# Protocol question **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 19, 2005, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248 "2005-03-19T01:09:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![mattmorgan64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@mattmorgan64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mattmorgan64)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248/281 "2005-03-19T07:34:04Z")
> [@NattoGuy](#): > > Dumbfuck, I WAS saying that you were right. I just didn’t feel like I had to insult the whole board to make the point. Sorry mate, friendly fire and all. I’ve been behind this machine gun all night, may I have some slack? ---
**Author:** ![rolandgunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cdc98d/32.png) [@rolandgunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rolandgunslinger)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248/282 "2005-03-19T07:34:33Z")
> [@mattmorgan64](#): > > Apparently you didnt read my response to YOUR question where I SAID what I am doing is WRONG. > > I do so wish you people didn’t judge the value of a person on wheter or not the used Kazaa, vs smallish topics like lying to get benefits. > > Oh well. > > Can’t have everything, I suppose. Let’s simplify this now, shall we? > > I STEAL MUSIC OFF THE INTERNET AND I DO IT REGULARLY. I USE KAZAA, AND GROKSTER, AND I USE EMULE AND I USE I MESH. > > Now, tell me why it’s ok to lie about a divorce to get benefits from the man. Can I do the countdown? ---
**Author:** ![mattmorgan64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@mattmorgan64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mattmorgan64)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248/283 "2005-03-19T07:35:23Z")
> [@rolandgunslinger](#): > > Can I do the countdown? You can do whatever you want. As always, no one will give a fuck. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248/284 "2005-03-19T07:35:42Z")
> [@rolandgunslinger](#): > > Can I do the countdown? Please. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248/285 "2005-03-19T07:35:47Z")
> [@mattmorgan64](#): > > Bryan, you have become tiresome. Would you like to pet my monkey? You suck at pop-culture references, in addition to Law 101. Mike Myer’s “Dieter” character routinely invited his guests to TOUCH his monkey. If you actually have a monkey, though, I invite you to put him in front of the keyboard so we might get some intelligent commentary from your account, for a change. In any case, I’ll answer my own question on your behalf: if a couple live in a state with no-fault divorce, they can request such a divorce at any time and are not required to give their reasons. If they don’t state their reasons, then there is no act of lying. The intended _effect_ of the divorce may be for one of the former partners to qualify for certain benefits, but this is irrelevant to the legality of the divorce itself, since mention of these benefits is not going to appear anywhere in the legal proceedings surrounding the divorce. In effect, even if the plan was illegal (a major hypothetical), there is no way the state can prove the existence of such a plan unless one of the partners volunteers that information. Do they have a moral duty to do so? I don’t know; do music-stealers have a similar obligation? Why or why not? Can you answer any of these? Can you monkey? I bet he has a firmer grip on marital law than you, and he’s probably tired of you throwing your shit around. “Sigh. I wish he’d evolve into something better,” I can imagine your monkey thinking. “He’s just a waste of a good pair of opposable thumbs.” ---
**Author:** ![mattmorgan64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@mattmorgan64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mattmorgan64)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248/286 "2005-03-19T07:36:47Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Please. Are you still here? Go watch Billy Jack or somethig, you useless fuck. ---
**Author:** ![rolandgunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cdc98d/32.png) [@rolandgunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rolandgunslinger)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248/287 "2005-03-19T07:37:05Z")
> [@mattmorgan64](#): > > You can do whatever you want. > > As always, no one will give a fuck. Ome of my fellow DOPERS know what I mean. And I bet they like me more than you…SO THERE! ---
**Author:** ![mattmorgan64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@mattmorgan64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mattmorgan64)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248/288 "2005-03-19T07:37:54Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > You suck at pop-culture references, in addition to Law 101. Mike Myer’s “Dieter” character routinely invited his guests to TOUCH his monkey. > > If you actually have a monkey, though, I invite you to put him in front of the keyboard so we might get some intelligent commentary from your account, for a change. > > In any case, I’ll answer my own question on your behalf: if a couple live in a state with no-fault divorce, they can request such a divorce at any time and are not required to give their reasons. If they don’t state their reasons, then there is no act of lying. > > The intended _effect_ of the divorce may be for one of the former partners to qualify for certain benefits, but this is irrelevant to the legality of the divorce itself, since mention of these benefits is not going to appear anywhere in the legal proceedings surrounding the divorce. In effect, even if the plan was illegal (a major hypothetical), there is no way the state can prove the existence of such a plan unless one of the partners volunteers that information. Do they have a moral duty to do so? I don’t know; do music-stealers have a similar obligation? Why or why not? Can you answer any of these? Can you monkey? I bet he has a firmer grip on marital law than you, and he’s probably tired of you throwing your shit around. “Sigh. I wish he’d evolve into something better,” I can imagine your monkey thinking. “He’s just a waste of a good pair of opposable thumbs.” If Im such a loser, why have you been pestering me ALL FUCKING NIGHT? YOU LOSER PESTERER. ---
**Author:** ![mattmorgan64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@mattmorgan64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mattmorgan64)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248/289 "2005-03-19T07:38:55Z")
> [@rolandgunslinger](#): > > Ome of my fellow DOPERS know what I mean. > > And I bet they like me more than you…SO THERE! Can we all just agree we ARE ALL FUCKING CLUELESS ABOUT EVERYTHING AND BE FRIENDS? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248/290 "2005-03-19T07:40:02Z")
> [@mattmorgan64](#): > > Now, tell me why it’s ok to lie about a divorce to get benefits from the man. Who said anyone had to lie to get a divorce? If you’re in a no-fault state, you don’t really have to say much of anything. Wow, that sounds familiar. ---
**Author:** ![mattmorgan64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@mattmorgan64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mattmorgan64)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248/291 "2005-03-19T07:41:10Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > Who said anyone had to lie to get a divorce? If you’re in a no-fault state, you don’t really have to say much of anything. > > Wow, that sounds familiar. You are a fucking idiot, Bryan! Hmmm that sounds familiar as well. Peace? ---
**Author:** ![rolandgunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cdc98d/32.png) [@rolandgunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rolandgunslinger)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248/292 "2005-03-19T07:41:10Z")
> [@mattmorgan64](#): > > Can we all just agree we ARE ALL FUCKING CLUELESS ABOUT EVERYTHING AND BE FRIENDS? I’m not… And I’m not letting you off that easy. PUSSY. ---
**Author:** ![mattmorgan64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@mattmorgan64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mattmorgan64)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248/293 "2005-03-19T07:42:30Z")
> [@rolandgunslinger](#): > > I’m not… > > And I’m not letting you off that easy. > > PUSSY. OK then, I tried. Lets go, you supermarket gunslinger. Why are you such a fucking idiot, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248/294 "2005-03-19T07:42:41Z")
> [@mattmorgan64](#): > > If Im such a loser, why have you been pestering me ALL FUCKING NIGHT? > > YOU LOSER PESTERER. You disturb me to the point of insanity. There. I am insane now. Just kidding. I’m not pestering you, I’m heaping scorn on you for my own amusement and hopefully the amusement of others. You’ve actually ENTERTAINED me this last little while, which is a heck of a lot better than boring me. Kudos. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248/295 "2005-03-19T07:42:56Z")
> [@mattmorgan64](#): > > Can we all just agree we ARE ALL FUCKING CLUELESS ABOUT EVERYTHING AND BE FRIENDS? I think we all agree _you’re_ fucking clueless. As far as being friends…something tells me you aren’t going to be around long enough to build any meaningful relationships here. ---
**Author:** ![rolandgunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cdc98d/32.png) [@rolandgunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rolandgunslinger)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248/296 "2005-03-19T07:43:30Z")
You started this shit… Now either back your play or concede. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248/297 "2005-03-19T07:43:57Z")
> [@mattmorgan64](#): > > Hmmm that sounds familiar as well. My point is more sapient. That means it’s smarter. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248/298 "2005-03-19T07:44:01Z")
> [@mattmorgan64](#): > > Apparently you didnt read my response to YOUR question where I SAID what I am doing is WRONG. > > I do so wish you people didn’t judge the value of a person on wheter or not the used Kazaa, vs smallish topics like lying to get benefits. > > Oh well. > > Can’t have everything, I suppose. Let’s simplify this now, shall we? > > I STEAL MUSIC OFF THE INTERNET AND I DO IT REGULARLY. I USE KAZAA, AND GROKSTER, AND I USE EMULE AND I USE I MESH. > > Now, tell me why it’s ok to lie about a divorce to get benefits from the man. Well you are right. I did not read that. The problem is you have made two statements (paraphrase) ``` 1)Lying is wrong. 2)Stealing is wrong. ``` Folowed by ``` 1) I steal ``` You see how your credibility might come into question. Or why we might reasonably ask where you find the gall to criticize someone for lying when you are a self-confessed thief. ( See [self righteous](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=817&ncid=757&e=10&u=/ap/20050318/ap_on_fe_st/flasher_arrest)) It probably is not OK to lie about a divorce to get benefits from the man. Do you know anyone who has done so? ---
**Author:** ![mattmorgan64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@mattmorgan64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mattmorgan64)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248/299 "2005-03-19T07:44:45Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > You disturb me to the point of insanity. > > There. > > I am insane now. > Just kidding. I’m not pestering you, I’m heaping scorn on you for my own amusement and hopefully the amusement of others. You’ve actually ENTERTAINED me this last little while, which is a heck of a lot better than boring me. Kudos. I’m right with ya Bry, and right back at ya mate. It’s a fucking message board, right? We all wake up to our lives in the morn, right? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248/300 "2005-03-19T07:45:52Z")
> [@mattmorgan64](#): > > I’m right with ya Bry, and right back at ya mate. > > It’s a fucking message board, right? > > We all wake up to our lives in the morn, right? Yes, and in the morning I’ll be sober, but you’ll still be an idiot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protocol-question/295248.md?page=16)