# Diogenes the Cynic **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 24, 2007, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233 "2007-01-24T13:47:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233/21 "2007-01-24T17:55:46Z")
I still remember the story my wife told me about her ex… that he took her to the hospital to have thier first child and then immediatley left to go to the strip joint with his friends. The guy on 'Merican Idle is a hero compared to that. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233/22 "2007-01-24T17:57:27Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I didn’t say anything about how it should be done. I said the guy should have left the audition line when he heard his wife had gone into labor. I’m still standing by that. [/QUOTE] No, he _should_ have done what he and his wife decided together was the best thing for both of them, which clearly was that he proceed with his shot at a better future for his family, regardless of how real _you_ think that shot was. Not to mention, from what they showed us on screen, he wasn’t even told when his wife actually went into labor, but got a call at 4:00AM that she had _delivered_. It is not at all beyond the realm of possibility that she was a week, 2 weeks, or more, away from her due date, and they felt “safe” letting him camp out at the auditions at that particular time. If she started feeling contractions in the wee hours of the night, I can imagine her thinking, “last time my labor was 36 hours long, it’s 2:00AM and my husband needs his rest so he can be at his peak for the audition. Besides, I’m not even _sure_ I’m officially in labor – I’ve been experiencing some Braxton Hicks contractions, so I’ll just wait until the doctor has seen me before I get him all worked up about what could be a false alarm.” Then she gets to the hospital, the nurse tells her she’s about to deliver in the chair (which happened with my mom with her second child) and they rush her into a room, with her all the while hollering to get her a phone to call her husband, and the staff saying it’ll have to wait. Then _BOOM_, she’s got a baby in her arms! “Well, I wasn’t going to bother him with a potentially false alarm” she says, “but he’ll want to hear this news no matter how late/early it is, so I may as well call him even though it’s 4:00AM. Honey, you’ve got a new baby girl! It happened so fast I didn’t even have a chance to call you, and since there’s nothing you can do now but oogle at her through a window, and I _desperately_ need some sleep, just stay for the audition and come as soon as it’s over. I LOVE YOU – GOOD LUCK!” You really are awfully judgmental for someone who knows absolutely fuck all about what actually transpired. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233/23 "2007-01-24T18:03:27Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I WANTED to be in the delivery room. Nobody made me. It’s called giving a shit. [/QUOTE] I thought that’s what the wife did. At least according to **WhyNot**. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233/24 "2007-01-24T18:08:25Z")
There are other AI tryouts. In fact, they happen once a year, in several different cities! I think it’s selfish to miss out on one of the most important things in life for an event that happens so often. If it were once every ten years or something, then I’d give the guy some slack. And of course the wife is going to smile for the cameras. It’s in two months, at 2am, when jr. has been screaming for 5 hours, that she will tear him a new one. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233/25 "2007-01-24T18:14:44Z")
What part of ‘sometimes babies come early, unexpectedly, and fast’ is escaping your comprehension? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233/26 "2007-01-24T18:34:31Z")
[QUOTE=NurseCarmen] There are other AI tryouts. In fact, they happen once a year, in several different cities! I think it’s selfish to miss out on one of the most important things in life for an event that happens so often. If it were once every ten years or something, then I’d give the guy some slack. [/QUOTE] Maybe they couldn’t afford to travel to a different city. Idol had never gone to Memphis before, may never again, and behold here they were. ---
**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:** [January 24, 2007, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233/27 "2007-01-24T18:39:59Z")
What part of “your wife is more important than being a fame whore” do you not understand? I don’t care when the call came. He shouldn’t have stayed there one second later than the phone call. Auditioning for AI is no more important than _watching_ AI, especially since the guy was only minimally talented in the first place. Bah…what’s the use. I don’t actually care about this enough to keep arguing about it. I think the guy has his priorities fucked up. YMMV. Whatever. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233/28 "2007-01-24T18:44:43Z")
All I want to add is that for a father to miss out on participating in the birth of his child is a big loss for him period. Memories of the birthing of my two children will stand out for me as highlights of my life. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233/29 "2007-01-24T18:49:38Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] What part of “your wife is more important than being a fame whore” do you not understand? [/QUOTE] And what part of “you have no fucking clue about this man’s relationship with his wife and what her wants and expectations of him were” are you failing to understand? There is only ONE PERSON on this planet whose opinion about where he _should_ have gone, and _when_, that matters, and that’s _his wife_, not you. ---
**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:** [January 24, 2007, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233/30 "2007-01-24T18:55:15Z")
[QUOTE=Shayna] And what part of “you have no fucking clue about this man’s relationship with his wife and what her wants and expectations of him were” are you failing to understand? There is only ONE PERSON on this planet whose opinion about where he _should_ have gone, and _when_, that matters, and that’s _his wife_, not you. [/QUOTE] When did I say my opinion “mattered?” I just said it was my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233/31 "2007-01-24T19:17:20Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I don’t care when the call came. He shouldn’t have stayed there one second later than the phone call. Auditioning for AI is no more important than _watching_ AI, especially since the guy was only minimally talented in the first place. [/QUOTE] So is William Hung, and look what it got _him_. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233/32 "2007-01-24T19:19:32Z")
[QUOTE=Shayna] “you have no fucking clue about this man’s relationship with his wife and what her wants and expectations of him were” [/QUOTE] Sheesh, you don’t know any more than DtC does. I’m so glad I’ve never seen American Idiots. This is what it does to people? ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233/33 "2007-01-24T19:29:22Z")
[QUOTE=Equipoise] Sheesh, you don’t know any more than DtC does. [/QUOTE] Which is precisely why _I’m_ not passing judgment, let alone unfounded judgment, on the guy like **Diogenes** is. Has everybody swallowed a stupid pill this morning or something? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233/34 "2007-01-24T19:31:33Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] When did I say my opinion “mattered?” I just said it was my opinion. [/QUOTE] Gah. Don’t do that. Don’t excoriate this man to the extent that you did, and then just light up a cigarette as though it were all a masturbation fantasy. Maybe it was just a TV show, but the man and his wife and children are real. If your opinions are not important, then stop posting them. Three. Times. In One. Thread. The least you could do is run this shit past his wife and say, “Hey, lady! Am I right that your husband is an asswipe and a dickwad? 'Cause that’s what I’m gonna tell all these people at the Dope.” > [@Equipoise](#): > > Sheesh, you don’t know any more than DtC does. Yeah, actually, she does. What Dio did was ignore what everyone else knew. The guy’s a stand-up guy, already with two children, attending an audition for the purpose of making a better life for his family. He spoke to his wife that morning at 4:00. He was a very proud (and third time) papa. He ran full clip for the door as soon as his audition was over, where producers had transportation ready and rushed him to the hospital. His wife was clearly in no distress whatsoever or in any way bothered by anything that had transpired. Dio simply tossed all reason aside and declared that the bastard is going to hell because he didn’t do it the way Dio would have done it in Dio’s world. Fuck. ---
**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:** [January 24, 2007, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233/35 "2007-01-24T19:34:29Z")
I can’t go along with the idea that AI is going to do anything for his family. He doesn’t have the talent to be a professional singer. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233/36 "2007-01-24T19:41:16Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I can’t go along with the idea that AI is going to do anything for his family. He doesn’t have the talent to be a professional singer. [/QUOTE] Neither does Bob Dylan. Neither does Justin Timberlake. Lots of people make it as singers who can’t sing. But no sweat. If you want to judge his singing, have at it. It’s your judgment of him as a man that’s so off-base. Downright spooky, frankly, because it comes out of nowhere and is completely without foundation or evidence of any kind other than your own druthers. If you want to live his life, the least you could do is pay his mortgage. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233/37 "2007-01-24T19:45:04Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I can’t go along with the idea that AI is going to do anything for his family. He doesn’t have the talent to be a professional singer. [/QUOTE] He _thought_ he might have otherwise why try out? I **know** I don’t have the talent that’s why you’ll never see me there, but if there was some glimmer of hope (that I had enough talent) I would be there. You don’t know for sure unless you try, especially if you’re on the fence talent-wise. Maybe there’s some band out there that likes the guys look and sound and picks him up… ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233/38 "2007-01-24T19:49:17Z")
…not to mention add agencies and movie producers. ---
**Author:** ![rayh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@rayh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayh)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233/39 "2007-01-24T19:54:58Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I can’t go along with the idea that AI is going to do anything for his family. He doesn’t have the talent to be a professional singer. [/QUOTE] Someone thinks he does. From [here](http://www.idolme.com/blog/). > [@](#): > > Phillip Joel Staley. Just a hunch here. This young United States Navy Rock Singer is someone to watch for. He comes across as a very grounded, intelligent, and worthy representative of being the Next American Idol. After years of A.I. promoting members of the military into the competition, I believe that this should be the year that we show our nation’s appreciation by moving P.J. into the latter rounds and possibly to a title shot. I will be doing what little bit of promotion I can do to help. > My early pick to win it all, > Phillip Joel Stacey…. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233/40 "2007-01-24T20:09:03Z")
Oh. Military. That might explain much. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diogenes-the-cynic/389233.md?page=3)