# Is it April 1? Because this cannot possibly be for real... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 31, 2002, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-april-1-because-this-cannot-possibly-be-for-real/145955 "2002-12-31T23:06:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-april-1-because-this-cannot-possibly-be-for-real/145955/1 "2002-12-31T23:06:31Z")
[http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/12/31/offbeat.jackass.reut/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/12/31/offbeat.jackass.reut/index.html) > [@](#): > > \*\* > A Montana man who legally changed his name to “Jack Ass” in 1997 has sued media giant Viacom Inc. , claiming its stunt-heavy, gross-out TV show and movie “Jackass” had defamed his character. > \*\* It’s times like this when only a :rolleyes: will do. So here’s one for you, Jack: :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-april-1-because-this-cannot-possibly-be-for-real/145955/2 "2002-12-31T23:08:06Z")
> [@](#): > > …Jack Ass, who said he changed his name to raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving… Excuse me? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-april-1-because-this-cannot-possibly-be-for-real/145955/3 "2002-12-31T23:09:04Z")
Aptly yclept. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-april-1-because-this-cannot-possibly-be-for-real/145955/4 "2002-12-31T23:10:16Z")
OMG, this is inspired. This guy is my new hero. ---
**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:** [December 31, 2002, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-april-1-because-this-cannot-possibly-be-for-real/145955/5 "2002-12-31T23:16:59Z")
Only in America. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-april-1-because-this-cannot-possibly-be-for-real/145955/6 "2002-12-31T23:20:33Z")
Mr. Ass is certainly living up to his name. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-april-1-because-this-cannot-possibly-be-for-real/145955/7 "2002-12-31T23:23:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*Only in America. \*\* You say that like it’s a bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-april-1-because-this-cannot-possibly-be-for-real/145955/8 "2002-12-31T23:29:15Z")
Somebody’s going to blame it on lawyers, right? Go on, I dare ya. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-april-1-because-this-cannot-possibly-be-for-real/145955/9 "2002-12-31T23:32:16Z")
I blame lawyers for this. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-april-1-because-this-cannot-possibly-be-for-real/145955/10 "2002-12-31T23:34:15Z")
Well, prior to the show’s popularity, the phrase Jack-Ass was incredibly complimentary and bestowed prestige upon it’s recipient. I hope he ends up owning MTV. The anguish this poor man must feel. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-april-1-because-this-cannot-possibly-be-for-real/145955/11 "2002-12-31T23:37:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Enderw24 \* > \*\*I blame lawyers for this. \*\* Ah ha! You fell into my trap, you lawyer-bashing soon-to-be lawyer! Mr. Ass is, of course, representing himself. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-april-1-because-this-cannot-possibly-be-for-real/145955/12 "2002-12-31T23:39:05Z")
I’ve got a clipping saved regarding a fellow who changed his name in '98 to “Heywood Jablowme”. Seriously! ---
**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:** [December 31, 2002, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-april-1-because-this-cannot-possibly-be-for-real/145955/13 "2002-12-31T23:40:12Z")
Ender, I don’t know if people tell you this enough, but damn, sir: YOU ARE ONE OF THE FUNNIEST PEOPLE ON THESE BOARDS. You hear me? DO YOU? God you make me laugh heartily. ---
**Author:** ![JonScribe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3be4f8/32.png) [@JonScribe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JonScribe)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-april-1-because-this-cannot-possibly-be-for-real/145955/14 "2002-12-31T23:47:09Z")
Here’s the punchline: “Jack Ass is representing himself.” ---
**Author:** ![SandWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8491ac/32.png) [@SandWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandWriter)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-april-1-because-this-cannot-possibly-be-for-real/145955/15 "2003-01-01T00:01:59Z")
I think he’s just garnering publicity for the sequel… Jack Ass II, this time it’s personal! ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-april-1-because-this-cannot-possibly-be-for-real/145955/16 "2003-01-01T00:10:28Z")
Of course he is representing himself. Even I know that any man who represents himself has a jackass for a client. ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-april-1-because-this-cannot-possibly-be-for-real/145955/17 "2003-01-01T00:13:35Z")
Do we know he’s **not** a lawyer? [sub]if not, he ought to get a honorary degree…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-april-1-because-this-cannot-possibly-be-for-real/145955/18 "2003-01-01T00:41:18Z")
You know what’s funny? In the phone book, He’d be “Ass, Jack”. That’s even better than “Jack Ass”. ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-april-1-because-this-cannot-possibly-be-for-real/145955/19 "2003-01-01T00:45:01Z")
You ought to see his wife, Pieceof. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Emperor\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@Emperor\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emperor_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-april-1-because-this-cannot-possibly-be-for-real/145955/20 "2003-01-01T00:48:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by danceswithcats \* > \*\*I’ve got a clipping saved regarding a fellow who changed his name in '98 to “Heywood Jablowme”. Seriously! \*\* Heh. I remember that. It was done by a local radio station, CFOX, as part of their toughest contest ever. Ahhh, memories. I kind of have a weird respect for this guy. I will admit that the suit is largely without grounds in my eyes (of course I’m not a lawyer. Nor do I know any lawyers. Nor do I play one on TV. But rest assured, if I did play one on TV, my opinion still wouldn’t be worth two plug nickels. Unless the show was really popular. Then I would have my celebrity status to back me up. What was I talking about?) but changing your name to such an unlikely moniker in order to raise awareness of anything does show a certain amount of dedication that I do find refreshing. Mind you as has been said, perhaps in hindsight, Jack Ass wasn’t the best name to choose, especially if one is talking about the defamation of character. Not much character in that mane, let me tell you. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-april-1-because-this-cannot-possibly-be-for-real/145955.md?page=2)