# Diogenes, go take a nap **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 19, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306 "2010-09-19T17:42:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306/141 "2010-09-20T16:43:01Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > > [@Contrapuntal](#): > > > > Why is being baffled by something a legitimate reason to post, while being annoyed by something isn’t? > > Huh? You can post for any reason you want. I can’t stop you. I’m just asking why people care so much about what Diogenes thinks, and spend so much energy trying to get him to change his mind. Because he pisses them off. Has that not been clear? I’m not trying to be snarky, but I suspect that most folks post here because it amuses them. What other reason is needed? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306/142 "2010-09-20T16:43:12Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > [@Crotalus](#): > > > > Didn’t you mean to say “oops, my statement that infertility is not a disability was factually incorrect”? > > It wasn’t factually incorrect. Infertility is not a disability just because a judge says so. It may have to be treated as such legally, but that doesn’t change my opinion. I don’t see how the person is disabled. > > Question, should infertile people be allowed to park in handicapped parking spots? If not, why not? They’re disabled, after all. Two questions, just to judge your sanity on this particular subject: 1. Are you aware that handicapped parking spots are restricted to those with a disability that affects their walking? [Our state’s application form](http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/med10.pdf) spells out the conditions. Infertility is not among them. 2. Let’s say a soldier in Afghanistan gets shot and suffers the loss of one or both of his testicles. He is entitled to a disability payment after he gets out. Do you think this is unfair somehow? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306/143 "2010-09-20T16:43:58Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Question, should infertile people be allowed to park in handicapped parking spots? If not, why not? They’re disabled, after all. Because their particular disability does not interfere with their mobility. This is not rocket science. And when you post: > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Wow, what a horseshit ruling. This is an example of jerkish posting style. Little substance, put bluntly, no reasoning… Just a knee-jerk “I’m still right, and any evidence you put forward is simply horseshit.” This is why you’re being pitted, and I really think that it’s deliberate and calculating on your part. No, strike that, I will assert it as fact. Because I’m right, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306/144 "2010-09-20T16:44:26Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > > [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > > > Huh? You can post for any reason you want. I can’t stop you. I’m just asking why people care so much about what Diogenes thinks, and spend so much energy trying to get him to change his mind. > > Because he pisses them off. Has that not been clear? > > I’m not trying to be snarky, but I suspect that most folks post here because it amuses them. What other reason is needed? They don’t seem amused. They seem frustrated and angry. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306/145 "2010-09-20T16:47:12Z")
[Here’s a great example of the Dio Show, from an ongoing thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=578867&page=2) Original topic of the thread is how much sympathy those imprisoned hikers deserve. Dio comes along and expresses the opinion (presented as fact) that the Peace Corps doesn’t carry physical risk. Someone comes along to offer her personal experiences, which contradict this opinion. Dio then goes into Crazy Dio mode, crapping on **even sven** ’s anecdotal story for no good reason, and asking people for cites about Peace Corps volunteers being kidnapped or murdered. Multiple posters oblige. Dio then says, well, really what I want to know is whether being in the Peace Corps is objectively more dangerous than living in NYC, except actually the way he presents this is that it is a known fact that being in the Peace Corps is in fact less dangerous than living in NYC. This is the kind of obnoxious threadshitting douchebaggery that we are talking about. Yes, I suppose everyone in the thread could have recognized early on that Dio was going to launch into Defcon Crazy, but I don’t think that’s a reasonable expectation of people posting on the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306/146 "2010-09-20T16:47:41Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Like what? Man. I am going to allow this line of questioning, counsel. But you better be going somewhere with this. One of my best friends has been disabled with sickle cell anemia for 40 years. He has never requested nor recieved a parking sticker for it. Though it is a crippling, painful disease at times, he has never had a bit of trouble walking for long distances. (providing he isn’t having a crises, in which case, he doesn’t drive at all.) Of course there are tons of learning disabilities, too, but I thought I would skip ahead of your little set up and get to the gravy of the matter by discussing an actual physical disability. Larry, I get your point, but I’m saying that the folks that keep pitting Dio may just be ‘internet mad’ at him. Not real life mad. You know? Mad enough to Pit but not mad enough to spit. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306/147 "2010-09-20T16:48:01Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It wasn’t factually incorrect. Infertility is not a disability just because a judge says so. It may have to be treated as such legally, but that doesn’t change my opinion. I don’t see how the person is disabled. > > Question, should infertile people be allowed to park in handicapped parking spots? If not, why not? They’re disabled, after all. “Disability” can refer to a number of different things. From the WHO: > [@](#): > > Disabilities is an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. An impairment is a problem in body function or structure; an activity limitation is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action; while a participation restriction is a problem experienced by an individual in involvement in life situations. > **[Disability](https://www.who.int/health-topics/disability)** > > Disability Infertility is clearly an “impairment” (in that it is a problem with a bodily structure); whether it is an “activity limitation” or a “participation restriction” depends on how those terms are defined. If the “activities” or “life situations” are those of having children, it meets those definitions as well. But one thing is certain - it does not impair any activities or restrict any participation in a manner which would justify ease of parking. But then, that’s not part of the definition - at least, according to the WHO. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306/148 "2010-09-20T16:48:30Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > > It wasn’t factually incorrect. Infertility is not a disability just because a judge says so. It may have to be treated as such legally, but that doesn’t change my opinion. I don’t see how the person is disabled. > > > > Question, should infertile people be allowed to park in handicapped parking spots? If not, why not? They’re disabled, after all. > > Two questions, just to judge your sanity on this particular subject: > > 1. Are you aware that handicapped parking spots are restricted to those with a disability that affects their walking? [Our state’s application form](http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/med10.pdf) spells out the conditions. Infertility is not among them. Fine. Infetility does not impair walking. Exactly what physical ability DOES it impair? > [@](#): > > 1. Let’s say a soldier in Afghanistan gets shot and suffers the loss of one or both of his testicles. He is entitled to a disability payment after he gets out. Do you think this is unfair somehow? Unfair to who? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306/149 "2010-09-20T16:49:59Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > > [@Contrapuntal](#): > > > > Because he pisses them off. Has that not been clear? > > > > I’m not trying to be snarky, but I suspect that most folks post here because it amuses them. What other reason is needed? > > They don’t seem amused. They seem frustrated and angry. OK. Because they want to. Because it scratches an itch. Because it passes the time. Whatever. The question remains, why is any justification needed? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306/150 "2010-09-20T16:50:36Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > > Question, should infertile people be allowed to park in handicapped parking spots? If not, why not? They’re disabled, after all. > > Because their particular disability does not interfere with their mobility. It doesn’t interere with any other ability either, though. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306/151 "2010-09-20T16:51:58Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > [@Crotalus](#): > > > > Didn’t you mean to say “oops, my statement that infertility is not a disability was factually incorrect”? > > It wasn’t factually incorrect. Infertility is not a disability just because a judge says so. It may have to be treated as such legally, but that doesn’t change my opinion. I don’t see how the person is disabled. So that’s it. The law doesn’t get to define disability – you do. The only fact that has any bearing on the question of “Is infertility a disability?” is your answer to the question. It’s not factually correct to answer yes, because you say so. > [@](#): > > Question, should infertile people be allowed to park in handicapped parking spots? If not, why not? They’re disabled, after all. Because the law doesn’t say that such parking goes to all disabled persons. In Virginia, to pick an example I am familiar with, the law says that those spaces are reserved for persons “…with physical disabilities that limit or impair their ability to walk…” or for a person with disabilities that “…create a concern for his safety while walking…” (See Va Code § 46.2-731). ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306/152 "2010-09-20T16:52:30Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > It just seems that people get so worked up. I have this impression of someone screaming at their computer “WHY! WON’T! YOU! LISTEN!?” Well, he won’t. You all should have realized that a while ago. Still if arguing with people who don’t listen to you and won’t respond to anything you say except to repeat themselves is how people here get their thrills, rock on I guess. But you’re getting played. I may be in a minority of one, but I kinda enjoy debating with **Dio**. Sure, it gets tiresome and repetitive sometimes, but then, I can always stop. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306/153 "2010-09-20T16:52:55Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Fine. Infetility does not impair walking. Exactly what physical ability DOES it impair? Childbirth. But you knew that. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306/154 "2010-09-20T16:53:08Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > > [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > > > They don’t seem amused. They seem frustrated and angry. > > OK. Because they want to. Because it scratches an itch. Because it passes the time. Whatever. The question remains, why is any justification needed? It isn’t. But if poeple are doing it because it amuses them why so many pit threads? Shouldn’t people be happy and grateful when Dio pulls his act? Instead of pit threads why not MPSIMS threads titled “Hooray for Dio! he makes posting fun!” ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306/155 "2010-09-20T16:55:16Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > I can always stop. Any time you want to stop, right? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306/156 "2010-09-20T16:55:40Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > [@Mr.Moto](#): > > > > Two questions, just to judge your sanity on this particular subject: > > > > 1. Are you aware that handicapped parking spots are restricted to those with a disability that affects their walking? [Our state’s application form](http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/med10.pdf) spells out the conditions. Infertility is not among them. > > Fine. Infetility does not impair walking. Exactly what physical ability DOES it impair? > > > [@](#): > > > > 1. Let’s say a soldier in Afghanistan gets shot and suffers the loss of one or both of his testicles. He is entitled to a disability payment after he gets out. Do you think this is unfair somehow? > > Unfair to who? The taxpayers, since they will be giving additional money to someone who is not by your definition disabled. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306/157 "2010-09-20T16:57:05Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > > [@Malthus](#): > > > > I can always stop. > > Any time you want to stop, right? 😉 Hey, if I could stop smoking, I can stop posting. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306/158 "2010-09-20T16:57:07Z")
It impairs the ability to get pregnant, you fucking dumbass. God. Are you SERIOUS with this? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306/159 "2010-09-20T16:57:32Z")
Quitting is easy. I’ve done it dozens of times. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306/160 "2010-09-20T16:57:53Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > [Here’s a great example of the Dio Show, from an ongoing thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=578867&page=2) > > Original topic of the thread is how much sympathy those imprisoned hikers deserve. Dio comes along and expresses the opinion (presented as fact) that the Peace Corps doesn’t carry physical risk. Someone comes along to offer her personal experiences, which contradict this opinion. Dio then goes into Crazy Dio mode, crapping on **even sven** ’s anecdotal story for no good reason, and asking people for cites about Peace Corps volunteers being kidnapped or murdered. Multiple posters oblige. Dio then says, well, really what I want to know is whether being in the Peace Corps is objectively more dangerous than living in NYC, except actually the way he presents this is that it is a known fact that being in the Peace Corps is in fact less dangerous than living in NYC. > > This is the kind of obnoxious threadshitting douchebaggery that we are talking about. Yes, I suppose everyone in the thread could have recognized early on that Dio was going to launch into Defcon Crazy, but I don’t think that’s a reasonable expectation of people posting on the SDMB. You should pit **even sven** for having t make every single fucking discussion about her being in the Peace Corps. She said people were telling her she took a “crazy risk” by joining the Peace Corps. I called horseshit. It’s no more ineherently risky than moving to New York City. I haven’t been in the peace Corps, but I’ve been in third wotrld countries _alongside_ Peace Corps volunters. I’ve hung out with them and smoked pot with them and played guitar with them in the exact same “crazy risky” spots that are supposed to be so dangerous. Trying to play it up like it’s some kind of hazardous duty is wildly inaccurate. There are minor risks, as there are with a lot of jobs, but nothing extraordinary. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-go-take-a-nap/554306.md?page=9)