# Shodan is a racist? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 21, 2009, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019 "2009-09-21T23:30:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019/41 "2009-09-22T01:02:15Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Why don’t you post it so we can see if I’m lying or mischaracterizing? I don’t keep a link handy, but go right ahead. I like that piece and am proud of it. ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019/42 "2009-09-22T01:02:58Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > My understanding is that by not condemning, you are condoning. So, whether or not you _personally_ made such a specious accusation is moot. You simply had to witness one without doing something about it. Did you only just today find all the instances of this stuff happening and decide to post an en masse condemnation or are you guilty of doing the same thing you’re accusing others of? People pick battles that are important, interesting, _or_ convenient for them. Nobody raises an objection every single time they see an unjust or just plain ridiculous statement. If you argue against every single stupid goddamn thing you see on the internet you’ll never get anything else done. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019/43 "2009-09-22T01:06:48Z")
> [@leander](#): > > I see no one but Scylla has answered my original question. While I disagree with you Scylla, I appreciate the fact that you took the time to answer. Fine. Neither statement indicates that the writer is a racist. They do indicate that the writer is willing to capitalize on racism to foment anger, which may be worse. At least the racist is honest. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019/44 "2009-09-22T01:09:29Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > I’m sorry. I meant all Liberals except for you. Oh, and Wring, she’s pretty cool. Hey, thanks, good buddy! Let’s be best friends forever! :rolleyes: Look, dickhead, I’m not entirely unsympathetic to how pissed off you must be at being the subject of baseless accusations of racism. That’s pretty much exactly how pissed off I am now, because of what you just said about me in your OP. The difference 'twixt you and me is that I can, by what surely must be a superhuman act of will, resist the temptation to translate my anger at you into a series of baseless, crass insults against roughly half the population of this country. Instead, I can content myself with writing you off as yet another partisan asshole, in the same vein as **Der Trihs** , or **SmashTheState** , or **E1visLives**. > [@](#): > > My understanding is that by not condemning, you are condoning. So, whether or not you personally made such a specious accusation is moot. You simply had to witness one without doing something about it. Actually, I’m not condemning because I’ve seen enough of these petulant outbursts of yours to no longer particularly give a shit if you’re being defamed. You’ve established the ground rules you want to play by, so I don’t see any particular need for me to rush to your defense when you take a hit from one of your co-jackasses. I have, on the other hand, stood up for posters like **Bricker** , **Sarahfeena** , and even **magellan** , because they don’t use our political differences as excuses to make broad insults against me, my family, and most of my friends. If you want people to back you up when you’re being dogpiled by the lower 5% of this message board, my first piece of advice is to start comporting yourself better than them. Because from where I’m sitting, I can’t see a significant enough difference amongst the lot of you to favor one over the other. All that being said, I did find the thread about your grandfather greatly moving. So, you know, you got that much going for you. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019/45 "2009-09-22T01:10:37Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > The ad on this page shows a giant angry beaver biting a lumber jack on the cock. Go Beavers!!! Ohhhhh Essssss Youuuuuuuuuu! (oh wait, this thread isn’t about Oregon State football, is it?) ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019/46 "2009-09-22T01:16:35Z")
> [@leander](#): > > You don’t see the difference between a white person making a joke about black people and a black person making a joke about black people? Yeah, black people makin’ jokes like _this_… but white people makin’ jokes like _this_! _[laugh track]_ ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019/47 "2009-09-22T01:22:05Z")
I have no idea if **Shodan** is racist based on that line. It’s just one of those “things that makes you go hmm.” Just saying the White House is beige, nah. Saying it \*while \*you’re criticizing him, though, makes it seem like he’s saying it’s somewhat relevant. Like, if I said, “Joe Lieberman supported John McCain for president, though he caucuses with the Democrats when he’s not eating matzo.” Why the fuck mention he’s Jewish there? Also, I dislike **Shodan** , and it’s the pit, so fuck it. Shodan is a homophobic racist who’s into martial arts because it’s homoerotic and it allows him to get his gay rocks off without admitting it to himself. And he’s a racist. You probably weren’t looking for an answer from me, though, because I bet you don’t know who I am or care what I think. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019/48 "2009-09-22T01:49:17Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Hey, thanks, good buddy! Let’s be best friends forever! Let’s! > [@](#): > > Look, dickhead, I’m not entirely unsympathetic to how pissed off you must be at being the subject of baseless accusations of racism. That’s pretty much exactly how pissed off I am now, because of what you just said about me in your OP. The accusations I alluded to in the OP were made directly against me, personally. The one I made against you was due to the use of the broad brush of self-righteousness (which is a fun brush to use, but hard to keep between the lines) and not personally, at you, per se. Seeing as you’ve taken umbrage, I’ve directly exempted you (and Wring.) and said “sorry.” I’m still a dickhead, though. Ok. I’ve wronged you with my broad brush. True. You are still angry. Understandable. How may I set it right in your eyes? > [@](#): > > The difference 'twixt you and me is that I can, by what surely must be a superhuman act of will, resist the temptation to translate my anger at you into a series of baseless, crass insults against roughly half the population of this country. Instead, I can content myself with writing you off as yet another partisan asshole, in the same vein as **Der Trihs** , or **SmashTheState** , or **E1visLives**. Probably that’s fair. I’ve had my ElvisLives moments. More than my share. I don’t recall you having any. So, that is a valid contrast between us. > [@](#): > > Actually, I’m not condemning because I’ve seen enough of these petulant outbursts of yours to no longer particularly give a shit if you’re being defamed. You’ve established the ground rules you want to play by, so I don’t see any particular need for me to rush to your defense when you take a hit from one of your co-jackasses. I have, on the other hand, stood up for posters like **Bricker** , **Sarahfeena** , and even **magellan** , because they don’t use our political differences as excuses to make broad insults against me, my family, and most of my friends. If you want people to back you up when you’re being dogpiled by the lower 5% of this message board, my first piece of advice is to start comporting yourself better than them. Because from where I’m sitting, I can’t see a significant enough difference amongst the lot of you to favor one over the other. A valid criticism and analysis. **Bricker’s** finer qualities do not always serve or protect him. He got utterly shellacked late last year in an evil pile on. I did not see a whole entire crew of good-willed and reasonable liberals wade in swinging to his defense. I did not see the people saying the terrible things being held accountable or attacked. So, what I would say is this: There is a lot more attacking from the left than from the right. Attend to the torrent and then address me, the drip. And too, while my brush was broad and you got painted unfairly I think you’re being overdramatic. I have not really attacked you and your family and friends in any direct way, only by association. > [@](#): > > All that being said, I did find the thread about your grandfather greatly moving. So, you know, you got that much going for you. Thanks. I’d like to rewrite it, because the ending was kind of hamhanded, but I appreciate the sentiment. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019/49 "2009-09-22T01:53:58Z")
> [@bup](#): > > You probably weren’t looking for an answer from me, though, because I bet you don’t know who I am or care what I think. Not so. I am a strong support of the rights of obscurists and inconsequentialists, and I resent the accusation of obscuristinconsequentialistism that you have levelled against me. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019/50 "2009-09-22T01:56:28Z")
I heard Shodan hates kittens and thinks pie is slum food. _But that’s what I heard!_ ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019/51 "2009-09-22T02:14:59Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > The accusations I alluded to in the OP were made directly against me, personally. The one I made against you was due to the use of the broad brush of self-righteousness (which is a fun brush to use, but hard to keep between the lines) and not personally, at you, per se. I’ve never understood the mindset that sees this as a lesser offense than a direct insult. “I didn’t just insult _you_, I insulted 150 million people! That’s not nearly as bad!” > [@](#): > > Seeing as you’ve taken umbrage, I’ve directly exempted you (and Wring.) and said “sorry.” > > I’m still a dickhead, though. Ok. I’ve wronged you with my broad brush. True. You are still angry. Understandable. How may I set it right in your eyes? Well, an apology would be a good start. You seem to be under the impression that you’ve done that. You haven’t. You’ve imputed a number of characteristics to liberals. I’m a liberal. You haven’t withdrawn the insult to liberals, you’ve simply excluded me from your personal definition of the word. If all liberals are racists, then I am either a racist, or not a liberal. I don’t much care for either accusation. > [@](#): > > So, what I would say is this: There is a lot more attacking from the left than from the right. On this site? Sure. Because there are a lot more liberals on the SDMB than there are conservatives. The math here is not difficult. > [@](#): > > Attend to the torrent and then address me, the drip. I was not aware that you needed me to fight your battles for you. Moreover, I did not realize that receiving unfair treatment excused treating others unfairly. I suspect that, were you presented with that concept at a societal level, rather than the personal, you would decry it as another example of liberal excess. > [@](#): > > And too, while my brush was broad and you got painted unfairly I think you’re being overdramatic. I have not really attacked you and your family and friends in any direct way, only by association. And this makes a difference because…? ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019/52 "2009-09-22T02:16:28Z")
So what is the line that Shodan said that may or may not be racist? ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019/53 "2009-09-22T02:18:53Z")
I miss the blimps. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019/54 "2009-09-22T02:27:47Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I’ve never understood the mindset that sees this as a lesser offense than a direct insult. “I didn’t just insult _you_, I insulted 150 million people! That’s not nearly as bad!” “The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic.” - Joseph Stalin Clearly **Scylla** is a commie. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019/55 "2009-09-22T02:48:07Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I’ve never understood the mindset that sees this as a lesser offense than a direct insult. “I didn’t just insult _you_, I insulted 150 million people! That’s not nearly as bad!” I don’t understand it the other way. A general attack against women is bad. An attack against my wife is **personal**. I guess I think that an attack against a person specifically is a lot worse (offensability wise) than an attack against a group of which a person just happens to be a member. > [@](#): > > Well, an apology would be a good start. You seem to be under the impression that you’ve done that. You haven’t. You’re mistaken. I said “sorry.” > [@](#): > > You’ve imputed a number of characteristics to liberals. I’m a liberal. You haven’t withdrawn the insult to liberals, you’ve simply excluded me from your personal definition of the word. If all liberals are racists, then I am either a racist, or not a liberal. I don’t much care for either accusation. I think I insulted all liberals and then after the fact exempted you and Wring. My intent was not to say you weren’t liberal, but simply that you weren’t a douchebag. Later I conceded that I painted with a broad brush. Putting it together, let me restate, if I may. I apologize for painting liberals and by extension, you, and others with so broad a brush. The generalization was incorrect. I was frustrated because many liberals do engage in specious racial accusations, and I feel that those that do not do enough to discourage those that do. Nevertheless, that does not excuse such a blanket condemnation on my part, and I was wrong to make it, especially when it is so easy to say “many” instead of implying all. > [@](#): > > I was not aware that you needed me to fight your battles for you. I do. We all do. It is not “my” battle. This sort of thing is everybody’s battle. Silence is tacit endorsement. You have to decide what to stand up for. > [@](#): > > Moreover, I did not realize that receiving unfair treatment excused treating others unfairly. It does not. > [@](#): > > I suspect that, were you presented with that concept at a societal level, rather than the personal, you would decry it as another example of liberal excess. You are probably right. Frankly, I don’t care about large abstract groups, or vaporous notions such as “social justice.” I care about individuals. I distrust people that claim they do care about such things, and distrust their motives. I think most, not all, are false, and cowardly. If one cares so much why not go to Rwanda and fight injustice? There aren’t many Mother Theresa’s or Ghandis, mostly just smug people telling others how to behave. Personally, I’ve made some choices about what battles I will and do fight at the individual level, and feel they are of much higher quality than somebody who simply wants to take money out someone else’s pocket to “help” somebody else. I see no admirable moral quality, no charity, no ethic, in taking from one person to give to another. > [@](#): > > And this makes a difference because…? Because it’s not personal. ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019/56 "2009-09-22T02:55:08Z")
IANAL, but **Scylla** can still go fuck himself. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019/57 "2009-09-22T03:03:28Z")
> [@fubbleskag](#): > > IANAL, but **Scylla** can still go fuck himself. 🙂 You don’t have to be a lawyer to tell **Scylla** that. ---
**Author:** ![Tenebras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@Tenebras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenebras)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019/58 "2009-09-22T03:09:40Z")
So is anyone going to provide a link to whatever the fuck Scylla is talking about? Anyone? Bueller? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019/59 "2009-09-22T03:20:41Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > I apologize for painting liberals and by extension, you, and others with so broad a brush. The generalization was incorrect. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019/60 "2009-09-22T03:21:49Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Thank you. You’re welcome. Sincerely. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodan-is-a-racist/511019.md?page=4)