# elucidator **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 28, 2005, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230 "2005-10-28T00:41:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**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:** [October 29, 2005, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230/61 "2005-10-29T02:32:13Z")
Our friend from Minnesota by way of the Staked Plains hardly need my defense, but I have yet to see him (I assume him) lose his temper, hide the ball, engage in dishonest argument, resort to malicious name calling, weasel wording or nit picking. Would that I could say that about others here, myself included. Two people on these boards have engaged me personally by E-mail. **Elucidator** was one of them. Of all the people here who I’d guess would be fun to spend an evening with in the company of a couple beers our friend is close to the top of the list. Like some famous guy once said: If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230/62 "2005-10-29T02:56:06Z")
> [@Spavined Gelding](#): > > Our friend from Minnesota by way of the Staked Plains hardly need my defense, but I have yet to see him (I assume him) lose his temper, hide the ball, engage in dishonest argument, resort to malicious name calling, weasel wording or nit picking. Would that I could say that about others here, myself included. Two people on these boards have engaged me personally by E-mail. **Elucidator** was one of them. Of all the people here who I’d guess would be fun to spend an evening with in the company of a couple beers our friend is close to the top of the list. He’s all that, and damned funny, too. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230/63 "2005-10-29T03:03:22Z")
I’ll never enter my local library without thinking, as I walk by the desk… _librarian noggin_. Wouldn’t have it any other way. Thanks for the memories. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230/64 "2005-10-29T03:03:59Z")
Well, this has been a hoot! So many fulsome praises! Its like a Sally Fields moment except I don’t want to puke! > [@](#): > > “I like compliments, Heavens, we all do. Burglars, humorists, Congressmen, all of us in the trade. Why, I can live for week on a single compliment! But I was near struck speechless by this complimentary thunderbolt! Never had I heard a compliment so beautifully phrased and so richly deserved!” - Mark Twain It was also oddly instructive… > [@JohnBoyMace](#): > > …I like debating with 'luc… that is, when he’s not channeling Elsworth Toohey… I realized that I did not remember the character! And I have read every word, every graven monolith of sententious claptrap….and I have forgotten it all! I barely remember who John Galt was, but don’t remember which book! Was it _Atlas Buggered_? Or _The Fountainpen_? But my recollection of such as Kurt Vonnegut, Barbara Tuchman, Mark Twain are as clear as if I read them this morning! Hell, if I had known that the decrepitude of memory that comes with age had such beneficial aspects, I would have lived faster! I plowed through six volumes of Hermann Hesse before it occurred to me to wonder why all of his heroes had long eyelashes. As for Carlos Castaneda……well, perhaps time to pull the discreet curtain… Gone. Entirely gone. Was it Steppenwolf who sought the Yankee way of knowledge? No idea. Was it Galt who’s notion of sexual intimacy is pretty much defined by “date rape”? Poof. Gone. _no existan_ Cool. Thanks again, guys, I’ve had birthday parties that weren’t half as much fun as this. I shall endeavor not to become insufferably pleased with myself. I make no guarantees. > [@Ukele Ike](#): > > …I’m gonna make him the next Missus Ukulele… PS to **Uke** : I am in consultation with the firm of Howe, Green and Gelding regarding restraining orders. Until such is resolved, please be advised that I am armed, near-sighted, and easily startled. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230/65 "2005-10-29T03:10:16Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > PS to **Uke** : I am in consultation with the firm of Howe, Green and Gelding regarding restraining orders. Until such is resolved, please be advised that I am armed, near-sighted, and easily startled. Damn! There go the plans for your surprise unbirthday party. :mad: ---
**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:** [October 29, 2005, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230/66 "2005-10-29T03:39:57Z")
Does anyone else think it strange that the Google ad on this piece of fluff is “Meet Republican Singles?” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230/67 "2005-10-29T03:46:38Z")
Mine says “Overcome Procrastination”. Maybe tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230/68 "2005-10-29T03:55:53Z")
The OP seems to be pitting **Elucidator** for making a bad argument. **Elucidator** was basically giving the OP in the other thread **as a given** that the entire scope of allegations of oil for food were correct, and proceeding straight to questions as to its degree of relevancy. This might be a wise tactic if he feels the OP is going to try to draw generalizations outside of the scope of context of oil for food (which he appears he was.) Not necessarily a bad argument. ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Loblaw\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@Bob\_Loblaw\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Loblaw_1)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230/69 "2005-10-29T04:38:20Z")
> [@Spavined Gelding](#): > > Does anyone else think it strange that the Google ad on this piece of fluff is “Meet Republican Singles?” Is Ann Coulter looking for fresh meat again? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230/70 "2005-10-29T04:55:41Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > The OP seems to be pitting **Elucidator** for making a bad argument… > [@treis](#): > > …sick of you constantly shitting…and fucking…and scream about it…biggest hack… you and other dingbats…retarded…throwing feces everywhere… Yeah, I can definitely see the outlines of a critique of rhetorical structure. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230/71 "2005-10-29T05:35:14Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > I am in consultation with the firm of Howe, Green and Gelding regarding restraining orders. So where the hell is my retainer? ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230/72 "2005-10-29T05:40:42Z")
> [@minty green](#): > > So where the hell is my retainer? [Right here.](http://www1.plala.or.jp/suzu_a/teeth/images/retainer.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230/73 "2005-10-29T05:44:42Z")
Well, I sent it to **Dewey** , of course. He said make it out to “cash” or it wouldn’t be technicly legal. I said I didn’t understand and he said something about the “text” of my “original intent”. Or something. ---
**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:** [October 29, 2005, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230/74 "2005-10-29T06:03:26Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > I realized that I did not remember the character! And I have read every word, every graven monolith of sententious claptrap….and I have forgotten it all! I barely remember who John Galt was, but don’t remember which book! Was it _Atlas Buggered_? Or _The Fountainpen_? But my recollection of such as Kurt Vonnegut, Barbara Tuchman, Mark Twain are as clear as if I read them this morning! Toohey. Classic Toohey. It must be so internalized that you don’t you even realize it. Keep up the good work. Sooner or later there’s going to be a casting call for a remake of… what was the name of that book again? It has slipped my mind! Maybe a glass of coitreau will jog my memory. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230/75 "2005-10-29T16:57:28Z")
> [@Ukulele Ike](#): > > **Elucidator** is like **duffer** backwards, but funny. And intelligent. That would be **reffud** , ya MO-ron. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230/76 "2005-10-29T17:26:22Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > That would be **reffud** , ya MO-ron. Our very own **elucidator** is Robert Reffud? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230/77 "2005-10-29T17:47:21Z")
meh ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230/78 "2005-10-29T17:58:10Z")
> [@Spavined Gelding](#): > > Our friend from Minnesota by way of the Staked Plains hardly need my defense, but I have yet to see him (I assume him) lose his temper, hide the ball, engage in dishonest argument, resort to malicious name calling, weasel wording or nit picking. Ummm… 96% true. What I’ve seen **elucidator** do when his back is up against the rhetorical wall, rather than straightforwardly concede the argument, is go off into a rhapsody of flowery prose. This is almost certain to include the words, “Balderdash, sir!” and “Tommyrot!” I’d be happier if the guy would just concede the point when he is honestly bested – which, I admit, doesn’t happen too often, because **luc** is smart enough to know what he’s doing as far as seldom committing seriously to sinking argumentative ships. That’s not “dishonest argument,” I guess, but it’s not shining honesty either. Every poster oin this board, from left to right, would do well to read and emulate **Left Hand of Dorkness**. He may not be the tops in devastatingly funny quips, but he approaches an argument willing to forthrightly concede it if he loses. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230/79 "2005-10-29T18:05:28Z")
> [@Bob Loblaw](#): > > Is Ann Coulter looking for fresh meat again? Why did I immediately envision a praying mantis? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230/80 "2005-10-29T18:30:34Z")
Now there’s an ad promising to “Increase Iq”. :dubious: So much for all of our witty repartee. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elucidator/328230.md?page=5)