# Can psychosis be diagnosed from BB posts? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 7, 2000, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-psychosis-be-diagnosed-from-bb-posts/4026 "2000-01-07T03:40:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![RobRoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ba0ec/32.png) [@RobRoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobRoy)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2000, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-psychosis-be-diagnosed-from-bb-posts/4026/281 "2000-01-26T07:45:00Z")
“I resign.” Um, sorry, you’re already fired. ---
**Author:** ![Cabbage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Cabbage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabbage)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2000, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-psychosis-be-diagnosed-from-bb-posts/4026/282 "2000-01-26T09:20:00Z")
I’ll save you all the trouble–I just got my decoder ring in the mail, so now I can translate the above Cherokee text! It reads: “Drink Ovaltine” Hmmm…Enigmatic. I’ll have to get back to you on the meaning of this. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2000, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-psychosis-be-diagnosed-from-bb-posts/4026/283 "2000-01-26T15:42:00Z")
Max, while I agree with you that there has been no actionable sexual harassment here, I must point out, in case anybody else is reading who may be experiencing it, that your definitions are not quite correct. “Mere dirty words” CAN be enough if they are in the right context; that is, if, in an employment situation, the words create or help to create a “hostile work environment.” The kind of sexual harassment you describe, where a benefit is conferred or withheld based on sexual favors, is “quid pro quo” harassment. While most people clearly recognize this as harassment, it is not the only type of actionable behavior that constitutes harassment. -Melin ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2000, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-psychosis-be-diagnosed-from-bb-posts/4026/284 "2000-01-26T21:08:00Z")
Sue said: > [@](#): > > It appears some of the “science” proving Origin of the Species is pretty shaky, indeed. Some of what Ken posted might have made sense, if we weren’t so frustrated with the rest of his posts. Um, I hope you were joking (especially about the possibility of Phaedrus making sense!). The fact that one hoax/mistake occurred has little to do with the origin of the species. In fact, the article you cite even notes: “Scientists have other evidence that birds evolved from dinosaurs, and Xu’s finding doesn’t overturn the theory.” Just wanted to clarify that (I know, what the hell am I thinking – trying to clarify something in a thread about Phaedrus! 😉 ). ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-psychosis-be-diagnosed-from-bb-posts/4026/285 "2000-01-27T00:24:00Z")
I have revoked Phaedrus’s posting privileges at his request. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-psychosis-be-diagnosed-from-bb-posts/4026/286 "2000-01-27T01:51:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Ed Zotti: > **I have revoked Phaedrus’s posting privileges at his request.** Praise the Lord! Now I know there is a God! Glo-ry Hallelujah! * * * \>\< DARWIN \> \_\_ **L\_\_\_L** ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-psychosis-be-diagnosed-from-bb-posts/4026/287 "2000-01-27T02:01:00Z")
So we have what, another two or three days before he comes back in another disguise? Reminds me of an Inspector Clouseau movie… ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-psychosis-be-diagnosed-from-bb-posts/4026/288 "2000-01-27T02:35:00Z")
**Phaedrus** : I have taken your suggestion and acquired a hotmail address. You can email me at [manhattan91@hotmail.com](mailto:manhattan91@hotmail.com). As that site is restricted from my workplace, I will only have the chance to check it once every couple of days. I have also emailed **Ed Zotti** and asked him to pass along the address. I look forward to hearing from you. * * * Livin’ on Tums, vitamin E and Rogaine ---
**Author:** ![RobRoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ba0ec/32.png) [@RobRoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobRoy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-psychosis-be-diagnosed-from-bb-posts/4026/289 "2000-01-27T04:29:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Ed Zotti: > **I have revoked Phaedrus’s posting privileges at his request.** No aspersion on Ed Z. but this is absurd. One can log in at anytime on any computer with any new alias. Phaedrus’ need to “resign”, ask for his membership to be “revoked” etc. smacks of incincerity, insanity, or at best an Anger/Internet addiction that he is at pains to control. I have to admit that I am unclear on all of the details, but is there a possibility (oh, god will I get sued for this?) that Phaedrus was also the person who he reports was using his computer? Was it Sue/KGB, and also the person who was insulted? I have to admit I’ve tried to follow this retro, but I get lost in the tangle. Please clarify … someone? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-psychosis-be-diagnosed-from-bb-posts/4026/290 "2000-01-27T04:40:00Z")
In response to: > [@](#): > > It appears some of the “science” proving Origin of the Species is pretty shaky, indeed. Some of what Ken posted might have made sense, if we weren’t so frustrated with the rest of his posts. from me, David posted: > [@](#): > > Um, I hope you were joking (especially about the possibility of Phaedrus making sense!). The fact that one hoax/mistake occurred has little to do with the origin of the species. In fact, the article you cite even notes: “Scientists have other evidence that birds evolved from dinosaurs, and Xu’s finding doesn’t overturn the theory.” Just wanted to clarify that (I know, what the hell am I thinking – trying to clarify something in a thread about Phaedrus! ). Actually, no, I was, & am serious. 1. Phaedrus Yup, Ken posted some weird stuff. No question about that. But to a large degree, what he became was simply what we made him. He lived down to our ever lower expectations. I am not proud of any role I may have played in that. It’s too easy to put all the blame for the whole sorry episode on one person. Easy answers are seldom complete, however. 2. Origin of the Species. The idea that the accumulation of many small mutations can lead to phenotypes so different from the ancestors that they can no longer interbreed, and that ultimately this process, and this process alone, led to all of the biologic diversity on this planet is a theory. It is a good theory. In fact, it is the best theory we have and to a large extent has good science supporting it. But there are holes. There are gaps in the fossil record. These require a great deal of interpolation, and much of what we knew about this process 30 years ago is no longer believed to be true, and I suspect, much of what we “know” today will not be accepted in the future. My point in posting this story was not to try to disprove Origin of the Species, or the subtheory that birds evolved from dinosaurs. Debunking one piece of evidence does not a) disprove any other supporting facts, or the theory as a whole OR b) provide a better explanation than the current theory. But it does point out the dangers of abandoning a skeptical approach to a popular theory ::Is this David I’m saying this too?:: and of failing to critically examine the evidence supporting it. ---
**Author:** ![WallyM7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5e925/32.png) [@WallyM7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WallyM7)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-psychosis-be-diagnosed-from-bb-posts/4026/291 "2000-01-27T05:18:00Z")
Sue’s right. The Origin of Species is not in danger of being abandoned, but there are a lot of missing pieces, some discrepancies, and some contradictory evidence. This is a theory in the making. There have been a lot of modifications and outright reversals in the details, and not all of them are trivial. A theory that ceases to be scrutinized becomes dogma. And that’s bad science. ---
**Author:** ![Doobieous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Doobieous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doobieous)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-psychosis-be-diagnosed-from-bb-posts/4026/292 "2000-01-27T10:00:00Z")
I was wondering if Phaedy actually deluded himself into believing the bit he posted in Cherokee and Lakhota were actually those languages (well, we all know the two paragraphs are just the same thing in two different fonts with a new label for each…). So, I sent a bit of phaedy’s Cherokee/Lakhota tirade onto my constructed language list, and fortunately there was someone who had studied Lakhota. He says that the first bit is NOT Cherokee, it’s Lakhota (and obviously so is the second bit). He didn’t have a dictionary with him so he couldn’t translate, but he said it’s definately Lakhota. Anyway, me thinks Phaedy was just trying to impress us silly “wasichu” with his command of two native tongues. Anyway, I just thought you all would like to know ;). Oh, and if anyone on my list can translate the bit I sent them, (just the first four sentences) i’ll post what he was saying. ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-psychosis-be-diagnosed-from-bb-posts/4026/293 "2000-01-27T15:42:00Z")
Sue said: > [@](#): > > But it does point out the dangers of abandoning a skeptical approach to a popular theory ::Is this David I’m saying this too?:: and of failing to critically examine the evidence supporting it. Absolutely. The problem with this particular fossil, as I understand it, was that people (_National Geographic_ especially) jumped on it too quickly without checking into it very well. But the great thing about science is that somebody, somewhere will check out even that which others are trumpeting. * * * Ignorance is Bliss. Reality is Better. ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-psychosis-be-diagnosed-from-bb-posts/4026/294 "2000-01-27T15:56:00Z")
Incidentally, if you want to discuss this further, there’s already a GQ thread on the topic, as it’s kind of a massive tangent in here. 🙂 [http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/005209.html](http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/005209.html) ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-psychosis-be-diagnosed-from-bb-posts/4026/295 "2000-01-27T20:11:00Z")
Hmmm. Looks like it’s time to re-open the main question of this thread… ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2000, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-psychosis-be-diagnosed-from-bb-posts/4026/296 "2000-01-28T05:36:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by David B: > Incidentally, if you want to discuss this further, there’s already a GQ thread on the topic, as it’s kind of a massive tangent in here. 🙂 No, my point in bringing it up was just to demonstrate that Ken did start a thread on mammalian evolution that did generate some good, thought-provoking debate. * * * Sue from El Paso Does being married to another poster make me part of a clique? Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-psychosis-be-diagnosed-from-bb-posts/4026.md?page=14)