# Gas Out? Are you really that stupid? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 25, 2007, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-out-are-you-really-that-stupid/405523 "2007-05-25T18:59:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-out-are-you-really-that-stupid/405523/1 "2007-05-25T18:59:53Z")
I can’t stand people who support this idea. It’s absolutely the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard in my life. Not buying gas on a particular day driving down prices? How the fuck would that work, it only means, unless you change your consumption overall, that they would simply recoup it on the days before and after. Who, after all, buys gas ever single day? But then the worst thing is that not only do people think that A) it would actually work, but B) actually think it is unfair to have high prices. If you got a problem with a product, stop buying it. I don’t get pissed when they raise the price of cigarettes (even due to taxes) because if it were under my control, I’d stop buying them. I’m actually trying to quit. Yes, let’s have lower gas prices, god forbid I buy a car that’s actually fuel efficient! Let’s “stick it” to the oil companies! Here’s an idea, assholes, get a bike, get a hybrid, get a diesel, do something that controls your consumption. I’m sick of reading your pathetic emails that give you that warm feeling that you are somehow in control of your gas usage and that the nightmare of pricey gas is going to somehow go away. It’s sad, but for those who take the time to inform themselves about these things, it’s simply been known for a while that this was going to happen. I bought a VW TDI Jetta (50 MPG) when gas was under 2 dollars a gallon and idiots were out buying H2s and the Ford Excursion. I love seeing the look of these drivers at the pump now. Sometimes they don’t know what a TDI is, but when they do they are usually jealous. Yes that’s right, I get over 600 miles on a tank. I fill up once a month, normally. Obviously I don’t live in the US at this second, but I have been back recently and it’s all the same. So fuck you and your Gas Out, If you really felt like doing something about it you wouldn’t be so stupid as to believe in some breathless pseudo economic tale that simply shows how stupid and lazy you actually continue to be. I don’t have to worry about it, and I’d like to share that with everyone. I changed from an SUV to a compact diesel powered car because I thought it would happen sooner, actually. Oh, and a bird shit on Bush! HOORAY! Today’s theme is Schadenfreude. Don’t you hate how everyone uses that all the time now? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-out-are-you-really-that-stupid/405523/2 "2007-05-25T19:05:52Z")
[The obligatory Snopes link](http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/gasout.asp) in case you need to e-mail it to the fools. ivylass, driving a Honda Civic that averages about 35-37 mpg. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-out-are-you-really-that-stupid/405523/3 "2007-05-25T19:08:33Z")
Great rant. It’s the kind of thing that people who voted for Nader do - no fucking impact whatsoever, but they get to hold some sort of imaginary high ground. Meanwhile, the day before and the day after the gas out, stations report a spike in business. One of the more stupid ideas generated from people who generally share the same politics I do. I’m embarrassed. ---
**Author:** ![Capatalist\_Lion\_Tamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71c47a/32.png) [@Capatalist\_Lion\_Tamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capatalist_Lion_Tamer)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-out-are-you-really-that-stupid/405523/4 "2007-05-25T19:12:08Z")
[QUOTE=Hippy Hollow] Great rant. It’s the kind of thing that people who voted for Nader do - no fucking impact whatsoever, but they get to hold some sort of imaginary high ground. Meanwhile, the day before and the day after the gas out, stations report a spike in business. One of the more stupid ideas generated from people who generally share the same politics I do. I’m embarrassed. [/QUOTE] I’m not sure politics enter into it. I’ve received this from both ends of the spectrum (but mostly pubs). ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-out-are-you-really-that-stupid/405523/5 "2007-05-25T19:13:13Z")
And let’s not forget that the only ones who really feel it are Habib and Marwan who make a living on the coffee, smokes and Doritos you buy from their store when you’re getting your gas. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-out-are-you-really-that-stupid/405523/6 "2007-05-25T19:14:49Z")
CNN has got one better than that: [Fed up station owner shuts off gas pumps](http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/25/gasprice.protest.ap/index.html). Here’s why he did it: > [@](#): > > Pollack and station general manager John Schwartz agreed to experiment with a pump shutdown after an Internet-based push for a one-day gas boycott went largely unheeded last week. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-out-are-you-really-that-stupid/405523/7 "2007-05-25T19:18:58Z")
heh…just came accross that. So it’s the Habibs, Marwans & Pollacks that stand to lose from gas outs. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-out-are-you-really-that-stupid/405523/8 "2007-05-25T19:19:21Z")
Tell you what, let’s protest the high cost of bread and buy none tomorrow. _Next day, eats cake._ ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-out-are-you-really-that-stupid/405523/9 "2007-05-25T19:23:06Z")
> [@](#): > > Today’s theme is Schadenfreude. Don’t you hate how everyone uses that all the time now? For some reason, I’m always delighted when someone misuses this word and ends up looking ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-out-are-you-really-that-stupid/405523/10 "2007-05-25T19:23:27Z")
[QUOTE=Inigo Montoya] heh…just came accross that. So it’s the Habibs, Marwans & Pollacks that stand to lose from gas outs. [/QUOTE] :dubious: Did you just make a Pollack joke? How insensitive! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Gundam\_Cricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@Gundam\_Cricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundam_Cricket)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-out-are-you-really-that-stupid/405523/11 "2007-05-25T19:23:41Z")
I got one of those emails; I told them they were being unpatriotic. My response went something along the lines of this: "Since there are plenty of other nations undergoing industrialization (China, for example) in the world, any oil we do not use will simply be sold to them, instead. This will serve to increase their economy and thus their industrialization process, which ultimately will lead to even higher gas prices as we are forced to compete for even more of our share of fuel. Instead, I propose we buy as much gasoline as we can. America is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, and as such we will be able to afford higher gas prices long after other nations’ economies have collapsed under the weight of astronomical fuel expenses. Sure, we’ll be paying a lot for our gas, but we’ll be the only ones who can afford it. So this (whatever day it was) don’t participate in a gas-_out_, participate in a gas_in_; fill up you rcar, fill up your lawnmower, fill up your chainsaw… hell, fill up an extra bucket just for kicks! The more gas we use leaves less gas for other nations. Be American, buy gas." ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-out-are-you-really-that-stupid/405523/12 "2007-05-25T19:27:39Z")
Even here, in the Energy Center of the World ™, there is a remarkably large number of people who are so clueless about how markets work that they actually think this harebrained scheme would work. Like the man said, reduce consumption, on a long-term basis, and prices will come down. Not forever; you’re still using in a few decades resources that took millions of years to accumulate. But thye’ll come down for while, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-out-are-you-really-that-stupid/405523/13 "2007-05-25T19:29:49Z")
This is true, actually, especially because the guys in Europe pay hefty taxes. Seriously, the Brits probably pay about 7 dollars a gallon in gas, and these people think it’s time for economic war? Yes, the thing with China is the big reason why gas is going to get more expensive. Not only is the supply limited but it the demand isn’t declining. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-out-are-you-really-that-stupid/405523/14 "2007-05-25T19:30:32Z")
[QUOTE=Inigo Montoya] And let’s not forget that the only ones who really feel it are Habib and Marwan who make a living on the coffee, smokes and Doritos you buy from their store when you’re getting your gas. [/QUOTE] But Habib and Marwan are Ay-rab names, so they _must_ be terrorists! > [@Hippy Hollow](#): > > One of the more stupid ideas generated from people who generally share the same politics I do. I’m embarrassed. Stupid people inhabit every nook and cranny of the political spectrum, unfortunately… ---
**Author:** ![MovingTarget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@MovingTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovingTarget)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-out-are-you-really-that-stupid/405523/15 "2007-05-25T19:30:48Z")
What cracks me up are the one lady who stopped there just to buy a diet soda to show support and then complained about having to drive 100 miles a day for work…in her SUV ! ! ! And Polluck said himself he couldn’t afford to fill up at the currentt prices with his SUV ! ! ! Jeez 'O Pete people, get a clue, if you drive 100 miles a day for work, buy a smaller more efficient car. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-out-are-you-really-that-stupid/405523/16 "2007-05-25T19:45:05Z")
[QUOTE=Snipe1978] What cracks me up are the one lady who stopped there just to buy a diet soda to show support [/QUOTE] It gets better. She drove 10 miles out of her way in her SUV to get that diet soda. That’ll show those oil companies! ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-out-are-you-really-that-stupid/405523/17 "2007-05-25T20:05:31Z")
[QUOTE=Inigo Montoya] And let’s not forget that the only ones who really feel it are Habib and Marwan who make a living on the coffee, smokes and Doritos you buy from their store when you’re getting your gas. [/QUOTE] I’ve heard of a station owner in California who has been making so little on the coffee, smokes and Doritos that he jacked up his prices to $4.50 for regular. The idea being that he’ll get so few customers that the oil company he’s leasing from will buy him out. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-out-are-you-really-that-stupid/405523/18 "2007-05-25T20:28:38Z")
I didn’t think anyone bought this ‘gasout’ idea, but today at lunch I saw a Huge SUV with a sign scrawled across the back advocating for it. Wish I’d been quicker with my camera. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-out-are-you-really-that-stupid/405523/19 "2007-05-25T20:31:17Z")
I got that bullshit in a mass e-mail last week from my oldest friend in Canada. Not only that, I now get spam from one or more of his recipients who has an address book stealer trojan. I reamed him out for it, and it looks like it cost me our friendship. It’s not okay with me, but I don’t want to have any morons for friends. If that’s what he’s become, well, see ya. Or not. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-out-are-you-really-that-stupid/405523/20 "2007-05-25T20:35:24Z")
[QUOTE=Inigo Montoya] And let’s not forget that the only ones who really feel it are Habib and Marwan who make a living on the coffee, smokes and Doritos you buy from their store when you’re getting your gas. [/QUOTE] How do they benefit exactly? Do they make commissions on bags of Doritos? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-out-are-you-really-that-stupid/405523.md?page=2)