# I Pit Staten Islanders **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 2, 2012, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660 "2012-11-02T13:35:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660/41 "2012-11-02T18:56:47Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Staten Island has a long history of being a forgotten borough, pumping tax money into city coffers but getting proportionately poor services in return (notably during snowstorms, when its streets are typically plowed last). It has threatened (and actually once voted for) secession from the city, getting mollified after a previous vote (as I recall) by promises of better service. SI was for many years part of NYC based on a political system that no long exists. For many years, the source of true legislative power in NYC was from the budgetary power weilded by a body called the “Board of Estimate”. This entity had one member appointed by each of the five borough presidents and a few others appointed by the mayor (& maybe some other elected official - I forget). At that time the NY City Council was a figurehead body, responsible for naming streets and matters of similar importance. This system assured SI of significant resprentation in city decisions. However, this system was struck down by the courts (IIRC the USSC ruled on it) as a violation of the one-man-one-vote principle, and overnight the Board of Estimate ceased to exist, and suddenly the unimportant City Council inherited real power. Once that happened, SI was doomed, and secessionist sentiments gained considerable appeal at that time. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660/42 "2012-11-02T19:56:35Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > Dude, you have a point. But this just seems like a particularly graceless time to make it. Yeah, he has a point, but if he brushes his hair carefully, he can hide it. ---
**Author:** ![drew870mitchell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drew870mitchell/32/3946_2.png) [@drew870mitchell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drew870mitchell)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660/43 "2012-11-02T19:56:58Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Staten Island has a long history of being a forgotten borough, pumping tax money into city coffers but getting proportionately poor services in return (notably during snowstorms, when its streets are typically plowed last). Knowing what little I do about NYC, I have some doubt about the idea that Staten Island is a net benefactor to the city budget. Cite? I did try the obvious Google terms. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660/44 "2012-11-02T20:12:56Z")
Is there a smaller, more neglected island somewhere… …that we can plop Clothy and Pseudy on? – _(I’m sure they’ll learn to get along…what’s the worst that could happen?)_ ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660/45 "2012-11-02T20:28:26Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > Well, I do know that they were told to evacuate and those who are still there bitching about lack of support _now_ should’ve gotten their asses out when they were told to. Is it okay if I’m pissed that they’ve actually made recovery harder for the first (second and third) responders because they didn’t follow instructions? According to [this map](http://project.wnyc.org/news-maps/hurricane-zones/hurricane-zones.html), the mandatory evacuation zones were in coastline areas of all five boroughs and involved 375,000 people. Based on the areas that are marked, it looks likely to me that a fourth or less of that number lived on the Island (there are high-density population areas under the evacuation order in Manhattan and Brooklyn, for example), and using a current population figure of about 470,000 for the Island, I doubt that even a fifth of the Island’s population was supposed to evacuate. And based on news reports, it looks like the flooding and devastation is affecting far more Staten Islanders than that (not just the ones in the immediate coastal zones). Earlier this week I talked to friends who lived just up the block from my former home, and while they didn’t have flooding they were dealing with a blackout and blocked streets making it difficult to get out for food. For all those attacking Staten Islanders suffering in the aftermath of this storm, out of political motivations based on false stereotypes, a hearty fuck you. ---
**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 2, 2012, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660/46 "2012-11-02T20:30:16Z")
> [@Caffeine.addict](#): > > **pseudotriton ruber ruber** , how do you know that the particular people complaining on TV are Tea Party Republicans who want to defund FEMA? I don’t. As I’ve explained several times already, if there is really no one who falls into the categories I’m suggesting they do (willing recipient of federal aid/categorical opposer of the principle of federal aid) then I’m making something out of nothing and I owe those people my sincere apology. OTOH, if none of them exist, then who would I be offending and apologizing to? > [@](#): > > I also don’t think that this is the time and the place to be making such accusations considering how recent the storm is, the amount of damage done, and the deaths. I’m glad we live in a free society that lets all views be heard. > [@](#): > > I would hope that this would make people opposed to funding FEMA change their minds based on the situation . Me, too. Doubt it very much, though, after they collect their money. ---
**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 2, 2012, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660/47 "2012-11-02T20:32:43Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > a hearty fuck you. Does this means that it’s not okay that Shayna is “pissed that they’ve actually made recovery harder for the first (second and third) responders because they didn’t follow instructions?” ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660/48 "2012-11-02T20:43:49Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > For all those attacking Staten Islanders suffering in the aftermath of this storm, out of political motivations based on false stereotypes, a hearty fuck you. I second that fuck you. And add one for Bricker’s belief that Rush Limbaugh is a valid news source. My husband had a three hour commute to work this morning. His boss was so worried about him he made a very worried call to my house. I have no idea when he’ll be home from work tonight. Enough with the fucking politics. Give people a week or two to breath and deal with the storm’s aftermath before you start in with the damned agenda. It’s incredibly inappropriate. ---
**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 2, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660/49 "2012-11-02T20:56:32Z")
**Lavender Blue** , I don’t actually think you’re supposed to say “fuck you” to anyone in the Pit any more. (I disagree with that rule, btw, but I try to abide by it, tempting as it gets sometimes.) I don’t want to junior-mod here, but I think that if you (and **Jackmannii** , of course) want to offer a tepid apology before some Mod notices it, and suggest instead something more along the lines that I insert some sharp object up my anal canal or something of the kind, you might save yourselves a warning or Mod note, and of course save the mod from having to issue it. I’m happy to entertain the idea of inserting all sorts of things up there, I’ve been jamming them up there all afternoon, in fact, and would be pleased to accomodate you as well. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660/50 "2012-11-02T20:58:22Z")
Folks, I think it’s pretty clear at this point that the OP is an attention whore and a troll. DNFTAWT. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660/51 "2012-11-02T21:07:22Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > **Lavender Blue** , I don’t actually think you’re supposed to say “fuck you” to anyone in the Pit any more. (I disagree with that rule, btw, but I try to abide by it, tempting as it gets sometimes.) I don’t want to junior-mod here, but I think that if you (and **Jackmannii** , of course) want to offer a tepid apology before some Mod notices it, and suggest instead something more along the lines that I insert some sharp object up my anal canal or something of the kind, you might save yourselves a warning or Mod note, and of course save the mod from having to issue it. I’m happy to entertain the idea of inserting all sorts of things up there, I’ve been jamming them up there all afternoon, in fact, and would be pleased to accomodate you as well. Forget the fuck then. I will offer you an even bigger insult: you are coming across as more of an asshole after this storm than Chris Christie. Christie, the crude, rude, graceless jackass who often embodies every awful stereotype people have about NJ. ---
**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 2, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660/52 "2012-11-02T21:09:05Z")
You forgot to call him “fat.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Dord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@The\_Dord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Dord)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660/53 "2012-11-02T23:54:59Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > You forgot to call him “fat.” You know what you can do with a cactus. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660/54 "2012-11-02T23:58:04Z")
I have to say, I found the tenor of the coverage relating to SI distasteful at least. Yeah I get it, you need an inspection to re-enter your home and there’s no power. Staten Islanders are in the midst of a giant shitpile but in fact they share that shitpile with many New Yorkers. They simply DON’T have it worse than anyone, ever, or even worse than [anyone in New York City](http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/breezy-point-queens-article-1.1195845). I’m sure they believe that people from Breezy Point are having stacks of money and deeds to homes hand delivered to them by FEMA, but [it isn’t true](http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/01/14863522-dont-leave-us-breezy-point-residents-wonder-when-help-will-come-after-sandy?lite), so while their distress and impatience are both totally understandable, maybe they should kinda climb down off the cross a touch. ---
**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 3, 2012, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660/55 "2012-11-03T00:08:12Z")
Water it sparingly? Yes, I do know, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660/56 "2012-11-03T00:08:47Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > Forget the fuck then. I will offer you an even bigger insult: you are coming across as more of an asshole after this storm than Chris Christie. Christie, the crude, rude, graceless jackass who often embodies every awful stereotype people have about NJ. Is this the same “Christie” the guy I saw with Obama crusing NJ yesterday? He seemed like a pretty nice person to me. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660/57 "2012-11-03T00:17:04Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Is this the same “Christie” who guy I saw with Obama crusing NJ yesterday? He seemed like a pretty nice person to me. No, he’s really a gigantic douche. That doesn’t mean he’s not capable of governing well at times, but in terms of personality he’s pretty much the asshole to end all New Jersey Assholes. Example: [When heckled by a woman, goes straight to the blowjob joke](http://gothamist.com/2012/01/09/video_chris_christie_heckled_by_occ.php). He’s well known for his insulting, crass remarks on all sorts of subjects. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Dord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@The\_Dord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Dord)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660/58 "2012-11-03T00:35:51Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Water it sparingly? Yes, I do know, thanks. You’re not supposed to urinate on it.. You’re supposed to have unnatural relations with it. ---
**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 3, 2012, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660/59 "2012-11-03T00:57:04Z")
I see. Are you trying to find ways to tell me to go fuck myself without actually saying those words? You are a very clever fellow. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Dord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@The\_Dord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Dord)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660/60 "2012-11-03T01:22:12Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > I see. Are you trying to find ways to tell me to go fuck myself without actually saying those words? You are a very clever fellow. You said it not me. If you think thats what I did then that’s your prerogative. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-staten-islanders/639660.md?page=4)