# QED's points are nearly always but never universally pointless **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 25, 2008, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qeds-points-are-nearly-always-but-never-universally-pointless/457696 "2008-07-25T03:23:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qeds-points-are-nearly-always-but-never-universally-pointless/457696/21 "2008-07-26T00:10:24Z")
I always thought his name was a pun on a Motorola phone (“hello moto” and what-have-you). ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qeds-points-are-nearly-always-but-never-universally-pointless/457696/22 "2008-07-26T00:33:26Z")
The only absolute truth is that there are no absolute truths. Sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qeds-points-are-nearly-always-but-never-universally-pointless/457696/23 "2008-07-26T02:38:32Z")
[QUOTE=Sage Rat] It would appear that **Scylla** has discovered the secret identity of that brave and heroic cape-clad protector of bulletin boards! I speak of course of none other than **Captain Obvious** , the protector of generally understood things. Now we will all have to stand by QEDs side when he is not in his heroic garb, to protect him from the perfidious Doctor Patent Nonsense! Gather! Gather I say, and help protect our hero, so that he may go to Starbucks in peace like an ordinary man, as he so richly deserves for the service he gives us in his other guise [/QUOTE] Which one of the Obvious brothers is he? Blatantly, or Incredibility? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qeds-points-are-nearly-always-but-never-universally-pointless/457696/24 "2008-07-26T02:44:03Z")
What a strange thread. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qeds-points-are-nearly-always-but-never-universally-pointless/457696/25 "2008-07-26T02:44:11Z")
[QUOTE=Eonwe] But, but . . . if it’s a _point_, how can it be _pointless_??? [/QUOTE] Yeah, I find QED pretty damn pointy. Useless, but pointy. ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qeds-points-are-nearly-always-but-never-universally-pointless/457696/26 "2008-07-26T03:56:48Z")
So, I’m thinking that maybe **QED** ’s name is more literal than figurative? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qeds-points-are-nearly-always-but-never-universally-pointless/457696/27 "2008-07-26T04:00:16Z")
Who’s Batman? ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qeds-points-are-nearly-always-but-never-universally-pointless/457696/28 "2008-07-26T04:09:22Z")
I AM BATMAN! (I’ve always wanted to have a chance to say that!) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qeds-points-are-nearly-always-but-never-universally-pointless/457696/29 "2008-07-26T04:15:33Z")
Personally, I’m happy that there is someone whose points are, to some people, more banal, obvious, and pointless than mine. Keeps me on the giving and not receiving end of Pittings, dontcha know. I also have no problem with **QED** ’s posts. When he is “obvious,” well, what’s obvious to some is Newfound Truth to others. Our readers run the gamut and we need to play to them, too. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qeds-points-are-nearly-always-but-never-universally-pointless/457696/30 "2008-07-26T04:57:01Z")
[QUOTE=Autolycus] I AM BATMAN! (I’ve always wanted to have a chance to say that!) [/QUOTE] Thank you, I’ll be playing straight man all week. Tip your waiters. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qeds-points-are-nearly-always-but-never-universally-pointless/457696/31 "2008-07-26T05:38:43Z")
Don’t feel alone. I posted [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=476270&page=1) last week where I described a very simple story about saving a toddler from running into the street. Everyone else was supportive because I was still shaken up. Another poster that worked nearby supported everything I said. **Q.E.D.** came up with this shit out of nowhere: **It’s a Shagnasty story–you’re supposed to overlook inconsistencies like that and just believe him, no matter how unlikely it is.** He got destroyed for it in multiple places but I believe he has lost it. At one point, he was be useful for some odd knowledge. Then, he got fired from Myth Busters and things started to go down hill rapidly. He still still seemed to have a knowledge of a Radio Shack assistant manager trainee. There is nothing wrong with that because some people need advice on some products. After that, things started to fall apart. Q.E.D. became irrational and randomly abusive. I have no idea what happened. Most personality problems are reversible and I hop he gets help. I don’t care about it for myself because I just ignore him but I do have empathy for that sort of thing. It is sad to see a respected Doper crash and burn so fast for no apparent reason. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qeds-points-are-nearly-always-but-never-universally-pointless/457696/32 "2008-07-26T11:37:30Z")
[QUOTE=Autolycus] I AM BATMAN! (I’ve always wanted to have a chance to say that!) [/QUOTE] Can you please find a complete version of this story for me? I know the reference, and I get the gist of it, but I have never actually seen the damn thing. ---
**Author:** ![essell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/34f0e0/32.png) [@essell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/essell)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qeds-points-are-nearly-always-but-never-universally-pointless/457696/33 "2008-07-26T13:29:39Z")
[QUOTE=fisha] Can you please find a complete version of this story for me? I know the reference, and I get the gist of it, but I have never actually seen the damn thing. [/QUOTE] And put it in a spolier box! I don’t want you ruining whatever it is for the rest of us. ---
**Author:** ![bufftabby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bufftabby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bufftabby)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qeds-points-are-nearly-always-but-never-universally-pointless/457696/34 "2008-07-26T15:28:56Z")
Eh, QED is pretty all right sometimes. Sometimes he’s way nastier than is called for, but I can think of worse on this board. Sometimes his vitriole is well-deserved, as no one else has had the balls to do so in a given thread. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qeds-points-are-nearly-always-but-never-universally-pointless/457696/35 "2008-07-26T19:17:19Z")
[QUOTE=essell] And put it in a spolier box! I don’t want you ruining whatever it is for the rest of us. [/QUOTE] Wouldn’t that be kind of pointless? ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qeds-points-are-nearly-always-but-never-universally-pointless/457696/36 "2008-07-27T00:33:01Z")
[QUOTE=Shagnasty] He got destroyed for it in multiple places but I believe he has lost it. At one point, he was be useful for some odd knowledge. [/QUOTE] I saw an interesting post by him in GQ the other day. And he hasn’t suffered a total meltdown. All he really needs to do is ramp it down a little. For example, QED could have kept his offending post in the OP, but then conceded a little ground in the follow up. Instead of insisting that his original line was _true in the literal sense - so there’s nothing wrong with it!!!_, he could have said, “Well I _did_ say nearly. Hm. Does anybody have a list of old sayings we could browse to test my hypothesis?” And let’s face it, QED missed the point. Whether Scylla’s poker adage was universally true wasn’t central: the issue was its applicability to the GD OP. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qeds-points-are-nearly-always-but-never-universally-pointless/457696/37 "2008-07-27T02:32:49Z")
[QUOTE=fisha] Can you please find a complete version of this story for me? I know the reference, and I get the gist of it, but I have never actually seen the damn thing. [/QUOTE] I think it’s a quote from _Batman Begins_, but actually I’m not sure :o ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qeds-points-are-nearly-always-but-never-universally-pointless/457696/38 "2008-07-27T02:43:36Z")
**Q.E.D.** has been a useless prick in more than one thread. And he’s been a source of valuable and accurate information in more than one thread. It’s hard for me to relate to that sort of inconsistancy, since I myself am perfect all the time. \* But I suppose that you take what you can get. - Sarcasm impaired people: this is sarcasm. ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qeds-points-are-nearly-always-but-never-universally-pointless/457696/39 "2008-07-28T16:48:18Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] A penis made of razor blades. Remember that. [/QUOTE] To be used when writing cutting remarks, I presume? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qeds-points-are-nearly-always-but-never-universally-pointless/457696.md?page=1)