# MoveOn goes too far **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 24, 2008, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moveon-goes-too-far/469353 "2008-10-24T14:50:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moveon-goes-too-far/469353/1 "2008-10-24T14:50:12Z")
My GF just received a really disturbing e-mail from [MoveOn.org](http://MoveOn.org). (Name changed to Charlene Hawtboddy to protect the innocent.) > [@](#): > > Dear Charlene, > > Oversleeping. Getting the car fixed. Having to pick up the second-cousin’s stepkids on the other side of town. These are just a few of the reasons millions of Americans won’t vote on November 4th. > > It’s not like they hate voting. They want to do it. They know they should. And mostly, they intend to. But some of your friends won’t get around to actually voting because they haven’t been reminded vividly enough. > > That’s why we developed this funny, scary video. It shows people what it might look like if we lose the election by a single vote: theirs. > > Here’s a version we prepared for you. You’re in it—seriously, you, Charlene. Check it out—and if you like it, send it to your friends: It includes a link to a web page with the following links: FRI, NOV. 7, 2008 Obama’s Loss Traced To Charlene Hawtboddy Single Nonvoter Tipped Election To McCain-Palin Ticket Send Custom Video To A Friend Now Latest News Gov. Palin: ‘Lookit That—I’m The Second-Most Powerful Person In The World’ Neighbor: ‘Charlene Always Seemed So Normal’ World: ‘Really? Again? Really?!?’ Health Care Advocates Predict Reform By 2034 Also linked is a video of doctored news reports about how “Charlene” is the one person who blew the election. There are images of newspaper headlines, graffiti, etc. with her name on it, blaming her personally for putting McCain in the White House. Most disturbing is the church marquee that says ALL GODS CHILDREN WELCOME EXCEPT FOR CHARLENE HAWTBODDY This is disgusting. MoveOn has gone too far. Creeps. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moveon-goes-too-far/469353/2 "2008-10-24T14:52:01Z")
Really? That’s too far? Am I being whooshed? Sounds kind of humorous to me. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moveon-goes-too-far/469353/3 "2008-10-24T14:54:38Z")
I might have found it more humorous if it were not someone so dear to me. As it was, I found it really creepy, and vaguely threatening. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moveon-goes-too-far/469353/4 "2008-10-24T14:55:45Z")
Humor? In politics? There’s no _crying_ in baseball! (About every third time I click on a thread, I get sent to the sticky reminding me of Da Rules. If Somebody is trying to tell me Something, I get it, already!) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moveon-goes-too-far/469353/5 "2008-10-24T14:57:18Z")
Here, send this back to them. [President Palin](http://www.palinaspresident.us/) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moveon-goes-too-far/469353/6 "2008-10-24T14:58:00Z")
I can see where using her name in the text makes it a little disturbing, but MoveOn has pushed, stretched, stamped, crapped in and set the envelope on fire in many more extravagant ways. This is actually a bit funny. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moveon-goes-too-far/469353/7 "2008-10-24T15:05:27Z")
I’m a member, and I didn’t get it. Odd. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moveon-goes-too-far/469353/8 "2008-10-24T15:18:39Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > My GF just received a really disturbing e-mail from [MoveOn.org](http://MoveOn.org). (Name changed to Charlene Hawtboddy to protect the innocent.) > > It includes a link to a web page with the following links: > > FRI, NOV. 7, 2008 > Obama’s Loss Traced > To Charlene Hawtboddy > Single Nonvoter Tipped Election > To McCain-Palin Ticket > Send Custom Video To A Friend Now > Latest News > Gov. Palin: ‘Lookit That—I’m The Second-Most Powerful Person In The World’ > Neighbor: ‘Charlene Always Seemed So Normal’ > World: ‘Really? Again? Really?!?’ > Health Care Advocates Predict Reform By 2034 > > Also linked is a video of doctored news reports about how “Charlene” is the one person who blew the election. There are images of newspaper headlines, graffiti, etc. with her name on it, blaming her personally for putting McCain in the White House. > > Most disturbing is the church marquee that says > > ALL GODS CHILDREN > WELCOME > > EXCEPT FOR CHARLENE HAWTBODDY > > This is disgusting. MoveOn has gone too far. Creeps. I thought it was extremely funny and the opposite of creepy. It’s a really novel concept. It’s just like those children’s books you can order with your child’s name written in for the main character, except for adults. Everyone loves seeing their name! The concept, and the quality with which they print an arbitrary name on the video left me quite impressed with it. What a great way to encourage people to pass it on to their friends (that’s how I got it). It’s an otherwise unremarkable video that you can make people you know a part of. I am utterly baffled that anyone would ever use the words “disturbing”, “digusting”, or “creeps” to describe this. Try “creative”, “entertaining”, and “fun”. Here’s a link: [http://www.cnnbcvideo.com/index.html?nid=5hZFMeN\_SH8NMDeRpRMLSTE4MDM5NDM-&referred\_by=11163071-\_afMTkx](http://www.cnnbcvideo.com/index.html?nid=5hZFMeN_SH8NMDeRpRMLSTE4MDM5NDM-&referred_by=11163071-_afMTkx) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moveon-goes-too-far/469353/9 "2008-10-24T15:23:15Z")
It’s actually pretty funny. I can see why your girlfriend would be freaked out though. Is she techy? Non techy people tend to be freaked out by internet stuff easier I’ve noticed. It’s just human nature, not being much of a gear head I tend to find any unexpected noises the car makes worrisome. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moveon-goes-too-far/469353/10 "2008-10-24T15:23:31Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > I’m a member, and I didn’t get it. Odd. Some one has to send it to you. MoveOn has a site set up where you submit you friends’ names for them to get such an email. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moveon-goes-too-far/469353/11 "2008-10-24T15:27:59Z")
Then I’m definitely sending one to my tighty righty Dad. Make a nice, early Christmas goose. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moveon-goes-too-far/469353/12 "2008-10-24T15:33:02Z")
That’s, like, \*so \*implausible. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moveon-goes-too-far/469353/13 "2008-10-24T15:33:12Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Some one has to send it to you. MoveOn has a site set up where you submit you friends’ names for them to get such an email. Huh. That’s peculiar. I’m a member, and I did get it (and didn’t find it remotely “creepy or threatening”, for what it’s worth), and my friends sure as hell aren’t worried about me not voting. I guess they just thought I’d appreciate the funny. ---
**Author:** ![stretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@stretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stretch)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moveon-goes-too-far/469353/14 "2008-10-24T15:38:52Z")
Not creepy at all. Actually entertaining and creative. Since someone has to personalize this, I’m sure if you investigate you can find out who actually sent it to your GF and then you can Pit that individual. Or maybe not…guess it depends on who sent it. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moveon-goes-too-far/469353/15 "2008-10-24T15:38:53Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > Is she techy? Non techy people tend to be freaked out by internet stuff easier I’ve noticed. That’s probably part of it. That, and it doesn’t appear to have been sent by any of her friends (at least none that I know of). ---
**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:** [October 24, 2008, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moveon-goes-too-far/469353/16 "2008-10-24T15:57:53Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > It’s actually pretty funny. I can see why your girlfriend would be freaked out though. > > Is she techy? Non techy people tend to be freaked out by internet stuff easier I’ve noticed. Maybe, but this is sort of like freaking out when some website tells you: Your IP address is 123.45.6.789, and you’re in Lansing Michigan. It’s so 2001. > [@Maus Magill](#): > > Some one has to send it to you. MoveOn has a site set up where you submit you friends’ names for them to get such an email. Well, you _can_ send it to someone else, but i think most MoveOn members got one direct from MoveOn. Mine came on Wednesday, and it was straight from MoveOn, not from someone else. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moveon-goes-too-far/469353/17 "2008-10-24T16:07:55Z")
Someone sent that link to my wife, and we both thought it was freakin’ hi-larious. They did a really good job with it. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moveon-goes-too-far/469353/18 "2008-10-24T16:17:42Z")
The ‘‘Recent Videos’’ have funny titles. \*\*Obama: ‘‘I’m not mad, just dissapointed.’’ Analysts: Voting Would Have Been Really, Super Easy World: Really? Again? Really??!\*\* Damn. I came in here ready to lambaste MoveOn and all we get is a silly video encouraging people to vote? ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moveon-goes-too-far/469353/19 "2008-10-24T16:21:06Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > It’s actually pretty funny. I can see why your girlfriend would be freaked out though. > > Is she techy? Non techy people tend to be freaked out by internet stuff easier I’ve noticed. Even if she’s not in touch with technology, surely she’s gotten several hundred pieces of junk mail that said something to the effect of: > [@](#): > > Dear CHARLENE HAWTBODDY, > We have a special offer just for you, CHARLENE HAWTBODDY, to consider. If there is vinyl siding at the home of you, CHARLENE HAWTBODDY, then perhaps you would be better off with **NEW** vinyl siding, CHARLENE HAWTBODDY. Now, **YOU** (CHARLENE HAWTBODDY), and you alone can **CASH IN** on an incredible **30% OFF** sale on vinyl siding, CHARLENE HAWTBODDY! ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moveon-goes-too-far/469353/20 "2008-10-24T16:25:24Z")
How do you know this e-mail was from MoveOn? I could send your friend the same e-mail with the reply address reading “George Bush” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moveon-goes-too-far/469353.md?page=2)