# Amazing Race 11/04/07 - "Donkeys Have Souls Too" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 2, 2007, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020 "2007-11-02T16:01:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020/81 "2007-11-05T17:29:19Z")
[QUOTE=Scuba\_Ben] Team Gyth (I like the name) [/QUOTE] It’s certainly better than what I was thinking of suggesting, which was “Team Vowel Shift.” ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020/82 "2007-11-05T17:50:52Z")
I read that Girl Goth’s dad is in the army, and they got some army-style training in before the race! Good for them. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020/83 "2007-11-05T18:21:24Z")
Bah. Humbug. Looks like it’s going to be a season of snubbing its greatest all-stars after all. Not to mention the fact that nothing about the game has changed. Clues? What clues? There are never any clues. There are information cards, telling people clearly and specifically exactly where to go next and how to get there. At least nobody in the thread seems to hate the token Christians this time. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020/84 "2007-11-05T18:37:45Z")
You really need to give that up, Liberal. Rob & Amber were entertaining, but they got two shots on the show, and that’s all anyone deserves. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020/85 "2007-11-05T18:43:23Z")
[QUOTE=Raygun99] You really need to give that up, Liberal. Rob & Amber were entertaining, but they got two shots on the show, and that’s all anyone deserves. [/QUOTE] I’m going to go out on a limb here, and say that **Liberal’s** comments about Rob & Amber are jokes. He is spoofing the “Romber” love see on other websites, and poking fun at the entertainment industry that has tried to convince us that they & other reality “stars” are, indeed, stars. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020/86 "2007-11-05T18:45:11Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] Bah. Humbug. Looks like it’s going to be a season of snubbing its greatest all-stars after all. Not to mention the fact that nothing about the game has changed. Clues? What clues? There are never any clues. There are information cards, telling people clearly and specifically exactly where to go next and how to get there. At least nobody in the thread seems to hate the token Christians this time. [/QUOTE] I believe those-two-who-shall-not-be-named are busy working on [their own reality show](http://www.jointhetontine.com/) and may not have been available. Also, for me anyway, it’s hard to hate the token Christians because they seem to be so darned pleasant and, all other things notwithstanding, they seem to be as taken with the Race and with Phil as I am. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020/87 "2007-11-05T18:48:56Z")
The only times the token Christians have been _hated_ seems to have been when they’ve been the token whiny holier-than-thou God-really-cares-whether-I-win-a-stupid-reality-show Christians. And I can only really think of two teams who fit that profile since I’ve been watching (I started watching on the Chip&Kim/Colin&Christie race): The (F’ing) Weavers and the Christian Models (who only had tinges of that syndrome, thank Og). Besides, **Lib** , what’s with the “token” Christians? You don’t think the vast majority of teams that have been on TAR have been Christian? It’s really the “token” Christians-who-explicitly-identify-themselves-as-Christian who fit the profile of “token” Christians anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Ferd\_Burfel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@Ferd\_Burfel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferd_Burfel)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020/88 "2007-11-05T18:52:03Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] The sad thing is, she was absolutely right. That was Jason and Lorena, who were one of the first out of the gate getting off the first ferry. They were comfortably in the first 3 cars and then they made a wrong turn, which Lorena tried to turn Jason around on, but Jason was too stubborn to listen. They made a HUGE loop around Galway Bay that they didn’t have to, and lost a LOT of time. At that point I would be doing exactly the same thing if **supervenusfreak** and I were on the Race, and he decided to bull out a wrong turn decision. [/QUOTE] Thank you. I couldn’t remember their names (I was just going to call them Jonathon & Victoria light). What kind of moron continues on when his navigator has told him she has the directions and he’s not following them. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020/89 "2007-11-05T19:18:30Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] No unfortunately. When she started in the first thought to flash across my mind was “oh god, how did Flo and Zach get back on the Race again?” [/QUOTE] Flo may be back, but this time she’s right! ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020/90 "2007-11-05T19:28:09Z")
Maybe I’ve been Episcopalian too long, but the whole “lesbian clergy” seems kind of cliche to me. There here, they’re queer, I’m used to it already. And enough of the “we’re a couple trying to see if we can make our relationship work.” Yeah, in a series of high-stress situations on national TV. Great idea! OTOH, I’m really liking the brother/sister team and the father/daughter team. And the latin sisters, because they are hawt. What really bugs me about the casting this season, though, is the lack of geographic diversity. Check it out: Jennifer/Jason: Huntington Beach, CA / Fountain Valley, CA Shana/Jennifer: Los Angeles, CA Lorena/Jason: Sherman Oaks, CA Ari/Staella: Long Beach, CA / Fountain View, CA Rachel/TK: Huntington Beach, CA Kate/Pat: Thousand Oaks, CA Also, Hendekea is from Torrance, CA (her brother is from NOLA). That’s 13 of the 22 contestants who are from Southern California. Did no one from the rest of the country apply for the show this season? ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020/91 "2007-11-05T19:44:14Z")
[QUOTE=rockle] I have heard that goose-wrangling is also quite difficult. I would enjoy seeing that, too, I think. [/QUOTE] Geese are MEAN. Barbarian: There is NO penalty box in TAR. You’re thinking of that other sport. [QUOTE=jayjay] When you’re bundled up in a parka, sex appeal doesn’t enter into it. [/QUOTE] …says the fella who’s never been to the North! ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020/92 "2007-11-05T20:20:58Z")
[QUOTE=GingerOfTheNorth] Barbarian: There is NO penalty box in TAR. You’re thinking of that other sport. [/QUOTE] It’s a _metaphorical_ penalty box. Just imagine making it to the Pit Stop only to have Phil tell you you’re not allowed on The Amazing Mat. So close to the Mat, so close to the Philiciousness and not allowed to touch. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020/93 "2007-11-05T20:38:51Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] Besides, **Lib** , what’s with the “token” Christians? You don’t think the vast majority of teams that have been on TAR have been Christian? It’s really the “token” Christians-who-explicitly-identify-themselves-as-Christian who fit the profile of “token” Christians anyway. [/QUOTE] And of course, you have expressed no issue with **zut** ’s characterization of them as the “token” gay team and the “token” old people team, even though they’ve identified themselves as old and lesbian. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020/94 "2007-11-05T21:07:11Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] And of course, you have expressed no issue with **zut** ’s characterization of them as the “token” gay team and the “token” old people team, even though they’ve identified themselves as old and lesbian. [/QUOTE] Frankly, I didn’t even _notice_ **zut** using the term token to describe any of their characteristics. But then I don’t generally go looking for things to be offended about, because there are more than enough of them that come looking for me. It must be wonderful to be a member of such a generally accepted group that you have to go out of your way to find an innocuous and totally inconsequential word to take offense at. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020/95 "2007-11-05T21:32:08Z")
You should really read **zut** ’s contributions. They’re well written and informative. And he obviously spends a lot of time and thought on them. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020/96 "2007-11-05T21:45:38Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] You should really read **zut** ’s contributions. They’re well written and informative. And he obviously spends a lot of time and thought on them. [/QUOTE] I DO read his contributions. The fact that I didn’t notice the word “token” does not mean that I skipped it completely. I enjoy the Taxi Assessment very much. I just assigned less significance to a word than you apparently did. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020/97 "2007-11-05T21:49:13Z")
Significance? It was done with an italicized conjunction: “The token gay team _and_ the token old folks team.” I just read 'em as they’re written. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020/98 "2007-11-05T22:06:07Z")
I, for one, am glad that TAR broke down that final barrier and recruited a married lesbian team this year. I just can’t remember which team exactly – it’s [Marianna & Julia](http://alpha.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race12/bio/marianna_julia.shtml), right? I think that’s right. Or at least, I’m going to pretend that’s the case for the next few nights. 🆒 Thank God Ari’s gone. He was too uncomfortably similar to Lynn, the Romber-hater from Season 7. And speaking of previous contestants, I think TK is BJ’s long-lost twin. ---
**Author:** ![PastAllReason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@PastAllReason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastAllReason)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2007, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020/99 "2007-11-06T01:19:59Z")
[QUOTE=Eyebrows 0f Doom] Jason looks so much like a guy I know, it’s eerie. Does anyone know his last name? So far I’m rooting for TK & Rachel. [/QUOTE] I read on another website that he has done some acting, including playing the young Jed Bartlett on an episode of The West Wing, so you may have seen him on tv. According to the IMDb, his name then is [Jason Widener](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0927078/). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2007, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020/100 "2007-11-06T01:36:20Z")
Oh, the pain. Just started it now. Having lived in L.A. for 17 years (or was it 18?) it’s painful watching the players try to find the 405. It’s not that hard to find! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-11-04-07-donkeys-have-souls-too/425020.md?page=6)