# 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:** 11
**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, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/201 "2011-12-18T16:19:34Z")
> [@j666](#): > > I should change my username to **Lives in Cave**. What is tagiyya, and how is it being bandied about incorrectly these days? The word is misused by some RWs (most recently, regarding the protestations of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood that they have no intention of turning Egypt into a Iranian- or Saudi-Arabian-style theocracy) to mean the purported Islamic principle that it is all right for Muslims to lie if it is for the good of the Faith. Which principle is, actually, non-existent in Islam. There **is** such thing as [_Taqiyya._](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taqiyya) It is a **Shi’a** Islamic term for “concealing one’s faith in dangerous circumstances,” which is only common sense if you think about it; most of the early Christians did the same; and, historically, the Shi’a have often lived as a powerless minority among the Sunni. **Sunni** Muslims see things differently: > [@](#): > > While Sunnis agree that it is allowed to conceal the faith to protect their lives, they greatly differ with the Shia point of view. There is no such terminology as taqiyya in Sunni jurisprudence. Protecting one’s belief during extreme or exigent circumstances is called “idtirar” (إضطرار) and this word is not specific to concealing the faith. For example, one is allowed to consume prohibited or haraam food to protect one’s life under the jurisprudence of idtirar. However, in no way does this suggest that this is used as a means to promote the religion. In Sunni theological framework, announcing the truth and being witness for it has great significance. Prominent personalities who announced the truth and went through the hardship for announcing truth are highly revered among Sunnis.[9] Therefore, Taqiyya as a separate concept does not exist in Sunni jurisprudence. While idtirar is allowed in some cases, concealment of faith has never been revered or praised in Sunni schools of thought. ---
**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, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/202 "2011-12-18T17:08:04Z")
All right then. I believe I knew that Muslims were allowed to deny their religion to save their lives, and I did know they did not have to starve if there was no halal food available. I did not know these were different concepts, or that there was a Shia and Sunni difference. So, I am at least in the mouth of the cave. ---
**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, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/203 "2011-12-18T18:24:35Z")
> [@j666](#): > > 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 …) In theory, it’s essentially an old ruling from back in the bad old days that grants Muslims permission to deny their own faith in public if, for example, someone with a big sword is asking them “are you one of 'em heathen Musselmen ?” ; more or less. Which, as \*\*BrainGlutton \*\*says, sounds a lot like common sense to me. In modern retardtalk however, it’s code for “all Muslims lie all the time and if a Muslim says what I say about Muslims is factually wrong, they’re lying in order to deceive you.” It’s used by all kinds of “all Muslims are ALL secret totalitarian terrists” jokers, and of course makes any claim they make unfalsifiable in a damned if they do, damned if they don’t fashion. It’s very fucking annoying even to this atheist. ETA: in fact, I’d say your IslamWatch cite is a pretty good example of the “islamophobic jerkwad” use of the word. ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/204 "2011-12-20T16:26:57Z")
“White bread” is a euphemism for “honky”, one of the silliest words ever invented. “Vibrant” means “a neighborhood where grown men in undershirts ride around on BMX bikes.” ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/205 "2011-12-21T14:14:51Z")
Not really a term, but single-issue voters always piss me off. They fail to see the forest for the trees. Oh, so you are in favor of legal abortion and so is your Republican Congressional Candidate. Don’t you know that this candidate will be voting for a Speaker and committee chairs who are all pro-life? You are a member of the NRA and the Dem candidate is also a member. When he gets elected he will be voting for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker. I understand that your single issue is the most important to you, but it isn’t to almost anyone else in power. They cater to you on that issue, but vote against your feelings on most others. Don’t let them get away with that trick. ---
**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:** [January 14, 2012, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/206 "2012-01-14T20:24:06Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Is Obamacare stll on the list? How about Algore? ---
**Author:** ![Scholar\_Beardpig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@Scholar\_Beardpig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scholar_Beardpig)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/207 "2012-01-16T15:13:29Z")
My favorite political term that instantly marks a moron is ‘slap in the face.’ Nothing is a slap in the face unless it actually slaps you physically in the face. I’ve only ever heard it used to describe some metaphorical insult that is apparently too hurtful for the sane to comprehend. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/208 "2012-01-16T15:54:10Z")
Yeah, isn’t that what a metaphor is supposed to do? I don’t get your complaint … unless you just don’t like metaphors. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/209 "2012-01-16T16:21:26Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Yeah, isn’t that what a metaphor is supposed to do? I don’t get your complaint … unless you just don’t like metaphors. Your response is a slap in the face to **Scholar Beardpig**! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/210 "2012-01-16T16:25:22Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > How about Algore? Sure, if anyone even says that any more. ---
**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:** [January 17, 2012, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/211 "2012-01-17T12:32:57Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Sure, if anyone even says that any more. So you did notice that your most recent complaint was a little dated:D ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/212 "2012-01-17T14:34:40Z")
**Shodan** still says Algore. ---
**Author:** ![Plumbkrazy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Plumbkrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plumbkrazy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/213 "2012-01-17T14:50:54Z")
“The red, right, and blue.” Die already. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/214 "2012-01-17T15:21:49Z")
> [@Plumbkrazy](#): > > “The red, right, and blue.” That’s a new one to me. Who says that and in what context? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/215 "2012-01-17T15:43:41Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > So you did notice that your most recent complaint was a little dated:D Zombies get no pass. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/216 "2012-07-02T15:02:21Z")
This topic is bad and you should feel bad. Oh shit, it’s also really old. FFFFFUUUUCCCKKKKK!!! Zombie posted. Hangs head in shame … ---
**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:** [July 2, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/217 "2012-07-02T15:14:14Z")
But since you already raised this corpse from the dead, I will add one more: “Sends the wrong message”, as if messages are more important than outcomes. If a law achieves a positive outcome, I could not care less what message is perceived by ideologues. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/218 "2012-07-02T15:16:49Z")
I’m just really fucking glad this is a Pit thread. At first I thought it was about politics. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/219 "2012-07-02T15:27:28Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Anything I forgot to list? I would say arguing politics on the internet makes you an idiot by default. All the rest is just grist for the idiot mill. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-any-earnest-use-in-political-discussion-of-the-following-terms-brands-the-user-an-idiot/568381/220 "2012-07-02T16:31:03Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > How about Algore? How about “Mittens?” [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=10) [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=12)