# Riboflavin, the question man **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 13, 2003, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940 "2003-02-13T22:14:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Riboflavin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Riboflavin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riboflavin)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940/41 "2003-02-15T20:49:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > See? Right there: you’re obviously fascinated by him. You can’t even mention his name without frothing at the mouth. It’s kinda gross actually. See? Right there: you’re obviously in love with him. You can’t even mention his name without fawning over him and throwing yourself in the way to defend him. It’s kinda cute actually, but I think he’s already taken. > [@](#): > > No. You screw up those threads by turning them into a game of “Hey! Lib! Notice me!” until you drown out everyone else. Notice that Lib answers _other_ people. Nope, Lib doesn’t. Lib provides the same non-answers and whacky-words to other people, and ignores anyone who calls him on the bullshit. Anyway, since you’ve ignored the direct argument part of what I wrote, you’re only getting flamage now. > [@](#): > > Regarding **Lib** being my “fearless leader”? Have you _read_ my posts in those threads? No, actually, you don’t post enough that I’d recognize your name. Lib pops into pretty much every Libetarian thread to spout his nonsense, but I don’t really know who you are. Frankly, I just don’t give a rat’s ass. > [@](#): > > I’m constantly questioning **Lib** on various aspects of his views, enough so “Press my lips tightly to his ass and maybe give him some toungue” doesn’t qualify as ‘questioning’ in my book. Did you ‘question’ him on whether you can actually opt-out of libertaria like he claims, on exactly how Libertaria determines who’s a parent and who’s a child and how it deals with kids no one wants to adopt, or any of the other big holes? Oh no, you toss him a few softballs and make sure not to break the seal. > [@](#): > > that based on his post in the Dewey pit-thread, he feels I’m _an opponent of libertarianism_. (Whereas I’d consider myself a sympathizer). Lib feels that everyone who doesn’t agree with him 100% is an opponent of libertarianism, you may as well brag that Fred Phelps considers you an enemy of morality. > [@](#): > > See? Here again the casual reader can actually _hear_ the bile in your voice as you consider the object of your obsession. You must really _really_ be fixated to generate that level of spittle-flecked hysteria. Here’s a simple question: is the one who Is it just me or are Doper-crushes annoying? > [@](#): > > And if you’re interested in libertarianism, might I suggest that you open a thread to discuss _your_ views, rather than follow Lib around playing “Hey Lib! Have ya noticed me yet?” Instead, I’ll just participate in existing threads on libertarianism since I’m interested in them, and I’ll discuss my views there. If Lib wants to run crying like a baby because part of my views disagree with his, that’s his problem, not mine. > [@](#): > > Cite? For both assertions? This thread. Hell, just your comment below shows it - you’re so in love with Libertarian that you actually think people that he calls ‘opponents of libertarianism’ is a small group! > [@](#): > > Keeping in mind that **Lib** just said that he thought I was “an opponent of libertarianism”? Keeping in mind that **Lib** calling someone “an opponent of libertarianism” is not exactly earth-shattering. I’d personalyl call Libertarian one of the biggest opponents of libertarianism around. > [@](#): > > And you’ll notice that I’ve never participated in the **Lib** / **Dewey** feud. I’m so proud of you, here have your cookie back. [QUOTE] Very GOOD **Ribo**! You get an A+ on reading comprehension and a cookie! I’ll just leave that one in for the previous bit. > [@](#): > > He don’t know me very well, do he? Looks like I know you pretty well, since it appears that all of my guesses were spot-on. > [@](#): > > Sorry, Chuckles, I still think you’re an asshole as regards **Libertarian** and I only apologized for one very specific thing because I only regretted the one specific thing: the possible “ignore list” violation. That was sincere. I value my membership on this board and try to avoid breaking the rules. I have no intention of apologizing for the fact that you act like a dick when you’re around **Lib**. If ‘questioning Lib’s assertions’ is ‘acting like a dick’ in your world, then you’ve just provided even more evidence of how tight your lips are locked to his nether regions. ---
**Author:** ![Riboflavin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Riboflavin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riboflavin)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940/42 "2003-02-15T20:54:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE \* > \*\*So, Riboflavin, why don’t you tell us how you _really_ feel? \*\* Well, I presume Lib didn’t choose to go to the pit because he wanted calm, reasoned debate… ---
**Author:** ![Riboflavin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Riboflavin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riboflavin)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940/43 "2003-02-15T20:56:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > \*\*Does this mean you’re going to find yourself a new trick? \*\* I’m going to continue debating about libertarianism, so unless Lib finds a new trick I’ll continue to run across his absurdities and comment on them. I just don’t feel like posting a comprehensive list of the questions that Lib has failed to answer over and over and over and over again. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940/44 "2003-02-15T21:09:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Riboflavin \* > \*\*I just don’t feel like posting a comprehensive list of the questions that Lib has failed to answer over and over and over and over again. \*\* **Ribo** , I’ve got a bit of list of such threads about Libertarianism over in **Lib** ’s Pit thread about me; nothing comprehensive, but it’s a start. Please do pay a visit and tell me if I’ve missed anything. And please bring pie. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940/45 "2003-02-15T21:31:49Z")
Marshalling your rats, Dewey? Perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940/46 "2003-02-15T23:30:07Z")
It’s easier than re-typing the same unanswered questions over and over and over again. ---
**Author:** ![Phoenix\_Dragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Phoenix\_Dragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phoenix_Dragon)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940/47 "2003-02-15T23:40:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dewey Cheatem Undhow \* > **’Course, I may be a bit biased – Lib’s got a [history of Pitting people just for asking difficult questions about Libertopia](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=151893).** Lib seems to have the habit of pitting people for difficult questions about quite a few topics, actually 🙂 I can’t believe someone can get so upset and worked-up over people asking _questions_… ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940/48 "2003-02-16T11:15:33Z")
Phoenix Dragon I see what you mean, and that makes sense until you know what the questions are. * * * Let’s call your philosophy of ethics Idiotism. It is clear to me that As an Idiotist, you advocate murdering children because you hold parents to be responsible for their children. And although you have said that Idiotopia has no gambling casinos, I’m going to just say that it must have them. Also, despite that the status quo has a prison population that is 65% black, with 54% of blacks being sentenced to prison for drug offenses versus 34% of whites, I’m going to posit that Idiotism will be more racially intolerant than the status quo because, well, I just am. Now, my questions are these: What do you do with the corspes of the children you murder? Are they buried or are they cremated? Who pays for it? Since Idiotists can’t coerce anyone, do their bodies just pile up on the streets? What if a neighbor is not an Idiotist? Can you murder his child as well, or only your own children? Supposing that Idiotopia did have gambling casinos, does that mean that I can run around naked in them? Can I stand amongst the high-rollers and masturbate whenever I feel like it? What odds do your casinos pay on blackjack? Are there zoning ordinances that say where they can be buil? Are gambling casino owners allowed to murder children if they wander onto their property? I reckon that your Idiot philosophy will result in 80% of the prison population being black. Since that will be case, does that mean that Idiotism is intrinsically bigoted? Will your gambling casinos have flashing signs that say “No Niggers Allowed”? Will your laws have special exceptions for murdering black children as opposed to white children, or do you just murder them indiscriminately? And please hurry with your responses. There’s a full moon in Idiotopia tonight, and I need to know whether I can go to the casino, shoot a black child, and pull out my weenie. * * * _That_ is what I have been subjected to from Dewey and his rat. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940/49 "2003-02-16T11:19:04Z")
Dewey wrote: > [@](#): > > 'Course, I may be a bit biased – Lib’s got a history of Pitting people just for asking difficult questions about Libertopia. Liar. You were pitted for debating in IMHO, not for asking your stupid questions. In the link you provided, the OP asks: “If you wanted a debate, why couldn’t you open a fucking GD thread?” ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940/50 "2003-02-16T13:27:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > \*\*Liar. You were pitted for debating in IMHO, not for asking your stupid questions. In the link you provided, the OP asks: “If you wanted a debate, why couldn’t you open a fucking GD thread?” \*\* The first sentence of your OP in that MPSIMS thread: “I’ll try to answer any questions I can.” All I did was ask questions. You’re so cute when you try to rationalize. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940/51 "2003-02-16T13:37:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > \*\*_That_ is what I have been subjected to from Dewey and his rat. \*\* You really are adorable when you’re angry. I already admitted I was a bit difficult on the public nudity question (though I still have some issues with it w/r/t what in the real world would be called nusiance law), mostly because the jokes were _totally_ worth it. But that’s really the only example where I’ve refused to take an axiom of Libertaria as given (in that case, the complete absence of private property). Outside of that one example (which was what, two or three responses to you in a multi-page thread?), I’ve asked a gaggle of perfectly legitimate questions that do not change the fundamental axioms of Libertaria. Questions which you either dodge or just ignore outright. (PS, in my prior post, that should be “IMHO” thread. :smack: ) ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940/52 "2003-02-16T13:43:17Z")
I haven’t read the linked thread, but I’ve come across **Riboflavin** before, and s/he has earned a _Guaranteed 100% Knob-End_ sticker from me. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940/53 "2003-02-16T14:21:08Z")
Dewey: Well, at least now you’re calling it Libertaria. If that sort of progress continues, I’ll read your list of questions one day. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940/54 "2003-02-16T14:54:57Z")
:rolleyes: Well at least now you’re suggesting you’ll read my questions. We can only hope that you’ll deign to actually try to _answer_ them. The world waits with bated breath. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940/55 "2003-02-16T19:31:51Z")
At last, I get to make my point. You are not the world. ---
**Author:** ![Phoenix\_Dragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Phoenix\_Dragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phoenix_Dragon)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940/56 "2003-02-16T19:33:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > \*\*_That_ is what I have been subjected to from Dewey and his rat. \*\* I’m impressed, Lib. I can’t tell where the ad hominem ends and the strawman begins. In any case, it resembles Dewey’s posts in no way except that it uses the same language, and has questions in it. The questions I’ve seen Dewey posting seem quite reasonable, and the only way they seem to be lacking is when your statements and answers are so vague that more questions have to be asked just to figure out what you meant without having to assume parts of your possition. I also think “Libertopia” is actually quite an apt name, and not one that sounds derogatory. It seems to make a very valid statement; In an ideal world, a libertarian government would work perfectly. Unfortunatly, that’s not saying much; In an ideal world, communism would work perfectly, too. So would anarchy. The government you’re proposing seems to have some serious flaws, and the questions about those flaws seem to be the ones you’re balking at. You _do_ present “Libertaria” as an ideal, perfect government, but there are still so many questions about perceived flaws that aren’t fully adressed You’ve been blowing your top a lot lately. Please, try to calm down a little. Of course people are going to debate your ideas if they don’t think they’re right, but that doesn’t mean they’re out to get you. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940/57 "2003-02-16T19:56:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > \*\*At last, I get to make my point. You are not the world. \*\* Must…resist…urge…to…parody…USA for Africa lyrics… ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940/58 "2003-02-16T20:23:25Z")
Phoenix Dragon > [@](#): > > You do present “Libertaria” as an ideal, perfect government… Nope. Never. I’ve said many times that libertarianism does not make any pretense at solving peoples problems for them, but merely seeks to provide them a context in which they can solve them for themselves. Many, many times. To say that I present Libertaria as a prefect government is simply either wrongheaded or dishonest. In your case, I hope you’re simply wrong. > [@](#): > > …but there are still so many questions about perceived flaws that aren’t fully adressed I don’t think there are. You put a different standard on me than you do on Dewey. I asked him about the children in America, for example. I gave him four links that showed children abused, neglected, and even completely lost and unaccounted for, not just as anomolies, but as rampant nightmares prevalent in a crippled system of social services. His response? The system isn’t perfect. After that brush-off, he proceded with the same old tail-feather display. Do you think that if I opened a thread on status quo political ethics and asked a bunch of questions that Dewey would answer them? I answer all questions that I see from people I believe are sincere. You cannot deny that, at least not honestly. I have hosted whole threads on the topic that I stayed with until people like Dewey and Danielinthewolvesden (now banned) crashed them, not to ask questions, but to derail the discussion. If you ask me a question, I’ll answer it. But I owe him nothing, and am not required even to read his questions. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940/59 "2003-02-16T20:27:57Z")
**Lib** , I’m curious about something. If, say, I’m talking to someone who doesn’t know much about, say, the Atlanta Braves, or Bruce Lee, or why IMO the american school system is inherently problematic, and they keep asking me questions about it, generally unless they insult me directly or show me they’re not listening to what I’m saying I’ll keep going as long as w’re both interested in discussing it. In the libertaria threads I’ve seen **DCU** in, I don’t see him as having directly insulted you or purposefully asking questions you’ve answered before unless A) he didn’t see the answer before or B) he had some disagreement with the answer. That being in mind, what criteria do you have for being willing to continue a debate or IMHO thread or whatever and where do you feel that criteria have not been met by either **DCU** or **Riboflavin**? Because I have to say that unwillingness to keep answering questions asked in earnest is a rather poor reason to open a pit thread, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940/60 "2003-02-16T20:52:37Z")
Certainly, I respect no one more than you, Pun. I believe that I’ve spelled out what I require: simple respect. You say that you do not see disrespect from Dewey, and yet that is all that I have seen since his very first post to me. Here it is in its entirey, from [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=148689): > [@](#): > > Soooooooo Lib, what you’re saying is I have an unfettered right to trot about in public naked? > > To use your points: I presume my body is my property and rights accrue therefrom (points 1 and 2), only laws which prevent other men from harming my property are just (point 3), and that the government can only otherwise rightly limit my right to do with my body as I please (including walking about naked) if I consent (point 4; point 5 is unconnected here). > > The neighbors will be so pleased. It was a response to this post from me in answering Hamlet’s questions: > [@](#): > > I’ll give it a go: > > ## quote: > > 1. Define what you mean each time you use the term “right.” > > * * * > > ## I define it as authority accrued to ownership of property. “Rights” and “property” may be effectively used as synonyms since “rights” is shorthand for “authority accrued to ownership of property”. quote: > > 1. Outline the difference between granting and guaranteeing rights > > * * * > > ## Granting rights describes either the creation or the transfer of property ownership. Guaranteeing rights describes the use of force (either densive or retaliatory, but not initial) to protect property. quote: > > 1. Explain the intricate nature of how “rights” can conflict with laws. > > * * * > > ## Actually, I think Jefferson did a reasonably good job of explaining that, so I’ll just quote him — “No man has a natural right to commit aggression on the equal rights of another, and this is all from which the laws ought to restrain him.” (to Francis Gilmer in 1816) quote: > > 1. Explain how much, if any, power the government has to limit the exercise of rights. It seems you are advocating that they have no power to, which would be quite wrong. > > * * * > > ## Legitimate authority over rights (or property) is derived solely from free and willful consent of those who own them. quote: > > 1. Emperically show how we, in America, don’t “stand much chance at freedom,” > > * * * > > I define freedom as the absence of coercion; thus, I think the assertion that we don’t stand much chance at freedom is self-evident. As you can see, I answered all of Hamlet’s questions. And as you can hopefully see, there was nothing in my post to deserve the derision from Dewey. Instead of “Soooooooo Lib, what you’re saying is I have an unfettered right to trot about in public naked?”, he might have said, “Can you address issues of behavior on public property?” Anytime someone starts a response with, “Sooooooooo, what you are saying is…”, it rings a loud bell that a strawman is coming. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riboflavin-the-question-man/154940.md?page=4)