# I sick of ralph124c and his stupidity. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 3, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321 "2008-10-03T14:34:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321/261 "2008-10-07T21:49:40Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Both are negative statements. > > “Jews control US foreign policy” is not, unless you’re extracting that statement from some larger statement about how Jews control the media and the UN and are out to get us or somesuch. No. First of all, our elected officials who actually set US foreign policy are, in the vast majority, _not Jews_. So to make shit up and claim that it’s Jews, you must be saying that they’re somehow seized power. Second, yes it is negative. Virtually nobody has ever said “Jews control the US government, and that’s why things are so awesome!” the statement is _almost always and without fail_ used as a negative and the Jews as a scapegoat to explain problems. There’s also, as I pointed out, the simple fact that it bears not even a passing resemblance to reality. > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > You’re reading a lot into that statement that isn’t necessarily there. Suggesting that Jews control US foreign policy does not mean you disagree with US foreign policy, or that Jewish control of foreign policy is a bad thing. Well, as I already stated, there’s the centuries-long history of it being used as a slur and an attack upon the myth of “Jewish control”. Second, as I just pointed out, I doubt that you can possibly find anybody who uses the “Jews control US foreign policy/government/whatever” as a compliment, rather than a condemnation. And even if some random yahoo somewhere used that fiction as a compliment, that doesn’t change the fact that the statement is almost universally a slur and you can’t ignore that when you look at how the statement would be received. 999 out of 1000 people who said “Blacks are criminals” would be using it as a pejorative, even if the 1000[sup]th[/sup] guy was saying that blacks are ‘made into’ criminals by a biased justice system. And knowing that, only an idiot, someone totally clueless about history, a racist, someone hoping to stir up racial animosity or a racist trying to hide his tracks would claim that they were using the statement with its latter meaning and, heavens to Betsy, simply couldnt’ understand why it was offensive. Saying that, despite the actual structure of government, makeup of our elected officials, decision making processes, etc… that “Jews control the US government” is a functional analog for “Blacks are criminals”. The fact that, recently, there’s been an upswing of people viewing the former statement as not just acceptable, but _true_, is frightening. And it should be for anybody who remembers the history of the western world when it comes to Jews. > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > The issue is what the basis for the statement is- if it’s “Mossad is running the State Department”, then yes, we’re probably talking about anti-Semitism. That could actually go either way. People can be paranoid nutbars about Israel without being anti-Semites. Of course, as recent studies from Europe show, many people who are strongly anti-Israel are _also_ strongly anti-Semitic, but that’s neither here nor there. Saying that Mossad controls the US government is anti-Israel paranoia. Saying that Jews do, is anti Jewish paranoia. > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > If the basis is “Jews are much more likely to vote than the general public and are much more political active in general” then we’re probably not. Even then, we aren’t talking about _control_, but influence. If I suggest that you go on a vacation to Sweden, and you do, you’re not under Finn’s Evil Control [sup]TM[/sup]. If Jews write policy papers or advise members of the government, the people who make the actual decisions are the ones in control. And even with voting, the habit of singling out _just the Jews_ while ignoring everything else is bonkers. It’d be as accurate to say “AARP members control the US government” or “Cubans control the US government”, or what have you. “Jews, when looked at as a voting block, exert influence on the political that is disproportionate to their demographic weight.” is factually accurate. “Jews control the US’ foreign policy” is bonkers bazooie paranoia. Any totally non-nuanced, false to facts claim that ignores complexity, shades of grey, the actual facts of political power and control… and ‘just happens’ to echo something that’d fit in Der Sturmer? It’s a safe bet that it’s offensive and people should bite their tongues if they really feel like indulging in some racism. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321/262 "2008-10-07T21:56:35Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Actually, that’s a really good argument. Parallel and point taken, especially in the context of my “it isn’t a negative statement” assertion above. Damn! Missed this on preview. My apologies. Um, er… how about I cry Pax and ask the doggies of war to trundle on back now? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321/263 "2008-10-07T23:49:09Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > Damn! Missed this on preview. My apologies. > > Um, er… how about I cry Pax and ask the doggies of war to trundle on back now? 😃 Fair enough, but given the more or less unanimous view that Swedish women are all ridiculously hot (in the recent “ask the Swede” thread), let’s talk more about Finn’s Evil Control and sending me to Sweden, 'kay? > [@](#): > > Well, as I already stated, there’s the centuries-long history of it being used as a slur and an attack upon the myth of “Jewish control”. Is there? I know Jews have often been accused of manipulating the markets and so on, but is there a historical trend of Jews being accused of controlling _national_ governments other than the Weimar Republic? (That is, national as opposed to nutjob theories about a Jewish supra-government) ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321/264 "2008-10-08T00:29:14Z")
Can we please get back on track?😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321/265 "2008-10-08T00:56:06Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Can we please get back on track?😃 Sure thing. What do you think of Palin? ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321/266 "2008-10-08T01:00:43Z")
> [@Euthanasiast](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > For a country with only two exports (codfish and bottled water), this is serious. > > I haven’t slept much in the past few days, so forgive me, but what about the above is an improper use of parenthesis? The correct usage should read: This is serious (for a country with two exports (cod(fish) and water (bottled))). ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321/267 "2008-10-08T01:43:00Z")
> [@Sapo](#): > > The correct usage should read: > > This is serious (for a country with two exports (cod(fish) and water (bottled))). Or, in the Ralphianese: “This is serious 9for a country with two exports 9cod9fish0 and water 9bottled000. Besides, it’s all Ted Kennedy’s fault.” (You did say you wanted us to get it back to you, Ralph!) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321/268 "2008-10-08T02:57:34Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > “Jews, when looked at as a voting block, exert influence on the political that is disproportionate to their demographic weight.” is factually accurate. Wouldn’t that be true of any well-established ethnic group that valued education? I figure in two or three generations, ethnic Asians will have nearly as much collective influence. Heck, Episcopalians demonstrably have way more influence than either Jews or Asians, as long as we’re talking about what is factually accurate. ---
**Author:** ![A\_shameful\_cracka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@A\_shameful\_cracka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_shameful_cracka)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321/269 "2008-10-08T03:28:29Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Your mamas so fat. > Well that would not fly because that is a childish insult. So are remarks about girlfriends and whatevers. They do not know your girlfriend . If someone insults her they simply tell much about themselves, since they do not know your girlfriend they are just being childish.AT should ignore it and laugh at an immature attempt to get him pissed. He should never actually get mad. Wave it away and go on. It just does not matter. I have huge difficulty understanding how someone 6 states away can get your goat through electrons on a video tube. Visualize yourself patting him on the head and saying “nice try kid”. Then figuratively walk away. Well, to be fair, he only talked about her appearance, something he did know about because Argent Towers posted her picture. If you post a picture of a plain girl with a face nearly as wide as it is tall AND talk about how gorgeous she is, somebody is going to bite. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321/270 "2008-10-08T03:48:04Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Is there? I know Jews have often been accused of manipulating the markets and so on, but is there a historical trend of Jews being accused of controlling _national_ governments other than the Weimar Republic? > > (That is, national as opposed to nutjob theories about a Jewish supra-government) Well… part of the problem is that you can’t simply brush away conspiracy theories of a global Jewish cabal, because that’s often how such bizaree racist views have been expressed. The claims of Jewish control of individual nations often are situated in a ‘narrative’ of Jewish control of many nations. But, no problem, let me toss you a few cites, sorry that they’re rather sparse, but I’ve got a bad headache and don’t have the energy to run a full search: The [turn of the 20th century saw the creation of the Protocols](http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/russia.html). It’s worth pointing out that the forgery found traction precisely because it wasn’t “coming out of left field” for a lot of its readers. I’d argue, however, that the myth of Jewish control has its basic roots in the ancient-to-modern [Blood Libels](http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Passover/TO_Pesach_History/Medieval_409/BloodLibel_1117.htm), centered around the belief that Jews were a hostile, evil entity whose very nature required the (often brutal) death of gentiles. Of course, the specific incarnation of the myth in modern times often deals with specific “Zionist occupied governments”, but it’s an outgrowth of beliefs that there is a Jewish conspiracy that means the rest of humanity harm. For contemporary insanity, check out “Jew Watch”, I’m breaking the link, because it’s about as nauseating as st-rmfr-nt. http: //www. jewwatch. com/jew-occupiedgovernments-folder.html (that crazy motherfucker is actually claiming, for instance, that the USSR, seat of institutionalized anti-Semitism, supporter of the Arab regimes with money and military hardware, was a “Zionist state”) Of course, it isn’t only a western concept, as the Protocols are best-sellers in parts of the Arab world (as is Mein Kampf). Take, for instance,[modern Saudi publications](http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Area=sd&ID=SP32101) which allege “The Jewish organizations are implementing their strategic hellish plan to take over the world.” That’s just part of why modern claims that “Jews control the US government” are a flashing red light to those who know what to look for. > [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Wouldn’t that be true of any well-established ethnic group that valued education? I’d wager, as long as that was coupled with a drive towards politics. I’d be interesting to see an actual scientific longitudinal study of various socio-economic factors in politics. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321/271 "2008-10-08T04:00:08Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > I’d wager, as long as that was coupled with a drive towards politics. I’d be interesting to see an actual scientific longitudinal study of various socio-economic factors in politics. I suppose first you’d have to establish criteria for what demonstrates a “drive toward politics”. I’d’ve thought a big indicator would be disproportionate representation among elected officials (i.e. presidents, senators, congressmen, governors, big-city mayors, etc.) and senior appointed officials (cabinet members, judges, etc.) but I’m open to suggestion. ---
**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:** [October 8, 2008, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321/272 "2008-10-08T04:05:15Z")
> [@A\_shameful\_cracka](#): > > I wouldn’t say beaten with a bat ugly, but gorgeous is not exactly accurate. Not a comment on AT’s girlfriend, whom I find reasonably attractive, but every time I look at that picture, I have the same thought: “Hmm, slanted ceiling, must be a top floor or attic room. Rifle, looks pretty basic and idiot proof. If AT has plenty of ammunition and food, he and his girlfriend could probably hold off a zombie outbreak for a long time.” ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321/273 "2008-10-08T04:25:15Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > Well… part of the problem is that you can’t simply brush away conspiracy theories of a global Jewish cabal, because that’s often how such bizaree racist views have been expressed. The claims of Jewish control of individual nations often are situated in a ‘narrative’ of Jewish control of many nations. But, no problem, let me toss you a few cites, sorry that they’re rather sparse, but I’ve got a bad headache and don’t have the energy to run a full search: > > Of course, the specific incarnation of the myth in modern times often deals with specific “Zionist occupied governments”, but it’s an outgrowth of beliefs that there is a Jewish conspiracy that means the rest of humanity harm. For contemporary insanity, check out “Jew Watch”, I’m breaking the link, because it’s about as nauseating as st-rmfr-nt. http: //www. jewwatch. com/jew-occupiedgovernments-folder.html (that crazy motherfucker is actually claiming, for instance, that the USSR, seat of institutionalized anti-Semitism, supporter of the Arab regimes with money and military hardware, was a “Zionist state”) That was my point, though - those are examples of Jews being accused of trying to create a one-world government- I’ve always heard it as “Zionist Occupied Government”, singular, because they’re talking about some overarching hierarchy controlling _all_ national governments- the Bilderberg group, the Trilateral Comission, etc., not an individual national government. What I’ve never heard of is Jews being accused of being in control of a particular state government- there’s lots of “Jews control the world” and not much “Jews control Liechtenstein”, or whatever. That is, other than that crazy guy you linked to. _The Protocols_ are actually kind of funny (not ha-ha funny, obviously) if you set aside the historical context; I mean, they read like the bad guy dialogue in a Hardy Boys novel. > [@](#): > > Well, to be fair, he only talked about her appearance, something he did know about because Argent Towers posted her picture. If you post a picture of a plain girl with a face nearly as wide as it is tall AND talk about how gorgeous she is, somebody is going to bite. Is that really necessary? Come on… don’t be a dick. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321/274 "2008-10-08T12:43:55Z")
> [@A\_shameful\_cracka](#): > > Well, to be fair, he only talked about her appearance, something he did know about because Argent Towers posted her picture. If you post a picture of a plain girl with a face nearly as wide as it is tall AND talk about how gorgeous she is, somebody is going to bite. Well to be fair; was it appropriate for Mshar to launch into such an attack in a thread that had nothing to do with girlfriends or pictures? That was out of left field and spurious at best. I would think AT could have been blasted for things he actually does and not for the appearance of his girl friend. Honestly his Yak jokes get pretty tiresome and I don’t think anyone would have thought less of Mshar if he brought that up instead. Honestly, if you are sharing photo of loved ones on the SDMB, you kind of expect people to be polite or if it is your own photo a little bit of silly flirting. You don’t expect hateful attacks for fellow members about them. Jim ---
**Author:** ![sinical\_brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/48db29/32.png) [@sinical\_brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinical_brit)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321/275 "2008-10-08T12:44:44Z")
[QUOTE=Ralf124c] This Is SUPPOSED to Be ABOUT ME! Can we please get back on track? [/QUOTE] > [@Sapo](#): > > Sure thing. What do you think of Palin? Fuk that. What do you think of ATs girlfriend Ralf ? ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321/276 "2008-10-08T12:51:20Z")
> [@sinical\_brit](#): > > Originally Posted by **Ralf124c** > This Is SUPPOSED to Be ABOUT ME! > Can we please get back on track? I’m puzzled. Why edit the quote just to change the spelling of **ralph124c** ’s name? ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321/277 "2008-10-08T12:57:35Z")
> [@](#): > > “Jews, when looked at as a voting block, exert influence on the political that is disproportionate to their demographic weight.” is factually accurate. It is not as if this thread can possibly go any wronger or further off track, so I will bite. How can ANY group “as a voting block” have more influence than their numbers should allow? Are they voting twice? I know the American system allows for an election to go against a straight majority vote, but only in real borderline cases. Am I misunderstanding this statement? ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321/278 "2008-10-08T13:00:28Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Is that really necessary? Come on… don’t be a dick. I think you are bit late for that piece of advice. His only two posts to this thread have been to take mild swipes at the girl. AT hasn’t risen to the bait so far. Leave him be, I am curious to see how far will he go to get a reaction. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321/279 "2008-10-08T13:11:02Z")
> [@Sapo](#): > > It is not as if this thread can possibly go any wronger or further off track, so I will bite. > > How can ANY group “as a voting block” have more influence than their numbers should allow? Are they voting twice? I know the American system allows for an election to go against a straight majority vote, but only in real borderline cases. Am I misunderstanding this statement? I’m guessing by having a disproportionately high ratio of voters-to-eligible-voters, and a tendency to vote alike. It also helps the AARP, and hurts several other minority communities with low ratios. ---
**Author:** ![sinical\_brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/48db29/32.png) [@sinical\_brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinical_brit)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321/280 "2008-10-08T13:45:54Z")
I didnt know how to create multiple quotes in a quick reply. So i just copied the syntax from Sapos quote and stuck ralfs name in. I didnt spot my capitalisation mistake. I hope you can sleep easyer now ! 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sick-of-ralph124c-and-his-stupidity/466321.md?page=15)