# Pitting Amateur Barbarian **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 8, 2015, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554 "2015-07-08T08:05:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554/121 "2015-07-15T17:23:46Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > Did you write that? :dubious: Well, yes. Should I have mentioned that? I didn’t want my incredible fame to overwhelm the conversation. It does that. My fame. It’s actually embarrassing to be so famous. If you only knew how famous I am! But you don’t, because I would never tell you or even hint around about my incredible fame. That I have. Mine. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554/122 "2015-07-15T17:28:48Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I believe that is her blog. Your dubious should probably be retracted. > ETA: OMG. I was whooooooooooooooshed? That was the sound of my immense fame, which is immense and also very fast. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554/123 "2015-07-15T17:33:41Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I believe that is her blog. Your dubious should probably be retracted. > ETA: OMG. I was whooooooooooooooshed? Like having your hair parted by an F-16. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554/124 "2015-07-15T18:14:04Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > _swoons at Crotalus_ Are you one of those cool kids he was talking about? I’m feeling more popular already. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554/125 "2015-07-15T18:16:28Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > Are you one of those cool kids he was talking about? I’m feeling more popular already. It’s pretty gauche to talk about your fame that way. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554/126 "2015-07-15T18:18:36Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > It’s pretty gauche to talk about your fame that way. My fame is tiny, slow and imaginary. ---
**Author:** ![CinnamonBabka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbce88/32.png) [@CinnamonBabka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CinnamonBabka)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554/127 "2015-07-15T18:26:45Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > That’s not quite what he said. He said (largely correctly) that modern economic theory only makes sense if you plan for more or less permanent growth. That’s not true, either. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554/128 "2015-07-15T18:47:47Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > That was the sound of my immense fame, which is immense and also very fast. So your fame is fleeting? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554/129 "2015-07-15T18:52:33Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > So your fame is fleeting? So Wikipedia tells me. But I know it’s a lie! ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554/130 "2015-07-15T18:55:46Z")
'Cause that’ll be the da-a-ay that I die! ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554/131 "2015-07-15T19:06:04Z")
> [@Niterover](#): > > First of all we yankees are pretty smart, stop lumping us all in the same boat. I don’t know, saying “…we yankees are pretty smart,…” is kind of lumping you all in the same boat. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554/132 "2015-07-15T19:27:28Z")
> [@CinnamonBabka](#): > > **AB** [doesn’t believe in Economics](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18452420&postcount=162). I read that post as a long-winded way of saying he didn’t want to explain his position. As his position seemed to be “in the future, everyone will be happy with a reduced standard of living” I guess I can understand. [QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] That’s not quite what he said. He said (largely correctly) that modern economic theory only makes sense if you plan for more or less permanent growth. [/QUOTE] Well, no, it can also be used to explain things like recessions. Economics is the study of how people allocate limited resources. Therefore ISTM that the basic income proposal we were discussing either occurs in a universe where purchasing power is infinite, like a Star Trek replicator universe, or in the real world, in which case economics would be useful. Like I said, I think he was just ducking out of a discussion because his assertions were going to be questioned. Which is something **AB** has done elsewhere besides the linked post. So, fie upon thee, naughty varlet **Amateur Barbarian** , and may thy codpiece not fit thee properly and thy thong ride up thy buttcrack. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554/133 "2015-07-15T19:40:22Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Well, yes. Should I have mentioned that? I didn’t want my incredible fame to overwhelm the conversation. It does that. My fame. It’s actually embarrassing to be so famous. If you only knew how famous I am! But you don’t, because I would never tell you or even hint around about my incredible fame. That I have. Mine. \ ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554/134 "2015-07-15T20:06:04Z")
> [@CinnamonBabka](#): > > **AB** [doesn’t believe in Economics](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18452420&postcount=162). Of course not! After all, this is the guy who says that using a rewards credit card is like [“getting $1,000 for pushing a button that kills 1,000 random people.”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16543074&postcount=27) He is also privy to the [highest, Illuminati-level secrets of the marketing industry](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18252049&postcount=27), including why some people think Flo is irritating. (Spoiler alert: she’s _supposed_ to be irritating!) ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554/135 "2015-07-15T20:13:58Z")
> [@erysichthon](#): > > … > > He is also privy to the [highest, Illuminati-level secrets of the marketing industry](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18252049&postcount=27), including why some people think Flo is irritating. (Spoiler alert: she’s _supposed_ to be irritating!) That’s another thread he Brave Sir Robined from. ---
**Author:** ![CinnamonBabka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbce88/32.png) [@CinnamonBabka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CinnamonBabka)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554/136 "2015-07-15T20:17:00Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I read that post as a long-winded way of saying he didn’t want to explain his position. True, but that conversation was full of gems, like [“Economics is not a science”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=18452420#post18452420) and "[“the answer to a sustainable future … is economic de-growth”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18452627&postcount=170), but “such a change does not mean a reduction in real standard of living”. ---
**Author:** ![CinnamonBabka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbce88/32.png) [@CinnamonBabka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CinnamonBabka)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554/137 "2015-07-15T20:23:14Z")
[Here’s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18452568&postcount=168) the correct link for the first quote. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554/138 "2015-07-15T20:36:53Z")
> [@erysichthon](#): > > Of course not! After all, this is the guy who says that using a rewards credit card is like [“getting $1,000 for pushing a button that kills 1,000 random people.”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16543074&postcount=27) It doesnt cost other people anything, so he’s dead wrong. ---
**Author:** ![CinnamonBabka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbce88/32.png) [@CinnamonBabka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CinnamonBabka)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554/139 "2015-07-15T21:04:05Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > That’s another thread he Brave Sir Robined from. “Brave Sir Robined” is now part of my vocabulary of verb-ified nouns. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554/140 "2015-07-16T00:14:35Z")
> [@erysichthon](#): > > Of course not! After all, this is the guy who says that using a rewards credit card is like [“getting $1,000 for pushing a button that kills 1,000 random people.”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16543074&postcount=27) > > He is also privy to the [highest, Illuminati-level secrets of the marketing industry](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18252049&postcount=27), including why some people think Flo is irritating. (Spoiler alert: she’s _supposed_ to be irritating!) What an asshat. My response at the time: > [@Advertising - impact of pitch on your buying decisions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-impact-of-pitch-on-your-buying-decisions/716290/35): > > This is utter, Illuminati-quality nonsense. Flo has nearly 5 _million_ likes on Facebook, and \*more than \*5 million friends. That’s because Progressive has spent a fantastic amount of money to create brand engagement around Flo, not to make her unlikeable. > > Or, more succinctly: “Imagine the number of Facebook likes if they’d tried to make her likeable!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-amateur-barbarian/724554.md?page=8)