# Anti-SSM argument goes from stupid to... what the heck is this? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 10, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819 "2014-04-10T19:53:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/361 "2014-04-11T21:41:49Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Actually, I’m pointing and laughing for the most part. Again, not an argument. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/362 "2014-04-11T21:42:46Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > That’s a truly bizarre statement. > What exactly is it about then? > Are SS couples not seeking equality? If not what hidden agenda do you imagine they are pursuing? Haven’t you ever heard of the Gay Agenda?? It’s…well it’s a thing that has the…agenda of the gays…to do…something. I must not be gay enough because even I haven’t gotten a copy. The far right seems to know about it though. ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/363 "2014-04-11T21:50:56Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > M: An argument isn’t just contradiction. > A: It can be. > M: No it can’t. An argument is a connected series of statements intended to establish a proposition. > A: No it isn’t. > M: Yes it is! It’s not just contradiction. > A: Look, if I argue with you, I must take up a contrary position. > M: Yes, but that’s not just saying ‘No it isn’t.’ > A: Yes it is! > M: No it isn’t! > A: Yes it is! > M: Argument is an intellectual process. Contradiction is just the automatic gainsaying of any statement the other person makes. > (short pause) > A: No it isn’t. I saw this when I was 22. ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/364 "2014-04-11T21:52:02Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > That’s a truly bizarre statement. > What exactly is it about then? > Are SS couples not seeking equality? If not what hidden agenda do you imagine they are pursuing? It is a complete fraud to talk about ‘equality’ when the issue is something else entirely. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/365 "2014-04-11T21:53:37Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > It is a complete fraud to talk about ‘equality’ when the issue is something else entirely. And what is that issue? also, do you plan on answering my question from post 344? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/366 "2014-04-11T21:54:27Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > I saw this when I was 22. Did you understand that it wasn’t a lesson on how to conduct an argument? ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/367 "2014-04-11T21:54:39Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > According to you, there’s no such thing, and can’t be any such thing, as same sex marriage. You have discounted judicial, legislative and voter decisions on the matter. > > So one final question and then I’m really done discussing this with you. Under what circumstance would you accept that same sex marriage is a real thing? None. It’s impossible. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/368 "2014-04-11T21:55:34Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > It is a complete fraud to talk about ‘equality’ when the issue is something else entirely. It’s a fraud to pretend it’s about anything else. What else IS it? Are you the dictionary police? ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/369 "2014-04-11T21:56:14Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > None. It’s impossible. Then there really is nothing else to talk to you about. Other people in the thread, his post here is his answer to every possible question or rebuttal. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/370 "2014-04-11T21:56:24Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > It is a complete fraud to talk about ‘equality’ when the issue is something else entirely. I too am curious what this other issue is. Please inform us! ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/371 "2014-04-11T21:57:14Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > Then there really is nothing else to talk to you about. > > Other people in the thread, his post here is his answer to every possible question or rebuttal. 99% of the posts have been mere assertions of amusement or excoriation, not rebuttal. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/372 "2014-04-11T21:57:32Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > None. It’s impossible. Well the rest of us will support laws allowing these impossible situations to keep occurring in all 50 states, as they have been for a decade now. Your approval is not needed, and your lack of acceptance of reality is amusing. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/373 "2014-04-11T21:59:38Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > 99% of the posts have been mere assertions of amusement or excoriation, not rebuttal. It clearly doesn’t matter since you have decided that same sex marriage is impossible. With that being your fallback position, it doesn’t matter what any says. You have made your final decision. For the sake of my family, I’m really glad people like you are rapidly becoming a minority. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/374 "2014-04-11T22:00:06Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > 99% of the posts have been mere assertions of amusement or excoriation, not rebuttal. I think I’ve done a pretty good job of demolishing your position on linguistic grounds. Are you willing to admit that your use of argumentum ad populum was in error? ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/375 "2014-04-11T22:04:06Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > Well the rest of us will support laws allowing these impossible situations to keep occurring in all 50 states, as they have been for a decade now. Your approval is not needed, and your lack of acceptance of reality is amusing. assertions of amusement. not argument ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/376 "2014-04-11T22:05:22Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > ‘Gay marriage’ is like ‘unburnable gasoline’. If you can’t burn it, it’s not gasoline. If I hold a jar of gasoline underwater, what substance does it transform into? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/377 "2014-04-11T22:05:50Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > Haven’t you heard of arranged marriages? For most of human history, and still today (especially in some Asian countries), marriages were arranged by parents. And that changed. This isn’t practiced any more in a lot of places that used to practice it. (England, for instance.) Yoo hoo! Customs! Change! You just gave an example of it! ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/378 "2014-04-11T22:06:14Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > I think I’ve done a pretty good job of demolishing your position on linguistic grounds. Are you willing to admit that your use of argumentum ad populum was in error? No, it is not. ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/379 "2014-04-11T22:07:48Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > And that changed. This isn’t practiced any more in a lot of places that used to practice it. (England, for instance.) > > Yoo hoo! Customs! Change! You just gave an example of it! and the result has been an overwhelming success…right? [http://www.vanneman.umd.edu/socy441/trends/divorce.jpg](http://www.vanneman.umd.edu/socy441/trends/divorce.jpg) Our grandparents’ or at least great-grandparents marriages were arranged. My grandparents’ were, I believe. No divorce in my family tree that I know of. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/380 "2014-04-11T22:08:19Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > No, it is not. Are you a linguistic prescriptivist? Or is Wikipedia in error? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819.md?page=20)