# It’s called “Random Assortment” for a reason! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 5, 2007, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-called-random-assortment-for-a-reason/398867 "2007-04-05T16:32:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-called-random-assortment-for-a-reason/398867/21 "2007-04-05T20:20:42Z")
**Mouse\_Maven** , while I agree your comeback was a bit ass-ish, it’s better than what I have done – which is to say, I haven’t spoken to my mother since…uhmmm…1992? It’s much easier for me this way. I applaud your ability to keep her around, you’re a better person than I! Of course, I do have to point out that my daughter (that my mother thought should have been aborted because she _might_ _gasp_ turn out like me) is so much like my sister (whom my mother adores) that I have actually called her by my sister’s name on occasion without realising it. Funny how that works…kind of reminds me of the old “single mother pregnant in a society where she may have been stoned for being pregnant, should she have aborted the baby jesus” pro-life thing. heh. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-called-random-assortment-for-a-reason/398867/22 "2007-04-05T20:53:18Z")
[QUOTE=Mouse\_Maven] Past discussion Me: That’s one of the effects of a market economy. Mom: We don’t live in a markey economy. [/QUOTE] Well, she’s wrong. The dollar has been pegged to Marky Mark’s career since the early '90s. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-called-random-assortment-for-a-reason/398867/23 "2007-04-05T21:15:38Z")
What you _SHOULD_ have said is: “Well mom, scientists have now determined that intellegence, mental stability, performance in school, etc. are 100% environmental. So the problems I’ve had are _ **ALL YOUR FAULT** _!!!” At least that’s what I would have said… ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-called-random-assortment-for-a-reason/398867/24 "2007-04-05T22:45:48Z")
**M-M** : I do **not** suggest you do this in real life, but I post it to lift your spirits and give you a necessary chuckle: Mouse\_Mother: Oh, how horrible _you’re_ going to have a child and have it stuck with your awful genes, etc., etc. Mouse\_Maven: You know, mother, you’re right. We’ve decided there’s nothing we can do about the genetic makeup, but we’ll limit the child’s exposure to destabilizing influences that could hurt it. _beat_ We _will_ send you a picture every year or two, though. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-called-random-assortment-for-a-reason/398867/25 "2007-04-05T23:24:00Z")
I opened this thread to read a rant about Easter candy. I was sure of it. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-called-random-assortment-for-a-reason/398867/26 "2007-04-05T23:30:43Z")
Mothers are not the only ones who get this sort of thing in their heads. I mentioned I liked the color purple. My MIL gave me the ugliest purple shirt she could find five Christmases in a row. ---
**Author:** ![Mouse\_Maven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Mouse\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mouse_Maven)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2007, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-called-random-assortment-for-a-reason/398867/27 "2007-04-06T01:03:18Z")
[QUOTE=Polycarp] Mouse\_Maven: You know, mother, you’re right. We’ve decided there’s nothing we can do about the genetic makeup, but we’ll limit the child’s exposure to destabilizing influences that could hurt it. _beat_ We _will_ send you a picture every year or two, though. 😃 [/QUOTE] Hee, hee! You and **Alice** both had great suggestions. 😃 I’ll try to behave and bite a hole in my lip for the next few decades. 🙂 [QUOTE=whole bean] I opened this thread to read a rant about Easter candy. I was sure of it. [/QUOTE] Sorry. The title has a reference to Mendelian genetics. _When you can’t dazzle them with your brilliance, baffle them with your bullshit._😉 ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2007, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-called-random-assortment-for-a-reason/398867/28 "2007-04-06T01:24:53Z")
Actually, I agree with your mother. You should be very concerned about how your progeny will turn out. I’ve heard that “asshole” skips a generation. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2007, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-called-random-assortment-for-a-reason/398867/29 "2007-04-06T12:59:44Z")
[QUOTE=Polycarp] Mouse\_Maven: You know, mother, you’re right. We’ve decided there’s nothing we can do about the genetic makeup, but we’ll limit the child’s exposure to destabilizing influences that could hurt it. _beat_ We _will_ send you a picture every year or two, though. [/QUOTE] Clever and hilarious, to be sure. But I’m thinking of a more practical solution. “Mom, I love you, but I’m sick and tired of you saying things like that. Regardless of what some idiotic test said 30 years ago, I am quite intelligent, and have proven so time and time again. If you find it impossible to acknowledge that, then I’m afraid that we are not going to speak ever again.” ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-called-random-assortment-for-a-reason/398867/30 "2007-04-06T18:48:10Z")
**M\_M** , You should ask where she thinks your genes came from. Why don’t you take an IQ test now, you know you’ll score above average, then send her a copy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-called-random-assortment-for-a-reason/398867.md?page=1)