# Don't experiment on rental cars **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 10, 2010, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391 "2010-01-10T14:37:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Mr.Krebbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@Mr.Krebbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Krebbs)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391/101 "2010-01-13T05:01:24Z")
I hate posting twice in a row also, but since **Rumor\_Watkins** is a fucking moron who is hell-bent on arguing semantics with me, I believe the circumstances warrant it. Therefore, I think to preempt his fucking idiocy I should include some definitions of “injured:” [From dictionary.com:](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/injured) > [@](#): > > –verb (used with object), -jured, -jur⋅ing. > > 1. to do or cause harm of any kind to; damage; hurt; impair: to injure one’s hand. > 2. to do wrong or injustice to. > 3. to wound or offend: to injure a friend’s feelings. See definition two. [From Merriam-Webster:](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/injured) > [@](#): > > Main Entry: in·jure > Pronunciation: \ˈin-jər > Function: transitive verb > Inflected Form(s): in·jured; in·jur·ing \ˈinj-riŋ, ˈin-jə- > Etymology: Middle English enjuren, from Anglo-French \*enjurer, from Late Latin injuriare, from Latin injuria injury > Date: 15th century > > 1 a : to do an injustice to : wrong b : to harm, impair, or tarnish the standing of \ c : to give pain to \ > 2 a : to inflict bodily hurt on b : to impair the soundness of \ c : to inflict material damage or loss on See two c. Like I said, I hate to do things like this, but arguing with a fucking moron is an exercise in frustration and it would be nice to reduce said frustration. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391/102 "2010-01-13T05:04:51Z")
> [@Mr.Krebbs](#): > > Yeah, a dictionary with a history stretching back to 1806 (303 years, plus a handful of months: I explain this because I know subtraction is beyond your capabilities) would qualify as a piece of shit, you fucking moron. It’s a piece of shit dictionary for defining legal terms, as the definition you pulled out more than adequately demonstraates > [@](#): > > Read part b, you fucking moron. “penalty” is different from “restitution” but I wouldn’t expect you to grasp this. > [@](#): > > Tiger Woods is an exceptional individual and a small rental car business is probably exceptional, too - auto dealerships sometimes rent cars in Spokane, WA ( I choose this example because it is the nearest “large” city to me) and the rest that I know of are based in the airport, companies doing business on a national - if not international - scale. But breaking Tiger Woods’ shit is less okay than breaking Microsoft’s shit, IMHO. But what about breaking mom-and-pop store’s shit? shit, you’re even backpedaling on your most recent post. > [@](#): > > Regardless, sometimes it is okay to use generalizations; a generalization does not apply to exceptional cases by definition, you fucking moron. There are many small businesses and many people whose individual net worths exceed that of these business or their owners. This is hardly “exceptional” > [@](#): > > Although I didn’t bother with quotation marks, why do you think I used that phrase? Do you realize that you are fucking moron? so it’s not “milking the system” to you to pull of this rental car operation? pray tell, what is it then? ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391/103 "2010-01-13T05:07:18Z")
> [@Mr.Krebbs](#): > > Like I said, I hate to do things like this, but arguing with a fucking moron is an exercise in frustration and it would be nice to reduce said frustration. If you thought my qualm was with the “injured” part then you are the fucking moron. But let’s have some fun. We’ll even use Noah’s dictionary, since you apparently like to suck his dick: > [@](#): > > Legal Dictionary > > Main Entry: pen·al·ty > Pronunciation: 'pen-&l-tE > Function: noun > Inflected Form: plural -ties > 1 : a punishment that is imposed on a wrongdoer by statute or judicial decision > 2 : a pecuniary sum that by agreement is to be paid by a party who fails to fulfill an obligation to another and that is punitive rather than compensatory penalty and determined actual damages instead\> > Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc. > Cite This Source ---
**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:** [January 13, 2010, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391/104 "2010-01-13T05:18:32Z")
> [@Mr.Krebbs](#): > > I intended to post “had;” I blame Pabst Blue Ribbon. Did you buy it, or was it “shrinkage?” ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Krebbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@Mr.Krebbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Krebbs)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391/105 "2010-01-13T05:26:03Z")
> [@Mr.Krebbs](#): > > Yeah, a dictionary with a history stretching back to 1806 (303 years, plus a handful of months: I explain this because I know subtraction is beyond your capabilities)[.] Evidently, subtraction or typing is beyond my capabilities :smack: [QUOTE=Rumor\_Watkins] “penalty” is different from “restitution” but I wouldn’t expect you to grasp this. [/quote] > [@](#): > > But let’s have some fun. We’ll even use Noah’s dictionary, since you apparently like to suck his dick: > [quote goes on to a link to Webster’s legal dictionary] How many times do I have to tell you that I was never making a legal distinction until that concept penetrates your exceptionally thick skull? Just give me the number; I can do it in one post and get it over with. > [@](#): > > If you thought my qualm was with the “injured” part then you are the fucking moron. As I said, you are hell-bent on arguing semantics. Because “injured” has multiple applications (as I’m sure you don’t know - despite multiple examples quoted from dictionaries in this thread - this applies to most words in the English language), I’m sure you would have gotten around to intentionally mistaking its definition sooner or later. > [@](#): > > There are many small businesses and many people whose individual net worths exceed that of these business or their owners. This is hardly “exceptional” Sure, but why don’t you go ahead and name a “mom and pop” car rental company, since that would be the only sort of company germane to this discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391/106 "2010-01-13T05:34:15Z")
> [@Mr.Krebbs](#): > > How many times would you like me to tell you that I was never making a legal distinction until that concept penetrates your exceptionally thick skull? Just give me the number; I can do it in one post and get it over with. but you’re posting about legal concepts and inquiring about lawsuits. so just admit you misused a word and move along. > [@](#): > > As I said, you are hell-bent on arguing semantics. Because “injured” has multiple applications (as I’m sure you don’t know - despite multiple examples quoted from dictionaries in this thread - this applies to most words in the English language), I’m sure you would have gotten around to intentionally mistaking its definition sooner or later. i think you’re going to need a bicycle pump soon, as well. perhaps you should go liberate one from a bike shop with some system milking. > [@](#): > > Sure, but why don’t you go ahead and name a “mom and pop” car rental company, since that is the only one germane to this discussion. [http://vipcarrentalhawaii.com/](http://vipcarrentalhawaii.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Krebbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@Mr.Krebbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Krebbs)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391/107 "2010-01-13T05:43:27Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > so it’s not “milking the system” to you to pull of this rental car operation? pray tell, what is it then? Milking the system is a fine definition for experimenting on a rental car by my standards, you are the fucking moron who originally disputed it. > [@](#): > > but you’re posting about legal concepts and inquiring about lawsuits. so just admit you misused a word and move along. “But, but, but…” Now you’re backpedaling. You don’t get to claim that every word anyone chooses to aptly describe a situation (legal or otherwise) is wrong just because you were unaware of one of the many definitions of the word. It was a fair description: you’re just a pedantic, albeit a very poor one. > [@](#): > > [http://vipcarrentalhawaii.com/](http://vipcarrentalhawaii.com/) Fair enough, ripping those people off would be less morally gray than ripping off Enterprise or Budget in my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391/108 "2010-01-13T05:48:56Z")
> [@Mr.Krebbs](#): > > “But, but, but…” Now you’re backpedaling. You don’t get to claim that every word anyone chooses to aptly describe a situation (legal or otherwise) is wrong just because you were unaware of one of the many definitions of the word “fine.” It was a fair description: you’re just a pedantic, albeit a very poor one. except that “fine” doesn’t aptly or fairly describe the situation. at all. which is the entire fucking point if you could actually understand English. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Krebbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@Mr.Krebbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Krebbs)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391/109 "2010-01-13T05:53:08Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > except that “fine” doesn’t aptly or fairly describe the situation. at all. which is the entire fucking point if you could actually understand English. Good god. Legal definitions are not the only definitions for words, nor is it necessary to use only legal definitions to describe legal situations, especially if one is not a lawyer. To dispute that is to argue semantics in addition to being pedantry. You’re the only one who didn’t grasp my meaning originally, because you were being intentionally dense. But intentional denseness seems to be your M.O., so I guess I’ll stop being irritated by it for the sake of my sanity. I’m going to work now, I’ll just have to wait to see what other idiocy you can come up with. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391/110 "2010-01-13T05:56:23Z")
> [@mr. Krebbs](#): > > good god. Legal definitions are not the only definitions for words, nor is it necessary to use only legal definitions to describe legal situations, especially if one is not a lawyer. To dispute that is to argue semantics in addition to being pedantry. You’re the only one who didn’t grasp my meaning originally, because you were being intentionally dense. > > But intentional denseness seems to be your m.o., so i guess i’ll stop being irritated by it for the sake of my sanity. > > I’m going to work now, i’ll just have to wait to see what other idiocy you can come up with. do you not understand that paying for the damage done to an automobile is not a fucking penalty you ignorant shithead? ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391/111 "2010-01-13T06:12:34Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Heck, when it comes to inviting personal attacks, you’ve opened the door more often than Jim Morrison’s proctologist. Very clever, but you’ll notice I’m not the one commenting on other people being “mean”. That’s because I don’t give a shit about mean people, because if you get all butthurt over a message board, you’re a drama queen, you’re probably sub-par intellectually, and you’re kind of a pussy. Getting butthurt over someone being mean to someone _else_ on the board is like the first category, except quadruple. So, why don’t we just leave it at you, masturbating to a poorly written Worf/Scotty crossover fanfic? I will take the punishment of having that image burned into my soul, but you will forever be marked with the stigma of tard-dom. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2010, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391/112 "2010-01-13T06:31:57Z")
> [@ivn1188](#): > > So, why don’t we just leave it at you, masturbating to a poorly written Worf/Scotty crossover fanfic? The trouble with your attempts at derision is that you’re too lazy and too stupid to do even basic research, make an attempt at originality, or tailor the line to your audience. If you want to to know what my long-ago-written fanfics were about, you could just ask me, but even then, nobody would get your attempt at a joke because nobody here cares about my fanfics (and I have no reason to care or be impressed by you referencing then _again_ like the most pathetic stalker-wannabe in history), but quite a few know who Jim Morrison was. Consider this your education for today. ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391/113 "2010-01-13T07:12:26Z")
Ohhhh! Now it all makes sense! _You_ post to gain the approval of other people (a/k/a the SDMB “community”). Your mistake is assuming that I am also in serious need of attention from “peers”, most of whom I have never met but feel closer to than the actual factual people in my life because my physical appearance and inability to stop myself from blurting out factoids about the terribly underappreciated Star Trek Voyager drives normal people away. Unfortunately, your assumption is sadly mistaken. I do not crave the attention of the faceless masses. I do, however, vastly enjoy pointing and snickering at you. Your futile attempts at crushing repartee have a certain _Je ne sais quoi_, a certain charming _naïveté_, that for a short time entertains me before I am reminded that this is the state in which you live your lamentable little excuse for an existence and I am saddened once more. Thank you for your attention to my educational state, but I am afraid that at this point, it is more than clear that you should redirect that solicitousness toward enrolling at your local trade school and taking up the learning you need to move out of your parents’ basement and into the career of your dreams. ETA: You do realize, that, like the candyman, never once have I responded to one of your posts without you having first uttered my name like a magic spell? This fact, while not terribly shocking, given that you are dull, nevertheless points out the amusing irony of _you_ calling _me_ a stalker. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2010, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391/114 "2010-01-13T07:33:42Z")
> [@ivn1188](#): > > Ohhhh! Now it all makes sense! > > _You_ post to gain the approval of other people (a/k/a the SDMB “community”). Well, I consider it a honing of my art, actually. > [@](#): > > Your mistake is assuming that I am also in serious need of attention from “peers” Of course you do, to some extent, or you wouldn’t be here at all. Even the most blatant and slug-brained of trolls are seeking a reaction. If they didn’t care, they wouldn’t bother. You obviously need _my_ approval to some degree, even as I amuse myself (and possibly others) by heaping scorn on you. > [@](#): > > my physical appearance What does your physical appearance matter? > [@](#): > > and inability to stop myself from blurting out factoids about the terribly underappreciated Star Trek Voyager drives normal people away. I’m not sure it’s _possible_ to under-appreciate _Voyager_. That show had serious thematic and dramatic problems. > [@](#): > > Unfortunately, your assumption is sadly mistaken. I do not crave the attention of the faceless masses. I do, however, vastly enjoy pointing and snickering at you. Your efforts are weak. Frankly, if you could show originality and wit, even (and perhaps especially) if it was at my expense, I’d be cheering you on. As it is, you just retread whatever fragments you’ve gathered over your time here in hopes that finally, maybe, they might inflict some harm. I know you haven’t read my fanfics, so what relevance does your opinion of them have? > [@](#): > > Your futile attempts at crushing repartee have a certain _Je ne sais quoi_, a certain charming _naïveté_, that for a short time entertains me before I am reminded that this is the state in which you live your lamentable little excuse for an existence and I am saddened once more. I also know you’re not more intelligent than I am, so that’s as empty as attempted digs at my fanfics, which you haven’t read. > [@](#): > > Thank you for your attention to my educational state, but I am afraid that at this point, it is more than clear that you should redirect that solicitousness toward enrolling at your local trade school and taking up the learning you need to move out of your parents’ basement and into the career of your dreams. You don’t know anything about my life or living arrangements or my education _or_ my fanfics. Your comments mean nothing. And they’re not even original - parents’ basement, and such. No effort, no wit, no style. > [@](#): > > ETA: You do realize, that, like the candyman, never once have I responded to one of your posts without you having first uttered my name like a magic spell? This fact, while not terribly shocking, given that you are dull, nevertheless points out the amusing irony of _you_ calling _me_ a stalker. Did I call you stalker? Ever? I don’t recall. I’m okay with calling you an idiot, though, whenever I chance upon a post of yours that reinforces how much of an idiot you are, and it’s in the Pit, since that is the place for it. Outside the Pit, I’ll just elliptically imply that you are an idiot, and I can do that because I am clever. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391/115 "2010-01-13T07:37:42Z")
> [@Electronic\_Chaos](#): > > Only if you work for the Mythbusters. Harumph! Some of us were busting myths with other people’s cars years before those guys. It was 35’, and neither my company nor the lessor have existed for ages. ETA: Yeah, that was a pointless attempt to get the thread back on track. No right-thinking person gives a shit about trash talking when actual automotive destruction is the topic. ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391/116 "2010-01-13T07:39:53Z")
^^^^^ The Victor Line-by-line quoted rebuttal FTL! ---
**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:** [January 13, 2010, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391/117 "2010-01-13T07:50:19Z")
Just for laughs, I searched my posting history for “stalker” and I’ve never used that word in relation to ivn. I suppose I could’ve used some kind of variant, but by Occam’s Razor, it’s more likely that he’s just fulla shit. ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391/118 "2010-01-13T07:54:47Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > … like the most pathetic stalker-wannabe in history Pwnt. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2010, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391/119 "2010-01-13T08:00:02Z")
_Wizard of Oz_ is on, and the scene that really bugs me is coming up. The Munchkins agree to escort Dorothy to the border of Munchkinland, and Dorothy begins along the yellow-brick road, which starts as a spiral in the center of Munchkinland. As the Munchkins sing “Follow the yellow brick road / You’re off to see the Wizard”, they follow Dorothy for a bit, but then stop and wave goodbye to her, while the beginning of the road is still visible, a mere fifty feet back! What the hell kinda useless escort is this? Then again, to Munchkins, fifty feet might be a marathon. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2010, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391/120 "2010-01-13T08:02:00Z")
A stalker-wannabe doesn’t count as a stalker. He’s the guy that failed the entrance exam to stalker-school. Interesting, though, that the search didn’t pick up on that. I guess I wasn’t thinking “stalker” when I wrote it - the emphasis is clearly on “wannabe”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-experiment-on-rental-cars/524391.md?page=7)