# Buffalo can’t become a Lion **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 9, 2010, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013 "2010-11-09T08:32:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013/81 "2010-11-11T15:24:17Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > **Marley** , as bewildering as the OP can be, it has been suggested that he is running his posts through Babelfish(or similar), resulting in the weirdness. I’m one who agrees. I realize he’s Pakistani and English is not his first language. As someone else said upthread, his posts are unclear because he is not explaining himself fully and because his metaphors are bizarre, not because his English is poor. His English is fine. And not that it really matters, but I’m skeptical of the translation theory. A site that translates Urdu into poor English would probably also translate English into bad Urdu, but **Abisafyan** is not having any problems understanding what is being said to him. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013/82 "2010-11-11T16:37:29Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I realize he’s Pakistani and English is not his first language. As someone else said upthread, his posts are unclear because he is not explaining himself fully and because his metaphors are bizarre, not because his English is poor. His English is fine. And not that it really matters, but I’m skeptical of the translation theory. A site that translates Urdu into poor English would probably also translate English into bad Urdu, but **Abisafyan** is not having any problems understanding what is being said to him. Nevertheless, the stand-up comic theory is compelling. If you were to translate an American stand-up comic’s political material into flawless Urdu, a Pakistani audience still would find it incomprehensible; they would be missing too many of the pop-cultural references and current catchphrases and memes. Not to mention the puns, which never translate well. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013/83 "2010-11-11T16:43:46Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > That is not actually true. The army, (more particularly the intelligence services, but with a strong army crossover), has a very strong Islamist contingent and has been one of the bigger worries for the U.S. regarding having Pakistan as an “ally” in the so-called war on terror. > > As the Taliban has brought more civil disruption to Pakistan, most of those elements have either changed sides or gone underground, but there was nothing particularly secular about the various despotic regimes that have controlled Pakistan. > [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > Is this some kind of sick joke? The dictatorship from 1977 to 1988 was all about Islamization and introduced all kinds of medieval practices under the guise of Islamization. When the Sharia court he appointed wouldn’t approve stoning for adulterers, he reconstituted the court so that it would. > > It was the ISI (military “intelligence”) that built up the Taliban to fight the less religous elements in the Mujahideen in Afghanistan, and has been cultivating Islamic militants to fight India in Kashmir. This was Musharraf’s big claim to fame before he became Chief of Army Staff and later took over in a coup. > > Musharraf himself tried to have it both ways, playing up his background as an urban, Catholic school, boy. But there were still elements in the military that he either encouraged or tolerated that were full on Islamist nutcakes. Should have used a smiley, I guess. I thought it was pretty obvious that I was kidding: “they’re only fundamentalist when they’re democratic, and they’re only tolerant when they’re undemocratic”. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013/84 "2010-11-11T18:23:35Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I recall a line from [_Mobsters:_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobsters) Boss Joe Masseria, looking at a male lion at the zoo: “Why are they called the King of Beasts? They don’t hunt . . . They don’t fight . . . All they do is eat, shit, and fornicate!” 😉 “It’s good to be the king.” ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013/85 "2010-11-11T18:38:50Z")
> [@Abisafyan](#): > > :smack: > > more than 40 % indians wears only one piece cloth, coupled with the lowest GDP & you are thinking of world power status for her…!!! From wikipedia. India’s per capita GDP: $1,032 Pakistan’s per capita GDP: $1,067 India’s total GDP: $1,235 billion Pakistan’s total GDP: $177 billion So the two countries have pretty much identical per capita income, yet, since India has a much larger population India has an economy 7 times larger than Pakistan’s. And so India has the 11th largest economy in the world, while Pakistan has the 45th largest. Oh, but Pakistan is inhabited by a proud warrior race, yet India is inhabited by vegetarian cowards. So yeah. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013/86 "2010-11-11T21:06:38Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > From wikipedia. > > India’s per capita GDP: $1,032 > Pakistan’s per capita GDP: $1,067 > > India’s total GDP: $1,235 billion > Pakistan’s total GDP: $177 billion > > So the two countries have pretty much identical per capita income, yet, since India has a much larger population India has an economy 7 times larger than Pakistan’s. And so India has the 11th largest economy in the world, while Pakistan has the 45th largest. > > Oh, but Pakistan is inhabited by a proud warrior race, yet India is inhabited by vegetarian cowards. So yeah. Dont forget that the Indian Workers can move 2 spaces per round and can build improvements in half the time required. ---
**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, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013/87 "2010-11-11T21:11:50Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > Dont forget that the Indian Workers can move 2 spaces per round and can build improvements in half the time required. Plus they have war elephants. Don’t forget those. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013/88 "2010-11-12T01:41:23Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > Dont forget that the Indian Workers can move 2 spaces per round and can build improvements in half the time required. Well played, sir. 😃 ---
**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:** [November 12, 2010, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013/89 "2010-11-12T03:39:23Z")
> [@Abisafyan](#): > > > [@jayjay](#): > > > > Your metaphors, however, need some work. > > dear, you are not so easy!!! Ooo, that’s not what _I_ heard! ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013/90 "2010-11-12T04:00:39Z")
> [@Abisafyan](#): > > india’s economy & a few other things are of course the world biggest but not the largest. Biggest & largest are poles apart!!! > Elephant is the biggest size wise in jungle; still elephant is laborer & earns some grass for eating as > Dailywager, elephant can’t hold any world portfolio come what may. > [@Marley23](#): > > _Definition of LARGE_ > a : exceeding most other things of like kind especially in quantity or size : big > > _Definition of BIG_ > 2a : large or great in dimensions, bulk, or extent \; also : large or great in quantity, number, or amount \ > > -Merriam-Webster > > So this statement is nonsense and your metaphors continue to be impenetrable. If you want to post jabberwocky, find a Lewis Carroll fansite. Try to make yourself clear or I’m going to lock this thread. Oh come now, Marley, that’s just rude. He explains his statement in the next two lines, which you snipped out in your quote. I think that statement was perfectly comprehensible as a whole, if not how a standard english speaker would say it. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013/91 "2010-11-12T09:22:52Z")
Hmm, I wonder why someone in from a different country might have different metaphors that make perfect sense to him. And I wonder if you would respond when even the moderator of the thread takes a hostile tone with you. In other words, calm down, ask nicely, and see if the guy will try to be more clear. Don’t get so defensive so quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013/92 "2010-11-12T12:38:51Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > In other words, calm down, ask nicely, and see if the guy will try to be more clear. Don’t get so defensive so quickly. As background, both **tomndebb** and I have told **Abisafyan** in the past that he needs to try harder to make himself understood. You’ll have to excuse me if I’m a little less polite when I have to repeat myself. EDIT: I’d be happy to see this thread continue; there’s a topic in here somewhere. But it’s hard to see that happening if the OP doesn’t help. ---
**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 12, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013/93 "2010-11-12T16:34:05Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Hmm, I wonder why someone in from a different country might have different metaphors that make perfect sense to him. Well, now you’re just tapping on the table, asking for mustard. Anyway, in simpler terms I hope will transcend the language barrier: Abisafyan, 1. Democracy is better than not-democracy 2. Secular government is better than religious government ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013/94 "2010-11-12T16:38:27Z")
1. Fifty years of more or less stable democracy is far superior to a coup every decade. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013/95 "2010-11-12T16:51:20Z")
Well, not _every_ decade. They went from 1958 to 1977 without one. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013/96 "2010-11-12T16:56:44Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Well, not _every_ decade. They went from 1958 to 1977 without one. OK, make that coup and/or civil war. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013/97 "2010-11-12T17:39:49Z")
In fact, I’d say that an overthrow is pretty much an indicator of being an uncivil society. A douche coup, if you will. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013/98 "2010-11-12T17:43:12Z")
Wasn’t that a Prince song? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013/99 "2010-11-12T17:45:02Z")
Beach Boys. ---
**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 12, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013/100 "2010-11-12T17:49:34Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > A douche coup, if you will. I wouldn’t know, I never saw _Dollhouse_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffalo-can-t-become-a-lion/560013.md?page=6)