# Did Geraldo actually do this really stupid thing? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 1, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591 "2003-04-01T00:33:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/1 "2003-04-01T00:33:23Z")
I see that Geraldo iRiviera is in trouble again. My husband tells me he drew a map in the sand indicating US positions relative to Baghdad? On air? What the fuck could he have been thinking? Look, I oppose this war but we _are_ at war and we don’t need to be drawing a fucking MAP for the enemy. Please tell me that my husband was exaggerating and Geraldo give all us Puerto Ricans a traitorous, stupid looking black eye! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/2 "2003-04-01T00:43:28Z")
Don’t worry about it. There is zero chance that anyone entrusted Geraldo with any sensitive information. Besides, its unlikely that the Iraqis are in the dark as to where American troops are. What to do about it is thier problem. Besides, Geraldo Rivera is Armenian. He’s just pretending to be PR for street cred. (The preceding is a lie. The liar does not intend any slur on Armenians, of whom he knows none whatsoever. Thank you. Carry on.) ---
**Author:** ![Wabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/3 "2003-04-01T00:51:29Z")
Actually, it looks like he’s getting the boot. I read it in the Atlanta Constitution today. In the article he blamed ‘enemies at MSNBC’ for the rumor which I find a bit bizarre (even for him). ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/4 "2003-04-01T00:55:25Z")
He definitely drew a map in the sand. It was very briefly shown by Brit Hume on Fox News Special Report about an hour ago (although Hume didn’t show enough to make a judgment on whether the map conveyed improper information. Hume said that the military is currently investigating whether to kick Geraldo out of Iraq. P.S. I thought Geraldo was [one of _mine_](http://home.pacifier.com/~dkossy/paleman.html). > [@](#): > > Many of you do not know, there are Jews in the entertainment world who are disguising themselves as being other than Jews. For example; the well-known newscaster Geraldo Rivera is in reality a Jew (Jebusite). Recently, his Jewish identity was revealed to the public in a popular magazine. He had a six-pointed star tattooed on his left hand when he was a child and is now being denied the right to be buried in a Jewish cemetery ground. According to the Jewish faith, tattoos are forbidden. > > Yet, he did not think of this as he passed himself off as an Hispanic. I have been telling you he was a Jew for years. Geraldo Rivera is his stage name, his real name is Jerry Rivers. … ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/5 "2003-04-01T00:56:38Z")
You know, that OP makes no sense at all. Who the hell is Geraldo iRiviera, what are all those extra question marks for and what does the phrase " Please tell me that my husband was exaggerating and Geraldo give all us Puerto Ricans a traitorous, stupid looking black eye!" actually mean in English. Some one needs to smack the OP right upside her head. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/6 "2003-04-01T01:01:26Z")
“Don’t worry about it”? The dolt is reported to draw a map detailing their position and put it on cable TV, and the best defense that you can come up with is “don’t worry about it”? You don’t think current troop location is “sensitive information”? If he fired on US troops, would you recommend we ignore it if he missed? Do you think attempted murder should not be prosecuted, because nobody really died? Superior intelligence is absolutely key in this war. If Geraldo did anything even remotely resembling this, he should be shipped back to the States so that every family who has lost a son in this war can line up to kick him in the nuts. Then the rest of us would like a turn. The best possible interpretation I can find for this is that he is too idiotic to realize how idiotic he is. > [@](#): > > “Sins can be forgiven, but stupid is forever.” - Billy Sunday Lock this moron in Capone’s vault until the war is over. At least don’t let him into a war zone - peoples’ lives are at stake here. Regards, Shodan ---
**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, 2003, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/7 "2003-04-01T01:03:41Z")
Is anyone really surprised? Geraldo is a complete and total dumbass. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/8 "2003-04-01T01:05:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Biggirl \* > \*\*You know, that OP makes no sense at all. Who the hell is Geraldo iRiviera, what are all those extra question marks for and what does the phrase " Please tell me that my husband was exaggerating and Geraldo give all us Puerto Ricans a traitorous, stupid looking black eye!" actually mean in English. > > Some one needs to smack the OP right upside her head. \*\* :smack: ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/9 "2003-04-01T01:07:26Z")
Yes, he did indeed draw troop positions in the sand. The video clip I saw a couple of times this afternoon blurred out the drawing he made, so they must have thought it a little too accurate to be broadcasting over and over. I heard at least twice that he’s been kicked out of the 101st and once that he was kept in. My only hope is that they let the entire 101st division spank him brutally before they do anything else. Now what about Peter Arnett? Does “comfort and aid” to the enemy mean anything these days? ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/10 "2003-04-01T01:10:25Z")
I just saw on FoxNews—O’Reilly (yes, I’m watching O’Reilly) said that he talked to Geraldo earlier today, and Geraldo said that he only gave information that he thought was already released elsewhere. I don’t know if this is true or not, of course. But all damned day, each news station has these retired generals drawing on maps of Iraq, and saying, “We’ll be doing this next, they’re here now and I think they’ll move here next.” I mean, what’s the deal here? Obviously some of this map-drawing is acceptable, some is not. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/11 "2003-04-01T01:18:57Z")
Oh, c’mon, **Shodan** , get real! Geraldo doesnt have the “sensitive information” as to the relative positions of his ass and any given hole in the ground! > [@](#): > > If he fired on US troops, would you recommend we ignore it if he missed? Do you think attempted murder should not be prosecuted, because nobody really died? Dramatic, much? ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/12 "2003-04-01T01:30:57Z")
> [@](#): > > Oh, c’mon, Shodan, get real! Geraldo doesnt have the “sensitive information” as to the relative positions of his ass and any given hole in the ground! He drew a map in the sand indicating his unit’s position in relation to Baghdad. No matter how opposed you may be to the war, even you must see how incredibly stupid it is to give away one’s position to the enemy. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/13 "2003-04-01T01:40:02Z")
**Biggirl** , trust me, down here folks just wonder who the heck is this guy and what is his freakin’ problem… half the population first learned of him when he came down to make a scene on the Vieques Range back when it was the chic thing to do, and were unimpressed… and you know how eager we are to latch on to anybody even remotely 'Rican making it big (oddly, nobody here’s making a big deal of the new Miss USA…) ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/14 "2003-04-01T01:59:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by D\_Odds \* > \*\*:smack: \*\* Thanks. I needed that. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/15 "2003-04-01T02:09:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elucidator \* > \*\*Oh, c’mon, **Shodan** , get real! Geraldo doesnt have the “sensitive information” as to the relative positions of his ass and any given hole in the ground! > > Dramatic, much? \*\* It’s a fucking **WAR!** How much more dramatic do you need? People die here - did you notice that? And they are especially likely to die if fuckhats draw maps showing where they are on fucking international news shows. Even you must see the problems with some media whore jumping up and down yelling, “Yoo hoo! Iraqi mortar men! We’re over here!” If it were just Geraldo’s attention-whore butt at risk, I would recommend that he go right ahead and call in airstrikes on himself and cleanse the world’s gene pool, but these are my countrymen here also being put at risk. Please tell me you understand the problem with that. Please. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/16 "2003-04-01T02:32:32Z")
Ya know, I hear that Today’s Armed Forces are switching over entirely to MSD (“Maps Scratched in Dirt”) technology. The Pentagon is quite impressed with the unparalleled accuracy of MSD cartography. From Geraldo’s traitorous MSD broadcast, no doubt Iraqi troops were able to determine _immediately_ the location of Geraldo Rivera and the unit he was imbedded with (or is it "imbedded _in_?) They were probably able to conclude with lightning quickness that they are _somewhere in the Middle East_. Those trademark precision Iraqi air strikes will no doubt be forthcoming, as soon as the Iraqi technicians finish copying Geraldo’s map, using a special wax crayon, into their advanced guidance systems. (The Iraqi have not yet developed MSD technology, and are still using Cartographic Rectification And Y/X Orthogonal Lateral Arrays.) (I ain’t saying that Geraldo isn’t a dipshit, for this, and many other reasons. Obviously what he did was stupid and against the rules and his ass should be on the next transport for Hackensack, the dumbass. But I doubt very much that American Lives were Imperiled by his Poor Judgement.) ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/17 "2003-04-01T02:44:50Z")
First his two stunts in Afghanistan (the phantom bullet and the killing field miles away from the killing field) and now this. Baseball season has started and that is three strikes. Whether he be Puerto Rican, Jewish, Armenian or Amish, here is a man that needs to have his camera and microphone taken away. He makes Jerry Springer look like a credible journalist in comparison — and that’s just wrong. TV ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/18 "2003-04-01T02:48:39Z")
Do you folks really think these troops were hiding in broad daylight and their secret position given away by a map in the sand? Did he put the scale markings on the map too? 😃 😃 I find this to be much to do about nothing. ---
**Author:** ![hansel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@hansel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hansel)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/19 "2003-04-01T02:51:09Z")
Geraldo Rivera and Peter Arnett should each be given half a brick and locked in a dark room. The one who comes out with the whole brick gets to keep his job. Don’t remember where I read that brick thing, but I’m in love with it now. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/20 "2003-04-01T02:58:26Z")
How accurate a map of Iraq could you draw in the sand? If the unit’s precise postion was sensitive information, why did they tell Geraldo what it was? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591.md?page=2)