# nonpolar, front and center **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 1, 2004, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553 "2004-09-01T08:10:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553/61 "2004-09-01T19:31:38Z")
In breaking news, **nonpolar** has been banned. But, please, I’m quite interested in the direction this thread has taken. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_A\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Kid\_A\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_A_1)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553/62 "2004-09-01T19:41:31Z")
🙂 One too many tasteless jokes did him in it seems. Oh well… ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553/63 "2004-09-01T19:46:45Z")
Can we still use “When **nonpolar** becomes a mod”? ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553/64 "2004-09-01T20:03:41Z")
So what was the final straw? This [“joke”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=274109)? ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553/65 "2004-09-01T20:06:52Z")
I’m with you, **Sisyphus’ Stone**. Y’know, just the other day some whiner comes to me all boo-hooin’ because his elderly mother was dying of cancer. Needless to say, I had no sympathy. Every year, thousands of young people’s lives are tragically and painfully cut short by drunk drivers, and I’m supposed to feel sorry for some guy whose mother lived a long and full life and is now dying under a doctor’s care with her pain medicated? I suggested to the guy that instead of caring for his sick mother, who quite frankly is a lost cause, he might consider that his time could be better spent campaigning for stricter laws against drinking and driving and helping those whose lives _could_ be saved. Have a little perspective, I sez to him. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553/66 "2004-09-01T20:24:45Z")
> [@Sisyphus' Stone](#): > > Perspective. > > While one dotes on a horse, feeding and pampering to the point of ridiculous ends, people, mainly in undeveloped countries and with unrealised potential, die of starvation. Maybe the attention and devotion to meeting the needs of a horse might be better served by attending the needs of starving humans. Maybe resourses expended into supporting a bloody horse, redirected into the starving millions, might save a real life. I don’t know but I do know where my efforts are to be exerted. Off you go then, and get busy. You should start by selling my computer and every other thing you own, because why should you have anything when there are starving children in the world? Let us know how it turns out, though we won’t expect to see much posting from you in the meantime. > [@](#): > > Stuff the horse. You practically deserve your own pitting for this. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553/67 "2004-09-01T20:30:55Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > I’m with you, **Sisyphus’ Stone**. Y’know, just the other day some whiner comes to me all boo-hooin’ because his elderly mother was dying of cancer. Needless to say, I had no sympathy. Every year, thousands of young people’s lives are tragically and painfully cut short by drunk drivers, and I’m supposed to feel sorry for some guy whose mother lived a long and full life and is now dying under a doctor’s care with her pain medicated? I suggested to the guy that instead of caring for his sick mother, who quite frankly is a lost cause, he might consider that his time could be better spent campaigning for stricter laws against drinking and driving and helping those whose lives _could_ be saved. > > Have a little perspective, I sez to him. Nicely done. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553/68 "2004-09-01T20:31:29Z")
Good bye Nonpolar, won’t miss ya. It also looks we have other narrow minded insensitive assholes ready to fill his shoes already. Let me spell it out for the dimmer bulbs out there. A horse, dog, cat or even a friggin’ earwig that has been with you long enough becomes part of you. Hell, I had a two cats (so far) that made it past their twentieth birthday. Anyone who has something sarcastic and mean to say when someone loses a valued companion, is a pathetic creep. I would suggest these people should stuff something themselves, but there is no room, their heads are already up there. I will be noting the “passing” of nonpolar by doing something I meant to do anyway… actually become a member instead of a Guest 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_A\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Kid\_A\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_A_1)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553/69 "2004-09-01T20:35:51Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > I’m with you, **Sisyphus’ Stone**. Y’know, just the other day some whiner comes to me all boo-hooin’ because his elderly mother was dying of cancer. Needless to say, I had no sympathy. Every year, thousands of young people’s lives are tragically and painfully cut short by drunk drivers, and I’m supposed to feel sorry for some guy whose mother lived a long and full life and is now dying under a doctor’s care with her pain medicated? I suggested to the guy that instead of caring for his sick mother, who quite frankly is a lost cause, he might consider that his time could be better spent campaigning for stricter laws against drinking and driving and helping those whose lives _could_ be saved. > > Have a little perspective, I sez to him. Kudos, **pravnik**. Kudos. And let me the first to welcome you aboard, **SteveG1**. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553/70 "2004-09-01T20:36:04Z")
Damn. **nonpolar** is gone. And I had my money on him being banned on September 2. I guess this means I don’t win the betting pool. > [@](#): > > Off you go then, and get busy. You should start by selling my computer and every other thing you own, because why should you have anything when there are starving children in the world? Let us know how it turns out, though we won’t expect to see much posting from you in the meantime. **Sisyphus’ Stone** owns **Spectre of Pithecanthropus’** computer? What do you have some kind of lend-lease deal or something? ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553/71 "2004-09-01T20:39:38Z")
> [@Lord Ashtar](#): > > Nicely done. agreed - sadly IRL, I’ve known folks who could only see their own pain, no matter what else was happening to someone else - as in woman saying to another grieving over recent death of infant grandchild, “I know your sad and everything, but I’ve got _termites_ in my house!” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553/72 "2004-09-01T20:40:39Z")
Oh, and **SteveG1** , I was right there with you until you got to the part about the earwig. Why would anyone want to have a pet earwig? Why would anyone want to be in the same universe with an earwig, if they could possibly avoid it? Earwigs are horrid, horrid little creatures that make me want to climb onto a chair and scream “ahhh, earwig, earwig!!!” until someone comes and rescues me, and have to be killed a minimum of three times before they will stay dead. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553/73 "2004-09-01T20:49:33Z")
> [@The Asbestos Mango](#): > > Damn. **nonpolar** is gone. > And I had my money on him being banned on September 2. > > I guess this means I don’t win the betting pool. How can you be worried about this when a general lack of government funding to mosquito control programs means that malaria is making a comeback in and around the Carribbean??! You insensitive bastard! Get some perspective! ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553/74 "2004-09-01T20:49:54Z")
Was just an artistic license sort of thing. It was my way of saying it doesn’t matter what sort of creature it is, if the person gets attached. The joke part was, earwigs really do get attached, from the inside. Yup, saw it on Night Gallery ages ago 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553/75 "2004-09-01T20:54:13Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > Can we still use “When **nonpolar** becomes a mod”? Yes, but only until nonpolar becomes a mod. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553/76 "2004-09-01T21:12:34Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > How can you be worried about this when a general lack of government funding to mosquito control programs means that malaria is making a comeback in and around the Carribbean??! You insensitive bastard! > > Get some perspective! That would be “insensitive bitch” to you. Perspective, indeed. Ahhhh!! Earwig! Earwig! ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553/77 "2004-09-01T21:19:37Z")
Like a nun, I weeks ago cloistered myself in my home and began to meditate and pray upon a solution from above. I studied archaic and obsure reference books, watched the heavans constantly, and waited patiently and faithfully for the inevitable resolution to my heartbreaking woe. And then, one day, one seemingly normal, mundane day… it happened. **nonpolar** was banned. Thank you, Mods. Now, finally, I can resume my normal life. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553/78 "2004-09-01T21:32:10Z")
How can you sit there at your computers when the electricity could be used to run a water purifier in one of those loser countries?! Perspective!! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553/79 "2004-09-01T21:34:26Z")
> [@trublmakr](#): > > **nonpolar** was banned. oh, the… ummm… yeah… humanity. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553/80 "2004-09-01T21:35:48Z")
**Trublmaker** , how dare you take time to rejoice over the banning of a poster, when there are _people living in refugee camps in Sudan?_ Your time could be better spent thinking about all those poor folks, who don’t have computers and have never even logged onto a message board. Perspective, people. Na na nah nah, na na nah nah, hey hey hey… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpolar-front-and-center/262553.md?page=5)