# Commit Cultural Heresy: No Cow Too Sacred. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 31, 2008, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359 "2008-03-31T09:36:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359/281 "2008-04-04T04:50:26Z")
I don’t see what’s so great about _Mutts_. It’s often put near the top of the pantheon of great modern comic strips, but to me, it’s just surreal and unfunny. Maybe that’s the point. But it’s only made me laugh once- and that was a joke playing on a character trait you would have to have regularly read the strip to realize. (It was something about the lisping cat attempting a tongue twister: “She shells sheshells by the sheashore. She shells sheshells by the sheashore. She sells seashells by the seashore.” “He got it wrong.”) ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359/282 "2008-04-04T04:59:35Z")
Star Trek - My God is this the stupidest show ever. It’s a bunch of really lame writing, archetypal charicatures with pseudo-science overlayed over a ‘Yay America!’ foundation. The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine was even worse as it went even further with the boomer liberal establishment ‘Everything would be better if the capital was in San Francisco’ BS. While I’m at it, F\*\*\* San Francisco and it’s enforced calm, can’t even get animated about something without someone telling you to ‘chill’. Everyone is seething with anger underneath but you’re not allowed to express it. No, the world would not be a utopia if everyone were as enlightened as the Bay Area. The headquarters of Bechtel is there you rotten schmucks! Besides, it’s the San Jose Bay Area now. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359/283 "2008-04-04T06:10:30Z")
Not big on cultural heresy, but my contribution is that I don’t like **Dancing With the Stars**. It seems to be a pretty big deal (even around here) and I really tried this season, seeing as how they had Penn on there and all, but it isn’t to be. I want my dancing to be just that, honest-to-Og _dancing_. For that other kind of stuff, I’ll gladly hearken back to the days of **Battle of the Network Stars**. 😉 Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359/284 "2008-04-04T08:27:17Z")
What the _hell_ has Ken Shamrock accomplished in UFC to be inducted into its Hall of Fame? I mean, a general MMA or combat sports Hall of Fame, yeah, he’d deserve it, but UFC? From the beginning to 1996, he goes a just-pretty-good 6-2-2, never finishing even runner-up in the three tournaments he enters. (Yeah, he probably would’ve won 3 if he hadn’t dropped out, but see, a Hall-of-Famer _wouldn’t_ have dropped out.) He gets two very solid wins over Dan Severn and Kimo Leopoldo in Superfights, but the other three are at best lackluster, including a really hard on the eyes marathon against Oleg Taktarov, who _openly admitted not wanting to beat him_, which he still could not find a way to win. He returns after a 6-year hiatus, and the result is a complete meltdown: 1-4, including three straight losses to archrival Tito Ortiz, none of which is even close. Grand total, 7-6-2 and a brief taste of Superfight/Heavyweight glory. Don Frye would’ve been a better choice than him. American Idol. All of it. For those of you new here, my list: - Moronic, ham-handed one-at-a-time elimination system that refuses to die. Singers with a lot of potential get cut short, marginal/hopeless/annoying singers get to hang on week after week, first place is worth absolutely nothing, consistency also worth nothing, chances dictated in huge part by preset fanbase, ridiculous lady-or-tiger vote guessing games that lead to quality singers getting booted in favor of no-hope sentimental favorites…and, oh yeah, this Vote For The Worst BS. - At least 10 sappy, soppy, schmaltzy, hideously overplayed (doing any rendition of “I Will Always Love You” should be grounds for DISQUALIFICATION), overwrought, ear-bleeding, soul-crushing, or headache-inducing songs for every one that I’d allow on my MP3 list in a million years. - The judges, who gleefully advise, cheer, criticize, talk trash, grumble at, rant at, goad, lecture, and taunt group of people whose fates they have ABSOLUTELY NOT THE TEENY-TINIEST LITTLE IOTA OF CONTROL OVER. Frankly, booing these nincompoops is giving them more respect than they deserve. - No complete songs, not even in the later stages. Guh? Isn’t this supposed to be the search for a professional singer? Don’t professional singers have to do professional lengths? - Results shows, which stretch out 20 seconds worth of information into a horrendously overdramatic glurgefest with a pace that makes Dragonball Z look like The Powerpuff Girls. - The grand prize itself, which at _best_ affirms who shouldn’t have had to go through this nonsense in the first place (Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood), at worst is beyond meaningless (Jordin Sparkz, Taylor Hicks). - Not one intelligent statement from anyone. EVER. “He needs the votes, ladies and gentlemen! He needs the votes! Because it’s decided by votes! If you want him to continue, you need to give him your votes! Which is what it’s all about, votes! I said votes, right? Yeah, votes!” And the snippiness between Msssrs. Seacrest and Cowell…slightly funny a long time ago, just tiresome now. - Finally…half-baked Christian “rock” bands that do preachy hymns, except with a lot of screaming. (I don’t care if it was just once, that’s bad enough!) The Beatles’ nights were my two favorite episodes _ever._ **Think about it!** ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359/285 "2008-04-04T09:54:26Z")
It has been a joy reading this thread. My only conclusion is that nothing what so ever has any value or merit. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359/286 "2008-04-04T13:23:19Z")
[QUOTE=Icerigger] It has been a joy reading this thread. My only conclusion is that nothing what so ever has any value or merit. [/QUOTE] Nirvana is within your grasp, grasshopper. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359/287 "2008-04-04T17:34:20Z")
[QUOTE=Grossbottom] Dave Eggers has been milking his indie media celebrite for about eight years too long. The book was decent, that’s all. And that’s all he’s fucking done. [/QUOTE] Are you unaware of the other work he’s done, or do you just think it’s not any good? He’s published several books since then, edits a website and two magazines, started his own profitable publishing house, and has started writing workshops and tutoring centers in several cities. ---
**Author:** ![vison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e47774/32.png) [@vison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vison)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359/288 "2008-04-04T20:01:38Z")
[QUOTE=Icerigger] It has been a joy reading this thread. My only conclusion is that nothing what so ever has any value or merit. [/QUOTE] I can’t top SpazCat’s response, so I will “ditto” it. And whoever it was that dumped on Dylan? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. I keep hearing that his songs are “great poetry”. No, they are not great poetry. They are okay song lyrics, some of them, but great poetry? It is to laff. Plus, any intrinsic merit they might possess is destroyed if he “sings” them himself. ---
**Author:** ![Dumbguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dumbguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dumbguy)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359/289 "2008-04-04T23:07:27Z")
[QUOTE=Roadfood] All of philosophy is just mental masturbation that has never contributed one tiny useful thing to society. [/QUOTE] ‘Useful’ is overrated. ---
**Author:** ![chris156](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/db5fbb/32.png) [@chris156](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chris156)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2008, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359/290 "2008-04-05T10:42:23Z")
_The Godfather_ is the single worst film I have ever seen. It’s just people gabbing on and on in 20-minute static camera shots. I’ve seen glaciers move faster than that piece of crap. And why didn’t the director tell Brando to stop using that stupid comedy voice? ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359/291 "2008-04-06T01:21:39Z")
I just remembered my other object of disdain: Woody Allen. He and Bob Dylan should be barred from ever making anything in the entertainment field again. They’ve made us suffer enough. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2008, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359/292 "2008-04-06T01:34:33Z")
I just remembered: The band KISS are a bunch of no-talent retards, I don’t care how many 70’s-irony-nostalgia points they rate. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359/293 "2008-04-06T03:30:07Z")
Keith Obermann is not witty. He’s a pompous sarcastic twit. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359/294 "2008-04-06T03:50:42Z")
Don’t know if it’s been mentioned in the thread before but: John Stewart. He’s a smug prick. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359/295 "2008-04-06T08:18:25Z")
[QUOTE=SpazCat] Nirvana is within your grasp, grasshopper. [/QUOTE] But _Incesticide_ was dreck! ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359/296 "2008-04-06T08:35:38Z")
[QUOTE=Alessan] Hasn’t Scott done the exact same thing? [/QUOTE] No. You can buy _all_ versions of _Blade Runner_ now (prior to this you could only get the rerelease and that was a right’s issue, _not_ Scott’s doing). It’s also well documented that Scott had a number of problems with the studio while making the film, even getting fired from the production, before being rehired. And _much_ of the reworking Scott for the latest issue of _Blade Runner_ was fixing things that were mistakes he couldn’t correct when he made the film as he didn’t have the budget/time. Scott’s very aware of how people feel about the film and seems to be respectful of those folks who have a fondness of the original version. Lucas, OTOH, only cares if they cough up money, and will flatout _lie_ about what was on film, even though there’s ample copies out there proving that when _Star Wars_ first appeared it \*\*didn’t[/d] say “Episode IV: A New Hope.” I have never understood the popularity of Anne Rice. She’s a hack, and I think the only reason she was ever popular is because her angst-ridden characters who had trouble dealing with the fact that they were vampires appealed to angst-ridden teenagers who had trouble dealing with the fact that they were gay. Stephen King. He’s an okay writer, not great, and certainly not worthy of the praise that’s been heaped upon him. Peter Jackson. He’s done two decent movies in his life: _Meet the Feebles_ and that one about the lesbians. The rest? Long, ponderous, overly CGI’d shit. Kim Stanley Robinson’s Mars books. Utterly stupid characters, a complete lack of understanding of what it would take to terraform Mars (Windmills with _heaters_ to warm the atmosphere? Are you fucking kidding me? Why would you even _think_ that was a good idea? I don’t care that in a later book he points out that it wouldn’t have done any good, nobody, and I mean no fucking body would _ever_ think that was a practical idea. Especially _not_ a trained scientist.), and just pisspoor plots. Country music. Most of it is just whiny crap, with a simplistic world view. Yeah, there’s a few decent performers, but they’re exceedingly rare (and most of them are dead now). Add me to the list of folks who hate all sports, opera, musicals, and Starbucks. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359/297 "2008-04-06T08:53:21Z")
Science fiction. Face it, it’s a dead genre, and has been since the mid 80’s: the final nail in its coffin was when we finally got to the future and it turned out to be just another era only with slightly more neat stuff, and neither as good or bad as anyone had predicted. SF is about as relevant now as black and white cowboy ‘n’ injun movies. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359/298 "2008-04-06T09:04:06Z")
Yup. You took the words out of my mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359/299 "2008-04-06T10:06:27Z")
[QUOTE=Scissorjack] the final nail in its coffin was when we finally got to the future and it turned out to be just another era only with slightly more neat stuff, and neither as good or bad as anyone had predicted. [/QUOTE] I’m pretty sure we’re still living in the present. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359/300 "2008-04-06T10:10:44Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] …even though there’s ample copies out there proving that when _Star Wars_ first appeared it **didn’t** say “Episode IV: A New Hope.” [/QUOTE] Lucas has never claimed otherwise. Some fans have, misremembering, but Lucas has always admitted the truth on that one. [Proof here](http://www.starwars.com/qa/) (click “Episode IV Behind-the-scenes”, then “When did it become IV”) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commit-cultural-heresy-no-cow-too-sacred/443359.md?page=16)