# Rubbing Diogenes' Nose in Reality **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 20, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698 "2010-01-20T15:18:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![KLR\_650](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c4cdca/32.png) [@KLR\_650](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KLR_650)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/241 "2010-01-21T19:47:44Z")
Bagger Vance. Yup. ---
**Author:** ![rolandgunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cdc98d/32.png) [@rolandgunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rolandgunslinger)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/242 "2010-01-22T00:39:52Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I’m just glad he’s not “KMG 365”, since that would do a disservice to one of the earliest and best emergency-services TV shows. Hah! ---
**Author:** ![KLR\_650](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c4cdca/32.png) [@KLR\_650](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KLR_650)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/243 "2010-01-22T00:59:59Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’m responding to the words you typed, not the thoughts you are thinking. I’m happy to keep my distance from your thoughts. When it comes to what you type, I recommend you don’t play any more games with racial slurs. Calm down, Marley. Not every insulting reference to a black president is a racial slur. I think I can call Jimmah Cartuh an ignorant rube, or Hillary Rodham a harpy, without being accused of speech-crime. Right? I’m a little tired of “race” being such a taboo, such a tinder-box. Let’s not assume racism, where it’s not explicit. Let’s err on the side of free speech, whaddya say? Granted, you are the moderator, and I respect that. I think you’re a good moderator. Truly. And granted, the race topic is one that can rapidly devolve into something ugly. But really, now. Am I supposed to be the only one who notices that Mr. Obama’s lips look a little discolored? Don’t we occasionally insult our presidents, or anybody else, by childishly lampooning their looks? For example, if someone called Rush Limbaugh “a big fat idiot,” would that constitute reprehensible hate speech toward the over weight? ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/244 "2010-01-22T01:52:29Z")
Having read both Dio’s and Luci’s posts for years, it’s pretty easy to tell from subtle nuance and tone when they are really upset. And they both are, although they are affecting a pseudo-casual attitude in this thread. It is so transparent it is to laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/245 "2010-01-22T02:12:23Z")
> [@Klaatu](#): > > Having read both Dio’s and Luci’s posts for years, it’s pretty easy to tell from subtle nuance and tone when they are really upset. And they both are, although they are affecting a pseudo-casual attitude in this thread. > > It is so transparent it is to laugh. Well, technically, it doesn’t put any lie to **Dio’s** statements. It depends what they’re upset about: Brown’s victory or this thread about Brown’s victory. They’re certainly two different things, both with potential to be upsetting. And, yes, you ( **KLR 650** ) may be the only one to notice anything unusual about Obama’s lips. I certainly haven’t, and I’ve never read anyone, liberal or conservative, who has up until you mentioned it just now. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/246 "2010-01-22T02:18:44Z")
[LMGTFY](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&rlz=1R2ADFA_enUS341&q=%22blue+lips%22+obama&aq=f&aql=&aqi=g1&oq=) ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/247 "2010-01-22T02:25:54Z")
> [@Klaatu](#): > > Having read both Dio’s and Luci’s posts for years, it’s pretty easy to tell from subtle nuance and tone when they are really upset. And they both are, although they are affecting a pseudo-casual attitude in this thread. > > It is so transparent it is to laugh. Yeah, well, screw you \*and \*your dangling modifier. ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/248 "2010-01-22T02:29:17Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Yeah, well, screw you \*and \*your dangling modifier. Yeah, well screw you and your redundant comma. Gaudere strikes again. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/249 "2010-01-22T02:33:27Z")
> [@Klaatu](#): > > Having read both Dio’s and Luci’s posts for years, it’s pretty easy to tell from subtle nuance and tone when they are really upset. And they both are, although they are affecting a pseudo-casual attitude in this thread. > > It is so transparent it is to laugh. I can only hope my biographers will be as attentive and discerning. ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/250 "2010-01-22T02:40:58Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > I can only hope my biographers will be as attentive and discerning. If they have a good editor you will be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/251 "2010-01-22T02:47:45Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > I can only hope my biographers will be as attentive and discerning. I advise you not to look yourself up on Wikipedia, then. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/252 "2010-01-22T02:49:20Z")
> [@KLR\_650](#): > > Not every insulting reference to a black president is a racial slur. Certainly not. And yet somehow, with all the political material you had to work with, you went for the color of his lips. Need I say more? > [@](#): > > I’m a little tired of “race” being such a taboo, such a tinder-box. Says the guy who believes there is a universally acknowledge racial hierarchy. > [@](#): > > Let’s not assume racism, where it’s not explicit. Let’s err on the side of free speech, whaddya say? I (and everyone else in Great Debates) were polite in addressing your ridiculous arguments about race because you were civil in stating them. Where you’re not civil about them, you’re not going to get any credit. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/253 "2010-01-22T02:57:28Z")
**Marley** , see **Ludovic** ’s link above. There are quite a few people who actually think Obama’s lips look blue, for whatever reason. I won’t address whether it means anything that one of the hits halfway down the second page is a white supremacist blog. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/254 "2010-01-22T03:00:55Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > I can only hope my biographers will be as attentive and discerning. You sound mad. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/255 "2010-01-22T03:07:48Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I won’t address whether it means anything that one of the hits halfway down the second page is a white supremacist blog. Or that searching on those terms will get you a few links to Stormfront. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/256 "2010-01-22T04:09:53Z")
Just to comment on the side discussion, I remember reading somewhere that people with dark skin don’t look ‘right’ on television and have to wear a lot of additional makeup…perhaps that has something to do with Obama’s supposed blue lips? -XT ---
**Author:** ![KLR\_650](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c4cdca/32.png) [@KLR\_650](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KLR_650)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/257 "2010-01-22T05:03:29Z")
To Marley, Google “Obama’s lips,” and you’ll see that lots of people have commented on the strange color of his lips. Some in this forum become a bit hysterical at any mention of the President’s purple lips. They are in fact a bit eager to accuse those with whom they disagree, of racism. Marley, are you calling everyone a racist, who disagreed with you in the Human Genome thread? The hierarchy I mentioned there, is indeed universally recognized, dope. (May I call you a dope, since you called my views “ridiculous?”) What’s not universally recognized is the CAUSE of the hierarchical arrangement of races in this country and elsewhere. You and others argue that the hierarchy, with, for example Ashkenazi Jews and ethic Chinese at or near the top, is caused mainly or entirely by environmental factors. Unfortunately, blacks in this country do very poorly in earnings, test scores, etc. That puts them at or near the bottom of the hierarchy. This is universally acknowledged. At issue is how to address the problem. And valid argument among decent, reasonable people can center around such issues as nurture vs nature. I really shouldn’t have to spell this out for you. I understand that you are an enemy of racism. Well join the club, young man. Meanwhile, please don’t jump to the racism conclusion, and please don’t let your point of view influence your moderating duties. ---
**Author:** ![Venetian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/aeb1de/32.png) [@Venetian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Venetian)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/258 "2010-01-22T05:03:57Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It’s 50%, dipshit. I already posted the link showing all recent polls. The current aggregate is 50%. Try reading threads before you make yourself look like a retard. No, it’s 46%, no matter how many times u lie about it. But Marley23 has got your back, so i guess you’re all good.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/259 "2010-01-22T05:10:19Z")
> [@KLR\_650](#): > > Marley, are you calling everyone a racist, who disagreed with you in the Human Genome thread? You mean you, **Chen019** and **Chief Pedant**? Yes. I don’t think that’s going to shock anyone who has encountered them on this board. > [@](#): > > The hierarchy I mentioned there, is indeed universally recognized, dope. Then why can’t you post it? I’ve asked half a dozen times. It can’t be hard to source if it’s universally recognized. You’re hinting again that Jews and Chinese are smart and blacks aren’t, but I’ve heard that before and it hardly qualifies as a hierarchy. It’s a vague (and very old) stereotype at best. I want to know the specifics. If I give an IQ test to an Ainu and an Ibo, and a Cherokee and a Basque, then pit the winners against each other, who wins? This is the kind of stuff that makes life worth living and you’re being coy about it. > [@](#): > > Meanwhile, please don’t jump to the racism conclusion I think you’ve demonstrated how short the walk is. > [@Venetian](#): > > But Marley23 has got your back, so i guess you’re all good.:rolleyes: Hey, if you want to call him on it in the Pit, be my guest. Just don’t try to settle it by taking it to another forum and pretending it’s a debate. ---
**Author:** ![Venetian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/aeb1de/32.png) [@Venetian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Venetian)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/260 "2010-01-22T05:14:31Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Hey, if you want to call him on it in the Pit, be my guest. Just don’t try to settle it by taking it to another forum and pretending it’s a debate. Whatever you say, Chief. It was a serious question, though. Does anyone other than Diogenes think that 46% is rock solid support for the President? How can less than half be honestly described as rock solid? It can’t. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698.md?page=14)