# It's called an Arnold Palmer for a reason, douche. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 19, 2007, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707 "2007-05-19T08:33:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707/201 "2007-05-23T10:22:31Z")
Last time I ordered a Roy Rogers, the bartender didn’t know what it was. When I told him how to make it, he said, “Oh, I learned that as a Darth Vader.” The same drink is called different things in different areas. That’s not so unusual as there are regional names for other things too. So, Rigamarole, what do you call this drink: one shot of Creme de Cacoa, one shot of Kaluah, and one shot of 151? I never heard of it until I “invented” it back in 1984 or so in Monterey. I named it the “California Chocolate Milk.” There’s no doubt in my mind someone else may have come up with the same concoction and given it another name. Big whoop. It’s just a drink and just a name. Your customer made it very clear to you what she was ordering. What do you care what terminology she uses? Giver her the drink and collect your tip. Everyone’s happy. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707/202 "2007-05-23T10:36:10Z")
[QUOTE=Monty] It’s just a drink and just a name. Your customer made it very clear to you what she was ordering. What do you care what terminology she uses? Giver her the drink and collect your tip. Everyone’s happy. [/QUOTE] You must have missed the part where calling the drink a Tiger Woods is on a par with a white person calling a black waiter a nigger. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707/203 "2007-05-23T10:53:03Z")
Quite likely. I have a low tolerance for stupidity and equating calling the drink a Tiger Woods with calling a Black person a racial slur is just plain stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707/204 "2007-05-23T10:58:33Z")
Oh, I forgot something. I’m not sure of the spelling of the ingredients for the drink I described above. I no longer drink alcohol and so don’t particularly care about the spellings of booze’s names. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707/205 "2007-05-23T11:18:00Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] As for my panties, I only wear those on the weekends and they are perfectly smooth and pressed. [/QUOTE] They are knot! ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707/206 "2007-05-23T11:48:56Z")
Why not just call the mess a ‘golfer’ and have done with it? Or maybe call it a ‘professional golfer’ just to distinguish it from a ‘hacker’ or a ‘duffer’. I suppose one could identify it as a ‘white professional golfer’ or a ‘black professional golfer’ or a ‘mixed parentage professional golfer’ if a more complete definition were to be required. Maybe customers could be educated to say something like, “I want some of that stuff that Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer like to drink.” Of course, the order of the names could be reversed depending on the ethnicity/racism of the customer. Could this be a tempest in a tea/lemonade pot? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707/207 "2007-05-23T13:02:58Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] Her: “Yeah, well I gave him a lemonade and cranberry juice, which is what Tiger Woods actually drinks - then he said he meant the other one [that is, iced tea and lemonade]. I said, ‘Oh, that’s an Arnold Palmer’ and he said ‘Well, Arnold Palmer is retired.’ My children are black [this is true, I happen to know that this server eloped with a black man] but that’s still bullshit. You know why it’s called an Arnold Palmer?” Me: “Because Arnold Palmer invented it?” Her: “Exactly.” Although I know you guys have trouble wrapping your minds around the concept that the people who call the drink this name are actually doing it because they are racist, and not because they are joking or because Tiger Woods is their favorite golfer (or because AP is retired, as this guy’s BS excuse went) or because they just don’t know the right name for the drink, I now feel fully vindicated. [/QUOTE] So, they guy says he asked for a Tiger Woods because Arnold Palmer is retired, and that is proof that he’s a racist. I’m completely confused. I just am. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707/208 "2007-05-23T13:35:27Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] Where did I say it “floored” me? I never thought this event was earth-shaking, it was simply a dumbass thing someone said that I didn’t like and wanted to vent about online. [/QUOTE] Wow. At first I just thought you were a racist son of a bitch, but now I realize that you’re just dumber than a concrete trampoline. From your original post: [QUOTE=Rigamarole] As some of you know, I work in a restaurant. I’m a server. I get to deal with douchebag customers every day, so I am mostly pretty desensitized to it. But today I had a lady that just floored me with her douchbaggery, and it’s not the first time I’ve heard someone say this, so I really feel like it’s time to step up and call this horrible practice out. [/quote] And for the record, according to your own post, you knew explicitly what she wanted, because she didn’t initially order a “Tiger Woods” but instead: > [@Rigamarole](#): > > One elderly lady asks for “A lemonade mixed with iced tea” All of this umbrage over a customer who let you know, exactly, unambiguously, and in a form that not even David Duke could interpret as being “reverse racism”, what it was she wanted in her beverage. Back when I worked bar and someone would come in and order a “Martini, but with those little onions instead of olives”, I gave them a Martini garnished with cocktail olives; I didn’t lecture them about how the drink is properly called a Gibson and refuse to serve it to them until they acknowledge me, or otherwise stewed over it. [QUOTE=tomndebb] I can show you actual bartender books that claim one makes a Manhattan using Rye instead of Bourbon. Clearly, they were written by desperate Canada-philes looking for attention and a way to show disrespect for the U.S. (Alternatively, the recipe and the names simply got turned around in some small corner of the world.) [/QUOTE] In Wisconson, you have to be specific about ordering a “Manhattan with bourbon”, otherwise you’ll get it made with brandy. That’s a shock no one should have to endure. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707/209 "2007-05-23T14:17:02Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train] At first I just thought you were a racist son of a bitch, but now I realize that you’re just dumber than a concrete trampoline. [/QUOTE] Why can’t he be both? ---
**Author:** ![Brandon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f08c70/32.png) [@Brandon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brandon)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707/210 "2007-05-23T16:00:01Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] Why can’t he be both? [/QUOTE] The two tend to go hand in hand. **Rigamarole** , I find it awfully convenient that you chose to hop back in this thread after this “vindication” took place. What are the odds of a white server, who you happen to know eloped with a black man (the plot thickens), having to deal with someone else calling the drink a Tiger Woods just a few days after your incident? Also, if there truly is a drink called the Tiger Woods, it just adds credence to the possibility of a confused drink name. > [@Rigamarole](#): > > Although I know you guys have trouble wrapping your minds around the concept that the people who call the drink this name are actually doing it because they are racist, and not because they are joking or because Tiger Woods is their favorite golfer (or because AP is retired, as this guy’s BS excuse went) or because they just don’t know the right name for the drink, **I now feel fully vindicated**. > _**[[Bolding mine.]]**_ My guess is you wanted to feel fully vindicated since you opened this thread. Since you did not get your vindication from Dopers, you looked for vindication elsewhere (whether that was in your imagination or not, I cannot say). Next time skip the middle-man and pat yourself smugly on the back whenever you feel slighted. By the way, I have no trouble wrapping my mind around the concept of racist people taking potshots at the man through their drink orders (I am sure most understand the theoretical concept). I do have trouble, however, wrapping my mind around your response. Methinks you should stick to the less qualitative posts. **Lute** , I absolutely understand where you’re coming from, and I’m familiar with the situation you’re describing. I just didn’t think that the same scenario was applicable here. Plus his recent posts don’t really reek of “letting it go”, in my opinion. Thanks for the explanations though. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707/211 "2007-05-23T16:19:07Z")
Regarding **Rigamarole’s** “vindication,” I must say my BS meter went “tilt.” ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707/212 "2007-05-23T16:25:58Z")
[QUOTE=Hippy Hollow] Regarding **Rigamarole’s** “vindication,” I must say my BS meter went “tilt.” [/QUOTE] actually, I was reminded of the scene in _EdTV_ where Woody Harrelson (Ed’s brother) dragged an old girlfriend in front of the cameras to say that he “wasn’t that bad at sex, I mean I’ve definately had worse” and he walks off w/fist in the air shouting “Vindicated” ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707/213 "2007-05-23T17:38:14Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] Her: "Yeah, well I gave him a lemonade and cranberry juice, which is what Tiger Woods actually drinks - then he said he meant the other one [that is, iced tea and lemonade]. I said, ‘Oh, that’s an Arnold Palmer’ and he said ‘Well, Arnold Palmer is retired.’ My children are black [this is true, I happen to know that this server eloped with a black man] but that’s still bullshit. [/QUOTE] Best. Non. Sequiter. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707/214 "2007-05-23T18:49:09Z")
[QUOTE=jsgoddess] So, they guy says he asked for a Tiger Woods because Arnold Palmer is retired, and that is proof that he’s a racist. I’m completely confused. I just am. [/QUOTE] Hi, the proof is not that he said it’s because Arnold Palmer is retired. That was his BS excuse to this server who is fairly hot-tempered to begin with. The proof was that _she_ felt the same way, that he was obviously saying it to make the drink more “black”. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707/215 "2007-05-23T18:51:57Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train] Wow. At first I just thought you were a racist son of a bitch, but now I realize that you’re just dumber than a concrete trampoline. From your original post: [/QUOTE] OK, my mistake on the wording. But hey, it’s the Pit after all. Regardless, I never really was _that_ upset - it just bugged me enough that I wanted to bring some attention to it, and this was a place for me to do that. ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707/216 "2007-05-23T18:56:18Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] I now feel fully vindicated. [/QUOTE] Congratulations! You win teh intarnets. Try not to get drool all over it while admiring your reflection in its bright shiny candy-like finish, okay? ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707/217 "2007-05-23T19:00:14Z")
[QUOTE=Brandon] **Rigamarole** , I find it awfully convenient that you chose to hop back in this thread after this “vindication” took place. What are the odds of a white server, who you happen to know eloped with a black man (the plot thickens), having to deal with someone else calling the drink a Tiger Woods just a few days after your incident? [/QUOTE] I was surprised too. 🙂 Honestly, I didn’t post because I was expecting it to help my case here any (and if you just plain don’t believe me, I don’t give a shit. You don’t have to). But it was too much of a coincidence not to at least come back and mention it. Since tone is not easily conveyed in type, I should stress the fact that when she relayed his response of “Well, Arnold Palmer is retired” to me she did it with heavy sacrasm, and she was pretty pissed, obviously feeling that this was an excuse and he was really just trying to make the drink “blacker”. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707/218 "2007-05-23T19:12:56Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] Since tone is not easily conveyed in type, I should stress the fact that when she relayed his response of “Well, Arnold Palmer is retired” to me she did it with heavy sacrasm, and she was pretty pissed, obviously feeling that this was an excuse and he was really just trying to make the drink “blacker”. [/QUOTE] And she has black kids, so she should know. Right? ---
**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:** [May 23, 2007, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707/219 "2007-05-23T19:27:18Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] Hi, the proof is not that he said it’s because Arnold Palmer is retired. That was his BS excuse to this server who is fairly hot-tempered to begin with. The proof was that _she_ felt the same way, that he was obviously saying it to make the drink more “black”. [/QUOTE] You have a funny definition of the word “proof.” And by “funny,” I mean “stupid.” ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707/220 "2007-05-23T19:34:00Z")
So the other server, who appears to share your penchant for leaping tall buildings to arrive at her own preconceived opinion, “felt” that her customer was doing it to emphasize racism, as well, even though we have no more evidence from past visits that this patron actually has racist opinions and even though he explicitly said that the reason he used a specific name was that the namesake of the other drink had retired? I am impressed, (although probably not in a way that would make you feel better). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-called-an-arnold-palmer-for-a-reason-douche/404707.md?page=12)