# LonesomePolecat is too cowardly to call me a traitor to my face **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 23, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879 "2006-06-23T15:57:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879/21 "2006-06-23T17:09:58Z")
On review, what Weirddave said. ---
**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:** [June 23, 2006, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879/22 "2006-06-23T17:10:32Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > I have to second **Weirddave** here. I was reading that thread, and I definitely did not get the impression that **LP** was referring to anyone specifically. In fact, it seemed more as if he was referring to 4 separate groups of people. So perhaps he meant for you to fall into the “cowards,” “fools,” or “defeatists” category, rather than the “quislings” category…or maybe he wasn’t referring to you, personally, at all. Yeah, I kinda got that impression, too, although it’s easy to interpret it as saying that all of the opposition falls in one of those camps. The best thing to do is for \*\*LP \*\*to explain. What did he mean and who was he referring to? Is it possible for reasonable people to disagree over Iraq, or is everyone who opposes the war a coward, fool etc.? ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879/23 "2006-06-23T17:11:58Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > Good answer to my question. :rolleyes: Well, spelling champ, if the coward **LonesomePolecat** had directly answered my question in the original thread, we’d know if he was specifically referring to me, wouldn’t we? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879/24 "2006-06-23T17:13:33Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > I have to second **Weirddave** here. I was reading that thread, and I definitely did not get the impression that **LP** was referring to anyone specifically. In fact, it seemed more as if he was referring to 4 separate groups of people. So perhaps he meant for you to fall into the “cowards,” “fools,” or “defeatists” category, rather than the “quislings” category…or maybe he wasn’t referring to you, personally, at all. Maybe? In what universe does skirting around answering a question actually _earn_ you favor? If he thought Vib wasn’t a Quisling he should have been more specific. To quote the awesome **Polecat** : > [@](#): > > You guys have merely demonstrated yet once again that lefties tend to behave like petulant children when confronted with opposition . Yeah. And LP is a stand-up _mensch_? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879/25 "2006-06-23T17:17:26Z")
> [@vibrotronica](#): > > **LonesomePolecat** , you goddamned coward, am I a traitor or not? Don’t be afraid to say what you think. A tad excitable, aren’t you? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879/26 "2006-06-23T17:22:13Z")
When being called a traitor by a coward, I tend to get a little angry. For the fifth time, do you, **LonesomePolecat** , think I’m a traitor? ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879/27 "2006-06-23T17:23:17Z")
You’re a liberal. Therefore you’re a military-hating coward who is also a blahblahblahwhateverheytellhimtothinkyouare. Duh. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879/28 "2006-06-23T17:25:44Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Maybe? In what universe does skirting around answering a question actually _earn_ you favor? If he thought Vib wasn’t a Quisling he should have been more specific. He wasn’t even replying to **vibrotronica**. He was replying to **Cervaise**. So…where would **vibrotronica** have gotten the idea that LP was referring to him? **vibrotronica** didn’t have even one post in the thread yet, at the time that the quoted post was made by **LP**. > [@](#): > > Yeah. And LP is a stand-up _mensch_? :dubious: I didn’t exactly say that. Perhaps he was being a little confrontational. But considering that his post was a parallel response to this post: > [@Cervaise](#): > > There are plenty of stupid people who desperately want to believe their prophet Bush wasn’t fucking lying to them so if we repeat vague assertions about WMDs we can shore up our base of hardcore support because we know they won’t bother to actually read the document in question and thereby learn that this is very old material that was almost certainly documented in the original inspections and that has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with any “weapons-related program activities” or any of the other hysterical fearmongering assertions about active development of mushroom-cloud-producing devices that were looming imminently over our horizon. In which people who support the war are similarly insulted, I think it seems pretty fair. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879/29 "2006-06-23T17:26:10Z")
1. I don’t see that **LonesomePolecat** made the accusation **vibrotronica** is accusing him of. 2. To the extent that anyone were to make that accusation, I agree with the sentiment **vibrotronica** offers above: opposition to the war, the current administration, the current legislature, or some subsets thereof does not make anyone treasonous. “Treason” is a particularly high bar, and refers to making war against the United States, or giving material aid and comfort to an armed enemy of the United States. It’s wrong, and distracting, to hual out words like “traitor” to refer to political opposition. 3. I do not support or agree with **vibrotronica** ’s opposition to the war, the current administration, or the current legislature. But I think that this thread isn’t so much concerned with the merits of those respective positions as it is with the issues in points #1 and #2 above. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879/30 "2006-06-23T17:27:14Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > A tad excitable, aren’t you? 😛 When is a certain behavior…well…ineffably inappropriate? (Please don’t Modsmack me. Please? it’s meant as a sincere question.) ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879/31 "2006-06-23T18:05:27Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > You seem to have constructed a mighty fine cross to hang on. Why do you assume that LP was talking about you for opposing the war, rather than those who have advocated things that really do border on trason, like the unlawful overthrow of the present administration or the death of all U.S. service members in Iraq? Which American’s in that thread said they wanted to unlawfully overthrow the administration or advocated for the death of US service members in Iraq. Remember, it is only treason if you are a citizen of the US. Anybody else and it is just war. (or an injust war) Or another scenario, what Americans have made public the names of undercover operatives of the CIA? I think **LP** ’s saving roll here is that his post was a direct response to **Cervaise** and not **Vibtronica**. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879/32 "2006-06-23T18:08:42Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Improper use of the term (Quisling), since no one has invaded us. Vidkun Quisling was actually playing footsie with the Nazis and undermining his country’s interests even before Germany invaded Norway. However, since I can’t think of any war opponents in this country scheming to have Iraqi or al-Queda types overthrow the U.S. government and install them as putative leaders, it’s an improper use of the term anyway. 🙂 > [@Lonesome Polecat](#): > > …post your flame in verse! I’m dubious that you’re sonnet-worthy, but here’s a smidgen of gratification: Yer an ass, Alas. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879/33 "2006-06-23T18:12:24Z")
Have to agree with the crowd who view this as a bit of a self-absorbed reaction. Why in the world does this have to be interepeted as having been directed at vibrotronica? Even granting this, why is the only interpretation that vibrotronica must be a traitor? How about defeatist? And perhaps most fundamental, why must LP answer a question from a hostile poster demanding it? ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879/34 "2006-06-23T18:13:44Z")
I really didn’t think that **LP** was calling you a traitor, but the fact that he’s avoided a direct question so many times is food for thought. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879/35 "2006-06-23T18:15:26Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Yer an ass, > Alas. You mean I’m not even worth one lousy little limerick??!? Now my feelings really _are_ hurt. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879/36 "2006-06-23T18:17:37Z")
> [@Revenant Threshold](#): > > I really didn’t think that **LP** was calling you a traitor, but the fact that he’s avoided a direct question so many times is food for thought. Or maybe Stratocaster has a point…if it’s not what he meant in the first place, why should he have to defend himself? **vibrotronica** seems to be the only person who took it that personally; maybe it’s **vibrotronica’s** problem, not LP’s. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879/37 "2006-06-23T18:17:49Z")
I think you’re taking **Polecat** more seriously than he merits. I don’t mean in this case; I mean in general. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879/38 "2006-06-23T18:26:50Z")
> [@Revenant Threshold](#): > > … the fact that he’s avoided a direct question so many times is food for thought. Well, the only relevant thought would be that I refuse to give him the satisfaction. Obviously I’m much more important to him than he is to me. I prefer it that way. It’s just a message board, folks. And as a girl friend of mine once said, there’s not a message board in the universe worth getting upset over. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879/39 "2006-06-23T18:32:50Z")
> [@Revenant Threshold](#): > > I really didn’t think that **LP** was calling you a traitor, but the fact that he’s avoided a direct question so many times is food for thought. Like vibrotronica has avoided mine twice now? Wat, il giv her mor foder for critizing mee, since she is artfully dodging the clear question I asked. > [@Zebra](#): > > Which American’s in that thread said they wanted to unlawfully overthrow the administration or advocated for the death of US service members in Iraq. Remember, it is only treason if you are a citizen of the US. Nowhere in LP’s post did he say he was refering only to people in that thread, or even only to SDMB posters. In fact, he clearly said “in the United States”, not “On the SDMB”. ---
**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:** [June 23, 2006, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879/40 "2006-06-23T18:34:46Z")
Funny thing is, it was the cowards and the fools who most supported (and continue to support) this misbegotten adventure. Quislings? I’d like to see a cite of any pre-war statements in opposition from anyone that could fit that definition. Defeatists? Looks like a mere pejorative, devoid of substantive meaning. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-is-too-cowardly-to-call-me-a-traitor-to-my-face/361879.md?page=3)