# Michael Moore cleans up his act! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 1, 2004, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520 "2004-12-01T16:58:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520/21 "2004-12-01T21:17:41Z")
But if you disregard mere sniping, drive-bys, and post-count paddings from the first twenty posts, the thread is to that point a rather insightful monologue. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520/22 "2004-12-01T21:25:47Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > Probably trying to take the edge off his image and to acquire a patina of respectability. The election was lost anyway, and **the Academy Awards are coming up** , you know, so in his typically dishonest way he’s trying to portray something (himself) in a way other than it really is in order to acheive a goal. > > A clever and unexpected ploy, though, I must say. bolding mine. Not. Since he decided back in Sept. to stay out of the Oscar race. [Link.](http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040907-043352-2417r.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520/23 "2004-12-01T21:28:27Z")
> [@The Gaspode](#): > > bolding mine. > > Not. > > Since he decided back in Sept. to stay out of the Oscar race. > [Link.](http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040907-043352-2417r.htm). You’ve misread. He took F9/11 out of consideration for Best Documentary. It is eligible for any other categories the Academy wants to put it in. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520/24 "2004-12-01T21:36:14Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > **Roseworm** , while I do not worship at a tasteful shrine to Michael Moore, your inclusion of shaving in the category of “cleaning up his act” is foolish and an affront to polite discourse. > On behalf of U.S. Grant, Freud, the entire cast of Z.Z. Top and all the other great bearded men in history\*, piss off. Bah, his ‘beard’ was an insult to U.S. Grant, Freud, 2/3 the cast of Z.Z. Top and all the other great bearded men in history. It was a constantly aborted beard. ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520/25 "2004-12-01T22:04:28Z")
If Peter Jackson can win, being a slob is deffinately not an impediment to winning an Oscar. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520/26 "2004-12-01T22:22:57Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > **Roseworm** , while I do not worship at a tasteful shrine to Michael Moore, your inclusion of shaving in the category of “cleaning up his act” is foolish and an affront to polite discourse. > > On behalf of U.S. Grant, Freud, the entire cast of Z.Z. Top and all the other great bearded men in history\*, piss off. There’s a BIG difference between “wearing a beard”, and looking like an unshaven street person. Beards can look quite good, as the examples you cited attest. It IS possible to pull off the “three days of stubble” look (cf. _Miami Vice_), but Moore’s just didn’t make it. ---
**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:** [December 1, 2004, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520/27 "2004-12-01T22:36:14Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > There’s a BIG difference between “wearing a beard”, and looking like an unshaven street person. Beards can look quite good, as the examples you cited attest. It IS possible to pull off the “three days of stubble” look (cf. _Miami Vice_), but Moore’s just didn’t make it. True, Moore’s is not a rich, full, extremely attractive beard (as is mine, for instance), but apart from being a minor crop failure [it doesn’t seem to be all that terrible either](http://www.therant.us/images/idiots_&_scoundrels/Michael%20Moore.jpg). And if you Google Michael Moore images you will find that he also “cleaned up” for the Academy Awards. Guess he likes to look more trim for his media appearances in general. I never thought when the day started that I would be defending _Michael Moore’s beard_, fer crying out loud, but that’s what this place does to you. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520/28 "2004-12-01T22:50:38Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > On behalf of **U.S. Grant** , Freud, the entire cast of Z.Z. Top and all the other **great bearded men** in history\*, piss off. U.S. Grant? Decent general, i’ll concede. Pretty fucking awful otherwise. I’ve always liked Henry Adams’ attitude to him: > [@](#): > > He [Grant] had no right to exist. He shold have been extinct for ages…That, two thousand years after Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, a man like Grant should be called—and should actually and truly be—the highest product of the most advanced evolution, made evolution ludicrous…The progress of evolution from President Washington to President Grant, was alone evidence enough to upset Darwin. From _The Education of Henry Adams_. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520/29 "2004-12-01T22:52:01Z")
I should add that **Roseworm** ’s posts give similar cause for questioning the validity of evolution. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520/30 "2004-12-01T23:32:58Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > the entire cast of Z.Z. Top Except, of course, for Frank Beard. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520/31 "2004-12-01T23:47:08Z")
Frank Beard was generally pretty scruffy though, similar to Moore’s usual. I think **bup** is on to it. My first thought was it was a gentle jab at the people who think he personally “lost” anything(any more than any other Kerry voter). “Oh yes, I’ve learned the error of my ways; so now I’ll wear suits and cash massive cheques” You know it’s not for keeps or he wouldn’t have kept his 10 year old boy haircut- a haircut made for baseball caps. ---
**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:** [December 1, 2004, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520/32 "2004-12-01T23:47:31Z")
I don’t want to make a big hairy deal of this, but in reference to military men, I have always found [the beard of Admiral Tirpitz](http://www.gwpda.org/photos/bin19/imag1806.jpg), Father of the German Navy, to be quite disturbing. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520/33 "2004-12-02T00:01:55Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I don’t want to make a big hairy deal of this, but in reference to military men, I have always found [the beard of Admiral Tirpitz](http://www.gwpda.org/photos/bin19/imag1806.jpg), Father of the German Navy, to be quite disturbing. It’s got legs, man! :eek: You almost have to wonder if he’s got miniature genitalia hiding under all that on his chin. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520/34 "2004-12-02T00:06:23Z")
If **peritrochoid** were lurking around, I’m sure he’d post [this link](http://www.worldbeardchampionships.com/). He says he wants to grow one just like contestant #1. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520/35 "2004-12-02T00:17:06Z")
**Jack:** \* I have always found the beard of Admiral Tirpitz, Father of the German Navy, to be quite disturbing.\* Hey, dude, that’s a classic “forked beard”! Back in Edwardian days they were considered totally hot! (Not that Tirpitz is that appealing a character overall, but you have to give him props for the fashionable facial hair.) ---
**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:** [December 2, 2004, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520/36 "2004-12-02T00:18:04Z")
I swear this is my last post on the subject, but for really great beards, you can’t beat turn-of-the-century anarchists. For instance, [Prince Peter Kropotkin](http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Peter%20Kropotkin). ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520/37 "2004-12-02T00:38:46Z")
I have no opinion whatsoever about Michael Moore’s grooming choices. However, several of these I just couldn’t pass up. 😃 > [@Roseworm](#): > > Did you see Michael Moore on the Leno show the other night? His face was shaved, his hair was trimmed, and he was wearing a nice suit. He also said some temperate, conciliatory things about President Bush. > > Huh. > > **I guess he decided his radical, left-wing, disgusting slob image was not working.** Fancy that. Bolding mine. But, but! That’s the only thing I actually LIKED about him. 😉 The shower, as always, is optional. **stpauler** , can I pretty please borrow “Whoopdee Fuck”? That’s absolutely PERFECT! > [@kidchameleon](#): > > Bah, his ‘beard’ was an insult to U.S. Grant, Freud, 2/3 the cast of Z.Z. Top and all the other great bearded men in history. It was a constantly aborted beard. You mean it wasn’t for those select ladies too that **Jackmannii** mentioned? Well, now I think that _I_ am insulted and I’m not even lucky enough to have my own beard. Last of all, wouldn’t Admiral Tirpitz look great as the lead singer in a speed death metal band? All he has to do is get a few piercings, a tattoo on the side of his neck (or four) and then dye all that mess alternating blood red and Halloween orange. He’d raaaaaawk!! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520/38 "2004-12-02T00:42:54Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > There’s a BIG difference between “wearing a beard”, and looking like an unshaven street person. Beards can look quite good, as the examples you cited attest. It IS possible to pull off the “three days of stubble” look (cf. _Miami Vice_), but Moore’s just didn’t make it. I don’t think he was trying for the ‘three days of stubble’ look, I think he just has a naturally patchy, thin beard. It happens; sadly there is no charitable foundation to help people like him. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520/39 "2004-12-02T00:49:18Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > **stpauler** , can I pretty please borrow “Whoopdee Fuck”? That’s absolutely PERFECT! Anytime! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520/40 "2004-12-02T01:03:51Z")
> [@bup](#): > > So nobody got that he was JOKING? I did. It was pretty funny. > [@bup](#): > > He admitted that Bush got more votes, because the Republicans had a better message, and I think that was not part of the joke. Think again. He said that Republicans were better _storytellers_. Read: Liars. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-cleans-up-his-act/277520.md?page=3)