# Brainglutton, I am so tired of your BS **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 8, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669 "2007-11-08T17:12:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669/281 "2007-11-11T16:58:17Z")
So, **Carol** , what would YOU reccomend for a fair tax rate? ---
**Author:** ![Fuji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Fuji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669/282 "2007-11-11T17:28:00Z")
[QUOTE=MrDibble] One exception proves the rule [/QUOTE] And which rule might that be? Oh yeah, US = bad. Got it. > [@](#): > > - but if you like, I can bring up Trail of Tears, Wounded Knee, Philippines, Vietnam, School of the Americas… And I could bring up the United Nations, the Marshall Plan, and Apollo 11. But I guess that would be pointless, since we already have “the rule”. > [@](#): > > There’s a difference between perception and actuality. and yes, it is possible to be a credible threat and still be relatively powerless - just how strong do you think Al Quaeda actually is, outside of people’s imaginations. Given how the Euro has been beating the piss out of the dollar this year, I would argue that those Europeans might just know a thing or two about influencing events on the world stage, hence my reference to a European poll. Your idiosyncratic usages of the words “threat” and “powerless” notwithstanding, for most of us the phrase “powerless threat” would be a contradiction in terms. Personally, I don’t think Al Qaeda is much of a threat, because I don’t think they have much of an ability to influence the course of events (i.e. power). See how that works? > [@](#): > > Well, yes, because it speaks to the level of organisation and competence in the State. Hard to be a strong State if you can’t even save your own people from the weather. One example of governmental incompetence in natural disaster response as compared to the countless other instances in which local, state, and/or federal authorities acquit themselves favorably every year? Apparently that doesn’t figure into your moral calculus. > [@](#): > > Totally. My Govt. is up to maggots with that one. > > Oh, wait, not another dumb fuck who thinks playing the _tu quoque_ card actually means they win, are you? Have you actually read any of my previous responses to that kind of kindergarten shit? “My country, right or wrong” is soooo not my dance tune, fucker. > Fuck you, and fuck your debate technique. Cunt. No, I haven’t read any of your “previous responses to that kind of kindergarten shit”. Again, check my join date. Why you think it incumbent upon to me to become intimately acquainted with the previously expressed political positions of posters at an anonymous message board is beyond me. Judging from your hyperbolic response to my post, I can surmise that you don’t particularly care for a stranger casting your country in a less-than-flattering light. Neither do I. Of course, I can get my point across without losing my shit. You? Not so much. > [@](#): > > A “strong” nation, in my opinion, is _necessarily_ also competent in its actions. If it can not competently protect its own interests, it does not deserve the moniker “strong” - its own incompetence is its weakness. So not catching Bin Laden and not saving N.O. are signs of weakness. America’s pitiful reliance on Urban Sprawl as a valid lifestyle will soon prove to be another. As I noted upthread, you have a rather unusual take on how to assess national strength. Perhaps you would care to explain how you arrive at your judgments, perhaps providing some examples of powerful countries of the past and present? Going from what you haven written here, I can not think of a single nation in history that could be labelled as “powerful”, which kind of defeats the purpose of having terms like “strong” and “weak” to use as relative descriptors. And urban sprawl as a sign of national weakness? This has to be one of the nuttier responses I’ve seen in this thread. 😕 ---
**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:** [November 11, 2007, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669/283 "2007-11-11T18:08:40Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] There is no difference between property rights and human rights. Humans own themselves. [/QUOTE] The government doens’t want your body. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669/284 "2007-11-11T18:48:04Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] The government doens’t want your body. [/QUOTE] A person is more than just his body, though for all I know you may be the exception. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669/285 "2007-11-11T18:57:42Z")
[QUOTE=Fuji] No, I haven’t read any of your “previous responses to that kind of kindergarten shit”. Again, check my join date. Why you think it incumbent upon to me to become intimately acquainted with the previously expressed political positions of posters at an anonymous message board is beyond me. [/QUOTE] You “bowed out” of the last such one because you weren’t au fait with the personalities involved, but I assumed you actually read the thread. Silly me. [QUOTE=Fuji] Judging from your hyperbolic response to my post, I can surmise that you don’t particularly care for a stranger casting your country in a less-than-flattering light. [/QUOTE] No, I don’t particularly care for _tu quoque_ as a rhetorical fallacy. It got old the first time it was done. What it is about people finding out I’m South African that makes them bust out this shitty argument technique, I don’t know. And unless your reading comprehension is way off, I don’t have a problem with people pointing out the faults in a country I’m not particularly loyal to, internationalist anarchosyndicalist that I am. I just hate its use as a truly craptastic “gotcha” attempt. A fucking lot. [QUOTE=Fuji] Neither do I. Of course, I can get my point across without losing my shit. You? Not so much. [/QUOTE] Crappy argument technique makes me lose my shit, motherfucker. People mistaking me for a jingoistic patriot while doing it is always the real kicker. [QUOTE=Fuji] As I noted upthread, you have a rather unusual take on how to assess national strength. [/QUOTE] So it seems. I guess I misinterpreted what people mean by “strong” all around. From now on I will read it as “Can fuck your shit up” [QUOTE=Fuji] Perhaps you would care to explain how you arrive at your judgments, perhaps providing some examples of powerful countries of the past and present? [/QUOTE] I’d have called post-Depression, pre-Vietnam USA “strong”. Late Victorian Britain too. Japan around turn of the 20th Century. All within their context, of course. [QUOTE=Fuji] Going from what you haven written here, I can not think of a single nation in history that could be labelled as “powerful”, which kind of defeats the purpose of having terms like “strong” and “weak” to use as relative descriptors. [/QUOTE] I wasn’t thinking of “strong” as a relative descriptor - guess that’s where I was wrong. [QUOTE=Fuji] And urban sprawl as a sign of national weakness? This has to be one of the nuttier responses I’ve seen in this thread. 😕 [/QUOTE] _Almost an entire nation_ devoting itself to a lifestyle that’s detrimental to its best interests, both short and long term? What’s nutty about pointing out that that’s a weakness? “Clusterfuck Nation” indeed. ---
**Author:** ![forty\_two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/forty_two/32/7279_2.png) [@forty\_two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/forty_two)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669/286 "2007-11-11T19:05:15Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] The government doens’t want your body. [/QUOTE] it doesn’t even think I’m cute? ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669/287 "2007-11-11T19:15:11Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] The government doens’t want your body. [/QUOTE] well, not on the first date anyway. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669/288 "2007-11-11T19:15:56Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] Hey, I was speaking in tones of the purest admiration! That sentence is stupendous in its scope and majesty, it swoops and soars like a great bird, it rocs! [/QUOTE] For a pun like that, you deserve to be stoned. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669/289 "2007-11-11T19:24:35Z")
It’s Bush’s fault. ---
**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:** [November 11, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669/290 "2007-11-11T19:29:05Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] A person is more than just his body… [/QUOTE] What, like your Prius, and big screen TV, and shit like that? ---
**Author:** ![Fuji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Fuji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669/291 "2007-11-11T19:55:55Z")
[QUOTE=MrDibble] You “bowed out” of the last such one because you weren’t au fait with the personalities involved, but I assumed you actually read the thread. Silly me. [/QUOTE] Sorry for that. I can only post at work if it’s not busy, and at home, I’m on a friend’s wireless router that regularly conks out for hours at a time. So I cannot always return in a timely fashion to threads I’ve been participating in. In the other thread, by the time I got back to it, it had already petered out, and n00b that I am, I thought’d be a bit presumptuous of me to raise it from the dead. I’ll (try) not to let it happen again. > [@](#): > > No, I don’t particularly care for _tu quoque_ as a rhetorical fallacy. It got old the first time it was done. What it is about people finding out I’m South African that makes them bust out this shitty argument technique, I don’t know. Maybe it’s simply a matter of you being a foreigner and speaking negatively about someone else’s country? For me, it doesn’t matter that you’re from SA, only that you’re not American, so in the context of discussing the relative virtues of nations, the most natural point of comparison is to use the detractor’s home country. If, given what you have said already, but with your self-identification as being El Salvadoran rather than South African, I probably would’ve cracked wise about death squads. > [@](#): > > And unless your reading comprehension is way off, I don’t have a problem with people pointing out the faults in a country I’m not particularly loyal to, internationalist anarchosyndicalist that I am. I just hate its use as a truly craptastic “gotcha” attempt. A fucking lot. So noted. I can understand that viewpoint. As long as you can understand that others have more nationalistic/tribalistic sentiments. Your taking offense at my \* tu quoque\* appears to me to be very similar to how someone who was nationalistic would respond to a slight of their homeland. > [@](#): > > I’d have called post-Depression, pre-Vietnam USA “strong”. Late Victorian Britain too. Japan around turn of the 20th Century. All within their context, of course. I broadly agree with your assessments here. > [@](#): > > _Almost an entire nation_ devoting itself to a lifestyle that’s detrimental to its best interests, both short and long term? What’s nutty about pointing out that that’s a weakness? “Clusterfuck Nation” indeed. Well, I think it’s your use of “devotion” in this context that appears nutty. As if any American born after 1940 was even _alive_ when the confluence of historical factors was at work shaping the US urban/suburban landscape. At this point, in 2007, it’s not like anyone can just magically “squish” the suburbs back into the central cities. Had you used “devoted”, instead of “devoting” (which implies a current, on-going process), then I could see your point. Of course, it would still be ironic in a discussion of American weakness, as the scale of urban sprawl was as great as it was precisely because the US from 1870-1950 was so strong - it had vast tracts of land, cheap and plentiful natural resources, and a burgeoning industrialized populace. Of course, this is a discussion for another thread. I’d be happy to do so except… > [@](#): > > Crappy argument technique makes me lose my shit, motherfucker. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669/292 "2007-11-11T22:14:14Z")
And you Americans just get cuter and cuter and cuter… It’s like watching kittens fight. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_Stream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@Carol\_Stream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_Stream)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669/293 "2007-11-11T22:14:16Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] In broader terms (broader, that is, than you are capable of comprehending), the question depends on my own income level in the year in question. If I were earnng a lot of money, I would be willing to pay a lot of taxes (on the assumption that they were going to fund things I really do believe in). [/QUOTE] IOW, I was right. High taxes are for other people to pay, but not yourself. Should you choose to man up, the [The Bureau of the Public Debt](http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/resources/faq/faq_publicdebt.htm) has a handy address to send your check. 91% of your income, please. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_Stream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@Carol\_Stream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_Stream)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669/294 "2007-11-11T22:18:58Z")
[QUOTE=Guinastasia] So, **Carol** , what would YOU reccomend for a fair tax rate? [/QUOTE] I would like the same tax rate you have been paying. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669/295 "2007-11-12T00:37:24Z")
[QUOTE=42fish] For a pun like that, you deserve to be stoned. [/QUOTE] Nah. If you are stoning birds, they should be terns. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669/296 "2007-11-12T00:46:11Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] My post was directed at Guin’s comment… which is why it quoted her. So I don’t know what you’re on about. [/QUOTE] Aw come on, **Lib** , we’ve ‘known’ each other for too long for you to try to play coy with me. You perfectly well know what I’m talking about. Namely that every time someone mentions “socialism,” or, even worse, as **Guin** did, makes the (rather obvious to many of us) observation/comment that it _doesn’t_ equal Communism, your heart skips a beat and you loose a couple of teeth due to involuntary knee-jerk. Further, who the fuck cares what Karl fuckin’ Marx had to say on the subject? He can stick his opinion of a _different_ ideology where the sun don’t shine AFAIAC. That it irks your own Libertarian leanings is no concern of mine either – you do your thing, let the rest of us do ours. The only thing we seem to agree on is that we both want change, but how’s about you (or Marx for that matter) don’t tell us Social Democrats what it is WE want? Much less _define_ us. Saludos, bud. * * * **Fuji** , don’t mention it. Just my way of saying don’t let your self be intimidated by someone trying to pull some bogus “rank” on you. Aaah, The Birdman. Football lover but actually a scholarship B-ball player in my youth. D. Johnson, Danny Ainge, Parish, McHale, Demi-god Bird AND the year Walton was coming off the bench. IMHO, best B-team I’ve ever seen. Hated Lakers hadn’t a prayer in that particular immaculate season. I’ve actually lost a lot of interest in b-ball (and all the showboating and drugs) since. Can we clone them? BTW, I see you’ve met my good buddy, **Mr D**. He can be tough as nails in his writing, but as you may find out for yourself if you stick around long enough, he’s certainly one of the better apples in this joint – and keep an eye on **'luc** and **ETF** as well. BTW, thought you might get a kick out of this thread: [King Juan Carlos vs Hugo Chavez](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=443617). Contradicted myself a bit there from what I told you before…which only made me understand more where you’re coming from. Take care. * * * **Carol Stream** , serious question, did you graduate Summa Cum Laude in Ignorance? 'cause I’m actually in awe of your nonpareil obtuseness! Congrats! ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669/297 "2007-11-12T01:01:30Z")
[QUOTE=RedFury] Aaah, The Birdman. Football lover but actually a scholarship B-ball player in my youth. D. Johnson, Danny Ainge, Parish, McHale, Demi-god Bird AND the year Walton was coming off the bench. IMHO, best B-team I’ve ever seen. Hated Lakers hadn’t a prayer in that particular immaculate season. I’ve actually lost a lot of interest in b-ball (and all the showboating and drugs) since. Can we clone them? [/QUOTE] Probably not, but dust off your Celtic fanwear. I too worshipped at the shamrock-spangled shrine of Cousy, Russell, Parish, Jo-Jo, Bird, et fabulous al., then gave up on the Celtics when they went to hell over the last decade, but this year’s team looks like it’s playing TEAM basketball, and playing it damned well. Worth watching again? We’ll see how the season unfolds, but for the first time in years basketball is enticing. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669/298 "2007-11-12T01:09:09Z")
[QUOTE=tomndebb] Nah. If you are stoning birds, they should be terns. [/QUOTE] Oy. I’m laughing, I’m weeping. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_Stream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@Carol\_Stream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_Stream)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669/299 "2007-11-12T01:21:37Z")
[QUOTE=RedFury] **Carol Stream** , serious question, did you graduate Summa Cum Laude in Ignorance? 'cause I’m actually in awe of your nonpareil obtuseness! Congrats! [/QUOTE] As a matter of fact, I did! And nonpareil is some good candy! What else do you got, because I’m not impressed. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669/300 "2007-11-12T01:28:14Z")
[QUOTE=Carol Stream] A What else do you got, because I’m not impressed. [/QUOTE] this, from the author of > [@](#): > > Fucko off, Camilla. ? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brainglutton-i-am-so-tired-of-your-bs/425669.md?page=16)