# Dear Zoe--you're an idiot, not a detective. Now shut the hell up. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 30, 2009, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259 "2009-03-30T04:23:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259/181 "2009-03-31T23:27:53Z")
I believe you guys - I hope it didn’t seem like I was saying that I don’t. I just wanted to clarify. Since I have this post open any way, I’ll blather for a bit. All this stuff drives me insane - I hate taking people’s word for anything. Both sides are claiming priviledged knowledge, and while one side has the advantage of common sense and numbers, it still drives me a bit nuts. Also, I haven’t seen anything like Zoe since **Monty** called across the country to confirm something… a court case, was it? Anyone remember? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259/182 "2009-04-01T00:04:25Z")
> [@Rubystreak](#): > > If you Google his full name, the first cite that comes up will verify his identity at the university. twickster and I have also met him in person. Trust me, there is no reason for any doubt about his true identity, unless you are a paranoid, grudge-holding nutbar. Luckily, I AM a paranoid, grudge-holding nutbar. Who are we talking about again? ---
**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:** [April 1, 2009, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259/183 "2009-04-01T00:25:28Z")
> [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](#): > > I believe you guys - I hope it didn’t seem like I was saying that I don’t. I just wanted to clarify. > > Since I have this post open any way, I’ll blather for a bit. All this stuff drives me insane - I hate taking people’s word for anything. Both sides are claiming priviledged knowledge, and while one side has the advantage of common sense and numbers, it still drives me a bit nuts. Here’s the thing, though… **Zoe** is not claiming priviledged knowledge. She is speculating based on the most spurious of evidence…basically, that she doesn’t think **prr’s** attitude is appropriate for a college professor, thinks his sentence structure and grammar aren’t up to par, and seems to think that he has no idea what his PhD is in (which is not the case as far as I can see). On the other hand, 3 people claim firsthand knowledge of the fact that he is a college professor, two of whom have met him in real life (and I believe at least one of the two has been to his office on campus). So, it seems to me that there are only two possible explanations for what **Rubystreak** , **twickster** , and I have claimed. One, that **prr** has concocted a truly elaborate and pointless ruse of picking the name of an actual college professor, and not only pretending to be that person, but somehow comandeering his e-mail and his office for the purpose of tricking all 3 of us. OR, the three of us are lying. Now, I can’t imagine what reason **Rubystreak** and **twickster** would have for covering for him. Personally, I have none…I barely know the man and have no vested interest in his being a college professor. But every time **Zoe** accuses him of lying, she accuses me of lying, and I DO have a vested interest in that. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2009, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259/184 "2009-04-01T00:37:41Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > So, it seems to me that there are only two possible explanations for what **Rubystreak** , **twickster** , and I have claimed. One, that **prr** has concocted a truly elaborate and pointless ruse of picking the name of an actual college professor, and not only pretending to be that person, but somehow comandeering his e-mail and his office for the purpose of tricking all 3 of us. OR, the three of us are lying. Or, you’re _all the same person!_ _dun dun DUN!_ ---
**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:** [April 1, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259/185 "2009-04-01T00:41:36Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Or, you’re _all the same person!_ > > _dun dun DUN!_ Curse you, **Miller**! My little scheme is over. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259/186 "2009-04-01T00:42:10Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > Curse you, **Miller**! My little scheme is over. Are you John Galt, too? It’s getting crowded in here. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259/187 "2009-04-01T00:43:55Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Are you John Galt, too? It’s getting crowded in here. I thought **Rand Rover** was John Galt. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259/188 "2009-04-01T00:50:24Z")
> [@The\_Weird\_One](#): > > I thought **Rand Rover** was John Galt. He thinks so, but no. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259/189 "2009-04-01T00:57:20Z")
Still reading… ---
**Author:** ![Buckeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9f8e36/32.png) [@Buckeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buckeye)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259/190 "2009-04-01T01:04:37Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Still reading… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259/191 "2009-04-01T01:08:12Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Still reading… …and taking notes, no doubt! Looking to catch us in our maze of lies and contradictions! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259/192 "2009-04-01T01:13:20Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Still reading… Zoe, at this point you look like you’re trying to tweak people’s noses. Maybe you are. That’s incredibly sad. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259/193 "2009-04-01T01:16:21Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > …and taking notes, no doubt! Looking to catch us in our maze of lies and contradictions! :eek: Uh, look who’s talking, _Maugrim_. Who do you think you’re fooling? ( **Not** an implication that Fenris is a sock. It’s a non-SDMB reference.) ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259/194 "2009-04-01T01:19:14Z")
What does “non-SDMB” mean? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259/195 "2009-04-01T01:20:10Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Still reading… And still being a bitch, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259/196 "2009-04-01T01:29:53Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > What does “non-SDMB” mean? It means I don’t want to say what it is; I want to see how many people get it. But I also didn’t want anyone to think I was implying that **Fenris** used to be registered as Maugrim (he wasn’t) and is now socking it up (he’s not). ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259/197 "2009-04-01T01:30:16Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > And still being a bitch, eh? What she’s doing is keeping this thread alive by posting this shit, knowing that we’ll keep posting because we know SHE’S reading. I know I’ve been here a while, but all this time I really thought she was a normal, rational person. I had no idea she was off the rails. I’m honestly surprised…and sad. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259/198 "2009-04-01T01:32:11Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > Uh, look who’s talking, _Maugrim_. Who do you think you’re fooling? Ha. I remember being in the theater saying “Who the hell is Maugrim?” ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259/199 "2009-04-01T01:43:42Z")
TLtWatW, right **Rilch**? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259/200 "2009-04-01T01:47:50Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > > [@Rilchiam](#): > > > > Uh, look who’s talking, _Maugrim_. Who do you think you’re fooling? > > Ha. I remember being in the theater saying “Who the hell is Maugrim?” That’s Fenris’s traveling name when he visits Britain. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-zoe-youre-an-idiot-not-a-detective-now-shut-the-hell-up/491259.md?page=11)