# My roommate knows (and doesn't know) the weirdest things **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 6, 2009, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496 "2009-05-06T01:42:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/21 "2009-05-06T14:58:13Z")
> [@Litoris](#): > > ETA: While I did know that LHotP was based on a book, and I am an avid reader (and always was) I have never read it, and honestly don’t remember a single teacher ever even mentioning the book, let alone trying to get us to read it. Perhaps living in Utah, there is a different focus on which books your teachers prefer? Well, where did you go to school? The _Little House_ books are American classics. I’m pretty stunned that it would be possible to grow up a reader in the US, and not have run across these books and been encouraged to read them. They _may_ be more popular west of the Mississippi, what with the pioneer theme and all, but really, they’re pretty dang universal in this country. Go read them, if you haven’t yet! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/22 "2009-05-06T15:10:47Z")
I grew up around Chicago, and I never heard of the books as a kid. I did learn somewhere that the TV series was based on a book series, though. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/23 "2009-05-06T15:13:51Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > And LOTR has fuck all to do with WWII. It doesn’t even make sense as an allegory- what the hell is the ring supposed to represent? True. Tolkien wrote in the introduction something to the effect of “If it was an allegory, the forces of the West would have used the Ring, and Saruman would have used his knowledge of Ring Lore to create his own.” So, it would have been a representation of Nukes, if it were an allegory, which it isn’t, so it’s not. > [@dangermom](#): > > Well, where did you go to school? The Little House books are American classics. I’m pretty stunned that it would be possible to grow up a reader in the US, and not have run across these books and been encouraged to read them. They may be more popular west of the Mississippi, what with the pioneer theme and all, but really, they’re pretty dang universal in this country. Go read them, if you haven’t yet! I never encountered them either. Granted, some of my elementary school years were spent in Singapore, but it was the Singapore _American_ School, and we read other American classics like _Huckleberry Fin_. Also never heard of it going to middle or high school in CT. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/24 "2009-05-06T15:14:34Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > Well, where did you go to school? The _Little House_ books are American classics. I’m pretty stunned that it would be possible to grow up a reader in the US, and not have run across these books and been encouraged to read them. They _may_ be more popular west of the Mississippi, what with the pioneer theme and all, but really, they’re pretty dang universal in this country. Go read them, if you haven’t yet! Grammar school and Junior High in central Illinois. Corn and soy bean country. High school in Denver. Graduated in 1979. I just recently learned that there are Little House on the Prairie books. And more recently learned that the TV show is based on the book and not the other way around. American classics? Wow that completely slipped by me. Never did watch the show. It looked sort of boring and preachy. I’ll look for the books. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/25 "2009-05-06T15:16:44Z")
[quote=“Captain\_Carrot, post:1, topic:495496”] He thinks Northern Virginia is part of the South, despite a 19-year resident thereof (me) repeatedly telling him it’s not. /QUOTE] Well, it goes both ways really. (41 year resident here, missed being a native by six months.) Northern Virginia is not the South in that our school system is excellent, our businesses high-tech, our work ethic quite strong, and our society largely color blind. So I certainly understand your cultural argument. However, there is Arlington Manor to consider, and Manassas, and Mosby Woods. . . I never had a history teacher who hadn’t moved here specifially because he/she was a civil war buff. And culturally, it’s still complicated. I was taught never to wear precious stones before 6:00pm (and yes, Jacquie dear, this _DOES_ include pearls.) I grew up with the “wreath rule” (If the wreath is on the door, the residents are prepared for visitors, if not, please respect their privacy and don’t knock.) My elderly neighbor had established “at home” days, and never left the house without gloves. I still carry visiting cards as I find it tacky to use business cards for personal aquaintances. I was taught never to trust a man who wears french cuffs in the day time. The range of topics I know about is truly boggling, even for me. I am a voracious reader, and insatiably curious, so I seldom stand in a line or even sit at a traffic light without picking up some new factoid. And if I get any free time I spend it reading for a deeper understanding of subjects that interest me. But I never really learned about WWI and II (See history teacher note above.) I am purely embarassed about this, and have seriously humiliated myself by mixing up the two in arguments. I know a good deal about the Holocaust, but next to nothing about the war. (I just googled thinking that was WWI, but no, had it wrong again . . .) ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/26 "2009-05-06T15:25:28Z")
Well my friend (he’s 28 years old) has never seen _Casablanca_. He doesn’t even know what it’s about. He’s coming over for dinner Saturday and I will rectify this. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/27 "2009-05-06T15:25:33Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > Well, where did you go to school? The _Little House_ books are American classics. I’m pretty stunned that it would be possible to grow up a reader in the US, and not have run across these books and been encouraged to read them. They _may_ be more popular west of the Mississippi, what with the pioneer theme and all, but really, they’re pretty dang universal in this country. Go read them, if you haven’t yet! Curiously enough, my mother had the full set of books as a child in the late 50s… in _India_. > [@TruCelt](#): > > But I never really learned about WWI and II (See history teacher note above.) I am purely embarassed about this, and have seriously humiliated myself by mixing up the two in arguments. I know a good deal about the Holocaust, but next to nothing about the war. (I just googled thinking that was WWI, but no, had it wrong again . . .) Most Americans don’t know the difference between WWI and WWII, really; they just think they do. On the face of it, they are a bit confusing. ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/28 "2009-05-06T15:42:57Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > Well, where did you go to school? The _Little House_ books are American classics. I’m pretty stunned that it would be possible to grow up a reader in the US, and not have run across these books and been encouraged to read them. They _may_ be more popular west of the Mississippi, what with the pioneer theme and all, but really, they’re pretty dang universal in this country. Go read them, if you haven’t yet! I grew up (and went to school) in TN. We read Mark Twain – Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer, etc – never once had a teacher even mention LHotP. I still have no interest in reading the books, the show sucked (IMO). ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/29 "2009-05-06T16:05:32Z")
For what it’s worth, the show pretty much shares the title and some character names with the books, but is otherwise a creation of Michael Landon. It was boring and preachy (but in a soothing way – I watched it as a kid). The books, on the other hand, are completely interesting, first-hand accounts of what it was like to be a pioneer as a kid. I loved the books, and still do, but I never encountered them in school. My parents read them aloud. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/30 "2009-05-06T16:06:38Z")
Well, I agree that the show was no good. The books are completely different, though, so please don’t let that influence you. Real Laura Ingalls Wilder fans mostly despise the show. (There was a great rant here a few years ago about that…I should look for it.) You might as well decide that you won’t eat any hamburgers ever because you don’t like McDonald’s. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/31 "2009-05-06T16:14:39Z")
Virginia is a [southern state](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Southern_States) and [fought fiercely](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_of_Northern_Virginia) for the confederacy. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/32 "2009-05-06T16:15:15Z")
If you want the excellent rants, look for **SkeptiJess** in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=188097). But you’d probably have to be more familiar with the show and books to really enjoy her artistry. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/33 "2009-05-06T16:17:42Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > Well, I agree that the show was no good. The books are completely different, though, so please don’t let that influence you. Real Laura Ingalls Wilder fans mostly despise the show. (There was a great rant here a few years ago about that…I should look for it.) You might as well decide that you won’t eat any hamburgers ever because you don’t like McDonald’s. The show also didn’t cover the best book in the series (by far!), _Farmer Boy_, since it was about LIW’s future husband Almanzo and his family, not hers. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/34 "2009-05-06T16:33:42Z")
Is your roommate Sherlock Holmes? Or Nero Wolfe? There’s a respectable tradition in mysteries for detectives to be woefully ignorant outside their fields. Even though you’d think that would be a pretty severe drawback. And Tolkien himself said LOTR wasn’t an allegory for WWII. His argument is included in the foreword to the book. And you’d think he would know. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/35 "2009-05-06T16:36:06Z")
Hey I’m not sure if anyone’s mentioned this yet, but Tolkein said that LotR wasn’t an allegory for WWII. I think it’s in the foreword, or something. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/36 "2009-05-06T16:38:59Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > the Intercostal Waterway Nitpick: [Intracoastal Waterway](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intracoastal_waterway). Intercoastal Waterways are called oceans. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/37 "2009-05-06T17:05:06Z")
You’d think an author would be the best source about the inner meaning of one of his works but this is not always the case. Sometimes authors fib. And one of the most common fibs authors tell is to deny an obvious source of inspiration for one of their works. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/38 "2009-05-06T17:08:09Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > You’d think an author would be the best source about the inner meaning of one of his works but this is not always the case. Sometimes authors fib. And one of the most common fibs authors tell is to deny an obvious source of inspiration for one of their works. Even when the alleged inspiration took place after the majority of the writing took place? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/39 "2009-05-06T17:12:28Z")
> [@](#): > > Even when the alleged inspiration took place after the majority of the writing took place? Of course not. Showing that a work was written or plotted out before an event occurred is obviously evidence that it was not inspired by the event. But the argument “It’s not inspired by this event because the author says he wasn’t inspired by this event” is based on flimsy evidence at best. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/40 "2009-05-06T17:14:57Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Of course not. Showing that a work was written or plotted out before an event occurred is obviously evidence that it was not inspired by the event. > > But the argument “It’s not inspired by this event because the author says he wasn’t inspired by this event” is based on flimsy evidence at best. What possible reason would there be for an author to claim that an allegorical work was, in fact, not allegorical? “Hey, I’ve just spent years tinkering with this story to fit a series of historical parallels, and now I’m going to tell everyone I didn’t to make sure I don’t get any credit.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496.md?page=3)