# Do You Really Think There's a Secret Code That Will Unlock Everything? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 5, 2002, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142 "2002-09-05T15:53:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LindyHopper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@LindyHopper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LindyHopper)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142/21 "2002-09-06T00:44:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JuanitaTech \* > \*\*D’uh! Any person knows all that, Rick. But you’re dealing with people. And people are idiots. \*\* [Agent K]People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals, and you know it![/Agent K] ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142/22 "2002-09-06T00:52:04Z")
**brujo** , Here is a link to the Cecil Adams column wherein he shoots down the argument that the 16th amendment is invalid. [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5\_127.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_127.html) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142/23 "2002-09-06T01:00:53Z")
> [@](#): > > Again, the thinking seems to be that there’s some sort of hidden, secret system in place, and if only you know the right words, you’re beyond the reach of the law. Judge: “Mister James, do you have anything to say for yourself?” Jimmy James: “Tubel-Cain?” Judge: “The court finds in favor of Mr. James.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@The\_Tim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tim)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142/24 "2002-09-06T01:41:29Z")
fnord ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142/25 "2002-09-06T01:56:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by erislover \* > \*\*The blue moose barks at noon. \*\* The knight strikes at midnight. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142/26 "2002-09-06T02:08:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BlackKnight \* > \*\*DAMMIT! I try for a half hour to open this thread just so I can post the same joke that Amp beat me to posting. > > _sigh_ \*\* WooHoo!!! ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142/27 "2002-09-06T02:22:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jodi \* > \*\*IMO, a good rule of thumb is that if you “heard it from this one guy” or you read it on the Internet, you’d be a fool to believe it. \*\* I don’t believe you. ---
**Author:** ![Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142/28 "2002-09-06T02:27:57Z")
No, no, no. The “Secret Code” is A,B,B,A - that way you get infinite lives. The "Magic Word, on the other hand is “xyzzy”. Oh, and I agree with **Bricker**. Also, **JuanitaTech** ’s assessment of idiot frequency in random human populations is, unfortunately, correct. ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142/29 "2002-09-06T02:43:52Z")
Well, since I made the mistake of bringing it up, I better explain myself. Here read in the standard disclaimer and the caveat that the law may be different in your State or other jurisdiction or you might get a judge who is not the sharpest pencil in the box, having been appointed on a promise to never ever rule in favor of a criminal defendant. The Statute of Frauds in almost universal. In general it says that the only evidence that is competent to prove certain kinds of agreements is a writing signed by the person you are trying to stick. In general the contracts covered are agreements for the transfer of an interest in land, contracts that are not to be fully performed until a year in the future, contracts to get married and, in some States agreements for the sale of personal property of a value of $500 or more. Pretty clear cut, huh? The are however a number of exceptions to the S of F, loopholes some would say. Among the exceptions are oral agreements which have been partially performed–as when there is an ernest money payment, oral agreements on which the other party has relied to his detriment–as when I forego biding at a land auction relying on your promise to split the land with me, or when I make a deal to resell the land you have orally promised to sell to me to some third person. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142/30 "2002-09-06T04:06:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Some Guy \* > **The “Secret Code” is A,B,B,A - that way you get infinite lives.** No, that code just causes the game to start playing _Dancing Queen_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142/31 "2002-09-06T04:11:52Z")
People, people, people… **Bricker** is a _lawyer_! It’s the lawyers who **know all the cheat codes**! Of _course_ the lawyers are going to tell you that “there are no cheat codes”–if _everyone_ knew how to use them, they wouldn’t be worth anything! ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142/32 "2002-09-06T04:13:26Z")
> [@](#): > > Do You Really Think There’s a Secret Code That Will Unlock Everything? most don’t think it’s exactly secret, but most religious folk believe _they_ have “the key” - does that count? ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142/33 "2002-09-06T05:08:40Z")
Does this mean that I need to throw away the 10 years I’ve spent doing and re-doing the math on my TOE? ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142/34 "2002-09-06T05:17:08Z")
BXMF! ---
**Author:** ![Netbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71e660/32.png) [@Netbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Netbrian)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142/35 "2002-09-06T05:24:59Z")
Hijack: Spoofe, where’d that come from ? I vaguely remember the black cauldron having SOMETHING like that, but my memory is horrid, and it was like, ten, twelve years ago. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142/36 "2002-09-06T05:40:31Z")
omg w4llh4x0r f4g0t n00b!!!111 ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142/37 "2002-09-06T05:42:39Z")
**W-w-what are you saying Brick…wwwhat d’ya mean…no such thing as magic?** Next he’ll be claiming there’s no Santa Claus either ! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142/38 "2002-09-06T06:27:58Z")
Actually… the third word that ends in “gry” is the magical code that unlocks everything. I thought everyone knew this. Problem is, no-one knows what the damn word is. ---
**Author:** ![Kegg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Kegg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kegg)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142/39 "2002-09-06T08:19:40Z")
If you make something idiot proof, some one will make a better idiot. 🙂 (I read it on the internet today) ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142/40 "2002-09-06T08:29:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MEBuckner \* > \*\*People, people, people… **Bricker** is a _lawyer_! It’s the lawyers who **know all the cheat codes**! Of _course_ the lawyers are going to tell you that “there are no cheat codes”–if _everyone_ knew how to use them, they wouldn’t be worth anything! \*\* That may be the most insightful and funny thing I’ve read at this very insightful and funny board. My own two cents is that there is a magic word that unlocks the justic system: Ka-ching! If you’ve got the cash to afford Johnny Cochran and Alan Dershowitz there is very little that can’t be done. Even if you have a clear motive, leave a trail of bloody evidence, and flee the police in your Bronco. Plus the elites are all connected anyway. Any rich white guy worth his rich white guy salt knows the judge he’s been appointed and if not he knows someone that knows him. Country club chums, frat brothers, bridge partners, what have you. Not that this is a sure fire get-out-of-jail free card, but even in poor situtations it can turn 10 years at Chino for embezzling $5m into 10 months at Club Fed. No rich white men were harmed in the production of this post. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-think-theres-a-secret-code-that-will-unlock-everything/127142.md?page=3)