# Is Shodan more retarded lately, or has he maintained a consistent level of retardation all along? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 24, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530 "2012-01-24T20:31:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 23
**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:** [January 27, 2012, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530/441 "2012-01-27T15:48:37Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > Don’t dial it back too much. You’re going to want that cowbell on the track. I agree with this, and think xtisme’s advice is too broad. You don’t want to be just a brawler, but you need that left jab to keep them honest. Otherwise you’ll find that even the more heavyweight and serious of your opponents will use your pariah status against you, in a condescending attitude and with subtle digs. There are a LOT of people who will bully a perceived weakling but who will be more respectful if they think they themselves might get hurt in the process. The right balance is the tricky part. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530/442 "2012-01-27T15:52:39Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > There are a LOT of people who will bully a perceived weakling but who will be more respectful if they think they themselves might get hurt in the process. Yeah, because **Shodan** ’s won so much respect by bullying everyone he suspects of harboring liberal thoughts for years. What planet are you living on? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530/443 "2012-01-27T15:55:17Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I might not pit you, but if you took shots at the right using the same rhetoric and tone, I sure as hell would not applaud you. It’s just not a tactic that I think is effective in any way shape or form. So you didn’t write post #237? And you didn’t write [this post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14709862&postcount=66)? Or [this one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14638465&postcount=102)? And you would never write a snarky one-liner, [right](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14658267&postcount=3)? Heavens, no - [everything](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14600059&postcount=63) you post is nice and rational and [aimed](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=14583420#post14583420) at [helping](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=14558599#post14558599) along [honest debate](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14629905&postcount=2). [Always fair](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=14574348#post14574348), [aren’t you](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=14558705#post14558705)? Nice to know how concerned you are with the level of debate. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530/444 "2012-01-27T15:57:49Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > As for folks comparing Shodan to Hitler in response to his post, or taking your own cheap shots, don’t be idiots. Oh shut it, you turtlenecked wedge of corduroy milquetoast. (See? Plenty of diversity of opinion on the left!) ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530/445 "2012-01-27T16:02:34Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > I agree with this, and think xtisme’s advice is too broad. > > You don’t want to be just a brawler, but you need that left jab to keep them honest. Otherwise you’ll find that even the more heavyweight and serious of your opponents will use your pariah status against you, in a condescending attitude and with subtle digs. > > There are a LOT of people who will bully a perceived weakling but who will be more respectful if they think they themselves might get hurt in the process. > > The right balance is the tricky part. Perhaps I’m just in a nostalgic frame of mind, bit this reminds me of efforts on the part of some sdmb righty to advance the “big swinging dick” US foreign policy strategy during the Bush years. Why do you guys persist in doing things that demonstrably don’t work? ---
**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:** [January 27, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530/446 "2012-01-27T16:10:37Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Oh shut it, you turtlenecked wedge of corduroy milquetoast. > > (See? Plenty of diversity of opinion on the left!) +1. And, seriously, I don’t even understand the point about liberals only attacking the poor put-upon conservatives. I’d suggest that **LHOD** has pissed in my Cheerios more times than I can count, and I think we’re pretty much on the same end of the politcial spectrum, and the contempt I’ve received from **R.T. Firefly** lately has been pretty well off the charts, and I’ve gotten into it with **Elv1sL1ves** over the years fairly viciously, and on and on and on. I think most lefty posters could name fellow-lefties they’s been attacked by and have attacked themselves, so where does this theme (practically an anthem) even come from anyway, that the nastiness that righties receive is purely ideological? A bunch of Wah-Wah-Waaaaah, if you ask me. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530/447 "2012-01-27T16:13:48Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Perhaps I’m just in a nostalgic frame of mind, bit this reminds me of efforts on the part of some sdmb righty to advance the “big swinging dick” US foreign policy strategy during the Bush years. Why do you guys persist in doing things that demonstrably don’t work? That’s an interesting analogy, and I actually think the same rule applies to both. You need to be sort of like a porcupine - not looking to mess with anyone but very prickly in a tangle. Where this breaks down in foreign policy is when you take on too much and try to solve all the world’s problems. Then you’re in constant conflict, which is not good idea in foreign policy or MB posting. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530/448 "2012-01-27T16:17:36Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > So you didn’t write post #237? > > Nice to know how concerned you are with the level of debate. I never said I was perfet. Or even consistant. Or even knew how to spell. But I do try to sneak a point in to my snark. ETA: or some humour. Or humor. Whatever. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530/449 "2012-01-27T16:22:55Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Well, now I’m just wondering where I am on the “howling liberal monkey” spectrum. First soprano. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530/450 "2012-01-27T16:26:51Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Well, now I’m just wondering where I am on the “howling liberal monkey” spectrum. You’re about .7 hlm, which is just below a lemur with a women’s studies degree. Or, conversely, Furious might be a dipshit. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530/451 "2012-01-27T16:29:03Z")
Did we ever get a definitive list of who the Usual Suspects are? Given the frequency with which he references them, I’m sure someone as intellectually honest as **Shodan** would be able to elaborate. ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530/452 "2012-01-27T16:31:21Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > You’re about .7 hlm, which is just below a lemur with a women’s studies degree. Or, conversely, Furious might be a dipshit. I lol’ed ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530/453 "2012-01-27T16:38:24Z")
> [@FuriousGeorge](#): > > I lol’ed Oh, I can’t stay mad at you. Here, have a banana. ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530/454 "2012-01-27T16:41:38Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Oh, I can’t stay mad at you. Here, have a banana. After you’ve flung shit all over it? No thanks, but I appreciate the sentiment. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530/455 "2012-01-27T16:45:05Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > You don’t want to be just a brawler, but you need that left jab to keep them honest. Otherwise you’ll find that even the more heavyweight and serious of your opponents will use your pariah status against you, in a condescending attitude and with subtle digs. > > There are a LOT of people who will bully a perceived weakling but who will be more respectful if they think they themselves might get hurt in the process. > > The right balance is the tricky part. The posters that are worth debating won’t use condescending attitude and subtle digs because those things don’t really help either side learn or exchange ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530/456 "2012-01-27T17:00:48Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > The posters that are worth debating won’t use condescending attitude and subtle digs because those things don’t really help either side learn or exchange ideas. Precisely. I know a lot of folks think I’m a wuss because I’ll back out of debates with lowlifes, but whatever–I could not possibly care less care if an idiot thinks I’m a wuss. My point in engaging in GD is to reach those rare threads in which I and another poster who initially disagree come to some sort of agreement: either we realize we’re talking past one another, or one of us says something that changes the other’s mind. I freakin’ love those occasions, no matter which side of the mind-changing I’m on. So when I realize someone else is in it for some other purpose, I’m no longer interested in talking with them. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530/457 "2012-01-27T17:06:29Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > If I, sir, am a moron’s moron, then you are a moron’s moron’s moron. And I am NOT a moron–I am an English teacher (or do I contradict myself?) and you have committed a classical error, a “dangling participle,” in your sentence, which I have pointed out for the sake of nitpicking your shit to appear properly contentious but also because it is true, if fairly meaningless. > > Simply put, when your sentence begins “As a liberal,” then the noun or pronoun or which immediately follows must be the one that the participial phrase is meant to modify. The noun that follows your phrase is “Shodan.” You are calling him a liberal. > > You can only reach the much-sought level of “Moron’s moron’s moron’s moron” by continuing to pursue this discussion. Good luck with that!! Yeah… well… your \*face \*is a dangling participle! ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530/458 "2012-01-27T17:08:53Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Did we ever get a definitive list of who the Usual Suspects are? Given the frequency with which he references them, I’m sure someone as intellectually honest as **Shodan** would be able to elaborate. You know who you are. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530/459 "2012-01-27T17:13:15Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > Yeah… well… your \*face \*is a dangling participle! Can’t argue with that. It’s true. The precise participle modifying my face happens to be “Classically handsome and magnificently proportioned,” but moron’s moron’s moron’s morons (and, yes, three apostrophe 'S’s followed by a plural ‘S’ is what I’m shooting for) persist in applying it to my entire body rather than limiting it to my face. Technically, this known as a squinting (rather than a dangling) participle, I think, but it’s close enough for jazz. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530/460 "2012-01-27T17:16:48Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > You know who you are. It’s true! I’ve been Keyser Soze all along! But seriously, it’s a pretty handy debating tactic. If you can pre-emptively declare that any opposition to anything you say, no matter how wrong, is based on knee-jerking by The Usual Suspects (a group which could include anyone) rather than being rational fact-based responses, you don’t ever have to take opposing arguments seriously. Winning! Of course if you ever actually commit to stating who The Usual Suspects are it doesn’t work so well because then it stops being an all-encompassing liberal conspiracy against you and is just a list of People You Don’t Like. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shodan-more-retarded-lately-or-has-he-maintained-a-consistent-level-of-retardation-all-along/610530.md?page=24)