# Omnibus Stupid MFers in the news thread (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 5, 2024, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657 "2024-01-05T16:15:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 104
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/2061 "2024-08-05T17:25:43Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > But what did the people who were against the teaching of Arabic numerals think they were preventing, even in a vague sense? What did they mistakenly think that the students were being taught? The answer is they had no idea but they saw the word Arabic, and knew it must be bad. Yes, that specific example is a lot harder to swallow than the other two. I can’t see any non-racist reason to object to that one. The others were clearly tricks, and you can see why a reasonable person might object to them, but assume that “Arabic numerals” really are something in a foreign language (as clearly people assumed)… Explain how that was supposed to be bad?! Another example is when people started a petition to “end women’s suffrage”. People hear that, don’t know what “suffrage” means and think it’s the same thing as “suffering”, and unknowingly sign a petition to remove the right for women to vote. That’s clearly a “ha ha, we tricked you” situation worth a chuckle, but at least the people signing it had good intentions. I see absolutely no good intentions on the part of people objecting to “Arabic numerals”. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/2062 "2024-08-05T17:38:14Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > To be clear, all I’m saying is that I didn’t know what it meant because I wasn’t aware of the term. Maybe I just happened to have teachers that never mentioned it. Maybe they did mention it but I wasn’t paying attention that day. > > To me, it’s on par with getting people to sign a petition to ban “dihydrogen monoxide” because of all the harmful effects it has only to laugh at them for not knowing what “dihydrogen monoxide” is. And if you signed a petition to ban something that you didn’t even know what it was, then yes, you’re stupid. If someone asks you “Do you want to ban use of Arabic numerals in schools?”, and you reply “I dunno, what’s that?”, that’s fine. If you reply “Hah, hah, what a joke, can you believe some folks don’t know what Arabic numerals are?”, that’s fine, too. Even if you reply “No, they should use Roman numerals, just like God and Caesar intended”, then… Well, OK, you’re probably crazy, but it’s still not stupid. But if you reply “Well, I don’t know what that is, but it sounds scary, and so I want to ban it without finding out anything about it”, then that’s stupid. ---
**Author:** ![keeganst94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a6a055/32.png) [@keeganst94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keeganst94)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/2063 "2024-08-05T21:04:40Z")
The specific point of the dihydrogen monoxide one isn’t just point and laugh, although I admit that’s part of it. It’s to point out that the general populace has almost no understanding of chemistry, and maybe we (and by extension, our politicians) should listen to experts and not the people screaming about banning fluoride in the water and chemtrails and chemicals turning the frogs gay. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/2064 "2024-08-06T01:43:58Z")
[How to Royally Screw Up and Get Fired 101.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/border-patrol-shirts-worn-staff-005020868.html) (The link goes to Yahoo.) > An elementary school [in South Carolina](https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/us-regions/southeast/south-carolina) is facing backlash after pictures of staff in “Border Patrol” T-shirts surfaced on the district’s Facebook page. Surely that was to show support for a federal law enforcement agency, right? What? It was part of a professional development day? > Florence 1 Schools posted the images, which have since been taken down, with two staff members wearing gray “Border Patrol” T-shirts during a [Hispanic heritage celebration](https://www.foxnews.com/category/lifestyle/occasions/holiday) event held on Wednesday. And they thought this is the way to celebrate Hispanic heritage? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/2065 "2024-08-06T12:48:38Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And if you signed a petition to ban something that you didn’t even know what it was, then yes, you’re stupid. “She shouldn’t be allowed to teach our children, she’s a thespian!” ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/2066 "2024-08-06T12:57:10Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > To me, it’s on par with getting people to sign a petition to ban “dihydrogen monoxide” because of all the harmful effects it has only to laugh at them for not knowing what “dihydrogen monoxide” is It’s chemtrails, right? ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/2067 "2024-08-06T18:14:27Z")
That’s what makes frogs gay , right? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/2068 "2024-08-06T20:47:35Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > It’s chemtrails, right? What people call “chemtrails” are absolutely full of dihydrogen monoxide, that is an actual scientific fact. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/2069 "2024-08-06T20:54:16Z")
And there’s even evidence it would actually be a good idea for there to be fewer of them. But for entirely different reasons that have nothing to do with mind control or whatever ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/2070 "2024-08-06T21:08:22Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > What people call “chemtrails” are absolutely full of dihydrogen monoxide, that is an actual scientific fact. I _knew_ it! ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/2071 "2024-08-06T22:08:13Z")
The glyphs used to write Arabic numbers are somewhat dissimilar to what we use, [![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ba/73/37/ba7337c4492c6b50d9f8aeb560d03a6c.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ba/73/37/ba7337c4492c6b50d9f8aeb560d03a6c.jpg) it appears that we call our numbers “Arabic” because the arrangement of the glyphs is the same, and unlike Roman numbers. Also, it appears, from this image, that “million” is a word stolen directly from Arabic ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/2072 "2024-08-06T22:12:34Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > it appears that we call our numbers “Arabic” because the arrangement of the glyphs is the same, and unlike Roman numbers Not quite - there were a couple different Arabic systems, of which we use one. > [@eschereal](#): > > Also, it appears, from this image, that “million” is a word stolen directly from Arabic Almost certainly the reverse. Million comes via Latin through some descendant languages from the original “mille” for one-thousand. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/2073 "2024-08-06T22:24:12Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > The glyphs used to write Arabic numbers are somewhat dissimilar to what we use, Here is a chart showing the evolution of Arabic numerals (courtesy of Wikipedia): [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/The_Brahmi_numeral_system_and_its_descendants.png) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/The_Brahmi_numeral_system_and_its_descendants.png) What we use today came from the Western Arabic (or Gobar) above. It is split off from Eastern Arabic, which looks much closer to the examples you gave. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/2074 "2024-08-07T03:00:04Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Million comes via Latin through some descendant languages from the original “mille” for one-thousand. That’s always bugged me just a little. Where does “thousand” come from? ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/2075 "2024-08-07T03:08:06Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > That’s always bugged me just a little. Where does “thousand” come from? [Etymonline sez:](https://www.etymonline.com/word/thousand#etymonline_v_13254) > [@](#): > > Old English þusend, from Proto-Germanic \*thusundi (source also of Old Frisian thusend, Dutch duizend, Old High German dusunt, German tausend, Old Norse þusund, Gothic þusundi). > > This is reconstructed as \*thus-hund-, from a PIE compound meaning “indefinite great number, great multitude” and etymologically “great hundred, swollen hundred.” ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/2076 "2024-08-07T04:03:56Z")
English is truly a mixed breed when it comes to languages. Stuff mixed in from all over the place. One of my favorite examples is the neologism ‘neuroscience’. It’s got both a Greek and a Latin root, and we don’t think twice about that. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/2077 "2024-08-07T04:17:28Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > One of my favorite examples is the neologism ‘neuroscience’. It’s got both a Greek and a Latin root, and we don’t think twice about that. So does ‘television’. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/2078 "2024-08-07T05:11:32Z")
Nearly ten years ago [I was kvetching about the word “monokini”](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-made-up-of-two-languages/441708/43) for a topless bikini. It’s a portmanteau of the Greek prefix “mono-” “one” with the toponym “bikini” (from Micronesian “pikinni”), via an implied Latin prefix “bi-” “two”! I still think that word really ought to be “unikini”. 😄 ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/2079 "2024-08-07T05:18:11Z")
“Kvetching?” I think Yiddish is among Greek and Latin as the great languages. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/2080 "2024-08-07T10:02:21Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Nearly ten years ago [I was kvetching about the word “monokini”](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-made-up-of-two-languages/441708/43) for a topless bikini. It’s a portmanteau of the Greek prefix “mono-” “one” with the toponym “bikini” (from Micronesian “pikinni”), via an implied Latin prefix “bi-” “two”! When I did my sailing trip, the ship had a couple of small boats on davits that it could launch. One of them was called a “monomoy”. I spent weeks trying to figure out what a moy was, and why that boat would only have one of them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657.md?page=103) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657.md?page=105)