# A General FYI: If 20 People Say You're A Fuckwit . . . . **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 22, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-fyi-if-20-people-say-youre-a-fuckwit/203163 "2003-09-22T19:27:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-fyi-if-20-people-say-youre-a-fuckwit/203163/1 "2003-09-22T19:27:55Z")
. . . . The chances are you’re a fuckwit. Sure, maybe the brilliance of your opinion has blinded them to how breathtakingly super-correct you are, but the odds that are not _all_ of them are so stupid as to miss you’re point, if it’s there to be grasped. If NOT ONE PERSON agrees with you, an intelligent person might consider that his or her position is not as unassailable as he/she thought. If a multitude of people are telling you to SIT THE HELL DOWN and SHUT THE HELL UP, a rational person might think, “whoa, maybe they are not getting that I am in fact the righteous defender of Truth I think I am.” And – this is the important part – an intelligent, rational person will also think, “_If nobody gets my point, and if every objects to how I made it, **maybe it’s not them, maybe it’s ME.** _ Maybe I should rethink. Maybe I should rephrase. Maybe, at the end of the day, I _am_ a fuckwit and I should just be quiet and hope no one notices.” Oliver Cromwell once said “I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it _possible_ you might be mistaken.” Abraham Lincoln (among others) said, “It’s better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.” Words to live by, people – and you know who you are. And for the love of all that’s holy, enough with all the colors. They don’t make you look any smarter, and they are annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-fyi-if-20-people-say-youre-a-fuckwit/203163/2 "2003-09-22T19:46:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jodi \* > **"I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it _possible_ you might be mistaken."** Oh, I have _got_ to use this next time an editor won’t take my suggestions! ---
**Author:** ![robertliguori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@robertliguori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robertliguori)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-fyi-if-20-people-say-youre-a-fuckwit/203163/3 "2003-09-22T19:53:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jodi \* > \*\*. . . . The chances are you’re a fuckwit. > > Sure, maybe the brilliance of your opinion has blinded them to how breathtakingly super-correct you are, but the odds that are not _all_ of them are so stupid as to miss you’re point, if it’s there to be grasped. > > If NOT ONE PERSON agrees with you, an intelligent person might consider that his or her position is not as unassailable as he/she thought. > > If a multitude of people are telling you to SIT THE HELL DOWN and SHUT THE HELL UP, a rational person might think, “whoa, maybe they are not getting that I am in fact the righteous defender of Truth I think I am.” > > And – this is the important part – an intelligent, rational person will also think, “_If nobody gets my point, and if every objects to how I made it, **maybe it’s not them, maybe it’s ME.** _ Maybe I should rethink. Maybe I should rephrase. Maybe, at the end of the day, I _am_ a fuckwit and I should just be quiet and hope no one notices.” > > Oliver Cromwell once said “I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it _possible_ you might be mistaken.” Abraham Lincoln (among others) said, “It’s better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.” > > Words to live by, people – and you know who you are. > > And for the love of all that’s holy, enough with all the colors. They don’t make you look any smarter, and they are annoying. \*\* Jodi: I disagree in principle and agree in practice. In principle, the fact that 20 random people disagree with me means nothing. I run into a great many morons in my daily life. However, very very few of those morons, e.g., post here. More importantly, some of those morons have certain specialized bodies of knowledge which they believe gives their opinions on random things weight. When dealing with people who aren’t morons or who know what they are talking about, regardless of moron status, it’s a good idea to listen. All other times, I prefer to wait for an argument beyond ‘you’re a fuckwit’. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-fyi-if-20-people-say-youre-a-fuckwit/203163/4 "2003-09-22T20:09:09Z")
I think I know where you’re going w/this, **Jodi** , but here, ya know, it’s pretty damn rare that **no one** agrees w/you. and more particularly, often some one will post something that’s _sorta_ in agreement (something like “ok, so they’re a fucktard, but there’s a remnant of a point there…”) and the ojet’ as it were, will sing out “ **Validation!** ” (as I’m fairly sure you just experienced). ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-fyi-if-20-people-say-youre-a-fuckwit/203163/5 "2003-09-22T20:22:40Z")
Must be an [ambush](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=212751). ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-fyi-if-20-people-say-youre-a-fuckwit/203163/6 "2003-09-22T20:32:17Z")
## Cosmic Council of the Ninth Plane High Solar Assessor: Waverly ## CC: Chorus of the Damned ## Re: Supplementary In-vitro Assessment ## “an intelligent person might consider that his or her position is not as unassailable as he/she thought.” hahahaha. How would you know what an intelligent person might do?! Do you have a rock in your pants? I bet you, and I can prove it. “Oliver Cromwell once said “I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you might be mistaken.”” And look how Cromwell ended up. I don’t think his bowels are doing all that well. See what I mean. Yeah, well like Plato once said, “…next on Masterpiece Theater.” ….Remanded for flogging ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-fyi-if-20-people-say-youre-a-fuckwit/203163/7 "2003-09-22T20:35:49Z")
Look, I’m a lawyer and I’ll prove it by copying and pasting something that sounds relevant, and when pressed on the issue, I’ll whip out the ad hominem attacks. That’s how they do it on Judge Judy! Uh huh! You ain’t got no game! ---
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-fyi-if-20-people-say-youre-a-fuckwit/203163/8 "2003-09-22T20:56:46Z")
I would agree in general, provided that it is 20 randomly selected people, who don’t have preconceived notions about the subject and are not otherwise predisposed to think holders of your position are idiots. Otherwise, no. (I don’t know how this applies to the case that is apparently being referenced here - haven’t followed it). ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-fyi-if-20-people-say-youre-a-fuckwit/203163/9 "2003-09-22T20:58:52Z")
> [@](#): > > “I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you might be mistaken.”” And look how Cromwell ended up. I don’t think his bowels are doing all that well. LOL. 🙂 Look, I’m not saying the opinions of 20 random morons; I’m saying the opinions of the people you’re having the conversation with. And while it may be reasonable to expect that one or some of them may be a moron/morons, it is not reasonable to believe that _every single one of them_ is a moron. That’s the point: Realistically speaking, what are the odds that you can have a general conversation about a non-technical, non-rocket-science type subject, and _every single person talking about it_ will be a total idiot? (Except you, of course.) What are the odds? Not good, right? And maybe _:: cough ::_ certain posters might do well to keep that in mind. All’s I’m sayin’ is, if I ever stop dancing on the edge of reason and instead decide to take a flier right over the side, I hope you, my friends, acquaintances, and Board compatriots, will say, “Jodi, you’re being a fuckwit. Cut it out right this minute, or we will reach through the modem and smack you.” Maybe I’ll agree and maybe I won’t, but if I’m unable to make my point without acting like a total idiot, I’d like that brought to my attention. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-fyi-if-20-people-say-youre-a-fuckwit/203163/10 "2003-09-22T21:11:46Z")
Heh, Cromwell also said “Do not trust the cheering, for those persons would shout as much if you or I were going to be hanged.” ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-fyi-if-20-people-say-youre-a-fuckwit/203163/11 "2003-09-22T21:18:09Z")
Yes, but if you call someone a **fuckwit** and all he can say in his defense is “you’re a lying wretched liar who lies in a conspiracy with some experienced **LIARS** on this Board and all the other people out there must be part of this **Lying Club of Liars** , won’t someone just **do** something,\*” there’s really not much room to groove. We’ve been kind of caught in a Möbius here. Perhaps the best way to move forward in such a circumstance is as **Shodan** suggested, we say “oh my dear [**Fuckwit’s user name**], you must be feeling pretty **ambushed** right now…” And then we’ll all laugh at our own drollery. - This is in no way in reference _Liar’s Club_, which was actually a darn fine show. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-fyi-if-20-people-say-youre-a-fuckwit/203163/12 "2003-09-22T21:34:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > \*\*Must be an [ambush](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=212751). \*\* But anyone can muster up a frothy-mouthed meltdown. You have to have a genuine defect to insult every participant in a thread line-by-line, complete with psychedelic red and blue highlights. In the tinfoil hat club, ambushed wears a modest fedora, while Beryl sports a towering stovepipe of insanity. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-fyi-if-20-people-say-youre-a-fuckwit/203163/13 "2003-09-22T21:50:39Z")
> [@](#): > > _By Waverly_ > **In the tinfoil hat club, ambushed wears a modest fedora, while Beryl sports a towering stovepipe of insanity.** Inspired. Truly inspired. I’m just happy his decision on **Mr. B** is still pending. I sensed an **Aldebaran** -style threat of doom in **Beryl** ’s “credit-roll.” ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-fyi-if-20-people-say-youre-a-fuckwit/203163/14 "2003-09-23T00:45:23Z")
While it’s true that 20 people say I’m a fuckwit, each and every one of them misspelled a smiple word, which proves that they don’t know what they’re talking about. In the unlikely event that I also misspelled a word, well that’s just a typo. I suppose you never make a mistake! sheesh! ---
**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:** [September 23, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-fyi-if-20-people-say-youre-a-fuckwit/203163/15 "2003-09-23T01:00:59Z")
Waverly: Two things for you, if you don’t mind. First: It’s really amusing that the loon in question in the other thread used colorcoding to attack me. I guess it doesn’t matter to said loon that I’m extremely color-blind. Second: You forgot to BCC: Evil, Duo, Tag-Team (Monty {big, bad, mean ol’} & SPOOFE). * * * Mr. B: Reading and attempting parse ambushed’s insane spoutings is like a roller-coaster ride on a Möbius strip cut at least fifteen times along its “length.” ---
**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:** [September 23, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-fyi-if-20-people-say-youre-a-fuckwit/203163/16 "2003-09-23T01:02:56Z")
Ahem. “…attempting to parse…” ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-fyi-if-20-people-say-youre-a-fuckwit/203163/17 "2003-09-23T01:07:30Z")
**Jodi** is just jealous because her academic brainwashed mind is corrupt and can’t comprehend [cubic magnificence](http://www.timecube.com). ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-fyi-if-20-people-say-youre-a-fuckwit/203163/18 "2003-09-23T01:10:07Z")
\*\*\*LIARS! \*\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-fyi-if-20-people-say-youre-a-fuckwit/203163/19 "2003-09-23T01:22:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Waverly \* > But anyone can muster up a frothy-mouthed meltdown. You have to have a genuine defect to insult every participant in a thread line-by-line, complete with psychedelic red and blue highlights. In the tinfoil hat club, ambushed wears a modest fedora, while Beryl sports a towering stovepipe of insanity. Author, author! This is being directed to Opal’s Wall-O-Flames forum. As someone who wears and collects hats, this is absolutely priceless. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2003, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-fyi-if-20-people-say-youre-a-fuckwit/203163/20 "2003-09-23T01:25:10Z")
Zenster: If you want Opal to post it, make damn sure she doesn’t find out it’s defending me in a way. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-fyi-if-20-people-say-youre-a-fuckwit/203163.md?page=2)