# Either tell us the whole story, or keep your mouth shut! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 26, 2006, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/either-tell-us-the-whole-story-or-keep-your-mouth-shut/366099 "2006-07-26T15:59:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/either-tell-us-the-whole-story-or-keep-your-mouth-shut/366099/1 "2006-07-26T15:59:48Z")
In the post below, taken from elsewhere on the board, someone tells an anecdote about Bill Clinton. I left them anonymous because I don’t want to pick on them specifically, but rather on the whole group of people who do similar things. > [@](#): > > I met Bill Clinton at the Democratic National Convention. So here’s how it went: > > I was in line for the book signing. There was something I wanted to ask him. But I didn’t want the Secret Service or anyone else to overhear. I made a statement and then asked a question in the context of the statement. He hesitated and answered in the affirmative. > > No, I won’t tell you or anyone the details but suffice to say, as a former President, he knows a hell of a lot more than you think. This is very annoying. What is the point of this post? It can have absolutely no significance to anyone but yourself. Either tell the whole story, or keep the whole thing to yourself. Don’t try to be so fucking cute about it. The fact that he answered yes to a question you asked is irrelevant if we don’t know the question. Your vague explanation at the end is so open-ended as to be meaningless. I don’t even know why people bother to saying things like this. It’s like second-graders taunting each other on the playground: “I know a BIG secret, but I’m not telling! Tee hee hee!” Is it some kind of pathetic power trip? They’re hoping people will start begging them to tell the rest of the story, so that they can take pleasure in saying no? Or maybe they just feel insecure and need to demonstrate their superiority, because they know something we don’t. They’re better than us, because if we were as good as them, we’d know it too! Maybe it’s basically just a thinly-veiled form of bragging. Regardless: I realize that this is usually not done consciously, but it’s still incredibly lame, childish, and annoying. If you’re one of the people who does this, please stop it. Now. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/either-tell-us-the-whole-story-or-keep-your-mouth-shut/366099/2 "2006-07-26T16:09:06Z")
I propose we spend the rest of the thread trying to guess what it was he asked, since that’s what he obviously wants us to do. _“Your Clinton Presidential Library looks just like a mobile home. Don’t you think so, too?”_ ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/either-tell-us-the-whole-story-or-keep-your-mouth-shut/366099/3 "2006-07-26T16:11:19Z")
“Did she use her teeth?” ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/either-tell-us-the-whole-story-or-keep-your-mouth-shut/366099/4 "2006-07-26T16:14:44Z")
“Do you still have the cigar?” ---
**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:** [July 26, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/either-tell-us-the-whole-story-or-keep-your-mouth-shut/366099/5 "2006-07-26T16:22:37Z")
Of all the chicks going in and out of the WH, **why Monica**??? ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/either-tell-us-the-whole-story-or-keep-your-mouth-shut/366099/6 "2006-07-26T16:26:36Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Of all the chicks going in and out of the WH, **why Monica**??? [/QUOTE] “Yes.” Yeah, I could see that. ---
**Author:** ![rayh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@rayh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayh)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/either-tell-us-the-whole-story-or-keep-your-mouth-shut/366099/7 "2006-07-26T16:31:56Z")
“In a few years time I am going to post this anecdote on an internet message board, but not tell anybody the question I am going to ask you. Am I a dick?” ---
**Author:** ![Faruiza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@Faruiza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faruiza)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/either-tell-us-the-whole-story-or-keep-your-mouth-shut/366099/8 "2006-07-26T16:32:19Z")
Preach it, **Absolute**. This sort of thing drives me batshit insane. I remarked that I thought he ought to be banned for that behavior, but I had to do it with a wink smiley because of the venue, so now I can take back that smiley and tell him to go fuck himself. That kind of crap isn’t cute. It’s annoying. And you’re eventually going to HAVE to go fuck yourself, because nobody else will have you. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/either-tell-us-the-whole-story-or-keep-your-mouth-shut/366099/9 "2006-07-26T16:36:49Z")
“Did she make that little moaning noise she used to make in high school when I taught her how to do that?” ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/either-tell-us-the-whole-story-or-keep-your-mouth-shut/366099/10 "2006-07-26T16:39:16Z")
“Does Hillary swallow for you, like she did for me?” ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/either-tell-us-the-whole-story-or-keep-your-mouth-shut/366099/11 "2006-07-26T16:40:25Z")
“So Bill, level with me…ever try to talk a Secret Service agent into ‘accidentally’ putting a cap in Hillary?” ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/either-tell-us-the-whole-story-or-keep-your-mouth-shut/366099/12 "2006-07-26T16:47:06Z")
“Is GW really as stupid as he seems?” ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/either-tell-us-the-whole-story-or-keep-your-mouth-shut/366099/13 "2006-07-26T16:52:48Z")
Big Macs really are better than Whoppers, aren’t they? ---
**Author:** ![auntie\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/either-tell-us-the-whole-story-or-keep-your-mouth-shut/366099/14 "2006-07-26T16:54:53Z")
[QUOTE=Absolute] I realize that this is usually not done consciously, but it’s still incredibly lame, childish, and annoying. If you’re one of the people who does this, please stop it. Now. [/QUOTE] Now, see, you’re more charitable than I am; I pretty much assume the kind of people who do this _are_ doing it consciously, for one or more of the reasons you posited (most often the “pathetic power trip” one). My solution (which has taken years of practice) is not to give 'em the satisfaction of my curiosity. I usually just say, "Really? Hmmm . . . " in a blow-off (no pun intended, given the context of this thread ;)) tone and change the subject. So you’re probably more mature than I am, too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/either-tell-us-the-whole-story-or-keep-your-mouth-shut/366099/15 "2006-07-26T16:55:24Z")
“Did you know your barn door is open?” ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/either-tell-us-the-whole-story-or-keep-your-mouth-shut/366099/16 "2006-07-26T16:57:10Z")
[QUOTE=Biggirl] Big Macs really are better than Whoppers, aren’t they? [/QUOTE] I don’t think this was the question - the answer was “yes.” ---
**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:** [July 26, 2006, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/either-tell-us-the-whole-story-or-keep-your-mouth-shut/366099/17 "2006-07-26T16:57:27Z")
“Come on Bill, you really did inhale, didn’t you?” ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/either-tell-us-the-whole-story-or-keep-your-mouth-shut/366099/18 "2006-07-26T17:00:58Z")
“Would you do Laura?” ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/either-tell-us-the-whole-story-or-keep-your-mouth-shut/366099/19 "2006-07-26T17:20:26Z")
[QUOTE=Beware of Doug] “Would you do Laura?” [/QUOTE] Too obvious. She’s female and not Hillary. Of course the answer is “Yes”. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/either-tell-us-the-whole-story-or-keep-your-mouth-shut/366099/20 "2006-07-26T17:33:36Z")
I hate people who don’t tell the whole story. For instance, people who tell us about a person who broke an Internet pet peeve and then not telling us who it was 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/either-tell-us-the-whole-story-or-keep-your-mouth-shut/366099.md?page=2)