# Bricker, You're a Jackass Extraordinaire **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 12, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734 "2012-05-12T23:13:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/61 "2012-05-13T05:23:55Z")
I support this pitting. There are two modes by which we might view any issue: [ul][li] (1) A way which combines morality, common-sense and reason to reach a correct answer, the “whole truth.”[/li][li] (2) A hyper-legalistic way which might work against a judge or jury, especially if a witness is particularly stupid.[/li][/ul] If **Bricker** consistently adopted mode (2), he would have a function. We could turn to him when we wanted a legalistic view, e.g. if a health or environment advocate were preparing a court case. The problem is that Bricker cheerfully bounces between modes 1 and 2, depending on whichever suits his obnoxious right-wing views in the issue at hand. The one constant is his holier-than-thou attitude, condemning mode 2 when he’s temporarily in mode 1, and vice versa. A sad thing is that one often detects a glimmer of rationality and candor in his posts. For example, he is not wrong when he blathers “How about if it costs 17 trillion dollars to save a citizen’s life. … should he still get free care? Hunh? Hunh? Hunh?” But the obnoxious holier-than-thou attitude is constant, making it hard to like him even when he’s right. I’d put him on ignore but, frankly, he’s become one of the more amusing animals in the zoo for me. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > OK, my bad. Now, can you calm down? This could have been written by the Brick. When he’s wrong … it’s still the other guy’s fault. :dubious: > [@John\_Mace](#): > > You see passion, I see anger. The right wing has many ilks. Mace is of a different faction than the Brick, and somewhat more intelligent; but the underlying ethos is still the same. Our side? Passion. Your side? Anger. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/62 "2012-05-13T05:32:12Z")
Congrats **Bricker**. You have **Terr** and **magellan01** on board. Stop and think about that for a moment. Savor it. Roll it around in your thoughts for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Oldeb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ea666f/32.png) [@Oldeb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oldeb)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/63 "2012-05-13T05:32:51Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > - ten billion. Her condemnation is like a badge of honor. She’s friggin nuts. That can happen when you live in an echo chamber. I’d hold on to this endorsement, **Bricker**. He doesn’t just hand this kind of accolade out. You and Jerry Sandusky are in rare company. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/64 "2012-05-13T05:36:57Z")
OK, just to clarify this whole motherfucking question. If I say I’m masturbating like a motherfuck, thats a simile, right? Its not in the accusative tense, saying that I _am_ a motherfucker, only _like_ a motherfucker. So unless I report myself, it doesn’t go on my permanent record? ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/65 "2012-05-13T05:43:15Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Gee, Shayna, what did I ever do to you? Outclassed her intellectually? ---
**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:** [May 13, 2012, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/66 "2012-05-13T05:44:53Z")
> [@Oldeb](#): > > I’d hold on to this endorsement, **Bricker**. He doesn’t just hand this kind of accolade out. You and Jerry Sandusky are in rare company. I think you have him confused with Starving Artist. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/67 "2012-05-13T05:50:35Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > The right wing has many ilks. “No, there is only one.” -Father Merrin ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/68 "2012-05-13T06:25:30Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I think you have him confused with Starving Artist. I’m pretty sure that’s not better. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/69 "2012-05-13T06:43:27Z")
> [@Covered\_In\_Bees](#): > > “No, there is only one.” -Father Merrin That would be so far fucking out! Be the first internet board possessed by a demon! Unless that’s what happened to 4chan… ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/70 "2012-05-13T06:48:18Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > As long as friend **Bricker** did not break any laws, then what he did it perfectly fine. Did he break any laws? Did he violate any particular part of the constitution? Can you cite case law for his wrongdoing? Hmmmph. I thought not. > > If you cannot describe exactly what laws **Bricker** broke, then he is absolutely right and correct in everything he does. > > \ Damn you! You killed it with the “\” tag. I was chuckling inwardly at your spot-on impersonation of **Bricks**. I swear, you could burn down an orphanage, and he would dredge up some obscure case law from 1918 that deemed in in some cases it may be technically legal to do so, as if that were some defense against “Dude, don’t burn down orphanages.” Dude is an asshole who can’t see the forest for the mothergoddamn trees. > [@Lobohan](#): > > [That word a day calendar is doing it’s job.](http://i.imgur.com/qWc9Y.jpg) 😃 But is the grammar calender doing \*its \*job? Booyah! Sorry, had to be done. Please love me. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > > [@Kimstu](#): > > > > Calm down? In the Pit? Is that even legal? > > Ask **Bricker**. A+ So **Shayna** , I think you’re a nice lady and all, but can you please let up on the rampant bolding and capitalization? You probably don’t care at all about making my day, but if you did, I’m just saying that would be how to go about it. ---
**Author:** ![prodicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d9b06d/32.png) [@prodicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prodicus)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/71 "2012-05-13T06:50:53Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > The right wing has many ilks. Mace is of a different faction than the Brick, and somewhat more intelligent; but the underlying ethos is still the same. Our side? Passion. Your side? Anger. Anyone who thinks JM is right wing is either too far left or not paying attention. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/72 "2012-05-13T07:34:26Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > > [@Lobohan](#): > > > > [That word a day calendar is doing it’s job.](http://i.imgur.com/qWc9Y.jpg) 😃 > > But is the grammar calender doing \*its \*job? Booyah! Sorry, had to be done. Please love me. Looks like you need to consult your spelling calend **a** r. Sorry, had to be done. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/73 "2012-05-13T07:40:54Z")
Fuck! You got me. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/74 "2012-05-13T07:46:16Z")
> [@prodicus](#): > > Anyone who thinks JM is right wing is either too far left or not paying attention. Political thought is not one-dimensional. Mace has many sensible views, but IIRC seems to accept some of the zanier tenets of extreme libertarianism. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/75 "2012-05-13T07:48:48Z")
**John** is totally non-partisan. He’d be the first to tell you so. Also, the last. And a couple times in between, in case you missed it. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/76 "2012-05-13T11:06:57Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > …well poisoning remark about FoxNews… Now _this_ tidbit seriously cracked my shit up. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/77 "2012-05-13T11:25:10Z")
I’m not seeing this at all. I mean, **bricker** should have posted the relevant part of the law in the first place, but if you want an argument over what the law says, you should start with what the law says. Also, “someone who often agrees with you on certain issues says it’s true, therefore it you must acknowledge it is true” is a pretty bad argument. If we’ve established that Mark Halperin is a hack, why the hell would anything he says be given credence? ---
**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 13, 2012, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/78 "2012-05-13T12:04:26Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Yes… although even then, there is no requirement to apply it to each subscriber in the amount that they, personally, overpaid. The company can chose to divide the total refund amongst all their subscribers, for example, rather than refund to each person the overage their subscription produced. And more to the point, the company can reduce the percentage it pays. > > In other words, if the company covered 50% of your health care premium last year, and gets a refund of $150,000, it can keep that money and apply it to next year’s premiums, **and** decrease their contribution to 35% in that next year as well. The employee doesn’t see a loss in his paycheck, but the company gets the benefit, not the employee. It’s a crappy little loophole. So this is what should have gone in GD, IMO, rather than the psychoanalysis of **Shayna’s** echo-chamber malfunction. Given this post (and the ones leading up to it), it seems to me that you’re making a fair criticism of the law, and a fair rebuttal to Shayna’s GD OP. **Shayna** , what say you? ---
**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:** [May 13, 2012, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/79 "2012-05-13T12:20:09Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > Eschaton did a pretty good job of [mocking Halperin](http://www.eschatonblog.com/2012/04/wanker-of-decade-runner-up-4.html) as one of their Wankers of the Decade. > > Also Alex Pareene has named him the [#2 media hack in 2010](http://www.salon.com/2010/11/24/hack_list_2/), and [#1 in 2011](http://www.salon.com/2011/12/16/1_mark_halperin/). > > From reading those, and the fact that he’s on Morning Joe, I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to call him conservative, even if he’s probably trying to keep himself in the Beltway consensus center. Also, he seems to be wrong about everything, much like Republicans are. Where were you when I asked for a similar analysis on the faces of PBS? Perhaps you didn’t get a chance to see it before the debate/opinions were stifled. ---
**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:** [May 13, 2012, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/80 "2012-05-13T12:25:42Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > [Moderating] > **Shayna** , if you have complaints about the moderation of the board, those complaints should go in ATMB. If you just want to cuss at moderators, well, there isn’t really a forum here where you can do that, but I understand there are more than a few other forums that exist more or less explicitly for that purpose. In the meantime, I have to ask you to put a hold on your vituperation of the moderation staff here. > > No warning issued. > [/Moderating] Where it can be totally ignored if they feel like it. However, I have a feeling that yours would be addressed.. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734.md?page=5)