# Oh dopers! Why are you so pedantic? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 31, 2012, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930 "2012-07-31T05:49:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![MrDurden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ed655f/32.png) [@MrDurden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDurden)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930/61 "2012-08-06T03:42:57Z")
Shallow _and_ pedantic. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930/62 "2012-08-06T03:44:44Z")
We insist upon ourselves. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930/63 "2012-08-06T04:00:05Z")
It is a pedantic pandemic. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930/64 "2012-08-06T12:27:48Z")
(to tune of Pink Panther Theme) pedant pedant pedant pedant pedant pedant pe-daant ped-ed-ed-ed-ant ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930/65 "2012-08-06T12:35:40Z")
I tend to be pretentious and condescending. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930/66 "2012-08-06T14:33:42Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > > [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > > > The most bizarre variation on this theme was the 1980 Chevy Chase movie, “Oh! Heavenly Dog”. I could never figure out why the exclamation point came after the Oh. > > I think it indicates mild surprise. > > I’m not sure I have one. Pedantic? _MOI?_ Just because **Alessan** messing up the quote of **Freddy the Pig** drove me bonkers? ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930/67 "2012-08-06T15:41:14Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > - Because pendantry is a powerful weapon in the _Fight Against Ignorance!!_ > > - To eschew obfuscation? > > - Because it’s fun? > > - How else can I come across as haughty and dismissive when I’m online and you can’t see me arch my eyebrow in disdain? > > 😃 With your head tilted back and looking down over your nose, of course! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930/68 "2012-08-06T15:43:08Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > (to tune of Pink Panther Theme) > > pedant > pedant > pedant pedant pedant > pedant pe-daant > ped-ed-ed-ed-ant What key? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930/69 "2012-08-06T16:56:17Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Example: I know virtually nothing about Doctor Who and have never watched any version of the show. Yet, after reading **Alessan** ’s correction in the [Where to start with Dr. Who?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=659607) thread,I myself have the urge to correct anyone I see spelling it “Dr. Who.” Besides which, even if his surname _were_ Who (for example, if he were related to a famous baseball player at first base), it’d be “Dr Who” not “Dr. Who” because the show is British. ---
**Author:** ![senpai71](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7993a0/32.png) [@senpai71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/senpai71)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930/70 "2012-08-06T22:05:57Z")
Pedantry or pedanticism? Enquiring minds need to know. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930/71 "2012-08-07T01:38:07Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > Besides which, even if his surname _were_ Who (for example, if he were related to a famous baseball player at first base), it’d be “Dr Who” not “Dr. Who” because the show is British. Is that true? Why? BTW Pedantry sounds like something you’d be arrested for. ---
**Author:** ![Diamonds02](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Diamonds02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diamonds02)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930/72 "2012-08-07T02:01:42Z")
OP, feather or dot? ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930/73 "2012-08-07T02:18:22Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > Is that true? Why? There is [a different convention](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbreviation#Style_conventions_in_English) for an abbreviation versus a contraction in British usage. An abbreviation is a truncation, like “Prof.” for “Professor”, while “Mister” gets _contracted_ to “Mr” (without what they call a “full stop” at the end) because the first and last letters remain the same. In US usage either one would get a period. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930/74 "2012-08-07T02:23:46Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > Besides which, even if his surname _were_ Who (for example, if he were related to a famous baseball player at first base), it’d be “Dr Who” not “Dr. Who” because the show is British. Does that mean Dr Pepper is British? ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930/75 "2012-08-07T02:50:42Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > you could have said > > Why are y’all so pedantic? > > or > > Why are youse so pedantic? > > and i would not have objected. [Tell me dear, why am I so pedantic?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwP2GUQh-qc) ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930/76 "2012-08-07T05:15:41Z")
> [@Diamonds02](#): > > OP, feather or dot? Dot.😃 ---
**Author:** ![ddaug4uf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@ddaug4uf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddaug4uf)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930/77 "2012-08-07T22:30:42Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > But, wouldn’t the more natural and logical place to indicate surprise be after “heavenly dog”? > > “Oh, what a heavenly dog!” not > “Oh! What a heavenly dog.” > > Seriously, this has been bugging me for 32 years. Jeez! It really isn’t that difficult. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930/78 "2012-08-08T01:33:02Z")
The question is like a ten year-old asking what’s so great about an orgasm…on the Straight Dope whatever is in second place to being the most correct is so far behind no one cares that it was a pretty good answer. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930/79 "2012-08-08T01:53:52Z")
Were some people allowed to become members here without having to sign the same form I did? The one with the specificed minimum annual Pedantry? ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930/80 "2012-08-08T02:44:58Z")
Before I can address the O.P.'s question, I need clarification concerning his or her use of the pronoun “you”. Is the word being used to indicate the second person singular or the second person plural? I.e., is the O.P. asking for an explanation as to why each individual Doper is pedantic, or is the O.P. asking for an explanation as to why Dopers as a group are pedantic? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dopers-why-are-you-so-pedantic/629930.md?page=5)