# It's time to officially Pit Joe Paterno and the Penn State football program. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 7, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167 "2011-11-07T14:23:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 326
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6503 "2014-03-21T15:15:53Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > “X is irrelevant to the specific point I’m making now” is not the same thing a “X is utterly nonexistant”. Heck, I’d be impressed if Artist even _mentions_ X (i.e. charges against Sandusky other than rape), even to say they are irrelevant, but his stance is that X is utterly nonexistent; it’s the only way he can tenuously claim to keep “winning”: - Sandusky wasn’t convicted of rape - therefore rape didn’t occur - therefore Paterno is not compliant in facilitating rape. As long as SA chooses not to recognize any other crime of Sandusky’s, Paterno remains in the clear. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2014, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6504 "2014-03-21T15:38:32Z")
I don’t think that’s true. A very brief search turned up any number of acknowledgments by SA that there were other crimes committed. Including: > [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I too find Sandusky’s convictions satisfying. I mention this particular example because it was in the course of an exchange with you specifically. He was responding to you, and you quoted him in return. Perhaps you are going to claim there is some minimum number of times that SA is required to post that Sandusky is guilty in order to carry on with his defense of Paterno. Regardless, I’m not inclined to research this topic at length, and remain unconvinced of your thesis. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6505 "2014-03-21T16:00:41Z")
Well, I said I’d be impressed and I stand by that. However, I suggested to you a while back to check his posts for specific references (and I should clarify - _exclusive_ references) to “rape” or “raping” and there are a lot, to the point where Starving might recognize sexual assault in one post, then return to exclusive analysis of whether or not rape occurred (or was physically possible - hence the discussions of cardboard tubes or what “squatting” means) right after. I started to compile cites, but then realized “this is Starving Artist I’m talking about, and Fotheringay-Phipps I’m talking _to_” and sanity prevailed. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6506 "2014-03-21T16:03:21Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > However, I suggested to you a while back to check his posts for specific references (and I should clarify - _exclusive_ references) to “rape” or “raping” and there are a lot, to the point where Starving might recognize sexual assault in one post, then return to exclusive analysis of whether or not rape occurred (or was physically possible - hence the discussions of cardboard tubes or what “squatting” means) right after. What’s the relevance of any of this? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6507 "2014-03-21T16:04:18Z")
None, if you don’t or won’t see any. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6508 "2014-03-21T16:06:10Z")
Well I guess that answers the question. None. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6509 "2014-03-21T16:12:28Z")
Sure, if you like. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6510 "2014-03-21T16:19:56Z")
Suits me fine. I mean, ideally you wouldn’t post irrelevant tripe to begin with, but there’s only so much you can ask for … ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6511 "2014-03-21T16:22:55Z")
Feel free to ask for anything you like, as far as I’m concerned. This “irrelevant tripe” request of yours is moot since the conditions didn’t occur, but far be it from me to suggest you restrain yourself. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6512 "2014-03-21T16:28:29Z")
Yes sir ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6513 "2014-03-21T16:30:49Z")
So it’s a last word contest you’re wantin’, eh? heh-heh-heh… ---
**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:** [March 21, 2014, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6514 "2014-03-21T16:34:34Z")
Said the man with 44K posts (and about that many sentences) … ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6515 "2014-03-21T16:39:54Z")
That’s irrelevant and possibly tripey. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2014, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6516 "2014-03-21T16:42:58Z")
It’s relevant (to the topic of last word contests). Unfortunately once you have to explain it … ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6517 "2014-03-21T16:47:50Z")
Oh, I’m okay with the concept that your comment was witty and relevant, if only to you. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2014, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6518 "2014-03-21T16:50:04Z")
Well that pretty much sums up my assessment of about 80% of your comments, so I guess we’re good. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6519 "2014-03-21T16:50:31Z")
I think I saw this in a movie once. Soon, one of them is going to say something heartwarming, and they will realize that the love between them is greater than the differences. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6520 "2014-03-21T16:53:37Z")
Dammit, John… I was hoping a moderator would step in and declare that this thread about child-rape had degenerated into immaturity and needed to be closed. You ruined it. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6521 "2014-03-21T16:57:34Z")
That actually relates to the thread a bit, in that it’s similar to how a lot of violent homophobes turn out to be repressed gays. (I suggested upthread that something similar might apply to frothing anti-pedophile lynch mobs.) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6522 "2014-03-21T18:07:04Z")
I trust this an especially generous interpretation of “relates”, comparable to the shared genetic heritage of humans and mushrooms. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167.md?page=325) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167.md?page=327)