# 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:** 43
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/841 "2014-04-15T14:11:12Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > In case it isn’t clear, I am not ‘opposed to’ ‘gay marriage’. My objection is that it is impossible, because the notion of marriage excludes the possibility a priori. And yet, it exists. So time to re-examine those foundational axioms there, buddy. ---
**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 15, 2014, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/842 "2014-04-15T14:12:23Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > I have a college degree and deal with professors all the time. That’s \*why \*I despise them. Because they point out your poor grasp of the nature of human language, cultures, and traditions? I can see how that might piss you off. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2014, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/843 "2014-04-15T14:15:36Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > I have a college degree and deal with professors all the time. That’s \*why \*I despise them. It’s probably a mercy degree. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/844 "2014-04-15T14:15:40Z")
Man, this thread has made my day. I’ve learned that: Blacks and whites should not have been allowed to change the definition of marriage. Interracial marriages are wrong. My two childless marriages were or were not marriages (I can’t follow **Melchoir** on that, but my lesbian sister, her legally married wife, and her eight (!) daughters are not a marriage. ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/845 "2014-04-15T14:22:50Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > And yet, it exists. So time to re-examine those foundational axioms there, buddy. If you count cargo cult ‘marriages’ as marriages. I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/846 "2014-04-15T14:24:19Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > A college degree, you don’t say? > > I’m guessing they found your arguments unpersuasive and that’s why you despise them. No, actually I am more intelligent than most of them. Not all, but most. A lot of people believe that professors are more intelligent than the average lot of humanity. This is false. They are merely in different specialties. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/847 "2014-04-15T14:24:52Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > If you count cargo cult ‘marriages’ as marriages. I don’t. Finally, we’re making progress. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/848 "2014-04-15T14:25:29Z")
OK, in the context of **Melchior** , a “marriage” is defined as one man, one woman, for the purpose of reproduction. I’ll keep that in mind if I ever need to discuss marriage with you. In the context of the rest of the English speaking world, the word covers a little bit more ground, so I’ll go with that. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/849 "2014-04-15T14:25:48Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > If you count cargo cult ‘marriages’ as marriages. I don’t. You let me know how that works out for you. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2014, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/850 "2014-04-15T14:27:31Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > No, actually I am more intelligent than most of them. Not all, but most. A lot of people believe that professors are more intelligent than the average lot of humanity. This is false. They are merely in different specialties. Pompous little ass, isn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/851 "2014-04-15T14:37:06Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Pompous little ass, isn’t he? If you knew anything about how professors are chosen you would understand that my claim is modest, actually. It’s not much of an accomplishment at all to be more intelligent than a professor. ---
**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 15, 2014, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/852 "2014-04-15T14:38:04Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > No, actually I am more intelligent than most of them. I hang out with college professors too. (I’m married to one, after all.) You’re correct that they’re not all geniuses. But for the most part, they’re smarter than you. You seem have to a certain aptitude in a narrow field, but your grasp of broader theory is so woefully lacking that you are not even aware of your incapacity. Dunning-Kruger … . ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/853 "2014-04-15T14:39:33Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > In case it isn’t clear, I am not ‘opposed to’ ‘gay marriage’. My objection is that it is impossible, because the notion of marriage excludes the possibility a priori. Just like it excluded mixed race marriage prior to 1960. Why didn’t changing the definition then lead to polygamy, people marrying apes or rocks? One anti-SSM protestor told me that "marriage is for monogomy and gays can’t be monogomous, so gays can’t get married. Makes as much sense as anything Melchior has said in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/854 "2014-04-15T14:42:53Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > In case it isn’t clear, I am not ‘opposed to’ ‘gay marriage’. My objection is that it is impossible, because the notion of marriage excludes the possibility a priori. I didn’t realize it was this easy! Let me try one! White chocolate bothers me. I don’t ‘oppose’ it, but it doesn’t have cocoa powder in it. Even though the FDA and the EU regulate marketing items as being made of ‘white chocolate,’ it’s found in the dictionary, it’s made from cocoa butter, and people recognize it as a food, I say the notion of chocolate excludes ‘white chocolate.’ (aka, I reject your reality and substitute my own) ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/855 "2014-04-15T14:45:15Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > I hang out with college professors too. (I’m married to one, after all.) You’re correct that they’re not all geniuses. But for the most part, they’re smarter than you. You seem have to a certain aptitude in a narrow field, but your grasp of broader theory is so woefully lacking that you are not even aware of your incapacity. Dunning-Kruger … . But he has a COLLEGE DEGREE. Geesh. That obviously makes him smarter than most professors. Hmm…there seems to be a flaw in the logic somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/856 "2014-04-15T14:54:19Z")
I must say, I’m diggin’ the phrase-of-the-day arguments. It’s like reading Brickipedia. ---
**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 15, 2014, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/857 "2014-04-15T15:02:46Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > I have a college degree and deal with professors all the time. That’s \*why \*I despise them. Yeah, I can see why you’d despise somebody who gave you a college degree the way a Nigerian “prince” despises the suckers who actually fall for his scam. ---
**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 15, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/858 "2014-04-15T15:04:25Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > No, actually I am more intelligent than most of them. [Paging Dr. Dunning! Paging Dr. Kruger!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect) ---
**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 15, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/859 "2014-04-15T15:04:38Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > My objection is that it is impossible, because the notion of marriage excludes the possibility a priori. “A priori” does not mean “according to my personal conception” or even “according to general consensus” or “according to all history and custom”. The fact that some gay couples have gotten married and are treated as being married by the state and their local communities clearly demonstrates that the notion of marriage doesn’t exclude the possibility of a same sex union A PRIORI. You shouldn’t use big Latin words if you’re ignorant of their meaning. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819/860 "2014-04-15T15:05:34Z")
> [@Gedd](#): > > I didn’t realize it was this easy! Let me try one! > > White chocolate bothers me. I don’t ‘oppose’ it, but it doesn’t have cocoa powder in it. Even though the FDA and the EU regulate marketing items as being made of ‘white chocolate,’ it’s found in the dictionary, it’s made from cocoa butter, and people recognize it as a food, I say the notion of chocolate excludes ‘white chocolate.’ > (aka, I reject your reality and substitute my own) But I LOVE white chocolate. When chocolate is on sale, I should be allowed to buy it cheaper. Don’t tell me there should be two separate but equal sales on chocolate and white chocolate. And should white chocolate and real chocolate be allowed in the same candy bar? Should people be forced to eat white chocolate. The majority doesn’t think so. Maybe white chocolate should be illegal. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819.md?page=42) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-ssm-argument-goes-from-stupid-to-what-the-heck-is-this/685819.md?page=44)