# Diogenes the Cynic, Fount of Perfect Knowledge **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 20, 2005, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534 "2005-09-20T14:37:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/21 "2005-09-20T15:52:40Z")
DtC is very liberal. If the entire human race actually shared his views and lived by them we would be a rational peaceful society. From his post in various threads, his posted views are not well grounded in the real world, but would seem to indicate a much rosier view of the world than most of us have. As a point of irony, I would say he was far less cynical then most. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/22 "2005-09-20T15:54:10Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > But how would they get in trouble if she calls the cops, then? Meaning, of course, that the innocent have nothing to fear from the police. Would that this were true. Accusations can ruin lives just as thoroughly as convictions, especially in the era of zero-tolerance. On the topic of this thread, I’ve often thought **Diogenes the Cynic** should change his name to **Diogenes the Self-Righteous** , just out of a sense of truth in advertising. His notable pit flamouts regarding the nobility of taking a girl’s virginity under false pretenses, flaunting school rules designed to protect students with violent alergies to peanut butter, advocating forcing secular education on children being religiously educated, and numerous other topics have more than earned him the moniker modification. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/23 "2005-09-20T15:54:27Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > DtC is very liberal. If the entire human race actually shared his views and lived by them we would be a **rational** peaceful society. Well, two out of three ain’t bad. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/24 "2005-09-20T15:59:11Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > DTC is opposed to burning innocent children to death? My God, you’re right. He is indeed history’s greatest monster. Cute, but actually read the thread for context, willya? Diogenes states that because bombing of industrial sites in World War II meant killing civilians, those Americans who fought in World War II were evil, and he is convinced that God (if there is one) agrees with him. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/25 "2005-09-20T16:00:31Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > DTC is opposed to burning innocent children to death? My God, you’re right. He is indeed history’s greatest monster. He equated a foreigner’s life with an American life. What the fuck was HE smoking? ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/26 "2005-09-20T16:01:01Z")
**Zsofia** , You didn’t mention the race of the basketball players. That makes your jackass call on **Kalhoun** accurate, IMO. He also suggested that you move if you didn’t like what was going on. You understand, and **Kalhoun** doesn’t, that the stakes naturally go up when you buy a house. Moving is a much more complicated option at that point. I’ll see your jackass, and raise it to douche-bag. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/27 "2005-09-20T16:05:20Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > He equated a foreigner’s life with an American life. What the fuck was HE smoking? Does anyone know his real address? Maybe someone should call him in? There should be some sort of House Committee we can dob these types in to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/28 "2005-09-20T16:08:52Z")
> [@John Corrado](#): > > Cute, but actually read the thread for context, willya? Diogenes states that because bombing of industrial sites in World War II meant killing civilians, those Americans who fought in World War II were evil, and he is convinced that God (if there is one) agrees with him. Don’t be ridiculous. And I’m with DTC. Dresden et al were a war crimes and if God existed, he would agree. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/29 "2005-09-20T16:20:20Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > Don’t be ridiculous. And I’m with DTC. Dresden et al were a war crimes and if God existed, he would agree. Where he goes way over the line is where calls those who disagree psychopaths. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/30 "2005-09-20T16:20:32Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Why, I oughta… > > This is almost fodder for a CS thread. CS?? What’s that? Will I be sorry I asked? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/31 "2005-09-20T16:23:43Z")
Hey, if D the C was rational and thoughtful and positive… he’d be _boring!_ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/32 "2005-09-20T16:25:22Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > Don’t be ridiculous. What in John Corrado’s post do you find ridiculous? > [@](#): > > And I’m with DTC. You will have to try much harder to achieve his level of unassailable rightness. Maybe call anyone who disagrees a psychopath. > [@](#): > > Dresden et al were a war crimes A statement of “fact” that has been debated by intelligent people for over 60 years. I’m glad you two have it all worked out. > [@](#): > > and if God existed, he would agree. Do you believe that this meaningless statement scores some rhetorical point? If so, could you explain? ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/33 "2005-09-20T16:26:38Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > CS?? What’s that? Will I be sorry I asked? :eek: Cafe Society, one of the other SDMB forums. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/34 "2005-09-20T16:32:30Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > CS?? What’s that? Will I be sorry I asked? :eek: CS Lewis. We’re tackling apologetics after 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, 2005, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/35 "2005-09-20T16:45:00Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > DtC is very liberal. If the entire human race actually shared his views and lived by them we would be a rational peaceful society. > From his post in various threads, his posted views are not well grounded in the real world, but would seem to indicate a much rosier view of the world than most of us have. > > As a point of irony, I would say he was far less cynical then most. You need some educumashun on what [“cynic”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynic) means in the sense that \*\*DtC \*\*uses it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/36 "2005-09-20T16:52:32Z")
I think a lot of people need to remember that **ZSofia** is living _alone_. She has a small yapping dog as company. You may call her nosy and paranoid, but from what she’s described, especially the quick stops outside the house, something odd is going on. I think she was right to call. After all, it’s her neighborhood too. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/37 "2005-09-20T17:06:00Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Maybe they’re just selling weed, in which case I would actually be morally opposed to having them busted. > [@Zsofia](#): > > But Diogenes’ notion that even if they were dealing smack, it would make you a bad person to call the po pos on them? Weed = smack? When did that happen? > [@Shagnasty](#): > > If I thought that the neighborhood was turning to crap and my property values were going down then I would be among the first to report it. It is all about personal limits and sound judgement. I’m not a property owner, but I confess, I’m really confused about how this is supposed to work. Wouldn’t lower property values mean a lower property tax rate? I’d think that would be a _good_ thing. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/38 "2005-09-20T17:08:59Z")
I think it all comes down to _discretion_. If I had a neighbor and I knew for a fact that (s)he was dealing some marijuana, but it were being done discretely, I would not interfere. On the other hand, if a neighbor were _possibly_ doing something illegal in an obvious/indiscrete mannner, I would call the cops. As far as basketball, I think it should not have an impact on how you respond. Hockey on the other hand. . . ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/39 "2005-09-20T17:10:01Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Wouldn’t lower property values mean a lower property tax rate? I’d think that would be a _good_ thing. Nope, think resale value of your investment. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/40 "2005-09-20T17:12:00Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > You need some educumashun on what [“cynic”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynic) means in the sense that \*\*DtC \*\*uses it. 🙂 I know, I was purposely playing up the modern American meaning as I playing for the irony. [Cynicism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynicism) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534.md?page=3)