# Can we drop the superior "tinfoil hat" phrase, please? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 3, 2005, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-drop-the-superior-tinfoil-hat-phrase-please/302252 "2005-05-03T17:58:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-drop-the-superior-tinfoil-hat-phrase-please/302252/61 "2005-05-05T16:14:54Z")
> [@Brain Wreck](#): > > Those implications only came from other chuckleheads like you who assume that “Area 51” automatically means “nutball”, overlooking the fact that it is a legitimate advanced research site. I can say with the absolute authority that only the internet can convey, that it is a fact that any mention of Area 51 automatically means “nutball”. now _Area 52_, that’s some scary stuff. yours sincerely, Chucklehead ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-drop-the-superior-tinfoil-hat-phrase-please/302252/62 "2005-05-06T02:12:07Z")
Yawn . . . _{Perks up and looks around}_ **Brain Wreck** , I am God. You can not disprove this. I decree that “tinfoil hat” usage shall continue as before. This usage then taking place in the future shall be proof of my being god. You may worship me either with or without a tinfoil hat on your head. _{Nods off vback to sleep}_ ZZZZZzzzzz . . . ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-drop-the-superior-tinfoil-hat-phrase-please/302252/63 "2005-05-06T03:53:56Z")
Alright, enjoy the dogpile, clearly I’m outnumbered by the unwashed masses. But if you’re going to hide behind the herd by using the “it’s just SDMB culture” defense, you need to remember this: While Cecil does make snarky responses from time to time, usually establishes his authority to do so by supplying a detailed debunking. In fact I’ll go out on a limb and say I’ve never seen him mock a question without a detailed explanation of why he’s doing so. And as it has been mentioned, in GQ you’re supposed to do the same thing. If Cecil isn’t above observing this, what makes you think you are? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-drop-the-superior-tinfoil-hat-phrase-please/302252/64 "2005-05-06T11:58:23Z")
Well, if you haven’t, then you obviously didn’t click on the link provided for you right here in this thread. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-drop-the-superior-tinfoil-hat-phrase-please/302252/65 "2005-05-06T12:48:32Z")
Oh fuck off Brain Wreck. “…hide behind the herd…” Can’t just fess up that you missed a joke or even say that you didn’t find it funny and apologize so you pull out the ole herd chestnut. Sometimes everyone is against you because you are wrong. Get over yourself. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-drop-the-superior-tinfoil-hat-phrase-please/302252/66 "2005-05-06T15:43:16Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > Well, if you haven’t, then you obviously didn’t click on the link provided for you right here in this thread. :dubious: If you are talking about [this link](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_086.html), did you evern read it? If you look at it, you’ll find Cecil citing a detailed answer to the question (although from a secondary source), and then adding a joke that didn’t cast aspersion on the question or the questioner. So there any other factually incorrect statements you’d like to make, or will that about do it for you? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-drop-the-superior-tinfoil-hat-phrase-please/302252/67 "2005-05-06T22:06:36Z")
> [@Brain Wreck](#): > > If you are talking about [this link](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_086.html), did you evern read it? If you look at it, you’ll find Cecil citing a detailed answer to the question (although from a secondary source), and then adding a joke that didn’t cast aspersion on the question or the questioner. > > So there any other factually incorrect statements you’d like to make, or will that about do it for you? Wow. You just don’t get it, do you? **Cecil** put > [@](#): > > Dear Cecil: > > Did the Corinthians ever write back? --Mary and Ted, Chicago > > Cecil replies: > > How many times do I have to tell you people? You write the questions, _I’ll_ write the jokes. In his column one week, and then at **a later date** put > [@](#): > > Dear Cecil: > > Of course the Corinthians wrote back. Internal evidence shows that what we call “I Corinthians” is at least Paul’s second letter–cf. I Cor. 5:9ff., which refers to a previous effort, evidently largely misunderstood. Scholars think that II Cor. 6:14- 7:1, patently an insertion that interrupts the flow of Paul’s thought, may well be a fragment of this lost “first letter.” > > More to the point, some scholars have theorized (admittedly in an attempt to save Paul from some of the epistle’s more sexist attitudes) that much of I Corinthians is Paul’s quoting of a Corinthian letter, with his own reply appended. The mention of “reports” in I Cor. 5:1 hints at this. The best example is chapter 14, where vv. 33b-35 represent “quoting” from the Corinthian letter and vv. 36-40 are Paul’s liberal reply. Take it for what it’s worth. --David T., M.A. (Oxon.), Montgomery, Alabama > > Cecil replies: > > This is very interesting, David. But I’ll bet Mary and Ted, the ones who asked whether the Corinthians ever wrote back, are glad they didn’t pop their little joke on YOU. > > –CECIL ADAMS Do ya not get it? **Cecil** printed those things just so he could be snarky and funny. The fact that the second letter contained a partial answer to the first letter’s question is immaterial, because **Cecil** didn’t seek that out. Hell, man, if you’ve read _The Straight Dope_ **books** and not simply the columns that have been posted on the website, you’d see that Unca **Cecil** can be truly a snarky fellow. In fact, one time half his column consisted of _nothing_ but “looney” (his description of them) questions. A later column had him sating he **wasn’t** going to do that again, because he got flooded with even _nuttier_ answers. Criminey, you’re a bigger crybaby than **pzzabrat** was. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-drop-the-superior-tinfoil-hat-phrase-please/302252/68 "2005-05-06T23:27:50Z")
Oh look, it’s Tuckerfain again, totally wrong about my being a UFO fan and still totally wrong about the point of the thread. Don’t you get it? It’s a a GQ guideline to make a stab at answering the question before starting in with the jokes. That is what I’m talking about. Do you not understand that? As for the Cecil columns, you’ve again misinterpreted the context of what he presented, but recalling your boldly, falsely, and unapologetically accusing me of being a UFO believer, misinterpretation from you is fairly well expected at this point. This just confirms my suspicion that some people come to this site not to be smart, but to feel smart. > [@](#): > > Criminey, you’re a bigger crybaby than **pzzabrat** was. Here you are again, whining about my dissenting viewpoint, when you could have just clicked past it and left well enough alone. Seems to me that the whiners here are the ones like you who can’t seem to brook the indignity of a dissenting viewpoint. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-drop-the-superior-tinfoil-hat-phrase-please/302252/69 "2005-05-06T23:32:29Z")
> [@Brain Wreck](#): > > Oh look, it’s Tuckerfain again, totally wrong about my being a UFO fan and still totally wrong about the point of the thread. Don’t you get it? It’s a a GQ guideline to make a stab at answering the question before starting in with the jokes. That is what I’m talking about. Do you not understand that? Fine, show me in the registration agreement where it says that. > [@](#): > > As for the Cecil columns, you’ve again misinterpreted the context of what he presented, but recalling your boldly, falsely, and unapologetically accusing me of being a UFO believer, misinterpretation from you is fairly well expected at this point. This just confirms my suspicion that some people come to this site not to be smart, but to feel smart. Yeah. That’s it. We all come here just to be snarky to one another, you got it. > [@](#): > > Here you are again, whining about my dissenting viewpoint, when you could have just clicked past it and left well enough alone. Seems to me that the whiners here are the ones like you who can’t seem to brook the indignity of a dissenting viewpoint. Oh, we can brook it, all right, we just choose **not** to brook yours, and you can’t handle that. Kind of ironic that you who started this thread are now advocating that I skip your comments when that was _exactly_ the same kind of advice given to you earlier in the thread. Mr. Pot, meet Mr. Kettle. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-drop-the-superior-tinfoil-hat-phrase-please/302252/70 "2005-05-07T06:27:38Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > Oh, we can brook it, all right, we just choose **not** to brook yours, and you can’t handle that. “Can’t handle it?” What is this, “A Few Good Men?” If I choose to point out your habitual incorrectness on this thread, it really doesn’t mean I’m suffering from sleep disturbance or inability to achieve true intimacy. I appreciate the concern though. It doesn’t even mean I dislike you personally. It only means you’re wrong, again. > [@](#): > > Kind of ironic that you who started this thread are now advocating that I skip your comments when that was _exactly_ the same kind of advice given to you earlier in the thread. News flash, Captain Obvious, it was an intentionally ironic reference to earlier in the thread, when people who didn’t like my thread were telling me to skip threads I didn’t like. I guess you picked up your irony-meter from the repair shop sometime between now and then… either that or it’s just naturally selective. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-drop-the-superior-tinfoil-hat-phrase-please/302252/71 "2005-05-07T12:03:05Z")
> [@Brain Wreck](#): > > “Can’t handle it?” What is this, “A Few Good Men?” If I choose to point out your habitual incorrectness on this thread, it really doesn’t mean I’m suffering from sleep disturbance or inability to achieve true intimacy. I appreciate the concern though. It doesn’t even mean I dislike you personally. It only means you’re wrong, again.[ _Riiiiiight._ > [@](#): > > News flash, Captain Obvious, it was an intentionally ironic reference to earlier in the thread, when people who didn’t like my thread were telling me to skip threads I didn’t like. I guess you picked up your irony-meter from the repair shop sometime between now and then… either that or it’s just naturally selective. Again, _riiiiiiight_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-drop-the-superior-tinfoil-hat-phrase-please/302252.md?page=3)