# Did I ever tell you about the time I met Barack Obama? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 24, 2009, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466 "2009-08-24T04:37:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466/81 "2009-08-24T18:21:37Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Even though Hitler did far worse things on a much larger scale than the Joker, the Joker comparison is more immediate and personal and thus more visceral. I feel it is also a compelling point that the Joker’s nefarious deeds were pulled off in a movie, and not in actual extermination camps. But maybe that’s just a distinction I make. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466/82 "2009-08-24T18:27:14Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > It doesn’t matter. If he agrees with it, he’s an idiot. If it started out as parody, then he told it badly and clung to it despite it obviously not being funny, and is therefore an idiot. I must point out that this assumes that I actually give a single shit what the hamsters at the SDMB think of me. I saw a whole bunch of knees jerking in a million directions and thought it was pretty damned funny. I compared Obama to Hitler by comparing all of the ways in which Obama is actually nothing like Hitler and a bunch of people got offended. That’s pretty damn funny IMO. Sure I failed in my delivery, no doubt, but at the end of the day people are comparing Obama to Hitler because Nazi Germany had government run healthcare too, as if it was government run healthcare that made Hitler evil. I don’t generally see this being pointed out to the morons who think Obama and Hitler have something in common, usually it’s just sputtering in righteous indignation and then a bunch of back patting where liberals tell each other that they are so glad they are smart enough to be liberals instead of those stupid conservatives. Meanwhile dial back the clock six years and liberals were basically doing the exact same thing regarding Bush in about the same proportions. If I’ve gotten smug in recent months it’s because after that gay marriage thread I realized the futility of trying to explain myself to the idiots around here who think they are part of the intellectual elite but are by and large a bunch of total morons. I’m looking at you, **ElvisL1ves**. So yeah, when the imbeciles get all uppity because I made a lame joke, well that breathes life into it. What wasn’t all that funny, and I didn’t even think was particularly funny when I posted it on a five second whim, becomes funny due to the overreaction of said imbeciles. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466/83 "2009-08-24T18:27:35Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > I think it tells us something about the opinion that members of the SDMB have, more than half of the responders were whooshed, only a few realized it was just a lame parody. But they all universally thought that I was dumb and they were smart. I have to say the only ones who I think have a credible claim to that are the ones who realized it was a lame parody. Well, perhaps if it had been a _good_ parody, there wouldn’t have been so much confusion. But the OP was pretty much a mess. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466/84 "2009-08-24T18:28:55Z")
Oh man, he done flipped the script on our asses! Mindfreak activate ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Krebbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@Mr.Krebbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Krebbs)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466/85 "2009-08-24T18:29:27Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I feel it is also a compelling point that the Joker’s nefarious deeds were pulled off in a movie, and not in actual extermination camps. > > But maybe that’s just a distinction I make. I think it mostly has to do with the fact that the picture looks like Obama is in “white face” to me. Similarly - even though I sympathize with her underlying point - when comedian Sarah Silverman dons black face, it isn’t very funny or particularly clever. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466/86 "2009-08-24T18:30:15Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I feel it is also a compelling point that the Joker’s nefarious deeds were pulled off in a movie, and not in actual extermination camps. > > But maybe that’s just a distinction I make. Visceral’s got nothing to do with rational, dude. _Of course_ Hitler was worse; hell, he could have punched a guy in a bar once and he’d be worse than the Joker because one’s fictional and the other isn’t. Visceralnessitude is all about the lizard-brain immediacy. “A single death is a tragedy; a million is a statistic,” and all that. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466/87 "2009-08-24T18:32:26Z")
And before anyone gets all uppity about trolling, I can honestly say I didn’t think there would be so many people who actually thought I was seriously comparing Obama to Hitler. But then again, I am continually astounded by how people I speak to every day clearly don’t even read my posts, they just respond keywords. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466/88 "2009-08-24T18:33:03Z")
Re: \*\*Mr. Krebbs \*\*and **Bosstone** : I understand, it’s just … if that picture hadn’t been co-opted by right-wing freakshows, I’d have thought it was pretty cool looking. Hell, I want someone to Photoshop \*me \*as the Joker, so I can post it on my Facebook. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466/89 "2009-08-24T18:34:09Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Well, perhaps if it had been a _good_ parody, there wouldn’t have been so much confusion. But the OP was pretty much a mess. It was hardly a mess. It was concise and to the point, it just didn’t have very good delivery. If you read that OP and you can’t tell that every comparison to Hitler I made had no basis in reality then you’re truly an idiot. There’s just no two ways about it. I literally used no comparison that is actually a trait that Obama and Hitler have in common. Other than being a politician of course. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466/90 "2009-08-24T18:34:49Z")
By the way, **mswas** , intelligence != being able to read your mind despite poor communication skills. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466/91 "2009-08-24T18:36:24Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > By the way, **mswas** , intelligence != being able to read your mind despite poor communication skills. Read my mind? Please tell me what part of the OP made you think that Obama actually shared any of those characteristics. I guess I can see how you might have been confused as Hitler and Obama have vivifying their Teutonic heritage in common. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466/92 "2009-08-24T18:36:53Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > And before anyone gets all uppity about trolling, I can honestly say I didn’t think there would be so many people who actually thought I was seriously comparing Obama to Hitler. But then again, I am continually astounded by how people I speak to every day clearly don’t even read my posts, they just respond keywords. Yeah, that zinger you posted went right over our heads. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466/93 "2009-08-24T18:37:33Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Yeah, that zinger you posted went right over our heads. It obviously went over many heads. It clearly didn’t go over many others, but it obviously went over many. The only things dumber than the joke were all the people whooshed by it. I point you to \*\*crowmanyclouds \*\*post as my first point of evidence. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466/94 "2009-08-24T18:39:08Z")
You post quite a lot for someone who doesn’t care what any reader thinks. Just so you get it: A sustained inability to explain one’s position clearly and convincingly most typically represents an inadequacy in said position. You really ought to consider that sometime. BTW, while it’s true that geniuses are often laughed it, it does not follow that those who are often laughed at are geniuses. Just so you know, 'kay, champ? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466/95 "2009-08-24T18:40:26Z")
The problem with the OP is that, to disintrested/confused/didn’t pay attention to who posted it/whatever-the-fuck viewers, we can’t tell if you’re making fun of Obama for being a National Socialist or if you’re making fun of the people who think Obama is a National Socialist. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466/96 "2009-08-24T18:42:49Z")
I’m sure it went over much better at FreeRepublic. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466/97 "2009-08-24T18:43:01Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > It obviously went over many heads. It clearly didn’t go over many others, but it obviously went over many. > > The only things dumber than the joke were all the people whooshed by it. > > I point you to \*\*crowmanyclouds \*\*post as my first point of evidence. 😕 All he did was correct your spelling. Or are you claiming that your spelling mistake was yet another layer of cunning trickery that only you understand? ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466/98 "2009-08-24T18:43:39Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > The problem with the OP is that, to disintrested/confused/didn’t pay attention to who posted it/whatever-the-fuck viewers, we can’t tell if you’re making fun of Obama for being a National Socialist or if you’re making fun of the people who think Obama is a National Socialist. The latter. **Elvisl1ves** I do care what some people think. I don’t care what YOU think. I think you’re one of the dumbest people I’ve ever spoken to, and there is a little cadre of you like **Lobohan** and **Der Trihs** that always make the same stupid arguments. Noticed I give **Begbert2** and **Bryan Ekers** more credit? It’s because I don’t think they are useless morons. Though you are a special case, you’re the only one who loves me enough to make up an anti-narrative for me out of the ether. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466/99 "2009-08-24T18:44:39Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > 😕 > > All he did was correct your spelling. > > Or are you claiming that your spelling mistake was yet another layer of cunning trickery that only you understand? I didn’t make a spelling mistake. It was a pun. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466/100 "2009-08-24T18:45:54Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > I compared Obama to Hitler by comparing all of the ways in which Obama is actually nothing like Hitler and a bunch of people got offended. That’s pretty damn funny IMO. Actually, it would be more accurate to say “I compared Obama to Hitler by comparing all of the ways in which Obama is actually nothing like Hitler and a bunch of people replied ‘Man, this is lame.’” Whether it’s still damn funny is, of course, YO. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-time-i-met-barack-obama/507466.md?page=6)