# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/41 "2014-01-08T20:08:15Z")
> [@Don\_Simus](#): > > Why everything? Pan Am pilot was Abagnale’s leading impersonation. He wrote how he embezzled pilot’s uniform, faked FAA license and Pan Am ID. He wrote how he used those to get unlimited free flights on a specially reserved for pilots sit in a cockpit. Yes, he was hundreds of times in airplane cockpit. Now he wants to make something up to embellish the story. Why he did not write that one of the pilots got sick and he took his place and made a soft landing? Instead he introduces a new twist in the story telling about impersonating sociology professor. Why? I think it’s general consensus that at the very least, Abignale exaggerated some of his stories, but he also kept them in the realm of believability. I could hear a story about someone impersonating a pilot to get free rides and think “yeah, that sounds plausible.” If he adds on “and then one time I flew a commercial airliner!” I would immediately go “Well, that’s just obviously bullshit.” ---
**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 8, 2014, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/42 "2014-01-08T20:16:42Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > You haven’t made an actual statement of your own about what you think the episode shows and, if you’re trying to lead people to saying that sociology must be a hoax based on this story, it’s not going so well. Second this. Why is the OP being so coy? What is your argument here? ---
**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 8, 2014, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/43 "2014-01-08T20:28:11Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > I think it’s general consensus that at the very least, Abignale exaggerated some of his stories, but he also kept them in the realm of believability. I could hear a story about someone impersonating a pilot to get free rides and think “yeah, that sounds plausible.” If he adds on “and then one time I flew a commercial airliner!” I would immediately go “Well, that’s just obviously bullshit.” Good for you. Now please answer my second question. Why the story about teaching two sociology courses is believable? ---
**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:** [January 8, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/44 "2014-01-08T20:35:52Z")
> [@Don\_Simus](#): > > Good for you. Now please answer my second question. Why the story about teaching two sociology courses is believable? Have you missed the dozen or so posts in this thread explaining why teaching an introductory level college course doesn’t require any particular expertise in the subject? ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/45 "2014-01-08T20:52:28Z")
> [@Don\_Simus](#): > > Good for you. Now please answer my second question. Why the story about teaching two sociology courses is believable? Ignoring the fact that you’re overstating the story that was actually told, it’s because it’s believable that any schmuck could teach most intro college courses by staying two weeks ahead. Best, **Ace309** , regular teacher of introductory economics ---
**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 8, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/46 "2014-01-08T20:58:56Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Have you missed the dozen or so posts in this thread explaining why teaching an introductory level college course doesn’t require any particular expertise in the subject? OK. Now please answer my third question. What do you learn from the courses which anyone can teach? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/47 "2014-01-08T21:09:47Z")
> [@Don\_Simus](#): > > OK. Why did he make up this story and did not make up a story about piloting an airplane? Not wearing pilot’s uniform, but actually piloting an airplane? I don’t know. Ask Frank Abagnale why he decided to tell so many lies. I’m just pointing out that when a person admits he tells a lot of lies, you’d be naive to believe everything he tells you. Look for corroboration and be suspicious if he can’t provide any. > [@Don\_Simus](#): > > Yes. But LDS still have another prophet and 12 apostles. So what exactly are you claiming? That we can’t believe the administration of Brigham Young University on a matter of record keeping because the founder of the Mormon faith made some fantastic claims? The founders of most religions made fantastic claims - does it follow that we can’t believe any member of a religion? ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/48 "2014-01-08T21:10:01Z")
> [@Don\_Simus](#): > > OK. Now please answer my third question. What do you learn from the courses which anyone can teach? The introductory course material that the professor delegates to the TA. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/49 "2014-01-08T21:25:52Z")
> [@Don\_Simus](#): > > OK. Now please answer my third question. What do you learn from the courses which anyone can teach? Introductory level material. Is there a reason you won’t answer anyone else’s questions? ---
**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 8, 2014, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/50 "2014-01-08T21:57:04Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I think Abegnale’s best scam is where he [successfully passed himself off as a Senator from Arizona for almost thirty years.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Frank_Abagnale_%28cropped%29.jpg) What do you want to say? Than Abagnale resembles McCain? > [@pravnik](#): > > I was most impressed by his success at passing himself off as a sign language interpreter at Nelson Mandela’s funeral, proving sign language to be the fraud we’ve long suspected. What are you talking about? ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/51 "2014-01-08T22:16:09Z")
> [@Don\_Simus](#): > > What are you talking about? Frank Abegnale’s impersonation of a sign language interpreter at Nelson Mandela’s funeral. It was all over the news last month. ---
**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:** [January 8, 2014, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/52 "2014-01-08T22:30:12Z")
> [@Don\_Simus](#): > > OK. Now please answer my third question. What do you learn from the courses which anyone can teach? A basic, survey level understanding of the course material, same as if you’d bought the textbook and read it by yourself, without taking the class at all. The important thing you get from taking the class is certification that you’ve taken it, understood the material, and are ready to move on to the more advanced courses. > [@Don\_Simus](#): > > What do you want to say? Than Abagnale resembles McCain? Man, nothing gets by you, does it? > [@](#): > > What are you talking about? Well, almost nothing. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/53 "2014-01-08T22:32:41Z")
And as long as we’re racking up questions you’re ignoring: I see that you (or someone sharing your username) posted about this topic on another discussion forum back in 2010. Why is this of such particular interest to you? And are you “Mikhail Simkin,” listed as the webmaster of the site you linked to? If so, I enjoyed taking some of your “is it art or shit” quizzes. I’m proud to say I scored a 100% on the “Pollock or Bird Poop” one! ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/54 "2014-01-08T22:35:52Z")
Every post he’s made here in the last five years has been about that same website, so I think it’s pretty clear who he is. He’s Frank Abagnale. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/55 "2014-01-08T23:42:57Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > He’s Frank Abagnale. Why would he lie about being a SDMB poster and not lie about being a racecar driver. Or an elm tree. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/56 "2014-01-08T23:59:56Z")
I was a Norway spruce for three years in Minnesota. True story. ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/57 "2014-01-09T00:05:26Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Why would he lie about being a SDMB poster and not lie about being a racecar driver. Or an elm tree. Is it your contention that every race car driver is then an elm tree? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/58 "2014-01-09T00:34:41Z")
> [@Ace309](#): > > Is it your contention that every race car driver is then an elm tree? What does this tell us about elm trees? ---
**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 9, 2014, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/59 "2014-01-09T00:49:58Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > Frank Abegnale’s impersonation of a sign language interpreter at Nelson Mandela’s funeral. It was all over the news last month. I don’t have a TV. I made an internet search and got the following story [http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/12/12/fake-deaf-translator-at-nelson-mandelas-funeral-turns-out-to-be-schizo-with-violent-past/](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/12/12/fake-deaf-translator-at-nelson-mandelas-funeral-turns-out-to-be-schizo-with-violent-past/) The fake translator, Thamsanqa Jantjie, was immediately exposed. What has it to do with Abagnale? He read 5 courses a week for five month and each time made a safe landing. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154/60 "2014-01-09T03:36:10Z")
Do you mean that the translator was not Frank Abagnale? If you look at the photo of the translator side by side with the photo of Abagnale impersonating Arizona Senator John McCain, I believe you will clearly see that they are they the same person. Perhaps more importantly, in this case the imposter was able to fake his skills and credentials well enough to successfully gain access to the speaking platform at the funeral of a Nobel Laureate for Peace and deceased head of state in front of a crowd of thousands and a worldwide audience of millions. Despite the protection of the most respected and professional security detail in the world, the United States Secret Service, stood within three feet of the President of the United States and United Nations Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon as they addressed the world, and not a single one of them realized it until notified after the fact. What, then, does this tell us about sign language and sign language interpreters? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquent-taught-at-a-university/678154.md?page=4)