# I am your better. Do as I say. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 27, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184 "2010-07-27T14:31:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![DragonAsh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DragonAsh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DragonAsh)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184/181 "2010-07-28T14:53:47Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > This is not what happened to our dear little Chessie. He knew he didn’t have enough money at the time, and there was a functioning reload machine, but he didn’t want to use it, because it would entail waiting in line with other people. Yes, we’ve all encountered petty dictator syndrome, but in this case, we’re dealing with petty super-important awesome guy syndrome. Good point. I went back and re-read the OP. Sorry Chessic Sense. minlokwat is right, you’re an asstool. You’re telling me that 15 minutes would make or break your life? Do the tourists have some sort of contagious disease that prevents you from waiting in line with them? What you did was no different from line-jumping. Instead of butting in front of the line at the machine when you got on, you waited to butt in front of the line when you got off. I’m pretty sure Jamal’s job isn’t to help people skip out of the need to stand in line. There is a very special level of hell for line-jumpers - a level they reserve for child molesters and people who talk at the theater. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184/182 "2010-07-28T15:30:25Z")
Though I think I do OK for myself, I probably make less money and have a less powerful job than a lot of people. Threads like this make me feel much better about my lot in life, because I know I haven’t developed the self-important sense of entitlement that defines people like **Chessic Sense**. If I ever reach a point that I believe no rules apply to me because I refuse to wait in a line with people I consider inferior to me, that anybody who makes less money than I do must always acquiesce to my whims and wishes, and that such a minor inconvenience as the OP experienced on the subway is all it takes to throw me into a 2-day (and counting) hissy fit, I really hope somebody calls me on it so I can take a good hard look at myself. **CS** , you may not realize it, but everybody here is trying to do you a favor. You’ll be a happier person if you become less of an asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184/183 "2010-07-28T15:51:54Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > > [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > > > Why didn’t I go to the starting station’s kiosk? Because by the time I was done screwing around with the machines, the train was pulling in. No time. > > So you’re 15 minutes later than you would otherwise have been. Is this that big a deal that you’re willing to fare jump? I really don’t get this mentality. Eh - part of it is that the federal government can be a bit of a pain about showing up to work late. If I’m fifteen minutes late to my own job, I can’t just stay another fifteen minutes at the end of the day to make up for it - I need to use a quarter-hour of leave. Which isn’t that big of a deal, but it’s annoying, especially since I need to record the leave in three distinct ways: 1.) On the daily timesheet; 2.) On my leave application slip; and 3.) On my weekly timesheet. So, it can be legitimately unpleasant to show up late to work in DC. Doesn’t excuse being a jerk about it, but it’s a real problem. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184/184 "2010-07-28T16:00:01Z")
> [@pbbth](#): > > Why the hate for tourists? I love tourists! As a NYC resident I am fully aware that the entire reason this city has the museums, restaurants, shows, and events I love is because of the tourists who come here and spend their money in my fair city. In fact the only reason we have such rockin’ public transportation at such a low cost to me is because of all the tourists. Seriously, I can go anywhere in the city at pretty much any time of day or night for less than $90 per month because of the millions of people that spend 4 or 5 days here at a time and pay $2.25 per ride to supplement the MTA cash flow. If you have an issue with tourists in your city please send them here! I would love to have more people pouring their dollars into my local economy even if it does mean I have to wait for a train every now and again. I don’t mind tourists that much, but I wish they’d put more effort into learning how the city works before they visit. Sometimes, it seems like they don’t even try. For example - when I go to NYC, I make darned sure I’ve got a subway map loaded on my iphone, and I try to plan out my subway trips before I enter the system. I load a lot of cash on my metro card (sorry, I forget what you call it), in order to ensure that I’m not fumbling around in line. And perhaps most important, I _move_ when I’m on the escalator, or in a crowd. I’m sure I still manage to annoy the locals, but at least I’m trying. Tourists in DC often seem not to try at all. Case in point: they love trying to load the _absolute minimum_ on their farecards for any given Metro trip. They can do that, because every Metro station has lengthy tables listing the fares from your station to any other, at both rush hour and non-peak times. But it takes time to find the fare on the list - and once you succeed, of course you then need to get _back_ in line once you’ve exhausted your farecard in order to buy another. This is how tourists save a few bucks on family vacations that surely run into the many hundreds of dollars, when they could save themselves (and the rest of us) so much time and aggravation by simply tossing $20 or $30 on their farecards at a go. That’s plenty to get you anywhere you’re likely to go on a weekend trip. For that matter, I think Metro even sells unlimited travel weekend passes for precisely that purpose. But tourists hate to do that. Instead, they spend minutes at a time trying to puzzle out the very lowest fare they can pay, and buy tickets for each and every trip on an as-needed basis. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184/185 "2010-07-28T16:01:55Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > > [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > > > I’m just trying to figure out where racism fits into all this. > > Power Trip **Jamal** , Metro Employee Extraordinaire (PTJMEE) did not recognize **Chessic Sense** as being of a superior race. Heh. I actually had a slightly higher view of this exchange. I thought that Chessic Sense had mentioned the “hood rat” thing because he’s black, and thought the Metro employee was hassling him for that reason. Turns out that isn’t so, though. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184/186 "2010-07-28T16:02:25Z")
Don’t they have car services in DC? Limos? What kinda white trash rides mass transit? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184/187 "2010-07-28T16:38:35Z")
Some of us have a tendency to dash off quick posts, sometimes ill-advised, which we occasionally come to regret. I always find it remarkable, though, when someone composes a post as long as the OP’s—which must have taken a few minutes, at least—never once stopping to consider that what they’re saying will almost assuredly bring unanimous opprobrium and ridicule. The only possible excuse is failed satire, and unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be the case. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184/188 "2010-07-28T17:04:46Z")
I continue to hope that this is a whoosh, and that the OP will suddenly say ‘Ha, just kidding’.\* \*psst, note to OP - this is a good plan. Try it now. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184/189 "2010-07-28T17:15:01Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > So, it can be legitimately unpleasant to show up late to work in DC. Especially for interns. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184/190 "2010-07-28T17:20:40Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Some of us have a tendency to dash off quick posts, sometimes ill-advised, which we occasionally come to regret. I always find it remarkable, though, when someone composes a post as long as the OP’s—which must have taken a few minutes, at least—never once stopping to consider that what they’re saying will almost assuredly bring unanimous opprobrium and ridicule. > > The only possible excuse is failed satire, and unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be the case. Masochism. Also, naked trollery. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184/191 "2010-07-28T17:24:14Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > > [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > > > So, it can be legitimately unpleasant to show up late to work in DC. > > Especially for interns. Actually, not so much - when I worked as an intern, I was technically employed as a contractor, and paid by the company running the internship program. Which meant only one timesheet, rather than three. But I take your point. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184/192 "2010-07-28T17:29:07Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Yeah rich people never stole a thing Wow. I even _predicted_ that someone would say that, and gave you my response, yet you still said it anyway. > [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > LOL, so your measure of a man is how much he makes? That’s one of them, yes. Life is a game. The higher your “score”, the better you are. One way to score points is to make a lot of money. Of course, there’s still fame, sex, power, and a bunch of other things that go into the calculation. > [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > We’re all just astounded by the fact that the OP thought that he was going to get a chorus of support here. What makes you think I was looking for support at all, much less thought I was going to get it? You know what happens when people post about annoying shit and everyone else goes “Yeah!”? A boring thread. No, the point of the thread is to say out loud those things that would be rude to say in public- those inner thoughts that don’t go over well elsewhere. And since you people don’t actually exist, I can say them to you without fear of consequence. > [@](#): > > You know what that means? Social ostracism isn’t going to do shit. Thus its sole purpose is to make you feel better. Exactly the purpose of the OP for complaining here in the first place. Well said. > [@Rigamarole](#): > > I bet Snoop Dogg has more money than you. > > Probably a lot more. > > Oprah Winfrey definitely does. > > So they’re better than you right? Snoop Dogg? Um…no. He’s got more money, yes, but lacks a lot of other desirable traits, such as his habit of glorifying human sex trafficking. Oprah is better than me, yes. So are the Obamas (well, the adults anyway), my parents, almost all of our elected officials, Hollywood stars, business CEOs, my bosses (and their parallels), doctors, most lawyers, PhDs, and most most people with degrees higher than mine. This is, of course, an incomplete list. Note that all of those attributes come about by hard work, determination, and skill. You’re not born a governor. If you’re rich because your parents passed you your wealth, it doesn’t count. If you’re a successful CEO but you’re in some scandal, that puts you beneath me because then that, too, doesn’t count. I don’t think most people disagree with me. They’re just afraid of the term “better”. Would I say that in real life? Probably not. But on the SDMB, I don’t mince words. > [@DragonAsh](#): > > I guess unlike the OP, I wouldn’t consider myself superior to the attendant simply because I (probably) make more money. I do consider myself superior because I don’t go on mini-power trips then lie to the person’s face when I’m caught out. It’s not _just_ the salary. See above. As for why I mentioned “hood rats” at all, it’s because of the two muggings I’ve witnessed where the perp hops a train and gets away. I’m saying I’m not one of those thieves. Then there’s the harrassers that molest (in the “bother” sense) female train riders late at night. I’m not one of those hood rats either. ---
**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:** [July 28, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184/193 "2010-07-28T17:33:12Z")
Since the OP’s so rich, I’m sure he could have called a cab. And after all, he’s so important, being late is no big deal – in fact, they should be grateful he showed up at all, right? > [@BigT](#): > > Thing is, I’m not sure how making fun of the OP doesn’t make you just as big an asshole as he was. This didn’t happen to you, so you have no reason besides recreational outrage to be upset about it. So you can’t use that as a justification. > > Do I think saying your someone’s better is stupid? Hell yeah. Do I think it says a lot about the person we are talking about? Of course. But no more than what I already knew about the guy. He’s admitted he feels no compassion for other people. > > You know what that means? Social ostracism isn’t going to do shit. Thus its sole purpose is to make you feel better. Exactly the purpose of the OP for complaining here in the first place. Yes, MOM. (Honestly, if this kind of thing offends you, STAY OUT OF THE PIT!!! Jesus Christ!) Oh, and by the way, I think you got a warning in ATMB. So I think it’s time for you to go and throw a hissyfit about how much it’s traumatized you. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184/194 "2010-07-28T17:42:49Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > Oprah is better than me, yes. So are the Obamas (well, the adults anyway), my parents, almost all of our elected officials, Hollywood stars, business CEOs, my bosses (and their parallels), doctors, most lawyers, PhDs, and most most people with degrees higher than mine. This is, of course, an incomplete list. Hey, I’m your better! Apologize for starting this stupid thread. Promise to do better next time. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184/195 "2010-07-28T17:46:30Z")
[QUOTE=Chessic Sense] Oprah is better than me, yes. So are the Obamas (well, the adults anyway), my parents, almost all of our elected officials, Hollywood stars, business CEOs, my bosses (and their parallels), doctors, most lawyers, PhDs, and most most people with degrees higher than mine. This is, of course, an incomplete list. [/QUOTE] That is some sad shit right there. I’m sorry, man. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184/196 "2010-07-28T17:47:16Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > \ > That’s one of them, yes. Life is a game. The higher your “score”, the better you are. One way to score points is to make a lot of money. Of course, there’s still fame, sex, power, and a bunch of other things that go into the calculation. He’s not completely wrong about this. > [@Chessic Sense](#): > > What makes you think I was looking for support at all, much less thought I was going to get it? You know what happens when people post about annoying shit and everyone else goes “Yeah!”? A boring thread. Not completely wrong about this, either. > [@Chessic Sense](#): > > No, the point of the thread is to say out loud those things that would be rude to say in public- those inner thoughts that don’t go over well elsewhere. And since you people don’t actually exist, I can say them to you without fear of consequence. Hmm, not wrong about this, either. > [@Chessic Sense](#): > > I don’t think most people disagree with me. They’re just afraid of the term “better”. Would I say that in real life? Probably not. But on the SDMB, I don’t mince words. Not wrong about that either. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184/197 "2010-07-28T17:47:25Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > > [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > > > LOL, so your measure of a man is how much he makes? > > That’s one of them, yes. Life is a game. The higher your “score”, the better you are. One way to score points is to make a lot of money. Of course, there’s still fame, sex, power, and a bunch of other things that go into the calculation. I’m gonna go out on a limb here and guess that your “bunch of other things” does not include friends, family, love, personal integrity, charitable acts, or kindness toward others. ---
**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:** [July 28, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184/198 "2010-07-28T17:53:02Z")
So, uh, is this one of those frank discussions about race that **Sam Stone** was talking about in GD? ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184/199 "2010-07-28T18:03:45Z")
I don’t agree that those people–the Obamas, stars, etc.–are better, though. More powerful? Yes. More intelligent? In many cases, yes. Richer? Yes. Better at acting/politics/etc.? Yes. But just better people? I don’t know. How do we decide that? Yes, President Obama is probably a better person than a serial murderer who just bombed a bus load of nuns. But is he better than someone whose only flaw is that they have less money? That makes me uneasy. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184/200 "2010-07-28T18:04:42Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > > [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > > > **raises bowl of popcorn** I’m full and I gotta get to bed. Anyone want my popcorn? I’ll leave it right over here, please make use of it! > > Can I get a free refill of it when everyone else has finished eating from it? Golf clap. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-your-better-do-as-i-say/548184.md?page=11)