# Bricker is a Pile of Shit Sculpted into Human Shape **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 30, 2017, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344 "2017-03-30T13:46:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**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:** [May 9, 2017, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344/81 "2017-05-09T16:27:43Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > I have never understood what it is about **Bricker** that gets under people’s skin. He consistently withdraws arguments proven wrong, offers charitable interpretations of his opponent’s positions, and, contrary to his reputation, tends not to get bogged down in petty squabbles or semantics nearly as often as the median poster. > > You don’t like his political views? Well, that doesn’t exactly make him unique. Indeed, he’s probably not even in the right-most quartile of this board. What so many people don’t like, I suspect, is that he argues views you disagree with clearly and forcefully. > > As for the “you want to kill people over federalism,” please. It’s hardly an argument to tally up all the possible death and destruction on one side of the ledger, ignore everything your opponent puts on the other side of the ledger, and then declare victory. If you think federalism is important, then you also think it makes people’s lives better (and in many cases saves them). That’s what you should be debating, not this sophomoric straw man of a calculus. I agree, in general. **Bricker** can be obnoxious and petty (and wrong, of course) like any poster, but in general I think he’s a good poster and Doper, despite our many disagreements. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344/82 "2017-05-09T16:30:30Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > What so many people don’t like, I suspect, is that he argues views you disagree with clearly and forcefully. Yeah, they hate it when I do that! Thanks much for the kind words, sir. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344/83 "2017-05-09T18:14:29Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > I suspect, is that he argues views you disagree with clearly and forcefully. This site is largely populated by liberals. I’ve likened it to Arrakis for conservatives. Liberals can engage in sloppy thinking and logical fallacies to thunderous applause; conservatives will have every flaw in their argument exposed and challenged. On average, the quality of the conservative thinking around here exceeds the quality of the liberal thinking. Its not that there aren’t any really good liberal posters, its that they get diluted by a lot of bad liberal posters that don’t get burned to the ground the way a stupid conservative poster does on this board. So what you have left are bright conservatives (or conservatives that are flameproof) and a more or less bell curve distribution of liberals. Full disclosure: while I am a liberal leaning Democrat by almost every measure in the real world, I fall squarely to the right of the median on this board and am consequently a conservative by the reckoning of some on this board (mostly because of my position on the second amendment and looting/rioting). ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344/84 "2017-05-09T18:41:04Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > They probably looked at the report and realized you’re not very smart. Says the man who can’t do basic math. I’m wounded. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344/85 "2017-05-09T18:47:04Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > Says the man who can’t do basic math. I’m wounded. Where did I miss basic math? I ask because I got all the way through differential equations and linear algebra, so I’m not usually stymied by basic math. But sure, enlighten me. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344/86 "2017-05-09T18:51:18Z")
If \*\*Bricker \*\*is indeed a pile of shit, then he is a quite intelligent pile of shit who cites sources and makes arguments, and may cause society to rethink its views about shit. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344/87 "2017-05-09T18:56:21Z")
I have often proposed an honorary smilie be included in our array of choices. The “Brickie” would stand in the place of any argument based on the dread threat of liberal hypocrisy, and would save him a great deal of needless typing, and save more space for sophistic and legalistic bushwa. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344/88 "2017-05-09T18:57:12Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Where did I miss basic math? > > I ask because I got all the way through differential equations and linear algebra, so I’m not usually stymied by basic math. But sure, enlighten me. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=818576](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=818576) Post #23. To your infinitesimal credit, you actually acknowledge the error later in the thread. It was so refreshing to hear you do that instead of trying to argue about all the times that liberals have made math mistakes, that it etched itself indelibly on my memory. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344/89 "2017-05-09T19:08:37Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > This site is largely populated by liberals. I’ve likened it to Arrakis for conservatives. Liberals can engage in sloppy thinking and logical fallacies to thunderous applause; conservatives will have every flaw in their argument exposed and challenged. On average, the quality of the conservative thinking around here exceeds the quality of the liberal thinking. Its not that there aren’t any really good liberal posters, its that they get diluted by a lot of bad liberal posters that don’t get burned to the ground the way a stupid conservative poster does on this board. So what you have left are bright conservatives (or conservatives that are flameproof) and a more or less bell curve distribution of liberals. > > Full disclosure: while I am a liberal leaning Democrat by almost every measure in the real world, I fall squarely to the right of the median on this board and am consequently a conservative by the reckoning of some on this board (mostly because of my position on the second amendment and looting/rioting). > [@elucidator](#): > > I have often proposed an honorary smilie be included in our array of choices. The “Brickie” would stand in the place of any argument based on the dread threat of liberal hypocrisy, and would save him a great deal of needless typing, and save more space for sophistic and legalistic bushwa. You know, one thing that I think stinks about this place is the way anyone on the right will be pounced on and laughed at if they point out liberal hypocrisy. When someone on the left points out conservative hypocrisy, they are joined by a throng of supporters and praised to the heavens. Now, that’s some liberal hypocrisy for you!! This is a really good MB, but it could stand to be less of an echo chamber. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344/90 "2017-05-09T19:11:23Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You know, one thing that I think stinks about this place is the way anyone on the right will be pounced on and laughed at if they point out liberal hypocrisy. When someone on the left points out conservative hypocrisy, they are joined by a throng of supporters and praised to the heavens. Now, that’s some liberal hypocrisy for you!! People are always going to be more likely to call out negative things with folks who disagree rather than agree with them. They’re just human. Dopers are great, but we are human, and as susceptible to human failings as any other group. Hopefully we’ll strive to improve ourselves, but we’ll always be human. I see these sort of complaints all the time, but they’re inevitable with any group that leans in one direction or the other. I try to call out bad behavior when I notice it, but I’m sure I fail or miss it quite often. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344/91 "2017-05-09T19:16:31Z")
> [@](#): > > …Now, that’s some liberal hypocrisy for you!! “Hypocrisy is the pretty compliment that vice pays to virtue” \* - Paraphrase of an aphorism by some French guy who’s name I cannot spell, cannot pronounce and cannot search. \* ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344/92 "2017-05-09T19:29:47Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > People are always going to be more likely to call out negative things with folks who disagree rather than agree with them. They’re just human. Dopers are great, but we are human, and as susceptible to human failings as any other group. Hopefully we’ll strive to improve ourselves, but we’ll always be human. > > I see these sort of complaints all the time, but they’re inevitable with any group that leans in one direction or the other. I try to call out bad behavior when I notice it, but I’m sure I fail or miss it quite often. Maybe. But it’s no more inevitable than the need of some posters to feed trolls. Right? 😉 ---
**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:** [May 9, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344/93 "2017-05-09T19:30:44Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Maybe. But it’s no more inevitable than the need of some posters to feed trolls. Right? 😉 With a large enough group, there will always bee someone to respond to trolls. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344/94 "2017-05-09T19:33:34Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > With a large enough group, there will always bee someone to respond to trolls. Well, that’s a stinging rebuttal if ever I’ve seen one! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344/95 "2017-05-09T19:42:39Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > “Hypocrisy is the pretty compliment that vice pays to virtue” > \* > > - Paraphrase of an aphorism by some French guy who’s name I cannot spell, cannot pronounce and cannot search. \* You got it admirably close–most English translations (according to Google, anyway) say: > [@](#): > > Hypocrisy is the tribute vice pays to virtue. > —Francois La Rochefoucauld Sometimes “homage” in place of “tribute,” but “compliment” works well, too. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344/96 "2017-05-09T20:07:26Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > “Hypocrisy is the pretty compliment that vice pays to virtue” > \* > > - Paraphrase of an aphorism by some French guy who’s name I cannot spell, cannot pronounce and cannot search. \* > [@Sherrerd](#): > > You got it admirably close–most English translations (according to Google, anyway) say: > > Sometimes “homage” in place of “tribute,” but “compliment” works well, too. No, it was Ben Franklin who said it and it was: _Hypocrisy is the last refuge of the patriot._ ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344/97 "2017-05-09T20:14:56Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > No, it was Ben Franklin who said it and it was: _Hypocrisy is the last refuge of the patriot._ Well, maybe in his sleep. Don’t think it was ever recorded as one of his aphorisms, though. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344/98 "2017-05-09T20:18:24Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Eh, **Bricker** and **Shodan** are fine by me. They’re both among the reasonable political posters of this board. I actually don’t even find Bricker to be particularly partisan–he’s changed his mind on issues on this board. I think Shodan is a little more set in his ways and a little pricklier, but still someone who is on the reasonable side of the spectrum. Totally different folks, AFAICT. Bricker’s views often lead to odious results, and indeed his whole “process trumps outcome” approach drives me bananas–but his devotion to process is intelligent and detailed and highly consistent, and I can debate him in good faith. At the end we’re still gonna disagree, but hopefully we’re both smarter for the debate. Shodan? Ugh. I don’t remember the last time he added something substantive to a political debate, rather than just a sneering drive-by that wasn’t a tenth as clever as he thought it was. In threads outside of politics he can be fine, but politics brings out the worst in him. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344/99 "2017-05-09T20:22:02Z")
He has his moments. Regrettably, they are moments. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344/100 "2017-05-09T20:41:11Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > I have never understood what it is about **Bricker** that gets under people’s skin. He consistently withdraws arguments proven wrong, offers charitable interpretations of his opponent’s positions, and, contrary to his reputation, tends not to get bogged down in petty squabbles or semantics nearly as often as the median poster. > > You don’t like his political views? Well, that doesn’t exactly make him unique. Indeed, he’s probably not even in the right-most quartile of this board. What so many people don’t like, I suspect, is that he argues views you disagree with clearly and forcefully. > > As for the “you want to kill people over federalism,” please. It’s hardly an argument to tally up all the possible death and destruction on one side of the ledger, ignore everything your opponent puts on the other side of the ledger, and then declare victory. If you think federalism is important, then you also think it makes people’s lives better (and in many cases saves them). That’s what you should be debating, not this sophomoric straw man of a calculus. I think it’s that he doesn’t conform to the majority opinion on core (political) issues, doesn’t roll over nor is he frothing at the mouth like some of the past board’s more rabid conservatives…and he’s an effective debater on the things that interest him. Even when he’s wrong (or people think he’s wrong), he generally sticks to his theme unless it’s demonstrably (to him) proven wrong…and that infuriates a lot of folks. There is a tendency on this board to go after people who don’t conform to the accepted wisdom of the board’s majority, and in some things, Bricker certainly doesn’t, especially wrt politics. While I don’t agree with him on a lot of things (a fact I’m sure will be met with disbelief by some on this board :p), I always find his posts thought provoking and generally well reasoned and thought out…though sometimes a bit too much toeing the party line and formulaic. The linked post on health care I think is a really good example of the difference in accepted board wisdom and Bricker going against that, as was the fact that it was cited to demonstrate the very qualities given in the OP for why he is supposedly ‘a Pile of Shit Sculpted into Human Shape’(tm…arr). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-is-a-pile-of-shit-sculpted-into-human-shape/783344.md?page=6)