# North Korea kills US citizens! \[Not really. This is a (sort of) parody thread.\] **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 1, 2010, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-kills-us-citizens-not-really-this-is-a-sort-of-parody-thread/541473 "2010-06-01T08:09:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-kills-us-citizens-not-really-this-is-a-sort-of-parody-thread/541473/41 "2010-06-02T01:44:19Z")
Maybe they attacked the commandoes – _ **WITH MIND BULLETS!** _ ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-kills-us-citizens-not-really-this-is-a-sort-of-parody-thread/541473/42 "2010-06-02T01:51:28Z")
Perhaps the OP can explain why these heroically peaceful sailors, dreaming only of spreading sunshine and joy to all, just happened to have so many sticks handy on their peaceful ship of peace? I know that when I go out spreading sunshine and joy, I usually leave the baseball bat at home… ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-kills-us-citizens-not-really-this-is-a-sort-of-parody-thread/541473/43 "2010-06-02T05:47:26Z")
You’re right, it was a long-planned and coordinated uprising by brook stick handles, curtain rods and engine room tools. And they were going to arm Gaza with these weapons! FFS, have a look around your garage, the store rooms of any shop, the local hospital boiler room. Back to main street: you can barely imagine the whooping and jingoism on this board if they were Americans resisting the armed forces of tyranny. Everything from John Wayne at the Alamo to “let’s roll” to dishing it to cheese-eating surrender monkeys. The country would have sold out of candles now for those soft-focused, nightly news-reported vigils. ---
**Author:** ![Camus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ba8739/32.png) [@Camus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Camus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-kills-us-citizens-not-really-this-is-a-sort-of-parody-thread/541473/44 "2010-06-02T06:38:02Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > Back to main street: you can barely imagine the whooping and jingoism on this board if they were Americans resisting the armed forces of tyranny. Everything from John Wayne at the Alamo to “let’s roll” to dishing it to cheese-eating surrender monkeys. The country would have sold out of candles now for those soft-focused, nightly news-reported vigils. You’re right, I mostly can’t imagine it based on your ridiculous and completely non-similar analogy. ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-kills-us-citizens-not-really-this-is-a-sort-of-parody-thread/541473/45 "2010-06-02T07:18:23Z")
Not a fan, then? For all those Internet literalists out there in broadband world: “Parody (also called send-up or spoof), in contemporary usage, is a work created to mock, comment on, or poke fun at an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation.” ---
**Author:** ![Camus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ba8739/32.png) [@Camus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Camus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-kills-us-citizens-not-really-this-is-a-sort-of-parody-thread/541473/46 "2010-06-02T08:03:46Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > Not a fan, then? > > For all those Internet literalists out there in broadband world: “Parody (also called send-up or spoof), in contemporary usage, is a work created to mock, comment on, or poke fun at an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation.” [QUOTE=Miriam Webster’s definition of parody] Main Entry: 1par·o·dy Pronunciation: \ˈper-ə-dē, ˈpa-rə- Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural par·o·dies Etymology: Latin parodia, from Greek parōidia, from para- + aidein to sing — more at ode Date: 1598 1 : a literary or musical work in which the style of an author or work is closely imitated for comic effect or in ridicule 2 : a feeble or ridiculous imitation [/QUOTE] You’re absolutely right, it is parody according to the standards of the second definition. My apologies. ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-kills-us-citizens-not-really-this-is-a-sort-of-parody-thread/541473/47 "2010-06-02T08:23:53Z")
I would, of course, prefer the first definition, but at least now you better understand the difference between that and what you thought was “analogy”. Shall we move on to metaphor, which some others above seem also to be confused about? ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-kills-us-citizens-not-really-this-is-a-sort-of-parody-thread/541473/48 "2010-06-02T14:13:57Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > I would, of course, prefer the first definition, but at least now you better understand the difference between that and what you thought was “analogy”. > > Shall we move on to metaphor, which some others above seem also to be confused about? Wait, I’m confused. Is this thread the parody? Or is your little story the parody? Poe’s Law is really getting in the way here. Are you making fun of really stupid threads that have fake outrage over stupid situations? If so you did a great job. If your attempt was to show us that we’d react differently if North Korea legitimately attacked a flotilla of morons who were deliberately trying to provoke a situation and resulted in getting people killed, then you failed. ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-kills-us-citizens-not-really-this-is-a-sort-of-parody-thread/541473/49 "2010-06-02T14:31:57Z")
> [@emacknight](#): > > If your attempt was to show us that . . . . . . then you failed. I do so admire your willingness to accept onto your shoulders responsibility for the group. Does it end with being spokesperson, or might someone of your calibre also serve the group as, for example, moral custodian and life guide? After all, you’re clearly a person of firm jaw, willing to be the vanguard against encroachment from outsiders, someone to be admired and respected. To carry such a burden clearly demonstrates the esteem with which you’re held by this community, and tells me everything I’m ever likely to want to know. ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-kills-us-citizens-not-really-this-is-a-sort-of-parody-thread/541473/50 "2010-06-02T14:38:58Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > I do so admire your willingness to accept onto your shoulders responsibility for the group. Does it end with being spokesperson, or might someone of your calibre also serve the group as, for example, moral custodian and life guide? > > After all, you’re clearly a person of firm jaw, willing to be the vanguard against encroachment from outsiders, someone to be admired and respected. > > To carry such a burden clearly demonstrates the esteem with which you’re held by this community, and tells me everything I’m ever likely to want to know. Yup, I’m going with Poe’s Law on this one. Bravo sir, bravo. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-kills-us-citizens-not-really-this-is-a-sort-of-parody-thread/541473/51 "2010-06-02T14:52:00Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > Back to main street: you can barely imagine the whooping and jingoism on this board if they were Americans resisting the armed forces of tyranny. Everything from John Wayne at the Alamo to “let’s roll” to dishing it to cheese-eating surrender monkeys. The country would have sold out of candles now for those soft-focused, nightly news-reported vigils. You have a vivid imagination. I can imagine most of the people on this board saying something like “What a bunch of idiots, trying to run a blockade when they know they’re up against armed forces.” ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-kills-us-citizens-not-really-this-is-a-sort-of-parody-thread/541473/52 "2010-06-02T14:59:08Z")
At least they didn’t get waterboarded, eh? Think themselves lucky they’re only dead. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-kills-us-citizens-not-really-this-is-a-sort-of-parody-thread/541473/53 "2010-06-02T16:33:45Z")
Wow. The dumb just took over the thread. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-kills-us-citizens-not-really-this-is-a-sort-of-parody-thread/541473/54 "2010-06-02T17:01:35Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > Wow. The dumb just took over the thread. Took over? He started the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-kills-us-citizens-not-really-this-is-a-sort-of-parody-thread/541473/55 "2010-06-02T17:10:36Z")
No “The Dumb”. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the Pit together. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-kills-us-citizens-not-really-this-is-a-sort-of-parody-thread/541473/56 "2010-06-02T17:29:34Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > If the North Korean’s were blockading the South then they would be at war already, so they would be fully justified in intercepting such a flotilla. Of course, since the US would already be at war with the North, it would kind of be a moot point, and it would also be militantly unsurprising if the NK’s did attempt such an interception, and if US personnel were killed. Technically, a state of war has existed between the Koreas ever since hostilities began. All they have is a cease fire. Just like between Israel and Gaza. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-kills-us-citizens-not-really-this-is-a-sort-of-parody-thread/541473/57 "2010-06-02T17:30:12Z")
One Dumb to rule them all And in the Darkness bind them! ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-kills-us-citizens-not-really-this-is-a-sort-of-parody-thread/541473/58 "2010-06-02T19:02:29Z")
Ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg Dumbledore! ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-kills-us-citizens-not-really-this-is-a-sort-of-parody-thread/541473/59 "2010-06-02T21:13:24Z")
[QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] Technically, a state of war has existed between the Koreas ever since hostilities began. All they have is a cease fire. Just like between Israel and Gaza. [/QUOTE] I guess I don’t see your point here, or how it impacts on what I was saying there. Leaving aside if this is a parallel situation between Gaza and Israel, if the NK’s tried to blockade the South then an open state of war would be in effect. The fact that there was never a formal peace treaty between the NK’s and SK’s (or the US for that matter) isn’t really relevant, as far as I can tell to what I was saying or responding to in what you quoted from me there. Am I missing something? -XT ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-kills-us-citizens-not-really-this-is-a-sort-of-parody-thread/541473/60 "2010-06-02T21:33:14Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > I guess I don’t see your point here, or how it impacts on what I was saying there. Leaving aside if this is a parallel situation between Gaza and Israel, if the NK’s tried to blockade the South then an open state of war would be in effect. The fact that there was never a formal peace treaty between the NK’s and SK’s (or the US for that matter) isn’t really relevant, as far as I can tell to what I was saying or responding to in what you quoted from me there. Am I missing something? > > -XT I’m not arguing against your point. I’m simply bring up a technical point that your qualifier for a state of war to exist between the Koreas depends on any recent event. Yes there was a cease-fire agreement but its been violated many times over the years including the provision for the removal of foreign troops from Korea which never happened. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-kills-us-citizens-not-really-this-is-a-sort-of-parody-thread/541473.md?page=2)