# In defense of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 19, 2016, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155 "2016-12-19T17:36:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155/141 "2018-12-11T17:48:34Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Chillax dude. Sorry if it was confusing but I was making two different points. A bunch of Canadian stations are dropping the song. Also, you can’t just filter out news and sports stations because alt rock and hip hop stations were also never going to play the song. A number of stations go all-Christmas this time of year; how many of them have dropped the song would be a good number to know. Would have been a lot less confusing if you hadn’t quoted the U.S. statistics I posted, then asked me to filter out Canadian stations from those stats. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155/142 "2018-12-11T17:54:12Z")
I didn’t ask you to filter out Canadian stations. Yes, I guess I should have done a couple one sentence paragraphs. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155/143 "2018-12-11T18:05:54Z")
Make that one U.S. station-[San Francisco station KOIT has reversed the ban.](https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/station-nixes-ban-on-controversial-song-after-overwhelming-poll-results/ar-BBQNHmW?li=BBnb7Kz) Translation for those following the story on Facebook: “HALF THE RADIO STATIONS ARE BANNING THIS SONG!!!” ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155/144 "2018-12-11T18:08:25Z")
Czarcasm, you are being awfully nitpicky and tendentious. The point is, it’s not just some myth that stations are pulling the song. Why shouldn’t Canadian stations count? ETA: Not sure if I posed this question last year, but: why is this even a Christmas song at all? Most of the coldest time of year is in January and February. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155/145 "2018-12-11T18:12:51Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Czarcasm, you are being awfully nitpicky and tendentious. The point is, it’s not just some myth that stations are pulling the song. Why shouldn’t Canadian stations count? Since I am not a resident of Canada, I have no opinion on that. Any residents of Canada care to weigh in on this part of the story? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155/146 "2018-12-11T18:13:21Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Czarcasm, you are being awfully nitpicky and tendentious. The point is, it’s not just some myth that stations are pulling the song. Why shouldn’t Canadian stations count? Are you joking with this? Even if 5 or 10 stations pulled the song, so what? Aren’t there 1000s of stations? .01% of a group doing something is not 'OMG! IT’S CENSORSHIP AND THE WORST THING EVER!" :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155/147 "2018-12-11T18:18:15Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > ETA: Not sure if I posed this question last year, but: why is this even a Christmas song at all? Most of the coldest time of year is in January and February. Because it’s a Winter song. Jingle Bells also has no mention of Christmas. Btw, it was -4F (-20C) here in Ottawa last week. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > Since I am not a resident of Canada, I have no opinion on that. > Any residents of Canada care to weigh in on this part of the story? I am Canadian and this “ban” seems a lot more pervasive here. I think it’s crap because I always took the playful banter interpretation of the song. The Dean Martin version is my wife’s favorite Christmas song. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155/148 "2018-12-11T18:22:23Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I am Canadian and this “ban” seems a lot more pervasive here. I think it’s crap because I always took the playful banter interpretation of the song. The Dean Martin version is my wife’s favorite Christmas song. Since the ban is(or will be) wide-spread there, is there any great media uproar to match the hullabaloo that has taken place from only a couple of stations banning it in the U.S.? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155/149 "2018-12-11T18:30:05Z")
Well, I’m not big on Facebook but from people I’ve talked it’s mostly a “wtf? That’s stupid”. The CBC itself was carrying it as a news story for a couple days but no, I haven’t seen much hullabaloo. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155/150 "2018-12-11T19:32:03Z")
Yeah, the whole “But how MANY stations” is some bizarre argument by proxy versus stupid Facebook memes. I don’t think anyone here is insisting that there’s a nationwide banking going on or anything. If you want to argue with Facebook memes, that’s best done on Facebook. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155/151 "2018-12-11T21:30:49Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Huh, interesting. Do you think those drinks were maybe stronger? No idea. The only thing I found with cursory googling is that home distilled alcohol was much stronger during Prohibition than commercial varieties. However, the Thin Man movies (and most I’ve watched with this in mind) were made after Prohibition was repealed. So, I’d guess that Nick was not drinking anything stronger than today. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155/152 "2018-12-11T22:13:43Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > By whom? I’m trying to see how far you’re willing to take your argument from post 109. If all you have is [pointless division and fake outrage](https://www.gocomics.com/dogsofckennel/2018/12/11), so be it. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155/153 "2018-12-11T22:36:17Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > I’m trying to see how far you’re willing to take your argument from post 109. If all you have is [pointless division and fake outrage](https://www.gocomics.com/dogsofckennel/2018/12/11), so be it. Supposed test aside, how about answering the question: Prohibited by whom? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155/154 "2018-12-11T22:42:11Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > I’m trying to see how far you’re willing to take your argument from post 109. If all you have is [pointless division and fake outrage](https://www.gocomics.com/dogsofckennel/2018/12/11), so be it. Are you of the opinion that people not agreeing with you on the value of a work of art is akin to censorship? That’s not how it works. ETA: and it’s a fairly narcissistic view of reality. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155/155 "2018-12-12T06:07:30Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Are you joking with this? Even if 5 or 10 stations pulled the song, so what? Aren’t there 1000s of stations? .01% of a group doing something is not 'OMG! IT’S CENSORSHIP AND THE WORST THING EVER!" > > :rolleyes: You are the one guilty of hyperbole in search of a strawman. No one here that I’ve seen has called it “the worst thing ever”, certainly I have not. I started the thread to defend the song because it was taking a lot of heat (including in a pointed satire on SNL). That doesn’t mean I think it’s the great issue of our times, so simmer down now. > [@Jophiel](#): > > Yeah, the whole “But how MANY stations” is some bizarre argument by proxy versus stupid Facebook memes. I don’t think anyone here is insisting that there’s a nationwide banking going on or anything. If you want to argue with Facebook memes, that’s best done on Facebook. Yes. It’s strange that if we defend the song against criticism, that means we suddenly have to take responsibility for every outraged reaction on Facebook (none of which I have seen BTW). > [@carrps](#): > > No idea. The only thing I found with cursory googling is that home distilled alcohol was much stronger during Prohibition than commercial varieties. However, the Thin Man movies (and most I’ve watched with this in mind) were made after Prohibition was repealed. So, I’d guess that Nick was not drinking anything stronger than today. I wasn’t thinking of the liquor being stronger, but that maybe they used less mixer. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155/156 "2018-12-12T10:38:07Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > _Jingle Bells_ promotes animal cruelty, the way the riders make that poor horse dash through the snow while they laugh and sing. > > (I just made that up, nobody tell PETA) You’re closer than you think. There are more verses - the second one gives us: \*The horse was lean and lank Misfortune seemed his lot He got into a drifted bank And then we got upsot \*[sic] And in the last verse: _Just get a bobtailed bay Two forty as his speed_\* Hitch him to an open sleigh And crack! you’ll take the lead.\* So one horse gets stuck in a “drifted bank” and has the sleigh he’s tied to overturned, and another gets whipped. Horse cruelty all over the place. But at least no one is trying to get the horse drunk and seduce it. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155/157 "2018-12-12T10:54:40Z")
Well, for this season Baby It’s Cold Outside is safe. Had a big boost in sales. [https://www.google.com/amp/s/people.com/music/baby-its-cold-outside-sales-soar-radio-stations-reinstate-song-despite-controversy/amp/](https://www.google.com/amp/s/people.com/music/baby-its-cold-outside-sales-soar-radio-stations-reinstate-song-despite-controversy/amp/) I’m sure the Snowflake generation will be back next year attacking our holiday traditions again. I’m not sure poor Rudolph and Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving will get aired next year. I sure hope so. Charlie Brown Christmas airs Dec 20. I’m looking forward to seeing it. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155/158 "2018-12-12T11:05:37Z")
A reversal at CBC: > **[CBC resumes playing Baby It's Cold Outside after 'overwhelming' response from...](https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/baby-its-cold-outside-back-on-the-air)** > > 'The audience spoke, and we listened,' CBC said. Rogers is sticking by its decision not to play the 1944 Christmas classic this year > [@](#): > > The “overwhelming” desire of CBC Music listeners to be able to hear Baby It’s Cold Outside has prompted the public broadcaster to resume playing the song after a week’s hiatus. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155/159 "2018-12-12T13:13:34Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Well, for this season Baby It’s Cold Outside is safe. Had a big boost in sales. > [https://www.google.com/amp/s/people.com/music/baby-its-cold-outside-sales-soar-radio-stations-reinstate-song-despite-controversy/amp/](https://www.google.com/amp/s/people.com/music/baby-its-cold-outside-sales-soar-radio-stations-reinstate-song-despite-controversy/amp/) > I’m sure the Snowflake generation will be back next year attacking our holiday traditions again… Wouldn’t the snowflakes be the people who freak out because other people don’t like a particular song? And as for the snowflake generation, my vote is on white baby boomers. They’ve been pandered to by all aspects of culture for over fifty years and now that their stranglehold on what is and is not allowed is starting to finally loosen, they lose their shit. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155/160 "2018-12-12T13:49:33Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > A reversal at CBC: > > [CBC resumes playing Baby It's Cold Outside after 'overwhelming' response from listeners | National Post](https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/baby-its-cold-outside-back-on-the-air) Yeah, I guess there was more hullabaloo than I realized. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-baby-its-cold-outside/775155.md?page=9)