# Biased much? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 13, 2003, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biased-much/207114 "2003-10-13T04:05:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JerseyDiamond](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8491ac/32.png) [@JerseyDiamond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyDiamond)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biased-much/207114/21 "2003-10-13T04:44:56Z")
well guys, it’s been fun. I need to get to bed. Since I am not on the comp. that much, and in case I do get banned for nothing, or for some made up nonsense, it has been entertaining. Thanks, JD ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biased-much/207114/22 "2003-10-13T04:50:21Z")
It’s not about the opinions in the email, it’s about the veracity of the email. We’d like to debate politics based on true information, not easily falsifiable glurge. Just sticking in my two cents where it’s not needed nor wanted. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biased-much/207114/23 "2003-10-13T04:55:11Z")
Remember when **Satan** was banned, and his girlfriend (was it **DrainBead**?) stopped posting in protest? \ Good times. Good times. **Jersey** , go stand by your man, willya? ---
**Author:** ![bri1600bv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@bri1600bv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bri1600bv)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biased-much/207114/24 "2003-10-13T04:57:20Z")
I thought most of the points in the e-mail were good. Kicking out illegal aliens? They’re here illegally. What more needs to be said? Energy independence? Yes, Christ would have frowned upon that. Pay SA $10 for oil? I don’t think that would work, so it’s a little silly. Most of our foreign aid to places like AFrica are stolen, unfortunatley. So we need to change our method of doing that. Allowing trade perhaps, forgiving debt, but not just writing blank checks to governments. No on in school past 21? I think that was a joke. No students from terrorist countries? Maybe a little extreme, but not totally unreasonable. No aid for starvation, etc.? Well I think we should help, but it is odd that even when we help, people still seem to hate us. We were in Somalia feeding people when our Rangers were killed. Of course, since they’re Americans, they deserve to be killed. It did seem odd that Robin Williams alledgedly wrote it. He’s a Holllywood type, not given to knee jerk conservatism. ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biased-much/207114/25 "2003-10-13T05:10:21Z")
Go away and take your stupid with you. ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biased-much/207114/26 "2003-10-13T05:10:39Z")
**JerseyDiamond** , what was your point with the first thread? For that matter, what point are you trying to make with this thread? Also. Are you: a. Drunk b. High c. All of the above ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biased-much/207114/27 "2003-10-13T05:12:15Z")
Goodness, I didn’t know posting a Snopes link was going to start this kind of problem. Excuse me for fighting ignorance. And **Eddy** , I even typed Snopes’ URL out. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biased-much/207114/28 "2003-10-13T05:17:33Z")
God be with you, **JD**. Safe night. Here’s hoping you’re a damn sight more cogent and rational when you wake:) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biased-much/207114/29 "2003-10-13T06:50:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\* > You don’t get WHY it’s racist and unChristian, do you? > > Do you honestly think that Christ would have agreed with it? I certainly don’t. \*\* Just a general point here. It’s not specific to you, **Guin** , but just something I’ve noticed. People, regardless of their religious and political beliefs, seem to tend to believe that their religion supports their political beliefs. It’s probably possible to be a Christian and either agree or disagree with that e-mail…I’ve found Christians all over the political spectrum, and generally, saying, “All Christians should have these political or social views…” has, historically led to conflict, as both groups, who consider themselves as having the “true” Christian viewpoint, are unable to view the other side with anything approaching tolerance. You see this, right now, for example, in the debate in the Episcopal church over tolerance of homosexuality. Both sides are convinced that theirs is the authentic Christian viewpoint, so both sides are talking past each other. In the past, Christianity has also been said to both support and oppose slavery, for example. More generally, any religion that can adopt the teachings of both “The Gospel of Wealth” and Christian Socialism, can obviously support a wide range of views. Even though I single out Christianity here, this analysis isn’t restricted simply to it. Most religions are able to support diverse political and social views. There does, however, as I said, seem to be the tendency to slip into a “no true Scotsman” argument…“No true (member of religion X) can support (policy A).” ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biased-much/207114/30 "2003-10-13T07:30:07Z")
Actually, JD, given your preponderance for bigotry and stupidity, there’s not enough time for you to even achieve the intelligence of a pebble, let alone that of any poster here other than you. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biased-much/207114/31 "2003-10-13T07:43:42Z")
Sadly when I read the ‘letter’ I thought it was a sarcastic joke on how isolated we’re trying to become. Scary that people take it serious. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biased-much/207114/32 "2003-10-13T07:47:38Z")
Say…who put this big cross up in here? Damn martyrs, cluttering up the place… ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biased-much/207114/33 "2003-10-13T08:03:33Z")
I, also, son’t see what Christianity has to do with this. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biased-much/207114/34 "2003-10-13T08:05:42Z")
It’s little things like this that make me so glad I’m not a moderator/administrator. **JerseyDiamond** it just comes across like a bad martyrdom complex - maybe that isn’t what it really is at all, but it looks for all the world as if it _is_. Why would people pick on you because _it’s you_, rather than taking issue with _the stuff you post_? - your posts are all we have by which to know anything about you - it doesn’t matter (to us here on the board) what kind of person you are in real life because we simply don’t have access to that data. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biased-much/207114/35 "2003-10-13T09:03:57Z")
Some people do pick on people just because of who they are. Most don’t, but some do. Those who do are called “bullies”. ---
**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:** [October 13, 2003, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biased-much/207114/36 "2003-10-13T09:21:25Z")
What struck me about the OP in the thread in question was exactly the thing **Earl of the CC** picked up on: it’s not so much that this bit of apocryphal glurge was posted here than it is that it was posted _without comment_. **JD** didn’t express an opinion on it, leaving us to wonder: does she want us to agree with it, be appalled by it, or what? Were we supposed to spontaneously start a discussion on civil liberties or immigration or Robin Williams or spam or what? What, in short, was the point? If there had actually been a debate topic included or an opinion expressed that somehow made it relevant to a message board, it might actually have lasted a little longer than the 15 minutes it took for four separate people to post the Snopes link and the thread to be closed. Work with us a bit here, **JD**. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biased-much/207114/37 "2003-10-13T09:44:20Z")
**Jersey Diamond** , I don’t know why I’m bothering with this, but do you realize that piece you posted was full of gossip and slander and that by posting it you were deliberately doing something which Paul specifically condemns clearly and unambiguously as sinful right alongside sexual immorality? What was your point? What did you hope to accomplish? I am asking this in all seriousness, because I don’t understand why a person would do such a thing, especially someone who is so public about her Christianity. Even if Robin Williams did say such things, what _difference_ does it make? How would it affect you? He’s not running for office, as far as I know (insert Schwartzenegger joke here), and, to my way of thinking, his opinion has about as much effect on me as that of the 3rd guy I’ll pass after I get on the interstate this morning. Actually, a bit less – that 3rd guy might have an opinion about being passed which might affect me. 😉 I do mean this respectfully, CJ ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biased-much/207114/38 "2003-10-13T09:49:41Z")
**JerseyDiamond** , warning. _Final_ warning, as far as I’m concerned. When a thread gets closed by a moderator or administrator, it’s not done because they don’t like you (which, in turn, doesn’t mean that they _don’t_, I can assure you). In this case, it was closed because it was a worthless piece of easily debunked glurge, that you posted without comment. Further on, you heaped a healthy dosis of martyrdom onto it. Because we’re all out to get you, right? Be careful what you wish for - consider yourself on thin ice. Sure, I know this only fuels your martyrdom: “_The mods are out to get me! See! It’s right there! They ban Christians, because they’re liberal atheists, and easily offended!_” Whatever. We’re getting a little tired of your ignorant ravings, and I’m only abiding the standard procedures here - this is your last chance. A considerable part of me hopes you fuck it up. This thread is closed. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biased-much/207114/39 "2003-10-13T11:56:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gyrate \* > \*\*What struck me about the OP in the thread in question was exactly the thing **Earl of the CC** picked up on: it’s not so much that this bit of apocryphal glurge was posted here than it is that it was posted _without comment_. **JD** didn’t express an opinion on it, leaving us to wonder: does she want us to agree with it, be appalled by it, or what? Were we supposed to spontaneously start a discussion on civil liberties or immigration or Robin Williams or spam or what? What, in short, was the point? > > If there had actually been a debate topic included or an opinion expressed that somehow made it relevant to a message board, it might actually have lasted a little longer than the 15 minutes it took for four separate people to post the Snopes link and the thread to be closed. > > Work with us a bit here, **JD**. \*\* Actually, had she questioned the glurge, or offered her opinion on some of the items in it, I very probably WOULDN’T have closed the thread. As it was, I closed the thread as an act of mercy…I felt that people would rip her to shreds if I left it open. So she had to open ANOTHER Pit thread, because apparently she WANTED to be martyred. Or something. Lynn [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biased-much/207114.md?page=1)