# Pro bono bullshit **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 9, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132 "2010-09-09T02:43:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 39
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132/761 "2010-09-22T14:56:40Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Actually, in a larger sense, this thread illustrates the failure of libertarian thinking, not just of the narrower Randianism (which term I still hestitate to use, implying as it does that there is actually serious, coherent thought behind Rand’s philosophy.) What you’re seeing here is the result of **RR** ’s belief in the supremacy of the individual, and the lack of legitimacy of the state or another organization, to compel each individual’s behavior. It works okay, until you get some selfish sociopath like \*\*RR \*\*, who sees in any system built on honor and decency the chance to justify blatant self-interest, and fuck everyone else. Hence, and sadly, we rely on state power (or other non-individual power) to coerce. No, this thread illustrates the failure of liberal douche thinking. Lawyers have agreed with the government that they will live up to certain standards in exchange for the privilege of being a lawyer. But liberal douches aren’t happy with that, they think lawyers have some incorporeal cosmic duty to provide free labor. So they get some BS aspirational language in the rules that doesn’t actually impose a requirement, and argue that lawyers have a moral obligation to do pro bono. They can’t leave a free and fair excchange alone–they have to get in the middle of it and use coercion to try and achieve their purposes. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132/762 "2010-09-22T15:02:50Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > SFG: Why don’t you believe you have a moral obligtion to post nudie pics? I said you do. What makes you right when you say I have a moral obligation to do pro bono and me wrong when I say ýou have a moral obligaþion to post nudie pics? Because she only swears _at_ you, not _by_ you. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132/763 "2010-09-22T15:04:00Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > SFG: Why don’t you believe you have a moral obligtion to post nudie pics? I said you do. What makes you right when you say I have a moral obligation to do pro bono and me wrong when I say ýou have a moral obligaþion to post nudie pics? Can you show that **SBG** (sic) is subject to some governing body or guild where posting nude pictures is a requirement, as opposed to it clearing having been demonstrated that you _are_ a member of such an organization that requires pro bono work. And where do get that it was liberals who wrote or promulgated the requirement for pro bono work into the majority of law association rules? Do you have a cite for that, or was that just another opportunity for a cheap (or free) shot at liberaldouches? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132/764 "2010-09-22T15:06:37Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > liberal douche On some message boards, they raise money by letting users buy custom titles for other users. Whether they like it or not. Then again, maybe the SDMB couldn’t use a gazillion dollars… ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132/765 "2010-09-22T15:31:26Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Wrong-o, bub. > [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Where’s the contradiction there, smart guy? > [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Buddy, I don’t work at Dick and Bob’s law shack like you apparently do. > [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > I’ve passed C and F reviews in two states, bub. > [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > $100 would get you about 9 minutes, bub. > [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > My kid’s asleep right now, chump. > [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Look bro. > [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Well, I don’t know what to tell you, bub. > [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > OK, tough guy. > [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Wow. You are really approaching gonzomax levels of dumbassery here, buddy. For those playing a drinking game: bub 4 buddy 2 smart guy 1 chump 1 bro 1 tough guy 1 ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132/766 "2010-09-22T15:33:45Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > > [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > > > You’ve already said enough that I can narrow you down to a very small handful of people (unless you lied about something), like three people and I know one of them and I don’t believe any of them are in a position to pick up and leave for simlar position at some other firm. > > I call bullshit. There’s no way he’s dropped that much information. Male tax partner in Chicago at a thousand lawyer firm (who does mostly M&A) with a 2 year old daughter? That’s pretty specific. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132/767 "2010-09-22T15:35:27Z")
Seriously, how many guys can there be at such a place? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132/768 "2010-09-22T15:45:16Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > > [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > > > Are you sure? That requires believing there has been a woman so desperate as to bear him a child. > > There are women out there who are just as childish as **Rand Rover**. Women were writing Ted Bundy love letters when he was in prison; I have no doubt that someone who’s merely a rich asshole could find someone similarly shallow to **suck him off.** That’s not how you have babies. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132/769 "2010-09-22T15:46:51Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > For those playing a drinking game: > > bub 4 > buddy 2 > smart guy 1 > chump 1 > bro 1 > tough guy 1 You left off “liberal douche”; what are you, scared of being sued for encouraging binge drinking? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132/770 "2010-09-22T15:47:21Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Oh, and FWIW, I think tipping is the better analogy here. There are definitely potential sanctions to poor job performance, even above the level of getting you fired or sued: no promotions, no bonuses, bad raises, and putting yourself at the head of the line for layoffs. Not tipping, on the other hand, seldom has any effect on you outside of getting frowny faces from people who think you should tip. The difference is that you usually don’t swear an oath that makes it your responsibility to tip. I think tipping is FAR less obligatory than pro-bono work, in fact I think tipping has gotten out of control. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132/771 "2010-09-22T15:49:11Z")
> [@villa](#): > > > [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > > > I have no doubt that someone who’s merely a rich asshole could find someone similarly shallow to suck him off. > > Where the hell am I going wrong then? ☹ You have to engage in a little marketing. How else are the shallow chicks supposed to know? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132/772 "2010-09-22T15:49:12Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > > [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > > > There are women out there who are just as childish as **Rand Rover**. Women were writing Ted Bundy love letters when he was in prison; I have no doubt that someone who’s merely a rich asshole could find someone similarly shallow to **suck him off.** > > That’s not how you have babies. Well, not directly, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132/773 "2010-09-22T15:49:36Z")
> [@descamisado](#): > > > [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > > > SFG: Why don’t you believe you have a moral obligtion to post nudie pics? I said you do. What makes you right when you say I have a moral obligation to do pro bono and me wrong when I say ýou have a moral obligaþion to post nudie pics? > > Can you show that **SBG** (sic) is subject to some governing body or guild where posting nude pictures is a requirement, as opposed to it clearing having been demonstrated that you _are_ a member of such an organization that requires pro bono work. Nope, the “guild” I belong to does not require pro bono work, as I have demonstrated in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132/774 "2010-09-22T15:50:13Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > SFG, we’ve always had a little friendly banter going, but this thread seems to have caused Ýou to take a turn to the dark side. Is it because I said your legs looked fat in that **picture ýou posted?** cite please. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132/775 "2010-09-22T15:51:05Z")
Chrissakes, **Damuri** , multiquote! ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132/776 "2010-09-22T16:03:47Z")
He can’t for the same reasn I cant–he’s on a blackberry. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132/777 "2010-09-22T16:12:36Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > The difference is that you usually don’t swear an oath that makes it your responsibility to tip. And yet, \*\*Rand Rover \*\*does it, but he can’t explain why he tips but doesn’t do pro bono work. > [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Nope, the “guild” I belong to does not require pro bono work, as I have demonstrated in this thread. You haven’t demonstrated–you have asserted. It’s been demonstrated that you’re wrong by every other person posting here, including the other lawyers. Well, okay, if we want to get pedantic: you have demonstrated that you are not \*required \*to perform pro bono work. However, you have not demonstrated that you do not have an \*obligation \*to do so, which is the main question. > [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > cite please. 1.) I started a thread called “Heeeeeeeeey FATTIES.” People challenged me to post a picture, and [I linked to a post with my Halloween costume](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12192769#post12192769). 2.) \*\*Rand Rover \*\*[shot a load in his pants over me](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12193885#post12193885). 3.) I [shot him down](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12210147#post12210147) like I was the fucking Red Baron. 4.) There are various other examples of \*\*Rand \*\*desperately licking my boots in that thread–I couldn’t actually find the post where he finally got to the [del]sour grapes[/del] fat thighs. Must have happened in another thread down the road. There are also photos of me in [the SDMB gallery](http://www.nouilles.info/sdpix/index.html). ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132/778 "2010-09-22T16:55:44Z")
Shit, not even Rubenesque! What a disappointment! ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132/779 "2010-09-22T17:13:27Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Society may be better off if sad men like you could fap to pictures of me, it’s true, but neither is there any \*detriment \*to your not getting your clammy sausage fingers on photos of my tits, in the grand scheme of things. Especially considering that there’s plenty of free porn for you to masturbate to, or you could buy your wife another tennis bracelet in exchange for letting you climb on top for another 90-second ride. (And there certainly would be negative consequences for me personally, _vis_. nausea.) Whereas our society \*is \*broken when the rich have all of the access to our judicial system and the poor have none. As much as I’d hate to do it, I think I have to agree with Rand about posting those pictures. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132/780 "2010-09-22T17:20:14Z")
SFG: I have an obligation to perform pro bono work only if the rules I swore to abide by require me to do so (or,I guess, some other set of rules require me to do so). Otherwise, I have as much obligation to do pro bono as you do to post nudie pics. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132.md?page=38) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-bono-bullshit/553132.md?page=40)