# Fuck you USAMA **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 20, 2005, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-usama/285769 "2005-01-20T19:13:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**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:** [January 20, 2005, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-usama/285769/61 "2005-01-20T23:45:21Z")
> [@grienspace](#): > > The “Usama” spelling actually came to the fore some time after September 11, as I recall, and I doubt that anyone hear knows someone who spells their first name Usama. Are you aware of how Arabic-to-English translation works, at all? Osama and Usama are the same name. The difference comes about because Arabic isn’t written in the Roman alphabet, and transliteration differs according to both region and transliterator. They’re the same name. And you’re a :wally ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-usama/285769/62 "2005-01-20T23:46:28Z")
> [@grienspace](#): > > Now there is no doubt that **USAMA** might not be a jerk but there is a slim chance of that. My god this is an assholish thing to say. Yer acting like a total jerk. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-usama/285769/63 "2005-01-20T23:49:29Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Are you aware of how Arabic-to-English translation works, at all? > > Osama and Usama are the same name. The difference comes about because Arabic isn’t written in the Roman alphabet, and transliteration differs according to both region and transliterator. They’re the same name. > > And you’re a :wally Yu’re missing the point. Jake and Jack are the same name too. So is Henry and Hank. I know, because I had to choose between the to th anglicize my name. Ever heard of Henry Snow? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-usama/285769/64 "2005-01-20T23:49:49Z")
> [@grienspace](#): > > Oh please. Have you all given up the fight against ignorance ? No, we’re just a little preoccupied right now fighting against asshattery. Do you ever contribute anything, or are you just here to fling your feces around? Because it’s starting to stink. ---
**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:** [January 20, 2005, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-usama/285769/65 "2005-01-20T23:53:52Z")
> [@grienspace](#): > > Yu’re missing the point. Jake and Jack are the same name too. So is Henry and Hank. I know, because I had to choose between the to th anglicize my name. Ever heard of Henry Snow? No. I’ve also never heard of a Hank Snow. What does that have to do with it? You’re being very uncharitable. After all, we gave _you_ months of time to prove yourself before we decided you were an ass. And you know, just in case you’re setting up for a giant “HAHAHA! I WAS RIGHT! SEE, YOU DIMBULBS! I WAS RIGHT!” if **USAMA** does turn out to be a trolling jerk, you’ll still be wrong. Mature human beings don’t judge someone’s personality simply from their name. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-usama/285769/66 "2005-01-21T00:01:21Z")
Oh, and **grieny** , snookums, Jake and Jack are NOT the same. Jack is a nickname for John, Jake is a nickname for Jacob. (and no, John and Jacob are not derivatives of one another). ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-usama/285769/67 "2005-01-21T00:06:46Z")
> [@grienspace](#): > > Yu’re missing the point. Jake and Jack are the same name too. So is Henry and Hank. I know, because I had to choose between the to th anglicize my name. Ever heard of Henry Snow? **Guin** has already corrected you on Jake and Jack. Hank is a dimunitive of Henry, not the same. Usama and Osama are different transliterations of _ **one** _ Arabic word. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-usama/285769/68 "2005-01-21T00:09:55Z")
> [@grienspace](#): > > The name “Usama” will get you 136,000 hits on google if you specify the ommission of “bin Laden”. That is less than half the hits if you allow the name “bin Laden” to come up. > > The name Mohammed will get you 4,640,000 hits. The name “Jesus” gets you 50 million hits. The name “Philip” gets you 23 million. By this measure, we can deduce that “Jesus” is twice as popular as “Philip”. The name “Wong” gets a mere 8.3 million, and is thus merely a 6th as common as “Jesus”. Conclusion: You are a tit. (Incidentally, did you know there are 9 million people called “Bill Gates”? Astonishing.) ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-usama/285769/69 "2005-01-21T00:16:43Z")
> [@grienspace](#): > > The name “Usama” will get you 136,000 hits on google if you specify the ommission of “bin Laden”. That is less than half the hits if you allow the name “bin Laden” to come up. > > The name Mohammed will get you 4,640,000 hits. > > The name “John” will get you 266,000,000 hits. > > And Usama’s English equivalent “Leonard” will get you almost 7,000,000 hits. > > The first time I have ever heard the name “Usama” was after September 11, 2001. I had heard of “Osama” though, which will get you almost 5,000,000 hits. Of course you googled in **Arabic** and not English, right? (I know it doesn’t matter, just further proving the point that measuring by google hits does not denote information.) ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-usama/285769/70 "2005-01-21T00:17:24Z")
This is one of the absolute stupidest and just plain wrong pittings I’ve ever seen here. What if Usama is actually an intelligent and interesting guy from the Mid-East who might be able to bring to the board an interesting perspective? Maybe he was just browsing the net looking for a place to share info and fight ignorance and he found this place, seemingly a perfect match. And he has to be greeted by this fuckin’ level of ignorant intolerance??!! Prejudice based on username alone?? **Usama** , if you do happen to hang here and come upon this thread, I promise you the OP is not representative this board. ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-usama/285769/71 "2005-01-21T00:17:43Z")
> [@grienspace](#): > > Now there is no doubt that **USAMA** might not be a jerk but there is a slim chance of that. In any case it won’t take much to clear himself and I await his posting. Furthermore, has anyone had his introduction to this board heralded in such a prominent fashion as this thread? I could be jealous. You _could_ be ashamed, **grienspace** , but apparently that’s expecting too much. Since you seem oblivious, let me spell this out for you. You’re acting like a jerk. Pitting someone who hasn’t even posted yet, whom you suspect _might_ not be to your liking because of the username is unacceptable. You don’t know the slightest thing about him so your aggressive hosility is completely undeserved. Consider yourself warned. I’m closing this thread to spare the target of this ugly screed, not it’s maker. TVeblen Pit mod [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-usama/285769.md?page=3)