# Am I arguing with an idiot I never noticed before?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-arguing-with-an-idiot-i-never-noticed-before/670811>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [October 9, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-arguing-with-an-idiot-i-never-noticed-before/670811 "2013-10-09T20:49:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-arguing-with-an-idiot-i-never-noticed-before/670811/21 "2013-10-10T17:52:32Z")

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> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> No, I did that too. 🙂

You, I have no problem with. As long as you watch yourself.

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-arguing-with-an-idiot-i-never-noticed-before/670811/22 "2013-10-10T18:08:25Z")

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Why? Am I worth watching? Will I do tricks?

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**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-arguing-with-an-idiot-i-never-noticed-before/670811/23 "2013-10-10T20:40:55Z")

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Came across him in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=700671). He said something ill considered. When challenged, instead of realising the weakness of his position and withdrawing he digs his heels in and defends for a page, till he can’t seriously defend further at which point he begins to trainwreck, then tries the “I was joking” gambit to save face.

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**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-arguing-with-an-idiot-i-never-noticed-before/670811/24 "2013-10-10T20:47:31Z")

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He was joking; he’s a joke of a poster… what’s the big diff?

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**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-arguing-with-an-idiot-i-never-noticed-before/670811/25 "2013-10-10T21:14:19Z")

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Huh. I can’t recall previously noticing how much of a pissy bitch he is.  
Of course six months from now I probably won’t recall this thread, either.

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**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-arguing-with-an-idiot-i-never-noticed-before/670811/26 "2013-10-10T21:46:20Z")

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> [@Ravenman](#):
>
> You, I have no problem with. As long as you watch yourself.

Oh, _him_ you have no problem with, me you slap across the face?!?

{Storms out in a huff}

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**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-arguing-with-an-idiot-i-never-noticed-before/670811/27 "2013-10-11T01:30:47Z")

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> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#):
>
> Anyone else open the thread to find out if they’ve been arguing with **Ravenman** lately? Just me?
> 
> Okay then. 🙂

Not me. I haven’t posted enough lately to be arguing with anyone! 😃

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**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-arguing-with-an-idiot-i-never-noticed-before/670811/28 "2013-10-11T02:58:58Z")

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You know, for an MBA with a JD who says he’s retired and done well in the market he sure seems to argue like…um…someone who’s NOT an MBA with a JD.

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**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-arguing-with-an-idiot-i-never-noticed-before/670811/29 "2013-10-11T03:26:48Z")

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> [@KarlGauss](#):
>
> [But he’s MENSA](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php)! He can’t be wrong.

> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#):
>
> You know, for an MBA with a JD who says he’s retired and done well in the market he sure seems to argue like…um…someone who’s NOT an MBA with a JD.

[Don’t forget programmer, with a disability no less.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16525931&postcount=55)

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**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-arguing-with-an-idiot-i-never-noticed-before/670811/30 "2013-10-11T04:18:31Z")

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The target of the OP doesn’t strike me as an idiot. Rather, he’s the embodiment of a little bit of knowledge being a dangerous thing. In D&D terms he has above average intelligence and wholly substandard wisdom. He has no idea what he doesn’t know. So it’s not quite the Dunning-Krueger effect.  
I’ve clashed swords with Ravenman before, but it’s always been rewarding because I’ve been willing to learn something. In contrast, I can’t say I trust deltasigma’s specialist knowledge, such as it is. Still, there’s some hope: at least deltasigma has a sense of humor and more than a few value-added posts.

> [@Princhester](#):
>
> Came across him in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=700671). He said something ill considered. When challenged, instead of realising the weakness of his position and withdrawing he digs his heels in and defends for a page, till he can’t seriously defend further at which point he begins to trainwreck, then tries the “I was joking” gambit to save face.

Pretty much. The odd thing is that intelligent back-pedaling can strengthen your status here. It’s generally understood that nobody on this board knows everything, Cecil excepted.

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-arguing-with-an-idiot-i-never-noticed-before/670811/31 "2013-10-11T04:23:44Z")

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> [@zoid](#):
>
> [Don’t forget programmer, with a disability no less.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16525931&postcount=55)

From his profile.

> [@](#):
>
> Occupation.  
> Weaving my own reality

😃

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-arguing-with-an-idiot-i-never-noticed-before/670811/32 "2013-10-11T13:58:03Z")

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> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#):
>
> You know, for an MBA with a JD who says he’s retired and done well in the market he sure seems to argue like…um…someone who’s NOT an MBA with a JD.

> [@zoid](#):
>
> [Don’t forget programmer, with a disability no less.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16525931&postcount=55)

:dubious:

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**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-arguing-with-an-idiot-i-never-noticed-before/670811/33 "2013-10-11T14:42:17Z")

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> [@Cheesesteak](#):
>
> I remember that thread… It would have won an award for Angriest Physics Thread, if we voted on those things. He comes out swinging with the first reply that suggested it was experimental error instead of a changing Universal Constant.

Unfortunately, he’s had several threads like that. Its pretty bizarre. Of all the things to have a chip on your shoulder about, theoretical physics is a pretty bizarre choice.

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**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-arguing-with-an-idiot-i-never-noticed-before/670811/34 "2013-10-11T15:15:01Z")

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> [@Princhester](#):
>
> Came across him in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=700671).

You do, however, totally win for the sentence, “My analogy was analogous.” in that thread.

I honestly don’t know what sentence could be better.

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**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-arguing-with-an-idiot-i-never-noticed-before/670811/35 "2013-10-11T16:09:15Z")

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You gotta love his signature move: “Hey, if you don’t understand what I’m saying, then fuck you, I’m not going to explain.”

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**Author:** ![sylmar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@sylmar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sylmar)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-arguing-with-an-idiot-i-never-noticed-before/670811/36 "2013-10-11T16:35:28Z")

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> [@Simplicio](#):
>
> Unfortunately, he’s had several threads like that. Its pretty bizarre. Of all the things to have a chip on your shoulder about, theoretical physics is a pretty bizarre choice.

You just wait till someone doubts \*\*\*your \*\*\*take on non-abelian gauge theory. Let’s see how reasonable you behave then, hmm?

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**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-arguing-with-an-idiot-i-never-noticed-before/670811/37 "2013-10-11T17:06:42Z")

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> [@Lemur866](#):
>
> You gotta love his signature move: “Hey, if you don’t understand what I’m saying, then fuck you, I’m not going to explain.”

Yeah. That never went over well when it came from crazy ex-girlfriend. Definitely wouldn’t wash coming from message board rando who isn’t even having sex with me.

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-arguing-with-an-idiot-i-never-noticed-before/670811/38 "2013-10-11T17:24:35Z")

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Have you asked him nicely?

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**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-arguing-with-an-idiot-i-never-noticed-before/670811/39 "2013-10-11T17:38:32Z")

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Candy and flowers never hurt, either.

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**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-arguing-with-an-idiot-i-never-noticed-before/670811/40 "2013-10-11T17:42:18Z")

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> [@Great\_Antibob](#):
>
> Candy and flowers never hurt, either.

Make sure to invest in appropriate [hardware](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=704507&highlight=beaker) as well.

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