whalers.

I agree though. These guys annoy the hell out of me and I laughed when they were crying about the whales.

Snarky_Kong

08-15-2009, 12:30 AM

Giraffe

08-15-2009, 12:36 AM

I donate money to the Sea Shepherds, and I'm glad they piss you off. If they didn't, I'd know they were being ineffective. As long as they're still pissing off the squares, they have my support, moral and financial. How it must gall you to know that Paul Watson isn't seeking your approval, and that he has the force to back up his beliefs. People like you are doing our job for us, driving otherwise "moderate" liberals into the arms of ELF and the Sea Shepherds -- who don't give a flying shit what you think of their methods.

You can't stop them, they aren't listening to you, and it seems to me that it's you who is useless and ineffectual.

Rub your mad spot.So your plan is to give people money whose ineffective use of it will anger those who would like to give money to support the same cause but won't now that they see how it's used in order to... raise money for the people you gave the money to in the first place? I'm not an activist, but that seems like a Moebius Strip of logic right there.

At least when you die, you can look back and know that your life wasn't wasted: you annoyed people. Can all of us say the same?

Uzi

08-15-2009, 01:13 AM

At least when you die, you can look back and know that your life wasn't wasted: you annoyed people. Can all of us say the same?

I annoy people all the time for free. I don't have to pay others to do it for me.

Hmmm, I wonder if there is a business opportunity here?

elucidator

08-15-2009, 01:29 AM

...I dated a hippy chick for a while, and I know the drill.....

I'll believe that when I see the restraining order.

straight man

08-15-2009, 01:37 AM

You can add my voice to the roar of approval for the magnificent OP. That might be the best-written Pit OP I've ever read.

SmashTheState, dear, the specific reason the OP doesn't like the Sea Shepherds is because they don't accomplish their mission. Your post is no more than a three-paragraph meditation on the words "Nuh-uh!!!

cckerberos

08-15-2009, 01:45 AM

Wouldn't time and money be better spent documenting what is happening and lobbying for the "research" loophole to be closed?
Not really, no. The research whaling doesn't really need to be documented; it's not a secret. And closing the loophole would probably just result in increased whaling, since the Japanese wouldn't feel the need to pretend anymore and would just leave the IWC.

Scruff

08-15-2009, 01:47 AM

How it must gall you to know that Paul Watson isn't seeking your approval, and that he has the force to back up his beliefs.
..SNIP..
You can't stop them, they aren't listening to you, and it seems to me that it's you who is useless and ineffectual.

If we go by the evidence of the TV show, Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherds (a stunning name for a folk-band) are a bunch of emo whiners who can barely figure out how to point the boat in the right direction. To combine with another show; I would love to see them run one storm in the vast Bering Sea - I think that the Coasties would be showing it at holiday parties for the next decade.

I can't stop them -- true that, but they don't need my help to be visibly ineffective. These folks are the Special Olympians of the eco-activist movement. That's why Paul Watson is irritating; not because he "speaks the truth" or "fights the good fight" but because he is demonstrably incompetent and he is wasting money/resources that a smarter person would be able to use.

On the other hand, he does seem good at self-promotion and separating fools from their money. You did say that you donated to his cause, right? Do you really think you are getting value for your money?

Argent Towers

08-15-2009, 01:51 AM

I don't know anything about this show but I don't understand how there can be a reality show about something like this. Isn't it a violation of laws to fuck with a company's vessels and equipment?

Attack from the 3rd dimension

08-15-2009, 02:06 AM

I donate money to the Sea Shepherds, and I'm glad they piss you off. If they didn't, I'd know they were being ineffective. As long as they're still pissing off the squares, they have my support, moral and financial. How it must gall you to know that Paul Watson isn't seeking your approval, and that he has the force to back up his beliefs. People like you are doing our job for us, driving otherwise "moderate" liberals into the arms of ELF and the Sea Shepherds -- who don't give a flying shit what you think of their methods.

You can't stop them, they aren't listening to you, and it seems to me that it's you who is useless and ineffectual.

Rub your mad spot.

I find this confusing. You are giving money to the SS to be spent wandering about on the Pakifik Okean pestering people? Should not this money be spent on helping the homeless? Isn't complaining about the Japanese eating whales one of those things that white people like to do? Hey, check it out, it is! (http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/02/07/58-japan/!)

drachillix

08-15-2009, 02:11 AM

Bunch of idiots.

I have taken to calling it Fail Wars

King Bobo

08-15-2009, 03:41 AM

Sea Shepherds, Rainbow Warriors and other gangs of Hippy-Dippies spending vast amounts of money raised from gullible saps who think they do some good.

Glad to see them exposed as the charlatans they appear to be to me.

In my mind they are fakes and do nothing but aggrandize themselves and their phony agenda.

Liberal

08-15-2009, 07:56 AM

"Hippie" is spelled "hippie".

SteveG1

08-15-2009, 08:18 AM

How DARE you suggest spending pot money on whales! Let the whales get their own pot. They could smoke a helluva splif through that blowhole, I wanna tell you!
The contact high though, would be AWESOME, DUDE!

SteveG1

08-15-2009, 08:28 AM

The hippies have their own navy now?! Great, what's next, a balloon armada protecting the forest from lumberjacks by draping giant AIDS quilts over the trees?
Let's make a musical. The hippies floating above the forest primeval, in their hot air balloons, helplessly floating away from where they want to go (because they didn't check the wind direction), and the lumberjacks shopping and eating buttered scones. One side singing "neun und neunzig luft balloon", and the other side (of course) singing the lumberjack song.

billfish678

08-15-2009, 09:15 AM

I donate money to the Sea Shepherds, and I'm glad they piss you off.
.

Do the panhandlers know you are spending THEIR money on this?

Nzinga, Seated

08-15-2009, 09:18 AM

I would prefer they just leave the whalers alone.

2ply

08-15-2009, 09:40 AM

I think most of the young and inexperience crew members have their heart in the right place, but few of them have the training they should have to be on a boat so far out in the middle of nowhere and that captain plus the other senior members don't provide any sort of leadership. I remember one episode where a young woman who spent time in the US Navy wanted to apply some of the procedures she learned in the navy to make the Steve Irwin more efficient. One of the hippie guys, who I think was the the first mate, dismissed what she had to say because he didn't like the military. But I bet if you took a bunch of navy men and women and stuck them on a small, unarmed boat, they could have prevented the whalers from killing a whale.

elucidator

08-15-2009, 09:41 AM

Well, see, that's the trouble with your fucking hippies! Without whaling, were would you get your whalebone corset stays, and ambergris? Ha! You'd have to find something else to blubber about then, wouldn't you!

SmashTheState

08-15-2009, 10:13 AM

Do the panhandlers know you are spending THEIR money on this?

Did you just accuse me of embezzling money from the Panhandlers' Union? I want you to be very clear when you answer this.

wolfman

08-15-2009, 10:17 AM

One of the hippie guys, who I think was the the first mate, dismissed what she had to say because he didn't like the military. But I bet if you took a bunch of navy men and women and stuck them on a small, unarmed boat, they could have prevented the whalers from killing a whale.

Well if the 'First mate' is the best war-leader than could find, I kinda doubt how efficient you could make that crew. Kinda like Martin and Ralph following Milhouse into battle. Peak Effectiveness just isn't going to be that high.

runner pat

08-15-2009, 10:19 AM

Did you just accuse me of embezzling money from the Panhandlers' Union? I want you to be very clear when you answer this.

My guess: Not embezzlement, just a poor choice of how the money is used.

billfish678

08-15-2009, 10:30 AM

Did you just accuse me of embezzling money from the Panhandlers' Union? I want you to be very clear when you answer this.

Awww.

Your a wise man wise to the ways of this world and how the system really works...as you tell us so often...take it how you want.

SteveG1

08-15-2009, 10:32 AM

Well if the 'First mate' is the best war-leader than could find, I kinda doubt how efficient you could make that crew. Kinda like Martin and Ralph following Milhouse into battle. Peak Effectiveness just isn't going to be that high.

A three hour toouurr

A threeeee hour tooouuuurrr

whole bean

08-15-2009, 10:41 AM

I donate money to the Sea Shepherds, and I'm glad they piss you off. If they didn't, I'd know they were being ineffective. As long as they're still pissing off the squares, they have my support, moral and financial. How it must gall you to know that Paul Watson isn't seeking your approval, and that he has the force to back up his beliefs. People like you are doing our job for us, driving otherwise "moderate" liberals into the arms of ELF and the Sea Shepherds -- who don't give a flying shit what you think of their methods.

You can't stop them, they aren't listening to you, and it seems to me that it's you who is useless and ineffectual.

Rub your mad spot.

Heh. I am one of these moderate liberals of which you speak. Near every word of Scylla's post rang true. No argument here really, just a single data point to suggest that what you think these people are accomplishing by way of PR might not be happening.

SmashTheState

08-15-2009, 10:41 AM

Do the panhandlers know you are spending THEIR money on this?

Did you just accuse me of embezzling money from the Panhandlers' Union? I want you to be very clear when you answer this.

Awww.

Your a wise man wise to the ways of this world and how the system really works...as you tell us so often...take it how you want.

You appear to have accused me of taking funds from the Ottawa Panhandlers' Union, an organization in which I am on public record as being spokesperson, and giving it to the Sea Shepherds. If I did this, I would be in commission of a criminal act. You appear, to me, to be accusing me on a public forum of a criminal act. When I requested that you make it clear whether or not you have accused me of embezzling funds from the OPU, your response is, and I quote, "take it how you want."

I'm going to repeat my request. Please state whether or not you're accusing me of embezzling funds from the Ottawa Panhandlers' Union.

whole bean

08-15-2009, 10:44 AM

You appear to have accused me of taking funds from the Ottawa Panhandlers' Union, an organization in which I am on public record as being spokesperson, and giving it to the Sea Shepherds. If I did this, I would be in commission of a criminal act. You appear, to me, to be accusing me on a public forum of a criminal act. When I requested that you make it clear whether or not you have accused me of embezzling funds from the OPU, your response is, and I quote, "take it how you want."

I'm going to repeat my request. Please state whether or not you're accusing me of embezzling funds from the Ottawa Panhandlers' Union.

ETA: glove slap

billfish678

08-15-2009, 10:44 AM

I'm going to repeat my request. Please state whether or not you're accusing me of embezzling funds from the Ottawa Panhandlers' Union.

No.

From the Schrodengers cat school of legal defense.

billfish678

08-15-2009, 10:46 AM

ETA: glove slap

Better yet.

Dueling bloviations at high noon tommorrow. Spectators ear protection highly recommended :)

billfish678

08-15-2009, 10:49 AM

Heh. I am one of these moderate liberals of which you speak. Near every word of Scylla's post rang true. No argument here really, just a single data point to suggest that what you think these people are accomplishing by way of PR might not be happening.

Of course Smashthestate missed the whole point of the post.

If someone who LIKES whales and hates whalers thinks the whale savers are a bunch of ineffective wankers, they gotta be pretty damn bad. And it makes a good arguement that they are doing more harm than good.

Johnny L.A.

08-15-2009, 10:52 AM

Did anyone else want to grab a screen shot of Paul Watson and caption it?

SAD SHEPHERD IS SAD

Some of the suggestions in the OP have been addressed. They've tried prop fouling, and I think they were marginally successful once. (The fouled prop was cleared quickly and the harpoon ship went on its way.) The other attempts they've shown have all failed. As far as shooting the stink-juice, that might be considered shooting at a commercial vessel; an act of piracy. Also, the Dutch government has forbidden anything from being thrown from Steve Irwin at other vessels. The missiles have to be thrown from the inflatables. I haven't noticed the registration of the 300C, nor do I know where the pilot is licensed. (Anyone noticed that he's the 'Aviation Director' and not 'Helicopter Pilot'?) In the U.S., it is illegal to drop things from an aircraft that might cause a hazard to people below. I'll bet there are ICAO rules against it too. So aerial attack is out. Contaminating the dead whales with butyric acid as they float in the water might work, but they'd have to get very close. Also, I don't think the SS crew have the fortitude to do it.

I'm all for ending whaling. But IMO Paul Watson is a megalomaniac who uses naïve and gullible people to make himself feel important.

friedo

08-15-2009, 10:53 AM

ETA: glove slap

Butyric acid at dawn, sir.

Then we'll smoke a bowl for TEH WAHLEZ!

Johnny L.A.

08-15-2009, 10:53 AM

You appear to have accused me of taking funds from the Ottawa Panhandlers' Union...

I didn't even know Ottawa had a panhandle!

runner pat

08-15-2009, 11:16 AM

SmashTheState

08-15-2009, 11:22 AM

Embezzlement is the act of using funds or materials entrusted to you for personal gains.

Donating to political causes is not usually embezzlement. Different Unions may have specific rules about use of dues.

He answered, I'm satisfied with the answer, I consider the matter closed.

SteveG1

08-15-2009, 11:27 AM

Of course Smashthestate missed the whole point of the post.

If someone who LIKES whales and hates whalers thinks the whale savers are a bunch of ineffective wankers, they gotta be pretty damn bad. And it makes a good arguement that they are doing more harm than good.
That was the entire point of Scylla's OP. Not that he is a whale hater, which I'm, 99.999999999... percent sure he isn't, but that the "sea shepherds" are incompetent buffoons. Hell, I like whales too.

Boyo Jim

08-15-2009, 11:29 AM

...Hell, I like whales too.

Me too. Yum!

Turek

08-15-2009, 11:47 AM

He answered, I'm satisfied with the answer, I consider the matter closed.

It is not humanly possible for you to be a bigger douchebag.

RedFury

08-15-2009, 11:55 AM

He answered, I'm satisfied with the answer, I consider the matter closed.

I accuse you of shamelessness and debauchery!

There. I feel all better.

E-Sabbath

08-15-2009, 12:42 PM

He answered, I'm satisfied with the answer, I consider the matter closed.

He didn't answer, Smashie. He said he wasn't saying if he was saying you were or were not embezzling.

newcrasher

08-15-2009, 01:07 PM

Hell, I like whales too.

They taste good! Like fishy chicken.

ETA - Boyo Jim table for 2?

Happy Scrappy Hero Pup

08-15-2009, 01:17 PM

He answered, I'm satisfied with the answer, I consider the matter closed.

Even if you didn't consider the matter closed, what the hell would you DO?

Donate money so some people on bikes could circle him and cry about how mean he is?

Besides, aren't you proud of committing criminal acts in the name of all that is good and square-pissing-off?

Zsofia

08-15-2009, 01:23 PM

He didn't answer, Smashie. He said he wasn't saying if he was saying you were or were not embezzling.
Yeah, you better make sure you go after him and annoy the crap out of him so we can watch and laugh. God, I can't get enough of it!

ETA - I nominate him for Best Asshole Ever, and I have seen them come and go on these here boards.

Giraffe

08-15-2009, 01:45 PM

He answered, I'm satisfied with the answer, I consider the matter closed.Thank goodness you resolved this highly important and relevant issue. I'm sure billfish768 is greatly relieved you weren't forced to devote the vast resources of a jobless anarchist to prosecute him for saying something untrue about you on the Internet. Crisis averted.

Boyo Jim

08-15-2009, 02:01 PM

Thank goodness you resolved this highly important and relevant issue. I'm sure billfish768 is greatly relieved you weren't forced to devote the vast resources of a jobless anarchist to prosecute him for saying something untrue about you on the Internet. Crisis averted.

Not one jobless anarchist, but a potential legion of them, if he is able to marshall the resources of the Panhandlers Union.

Hmmm... a panhandlers union? Do you have to serve an apprenticeship? Do you split up the territory, with senior panhandlers getting favored corners? Are there dues?

billfish678

08-15-2009, 03:43 PM

He answered, I'm satisfied with the answer, I consider the matter closed.

Imagine this scene:

James Bond, played by me of course.

Evil take over the world guy, Panmember, played by Smashthesate.

Bond: Oh shit, he's got me now, I am all tied up ! (of course Bond just thinks this, not saying it)

Panmember : Answer the question Mr Bond or my big scary laser will slice you up !

Bond : No !

All of a sudden, leaking balloon sound as now obviously fake giant inflatable laser starts to embarrassing go limp (heh)

Panmember : Nevermind, I have better things to do!

Bond works hard to stiffle laughs to keep just a bit of dignity to the whole scene.

FinnAgain

08-15-2009, 03:53 PM

Wait, what's this rumor about Smash stealing money from panhandlers at gunpoint and addicting them to cocaine so he can pimp them out to corporate bachelor parties? I am intrigued.

Sweetums

08-15-2009, 03:55 PM

Of course they are ineffective. The Sea Shepherds are basically trying to carry out commerce raiding without actually breaking the law (or at least as much as they can get away with).

If they wanted to be effective they would have to mount guns on a few ships and start sinking whaling ships, worked rather well for Confederate commerce raiders during the war. Of course international law looks rather dimly on this.

The other reason they are ineffective is the fact they they are comically inept, very few people on bear have any idea wheat they are doing and the fist mate is an idiot who honestly shouldn't be allowed to peddle a fiberglass swan arround a lake. Add to this, the command of a captain who would gladly sacrifice his ship and crew if he thought he would get a little more publicity.

I wonder if Animal Planet will actually show it when the ship ends up hitting an iceberg and sinking, or loses one of the small boats and its crew for good.

SmashTheState

08-15-2009, 04:09 PM

Imagine this scene

I'm sorry, was I mistaken? I assumed that you were confirming you didn't intend to accuse me of embezzling funds from the OPU. Could you clarify the answer for me? I am aware you regard this as amusing, but our organization can't afford to have an accusation of improper use of funds on a public forum.

I'm asking again, will you confirm that you were just making a joke and didn't intend to imply I made improper use of union funds?

Zsofia

08-15-2009, 04:32 PM

I would imagine your organization can't really afford much of anything, dear.

billfish678

08-15-2009, 04:35 PM

I'm sorry, was I mistaken? I assumed that you were confirming you didn't intend to accuse me of embezzling funds from the OPU. Could you clarify the answer for me? I am aware you regard this as amusing, but our organization can't afford to have an accusation of improper use of funds on a public forum.

Your cause probably can't afford to have your bloviations all over this forum associated with their cause either.

Seriously.

Your cause is probably just, but even just the NAME of the cause AND your username here probably do more harm than good for it. Add all the off the wall stuff you post here and that even makes it worse. Unless you are operating on the theory that any publicity is good publicity.

Seriously.

If I could round up all the folks that have donated to your cause, then have them read all the stuff you've posted on this forum, I can certainly imagine a large fraction of them wondering who the hell they have given their hard earned money to.

Seriously.

Your are no doubt smart, but man, dude, do you need to mature a bit, quit taking yourself so damn seriously, quit thinking you are so much smarter than everyone else (particularly when you think pointing out what OTHER smart people have stated over the years somehow magically makes you smart too), and understand the implications of all this bloviating on your cherished cause.

The parallels between the OPs beef with the whalers and you and your cause are significant.

Lighten up dude.

Seriously.

SteveG1

08-15-2009, 04:39 PM

I wonder if Animal Planet will actually show it when the ship ends up hitting an iceberg and sinking, or loses one of the small boats and its crew for good.
Tonight. The world television premiere. When Whales Attack. Viewer discretion advised.

Palooka

08-15-2009, 05:11 PM

Did anyone else want to grab a screen shot of Paul Watson and caption it?

SAD SHEPHERD IS SADYes! (http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/6162/defaultclp.jpg)

The changes in the Japanese fleet between the two seasons of this show were really impressive. Those guys know what they're doing.

Bryan Ekers

08-15-2009, 05:18 PM

I donate money to the Sea Shepherds

Sure, you do.

Johnny L.A.

08-15-2009, 05:29 PM

Yes! (http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/6162/defaultclp.jpg)

Heh. :D

There was one shot in the show where he was standing on the bridge, I think, and he was just totally deflated. He was sad, defeated, uncomprehending, and just totally lost-looking. That's what was on the screen when I thought of the caption.

Thanks for posting that.

Scylla

08-15-2009, 05:37 PM

, but our organization can't afford to have an accusation of improper use of funds on a public forum.

I'm sorry but I was not aware that you were an official representative of an organization posting on this message board in an official capacity.

I'm not aware of this, because you never said so, nor is there anything in your profile to suggest.

If you are not posting officially in such a capacity, than I guess he can accuse you of whatever he wants without it reflecting upon your as yet unnamed organization (The Society for Worthless Individuals, perhaps?)

If you are posting in a capacity, you should probably identify yourself as doing so. Once you do, of course you'll need to clear it with the Board's administration prior to posting as there are rules against spamming and this is a recreational discussion board.

The above were to be true if we were to take you seriously.

As it is, you are full of shit. The fact is any organization that has you as a representative can surely afford to be accused of embezzling the money of panhandlers, as that would most likely be a step up.

I'm asking again, will you confirm that you were just making a joke and didn't intend to imply I made improper use of union funds?

I doubt any such union exists. As such it would be hard for you to embezzle their money. Hence, a joke, most likely.

You are a Sea Shepherd, aren't you? You have all the symptoms, the self-importance, the incompetance, the whole deal.

SteveG1

08-15-2009, 05:40 PM

Me too. Yum!
Whale. mmmmmmm. Throw another whale on the barby.

runner pat

08-15-2009, 05:45 PM

I'm sorry but I was not aware that you were an official representative of an organization posting on this message board in an official capacity.

I'm not aware of this, because you never said so, nor is there anything in your profile to suggest.

If you are not posting officially in such a capacity, than I guess he can accuse you of whatever he wants without it reflecting upon your as yet unnamed organization (The Society for Worthless Individuals, perhaps?)

If you are posting in a capacity, you should probably identify yourself as doing so. Once you do, of course you'll need to clear it with the Board's administration prior to posting as there are rules against spamming and this is a recreational discussion board.

The above were to be true if we were to take you seriously.

As it is, you are full of shit. The fact is any organization that has you as a representative can surely afford to be accused of embezzling the money of panhandlers, as that would most likely be a step up.

I doubt any such union exists. As such it would be hard for you to embezzle their money. Hence, a joke, most likely.

You are a Sea Shepherd, aren't you? You have all the symptoms, the self-importance, the incompetance, the whole deal.

Ottawa Panhandlers Union. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottawa_Panhandlers%27_Union)

Ask the Oganizer (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=526595)

Jettboy

08-15-2009, 05:46 PM

It's the other other white meat...

Southern Yankee

08-15-2009, 05:52 PM

SteveG1

08-15-2009, 05:58 PM

Can anyone recommend a good wine that goes well with whale? It's a mammal (red meat?) so a red wine might fit, but it sort of looks like a fish (white wine). Maybe I should split the difference with a pinkish colored wine?

Decisions, decisions.

Alessan

08-15-2009, 06:03 PM

Rum. Or grog, if you're on a budget.

Scylla

08-15-2009, 06:03 PM

Ottawa Panhandlers Union. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottawa_Panhandlers%27_Union)

Ask the Oganizer (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=526595)

Well, I'll be.....

I had thought that too stupid to be real.

Scylla

08-15-2009, 06:05 PM

FinnAgain

08-15-2009, 06:07 PM

Skip wine entirely, whale is actually pretty good with poor person blood.

elucidator

08-15-2009, 06:11 PM

So, the same way you cook baby Harp seal, then?

Scylla

08-15-2009, 06:13 PM

Did anyone else want to grab a screen shot of Paul Watson and caption it?

Some of the suggestions in the OP have been addressed. They've tried prop fouling, and I think they were marginally successful once. (The fouled prop was cleared quickly and the harpoon ship went on its way.) The other attempts they've shown have all failed.

I would guess that their failure here is not particularly indicative. They could try doing it well. I would think a thick wire would be a winner. For a kicker, you can put something one the end of it that would permanently screw the prop when it got pulled in.

As far as shooting the stink-juice, that might be considered shooting at a commercial vessel; an act of piracy. Also, the Dutch government has forbidden anything from being thrown from Steve Irwin at other vessels.

On last nights episodes they were openly throwing acid from the deck of the Steve Irwin at the whaling vessel.

The missiles have to be thrown from the inflatables.

Again, they through them from the Steve Irwin last night. No question about it.

They're not in the US.

[quote]I'll bet there are ICAO rules against it too. So aerial attack is out.

Or... since you are in the Antarctic circle, you turn off the cameras and then drop the stuff.

If the whalers can whale claiming they are doing research, I'm sure the helicopter can drop stuff and claim it fell out. Ooops.

Contaminating the dead whales with butyric acid as they float in the water might work, but they'd have to get very close. Also, I don't think the SS crew have the fortitude to do it.

I agree.

I'm all for ending whaling. But IMO Paul Watson is a megalomaniac who uses naïve and gullible people to make himself feel important.

Hey! Write your own OP. Don't steal my thesis or I'll report you to the Panhandler's Union.

Johnny L.A.

08-15-2009, 06:13 PM

I'd treat it like pork.

'You're a farm boy. You remember this sound: Weeeeee! Weeeeeee! Weeeeee!'

Which reminds me of this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht-JWdN8VN0).

(Warning 1: Probably NSFW.)

(Warning 2: What has been seen, can't be unseen.)

SteveG1

08-15-2009, 06:15 PM

I'd treat it like pork.
Okay, sounds yummylicious.

SteveG1

08-15-2009, 06:16 PM

Skip wine entirely, whale is actually pretty good with poor person blood.
Tends to be a little thin. But then, bankers are a little too rich. The priest? Divine. :eek:

Scylla

08-15-2009, 06:19 PM

Tends to be a little thin. But then, bankers are a little too rich. The priest? Divine. :eek:

Done surprisingly well:

http://www.lyricsondemand.com/soundtracks/s/sweeneytoddlyrics/alittlepriestlyrics.html

"LOVETT:
It's priest. Have a little priest.
TODD:
Is it really good?
LOVETT:
Sir, it's too good, at least!
Then again, they don't commit sins of the flesh,
So it's pretty fresh.
TODD:
Awful lot of fat.
LOVETT:
Only where it sat.
TODD:
Haven't you got poet, or something like that?
LOVETT:
No, y'see, the trouble with poet is
'Ow do you know it's deceased?
Try the priest!

TODD: (spoken) Heavenly!
Not as hearty as bishop, perhaps,
but then again, not as bland as curate, either!

LOVETT:
And good for business, too -- always leaves you wantin' more!
Trouble is, we only get it on Sundays!"

SteveG1

08-15-2009, 06:22 PM

I was expecting that someone would get the reference. I commend you :)

Scylla

08-15-2009, 06:23 PM

I was expecting that someone would get the reference. I commend you :)

Thank you. Clearly you are a man of..... taste.

Knorf

08-15-2009, 06:25 PM

Scylla, I appreciate much of your OP, but I have a serious question to ask you:

Why do you hate paragraphs?

Johnny L.A.

08-15-2009, 06:26 PM

I would guess that their failure here is not particularly indicative. They could try doing it well. I would think a thick wire would be a winner. For a kicker, you can put something one the end of it that would permanently screw the prop when it got pulled in.
Which points to their incompetence.
On last nights episodes they were openly throwing acid from the deck of the Steve Irwin at the whaling vessel.

Again, they through them from the Steve Irwin last night. No question about it.
True. Which doesn't change the fact that they had been warned by the Ditch government not to, lest they lose their Dutch flag. (If they are not sailing under a flag, then they become pirates when they engage in their activities.)
They're not in the US.
I can't find a handy cite, but I believe that U.S. regulations apply to U.S. registered aircraft and/or pilots holding a U.S. certificate no matter where they are. (Of course they have to comply with local regulations.)
Or... since you are in the Antarctic circle, you turn off the cameras and then drop the stuff.

If the whalers can whale claiming they are doing research, I'm sure the helicopter can drop stuff and claim it fell out. Ooops.
The Japanese don't have cameras?
Hey! Write your own OP. Don't steal my thesis or I'll report you to the Panhandler's Union.
Meh. I posted the same thing in Cafe Society months ago.

Attack from the 3rd dimension

08-15-2009, 06:28 PM

Wait, what's this rumor about Smash stealing money from panhandlers at gunpoint and addicting them to cocaine so he can pimp them out to corporate bachelor parties?[bolding added]I am intrigued.

Jeeze, corporate benefits have really gone down the tubes, haven't they?

billfish678

08-15-2009, 06:28 PM

Scylla, I appreciate much of your OP, but I have a serious question to ask you:

Why do you hate paragraphs?

Maybe.

Because.

People.

Dont.

Talk.

That.

Way :)....... just my opinion mind you :)

elucidator

08-15-2009, 06:30 PM

Well, I do, but nobody ever listens very long.

Giraffe

08-15-2009, 06:30 PM

SteveG1

08-15-2009, 06:30 PM

Thank you. Clearly you are a man of..... taste.
Say that in Doctor Lector's voice, and it would be perfect :eek:

FinnAgain

08-15-2009, 06:33 PM

Jeeze, corporate benefits have really gone down the tubes, haven't they?

The economic troubles truly have hit everybody.

Rand Rover

08-15-2009, 06:33 PM

It's no wonder that EatTheState feels a kinship to large bloated creatures that hippie douches feel some need to donate money to.

Also, the TV show has made life even more dangerous for the Sea Douches. Now, the whalers could just torpedo the boat and machine gun the survivors, and everyone would just assume that they failed their own way to the bottom of the sea.

billfish678

08-15-2009, 06:39 PM

The economic troubles truly have hit everybody.

Don't even ask what us temps get at OUR parties...I'd give my left nut to get pimped out panhandlers addicted to cocaine :)

SteveG1

08-15-2009, 06:39 PM

It's no wonder that EatTheState feels a kinship to large bloated creatures that hippie douches feel some need to donate money to. .

Don't be so damned mean. Whales are not bloated. They're just big boned.

Scissorjack

08-15-2009, 06:46 PM

I am aware you regard this as amusing, but our organization can't afford to have an accusation of improper use of funds on a public forum.

Yeah, I'd be pretty pissed off if I gave a bum a couple of bucks to buy rubbing alcohol and roll-yer-owns only to find he'd squandered my largesse on a bunch of quixotic hippies. Please, please tell me you're audited.

Scylla

08-15-2009, 07:00 PM

Scylla

Why do you hate paragraphs?

How could you possibly suggest that?

I love paragraphs.

If you read my OP, than you should know that I love them so much I feel every sentence should have one.

Happy Scrappy Hero Pup

08-15-2009, 07:01 PM

I'm asking again, will you confirm that you were just making a joke and didn't intend to imply I made improper use of union funds?

What if I stated it out loud?

What the hell would you DO?

Don't Call Me Shirley

08-15-2009, 07:07 PM

SmashtheState, I accuse you of stealing money from the panhandler's union and donating it to the Sea Shepards.

Amp

08-15-2009, 07:08 PM

SmashtheState, I accuse you of stealing money from the panhandler's union and donating it to the Sea Shepards.

Surely, you can't be serious?

MOIDALIZE

08-15-2009, 07:18 PM

I heard Smash used union funds to buy $240 worth of pudding.

Awwwwwwwwwww yeaaaaaaaaaah

Scissorjack

08-15-2009, 07:37 PM

I want to know how he justifies spending the people's hard-scrounged money on a fashionably white, middle-class, conscience-salving, feel good but do nothing useful cause such as saving whales. It's typical of the petit bourgoise mentality to get maudlin and sentimental about animals being killed half a world away when there are children are starving in our very own streets. Unless it's a finely wrought and elegantly ironic epater against the Japanese bourgoisie, in which case kudos.

elucidator

08-15-2009, 07:37 PM

Black Sabbath 8-tracks.

Scissorjack

08-15-2009, 07:43 PM

Well, I'll be.....

I had thought that too stupid to be real.

Oh dear sweet God. "The guy who writes our press releases has to leave the room every fifteen minutes or so to take a sip of hand sanitiser." (http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=20080130081553829) Well, I guess he does live a hand-to-mouth existence.

FinnAgain

08-15-2009, 07:44 PM

Never mind all that. He can start his crusade against private property by giving me his computer.
And all the money that people are talking about him embezzling from the OPU.

SteveG1

08-15-2009, 07:46 PM

Scruff

08-15-2009, 07:55 PM

Oh dear sweet God. "The guy who writes our press releases has to leave the room every fifteen minutes or so to take a sip of hand sanitiser." (http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=20080130081553829) Well, I guess he does live a hand-to-mouth existence.

Well played, sir or madam. Made me groan out loud. Of course now everyone in the coffee-shop is looking at me :p

Southern Yankee

08-15-2009, 08:12 PM

You are all SO on the list now. That's right. No more Canadian panhandlers will be asking YOU for money or cigarettes. That that!

billfish678

08-15-2009, 08:14 PM

Well played, sir or madam. Made me groan out loud. Of course now everyone in the coffee-shop is looking at me :p

Waiter !

I'll have what HE is drinking :)

Grumman

08-15-2009, 08:50 PM

It is not humanly possible for you to be a bigger douchebag.
"Humanly"? It's not physically possible for him to be a bigger douchebag, or he'd collapse under his own gravity.

JRDelirious

08-15-2009, 09:20 PM

Thank you, Scylla, for in your own imitable but hard-to-equal way you call out the self-important ineffectual dipshit hippy grandiosity of the likes of Sea Shepherds, but also because through these thread responses, you remind us that for every self-important ineffectual dip who uses a sincere cause to get publicity and their own boat and TV show, while making the cause look silly and infuriating those who want results, there are many, many small, upstart, local self-important ineffectual dips who toil away in anonymity at the hometown level trying to push forth a sincere cause but at best only get a message board post in which to look and sound silly.

Just you wait until the OPU has its own TV show! We'll all be able to say we knew them when!

Liberal

08-15-2009, 09:26 PM

Black Sabbath 8-tracks.I am [...click, click, churrrrrrr, click, churrrrrrr, click, click ...] Iron Man!

Uzi

08-15-2009, 10:17 PM

Just you wait until the OPU has its own TV show! We'll all be able to say we knew them when!

I think they do already. It's called 'Bumfights' if I'm not mistaken.

billfish678

08-15-2009, 10:18 PM

I'm asking again, will you confirm that you were just making a joke and didn't intend to imply I made improper use of union funds?

Good grief.

I'll address this so you don't frett all weekend.

Think about it. This is the BBQ pit. God doesn't get respect here. Complain about your house burning down and three posts later someone is asking what the hell you did to cause it and you probably deserved it anyway.

I don't know you from Adam. You don't know me from Adam. I don't think we have even conversed directly here on this forum. I live thousands of miles from you. How would I know shit about your detailed financial dealings? Why would anyone with a fraction of a brain take one short sentence here as anything significant? I am sure there is one sentence on the internet somewhere that has billfish doing something really bad (internet, a billion monkeys with typewriters....).

This is the Pit, where pile ons are the standard. Liberal? Give em hell. Conservative? Give em hell. Anything? Give em hell and pile it on.

The pit is the place to put folks in "their place". Nothing is sacred here.

And plenty of folks here deserve it on one thing or another. Hell, some folks like it!

Now, I am going to say a few things. They are not made to make me feel superior. They are not said to make you look bad or whatever. They are honestly said in hopes that good things will come from them.

Your posts borderline on the "conspiracy nut" type. I would not be surprised that in your heart you actually care for peoples well being. That you want good things for good people. For the downtrodden. For the unfortunate.

I also have no doubt that in many ways you are quite intelligent.

But let me give you my pop-psych 2 cents worth.

It seems to me many folks that are "on the edge" mental health wise are quite smart and articulate in their own way. As well as quite active in one fashion regarding their special cause.

You seem to fit this bill. And folks like that often seem to go over the edge sooner or later.

Seriously, do you have any "normal" folks you interact with on a regular basis that keep an eye on your "mental balance" so to speak? If not, you need to find some IMO. The panhandlers arent gonna cut it. Nor are people on the internet. Real life folks that interact with you in person on a regular basis are what you need .

Forgive me if you take this as condescending as shit, but from where I sit, it looks like you are one mental overload from the permanent flip out.

I sincerely hope you have someone looking out for you. And that you are watching out for yourself mentally speaking.

Forgive me if you take offense at this.

Best wishes and good luck.

Blll

SteveG1

08-15-2009, 10:37 PM

This is the Pit, where pile ons are the standard. Liberal? Give em hell. Conservative? Give em hell. Anything? Give em hell and pile it on.

The pit is the place to put folks in "their place". Nothing is sacred here.

And plenty of folks here deserve it on one thing or another. Hell, some folks like it!

Yupper, this is where we all come to beat the shit out of each other. That's what the Pit is for.

E-Sabbath

08-15-2009, 10:45 PM

And occasionally, pie recipies.

Scruff

08-15-2009, 11:29 PM

"What sort of pies??"

SteveG1

08-15-2009, 11:44 PM

I like pie.

Wilson

08-15-2009, 11:47 PM

"I'll come again when there is panhandler on the menu..."

Doesn't quite scan.

Attack from the 3rd dimension

08-16-2009, 12:09 AM

I want to know how he justifies spending the people's hard-scrounged money on a fashionably white, middle-class, conscience-salving, feel good but do nothing useful cause such as saving whales. It's typical of the petit bourgoise mentality to get maudlin and sentimental about animals being killed half a world away when there are children are starving in our very own streets.

Especially since us nearby Kanadians are eating seal, although mostly from the Atlantik and Artik Okeans.

Mmmmmm, seal.*

*actually, I'm not a big fan of seal-too fishy and too fatty. Still, I felt I should eat it when presented with it, little realizing I was potentially running afoul of the OPU.

Projammer

08-16-2009, 12:15 AM

I had come to post that if the Sea Shepherds actually had the courage of their convictions that they would do whatever they had to to save the poor whales and damn the consequences.

The only way they can accomplish their stated goal would be to scuttle the factory ship somewhere in the artic circle where salvage is not an effective option.

They would need to invest in some scuba tow devices and maybe a dozen limpet mines. Send the rafts in with divers and attach the mines to the ship. Then get on the radio and warn the ship that the engine compartment will be holed in 5 minutes and that they should evacuate the room and seal the hatches leading to it. Once that is done, get on the radio again to let the whaler know that the rest of the mines will be detonated in 2 hours so they really should get everyone off and onto the harpoon ships.

Obviously this is all just a mental exercise as there seems to be no one involved with them that could be trusted not to drop a mine on their foot and sink the Steve Irwin.

The surprise came when I went to get a link to limpet mines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limpet_mine). In the section 'Examples of use'In 1980 a limpet mine was used to sink the Sierra, a whaling vessel which docked in Portugal after a confrontation with Sea Shepherd.
While it doesn't say that SS was responsible, the implication is clearly there.

So apparantly the Sheperds weren't always incompetent, impotent, media whores. Wonder what happened. Testicles got frozen off in the artic circle?

Boyo Jim

08-16-2009, 12:36 AM

Tends to be a little thin. But then, bankers are a little too rich. The priest? Divine. :eek:

Mix some grain alcohol into melted whale blubber. It will taste horrible until you drink enough of it, and it's certainly thick and rich.

wolfman

08-16-2009, 01:01 AM

Mix some grain alcohol into melted whale blubber. It will taste horrible until you drink enough of it, and it's certainly thick and rich.

Hmm crappy alcohol and whale. That would be blog. That explains much of the internet.

mswas

08-16-2009, 01:29 AM

I haven't read anything but the original post and I would like to say:

Scylla
You realize that air cannons are firearms and they still hang people for Piracy right?

Robert Pickton

08-16-2009, 03:42 AM

I am [...click, click, churrrrrrr, click, churrrrrrr, click, click ...] Iron Man!

Come on now. You know that's not where the click is, ya fucking Hippie.

What amazes me is that, when the Whaling vessels start using the SS's tactics on them, the folks on the SS acted all suprised and shit. They actually seem to believe that those they are attacking shouldn't try to fight back in any way because that wouldn't be fair and all.

Well, like Bro. GusNSpot has always preached, "The World is round, not fair." That was the second thing I taught my son as soon as he showed he could grasp concepts (Root Hog or Die was the first).

I have to say that the Captain ordering folks to go out on deck and point Direct TV dishes at the Japaneese vessels in an attempt to make them believe that the SS had LRADs too was the most pitiful thing I've ever seen in my life. I can just see the conversation on the bridge of the Nisshin Maru...

Captain: WTF? They have LRADs?

Cabin Boy: (Looking thru even a cheap ass pair of binoculars) Nope. It looks like they're cable has gone out and the Captain want's to watch Wheel of Fortune.

Want to stop the Nisshin Maru? Let it ram you instead of running.

Happy Scrappy Hero Pup

08-16-2009, 03:56 AM

What amazes me is that, when the Whaling vessels start using the SS's tactics on them, the folks on the SS acted all suprised and shit.

I hate to say "this," but... this.

It's like some panhandlers had gotten together and obstructed some people's business to prove a point, then got surprised when those same people obstructed the panhandlers!

But... but.. that's not FAIR!

Robert Pickton

08-16-2009, 05:02 AM

I hate to say "this," but... this.

It's like some panhandlers had gotten together and obstructed some people's business to prove a point, then got surprised when those same people obstructed the panhandlers!

But... but.. that's not FAIR!

Its just like the panhandler that got aggressive with me last week. Him and his one and a half legs, sitting in his wheelchair, blocking the door of a diner next to the one I'd called my lunch order into, trying to intimidate folks into giving him money by playing on his missing leg, asked me for $5. When I walked by without acknowledging him, he said, "Cat got your tongue" I stopped and asked him, "Cat got your leg?"

I get the whole panhandling bit. But the fuckers need to learn to grow a little thicker skin. Especially when their breath tells me that the money I give them for gas will allow them to drive drunk.

Happy Scrappy Hero Pup

08-16-2009, 05:05 AM

IHim and his one and a half legs...Especially when their breath tells me that the money I give them for gas will allow them to drive drunk.

Well, he ain't driving stick, that's for sure.

Princhester

08-16-2009, 05:26 AM

...this big beautiful boat...

...big old comfortable boat...

...a nice luxury boat...

I'm broadly with you on the OP, but a 1975 built ex Scottish fisheries patrol boat is a big, old, comfortable, beautiful, nice, luxury boat? I've been on big, old, comfortable, beautiful, nice, luxury boats. I've been on ex-services patrol boats. I haven't been on board the "Steve Irwin" but I'm having real difficulties reconciling my experiences and your comments in the OP.

Mr. Moto

08-16-2009, 08:43 AM

Well, I do, but nobody ever listens very long.

That's always been true - but it's not because of how you talk.

Rand Rover

08-16-2009, 09:37 AM

Mswas--you find a cite yet for your strange distinction based on use of a firearm? When we last discussed this, it was all coming out of your pointy little head.

To re-iterate, you seem to think that throwing acid is A-OK in the eyes of "international piracy law" but shooting that same acid over with a firearm would make the SS subject to hanging. Also, an air cannon counts as a "firearm"? What about a slingshot?

MichaelQReilly

08-16-2009, 09:42 AM

I don't know anything about this show but I don't understand how there can be a reality show about something like this. Isn't it a violation of laws to fuck with a company's vessels and equipment?

I addressed this in the GD thread on this subject. Basically, the only countries that are in a place to enforce any laws are Australia and New Zealand, both of whom claim Antarctic waters as part of their territory. However, neither country has much love for whaling, so they aren't going to go out of their way to do anything about it.

Scylla

08-16-2009, 10:07 AM

I'm broadly with you on the OP, but a 1975 built ex Scottish fisheries patrol boat is a big, old, comfortable, beautiful, nice, luxury boat? I've been on big, old, comfortable, beautiful, nice, luxury boats. I've been on ex-services patrol boats. I haven't been on board the "Steve Irwin" but I'm having real difficulties reconciling my experiences and your comments in the OP.

It's clearly been overhauled and remodelled. It looked quite cushy on the show.

Scylla

08-16-2009, 10:08 AM

I haven't read anything but the original post and I would like to say:

Scylla
You realize that air cannons are firearms and they still hang people for Piracy right?

No. I didn't know that. You got a cite for the air cannons are firearms under international law, thing?

Mr. Moto

08-16-2009, 10:29 AM

I'm broadly with you on the OP, but a 1975 built ex Scottish fisheries patrol boat is a big, old, comfortable, beautiful, nice, luxury boat? I've been on big, old, comfortable, beautiful, nice, luxury boats. I've been on ex-services patrol boats. I haven't been on board the "Steve Irwin" but I'm having real difficulties reconciling my experiences and your comments in the OP.

Beats hell out of some I've been on. I spent a week on a Venezuelan frigate with no working evaporators. Kept "clean" with baby wipes, and there were no women around at all, let alone loose hippie chicks.

Johnny L.A.

08-16-2009, 11:03 AM

and there were no women around at all
There was, however, a barrel with a hole in it on the deck; which you could use every day but Thursday.

elucidator

08-16-2009, 11:05 AM

OK, I'll hate myself in the morning, but.....why Thursday?

(Pssst, Moto! Cheap shot opportunity! Get it while you can!)

Johnny L.A.

08-16-2009, 11:07 AM

OK, I'll hate myself in the morning, but.....why Thursday?

Thursday's his day in the barrel! :D

mswas

08-16-2009, 11:14 AM

No. I didn't know that. You got a cite for the air cannons are firearms under international law, thing?

I'm looking for a cite, but the Danish Government already threatened to revoke their flag if they threw the acid from their ship. So I imagine there is already an establishment for the guns.

The whalers of course are not playing. They already showed that by turning the L-Rad on the helicopter.

Th SS are kind of stupid in that they wonder why the Japanese might be so hostile when they are attempting to destroy the livelihoods of thousands of people. That this doesn't even impact on their moral calculus is kind of interesting.

Scylla

08-16-2009, 11:24 AM

I'm looking for a cite, but the Danish Government already threatened to revoke their flag if they threw the acid from their ship. So I imagine there is already an establishment for the guns.

I don't doubt you, but they were throwing acid from the ship on Friday's show. So, if they are going to flaunt the rules why not flaunt them well?

Johnny L.A.

08-16-2009, 11:40 AM

I don't doubt you, but they were throwing acid from the ship on Friday's show. So, if they are going to flaunt the rules why not flaunt them well?

Air cannons are not regulated by the BATFE; but AFAIK Steve Irwin isn't subject to U.S. laws anyway, unless it is in U.S. waters. To diverge a little, you can buy a blow gun (in effect, a miniature air cannon) through the mail in the U.S. But in California, possession of a blow gun is a crime.
Any person who knowingly manufactures, sells, offers for sale, possesses, or uses a blowgun or blowgun ammunition in this state is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Similarly, under Dutch law an air cannon might (and I don't know if it is) be considered a 'firearm' if it is used to launch a missile against persons, vessels, or property. So it might not be a violation of 'rules', but an actual crime to use an air cannon.

OTOH, they seemed to have no problem using a lifeline launcher in an earlier episode.

mswas

08-16-2009, 12:05 PM

I don't doubt you, but they were throwing acid from the ship on Friday's show. So, if they are going to flaunt the rules why not flaunt them well?

Yes, though they had already received a communication that they could not throw bottles from the deck of the Steve Irwin. They decided to break that when they felt they were going to be attacked due to the escalating nature of the aggression they had received on this campaign. Once they broke the rule for self-defense it was easier to justify it offensively to themselves and they did it. But they received a ruling on the show from the Danish government that they had decided it was not ok for the Steve Irwin to throw from the deck earlier in the season.

mswas

08-16-2009, 12:08 PM

I think there is no where to go here they need a come to Jesus moment where they decide whether that are at really real war or not. The Japanese were willing to kill their helicopter pilot and his accompanying cameraman with an LRAD. They threw brass nuts and bolts at them, things that might actually hurt them. So they either need to decide to upgrade their weapons or go home.

They have a machine shop on the Steve Irwin, it would be easy for them to make a potato gun on the ship if they've got the PVC.

elucidator

08-16-2009, 01:49 PM

Thursday's his day in the barrel! :D

What! The other guys get days off!

crowmanyclouds

08-16-2009, 02:03 PM

... if they've got the PVC.They're saving the PVC for the next time they're in drift ice to reinforce the hull!

CMC fnord!

mswas

08-16-2009, 02:29 PM

They're saving the PVC for the next time they're in drift ice to reinforce the hull!

CMC fnord!

Yeah, that's probably it. ;)

Guinastasia

08-16-2009, 02:37 PM

ETA: glove slap

A glove slap in a little old face will
Get you satisfaction.
Glove slap ba-a-beee ...
(Glove slap, baby)
Glove slap, baby, glove slap!
Glove slap, I don't take crap!
Glove slap, shut your big yap.

Given your lack of regard for the laws when it comes to setting policemen or the houses of telemarketers on fire,

Whoa!!! When was THIS?!?!

Oh dear sweet God. "The guy who writes our press releases has to leave the room every fifteen minutes or so to take a sip of hand sanitiser." (http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=20080130081553829) Well, I guess he does live a hand-to-mouth existence.

Um, why not use those donations to um, help this guy get into rehab? Or is that too easy?

Giraffe

08-16-2009, 02:42 PM

Whoa!!! When was THIS?!?!
Mirror Protest thread (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=521827)
post about burning down telemarketers houses (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=11378307#post11378307)

Giraffe

08-16-2009, 02:43 PM

Also, the Ottawa Panhandler's Union is in fact a front to raise money for Operation Rescue. SmashTheState, speaking as an official representative of the OPU, has stated this several times in other threads.

mswas

08-16-2009, 02:53 PM

Mirror Protest thread (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=521827)

Alessan won that thread by post 5 anyway.

Know what blocks the sun real well? Tear gas.

post about burning down telemarketers houses (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=11378307#post11378307)

Damn. Telemarketers? That's a subset of people know as, 'people between jobs', most are doing it for the paycheck and no other reason, because the need to eat and pay rent. Burning Telemarketers is just straight up burning the proles.

Guinastasia

08-16-2009, 03:00 PM

Mirror Protest thread (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=521827)
post about burning down telemarketers houses (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=11378307#post11378307)

Ah, thanks. I remember those threads -- especially the first one. I first read that thinking he was a slightly-less-nutty version of the guy who asked how fast you had to turn the Earth backwards to go back in time. Rather than a radical, dickhead anarchist conspiracy theorist.

Zsofia

08-16-2009, 03:20 PM

I love how he calls telemarketers "sociopaths". It's cute.

However, you have to realize that every time you're mean to him it gets him off. He's like a flagellating monk - it's what he wants you to do, because then he's accomplished his mission. He's an honest to god real life troll - he isn't trolling here in message board terms, he's sincere. But in real life his only pleasure and self worth comes from irritating the fuck out of people. It's sad, but it also makes me want to kick him in the balls.

FinnAgain

08-16-2009, 03:27 PM

Evidently, in the classless, non-fascist (oddly enough, not spelled with a K) future after the revolution, freely engaged in personal commerce will be fine, as long as you don't call Smashy when he would prefer you not to... or he will burn you alive. Or, at least, try to solicit your murder on the internet like the brave anarchist organizer that he is.
(Annoying people on the street for cash is fine though, just don't use a phone and try to trade that cash for services/goods, then there's the whole being burned alive thing.)

wierdaaron

08-16-2009, 03:48 PM

Hah. Telemarketers are just panhandlers successful enough to own phones.

Zsofia

08-16-2009, 03:55 PM

Well, the panhandlers don't usually intrude into my actual home like a phone call. He's just jealous.

Alerta

08-16-2009, 06:25 PM

Do the panhandlers know you are spending THEIR money on this?

Dear billfish678,

Do you have any basis or evidence to support this accusation?

The internet can sometimes appear as a place where you can get away with saying many things, however, I'm not sure you are aware of the scope of an accusation such as this, and how this post in cyberspace has serious legal implications in the very real and physical world.

Scylla

08-16-2009, 06:30 PM

Dear billfish678,

Do you have any basis or evidence to support this accusation?

The internet can sometimes appear as a place where you can get away with saying many things, however, I'm not sure you are aware of the scope of an accusation such as this, and how this post in cyberspace has serious legal implications in the very real and physical world.

wow, that is so wild. That other guy disappeared when he was getting his ass kicked. Now this other person shows up, who apparently just registered today and this is first post, and by sheer coincidence he is making the same argument as the guy who got his ass kicked.

Amazing. What do you think the chances are?

There's a name for this, but I can't quite get my foot into it.

FinnAgain

08-16-2009, 06:31 PM

Oh great. Minions.

mswas

08-16-2009, 06:36 PM

Oh great. Minions.

Minions or Alts?

mswas

08-16-2009, 06:38 PM

Anyway lets get back on track.

Hippies being naive below the 70th Parallel in the Ross Sea.

Go.

I'm really curious how this is going to turn out. Though apparently the Nisshin Maru is illegal under some new international maritime mandate due to the amount of waste it pumps into the environment or something of that nature.

Maybe Paul Watson will ride a Torpedo Slim Pickins style and just sink the damned thing.

Southern Yankee

08-16-2009, 06:43 PM

wow, that is so wild. That other guy disappeared when he was getting his ass kicked. Now this other person shows up, who apparently just registered today and this is first post, and by sheer coincidence he is making the same argument as the guy who got his ass kicked.

Amazing. What do you think the chances are?

There's a name for this, but I can't quite get my foot into it.

Wait argyle, it'll come to you.

billfish678

08-16-2009, 06:44 PM

Alerta

08-16-2009, 06:51 PM

I personally support the Sea Shepherds because they use direct action. To all those calling them hippies, pull your heads out of your heads, hippies don't go ram their ships into their enemies'.

If you want to call Greenpeace hippies, then I would agree, but hey, that's my opinion.

Never mind all that. He can start his crusade against private property by giving me his computer.

There is a difference between private property and possessions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Property

Think about it. This is the BBQ pit.

Sure, I've been on many forums where I've had heated discussions, not to mention a fair share of ad hominems, however when what is said on forums start affecting a large number of people's real world lives, then it becomes much, much more serious.

If in your opinion these forums are a BBQ pit, then you obviously live quite the padded life. If these forums have the potential to be a BBQ pit, then real life has the potential to be hell, the real deal, honey bunny.

wow, that is so wild. That other guy disappeared when he was getting his ass kicked. Now this other person shows up, who apparently just registered today and this is first post, and by sheer coincidence he is making the same argument as the guy who got his ass kicked.

Brilliant!

FinnAgain

08-16-2009, 07:06 PM

Thank you for your wiki cite, minon and/or alt.
Of course, were you a real lawyer instead of someone playing a legal expert on the internet, you'd probably know that personal property includes such things as computers. Specifically, the personal property represented by computers are a subset of personal property known as tangible property.

Oddly enough for someone who isn't Smashy, you seem to share his habit of citing things that you can neither read nor understand.

runner pat

08-16-2009, 07:12 PM

There is a difference between private property and possessions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Property

From the linked article.

Important widely-recognized types of property include real property (land), personal property (physical possessions belonging to an person), private property (property owned by legal persons or business entities), public property (state owned or publicly owned and available possessions) and intellectual property (exclusive rights over artistic creations, inventions, etc.),

Try reading your cites.

Scylla

08-16-2009, 07:13 PM

I personally support the Sea Shepherds because they use direct action. To all those calling them hippies, pull your heads out of your heads, hippies don't go ram their ships into their enemies'.

The episode isn't out yet, but in the preview I noted a look of surprise and alarm on the captain's face during the collision.

Hippies do crash by accident.

Hippies with ships is a pretty small subset of hippies in general. So, I'm not convinced you have a large enough statistical sample to begin drawing conclusions on the behavioral habits of seafaring hippies in general. Maybe they do ram their boats to save whales. They put spikes in trees to stop logging, why not ram a boat?

Sure, I've been on many forums where I've had heated discussions, not to mention a fair share of ad hominems, however when what is said on forums start affecting a large number of people's real world lives, then it becomes much, much more serious.

If in your opinion these forums are a BBQ pit, then you obviously live quite the padded life. If these forums have the potential to be a BBQ pit, then real life has the potential to be hell, the real deal, honey bunny.

Brilliant!

I predict you are about to receive an ignominious denouement at the hands of the administration. Good luck with the panhandlers and have a nice life!

billfish678

08-16-2009, 07:44 PM

The episode isn't out yet, but in the preview I noted a look of surprise and alarm on the captain's face during the collision.

Hippies with ships is a pretty small subset of hippies in general.

I predict you are about to receive an ignominious denouement at the hands of the administration. Good luck with the panhandlers and have a nice life!

Maybe the boat ran over a whale ? :eek:

A Hippie Venn Diagram ? I knew that shit would save my life someday :)

I tried to get Smashthestate to chill out. Hopefully he WILL and the mods will look the other way. But lawsuits and laundry ARE one fast ticket out here.:(

Turek

08-16-2009, 07:47 PM

Minions or Alts?

Please let it be an alt. Please let it be an alt. Please let it be an alt.

mswas

08-16-2009, 07:59 PM

If you want to call Greenpeace hippies, then I would agree, but hey, that's my opinion.

Anyone who says in one breath the want to use 4G War tactics to cause a corporation that employs thousands of people out of business by costing them $ 1m or more per day, and then is shocked at the violence from those protecting their livelihood is a hippie. They are so lost in their own belief that their ideology is correct that they do not understand that their goal will cause real human suffering for the whalers and their families, so they tell themselves they are better than the whalers meanwhile copper bolts do not hurt as much as watching your lifetime career evaporate due to political pressure.

mswas

08-16-2009, 08:00 PM

Scylla As I understand it Paul Watson used to ram them on purpose when he wasn't televised.

Alerta

08-16-2009, 08:21 PM

Please let it be an alt. Please let it be an alt. Please let it be an alt.

Amazing.

Just because someone agrees with someone else then that means they must be the same person?

Thank you everyone for giving me the benefit of the doubt. I'm not going to be using these forums very much, or rarely, or perhaps not at all after this. The only reason I started posting was because I was concerned about some of the things being said that are defamatory.

I am not a "minion" or whatever it is you wish to call me. I live in the same city as Smashthestate and I happen to have more direct contact with the issues at hand simply due to proximity.

And as for the Sea Shepherd, I don't think people can accidentally "ram" their ship into another ship, not under these circumstances. It seems like a lot of you folks who are so far away from what you are criticizing feel like you have the knowledge and experience to treat it like its garbage. That's neither sound, fair, or rational, it's just simply masturbatory.

Oh yeah, but that's "straight dope" alright. You tell the world how it is! Cause you all really know what's going on.

Weak.

wierdaaron

08-16-2009, 08:26 PM

Are we all acting like we don't know Alerta is just SmashTheState?

I mean, his very first post here was one taking umbrage over the "accusation" of embezzling in the same ridiculous way StS did.

Scylla

08-16-2009, 08:29 PM

Are we all acting like we don't know Alerta is just SmashTheState?

I mean, his very first post here was one taking umbrage over the "accusation" of embezzling in the same ridiculous way StS did.

You suggesting it's not a coincidence?

wierdaaron

08-16-2009, 08:32 PM

You suggesting it's not a coincidence?
Well, no, because doing that might justify legal action, and everyone here knows how much international lawsuits for defamation on web forums dedicated nearly exclusively to defamation can cost. They'd have to dip pretty deep into the proverbial panhandle to pay for it.

Happy Scrappy Hero Pup

08-16-2009, 08:33 PM

Giraffe

08-16-2009, 08:37 PM

The only reason I started posting was because I was concerned about some of the things being said that are defamatory.How is it defamatory to point out SmashTheState's frequent and illegal misappropriation of funds in his role as a representative for the Ottawa Panhandlers' Union? Or that the organization itself is in fact nothing more than a covert fundraising arm of the Ohio Republican Party?

I'm pretty sure anyone who would consider giving funds to the Ottawa Panhandlers' Union expects those in its employ to take a little taste for themselves, and understands that politics makes for strange bedfellows. What's the big deal?

wierdaaron

08-16-2009, 08:40 PM

The internet is serious business.

Alerta

08-16-2009, 08:41 PM

Alerta

Does the membership of the OPU know that your donations to Sea Shepherds come out of their pockets in addition to Smashie's?

Ah, thanks for reminding me. To answer your question: I am not affiliated with the OPU, I'm just someone living in the same city. So if I have ever donated to the SShepherd, which I haven't, wherever that money came from, most definitely did not come from the OPU.

And as for the claim that SShepherd ramming ships only when they are not being recorded on video, that is a lie, their website contains plenty of videos of them ramming ships.

Just trying to stay on topic :D

wierdaaron

08-16-2009, 08:46 PM

You don't know SmashTheState, you just live in the same city as him, and support the same charity as him, and seem terribly concerned about the image of a union for beggers he fronts for. Interesting.

Is it possible that you are, in fact, a split personality of SmashTheState? Do you ever wake up after long, unexplainable blackouts? Do you have a difficult time remembering vivid details about your personal history?

billfish678

08-16-2009, 08:50 PM

Is it possible that you are, in fact, a split personality of SmashTheState? Do you ever wake up after long, unexplainable blackouts? Do you have a difficult time remembering vivid details about your personal history?

Its "Panhandlers Club" :eek:

First rule of Panhandlers Club? Wash your hands. Wash your hands very well.

JRDelirious

08-16-2009, 09:09 PM

Could everybody just consider perhaps a moratorium on taking (y)ourselves so goddamn seriously? I don't doubt the sincerity of everyone's causes and issues, but really ... if posters here can mock the Catholic Church or Barack Obama or one another, so too should posters here be able to mock Sea Shepherds or the Panhandler's Union or their supporters w/o people getting bent out of shape.

BTW going back to the original issue, hey, I can dig serious revolutionaries. But I dig even better serious effective revolutionaries and there's more than one way to do that. One job in the revolution is to raise awareness through publicity, and if you're good at that, THAT in itself IS a worthy goal... but come clean and admit that IS your gig and your strategy and not "direct action".

Doing it by putting on a show of half-arsed direct-action makes it look like you're being defensive or timid about that role, lest your TV network corporate patrons and the presumed target audience of animal-loving kids and middle-class granolavores get scared. (OTOH it also tells me that a lot of the kids and granolavores are indeed easily thrilled just to see someone "standing up for the whales" even if they don't save a single one.) THAT and not "balls frozen off" is how come Sea Shepherds on the TV show look so weak, IMO. The show that's on TV is set up to try and show how the Shepherds are NOT ecoterrorists and it's the whalers who are a violent threat.

It's a fine balancing act, and by trying to make "safe" TV (but with sexy hippy chicks) they're flubbing it.

tomndebb

08-16-2009, 09:19 PM

TWEEEEET!!

Accusations of trolling and sock puppetry, however thinly veiled, are not permitted in this forum.

Knock it off.

= = =

By the same token, ridiculing public organizations is protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as expanded and articulated in case law. We operate under U.S. jurisdiction, here, so we are not going to babysit and protect from ridicule those persons who publicly invite ridicule. OTOH, we take a very dim view of lawsuits, (particularly frivolous ones), and will explicitly remove from our board those who engage in threats of the same.

[ /Moderating ]

Covered_In_Bees!

08-16-2009, 09:19 PM

It's a fine balancing act, and by trying to make "safe" TV (but with sexy hippy chicks) they're flubbing it.

Are sexy hippy chicks better in the sack than hot red headed pagan chicks?

How many SDMB males (females welcome too actually) can we round up for the sake of science?

I volunteer. I get the feeling mswas will join me. Anyone else?

tomndebb

08-16-2009, 09:25 PM

TWEEEEET!!

Accusations of trolling and sock puppetry, however thinly veiled, are not permitted in this forum.

Knock it off.
[ /Moderating ]
Interesting.

I received a comment in my mailbox as though it was a Great Debates thread.

Silly accusations of trolling and sock puppetry are probably OK in the Pit, so I withdraw my admonition to quit it.

= = =

(The board perspective on lawsuits is without regard to fora and my comments, there, still stand.)

Shot Clock

08-16-2009, 09:29 PM

Silly accusations of trolling and sock puppetry are probably OK in the Pit, so I withdraw my admonition to quit it.

Sock it to 'em, Bossman! :D

wierdaaron

08-16-2009, 09:30 PM

Silly accusations of trolling and sock puppetry are probably OK in the Pit

But only if they're silly?

Tweedle-twee, tweedle-twuppet, Alerta is probablly a StS suckpuppet!

Happy Scrappy Hero Pup

08-16-2009, 09:30 PM

Ah, thanks for reminding me. To answer your question: I am not affiliated with the OPU, I'm just someone living in the same city. So if I have ever donated to the SShepherd, which I haven't, wherever that money came from, most definitely did not come from the OPU.

Yes, but what I am saying is that you and Smashy have engaged in a conspiracy to take one penny and one cigarette butt and one half-eaten sandwich in ten from the panhandlers in order to donate same to Sea Shepherds.

After all, sailing around ineffectually and banging misguided hippie chicks is hard work- those sandwiches and smokes, I'm sure, go a long way, even though they are the rightful property (oops, excuse me... "possessions") of the street people of Ottawa.

wierdaaron

08-16-2009, 09:32 PM

Are sexy hippy chicks better in the sack than hot red headed pagan chicks?

How many SDMB males (females welcome too actually) can we round up for the sake of science?

I volunteer. I get the feeling mswas will join me. Anyone else?
As long as it doesn't have to take place on a boat. I've got this Truman-Showian fear of water.

Scylla

08-16-2009, 09:35 PM

TWEEEEET!!

Accusations of trolling and sock puppetry, however thinly veiled, are not permitted in this forum.

Knock it off.

My apologies. I didn't realize the rules had changed.

Scylla

08-16-2009, 09:37 PM

Silly accusations of trolling and sock puppetry are probably OK in the Pit, so I withdraw my admonition to quit it.

Damn you. I just apologized.

Hmmm.

Is that "silly" as in lighthearted, or "silly" as in "it's ok if Scylla does it?"
:dubious:

Happy Scrappy Hero Pup

08-16-2009, 09:40 PM

I'm on a boat and...

it's goin' fast and...

I gotta dirty hippie chick up in my bed man...

I'm yellin' at whalers, on a boat like Leo,

If you on the sho' then you sho' not me-o!

SmashTheState

08-16-2009, 09:50 PM

By the same token, ridiculing public organizations is protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as expanded and articulated in case law. We operate under U.S. jurisdiction, here, so we are not going to babysit and protect from ridicule those persons who publicly invite ridicule. OTOH, we take a very dim view of lawsuits, (particularly frivolous ones), and will explicitly remove from our board those who engage in threats of the same.

[ /Moderating ]

Am I to take this as the official view of Creative Loafing Media, that public, prominent, and clearly untrue accusations of criminal activity on your message boards is explicitly tolerated?

wierdaaron

08-16-2009, 09:54 PM

Yes.

And no, you don't look anything like Alerta with those glasses.

billfish678

08-16-2009, 09:56 PM

wierdaaron

08-16-2009, 09:59 PM

Am I to take it of the official view of billfish678 that public, prominent, and clearly untrue accusation of not knowing when to quit is explicitly tolerated?

Una Persson

08-16-2009, 10:05 PM

Am I to take this as the official view of Creative Loafing Media, that public, prominent, and clearly untrue accusations of criminal activity on your message boards is explicitly tolerated?
Um, no, since no one posting in this thread has the authority to speak for "Creative Loafing Media."

I suggest you threaten to sue the message board. That usually gets results.

elucidator

08-16-2009, 10:09 PM

Man, don't do it. I've been keeping track over the years, and there are as many as a dozen self-confessed lawyers on the Board.

Johnny L.A.

08-16-2009, 10:13 PM

I suggest you threaten to sue the message board. That usually gets results.

That's just mean. :D

wierdaaron

08-16-2009, 10:15 PM

If that doesn't work, you could always sue the internet.

Rand Rover

08-16-2009, 10:16 PM

I heard the OPU killed a hooker at their last meeting. For dinner.

billfish678

08-16-2009, 10:16 PM

If that doesn't work, you could always sue the internet.

Its that whats known as tubal litigation?

tomndebb

08-16-2009, 10:21 PM

Am I to take this as the official view of Creative Loafing Media, that public, prominent, and clearly untrue accusations of criminal activity on your message boards is explicitly tolerated?You are to take this as the official view of the SDMB that lodging lawsuits and threatening to lodge lawsuits is grounds for instant banning.

Now, there is a separate issue as to whether posters from across the world are able to make fun, on a U.S. based message board, of public organizations and corporations that are based in other countries, given that the U.S. Constitution (as adjudicated in numerous cases of law), permits a wide latitude in mocking public figures and organizations--up to and including the U.S. President, Congress, and Supreme Court. I suspect that whatever you are claiming as "clearly untrue accusations" will be more likely seen as mockery of your politics using insults directed at your organization than some sort of actual libel. (And you might want to review all your own posts to be sure that you have not ever posted something that could be construed as libelous against any govermental or corporate entity or person before you go off half-cocked looking to take offense at general ridicule.)
Go read threads in which Governor Palin or President Obama is the topic and note that a lot of things are posted that are "clearly untrue accusations." For tort to work you will need to show damage and, recognizing that I am not a lawyer and this is not a legal opinion, I am pretty sure that nothing posted here, (aside form some of your own comments), could be construed to have damaged you or the OPU. I have no actual knowlegde of or interest in discussing what might be subject to torts. I am pointing out the rules of this board.

42fish

08-16-2009, 10:23 PM

So, if they are going to flaunt the rules why not flaunt them well?

Nitpick: It's FLOUT the rules, not flaunt.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled hippie bashing, already in progress.

Johnny L.A.

08-16-2009, 10:27 PM

Nitpick: It's FLOUT the rules, not flaunt.

Hey as long as the good ship Steve Irwin doesn't flounder!

:p

:D

runner pat

08-16-2009, 10:28 PM

Nitpick: It's FLOUT the rules, not flaunt.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled hippie bashing, already in progress.

He's not a hippie, he's a revolutionary.

He has the Official Revolutionary Jacket and the Official Revolutionary Beard.

SmashTheState

08-16-2009, 10:31 PM

I suspect that whatever you are claiming as "clearly untrue accusations" will be more likely seen as mockery of your politics using insults directed at your organization than some sort of actual libel. (And you might want to review all your own posts to be sure that you have not ever posted something that could be construed as libelous against any govermental or corporate entity or person before you go off half-cocked looking to take offense at general ridicule.)

You appear to misunderstand. Ridicule directed at me is fine, up to and including accusations of criminal activity. It is specific allegations of fraudulent activity in my capacity as organizer and spokesperson for the OPU to which I object. I did not post here in my capacity as spokesperson. Nor is it "my" organization. The OPU is part of a union with thousands of members. An accusation in a public forum of the criminal misuse of union funds has serious repercussions for us. We are under constant media scrutiny, and if we fail to take action, any media could correctly state that there have been accusations of misuse of funds.

I am not looking for apologies. I don't care what opinions they hold of me, or my politics. All I want is for the people who have made these statements to make it explicitly clear that they are joking, or engaging in satire, or whatever other language they wish. There is a very large difference between ridicule and a direct accusation of fraud on the part of a union officer of record.

Guinastasia

08-16-2009, 10:34 PM

SteveG1

08-16-2009, 10:39 PM

The episode isn't out yet, but in the preview I noted a look of surprise and alarm on the captain's face during the collision.

Hippies do crash by accident.

Hippies with ships is a pretty small subset of hippies in general. So, I'm not convinced you have a large enough statistical sample to begin drawing conclusions on the behavioral habits of seafaring hippies in general. Maybe they do ram their boats to save whales. They put spikes in trees to stop logging, why not ram a boat?

I predict you are about to receive an ignominious denouement at the hands of the administration. Good luck with the panhandlers and have a nice life!
About that tree spiking - WTF???

Someone could get killed because of that.

athelas

08-16-2009, 10:42 PM

Hippies with ships is a pretty small subset of hippies in general. So, I'm not convinced you have a large enough statistical sample to begin drawing conclusions on the behavioral habits of seafaring hippies in general. Maybe they do ram their boats to save whales. They put spikes in trees to stop logging, why not ram a boat?Hippies on ships...get stranded and are rescued by oil tankers (http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/05/06/world/worldwatch/entry4995870.shtml).It is specific allegations of fraudulent activity in my capacity as organizer and spokesperson for the OPU to which I object. I did not post here in my capacity as spokesperson. Nor is it "my" organization. The OPU is part of a union with thousands of membersYes, but they're ALL NAZIS!

billfish678

08-16-2009, 10:44 PM

. We are under constant media scrutiny, and if we fail to take action, any media could correctly state that there have been accusations of misuse of funds.

The retarded name you folks choose for the organization has probably done more damage to the cause than if they found Osama hiding in your group.

tomndebb

08-16-2009, 10:58 PM

All I want is for the people who have made these statements to make it explicitly clear that they are joking, or engaging in satire, or whatever other language they wish. There is a very large difference between ridicule and a direct accusation of fraud on the part of a union officer of record.Not so much in a forum devoted explicitly to insult and mockery.
Mock "accusations" made in over-the-top expressions in a forum devoted to abuse provides all the clarity of purpose that is required.

The rule regarding threats of lawsuits still stands.

FinnAgain

08-16-2009, 11:00 PM

Wait, we've still had no factual refutation of the highly credible accusations that StS routinely embezzles funds from the OPU and demands sexual favors from young runaways in place of union dues?

Has anybody alerted the Canadian news media about this yet?
Someone probably should.

Giraffe

08-16-2009, 11:11 PM

You appear to misunderstand. Ridicule directed at me is fine, up to and including accusations of criminal activity. It is specific allegations of fraudulent activity in my capacity as organizer and spokesperson for the OPU to which I object. I did not post here in my capacity as spokesperson. Nor is it "my" organization. The OPU is part of a union with thousands of members. An accusation in a public forum of the criminal misuse of union funds has serious repercussions for us. We are under constant media scrutiny, and if we fail to take action, any media could correctly state that there have been accusations of misuse of funds.

I am not looking for apologies. I don't care what opinions they hold of me, or my politics. All I want is for the people who have made these statements to make it explicitly clear that they are joking, or engaging in satire, or whatever other language they wish. There is a very large difference between ridicule and a direct accusation of fraud on the part of a union officer of record.I formally accuse you and the Ottawa Panhandlers' Union of misusing funds and willfully and knowingly engaging in fraud. Your posts here have provided enough evidence that I believe a full investigation is warranted.

I make these statements not as a joke or satire. Any media outlet which wishes to quote me as the author of these allegations is free to email me, but they can rest assured that the statement "allegations have been raised about misuse of funds, fraud, and the non-consentual sodomy of the homeless by the Ottawa Panhanders' Union" are 100% factually correct, as I am hereby alleging all of these things.

You have 24 hours.

billfish678

08-16-2009, 11:15 PM

Scylla

Sorry your great thread got somewhat derailed by the SmashtheState version of the people's court due to my comment. A different sort of entertainment I guess. I think Groucho Marx even made a brief appearance.

Anyhow, time to hit the hay.

Maybe some good hippie bashing is still to be had !

Blll

Larry Mudd

08-16-2009, 11:19 PM

As long as they're still pissing off the squares, they have my support, moral and financial.You're a hand puppet, aren't you? Operated by a retarded child that's learned everything he knows about the world from a 1972 Life's Year In Pictures? No human being could really manage to keep up such an unblinkingly shallow parody of revolutionary posturing, right?

Let me see that beard -- I knew it, it's fucking felt.

Go on, who's fist have you got up there?

Happy Scrappy Hero Pup

08-16-2009, 11:25 PM

There is a very large difference between ridicule and a direct accusation of fraud on the part of a union officer of record.

Actually, no, there isn't.

Gfactor

08-16-2009, 11:50 PM

Let's end the hijack about what crimes SmashTheState may or may not have committed. If you wish to accuse him of other crime, immoral activities, or general misbehavior, please at least start a new thread on the topic. We need to diversify our thread topics in the Pit anyway.

Gfactor
Pit Moderator

Idle Thoughts

08-16-2009, 11:50 PM

StS, IANAMoA, but I forsee you getting banned if your current posting style continues. It is inevidible. Maybe it won't be today and maybe it won't be tomorrow, but it will be someday, simply because your ego is too big for its own good. You think you know everything and you also have a huge thrill (seemingly) of questioning authorty and going against what you see as the grain.
Even in this topic, you just narrowly skirting an instant one because of talk about lawsuits.

So I'm making this post as the voice of reason to you, hopefully, although nobody elses' reason has seemed to get through to you yet. I said it to past banned members such as TLDR and GuyinBlueJeans, too, before it happened, yet they seemed to be on a one way track to that great banned place in the sky. : p
You seem to have a lot of potential to be a good member, but you need shaping up a little because currently you have your head so far up your own ass, you see little else.

Some might think you're mostly just on this board to get reactions out of people and stir up as much shit as possible. There are names and terms for people like that. They usually don't stick around much. They're shown the door. Forcibly sometimes.

So if you're really serious about loving this place, I just hope this post appeals to any real intelligence and common sense you might have.

Idle Thoughts

08-16-2009, 11:52 PM

Gfactor

08-16-2009, 11:55 PM

Doh! I didn't see this before I posted.

I know. No problem.

Larry Mudd

08-17-2009, 12:01 AM

You seem to have a lot of potential to be a good member...That only begins to make sense if it's intended as a pun.

FinnAgain

08-17-2009, 12:07 AM

Neat, the mod note tag is totally unquotable. Keen gear.

Gfactor

08-17-2009, 12:10 AM

It's just the "Title" field. No mod-specific magic involved.

FinnAgain

08-17-2009, 12:12 AM

I hate you for crushing my illusions.

Richard Parker

08-17-2009, 12:58 AM

For tort to work you will need to show damage.

FWIW, in some states, damages are presumed in several kinds of defamation actions, including false accusations of criminal wrongdoing.

Vinyl Turnip

08-17-2009, 09:46 AM

Some might think you're mostly just on this board to get reactions out of people and stir up as much shit as possible. There are names and terms for people like that. They usually don't stick around much. They're shown the door. Forcibly sometimes.

Given the bum's rush, one might say.

Turek

08-17-2009, 10:01 AM

Given the bum's rush, one might say.

<golfclap>

TubaDiva

08-17-2009, 11:07 AM

SmashtheState is currently suspended pending review of his situation. For that reason it is appropriate to close this thread, at least for the time being. It may be reopened after resolution of the issue.