# I pit King of the Hill.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-king-of-the-hill/230579>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [February 23, 2004, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-king-of-the-hill/230579 "2004-02-23T00:34:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Ferrous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Ferrous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferrous)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-king-of-the-hill/230579/61 "2004-02-23T04:04:35Z")

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> [@hajario](#):
>
> Woah, flashback dude. 😃

What did you flash back to? Me, I flashed on [this Pit thread by our beloved OP](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=198446%5B/url). (About the vegetarian sandwch that had _eggs_ on it! If you can imagine such a thing…)

A rule of mine is, if you see a Pit OP by **prisoner6655321** , open that sucker up. Unintentional comedy gold!

…  
Now here’s my joke. It requires a little background for non-Oregonians: Eugene, Oregon is a smallish college town a few hours south of Portland that has a reputation as a hippie town. Okay…

Q: Why did all the hippies move to Eugene?  
A: Because there’s no work there!

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**Author:** ![prisoner6655321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f8ce5/32.png) [@prisoner6655321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prisoner6655321)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-king-of-the-hill/230579/62 "2004-02-23T05:28:01Z")

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The masses: The kind of people that make Dan Brown a popular Author. Read any discussion on any of Brown’s work on SDMB and you will find (most) Dopers who have had the unfortunate opportunity to read his work (or fortunate enough to enjoy a good laugh) rightfully ridicule it.

Hippies: Kind open minded folk (Men & Women - of course there are Female Hippies) who try (and sometimes fail) to live the lifestyle that doesn’t tread on the lives of others by opening themselves up to new experiences.

Satire: Making fun of a particular aspect of society. KOTH does have many moments that can be taken that way, but there is always a lesson behind it. Unlike South Park and The Simpsons. Despite the “I’ve learned something” we hear every week on South Park, they really aren’t trying to teach us anything. But King of the Hill. They want to educate. Remember when Hank made Bobby smoke a whole carton of cigarettes? Satire? You may think so, but I think it’s just ridiculous. Simpsons and South Park are much more clear cut in their satire. It’s obvious they are making jokes. Not everyone is as keen to the subtleties of King of the Hill as dopers are. Many people don’t question the origin of Mona Lisa’s knowing smile when Dan Brown tells us his opinion. But we do. We are dopers. We know enough to ask “Is this for real?” And we have discussions about it. We also know the subtleties of Hank’s straightforwardness for what they are. But the masses think otherwise. This episode doesn’t progress the positive accurate portayal of Hippies. Nor does it fight the ignorant opinion that Texans are right wing, racist, gun-toting, executioners.

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**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-king-of-the-hill/230579/63 "2004-02-23T05:41:13Z")

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> [@prisoner6655321](#):
>
> Not everyone is as keen to the subtleties of King of the Hill as dopers are. Many people don’t question the origin of Mona Lisa’s knowing smile when Dan Brown tells us his opinion. But we do. We are dopers. We know enough to ask “Is this for real?” And we have discussions about it. We also know the subtleties of Hank’s straightforwardness for what they are. But the masses think otherwise. This episode doesn’t progress the positive accurate portayal of Hippies. Nor does it fight the ignorant opinion that Texans are right wing, racist, gun-toting, executioners.

So you’re Pitting a show that has a standard M.O. of taking subtle satirical pokes at any number of causes/ideas/beliefs, simply because it takes a subtle satirical poke at one of your own pet causes? Is that really all this is?

Once again, get over it, dude. If “the masses” (those Dan Brown-lovin’ fools) decide to lift their feelings about Asian-Americans, Texans, Bush, or hippies directly from an episode of _King of the Hill_, then they have more problems than you can even approach solving.

Personally, I don’t think “the masses” are the bovine herd you seem to think they are. Either way, it’s still a pretty lame Pitting – criticizing a show for doing what it does every week. Yeah, nice one. :rolleyes:

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**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-king-of-the-hill/230579/64 "2004-02-23T05:52:39Z")

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> [@d\_redguy](#):
>
> What really pisses me off about KotH is how Dale represents conspiracy theorists.
> 
> I don’t wear a red baseball cap, and I am not as bald as Dale. Imagine how the masses must think of us, the conspiracy theorists. How can we stop it?  
> :wally

You can’t; The Illuminati are producing this show just to make conspiracy theorist look . . . wait a second, I hear someth. . a’  
sfaf sf  
sdf

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**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-king-of-the-hill/230579/65 "2004-02-23T06:01:32Z")

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Dude, **prisoner6655321,** are you serious?

I doubt the problem is with this one particular episode of King of the Hill. I think the problem is that you’re reading WAAAAAY too much into the entire rest of the series. It’s a _cartoon sitcom_, it’s not intended to be some flawless masterpiece of subtle social analysis.

And for such a kind, open-minded guy, you sure have a narrow opinion of the masses if you think they all turn to a particular cartoon sitcom for the bulk of their life lessons. I’ve never watched KoTH. Guess I’ll have to pick up all my unfair hippie stereotypes from _The Young Ones._ Anyone for lentils?

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**Author:** ![WILLASS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/54ee81/32.png) [@WILLASS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WILLASS)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-king-of-the-hill/230579/66 "2004-02-23T06:12:59Z")

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> [@prisoner6655321](#):
>
> We are dopers. We know enough to ask “Is this for real?”

I think the fact that it is an animated comedy show should be enough evidence to make asking this question fairly pointless. Also I find you to come across as very arrogant when you describe the stupidity of the average American and how obviousley _we_ are all intelligent enough to get the joke (excluding yourself, obviousley) but Joe Public is so fucking dumb that this will obviousley make him hate hippies. In short I think you are a bit of a dick.

P.S - I’m not American nor have ever been to America but i’m pretty sure that ‘Joe Average’ over there is pretty much the same as over here.

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**Author:** ![WILLASS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/54ee81/32.png) [@WILLASS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WILLASS)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-king-of-the-hill/230579/67 "2004-02-23T06:14:29Z")

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Man, I used the word ‘obviousley’ a lot in that post. Obviousley I am very tired…

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**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-king-of-the-hill/230579/68 "2004-02-23T07:24:25Z")

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> [@prisoner6655321](#):
>
> The masses: The kind of people that make Dan Brown a popular Author. Read any discussion on any of Brown’s work on SDMB and you will find (most) Dopers who have had the unfortunate opportunity to read his work (or fortunate enough to enjoy a good laugh) rightfully ridicule it.

I’ve never even heard of Dan Brown. That must mean I’m some kind of super genius.

> [@](#):
>
> Hippies: Kind open minded folk (Men & Women - of course there are Female Hippies) who try (and sometimes fail) to live the lifestyle that doesn’t tread on the lives of others by opening themselves up to new experiences.

So they’re basically… people who… do stuff. Much like yourself, this definition is amazingly useless.

> [@](#):
>
> Satire: Making fun of a particular aspect of society. KOTH does have many moments that can be taken that way, but there is always a lesson behind it.[ Unlike South Park and The Simpsons. Despite the “I’ve learned something” we hear every week on South Park, they really aren’t trying to teach us anything. But King of the Hill. They want to educate. Remember when Hank made Bobby smoke a whole carton of cigarettes? Satire? You may think so, but I think it’s just ridiculous.

Do you have any idea how little sense this makes?

> [@](#):
>
> Simpsons and South Park are much more clear cut in their satire. It’s obvious they are making jokes. Not everyone is as keen to the subtleties of King of the Hill as dopers are. Many people don’t question the origin of Mona Lisa’s knowing smile when Dan Brown tells us his opinion. But we do. We are dopers. We know enough to ask “Is this for real?” And we have discussions about it. We also know the subtleties of Hank’s straightforwardness for what they are. But the masses think otherwise.

Ah, I see. Any sort of mass entertainment must be as stupid as possible, so as not to upset the ignorent masses. Anything that might be seen by someone who likes \<shudder\> Dan Brown must be kept as simple and bland as possible, because their dull, caveman-like minds can’t handle anything remotly difficult or complex, and they might become violent.

This may be the single most repugnant idea I’ve ever heard expressed on these boards. I can only take comfort in the fact that you are clearly too stupid to understand what you are saying.

> [@](#):
>
> This episode doesn’t progress the positive accurate portayal of Hippies. Nor does it fight the ignorant opinion that Texans are right wing, racist, gun-toting, executioners.

I’m sorry, I haven’t seen the episode in question. Was there a scene where Hank called the hippie a “dirty nigger” and gunned him down in cold blood? 'Cause otherwise, I’m having a little trouble seeing where you got racist, gun-toting, or executioner out of this. Oh, wait, that’s right: YOU’RE FUCKING INSANE. Silly of me to forget.

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**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-king-of-the-hill/230579/69 "2004-02-23T15:27:48Z")

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> [@prisoner6655321](#):
>
> Aw, I’m fed up with this argument. You guys have done a great job of convincing me that you are none other than the most shamefully contemptuous, egotistical, and closed-minded group of pompous jackasses I’ve had the displeasure of conversing with.

[Bobby Hill]That’s my show! I don’t know you!  
(Kicks prisoner6655321 in the groin and runs away)  
[/Bobby Hill]

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**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-king-of-the-hill/230579/70 "2004-02-23T15:37:40Z")

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Enh.

DNFTP.

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**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-king-of-the-hill/230579/71 "2004-02-23T15:56:34Z")

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Heh, I watched KOTH last night and thought to myself, “I bet someone’s gonna get offended by this.” I thought it was pretty funny though. It reminded me of the “hippies” I knew in college who did that swirling hippy dance and got stoned and talked about their karma whilst listening to crappy jam bands. 😃

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**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-king-of-the-hill/230579/72 "2004-02-23T16:05:37Z")

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We have our very own Father Dougal McGuire.

[Father Ted] No Dougal, these cows are small. Those ones are far away. [/FT]

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**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-king-of-the-hill/230579/73 "2004-02-23T16:25:01Z")

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> [@Ilsa\_Lund](#):
>
> That’s one of the funniest things I’ve read all week.

For once I agree.

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**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-king-of-the-hill/230579/74 "2004-02-23T17:50:13Z")

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> [@prisoner6655321](#):
>
> Remember when Hank made Bobby smoke a whole carton of cigarettes? Satire? You may think so, but I think it’s just ridiculous.

I agree man. I saw this cartoon once where a man discovered a FROG who could SING SHOW TUNES, but sadly, he only performed when no one was around. I thought it was really inconsiderate of that frog to not try and make his owner famous, or participate in public shows. I think it was meant to be portrayed as real, although it was, you know, a cartoon.

It was really ridiculous.

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**Author:** ![Gr8Kat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gr8kat/32/18668_2.png) [@Gr8Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gr8Kat)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-king-of-the-hill/230579/75 "2004-02-23T18:19:06Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> “Hippies: Kind open minded folk (Men & Women - of course there are Female Hippies) who try (and sometimes fail) to live the lifestyle that **doesn’t tread on the lives of others** by opening themselves up to new experiences.” (emphasis added)

Ha.

In 1997, a Rainbow Family Gathering was held near Prineville, OR. Prineville is a small town of about 6,000 people. At its height, about 20,000 Rainbows converged on the area. The U.S. Forest Service’s [final report](http://www.strecorsoc.org/rainbow/oregon.html) is 21 pages long and details the huge amount of planning, work, and money the federal goverment, the State of Oregon, Crook County, and the community of Prineville had to dedicate to making sure the Rainbows had clean water, medical care, sanitation, etc., and making sure the _Rainbows’_ impact on the local environment and community was kept to a minimum. In exchange, the Rainbows harassed loggers, drank six natural springs nearly dry, required hundreds of thousands of dollars of medical care they didn’t pay for, and contaminated the area with parvo. Groovy, baby.

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**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-king-of-the-hill/230579/76 "2004-02-23T18:49:49Z")

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Prisoner, the more I think about this, the more ridiculous your outrage is seeming. By your own admission, you have visited ONE gathering and you feel like that experience makes you an expert on how hippies think and act? I cannot roll my eyes high enough.

Hippies can be great, really. They can be a lot of fun, and their laid-back, love-the-earth attitude can be really refreshing. On top of that, they usually have killer buds. However, they can also be addicts and deadbeats and just all-around assholes, their ranks are not immune to the foils of humanity. Their culture makes it really easy for lazy schmucks to make a living of slinking around mooching off of people with bigger hearts than brains. I’ve been to a number of gatherings myself, not specifically rainbow, but family nonetheless. Sadly, Gr8Kat’s description of the aftereffects of these meetings is way closer to the reality I’ve encountered than your idealized “live off the earth” notions. There are a few old-timers and tree-huggers who really embrace that ideal, but, IME, for the most part modern-day hippies are into the scene for:  
a–the music  
b–the drugs  
c–the half-dressed, intoxicated mamas  
d–a justification for their own laziness, or  
e–all of the above.

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**Author:** ![AdmiralQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@AdmiralQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AdmiralQ)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-king-of-the-hill/230579/77 "2004-02-23T19:39:36Z")

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Prisoner has been added as a late addition to the SDMB Stupid Poster All-Star ballot. Kindly ask your usher for a ballot and deposit the completed ballot in the boxes in the lobby. Midseason we will have our All-Star Post-off, where our clueless All-Stars will entertain us with half-assed rants and moronic arguments. Also, we will be featuring Janet Jackson and Britney Spears at halftime! Get your tickets today!

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**Author:** ![klockwerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/klockwerk/32/6475_2.png) [@klockwerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/klockwerk)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-king-of-the-hill/230579/78 "2004-02-23T21:11:39Z")

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> [@prisoner6655321](#):
>
> Aw, I’m fed up with this argument. You guys have done a great job of convincing me that you are none other than the most shamefully contemptuous, egotistical, and closed-minded group of pompous jackasses I’ve had the displeasure of conversing with.
> 
> Peace. 😃

:eek:  
:rolleyes:  
:D!!!

Wow… just… wow. 😛

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**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-king-of-the-hill/230579/79 "2004-02-23T21:22:27Z")

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They all want to save the world, but all they do is smoke pot and smell bad.  
-Cartman

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**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-king-of-the-hill/230579/80 "2004-02-24T01:02:02Z")

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> [@gobear](#):
>
> In any event, me little droogie, despite your appropriation of Alex DeLarge’s prison ID…

Is that where he got his handle? I got about two pages into the book and, well, like I was high and all and it was describing such a downer scene and all I had to put it down.

Bummer. I should give it another chance.

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