# Just how dense is Diogenes the Cynic **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 7, 2011, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749 "2011-03-07T04:30:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749/21 "2011-03-07T11:17:45Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > Beyond that, he actually hasn’t admitted to making that mistake. > [@magellan01](#): > > [Post #86.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13539933&postcount=86) lol ---
**Author:** ![manila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@manila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manila)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749/22 "2011-03-07T12:49:30Z")
Yeah its a problem, lot of posters here, for example, **Dio** and **FinnAgain** have lots of well thought out, valid, researched things to say, but the style that they use is abrasive to say the least. The rhetoric gets in the way of the valuable things they have to say ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749/23 "2011-03-07T13:10:58Z")
Has anyone ever been pitted with Greater frequency than DTC? ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749/24 "2011-03-07T14:13:57Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > Has anyone ever been pitted with Greater frequency than DTC? Hitler, the Republican SWAT officer, while driving his car? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749/25 "2011-03-07T14:22:47Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > I think **Diogenes** has a lot of valuable stuff to say and is pretty knowledgeable, especially on matters like religion. His problem as a debater, though, is that he regularly overstates his position. It’s a common thing to do, especially if you get overinvested in the argument. Take the thread that was linked to in the OP, for instance. **Diogenes’s** original argument was that domestic Muslim radicalism isn’t a threat in the US. This is an eminently defensible position, and personally, I agree with it. When he was challenged, though, he moved from that position to the position that “there’s never been a homegrown radical Islamic terrorist in the US”. That’s obviously a much harder position to defend, and I think both I and **Ibn Warraq** were able to show it wasn’t true. Unfortunately, at that point, instead of retreating back to the more defensible original position, he decided he was going to die on the new hill he staked out for himself, and the debate became a matter of moved goalposts and dueling definitions. > > I think this happens a lot, and it hurts him as a debater…both the tendency to overreach and the disinclination to back down. It’s a shame, because he is knowledgeable and I think if he could be a little more tentative and cautious in his assertions he’d both have more fun and be more persuasive. Yep. As for the OP… he didn’t really mistake you for **Valteron** , he just mistook your place of residence with his. BFD. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749/26 "2011-03-07T14:26:33Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Well, you rather foolishly let yourself get pulled into orbit around him so… A fine funny. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749/27 "2011-03-07T14:31:24Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > It was almost as funny as watching him getting spanked and humiliated by Champion-of-Truth(hardly a rocket scientist) when Champ made him so mad he lost the ability to spell and was sent running from the thread like a whipped cur with his tail tucked firmly between his legs and his cheeks red with humiliation. The fact that you seem to take such satisfaction from this makes you a rather small person, IMO. Really, I’m sure there’s plenty to Pit **DtC** for if once is so inclined. For making a mistake of identification? Big fucking deal. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749/28 "2011-03-07T14:37:11Z")
Wow, we made it to the second week of a new month before a Dio pitting. Yawn. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749/29 "2011-03-07T15:00:43Z")
Don’t worry, **Ibn Warraq** , Dio will say something even dumber before the week is out, and then you can bump this Pitting. Regards, Shodan ---
**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:** [March 7, 2011, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749/30 "2011-03-07T15:01:05Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Wow, we made it to the second week of a new month before a Dio pitting. Yawn. Perhaps, but this is one lame pitting. I thought March was supposed to come in like a Lion? ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749/31 "2011-03-07T15:05:10Z")
Willing, and indeed eager, as I am to join in a pitting of **Diogenes** on almost any occasion, I have to reluctantly give him a pass on this. Dio posts so often and replies to so many people it is small wonder that he doesn’t know **Hisass** from **Hiselbow**. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749/32 "2011-03-07T15:38:56Z")
Dude, you’ve been here for 2 months. Yeah, your names aren’t all that similar, but this stuff happens. ---
**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 7, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749/33 "2011-03-07T15:56:12Z")
Well, actually, the root phrases of the Arabic _Ibn Warraq_ and the French _Valle terre en_ are quite similar, both derived from an ancient Urdu phrase meaning “misplaced car keys.” And now you know. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749/34 "2011-03-07T16:13:16Z")
> [@nani](#): > > While I can easily guess the personal reasons why **Dio** confusing you with **Valteron** in the process of attempting to score a debate point would rankle, these things just happen when we don’t have faces to attach to the written names. I didn’t read it as malicious. BTW, when did **Valteron** accuse you of practicing Taqiyya? I’d like a laugh. [This](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=594152) thread, post #51. It earned him a warning in post #89. To me, the real funny was when **Valteron** got [butthurt](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=13452430) about the incident when he started another thread… ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749/35 "2011-03-07T16:21:14Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Well, actually, the root phrases of the Arabic _Ibn Warraq_ and the French _Valle terre en_ are quite similar, both derived from an ancient Urdu phrase meaning “misplaced car keys.” > And now you know. And The More You Know… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749/36 "2011-03-07T16:22:54Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > YAnyway, no big deal. **Dio** screwed up, admitted it, end of story. No big deal? NO BIG DEAL??? 😕 That’s, what, like the second time EVER he’s admitted a mistake??? It’s a huge fuckin’ deal! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749/37 "2011-03-07T17:35:28Z")
You know, you can’t become Canadian just by claiming to be one on the internet. Our club is a little more exclusive than that. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749/38 "2011-03-07T18:17:08Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > Yes, but you notice in post 153, he turned around and tried to pretend he hadn’t said I was Valteron. > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13540930&postcount=153](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13540930&postcount=153) Huh? What you cited seems to support the assertion that he admitted to a simple mistake. I’m not sure what “mozed” means, but that’s the way I took his post. \*\*Ibn, \*\* please give this up. I like you as a poster, but you’re making someone other than **Dio** look bad here. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749/39 "2011-03-07T18:18:11Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > No big deal? NO BIG DEAL??? 😕 > > That’s, what, like the second time EVER he’s admitted a mistake??? It’s a huge fuckin’ deal! Amen! ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749/40 "2011-03-07T18:20:55Z")
About 1.01 g/cm[sup]3[/sup]. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-dense-is-diogenes-the-cynic/573749.md?page=3)