# Juvenile delinquent taught at a university **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 7, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154 "2014-01-07T18:58:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/261 "2014-01-24T15:09:33Z")
> [@Don\_Simus](#): > > Exactly. The very first post used the euphemism “afraid of heights” and I asked to use the right word. Instead the posters started replacing Saxon words with Greek ones. Why not use a simple English word? > > Some people can’t pilot an airplane because they are … > > Fill in the dots please. “Fill in the dots”? English is not your first language, is it? Nothing wrong with that, of course, but it helps (slightly) to explain your opacity. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/262 "2014-01-24T15:25:40Z")
> [@Don\_Simus](#): > > Exactly. The very first post used the euphemism “afraid of heights” and I asked to use the right word. Holy smokes, you don’t even really know what “euphemism” means, do you?!?! “Afraid of heights” is not a euphemism, it is a direct, unambiguous description. **There is no blank to fill, no dots to connect.** ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Simus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@Don\_Simus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Simus)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/263 "2014-01-24T18:40:37Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > Poopypants? Why be so extravagant? There is an old, simple, short English word. Clear and precise. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/264 "2014-01-24T19:15:56Z")
> [@Don\_Simus](#): > > There is an old, simple, short English word. Clear and precise. Ironic? ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Simus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@Don\_Simus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Simus)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/265 "2014-01-24T19:28:16Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Holy smokes, you don’t even really know what “euphemism” means, do you?!?! > > “Afraid of heights” is not a euphemism, it is a direct, unambiguous description. **There is no blank to fill, no dots to connect.** That’s you don’t know what euphemism means > [@](#): > > eu·phe·mism > ˈyo͞ofəˌmizəm/ > noun > noun: euphemism; plural noun: euphemisms > > ``` > 1. a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing. > "“downsizing” as a euphemism for cuts" > synonyms: polite term, indirect term, circumlocution, substitute, alternative, understatement, genteelism > > ``` ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/266 "2014-01-24T20:16:03Z")
> [@Don\_Simus](#): > > Nobody could teach himself to fly. This is not sociology. What actually happened is that the guy had a pilot friend who taught him to fly. Every news story I can find describes him as “self taught” and none of them says anything about a pilot friend, so I’d ask you to show a link to where you read that, but I’m getting the impression that you don’t do that. It ultimately doesn’t matter to the point I was making, though, which you omitted in your answer. Abagnale could have gotten a “pilot friend” to show him how to fly, but why would he bother? His con was free plane trips and fake checks, the ability to fly a plane was irrelevant. > [@Don Simus](#): > > This is how you learn to drive a car. But while it is legal in the US to teach a friend to drive it is illegal for you to teach anyone to fly unless you have an instructor rating. And it is mandatory to fly at least 20 hours with the instructor. That’s why the guy did not have the license. Yes, the fact that he was illegally flying and landing a stolen plane without attending flight school or having a pilot’s license is rather the point of the story, as “licensed pilot flies plane legally” doesn’t generate much interest. I’d ask what that has to do with the point you’re making, but nobody knows what that is. That’s really unfortunate, because you have what could be the seeds for a good discussion here, but you’re steadfastly unwilling or unable to have it. If your point is over the relative worthlessness of certain PhD’s in the so-called soft sciences and you were willing to lay out your premises plainly and clearly present your arguments accordingly, an interesting discussion might follow and you might find some here in agreement. Instead you insist on this: > [@](#): > > Fill in the dots please. and this: > [@](#): > > Why be so extravagant? There is an old, simple, short English word. Clear and precise. Nobody is interested in guessing at your meaning. Ironically, Socratic method and Socratic questioning are learned skills taught in the humanities, and frankly, you either lack those skills or are putting them to poor use here. Your questioning is not leading to a natural discussion and a clarification of the ideas that you are putting forth. People are not frustrated with you because you’re getting them to admit to harsh truths that they’re uncomfortable with, they’re frustrated with you because you won’t say what point you’re trying to make and they’re having to guess at whatever it is that you’re getting at. While we’re on it, “afraid of heights” is only a euphemism if you’re using it to describe somebody so drunk they can’t stand up. If you’re using it to describe somebody with a fear of high places, it’s not a euphemism in any sense of the word. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/267 "2014-01-24T21:26:42Z")
> [@Don\_Simus](#): > > Some people can’t pilot an airplane because they are … > > Fill in the dots please. Why don’t you just tell us why you can’t pilot an airplane? Whatever the reason is, I’m sure no one here will think any less of you. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/268 "2014-01-24T21:33:56Z")
I _already_ think less of him for his inability to phrase an argument. I think he should return his high school diploma. (I assume he didn’t go to college, but if he did, he should return that diploma as well.) ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/269 "2014-01-24T22:12:16Z")
Well I, for one, have found Don Simus’ arguments to give me plenty of revelations on how to increase miles per gallon. ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/270 "2014-01-24T23:41:50Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > …I’m sure no one here will think any less of you. No, that ship has sailed. As well as decommissioned, scuttled, and currently serving as an artificial coral reef. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/271 "2014-01-24T23:47:41Z")
And yet divers in the submerged wreck still can’t find what the point was. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/272 "2014-01-25T00:06:43Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > And yet divers in the submerged wreck still can’t find what the point was. Well, that’s probably because they’re _divers_, not licensed pilots. Because, apparently, if you can get a pilot’s license you can accomplish anything. Maybe we can get Clarence Oveur or Roger Murdock to solve the Riemann hypothesis or P versus NP? ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/273 "2014-01-25T00:09:47Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > Well, that’s probably because they’re _divers_, not licensed pilots. > > Because, apparently, if you can get a pilot’s license you can accomplish anything. > > Maybe we can get Clarence Oveur or Roger Murdock to solve the Riemann hypothesis or P versus NP? It’s a well known fact that Amelia Earhart didn’t actually get lost, she just discovered a marvelous proof that couldn’t fit in the margins of her plane’s dashboard and made an emergency landing to find someplace to write it down. It took a while. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Simus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@Don\_Simus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Simus)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/274 "2014-01-25T01:18:53Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > Why don’t you just tell us why you can’t pilot an airplane? Whatever the reason is, I’m sure no one here will think any less of you. I can. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/275 "2014-01-25T01:22:06Z")
Why don’t you respond to **Pravnik’s** post, **Don Simus**? ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/276 "2014-01-25T01:37:44Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > Because, apparently, if you can get a pilot’s license you can accomplish anything. > [@Don\_Simus](#): > > I can. I stand corrected. Apparently he can’t make his point. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Simus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@Don\_Simus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Simus)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/277 "2014-01-25T01:52:37Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > Well, that’s probably because they’re _divers_, not licensed pilots. I think their are not licensed divers either. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/278 "2014-01-25T02:15:05Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > I stand corrected. Apparently he can’t make his point. I wonder if he still remembers what it was. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/279 "2014-01-25T02:16:22Z")
> [@Don\_Simus](#): > > I think their are not licensed divers either. So no responding to **Pravnik** then? OK, here’s another question: What is current location of Moose and Squirrel? ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Simus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@Don\_Simus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Simus)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/280 "2014-01-25T02:51:03Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > Poopypants? They indeed defecate when the danger gets extreme. But when the danger is merely potential they act like you described - close their eyes. What is the name for people of such character? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154.md?page=15)