# 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:** 3
**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, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/41 "2005-09-20T17:23:58Z")
I dunno about this OP. I like **Diogenes**. He can be irritating as hell sometimes with his partisanship, but he makes no bones about being a partisan (unlike so many on this board who think they’re being objective). He certainly gets up on his high horse a lot, and his posting style makes him seem like he is speaking the one and only truth, but that’s just his way of writing-- he’s much more apt to say “it is” rather than “it probably is” or “I think that it is” . If I read the posts that are referenced here, he’s more often talking about he would do, rather than what everyone should do. The forum was **IMHO** , afterall. ---
**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, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/42 "2005-09-20T17:24:05Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > 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. What **vetbridge** said, plus this: someone who has recently bought a house with a minimum down payment can find themselves with a mortgage which is greater than the value of their property, if the value drops. That’s a really vulnerable financial position to be in. For most folks, it effectively means they can’t move until property values rise, because the proceeds of the sale wouldn’t cover what they owe the bank. ---
**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, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/43 "2005-09-20T17:40:40Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > He certainly gets up on his high horse a lot, and his posting style makes him seem like he is speaking the one and only truth, but that’s just his way of writing I respectfully disagree. On many, many occasions he has advocated putting force of law behind his views and on even more he has asserted that his views are simply “right.” Going beyond that are the numerous times he put forth the dichotomy that there was his view and then there were the views of psychopaths, deluded fools, morons, uptight assholes(the list goes on and on) and there was no middle ground. Either acknowledge the obvious superiority of his position or be part of the group of unenlightened fools who just couldn’t see the truth. In general I don’t care if he’s a self-righteous crusader. I think we all are to some degree. I just think that those who take it to the level he has should be willing to publically acknowledge it. Thus the suggestion to change the moniker. I’m not saying he should change his behavior, and I’m certainly not saying he should be forced to. Enjoy, Steven ---
**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, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/44 "2005-09-20T17:41:51Z")
> [@vetbridge](#): > > Nope, think resale value of your investment. Sorry, I can’t. To me, the purpose of owning a home is to live in it, not to sell it. ---
**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, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/45 "2005-09-20T17:45:51Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > The forum was **IMHO** , afterall. What does the “ **H** ” stand for again? 😛 ---
**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, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/46 "2005-09-20T17:47:55Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > He certainly gets up on his high horse a lot, and his posting style makes him seem like he is speaking the one and only truth, but that’s just his way of writing-- he’s much more apt to say “it is” rather than “it probably is” or “I think that it is” . If I read the posts that are referenced here, he’s more often talking about he would do, rather than what everyone should do. The forum was **IMHO** , afterall. Or in **DtC** ’s case, IMNSHO. The OP in the other thread clearly presented herself as a new homeowner who is or was wrestling with a dilemma. While that does invite the expression of opinions, it is no call for some of what followed, including a weaselly attempt to call the OP an asshole. ---
**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, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/47 "2005-09-20T17:49:40Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Sorry, I can’t. To me, the purpose of owning a home is to live in it, not to sell it. Even if you have that attitude, the homes value will determine how much you can borrow against it should the need arise. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/48 "2005-09-20T17:51:43Z")
My neighborhood has had a decline in property values. What used to be nice homes with families has turned into rent houses with a few of us home owners hanging in there. The drug dealers are always in the rent houses, and now when we see somebody moving out of the rent houses we figure it’s 50/50 getting more drug dealers moving in (both of the rent houses are presently occupied by non-drug dealers). Declining property values might make it more attractive for lower income families to buy a home, but in general it is better for property values to remain high IMHO. And I don’t mean “if the riff-raff can’t afford to live here, we won’t have to deal with them”, it’s just that if you own something, it’s nice to know it’s not worthless because the entire neighborhood has descended into a drug dealing wasteland. ---
**Author:** ![Corii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Corii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corii)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/49 "2005-09-20T17:59:43Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Sorry, I can’t. To me, the purpose of owning a home is to live in it, not to sell it. So you can’t afford to sell it and move when the neighborhood is undesirable. Therefore it makes sense to work towards making the neighborhood more desirable to live in, i.e. reporting suspicious behaviour to the police and letting them deal with it. ---
**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, 2005, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/50 "2005-09-20T18:01:24Z")
Font. ---
**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, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/51 "2005-09-20T18:04:10Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Font. Funny, but Fount is a legitimate variant of Font. ---
**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, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/52 "2005-09-20T18:04:42Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Font. Fount is also correct. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/53 "2005-09-20T18:05:16Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Font. Arial. ---
**Author:** ![lorinada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5e925/32.png) [@lorinada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorinada)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/54 "2005-09-20T18:15:09Z")
> [@Duke of Rat](#): > > Declining property values might make it more attractive for lower income families to buy a home, but in general it is better for property values to remain high IMHO. Well, you know, those of us in moderate housing agree. I live in a community that consists of duplexes, the sales prices vary from about $85,000 to $105,000. Our property values are ever-increasing. There are a few renter-occupied units but the majority are still owner-occupied, and judging from the tax rolls and simple observation I can safely say that about 40% are occupied by single women. Should the property values start declining, I daresay few of my neighbors would find that attractive. > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Sorry, I can’t. To me, the purpose of owning a home is to live in it, not to sell it. Now, to me, that statement is silly at best, short-sighted ad worst. \*No one \* knows what the future will bring. Besides, I hope to leave something of value to my son when I pass. What he chooses to do with it is up to him, but I would hope I wouldn’t be handing him a worthless shack. I, personally, bought my home knowing I may be selling it some day. I’m single, and should I meet Mr. Right Who Is Also a Homeowner, I could very well be selling at some point. As always, YMMV, but you still don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. And I wish the woman I bought the house from had the same attitude - then five months after moving in I wouldn’t still be peeling acoustic tile and glue off these lovely louvered doors! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/55 "2005-09-20T18:17:28Z")
Antenna. ---
**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, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/56 "2005-09-20T18:17:54Z")
> [@Corii](#): > > So you can’t afford to sell it and move when the neighborhood is undesirable. Undesireable neighborhood, hmmm. In my book, things don’t get much more undesireable than moving to a different home. Applying for a new job might be short-listed for that honor. > [@Corii](#): > > Therefore it makes sense to work towards making the neighborhood more desirable to live in, i.e. reporting suspicious behaviour to the police and letting them deal with it. Point taken. Still, having a lower property tax bill might strike me as a powerful benefit. ---
**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, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/57 "2005-09-20T18:19:52Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > Or in **DtC** ’s case, IMNSHO. The OP in the other thread clearly presented herself as a new homeowner who is or was wrestling with a dilemma. While that does invite the expression of opinions, it is no call for some of what followed, including a weaselly attempt to call the OP an asshole. I never called the OP an asshole. I was going to stay out of this thread but I need to correct a few things. i never said that anyone who called the cops on a smack dealer was a bad person. I said that I (me personally) would be morally opposed to diming a POT dealer. I also said that I (me personally) would probably not call the cops on dealers of hard drugs if they weren’t bothering anybody, but I never said anyone who did call the cops would be a bad person. As to this: > [@Mtgman](#): > > On many, many occasions he has advocated putting force of law behind his views. Cite? If anything, I’ve advocated _repealing_ some laws (e.g same-sex marriage prohibitions, drug prohibition, capital punishment), but when have I advocated making legislation which would force other people to follow my views. My lgeislative views tend rather heavily towards the liberatarian. I don’t even favor gun bans. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/58 "2005-09-20T18:21:44Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Sorry, I can’t. To me, the purpose of owning a home is to live in it, not to sell it. I agree, but I’d rather keep the value of my home on the higher side, in case Something Bad ™ happens and I either have to sell it or borrow against it. ---
**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, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/59 "2005-09-20T18:30:35Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > I never called the OP an asshole. You wrote: > [@](#): > > I’ve lived next to dope dealers on more than one occasion and never had a problem. I found them to be good neighbors. **The assholes are the ones who try to involve themselves in everyone else’s business and police the whole neighborhood.** ---
**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, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534/60 "2005-09-20T18:36:42Z")
> [@Maus Magill](#): > > I agree, but I’d rather keep the value of my home on the higher side, in case Something Bad ™ happens and I either have to sell it or borrow against it. Purpose of owning a home is to live in it and have it as an investment. So far my house which I hope to live in for 30 years has had at least a 50% increase in value in only 3.5 years. It is worth more than what I paid by more than the mortgage amount. The eventual sale of my home is a significant part of my retirement plan. The house also represents an emergency fund in terms of a second mortgage if we ever need it. I have invested in small & Large improvements in the house. New Windows for half the house. A 6700 watt Solar panel array to reduce electrical cost. New appliances and furnace and water heater. I plan to eventually pave the driveway and complete the new window installation. A house is a good investment, keeping the neighborhood up and the entire town up is protecting your investment. In another 10-15 years we will update the kitchen to whatever is modern at that point. (I have read the Kitchen makes one of the largest impressions) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic-fount-of-perfect-knowledge/322534.md?page=4)