# question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 12, 2005, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313 "2005-09-12T20:04:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313/21 "2005-09-12T20:44:38Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > You people are so dumb. He is asking about the mating ritual of a dung beetle. Dung beetles mate in pinches of salt? Now I’m genuinely confused. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313/22 "2005-09-12T20:47:27Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Let me see if I can parse this. > > You have a question. > > You can’t tell us what the question is. > > You would like an answer. > > Is that about it? I think he has a question and an answer, and he wants to sell it to a newspaper or magazine before he tells anyone what it is. ---
**Author:** ![lorinada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5e925/32.png) [@lorinada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorinada)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313/23 "2005-09-12T20:48:18Z")
I think this might be the part I’m most stuck on: > [@swiftysoitiz](#): > > But as yet as never been questioned…this question has never been looked at or asked anywhere in the history of the world juxtaposed with this: > [@swiftysoitiz](#): > > and will continue to be asked by people Or maybe it’s > [@swiftysoitiz](#): > > although i have only saw it once in 38years, > The person with me had never saw it in there life, i don’t imagine many folk have seen it happen…but this act that happens everyday in every country by this animal has gone unnoticed with this: > [@swiftysoitiz](#): > > this happens everyday, all over the world… > but it happens everyday and no one has noticed before…but this act that happens everyday in every country by this animal has gone unnoticed And yes, I did put the same sentence fragment in twice because it contradicts itself to an extent (if we knew what the question was we may find that it is not contradictory…but it remains to be seen if that will happen). No, no, no I take it all back. This is the part that’s the most flabbergasting: > [@swiftysoitiz](#): > > now i want to try and sell this question How the f do you SELL a question? Buy the way, you must pay me $2 to read the previous sentence. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![swiftysoitiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@swiftysoitiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swiftysoitiz)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313/24 "2005-09-12T20:50:35Z")
> [@Bytegeist](#): > > _Buy_ a question? You seem to mean this literally. I don’t think there’s much of a market for questions. > > And it’s very unlikely (seems to me) that there’s any aspect of animal behavior that hasn’t at least been observed and asked about already by now, though not necessarily explained in all cases. Just because something isn’t on the Internet doesn’t mean it’s outside of human enquiry. > > You have an even bigger problem, actually. You say your question “can’t be answered by anyone, and i do mean anyone.” But you also say it “needs to be answered.” If both of these claims are true, then I guess… well, I guess we’re all doomed or something. well yeah maybe i’m not the smarest person in the world and don’t use commas and whatever, but that don’t mean that i don’t have this question that is a part of nature that no one can explain or give the anser to yes i know not everything is on the internet but what happens in this act of nature, if had have been looked at would not just be on the internet it would be worldwide knowledge, even to someone like me ---
**Author:** ![swiftysoitiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@swiftysoitiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swiftysoitiz)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313/25 "2005-09-12T20:51:42Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > I think he has a question and an answer, and he wants to sell it to a newspaper or magazine before he tells anyone what it is. thats the general idea , a bit like if i discovered the atom or the meaning of life ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313/26 "2005-09-12T20:53:00Z")
You know, the ironic thing here is that I not only asked this same question, once but answered it as well. Back in the 60’s. For 20 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313/27 "2005-09-12T20:54:07Z")
Ok, I’ll bite. Here is my fifty dollars. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313/28 "2005-09-12T20:54:18Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > You people are so dumb. He is asking about the mating ritual of a dung beetle. Oh, if it’s about the mating of **Dung Beetle** , then I’ll bring the, ahem, chicken, if she brings the eggs. Hey, this turned out to be a pretty good thread! ---
**Author:** ![swiftysoitiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@swiftysoitiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swiftysoitiz)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313/29 "2005-09-12T20:54:25Z")
I think he has a question and an answer, and he wants to sell it to a newspaper or magazine before he tells anyone what it is. no i don’t have the answer , no one has the answer ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313/30 "2005-09-12T20:55:26Z")
Is the answer “Forty-two?” Or perhaps, “We apologize for the inconvenience.” ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313/31 "2005-09-12T20:56:27Z")
… but what are you asking _us_ to do? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313/32 "2005-09-12T20:56:33Z")
> [@swiftysoitiz](#): > > no i don’t have the answer , no one has the answer We are a pretty smart crew. We have collectively solved many puzzles including getting rid of groundhogs. Give us a shot. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313/33 "2005-09-12T20:56:52Z")
> [@swiftysoitiz](#): > > I recently became aware of an act of nature that is of general interest, this happens everyday, all over the world > But as yet as never been questioned. I seriously doubt that. > [@](#): > > It is my intention to sell this question aside from a general interest feature the question could yield further revenue from phone-in ect I seriously doubt you have something saleable. > [@](#): > > i wanted to know if anyone had any idea of how i might approach a national newspaper/magazine/ whatever To start with, use proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation. > [@](#): > > this question has never been looked at or asked anywhere in the history of the world i have went on the internet and it just doesn’t exist, i know its mad but it happens everyday and no one has noticed before Do you have any idea how preposterous that statement is? > [@](#): > > yeah but as i said some folk might have seen it happen, and you have more than likely seen it happen but haven’t asked about it, i have only seen it once and that’s what made me ask , I don’t know where you get the idea that you’re the first and only person in the history of the world to “ask about it,” but don’t bet the rent on that notion. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313/34 "2005-09-12T20:57:45Z")
> [@swiftysoitiz](#): > > no i don’t have the answer , no one has the answer So you have a question, but you don’t want to tell us what it is. And it has no answer. And you want someone to pay you for this. Hold on, I’ll go get my checkbook. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313/35 "2005-09-12T20:58:07Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Is the answer “Forty-two?” > > Or perhaps, “We apologize for the inconvenience.” It’s not the answer he wants us to give up, it’s the rights to the question. The question, without question is “Why does this hurt?” ---
**Author:** ![swiftysoitiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@swiftysoitiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swiftysoitiz)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313/36 "2005-09-12T20:59:13Z")
right so if any of you’es discovered something that you belived has never been discused, looked at or anything, but happens everyday all around the world what would you do ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313/37 "2005-09-12T21:00:21Z")
> [@swiftysoitiz](#): > > right so if any of you’es discovered something that you belived has never been discused, looked at or anything, but happens everyday all around the world what would you do I would donate the question to Hurricane Katrina relief. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313/38 "2005-09-12T21:01:47Z")
> [@swiftysoitiz](#): > > right so if any of you’es discovered something that you belived has never been discused, looked at or anything, but happens everyday all around the world what would you do Ah, I think I’m starting to get it. You’ve come up with some sort of koan or philosophical question, and you want to either cash in on it or copyright it. And you want us to tell you how to do so. I don’t know. I’m still thinking about mating with **Dung Beetle**. ---
**Author:** ![swiftysoitiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@swiftysoitiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swiftysoitiz)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313/39 "2005-09-12T21:03:05Z")
> [@Gary T](#): > > I seriously doubt that. > I seriously doubt you have something saleable. > To start with, use proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation. > Do you have any idea how preposterous that statement is? > I don’t know where you get the idea that you’re the first and only person in the history of the world to “ask about it,” but don’t bet the rent on that notion. so your someone who might be a bit smarter than me and other people i don’t give a flying \*\*\*\* what you think and what you think about my spelling, grammar, and punctuation. and how preposterous that statement is? ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313/40 "2005-09-12T21:03:42Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I don’t know. I’m still thinking about mating with **Dung Beetle**. I’m going to pinch some salt, and blow bubble bees. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question/321313.md?page=3)