# Seemingly innocous "Hot Button" topics on the SDMB **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 5, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577 "2005-05-05T19:11:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577/101 "2005-05-09T16:17:44Z")
> [@Jeep's Phoenix](#): > > Just remembered another one: telemarketers. Even more specifically: whether working as a telemarketer is worse than mooching off the welfare system. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577/102 "2005-05-09T16:21:17Z")
> [@Jeep's Phoenix](#): > > Just remembered another one: telemarketers. How is that a hot button? Everyone hates them. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577/103 "2005-05-09T16:42:08Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > How is that a hot button? Everyone hates them. If I remember the Pit thread correctly. The argument was between those on the receiving end and those on the giving end. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577/104 "2005-05-09T17:12:35Z")
The, um, “death” of WallyM7. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577/105 "2005-05-09T17:17:02Z")
> [@Earl Snake-Hips Tucker](#): > > The, um, “death” of WallyM7. Why “um, “death””? I thought it was an actual, you know, “death”. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Norse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/big_norse/32/9954_2.png) [@Big\_Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Norse)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577/106 "2005-05-09T17:20:30Z")
I recall more than one thread where someone proudly mentioned their new tattoo and they subsequently got jumped on for being a self-mutilating moron (or somesuch). And add to that body piercing. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577/107 "2005-05-09T23:05:36Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > How is that a hot button? Everyone hates them. Not only in the Pit thread that **Honey** mentioned, there have been other threads where people would post humorous dialogs with telemarketers, and some poster would eventually jump in and start complaining about how that was heartless and cruel, and/or that telemarketing is a real job, etc. ---
**Author:** ![FaerieBeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FaerieBeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FaerieBeth)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577/108 "2005-05-10T00:28:20Z")
> [@Rodd Hill](#): > > “Should I tip my fat vet to declaw and circumsize my cat?” That depends. Does you cat drive an SUV? Does your vet remember to write thank you notes within 30 days of receiving a gift? There are just so many things to take into consideration. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577/109 "2005-05-10T00:29:17Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > Why “um, “death””? I thought it was an actual, you know, “death”. Actually, that’s the thing-there’s some evidence supposedly that it wasn’t, and that “Wally” was a made up character. _shrugs_ Oooh, I remember one-decorative towels and soap in bathrooms. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577/110 "2005-05-10T06:27:58Z")
> [@Earl Snake-Hips Tucker](#): > > The, um, “death” of WallyM7. It would be if we were even allowed to discuss it. I started looking for the dryer lint thread but I got bored. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577/111 "2005-05-10T13:53:57Z")
> [@Silver Fire](#): > > It would be if we were even allowed to discuss it. > > I started looking for the dryer lint thread but I got bored. \ Ya know, I keep hearing that we’re “not allowed to discuss it” but, you know, I keep seeing it brought up, but never locked down. I haven’t seen any evidence of any kind of cover up. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577/112 "2005-05-10T14:12:05Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > \ > > Ya know, I keep hearing that we’re “not allowed to discuss it” but, you know, I keep seeing it brought up, but never locked down. I haven’t seen any evidence of any kind of cover up. A) I don’t know that “we’re not allowed” to discuss it, but [the last time](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=229542) this came up, it did get a little ugly. Some people are very passionate believers. B) For “locked down,” see previously referenced thread. C) I’ve never heard of any “cover-up” on the matter. I think the official mod/admin line has basically been, “Well, we can’t prove that he didn’t.” OK with me. News of his “accident” was posted by his “daughter” on this board. I don’t know whether or not that thread is still alive, though–and I don’t feel like looking for it. News of his “death” was relayed in a private email to a board member by the same “daughter.” That is the only evidence. The evidence for the existence of Bigfoot, UFOs, ghosts is far more compelling. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577/113 "2005-05-11T06:13:28Z")
Hope I don’t kick any sacred cows with this one. **even svens** financial poverty, and semi-lack thereof. ---
**Author:** ![Keapon\_Laffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@Keapon\_Laffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keapon_Laffin)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577/114 "2005-05-11T06:34:28Z")
Wanna see a flamewar? Add the words: Firefox vs. IE to your OP. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577/115 "2005-05-12T00:58:35Z")
Anything about a poster’s kid’s less-than-perfectly-satisfactory behavior will turn into a spanking debate. Even if the poster doesn’t think said behavior is punishable, someone will inevitably pop in to say, “It’s because you don’t spank hir!” In fact, anything at all about children runs the risk of becoming a spanking debate. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577/116 "2005-05-12T02:31:19Z")
How much time is healthy to spend on the internet, specifically message boards. ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577/117 "2005-05-12T03:35:58Z")
> [@Rodd Hill](#): > > “Should I tip my fat vet to declaw and circumsize my cat?” Aren’t circumcision and “tippint” the same thing? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577/118 "2005-05-12T04:04:21Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > Anything related to Star Trek. Especially if you suggest that any part of Gene Roddenberry’s vision might be unrealistic. This will draw the immediate, impassioned hatred of seemingly every Trekkie on this board. I don’t see that as being “Hot Button.” For the most part, we Trekkers are the biggest [nitpickers](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=315810) of the franchise and those involved. True, we don’t take kindly to having our taste in entertainment questioned or pooh poohed, but what fan of _anything_ appreciates that? A complete reading of most threads of that type will show what I’m pointing to. Now, some individuals go a little overboard, but as a whole, I think we Trek Dopers simply like discussing Trek, good, bad, or in between. ---
**Author:** ![Antivenin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Antivenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antivenin)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577/119 "2005-05-12T04:13:23Z")
Cool Whip vs. Mayonaise ---
**Author:** ![Feydeau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Feydeau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feydeau)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577/120 "2005-05-12T06:06:20Z")
> [@Antivenin](#): > > Cool Whip vs. Mayonaise It’s a miracle! Sorry, someone had to… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seemingly-innocous-hot-button-topics-on-the-sdmb/302577.md?page=7)