# Hey Der Trihs, over here **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 15, 2008, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926 "2008-11-15T23:48:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926/401 "2008-11-18T06:59:08Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Oh, but it’s OK according to you if these people are parted from their money by these so-called psychics… because of the fine print saying its “for entertainment purposes only”. That makes it OK. I’m sure the victims are “entertained”. It’s no different than watching a movie or buying tickets for a concert. I’d rather be entertained by a skilled cold-reading psychic than sit through a bad summer blockbuster. Millions of other people feel exactly the same way. You really think James Randi’s made any progress against the psychic industry? Not a single dent. All he’s managed to do is spread mockery and lies, which are really only believed by Randifans who share the same cowardly desire for humiliating easy targets. That counts as ignorance increased, not ignorance fought. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926/402 "2008-11-18T07:02:22Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > That’s it? Well, paint my face red…that sure puts Mother Theresa to shame. :rolleyes: My left testicle puts her to shame. That cunt. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926/403 "2008-11-18T07:24:14Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > … people WANT to believe in this stuff! People WANT to believe that there’s some underlying order in what appears to be a random, chaotic universe. … People will _always_ believe the comfortable lie over the hard, cold truth – it’s part of being human, not ignorant. … I think ya just might be onto something here. Now if you could only apply it to your own life and realize that you too believe the comfortable lie over the hard, cold truth you might get somewhere. CMC +fnord! ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926/404 "2008-11-18T07:40:31Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > Look – do you even understand WHY psychics & fortune tellers still exist, and why they’re so successful? Because people WANT to believe in this stuff! People WANT to believe that there’s some underlying order in what appears to be a random, chaotic universe. That’s why ALL religions exist, and the people who believe them don’t mind paying a few bucks for someone to tell them exactly what they want to here. People will _always_ believe the comfortable lie over the hard, cold truth – it’s part of being human, not ignorant. For someone who [professed](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10455778&postcount=195)that they have difficulty understanding the skill of how other people can disbelieve or believe something as a protective mechanism,(I believe the quote was _“When in discomfort, humans have the ability to deceive themselves to make them feel better.”_ ), you’ve pretty much shown great insight into it right here. I can has aura now? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926/405 "2008-11-18T07:58:03Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Now if you could only apply it to your own life and realize that you too believe the comfortable lie over the hard, cold truth you might get somewhere. Actually, I prefer the hard cold truth. I like cold, cold makes me feel powerful. It’s lonely here, though. Come, eschew the comfortable lie and be one with my darkness… …oh, fuck this. I can’t write vampire fiction and carry on a Pit Thread at the same time. :rolleyes: Good night, everyone. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926/406 "2008-11-18T08:15:23Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > [Educational scholarships.](http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/jref-scholarships.html) Is that where you got your GED, Google boy? ---
**Author:** ![grey\_ideas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@grey\_ideas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grey_ideas)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926/407 "2008-11-18T08:50:51Z")
> [@leander](#): > > Is that where you got your GED, Google boy? Geez **leander** , that’s [two threads](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=492985) I’ve read today where you’re having a shot at QED…what’s pissed you off this morning? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926/408 "2008-11-18T11:20:08Z")
Try [six](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php?do=finduser). I think someone has a little crush… ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926/409 "2008-11-18T11:20:56Z")
_superfluous simulpost deleted_ ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926/410 "2008-11-18T11:24:36Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Try [six](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php?do=finduser). I think someone has a little crush… Holy crap, what a loser. ---
**Author:** ![grey\_ideas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@grey\_ideas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grey_ideas)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926/411 "2008-11-18T11:34:24Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Try [six](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php?do=finduser). I think someone has a little crush… Sweet Zombie Jesus! Sod having a bee in your bonnet about something, he’s got a whole nest of the damn things in there. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926/412 "2008-11-18T13:15:08Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > If I may plagiarize and modify a quote by Samuel Clemens: > > “A couple of years ago I thought Der Trihs was an idiot. I can’t believe how much I’ve learned in two years.” > > Well done DT. **Der Trihs** is still an idiot, and so are you if you think otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926/413 "2008-11-18T13:27:26Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > It’s no different than watching a movie or buying tickets for a concert. I’d have to say, you’re totally wrong here. There are people who go to psychics for comfort from their grief, for real communication with the spirit world. They are not going for entertainment. And maybe it’s their fault for being naive, or wrongheadedly hopeful, but I can’t help but be disgusted by anyone who makes a profit from the suffering of other people by means of lies and manipulation. > [@](#): > > Millions of other people feel exactly the same way. Millions of people also feel that psychics are a bunch of con men who deserve to be publicly humiliated for their deceptions. > [@](#): > > You really think James Randi’s made any progress against the psychic industry? Not a single dent. All he’s managed to do is spread mockery and lies, which are really only believed by Randifans who share the same cowardly desire for humiliating easy targets. That counts as ignorance increased, not ignorance fought. I do think he’s made progress, actually. And I don’t see how HE is spreading mockery and lies, but fake psychics making money off people’s grief are NOT making a mockery and spreading lies. At least Randi is after truth, and is not profiting from the deliberate deception of others. You have some really fucked up standards. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926/414 "2008-11-18T13:34:59Z")
> [@Lord\_Ashtar](#): > > **Der Trihs** is still an idiot, and so are you if you think otherwise. Well, yes, if by “idiot” you mean “person with whom \*\*Lord Ashtar \*\*disagrees.” But by that standard, I guess I’m an idiot as well. Awful lot of idiots around here, though. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926/415 "2008-11-18T13:42:52Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > Exploitation is the basis of capitalism… No, it isn’t. Giving people what they want in exchange for them giving you what you want is the basis of capitalism. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926/416 "2008-11-18T14:44:34Z")
Wow. Just… wow. You know, before this, I had a sad but unrelenting dislike of **Der Trihs**. Sad because in so many other ways, he and I would probably get along fine. But unrelenting because he has crossed a line with me that I can’t forgive without some meeting halfway on his part, which is not going to be coming any time soon. I had decided that if I went to a Dopefest where he was present, I would leave. I do not trust myself in his physical presence. But now, based on this thread and his activities, I will make an effort to shake his hand and say “Well done on that **KGS** thing.” first. Then I will leave. ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926/417 "2008-11-18T14:49:42Z")
I know I’ve been pretty much just threadshitting here, but since a) it’s the Pit and b) this thread already reeks of hippopotamus diarrhea, I just can’t bring myself to feel any remorse. Any person who: - thinks James Randi is a scam artist who is bilking people out of money and fooling them into making themselves look like fucktards AND - thinks that psychics and “seers” and aura-readers and people who conduct seances are “just honest people trying to make a buck” … is obviously so disconnected from reality and logic that no amount of blah blah wah wah pew pew wharrgarbl is ever going to make a dent. Anyone who DOESN’T think **KGS** is mock-worthy - and who isn’t a psychiatric professional - is so open-minded that, indeed, their brains have fallen out and been replaced with wood shavings and a funky smell. I don’t know why, but this thread is like a buffalo carcass to me. A buffalo carcass in clown shoes. It’s disgusting, stinky, actively revolting, and yet totally fucking hilarious and impossible not to stop, point, laugh, and gag in horror at. Ending in a preposition FTW. At. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926/418 "2008-11-18T15:13:29Z")
Yeah, he had a chance, maybe a small one, but he blew it. There’s no point in trying to talk to him, he’s just not listening. He’s living in his own little world where he thinks he can see auras and magic pixies and who knows what else. I’m done with being nice, this is The Pit. **KGS** , it’s tough to believe you beat out a million other sperm. I mean really, all the crap you claim you went through, and this is what you came up with? I’ve heard more plausible stories from junkies at the unemployment office. If you want we can pass the hat around this Christmas and get you a couple of rolls of rubber wallpaper and a nice white jacket with extra long sleeves. ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926/419 "2008-11-18T15:44:15Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > …oh, fuck this. I can’t write vampire fiction and carry on a Pit Thread at the same time. :rolleyes: Good night, everyone. Wait, so the thesis-that-turned-into-a-story-about-a-theory-that-will-turn-science-on-its-ear is a vampire novel? ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926/420 "2008-11-18T17:16:31Z")
> [@Tristan](#): > > But now, based on this thread and his activities, I will make an effort to shake his hand and say “Well done on that **KGS** thing.” first. Go ahead…believe whatever you want. But, notice how **Der Trihs** has not responded directly to me since page three. He doesn’t dare. Because I have divined his true nature, and he knows it, and is afraid. He’s avoiding me because he doesn’t want anyone else to read that fear, deeply hidden with him. No, I will not reveal what I have divined about him. You don’t deserve to know. Heck, maybe you already know (it’s obvious when you really examine him) but like I said before, people will usually choose the comfortable lie over the cold, hard truth. (Or is it the cold, hard lie over the comfortable truth? Because that sounds more like how fans of James Randi think…) > [@Ace309](#): > > Wait, so the thesis-that-turned-into-a-story-about-a-theory-that-will-turn-science-on-its-ear is a vampire novel? No, it’s a completely different novel. Give me some credit, I _do_ have more than one story idea floating around in my head… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-der-trihs-over-here/472926.md?page=22)