# Attention: Any EARNEST use in political discussion of the following terms brands the user an idiot **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 20, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381 "2011-01-20T21:34:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/181 "2011-07-26T14:29:19Z")
nm Dope is screwed up this morning… ---
**Author:** ![MarcusF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/67e7ee/32.png) [@MarcusF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarcusF)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/182 "2011-07-26T14:52:41Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > ‘Hat’ used in shit like, “He took his military hat off, and put on his diplomacy hat”. > > Most used during the McCain/Obama election but I ground my teeth every time so bubble-headed bleach-blond opined this vacuous crap. I don’t see this one. Ok, it’s a cliche but I don’t think it automatically brands the user as an idiot. It can just be recognising that some people do have more than one role and have to change their thinking to match. If we start listing cliches and the like we’ll have a whole new thread. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/183 "2011-07-26T15:03:22Z")
> [@MarcusF](#): > > I don’t see this one. Ok, it’s a cliche but I don’t think it automatically brands the user as an idiot. It can just be recognising that some people do have more than one role and have to change their thinking to match. > > If we start listing cliches and the like we’ll have a whole new thread. Agreed. And this thread is about idiotic terms used **in political discourse** – the “hat” usage is not essentially that. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/184 "2011-07-26T15:43:20Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Anything I forgot to list? You forgot Poland. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/185 "2011-07-26T16:17:40Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > You forgot Poland. Not just Poland – Ruritania, Graustark – **any** mythical country invented for the sake of jokes. What? ---
**Author:** ![Elysium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3be4f8/32.png) [@Elysium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elysium)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/186 "2011-07-26T18:25:10Z")
I have to add Big Pharma and other Big \_\_\_\_ references to doctors and scientists. Yeah, your family physician is totally being paid by Pfizer to give your kid a horrible disease. For fun! ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/187 "2011-07-26T18:52:07Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > No, [“Shrub” was made up by Molly Ivins.](http://www.ontheissues.org/Shrub.htm) **Kimstu** ’s cite doesn’t say what she apparently thought it did. > > Regards, > Shodan Actually, according to your cite: > [@](#): > > Ivins explains it as a dictionary translation of the name of Bush’s oil company, “Arbusto,” which Bush prefers to translate as “bush.” ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/188 "2011-07-26T19:34:25Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > glow-ball warming It’s “glow ball warning,” and it’s a _Yotsuba!_ reference! > [@](#): > > Democrat Party I’m a Dem, but raised Pubbie, & I still do this by mistake. It’s mostly a Spooneresque brain fart though. I don’t worry that much about insulting words. I pretty much accepted years ago that I get called a Leninist around here for supporting a conservative theory of taxation. Now, the positive-feeling words, those are interesting: “job creators,” “right of a woman to choose,” etc. Weaselly stuff. And using “tax,” like it means “rip out a pound of flesh,” that bothers me. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/189 "2011-12-16T20:35:20Z")
Time to add [“Dear Leader”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14573513&postcount=90) to the list. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/190 "2011-12-16T21:09:30Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Time to add [“Dear Leader”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14573513&postcount=90) to the list. Why in the world did you link to this post? For one thing, the poster is you, and for another thing, the phrase you cite doesn’t even appear in either your post or the one you quoted. Third, Hi, Opal! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/191 "2011-12-16T21:36:43Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Why in the world did you link to this post? For one thing, the poster is you, and for another thing, the phrase you cite doesn’t even appear in either your post or the one you quoted. Third, Hi, Opal! [Sowwies.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14573193&postcount=88) ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/192 "2011-12-16T23:02:56Z")
Is Obamacare stll on the list? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/193 "2011-12-18T00:08:35Z")
“Skin in the game” ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/194 "2011-12-18T02:16:30Z")
Taqiyya. Unless it’s used by a bona fide Muslim scholar in its proper context, it’s a pretty foolproof fuckwit detector. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/195 "2011-12-18T02:41:40Z")
Any word with “-gate” tacked onto the end, to imply without fact that there’s an actual scandal in there somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/196 "2011-12-18T02:52:16Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Any word with “-gate” tacked onto the end, to imply without fact that there’s an actual scandal in there somewhere. When an innocent Brazilian man was mistaken for a suicide bomber and gunned down by police in Forest Gate, London, some took to calling the scandal Forest Gategate. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/197 "2011-12-18T08:29:50Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > To start with, from the RW side: > > Obamacare > Obamanomics > > And . . . that’s about it. “Teabagger” might be in poor taste but is not idiotic. Those two aren’t so bad. “Teabagger” is juvenile. BTW- Dem or Pubbie are both OK. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/198 "2011-12-18T13:56:49Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Taqiyya. Unless it’s used by a bona fide Muslim scholar in its proper context, it’s a pretty foolproof fuckwit detector. I should change my username to **Lives in Cave**. What is tagiyya, and how is it being bandied about incorrectly these days? (Note: I cannot view any youtube videos that will be offered as explanations …) From Wiki: The practice of concealing one’s beliefs in dangerous circumstances originates in the Qur’an, which deems blameless those who disguise their beliefs in such cases.[8] The practice of taqiyya in difficult circumstances is considered legitimate by Muslims of various sects. Sunni and Shi’a commentators alike observe that verse 16:106 refers to the case of 'Ammar b. Yasir, who was forced to renounce his beliefs under physical duress and torture From Islam Watch: The word “Taqiyya” literally means: "Concealing, precaution, guarding.” It is employed in disguising one’s beliefs, intentions, convictions, ideas, feelings, opinions or strategies. In practical terms it is manifested as dissimulation, lying, deceiving, vexing and confounding with the intention of deflecting attention, foiling or pre-emptive blocking. It is currently employed in fending off and neutralising any criticism of Islam or Muslims. From [al-islam.org](http://al-islam.org): …a better, and more accurate definition of “al-Taqiyya” is “diplomacy.” The true spirit of “al-Taqiyya” is better embodied in the single word “diplomacy” because it encompasses a comprehensive spectrum of behaviors that serve to further the vested interests of all parties involved. ---
**Author:** ![raskolnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e47c2d/32.png) [@raskolnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raskolnik)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/199 "2011-12-18T14:08:28Z")
Dear leader is correct when applied to the DPRK. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/200 "2011-12-18T15:43:23Z")
> [@raskolnik](#): > > Dear leader is correct when applied to the DPRK. Hard for any foreigner to use it without sounding silly or sarcastic, though. **Castro** would sound silly calling Kim Jong Il the Dear Leader. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381.md?page=11)