# Most ridiculed individuals in history? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 24, 2017, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952 "2017-03-24T20:08:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952/41 "2017-03-25T16:18:28Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > How about George McClellan? Whatever the opposite of “vindicated by history” is, it’s what happened to McClellan. While he had his defenders in his lifetime, pretty much everyone would now agree that his record during the war was a string of wrong decisions and bad judgments. Unknown outside the USA to 99.9% of people, and not really even the contender in the USA. Hell, GRANT may be far more insulted. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952/42 "2017-03-25T16:43:35Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > The Captain of the Titanic. Actually, Captain Smith was seen as a hero for going down with his ship, believe it or not. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952/43 "2017-03-25T18:31:45Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Burt Bacharach. Pfft. No. Maybe at one time he got a bit of ridicule, but it has more than been balanced out by admirers. Elvis Costello even did an [album with him](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painted_from_Memory). And for myself I rather like the **Feelies** cover of **Love** ’s cover of _Little Red Book_ 😉 ( Bacharach himself apparently didn’t care for Love changing the guitar chords, but meh ). ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952/44 "2017-03-25T18:37:05Z")
Stella Liebeck, for suing McDonald’s (and winning) for the heat of their coffee. Usually ridiculed without using her name. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952/45 "2017-03-25T19:28:11Z")
Carter was the first President I voted for. He was an embarrassment as a leader of the nation, he was a scolding preacher rather than a cheerleader toward the people of the United States. His naivete in dealing with power players in other nations did not help much either. He’s been a great guy after the presidency but while he was in office he was no great shakes. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2017, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952/46 "2017-03-26T07:40:14Z")
I’d say it’s either Hitler or Jesus Christ as the target of the most parodies. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2017, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952/47 "2017-03-26T09:31:47Z")
I nominate Imelda Marcos for runner-up. She deserves more ridicule, so feel free to pile on. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2017, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952/48 "2017-03-26T11:02:23Z")
What’s the line about **Cy Young** , the baseball pitcher that the award is named after? He won the most games ever in the Major Leagues, but he also lost the most games ever. I would assume that any legendarily historic figure has had their share of ridicule piled up against them, and were an event or two away from the bad side outweighing the good. History to the victors, right? Caesar had an awful reputation in many parts of the empire. Imagine if Augustus had _not_ succeeded him and not cemented Caesar’s legend as part of building Augustus’ own. Look at how Xerxes was portrayed in 300. The Persians / Iranians I know fucking _hated_ that moving and felt it ridiculed Xerxes and the Persions. This emerges from 2,500 year-old battles being shown in a cheesy-over the top comic book version of the history. Yet they still hear the equivalent of the **Simpson’s Nelson Muntz** ridiculing them with a “ha ha” burn. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2017, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952/49 "2017-03-26T12:52:22Z")
Kim Jong In (next to Trump) Doesn’t make him any less dangerous, but he’s made fun of quite a bit. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2017, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952/50 "2017-03-26T12:58:27Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > What’s the line about **Cy Young** , the baseball pitcher that the award is named after? He won the most games ever in the Major Leagues, but he also lost the most games ever. The top seven pitchers, ranked by losses, are all Hall of Famers. I agree. Most ridiculed might be a person who’s much complimented. Napoleon is much ridiculed. ---
**Author:** ![Covfefe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Covfefe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covfefe)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2017, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952/51 "2017-03-26T13:36:09Z")
James Dolan ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2017, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952/52 "2017-03-26T23:05:27Z")
**Sarah Palin** would be my nominee. She seemingly thrives on the derision she gets. Dan Quayle has kept a relatively low profile since his VP term (except for his brief run at the 2000 POTUS nomination), but Palin has done her best to keep the clown show going. > [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > Stella Liebeck, for suing McDonald’s (and winning) for the heat of their coffee. Usually ridiculed without using her name. She’s certainly a widely ridiculed figure, but she’s a hero as far as I’m concerned. For YEARS McDonald’s served coffee at near-boiling temperatures, knew perfectly well that it was dangerous (there were other claims before Liebeck’s), and didn’t give a fuck. > [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Burt Bacharach. No way. His music isn’t really my cup of tea, but he’s unquestionably a giant among American songwriters. ---
**Author:** ![Telperion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telperion/32/509_2.png) [@Telperion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperion)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2017, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952/53 "2017-03-26T23:15:30Z")
I’d say Milli Vanilli for going from best-selling artists to a complete joke literally overnight. ---
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2017, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952/54 "2017-03-26T23:18:34Z")
A few others to consider: Michael Bolton Kenny G OJ Simpson Milli Vanilli Michael Jackson Richard Simmons Rick James Charlie Sheen Star Wars lightsaber kid? ---
**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:** [March 27, 2017, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952/55 "2017-03-27T00:11:36Z")
Bill Buckner may be the most ridiculed baseball player of modern times, even though he was a fine hitter with a long and distinguished career. One little error, and all that fuss… Trump may well beat him out, but Warren Harding has been widely derided as perhaps the most underqualified, ineffectual and corruption-enabling Presidents of the past century. Hillary Clinton is in the running for [most ridiculed Presidential candidate](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Xx6Q77psrc) over that same span, and may not be done yet. The most ridiculed Civil War leader is probably General Braxton Bragg, who had an uncanny ability to inspire contempt and loathing. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952/56 "2017-03-27T18:42:25Z")
> [@erysichthon](#): > > She’s certainly a widely ridiculed figure, but she’s a hero as far as I’m concerned. For YEARS McDonald’s served coffee at near-boiling temperatures, knew perfectly well that it was dangerous (there were other claims before Liebeck’s), and didn’t give a fuck. It’s still borderline too hot, which affects the flavor, but McDonald’s lids are most likely to stay on. > [@Jackmannii](#): > > Bill Buckner may be the most ridiculed baseball player of modern times, even though he was a fine hitter with a long and distinguished career. One little error, and all that fuss… It was after he played for the Cubs, so Billy Buck’s still okay here. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952/57 "2017-03-27T19:05:28Z")
Emperor Nero ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952/58 "2017-03-27T23:25:52Z")
This [Caligula meme](https://onsizzle.com/i/whenever-you-do-something-stupid-just-remember-that-roman-emperor-11318798) has been making the rounds lately: "Whenever you do something stupid, just remember that Roman emperor Caligula waged a war on Poseidon. He had his army march to the beach and told them to start stabbing the water. Feel better now?" _Nothing can my peace destroy as long as no one smiles. More opened ears and open eyes and soon they dared to laugh. See a little man with his face turning red. Though his story’s often told you can tell he’s dead._ ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2017, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952/59 "2017-03-28T05:31:28Z")
**Most ridiculed individuals in history?** Hillary Clinton on November 9th, 2016, ---
**Author:** ![El\_DeLuxo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_deluxo/32/9043_2.png) [@El\_DeLuxo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_DeLuxo)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952/60 "2017-03-31T10:22:25Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > But the dormouse didn’t say “FEED your head;” he said “KEEP your head.” Not in any version of that song \*I \*ever heard, he didn’t. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-ridiculed-individuals-in-history/782952.md?page=4)