# Broomstick - Does His Ass Say rebeW or Not? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 19, 2015, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343 "2015-03-19T00:28:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343/41 "2015-03-19T11:07:36Z")
It’s not lying, exactly. I would guess it begins as poetic license or hyperbolic exaggeration to make the point, but, because this is the SDMB, someone will almost inevitably point out the literal interpretation’s unlikeliness or impossibility. At that point, of course, she should simply choose to admit the literal exaggeration. But for whatever reason, she chooses to double down instead. I remember several years ago an off-handed claim from her about looking for work and finding no jobs in the help wanted section. > [@I pit Poverty and the current economic crisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/16): > > Monday of this week there was a three block line at the unemployment office as of 8 am in the morning. There are NO, repeat NO want ads in the local papers, not even for crap jobs. It’s been like that for weeks. The expectation is that it will only get worse. Another poster responded that they both lived in the same area and the paper had plenty of job listings. At that point, had she simply said, “I meant suitable jobs, or jobs I could realistically do,” the issue would have ended. No, she doubled down: the print edition she saw had no jobs. None. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343/42 "2015-03-19T12:56:12Z")
Hey, it could’ve been worse… it could’ve been a rotisserie. > [@Green\_Bean](#): > > The responses in that thread were explicitly accusing Broomstick of lying, and it can be assumed that further discussion would contain more of the same. That’s pit material, son. Plus, all the ass jokes. ---
**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:** [March 19, 2015, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343/43 "2015-03-19T13:02:52Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > It’s not lying, exactly. I would guess it begins as poetic license or hyperbolic exaggeration to make the point, but, because this is the SDMB, someone will almost inevitably point out the literal interpretation’s unlikeliness or impossibility. > > At that point, of course, she should simply choose to admit the literal exaggeration. > But for whatever reason, she chooses to double down instead. I remember several years ago an off-handed claim from her about looking for work and finding no jobs in the help wanted section. > > Another poster responded that they both lived in the same area and the paper had plenty of job listings. At that point, had she simply said, “I meant suitable jobs, or jobs I could realistically do,” the issue would have ended. > > No, she doubled down: the print edition she saw had no jobs. None. It’s entirely possible that the edition she saw had no jobs, or she was honestly mistaken, or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343/44 "2015-03-19T13:15:23Z")
Except that example is not a one off. A large number of her posts read like that. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343/45 "2015-03-19T13:21:17Z")
Over the years I’ve not quite been able to figure \*\*Broomstick \*\*out. In general I always thought she is an accomplished person who has fallen on hard times and then every once in awhile I get this wtf vibe, but since I’ve never heard anyone challenge or call her out, I thought I must be imagining it. It may seem nonsensical that the OP would take her to task over the weber ass tattoo claim, but I sense that is more of a “last straw” type of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343/46 "2015-03-19T13:29:41Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > So, **Broomstick** , does your husband have “rebeW” branded on his ass or not? There are really two separate marks. The burn from the grill is, in truth, just an ordinary, blob-shaped scar. The mysterious “rebeW” mark appeared on the guy’s ass _spontaneously_, like a saint’s stigma. It’s a rebeW without a cause. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343/47 "2015-03-19T13:54:57Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > There are really two separate marks. The burn from the grill is, in truth, just an ordinary, blob-shaped scar. The mysterious “rebeW” mark appeared on the guy’s ass _spontaneously_, like a saint’s stigma. > > It’s a rebeW without a cause. _sticks branding irons in fire_ Hold still, you. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343/48 "2015-03-19T13:59:58Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > _sticks branding irons in fire_ > Hold still, you. Luckily we are in the BBQ Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343/49 "2015-03-19T14:05:38Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > It’s entirely possible that the edition she saw had no jobs, or she was honestly mistaken, or whatever. Except she didn’t confine her remarks to a single edition: > [@Broomstick](#): > > There are NO, repeat NO want ads in the local papers, not even for crap jobs.\*\* It’s been like that for weeks.\*\* (emphasis added by me) The following series of posts from that thread dispel that theory: > [@I pit Poverty and the current economic crisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/20): > > I’m confused - we’re in the same area - Northwest Indiana, and I just went to both our local papers - The Times and the Post-Tribune. They have plenty of jobs, both unskilled and skilled. > Here’s [The Times](http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/job-search;_ylc=X3oDMTFhNDJpazlwBF9TAzM5NjUxMTI1MQRwYXJ0bmVyA253aW5kaWFuYQRzcmMDY29uc29sZQ--?partner=nwindiana&kw=&locations=Munster%2C+IN&metro_search=0&industry=) > Here’s the [Post Tribune](http://classifieds.post-trib.com/cv3/gary/search?mainclass=Employment&batch_size=10&searchterm%3Alist=&Search.x=134&Search.y=54) > [@I pit Poverty and the current economic crisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/37): > > I do not dispute that the economy is shitty, and I’m not trying to be snarky. But I’m very curious, and since we both know this area… > > Why can’t you find a job? I know that our local papers are _filled_with job listings. Granted, some of them are “nationwide” scam-kinda listings, but there are still many, many jobs. I am a paralegal, and out of curiosity, I always check the clerical/admin type of jobs. There are tons of them around here, and that’s just in my field. But it’s true that **Broomstick** tried to claim the lifeline that \*\*iiiandyiii suggests: > [@I pit Poverty and the current economic crisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/70): > > First of all, the only link provided that goes directly to the want ads lists **SEVEN** , which is _hardly_ “pages and pages” - who’s exaggerating now? > > Second - there appears to be a difference between the hardcopy papers and the paper’s website. Silly me - I’ve been looking in the _hardcopy_ for the want ads! Nevermind I never saw anything that said “sorry - we’ve moved all our want ads to the internet. If you don’t know that, or don’t have an internet connection, you’re fucked! Ha-ha!” But: > [@I pit Poverty and the current economic crisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/140): > > That was one day. But you said: > > Now, let’s say for the sake of argument I credit your experience at the unemployment office – and for what it’s worth, I do; the unemployment office is the MOST likely place people will steal all copies of the want ads from a newspaper stand. But that’s one day. Where you lost me was the “It’s been like that for weeks.” > > C’mon – for weeks, every single place you looked, there were NO, repeat NO, want ads? > > That’s garbage. That’s certainly the point where she could have said, “No, no, that was hyperbole.” Instead: > [@I pit Poverty and the current economic crisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/146): > > > [@Bricker](#): > > > > Originally Posted by Bricker View Post > > C’mon – for weeks, every single place you looked, there were NO, repeat NO, want ads? > > Uh… yeah. There hasn’t been any odd job construction things for me to do the last couple weeks of December (last day I worked was the 19th) and I’ve spent the better part of two weeks trying to get the Federal unemployment extension that I was told in a nice formal letter I qualified for. The fact my past year’s work history extends to two states is apparently causing some trouble and confusion, along the fact that Lake County closed one of it’s two “full service” unemployment offices resulting in extreme overcrowding and backlogs at the remaining office. It’s been particularly bad of late. I didn’t intend for it to take so long, but at least give me credit for continuing to look for something while standing in a three block long line at 8 am freezing my ass off. While at the unemployment office I clearly wasn’t on MY computer or the library’s and while they have some there at the UO they were restricting them to those entering claims and not permitting their use for job searches due to the aforementioned overcrowding. My reply: > [@I pit Poverty and the current economic crisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/155): > > Well, none of the Lake County unemployment offices are open [Saturday](http://www.in.gov/dwd/WorkOne/regions/region1.html), so I assume you weren’t there then. But the [Lake County library system](http://www.lakeco.lib.in.us/location.htm) has several branches that ARE open Saturday. The Central branch is a mere five miles from the Crown Point unemployment office. > > The library gets both newspapers in hard copy, and has internet access. And then I said: > [@I pit Poverty and the current economic crisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/171): > > I don’t want to tell you how to present your case, but I have to say this current tack isn’t the most effective one. You started out claiming that there were no want ads. In fact, you made the effort of saying “…repeat NO” ads “for weeks,” to underscore the incredible paucity of ads with which you were faced. > > Now we’ve shown that there are two papers, both of which have ads, and we’ve further shown (in part from your own post above) that there were plenty of opportunities to get to these ads. > > My only purpose isn’t to piss on you. My purpose is to rebut the ridiculous claim you made. The moment you say something along the lines of, “OK, obviously there ARE plenty of ads, but my problem with them is X…” then I’m out of the picture. I have no idea what your skill set is and what your requirements are. For all I know, every single ad is insufficient for a very justifiable reason. > > But you couldn’t say that. No, no – it has to be “no ads” for “weeks” that you’re facing. That’s such obvious horseshit – of COURSE you’re gonna get called on it. ---
**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:** [March 19, 2015, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343/50 "2015-03-19T14:06:32Z")
Wow, that’s a lot of looking back (and very well cited!). I commend you for it. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343/51 "2015-03-19T14:31:45Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > This is so trivial as to be nonsensical. I disagree. You would have to add a goodly amount of substance to bring this up to the level of trivial. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343/52 "2015-03-19T14:41:03Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Hey, it could’ve been worse… it could’ve been a rotisserie. > Plus, all the ass jokes. There’s a broomstick/ass joke somewhere in all this, but I just can’t find it… ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343/53 "2015-03-19T14:48:28Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > There’s a broomstick/ass joke somewhere in all this, but I just can’t find it… That’s why she was attracted to him in the first place. He had a hot ass. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343/54 "2015-03-19T14:50:56Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > That’s why she was attracted to him in the first place. > > He had a hot ass. Smokin’! ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343/55 "2015-03-19T14:55:54Z")
Does anyone really care if certain posters take liberties with a few facts? I’m not talking about **GQ** or **GD** but in other forums like \*\*Loach’s Liar, \*\*do we really care? I for one find it more interesting to read about some drunk backing into a BBQ grill and branding his ass than some drunk passed out on a park bench. And honestly, I don’t believe much of what I read on the internet. I consider the internet a Fox News affiliate. Here’s to spinning wheels and great yarns. I mean, did I ever tell you’ll about the time I was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for killing a terrorist family of 27, plus their 2 dogs, cat and parakeet? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343/56 "2015-03-19T14:57:58Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I mean, did I ever tell you’ll about the time I was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for killing a terrorist family of 27, plus their 2 dogs, cat and parakeet? You expect us to believe that they had 2 dogs AND a cat? No way. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343/57 "2015-03-19T14:58:44Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > It may seem nonsensical that the OP would take her to task over the weber ass tattoo claim, but I sense that is more of a “last straw” type of thing. You’re on the right track, but it’s not that I am particularly annoyed with her. I find the astonishing quantity and absurdity of her lies extremely entertaining, and I wanted to be able to discuss the topic openly. I find the rebeW thing absolutely hilarious and thought it would be a good way to open the subject. I planned to add other favorite Broomstick lies as the thread continued and I assumed other posters would share some of their favorites as well. I also was motivated by the fact that the reactions to her lies seem to have been escalating and spilling out into non-Pit threads. People have been taking more and more potshots at her, suggesting that this was a subject that people wanted to discuss openly. Yesterday, one of these potshots earned a warning. On March 6, in the thread linked in the OP, Asimovian issued an official mod note stating that the discussion of the rebeW issue should stop immediately, and “If you feel the need to continue that conversation, take it to a new thread (in an appropriate forum).” Everybody complied with that, except Broomstick. Yesterday, which was 12 days later, she re-opened the topic, leading to another mod note. Since various people wanted to continue to discuss the matter including Broomstick herself, I figured a Pit thread would provide an outlet for that. Plus, I totally wanted to put rebeW in a thread title. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343/58 "2015-03-19T15:03:59Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > You expect us to believe that they had 2 dogs AND a cat? No way. Especially since all terrorists are Muslims and Muslims are terrified of or disgusted by dogs. I read it here. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343/59 "2015-03-19T15:05:29Z")
I must confess I find it astounding how many times Broomstick gets completely unsolicited and inappropriate advice from complete strangers. Their demands cover the gamut from the mundane (pierce your ears!) to the life-altering (divorce your crippled husband! have children!). Even my closest friends aren’t this invested in my choices. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343/60 "2015-03-19T15:09:30Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > … > I find the astonishing quantity and absurdity of her lies extremely entertaining, and I wanted to be able to discuss the topic openly. … Seriously, calling a _rhinestone_ a _diamond_ isn’t really a “lie” is it? If it is, I’m totally screwed. I mean there are lies, and there are lies. Just think of her as a politician. A Republican maybe. Maybe she’s got a little Bush in her genes. (I meant G.W.) Now, it’s off to **ATMB** to request a new forum called “ **Dubious Delights**.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broomstick-does-his-ass-say-rebew-or-not/715343.md?page=4)