# Oh, Wow, This Is Powerful Stupid
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-wow-this-is-powerful-stupid/268574
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [October 11, 2004, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-wow-this-is-powerful-stupid/268574 "2004-10-11T04:13:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@PussyCow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PussyCow)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2004, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-wow-this-is-powerful-stupid/268574/21 "2004-10-11T21:47:44Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#):
>
> What italisized letters? đ
>
> In the book \*\*\*[Illuminatus!\*\*\*](http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=2U74DK2VNA&isbn=0440539811&itm=1) by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson, âfnordâ is a word which the conscious mind canât read, but the subconscious picks up on it and feels fear, so to help control folks, the Illuminati work the word into things like newspaper articles.
>
> (BTW, _ **Illuminatus!** _ is a pretty entertaining read, even if it is all BS and has inspired innumerable nutjobs.)
Thank you **Tuckerfan** for not making me have to beg.
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2004, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-wow-this-is-powerful-stupid/268574/22 "2004-10-11T21:53:09Z")
[The italics.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=5353235) Awful lot of trouble to go to. Reason?
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### Author:  [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2004, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-wow-this-is-powerful-stupid/268574/23 "2004-10-11T22:03:21Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#):
>
> Is _Illuminatus!_ a parody, or do the authors really believe that stuff?
Heh, thatâs a good question. They certainly go out of their way to make you think that they do, but theyâre fairly tongue-in-cheek fellows, so itâs questionable as to how much they believe or not. Bob Sheaâs passed on, but [Robert Anton Wilsonâs still alive and kicking.](http://www.rawilson.com/main.shtml)
**NoClueBoy** , the reason for the italics is to highlight the absurdity of my friendâs and BSâs thought processes. Yeah, itâs a pain in the ass (youâll notice I havenât done it in my responses) and I realize that not everybody will get the reason behind them (which is part of the fun of doing them). fnord
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2004, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-wow-this-is-powerful-stupid/268574/24 "2004-10-11T22:08:46Z")
WORX4ME
saw it on a liscence plate
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### Author:  [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2004, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-wow-this-is-powerful-stupid/268574/25 "2004-10-12T17:15:55Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#):
>
> Is Illuminatus! a parody, or do the authors really believe that stuff?
That depends on which day of the week it is. An interview with RAW that I read one time said that he gets this question all the time. He answers in the negative on Wednesdays and in the affirmative the rest of the time. Then he throws in some extra randomness depending on what days of the week various holidays fall that particular year.
Enjoy,
Steven
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### Author:  [@Leonard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leonard)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-wow-this-is-powerful-stupid/268574/26 "2004-10-12T17:44:08Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#):
>
> (BTW, _ **Illuminatus!** _ is a pretty entertaining read, even if it is all BS and has inspired innumerable nutjobs.)
I think that book needs a surgeon generalâs warning not to mix with hallucinagens or paranoia. (And Iâm one who is irritated by all the warning labels.)
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