# Gozer: "Are you a god?" Why the question? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 4, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gozer-are-you-a-god-why-the-question/617836 "2012-04-04T17:46:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gozer-are-you-a-god-why-the-question/617836/1 "2012-04-04T17:46:35Z")
We all know what the appropriate response is, but why did she ask in the first place? What’s your best WAG? Was Gozer being cautious after being summoned into a new world? Is Gozer weak sauce compared to other gods? After all, her lighting attack left four mortals unscathed. Also, I found out today that Ron Jeremy [was an extra](http://deadlymovies.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/ron-jeremy-ghostbusters-copy.jpg) in Ghostbusters. He’s in the crowd by the Ectomobile. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gozer-are-you-a-god-why-the-question/617836/2 "2012-04-04T17:52:50Z")
Professional courtesy, among other things. Wouldn’t want to attempt to incinerate a fellow deity. Bad form, you know. That and the fact that Gozer got spanked by Tiamat back in the day and has reason to be cautious in this dimension. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gozer-are-you-a-god-why-the-question/617836/3 "2012-04-04T17:56:52Z")
Because it was the set-up for a good joke. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gozer-are-you-a-god-why-the-question/617836/4 "2012-04-04T18:04:29Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > We all know what the appropriate response is, but why did she ask in the first place? What’s your best WAG? Was Gozer being cautious after being summoned into a new world? Is Gozer weak sauce compared to other gods? Weak sauce? \*\*WEAK SAUCE?!? \*\* Say that to those who lived during the third reconciliation of the last of the McKetrick supplicants. Many Shuvs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Slor that day, I can tell you! ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gozer-are-you-a-god-why-the-question/617836/5 "2012-04-04T18:05:31Z")
Gozer wanted to know if he was dealing with a near equal he’d have to negotiate with, bow to, challenge, or ally with; or a mortal worshiper/sacrifice he could do with as he liked. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gozer-are-you-a-god-why-the-question/617836/6 "2012-04-04T18:11:19Z")
Gozer’s been out of the loop and has returned to four individuals who have been (unknowingly) working against his/her return. Probably best to find out what you’re dealing with. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gozer-are-you-a-god-why-the-question/617836/7 "2012-04-04T18:14:57Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > Weak sauce? \*\*WEAK SAUCE?!? \*\* > > Say that to those who lived during the third reconciliation of the last of the McKetrick supplicants. Many Shuvs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Slor that day, I can tell you! Way to show that prehistoric bitch how we do things downtown! ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gozer-are-you-a-god-why-the-question/617836/8 "2012-04-04T18:23:39Z")
I thought the question was largely rhetorical, as in, “Says who?” or “Make me!” I would think that one of the benefits of god-hood would be the ability to discern other gods, demigods, and perhaps even avatars; I think that that falls neatly under the “omniscient” trait of gods, which I think is one of the prerequisites of god-hood. So IMO the question wasn’t for informational purposes, but for a bit of drama, which your old-timey gods were really into in a way that our modern deities are simply lacking. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gozer-are-you-a-god-why-the-question/617836/9 "2012-04-04T18:46:50Z")
There’s a very slim chance we will all survive this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gozer-are-you-a-god-why-the-question/617836/10 "2012-04-04T18:47:03Z")
He/she/it was just being a smarty-assed Babylonian Eldritch Horror. Pay it no mind. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gozer-are-you-a-god-why-the-question/617836/11 "2012-04-04T18:47:52Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > I think that that falls neatly under the “omniscient” trait of gods, which I think is one of the prerequisites of god-hood. Very, _very_ few gods are omniscient. The Abrahamic God, sure, it’s one of His defining points. Odin, arguably, but it’s not an inherent trait - he gave up an eye for wisdom and has a pair of ravens that can find out whatever he needs to know. Besides those two, I can think of none. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gozer-are-you-a-god-why-the-question/617836/12 "2012-04-04T18:54:07Z")
If all deities were omniscient, mythology would be really boring since much of it is gods pulling hijinks on other gods and the results. ---
**Author:** ![LaurenIpsum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@LaurenIpsum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LaurenIpsum)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gozer-are-you-a-god-why-the-question/617836/13 "2012-04-04T19:38:42Z")
Maybe it was more of a rhetorical question: “Are you a god? No? Didn’t think so. And here’s what I’ll do to you.” ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gozer-are-you-a-god-why-the-question/617836/14 "2012-04-04T19:43:04Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > Because it was the set-up for a good joke. Obvious answer ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gozer-are-you-a-god-why-the-question/617836/15 "2012-04-04T20:02:52Z")
Heh. After all these years I assumed the question was asked because Gozer wanted to make sure she/he/it wasn’t treading in/on some other god’s territory. I never considered the “unless you’re a god, STFU” approach to Ray’s demands. (As a duly designated representative of the city, county, and state, you know.) ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gozer-are-you-a-god-why-the-question/617836/16 "2012-04-04T20:19:00Z")
Yeah, I always took it more as “Who do you think you are to challenge me, a god?” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gozer-are-you-a-god-why-the-question/617836/17 "2012-04-04T20:32:15Z")
Of course, a deity probably isn’t used to getting that kind of lip from a mere mortal, either. And e’d been out of touch for a few millennia, anyway-- Maybe this uppity little pipsqueak _is_ a new god, better ask to be sure. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gozer-are-you-a-god-why-the-question/617836/18 "2012-04-04T20:39:50Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Obvious answer Correct answer. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gozer-are-you-a-god-why-the-question/617836/19 "2012-04-04T23:18:18Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > Correct answer. I’m interested on the wild ass guesses that are IN universe. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gozer-are-you-a-god-why-the-question/617836/20 "2012-04-05T02:10:01Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > I’m interested on the wild ass guesses that are IN universe. This Ghostbusters. That IS the in-universe answer. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gozer-are-you-a-god-why-the-question/617836.md?page=2)