# Fargo! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 14, 2002, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo/109082 "2002-05-14T20:56:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo/109082/41 "2002-05-17T01:57:49Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by BobT_ > > Minnesotans have told me that Gopher Hockey is a BIG deal. Of course, if you’re in Duluth or St. Cloud it’s **beating** the Gophers that’s a big deal. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo/109082/42 "2002-05-17T02:27:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\*As to why he embezzled $350,000 in the first place, Jerry thought (or rationalized) he was doing it for his family and that it would all work out in the end. As it happens, I know people like that. They’re not “bad”; they just don’t think things through and end up getting themselves in trouble. They’re always looking for the “big score”, but are uninterested in working themselves up gradually. \*\* I had this conversation with some friends once who couldn’t understand why Jerry embezzled $350,000. But he didn’t, you see; he embezzled $18,000, and then $20,000, and then $17,500… if you’re lacking some ethics and want a bigger house, a nice porch, a newer car, or to take Scotty to Disneyland, you can eat up $350,000 over a number of years quite easily. Jerry Lundgaard isn’t a BAD or EVIL man, see; he’s cowardly and unethical. He’ll lie and deceive to get some more money or avoid responsibility for his own screwups, but he’s not evil. Which is what makes the movie so interesting; Jerry causes everything not by being a homicidal maniac or a mad scientist, but by being unethical, cowardly, and dishonest. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo/109082/43 "2002-05-17T13:29:14Z")
[quote] I had this conversation with some friends once who couldn’t understand why Jerry embezzled $350,000. But he didn’t, you see; he embezzled $18,000, and then $20,000, and then $17,500… if you’re lacking some ethics and want a bigger house, a nice porch, a newer car, or to take Scotty to Disneyland, you can eat up $350,000 over a number of years quite easily. [quote] That’s the point I was trying to make. The second half of my paragraph is seperate from the first. When I said “big score” I was talking about generalities – not $350K specifically. Your post explained what I was trying to say better tham mine did. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo/109082/44 "2002-05-17T13:30:27Z")
There should be a “posting without coffee” smiley. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Sexchange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@Dr.Sexchange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Sexchange)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo/109082/45 "2002-05-17T16:52:59Z")
He might have used all the money for the family and whatnot, but it could also be that he bought whores. There was a good bit of whores in the movie, and the small part where we actually see Macy and his wife together, he doesn’t really seem all that happy, plus the fact that he’s willing to have her kidnapped to get some money. Anyway, it’s quite possible I’m wrong but it definitely seems like a possibility. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo/109082.md?page=2)