# Another "ID this vague half-memory" Request

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-id-this-vague-half-memory-request/800501>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [November 2, 2017, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-id-this-vague-half-memory-request/800501 "2017-11-02T14:45:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-id-this-vague-half-memory-request/800501/1 "2017-11-02T14:45:22Z")

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Time period I saw it was anywhere from late 80s to mid-90s, I believe. Was on TV, would have been some sort of comedy program.

A couple bearded scientist-type guys are stroking their beards and talking and one remarks that it’s a medical fact that stroking your beard releases chemicals that make you smarter and better able to do science, thus why scientists do it. They then throw a pitying look (and perhaps comment) at a younger, clean-shaven companion.

Pretty sure the framing was them facing the camera with just their torsos and heads in frame. Now and then, I stroke my beard and remember that half-memory but have no idea where it’s from.

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**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-id-this-vague-half-memory-request/800501/2 "2017-11-02T15:09:12Z")

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There was a ST:TNG ep where Data “grew” a beard and stroked it with similar commentary.

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**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-id-this-vague-half-memory-request/800501/3 "2017-11-02T15:21:46Z")

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> [@E-DUB](#):
>
> There was a ST:TNG ep where Data “grew” a beard and stroked it with similar commentary.

Interesting, although I never made a point of watching any incarnation of Star Trek so I don’t _think_ that’s it…

(not that I’m prepared to swear on a half-memory from 20+ years ago…)

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**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-id-this-vague-half-memory-request/800501/4 "2017-11-02T16:01:34Z")

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It sounds like something that might have been on _Laugh-In_, but obviously the timing is wrong, unless you were watching a rerun.

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**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-id-this-vague-half-memory-request/800501/5 "2017-11-02T16:57:06Z")

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I seem to remember something like this from a Geico commercial.