# Put your mouth where your mouth is! **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 31, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462 "2012-10-31T17:37:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462/21 "2012-10-31T18:48:49Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Hey, I like that. There is no way in the world **Shodan** could actually stick to his guns and fulfill the bet if he lost. It would be fun as hell to see though, and if you can get **humpy** on board I’ll pay their membership fees for the next year if they lose and actually see it through and hold up their end. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462/22 "2012-10-31T18:54:17Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > You’ll note that I was careful to say “play devil’s advocate for whatever side you disagree with _on a particular issue_.” I’d probably be banned for trolling if I tried to emulate the _style_ of posters I heavily disagree with. About half the hardcore people on the other side of a couple of issues argue so disingenuously that the only reason they are not banned is that there’s still the slight chance they really mean what they say. I would obviously have no such shelter. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462/23 "2012-10-31T19:02:39Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > So is the OP participating? Seems bizarre to start a thread like this and not participate yourself, but its not really clear from the text whether they are doing so or not. That would be bizarre wouldnt it … of course I’ll play. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462/24 "2012-10-31T19:06:09Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > That would be bizarre wouldnt it … of course I’ll play. If your deal is on for real, then I’ll have to withdraw mine, then. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462/25 "2012-10-31T19:06:19Z")
Oo > [@John\_Mace](#): > > I like that idea, but maybe with a modification. All the folks who pick Romney get to vote for one person from the list of those who picked Obama and that person has to stay off the MB for 6 months, if Romney wins. And vice versa. That way everyone gets to participate. Penalizing only one poster?? Or does each winner get to pick one? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462/26 "2012-10-31T19:06:39Z")
> [@Ludovico technique](#): > > I’d probably be banned for trolling if I tried to emulate the _style_ of posters I heavily disagree with. About half the hardcore people on the other side of a couple of issues argue so disingenuously that the only reason they are not banned is that there’s still the slight chance they really mean what they say. I would obviously have no such shelter. In my eyes, at least, part of the beauty of it would be to see posters use the same style but the opposite content. The two are not completely separable, of course, but that’s part of the fun. But maybe a bet is not the right way to do this. Maybe I just need to convince a group of people to do it. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462/27 "2012-10-31T19:07:45Z")
From the title of the OP, I expected something a good deal more…Clintonesque. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462/28 "2012-10-31T19:08:31Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > In my eyes, at least, part of the beauty of it would be to see posters use the same style but the opposite content. The two are not completely separable, of course, but that’s part of the fun. > > But maybe a bet is not the right way to do this. Maybe I just need to convince a group of people to do it. We should declare April 1 of every year: Post like your opposite day. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462/29 "2012-10-31T19:10:15Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > We should declare April 1 of every year: Post like your opposite day. I’m not sure I’m up to the task of posting like Satan, but I’m willing to give it a try. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462/30 "2012-10-31T19:39:07Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > If Romney wins, it isn’t because he’s the better person for the job. His campaign is using lying and misinformation to drive a narrative. Why would anyone banish themselves because a dishonest scumbag misleads enough people to get elected? > > Romney deserves to fail, but it’s hardly a foregone conclusion that he will. I thought the whining and excuse-making was supposed to be a seven-day period _after_ the election, not _before_. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462/31 "2012-10-31T19:41:33Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Who’s going to win… Obama or Romney? Losers agree to voluntarily suspend their activity on the SDMB for six months as follows: > > 1 Voluntary suspension is limited to GD, Elections and The Pit. > > 1. Voluntary suspension occurs after a seven day period in which the losers get a chance to whine and make excuses. Why? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462/32 "2012-10-31T19:56:06Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I thought the whining and excuse-making was supposed to be a seven-day period _after_ the election, not _before_. You don’t appear to understand how elections work. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462/33 "2012-10-31T22:20:45Z")
After thinking about it a while, I’ve decided I object to this on principle. We’re supposed to be fighting ignorance. While it appears we’re losing, I don’t think that silencing the opposing voices is the way to go. We need diversity of opinion, even opinions we disagree with. The board would be poorer without it. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462/34 "2012-10-31T22:25:10Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > These forums would be pretty boring if everyone took that bet. > > Here’s a more playful suggestion: If you lose, you have to step into the shoes of someone with opposite political beliefs for four weeks, make at least twenty posts, and do your good faith best to play devil’s advocate for whatever side you disagree with on a particular issue. (Maybe with a sig line disclaimer to avoid confusion.) Oooh, I like that idea. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462/35 "2012-10-31T22:34:39Z")
I don’t want the righties of the board, how the hell are we supposed to rub it in after Obama wins? ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462/36 "2012-10-31T23:11:14Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > Equally, someone like **Grumman** would have to argue for drone strikes. Aww, I’m touched. However, my argument has always been about who _should_ win, not who _will_ win. I’m well aware that the odds - and system - are against Johnson and Stein. That, and the forum rules forbid me from posting material that encourages activity that is illegal in the United States, such as committing war crimes by targeting first responders and funerals. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462/37 "2012-10-31T23:14:50Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > Aww, I’m touched. However, my argument has always been about who _should_ win, not who _will_ win. I’m well aware that the odds - and system - are against Johnson and Stein. No one said you have to bet on your preferred candidate. > [@Grumman](#): > > That, and the forum rules forbid me from posting material that encourages activity that is illegal in the United States, such as committing war crimes by targeting first responders and funerals. 😉 The mods would have to have a mighty high opinion of your rhetorical skills to find that your reasoning in support of drone strikes encourages Obama. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462/38 "2012-10-31T23:20:56Z")
To further **Richard Parker** ’s idea, if you are a person who routinely sits in the middle and refuses to take sides at all, you are forced for the relevant time period to take sides in ANY and ALL issues you post about. Adamantly. With vigor and fervor! ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462/39 "2012-11-01T15:55:36Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > After thinking about it a while, I’ve decided I object to this on principle. We’re supposed to be fighting ignorance. While it appears we’re losing, I don’t think that silencing the opposing voices is the way to go. We need diversity of opinion, even opinions we disagree with. The board would be poorer without it. Good answer!! However, the right answer is that the Obama people aren’t as confident as they pretend to be. Nor do they really think the he deserves to be re-elected. C’mon, just think how fun it will be watching the Mods deal with all the political crap that gets shifted over to GQ, IMHO or CS! How about just three months?? How about each winner picks one loser to shut up? There will still be plenty of lefties to dominate the board. ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462/40 "2012-11-01T16:02:36Z")
Obama supporters’ confidence level has fuck-all to do with whether or not we think he deserves reelection. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-mouth-where-your-mouth-is/639462.md?page=3)