# Prickly City - humor for conservative idiots **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 17, 2006, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prickly-city-humor-for-conservative-idiots/361026 "2006-06-17T02:17:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2006, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prickly-city-humor-for-conservative-idiots/361026/1 "2006-06-17T02:17:57Z")
This rant is about [today’s Prickly City strip](http://www.gocomics.com/pricklycity/2006/06/16/). I know, I shouldn’t even be reading this, it’s “just a cartoon”, it’s “just entertainment”, and why would I read it if I don’t agree with it? Well, it’s there, it’s right next to Doonesbury, and it’s a scab I guess I can’t resist picking sometime. But today’s strip really set me off… I mean, it’s not unusual for this vehicle for conservative “thought” to feature equivocation, FUD, and logical fallacies that a junior varsity high-school debater could shred like a kitten with a roll of toilet paper. But the idiocy and dishonesty of this one just went right over the top, and it made me kind of sad to think that there are people out there who will point to this and say “yuk yuk, that thar’s the truth, being carbon nootral is bad for the envarmint. dum librals.” > [@](#): > > _Carmen:_ Vice President Gore, you say you’re totally carbon neutral. > _Gore:_ Yes, it’s a way to fight global warming > _Carmen:_ Then aren’t you actually adding to the problem? (_note from me: oh Jesus, what the fuck could this possibly be, I can’t wait to read the idiocy that is no doubt coming in the next frame._) > _Gore:_ How? > _Carmen:_ You say we’re hurtling toward environmental armageddon, so being neutral only serves to help give smug liberals a false sense of superiority. (\*holy fuck. That was so fucking stupid, it physically hurt me to read it. And it doesn’t even **mean** anything. ) > _Winston (aside):_ Talk about an inconvenient truth. > _Gore:_ Did I mention I invented carbon? (_yeah, you’d better throw in that popular canard about Al Gore inventing shit, otherwise a reader might realize what a huge load of bullshit you’ve just dumped on us._ As Jon Stewart wrote in the final frame of his Mallard Fillmore satire, “Oops! I forgot to tell a joke.” I was **so** looking forward to hearing how emitting less carbon actually makes the environmental problem worse. Don’t get me wrong… I’m all for evaluating solutions objectively. Maybe carbon trading credits aren’t the silver bullet, I don’t know. But this asshole claims it’s making the problem worse and then pulls this gobbledygook bullshit that doesn’t do anything except manage to work “smug” into the conversation, which seems like the conservative media mill tactic _du jour_. I guess having been basically discredited on global warming and unable to mount any serious response, they complain about liberals being “smug”. Well fucking la-de-da, it’s not my fault you’ve been saying global warming is bullshit for 20 years and now your president is finally admitting that basically you’ve all been ostrich-ass wrong. Not my fault I spend $25 a month on gasoline and you spend $250 minimum. Yeah, call me smug, I’ll own that, it’s a little hard not to be, but you’re still fucking wrong. Seriously. Are there people so fucking stupid in the world that this is their idea of witty political commentary? Are they trying to get 'em while they’re young? Yeah, I know totalitarianism leads to Stalinism and shit, I’d probably fuck up the country if I ran it, but when I see this kind of idiocy, I have 2 immediate gut reactions: 1. There should be a law against publishing content that a 6th-grade-child can clearly identify as “bullshit.” 2. The mass of conservatives are too stupid, greedy, and shortsighted to be persuaded, convinced, or negotiated with. They need to be moved into assisted-thinking communities where they aren’t going to fuck up anybody else’s world, and they shouldn’t be allowed outside unsupervised until they score 100% on a test of critical thinking skills. 3. I’m just sad, sad, sad because I know somebody I work with is going to clip this out and pin it on their cubicle and congratulate themselves on how they’re “skewering the liberals.” Shit, this is depressing. ---
**Author:** ![nameless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/779978/32.png) [@nameless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nameless)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2006, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prickly-city-humor-for-conservative-idiots/361026/2 "2006-06-17T02:23:31Z")
I don’t even get what it’s saying. Is it admitting that we’re hurtling towards environmental doom and that being “neutral” does nothing to solve the problem save stroke liberal self-righteousness? Is… is it admitting that there’s a serious problem and actions need to be taken? And, in admitting this, is the only response to take a dig at Al Gore? WTF to the tenth power, man. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2006, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prickly-city-humor-for-conservative-idiots/361026/3 "2006-06-17T02:30:02Z")
3.2 3.5 2.6 from the French judge. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2006, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prickly-city-humor-for-conservative-idiots/361026/4 "2006-06-17T02:36:39Z")
> [@nameless](#): > > I don’t even get what it’s saying. Is it admitting that we’re hurtling towards environmental doom and that being “neutral” does nothing to solve the problem save stroke liberal self-righteousness? Is… is it admitting that there’s a serious problem and actions need to be taken? And, in admitting this, is the only response to take a dig at Al Gore? WTF to the tenth power, man. It’s the new phase of the Global Warming Deniers. They’re losing the fight to suppress the fact of it, so now it’s “Oh well, if we’re all fucked, then we should at least get to ride our Hummers into the apocolypse.” We’re moving from a denial of the problem, to a refusal to participate in the solution. I’m not sure this is progress. If they’re really nutty, they throw in something about how Jesus is coming back real soon, anyway, so we shouldn’t even worry about this environment anyway. Because God’s gonna be real cool with how we screwed up his great works when we had alternatives. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2006, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prickly-city-humor-for-conservative-idiots/361026/5 "2006-06-17T02:41:19Z")
> [@Brain Wreck](#): > > 1. The mass of conservatives are too stupid, greedy, and shortsighted to be persuaded, convinced, or negotiated with. They need to be moved into assisted-thinking communities where they aren’t going to fuck up anybody else’s world, and they shouldn’t be allowed outside unsupervised until they score 100% on a test of critical thinking skills. Why do I suspect that if someone else posted the exact same sentence, except replacing the word “conservatives” with any minority group, you’d be leading the chorus of outrage at such a bigoted remark? ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2006, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prickly-city-humor-for-conservative-idiots/361026/6 "2006-06-17T02:43:58Z")
> [@Menocchio](#): > > If they’re really nutty, they throw in something about how Jesus is coming back real soon, anyway, so we shouldn’t even worry about this environment anyway. Because God’s gonna be real cool with how we screwed up his great works when we had alternatives. I think James Watts already made that argument. So yes, they really are that nutty. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2006, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prickly-city-humor-for-conservative-idiots/361026/7 "2006-06-17T02:48:47Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Why do I suspect that if someone else posted the exact same sentence, except replacing the word “conservatives” with any minority group, you’d be leading the chorus of outrage at such a bigoted remark? Why am I not surprised some idiot conservative would come along, climb up on the cross, and whine about persecution for their choice of beliefs as if it were the same as a race/ethnicity that someone’s born into. Yeah, you’re right, I would happily call you on that bullshit. But since you’ve stopped by, now we have a walking talking example of the mental health problem that produced this lovely work of art that I’m talking about, can you explain what the fuck it’s supposed to mean? What is “the problem” and how does being carbon-neutral “add to it?” Please enlighten us. ---
**Author:** ![nameless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/779978/32.png) [@nameless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nameless)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2006, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prickly-city-humor-for-conservative-idiots/361026/8 "2006-06-17T02:50:17Z")
> [@Brain Wreck](#): > > But since you’ve stopped by, now we have a walking talking example of the mental health problem that produced this lovely work of art For the record, being a conservative is a mental illness? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2006, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prickly-city-humor-for-conservative-idiots/361026/9 "2006-06-17T02:54:11Z")
> [@nameless](#): > > For the record, being a conservative is a mental illness? Look up the word “rhetoric” some time, Skippy. There’s a good lad; run along now unless you’d like to address the OP. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2006, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prickly-city-humor-for-conservative-idiots/361026/10 "2006-06-17T03:04:18Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Why do I suspect that if someone else posted the exact same sentence, except replacing the word “conservatives” with any minority group, you’d be leading the chorus of outrage at such a bigoted remark? :dubious: 😕 :eek: First of all when did consevatives become a minority group? Well I guess when they were taken over by the neo-conseratives who are now running the country. (I have some respect for the real conservatives) Minority? Bulllshit. (sadly) Secondly atacking someone for there political beliefs is the antithesis of bigotry. It’s being an American. If you can’t tell the difference between attacking someone for how they were born and challanging them on the stupid ideas the have developed…well, that’s just sad. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2006, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prickly-city-humor-for-conservative-idiots/361026/11 "2006-06-17T03:05:16Z")
> [@Brain Wreck](#): > > But since you’ve stopped by, now we have a walking talking example of the mental health problem that produced this lovely work of art that I’m talking about, can you explain what the fuck it’s supposed to mean? What is “the problem” and how does being carbon-neutral “add to it?” Please enlighten us. No thanks. That would only waste my time and annoy the pig. ---
**Author:** ![nameless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/779978/32.png) [@nameless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nameless)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2006, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prickly-city-humor-for-conservative-idiots/361026/12 "2006-06-17T03:06:31Z")
> [@Brain Wreck](#): > > Look up the word “rhetoric” some time, Skippy. There’s a good lad; run along now unless you’d like to address the OP. Well thank goodness you came by, I didn’t know what “counterproductive inflammatory bullshit” was until you asked me to look it up. Oh wait, _rhetoric_. That’s different, right? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2006, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prickly-city-humor-for-conservative-idiots/361026/13 "2006-06-17T03:08:55Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > No thanks. That would only waste my time and annoy the pig. Bullshit. You can’t explain it because you know it’s meaningless gobbledygook. Thanks for dodging the issue, as expected. I know I can count on you guys to prove me right. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2006, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prickly-city-humor-for-conservative-idiots/361026/14 "2006-06-17T03:15:14Z")
You don’t want a discussion. You want to rant on conservatives. Which, by the way, I’m not sure I am. See my thread in Great Debates. I called you on a bullshit statement. Your mind is obviously made up, and tonight I’m not in the mood for a flamefest. Maybe another time. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2006, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prickly-city-humor-for-conservative-idiots/361026/15 "2006-06-17T03:23:17Z")
You know, I was actually interested in having a discussion about changing conservative attitudes towards global warming. But I wanted an argument, this is abuse. I’ll try next door. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2006, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prickly-city-humor-for-conservative-idiots/361026/16 "2006-06-17T03:29:29Z")
> [@Menocchio](#): > > But I wanted an argument, this is abuse. I’ll try next door. That’s why I posted it in the Pit; I noted a comic strip that was so stupid that it deserved nothing but abuse, and it provoked within me deep feelings of rage against the legions of idiots who believe and support that kind of stupidity and dishonesty. Yes, I shared those thoughts in my out-loud voice; we’re in the pit. > [@Oakminster](#): > > You don’t want a discussion. Which is fortunate, because you don’t have one to offer. Seriously. If you thought we were going to talk about the validity of global warming, sorry. I’m talking about a fucking moronic comic strip that nobody can decipher. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2006, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prickly-city-humor-for-conservative-idiots/361026/17 "2006-06-17T03:31:34Z")
> [@Menocchio](#): > > You know, I was actually interested in having a discussion about changing conservative attitudes towards global warming. Find a way to make it profitable and conservatives wil jump all over it. So long as there is any signifigant voice demanding “sacrifice” and “global situation” and “you can’t have “X” anymore” and the conservative faction will just tune out. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2006, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prickly-city-humor-for-conservative-idiots/361026/18 "2006-06-17T03:44:45Z")
> [@Menocchio](#): > > But I wanted an argument No you didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2006, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prickly-city-humor-for-conservative-idiots/361026/19 "2006-06-17T03:54:41Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Find a way to make it profitable and conservatives wil jump all over it. So long as there is any signifigant voice demanding “sacrifice” and “global situation” and “you can’t have “X” anymore” and the conservative faction will just tune out. There’s lots of money to be made in this field. There’s the fact that the Japanese car companies are doing well while the American ones are flopping, even though the Japanese have much stricter efficency standards. Heck, the whole world does. Don’t we want to sell cars to China and Europe? Then there’s the fact that every industy but one would like it if our economy weren’t so tied to oil prices. Plus somebody’s going to be making money building all of those solar panels, windmills, and, yes, nuclear power plants, we’re gonna need. Not to mention the mass transit systems and such. (and that’s even without saying that much of Manhattan and Florida under water isn’t exactly good for business) Good old-fashioned American greed is our best motor for innovation. Unfortunately, the innovators’ greed is too often squashed by the greed of the more intrenched industrialists, with their political connections and media power, who are too afraid of change. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2006, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prickly-city-humor-for-conservative-idiots/361026/20 "2006-06-17T04:03:01Z")
At least half of Prickly City’s strips poke fun at conservatives. FYI. Unlike, say, Mallard Fillmore, it’s an equal opportunity offender. Makes some good points, too…at least when I agree with it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prickly-city-humor-for-conservative-idiots/361026.md?page=2)