# 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:** 22
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/421 "2014-04-12T01:23:25Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > yes, I do use them here but nobody else does. > > “If you oppose SSM then you are a homophome and a bigot who opposes equal rights”. > > This is nothing less than intimidation and disingenuousness. I posted two serious arguments you completely ignored. Post 303. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/422 "2014-04-12T01:23:37Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > yes, I do use them here but nobody else does. > > “If you oppose SSM then you are a homophome and a bigot who opposes equal rights”. > > This is nothing less than intimidation and disingenuousness. Miller - 1. Melchior - 0. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/423 "2014-04-12T01:24:19Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > Your post is filled with distortions and misunderstandings so vast that it defies belief, and I cannot imagine responding to this pile of excrement. That’s not an argument. Give an argument. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/424 "2014-04-12T01:26:06Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > That’s not an argument. Give an argument. Is it wrong that I heard that in Crocodile Dundee’s voice? ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/425 "2014-04-12T01:26:39Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > That’s not an argument. Give an argument. Your work to date doesn’t merit my attention. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/426 "2014-04-12T01:29:33Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > Your work to date doesn’t merit my attention. If you’re going to claim that you haven’t been paying attention to this thread, that would explain your posts better than anything else I can think of. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/427 "2014-04-12T01:30:05Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > yes, I do use them here but nobody else does. > > “If you oppose SSM then you are a homophome and a bigot who opposes equal rights”. > > This is nothing less than intimidation and disingenuousness. That’s the way things have been done in the past isn’t an argument. It may be part of a reason for something, but as a complete argument is a fail. ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/428 "2014-04-12T01:33:36Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > That’s the way things have been done in the past isn’t an argument. It may be part of a reason for something, but as a complete argument is a fail. Marriage itself is “something that has been done in the past”. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/429 "2014-04-12T01:35:34Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > Your work to date doesn’t merit my attention. So you don’t have an argument. Hypocrite. ---
**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:** [April 12, 2014, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/430 "2014-04-12T01:35:52Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > Marriage itself is “something that has been done in the past”. So is slavery, that sure as hell doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be changed. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/431 "2014-04-12T01:36:24Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > Does this ring a bell? Does the customer have the right to call pappardelle with marinara sauce by the name fettuccine Alfredo? No, of course not. He is mistaken. I don’t think that in any way answers the questions I posed to you in my lengthy post. I’d like to think that you’re debating in good faith, so I’d really appreciate it if you would do so. But if you’d prefer something shorter and more punchy, well, suppose that there’s a new dish, which is a pasta dish made from fettuccine pasta tossed with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and butter, but which also has eggplant in it. The restaurant would like to call it “Fettucine Alfredo with eggplant”, and treat it as a variety of Fettucine Alfredo. Should they? Why or why not? ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/432 "2014-04-12T01:37:12Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > Marriage itself is “something that has been done in the past”. So is “everything else”. Doesn’t mean they’re done the same way for eternity. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/433 "2014-04-12T01:37:37Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > Marriage itself is “something that has been done in the past”. So you have no coherent argument. Gotcha. Why don’t you just _say_ so? ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/434 "2014-04-12T01:38:08Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > I don’t think that in any way answers the questions I posed to you in my lengthy post. I’d like to think that you’re debating in good faith, so I’d really appreciate it if you would do so. > > But if you’d prefer something shorter and more punchy, well, suppose that there’s a new dish, which is a pasta dish made from fettuccine pasta tossed with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and butter, but which also has eggplant in it. > > The restaurant would like to call it “Fettucine Alfredo with eggplant”, and treat it as a variety of Fettucine Alfredo. Should they? Why or why not? that was not the question. Answer the question as stated. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/435 "2014-04-12T01:39:46Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > Doesn’t mean they’re done the same way for eternity. Unless you’re talking about this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/436 "2014-04-12T01:40:44Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Unless you’re talking about this thread. True. I’ve had basically this same ‘argument’ for at least 6 years on here with a few people. It never changes. That’s why I’ve pretty much switched to mocking. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/437 "2014-04-12T01:41:18Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > Marriage itself is “something that has been done in the past”. So? Who cares. At one point the only professions were theology, law and medicine. That definition was expanded to include many jobs that require advanced education in the service of others. The definition expanded to become more inclusive and is now the accepted definition. Still ignoring post 303, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/438 "2014-04-12T01:42:46Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > Does this ring a bell? Does the customer have the right to call pappardelle with marinara sauce by the name fettuccine Alfredo? No, of course not. He is mistaken. He has the right to call it whatever he wants. Once the waiter figures out what he means, the waiter has the right to either go get the guy what he asked for, or argue over definitions. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/439 "2014-04-12T01:47:58Z")
It’s pretty clear that **Melchior** is not arguing in good faith, considering that he doesn’t even accept the reasons that same-sex-marriage supporters state for their support as their true beliefs… not to mention the fact that he says nothing (not even, apparently, thousands of years of societal acceptance of gay marriage) could ever lead him to accept that gay marriage is a real thing. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/440 "2014-04-12T01:51:53Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > that was not the question. Answer the question as stated. So I asked a bunch of questions. You responded by asking me some questions. I responded by asking you a question. But it’s my responsibility to answer your question, even though you haven’t answered either my first OR second sets of questions? That doesn’t seem particularly fair. Nonetheless, I will answer your question(s): > [@](#): > > A man walks into an Italian restaurant and orders fettuccine Alfredo. In a few minutes the waiter brings a plate of fettuccine Alfredo (medium-sized noodles in a white cream sauce). He yells at the waiter and says “This is not what I want! I want that!” (and he points to another diner’s dish which contains pappardelle with marinara sauce). The waiter blushes and says perhaps the customer is mistaken about what that dish is called. The customer becomes enraged and insists that he is right and that he can call it what he wants. > > Does this ring a bell? No, at least not in the context of an SSM discussion. > [@](#): > > Does the customer have the right to call pappardelle with marinara sauce by the name fettuccine Alfredo? The “right”? He certainly has the RIGHT to do so. I have the RIGHT to call dogs cats if I want. But if I do so, I will be very disappointed when people fail to understand what I’m talking about. And I will potentially at some point run into legal troubles when I sign a contract to supply a travelling circus with 100 cats and supply them with 100 dogs, which I call cats. So, I’ve courteously responded to your questions. Could you extend me the same courtesy? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819.md?page=23)