# LonesomePolecat please show me to be a bigot **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 4, 2005, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-please-show-me-to-be-a-bigot/315573 "2005-08-04T15:39:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-please-show-me-to-be-a-bigot/315573/81 "2005-08-06T03:50:50Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > There are times when even English is a struggle, ya know. **FUCK YOU!** _American_ english is never a “struggle.” ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-please-show-me-to-be-a-bigot/315573/82 "2005-08-06T04:26:52Z")
> [@RedFury](#): > > _American_ english is never a “struggle.” Are you sure? [I thought that was what we were supposed to say now instead of “war”?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=328613) :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-please-show-me-to-be-a-bigot/315573/83 "2005-08-06T04:56:43Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Are you sure? [I thought that was what we were supposed to say now instead of “war”?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=328613) :dubious: Bah!! All you anti-Americans make me puke – and wish the SDMB would finally ackowledge the most expressive smiley on Libr’ul America’s demented agenda: [Bush puts ‘war on terror’ back in vocabulary](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/08/05/wterr05.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/08/05/ixworld.html) Learn your place, pinko bigot! PS-Night sweetie 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-please-show-me-to-be-a-bigot/315573/84 "2005-08-06T04:58:51Z")
**Lonesome Polecat** , you may not care that much for the opinion of an elderly retired English teacher, but I still rather like “FUCK YOU” as a _general_ response. It has served me well since I was about ten. And red _is_ my favorite color. What makes “FUCK YOU” such a reliable all-occasion response is the ambiguity of the statement. We never know for certain the subject of the verb _fuck_ in that sentence. Most assume that there is an implied _I_, as in _I fuck you._ But if that is true, then you get fucked too, and I don’t know that that is exactly what you are wanting to say in this particular instance. Hmm. Maybe you should reconsider in this case. Always remember to consider your audience. The message sent is not always the message received. Spelling, conciseness and consistency were good, but you need to work on originality and pertinence. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m about to be _"old and gray and full of sleep, and nodding by the fire… "_ ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-please-show-me-to-be-a-bigot/315573/85 "2005-08-06T05:07:32Z")
This is something I’ve never understood. From roughly the age of nine (in my case, anyway) until somewhere in elderlyhood, what most men want most is sex. So how has it come to be that “Fuck you” has come into being as an insult? It always strikes me as though one were saying “Eat lobster!” or “Drink Dom Perignon, you sonofabitch!” ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-please-show-me-to-be-a-bigot/315573/86 "2005-08-06T05:32:15Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > So how has it come to be that “Fuck you” has come into being as an insult? It always strikes me as though one were saying “Eat lobster!” or “Drink Dom Perignon, you sonofabitch!” As the Bush-voter-backer-bot that you are, the answer lies in the query. Signed: Your friendly, neighbourhood Zen-Masterdebater. No need to thank me. BTW, how the hell are you? ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-please-show-me-to-be-a-bigot/315573/87 "2005-08-06T05:39:21Z")
I’m just fine, **Red** , thanks for asking. And you? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![uglybeech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/82dd89/32.png) [@uglybeech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uglybeech)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-please-show-me-to-be-a-bigot/315573/88 "2005-08-06T05:40:37Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > This is something I’ve never understood. From roughly the age of nine (in my case, anyway) until somewhere in elderlyhood, what most men want most is sex. So how has it come to be that “Fuck you” has come into being as an insult? It always strikes me as though one were saying “Eat lobster!” or “Drink Dom Perignon, you sonofabitch!” I guess it’s time for [the obligatory lecture on the history of the f-word](http://www.amishdonkey.com/history-of-the-f-word.php) ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-please-show-me-to-be-a-bigot/315573/89 "2005-08-06T06:33:24Z")
> [@RedFury](#): > > PS-Night sweetie 😉 And pleasant dreams to you, you spittle-flecked munchkin. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-please-show-me-to-be-a-bigot/315573/90 "2005-08-06T06:52:18Z")
**Starving Artist**! **Go Dance the Night Away**! And the same to all who love ya! ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-please-show-me-to-be-a-bigot/315573/91 "2005-08-06T15:55:09Z")
Thank you, dahling. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-please-show-me-to-be-a-bigot/315573/92 "2005-08-06T17:05:05Z")
**Starvin’ Marvin** is doing Tullulah Bankhead? Medication. Must have medication. Now. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-please-show-me-to-be-a-bigot/315573/93 "2005-08-06T17:39:31Z")
Actually, I envisioned myself in black tie and tails, elegantly twirling about the dance floor with the lovely and talented Zoe, speaking in my patented upper-crust accent…but on reflection, I see what you mean. (Besides, Tallulah herself was rather partial to black tie and tails if I recall correctly.) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-please-show-me-to-be-a-bigot/315573/94 "2005-08-06T17:42:27Z")
Oops, I mean, **Zoe**. Sorry, dahling! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-please-show-me-to-be-a-bigot/315573/95 "2005-08-07T01:19:48Z")
Of all the message boards in all the World, why does an useless ignoramus like Lonesome Polecat have to wander in to ours? ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-please-show-me-to-be-a-bigot/315573/96 "2005-08-07T16:06:01Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > **Lonesome Polecat** > What makes “FUCK YOU” such a reliable all-occasion response is the ambiguity of the statement. We never know for certain the subject of the verb _fuck_ in that sentence. Most assume that there is an implied _I_, as in _I fuck you._ But if that is true, then you get fucked too, and I don’t know that that is exactly what you are wanting to say in this particular instance. Hmm. Maybe you should reconsider in this case. > > Always remember to consider your audience. The message sent is not always the message received. Or in short, the letter is sent, but the envelope is empty. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-please-show-me-to-be-a-bigot/315573/97 "2005-08-09T03:50:05Z")
Apparently, according to the same thread, LP considers me a “pointy headed bigot”. How did he find out? Miss Jane, Miss Jane, have you been blabbing about my true identity again? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-please-show-me-to-be-a-bigot/315573.md?page=4)