# 666 on tax form causes Christian worker to quit his job **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 7, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594 "2013-02-07T15:28:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594/61 "2013-02-08T23:32:45Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Is that take particular to the Witnesses? That’s how the numerology was explained to me in high school. 7 is perfection. 6 is imperfection. I heard that explanation from the Witnesses themselves while I was still one of them. Who came up with it, I can’t say. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594/62 "2013-02-09T00:08:33Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > I assume most of you have heard about Westboro Baptist Church, of “God hates fags” fame? Its address is 3701 SW 12th St Topeka, KS **666** 04, USA. Somehow seems appropriate! I live in Topeka, and all our ZIP codes start with 666xx. Fred Phelps, of the WBC, says it is a sign Topeka is doomed. So why does he keep living here we wonder? Another bad sign, according to Fred, is that the men’s sports teams at Washburn University of Topeka are called the Ichabods. The name is Biblical, and means “The glory of God has departed” To top it off, the official city “nickname” is The Golden City" , and that’s supposed to be what Babylon is called in the book of Revelations, last book of the Bible. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594/63 "2013-02-09T00:18:10Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I live in Topeka, and all our ZIP codes start with 666xx. Fred Phelps, of the WBC, says it is a sign Topeka is doomed. So why does he keep living here we wonder? > > Another bad sign, according to Fred, is that the men’s sports teams at Washburn University of Topeka are called the Ichabods. The name is Biblical, and means “The glory of God has departed” To top it off, the official city “nickname” is The Golden City" , and that’s supposed to be what Babylon is called in the book of Revelations, last book of the Bible. [counting] T-O-P-E-K-A… Eh, random coincidence… K-A-N-S-A-S… ooopsie. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594/64 "2013-02-09T03:14:07Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > [counting] T-O-P-E-K-A… Eh, random coincidence… > > K-A-N-S-A-S… ooopsie. :eek: I like the way you think!😃 The reason Washburn has a team with such an unusual name comes from it’s early history. The school was started in 1865 as Lincoln College, and was supposed to admit anyone, regardless of color or gender. But very shortly it ran into financial problems and there were major fundraising drives. In 1870 a Congregationalist elder and businessman from Conneticut made a $25000 donation to the school, which he would never actually see. His name was Ichabod Washburn. The school was so grateful they renamed themselves Washburn College, later to be University. And when team sports became a big deal the name Ichabod was chosen. It does help them stand out from a lot of other mascots. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594/65 "2013-02-09T05:51:26Z")
> [@](#): > > Slonopas said that after getting the W-2, he could either go to work or go to hell. Now, now! There’s no need to choose! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594/66 "2013-02-09T06:28:27Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > [counting] T-O-P-E-K-A… Eh, random coincidence… > > K-A-N-S-A-S… ooopsie. :eek: No, no, no. It goes “Oooooooklahoma where the winds go sweeping down the plain . . .” Ending, “O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A Oklahooooma! Yow!” Kansas (or Missouri?) goes more, like, “Way down in Kansas City down on 1-2 street, they say there is a guy they call-a Pig Foot Pete / He plays piano by ear / And he works all night for pigs’ feet and beer . . .” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594/67 "2013-02-09T06:39:00Z")
[Pig Foot Pete.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjfCuc3F7TM) [Same with Martha Raye and soldiers.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEAOxDihOrw) The joint rocks Until you’re beat to your socks . . . ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594/68 "2013-02-09T06:58:01Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Is that take particular to the Witnesses? That’s how the numerology was explained to me in high school. 7 is perfection. 6 is imperfection. Which is all the more ironic since the number six, mathematically speaking, is the first [perfect number](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_number). If only John had chosen 496 as the number of the Beast; the irony would burn–so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594/69 "2013-02-09T12:10:55Z")
Do they still not include 13th floors in buildings? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594/70 "2013-02-09T13:41:03Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I live in Topeka, and all our ZIP codes start with 666xx. Fred Phelps, of the WBC, says it is a sign Topeka is doomed. So why does he keep living here we wonder? Self-fulfilling prophecy? ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594/71 "2013-02-09T17:02:10Z")
I was getting a new license plate at the DMV once, and was handed the next plate in the stack, with the number “666-ABC” on it (where “ABC” was some random three-letter code). I politely asked the clerk if I could have the next plate in the stack (which was “667-ABC”), NOT because I care about the “number of the beast,” but because of the whackjobs that do care. I didn’t want some nutcase egging, keying, or otherwise damaging my new car, thinking they were getting back at Satan or something. Anyway, the clerk said “Sure,” and I went on with my life. The clerk probably thought I was one of those nuts, of course, but oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594/72 "2013-02-09T21:15:13Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Do they still not include 13th floors in buildings? The top floor of the apartment building I live in is numbered 13. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594/73 "2013-02-09T22:33:09Z")
> [@kimstu](#): > > [counting] t-o-p-e-k-a… Eh, random coincidence… > > K-a-n-s-a-s… Ooopsie. :eek: P-h-e-l-p-s ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594/74 "2013-02-10T01:22:06Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Further on in the article: > > Either somebody is fucking with him, or God is trying to tell him something. Or God is fucking with him. Yeah, let’s go with that one. Some folks just can’t take a hint. Poor guy, think what he’s missing out on. ---
**Author:** ![Petey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f1d935/32.png) [@Petey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petey)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594/75 "2013-02-10T01:22:55Z")
Anecdote time: I once knew a girl at work that was taking an introductory programming course: The assignment was to add a list of numbers together, and give the result when you ended. The input line was “Enter number (type 999 to end)” She told me she couldn’t type 999, because it was 666 upside down. So she would make her program to say “998 to end” My thoughts were: 1. It’s stupid to be fearful of 666. 2. 999 is a completely different number from 666. It’s only an accident of how we draw them that you think they’re similar. 3. Will the instructor take off points because she didn’t follow the instructions exactly? Or not care because the essential part of the program was correct. But I said nothing, and just walked away slowly. Pete ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594/76 "2013-02-10T02:56:07Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Either somebody is fucking with him, or God is trying to tell him something. Or God is fucking with him. Yeah, let’s go with that one. Yes. As the saying doesn’t go, “Never attribute to coincidence that which is adequately explained by malice.” First time may have been coincidence. Second time someone’s fucking with him. Third time (and there will be a third time) he’ll go on a shooting rampage. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594/77 "2013-02-10T02:56:18Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > I saw a car in my neighborhood with the license plate 666 JHG, where the JHG are my initials. I was tempted to make an offer to buy the car then and there. I knew of someone who got issued a license plate with a 666 once and insisted on switching it. It’s surprising they even make ones with that number at all, considering how many people are nutso. Especially in my state where I just read an article about how they refuse [custom plates](http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020283061_vanityplatesxml.html) or gank them for the stupidest fucking things if they think it could somehow, in some bizarre way be taken to mean something offensive even when it obviously doesn’t. “OMG what if someone’s precious little snowflake asks what FUBAR means?!” \<—real thing that was sincerely asked by idiot who sincerely took the time to call the actual police and report a license plate she found objectionable ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594/78 "2013-02-10T05:04:59Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Some texts have 616, the bulk have 666. The idea is that 616 is the Hebrew Gematria for NeRO KaeSaR but that 666 is for the alternate version NeRON KaeSaR. Btw, the 616 version has been known about for years & is often footnoted in modern translations. The breathlessly-reported news story a couple years ago about the radical new discovery of 616 wasn’t a surprise at all to anyone who even paid attention to such things. What “Hebrew Gematria”? Wasn’t Revelation written in Greek? The Greeks also had a system for using letters to represent numbers, but it was a **different** system, wasn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594/79 "2013-02-10T12:50:23Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Yes. As the saying doesn’t go, “Never attribute to coincidence that which is adequately explained by malice.” First time may have been coincidence. Second time someone’s fucking with him. Third time (and there will be a third time) he’ll go on a shooting rampage. This IS the third time. First time, time-clock ID, resolved quickly. Second time, revised time-clock ID, he quit, and was rehired and given a new ID. Third time, tax form, he quit, and claims he won’t go back. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594/80 "2013-02-10T19:29:44Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > There was a true crime novel awhile back in which the loony serial killer protagonist bought some items at a store, then protested when the total came to $6.66… That happened to me in real life. I was the cashier, not the customer (who then proceeding to storm out w/o buying anything. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-on-tax-form-causes-christian-worker-to-quit-his-job/649594.md?page=5)