# Shodan's Angels **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 21, 2007, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817 "2007-03-21T04:07:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817/61 "2007-03-21T13:54:12Z")
[QUOTE=Crotalus] As to taking your point, no, I’m not getting it. [/quote] So you regard it as reasonable to use a quote to say what you mean, but then when called on it, deny you’ve “said” it on the basis all you did was quote? > [@](#): > > And yes, I believe that **Shodan** intended a bit of mockery. I believe I intended a bit of mockery concerning religious imagery referenced by Shodan in his thread title. > [@](#): > > Regarding your reply to **What Exit?** , you might want to look up the word meme in a dictionary. It definitely doesn’t mean what you think it means. “A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another.” Precisely what I meant. Starting with Happy, there appears to be an idea transmitted through this thread that I’m terribly upset about this, despite what the OP specifically says about the importance of the whole deal. **Shodan** , you’re going to have to wait for Lib to drop back in. He’s the one that’s seen them. He may have run a ruler over them. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817/62 "2007-03-21T13:59:10Z")
Actually, \*\*Lib \*\* says he “found” them. Not that he’d “seen” them. Need to be precise around **Lib** ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817/63 "2007-03-21T13:59:11Z")
[QUOTE=Princhester] “A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another.” Precisely what I meant. Starting with Happy, there appears to be an idea transmitted through this thread that I’m terribly upset about this, despite what the OP specifically says about the importance of the whole deal. **Shodan** , you’re going to have to wait for Lib to drop back in. He’s the one that’s seen them. He may have run a ruler over them. [/QUOTE] You quote the definition and still don’t know what it means. The word meme annoys me when it is used properly. The way you are using it makes me slam my head into the table. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817/64 "2007-03-21T13:59:28Z")
[QUOTE=Princhester] Again, the idea that I was upset about the use of the word “angels” is one that seems a persistent meme in this thread, but is not the thrust of what I said. Read the whole of my first post in the original thread again. Particularly the last sentence. \*\*Shodan \*\* wrote a smug OP, with a cute religiously referenced title, to celebrate the departure of a prickly atheist. The point is not “angels”. The point is that **badchad** ’s departure doesn’t help the fundamentally childish and silly nature of superstition, be it a belief in a god or angels or pixies or whatever. [/QUOTE] You know, what, dickwad? Elsewhere on the internet, I can find people who are arguing with a straight face that the only reasonable stance is to oppose gay marriage because marriage was instituted by (their idea of) God, who is clearly opposed (in their opinion) to gays doing anything but taking cold showers. What they have in common with you is that their attitude is that their (and your) “enlightened” understanding of **The Truth** is one that needs to be forced on everyone else. Australia used to be a free country, where one could arrive at one’s own conclusions, not have them mandated by some self-righteous prick. America still is, at least for the moment. **Shodan** used a deliciously ironic Shakespeare quote to wish **badchad** bon voyage. I found it hilarious, not because I happen to share **Shodan** ’s religious beliefs, but from the perfect juxtaposition of the quote from _Hamlet_ and the banning of **BC**. I do not believe Christianity should “get a free pass” around here – I think civil debate on its views and whether they are superstitious is in order. But that means from an open, level playing field where people are free to present their cases without snide side comments or harassment – and certainly not that the Almighty **Princhester** has the authority to define for the rest of the Dope what is or is not superstitious from the exalted depths of wherever you pull your certitude from. Clear? ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817/65 "2007-03-21T14:02:18Z")
[QUOTE=Princhester] So you regard it as reasonable to use a quote to say what you mean, but then when called on it, deny you’ve “said” it on the basis all you did was quote? I believe I intended a bit of mockery concerning religious imagery referenced by Shodan in his thread title. “A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another.” Precisely what I meant. Starting with Happy, there appears to be an idea transmitted through this thread that I’m terribly upset about this, despite what the OP specifically says about the importance of the whole deal. **Shodan** , you’re going to have to wait for Lib to drop back in. He’s the one that’s seen them. He may have run a ruler over them. [/QUOTE] Ah, I see that it means more than I thought it meant. I made the mistake of thinking that I knew what it meant because I read the book in which Dawkins coined it. Silly me. Thanks for fighting my ignorance. You’re still an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817/66 "2007-03-21T14:02:35Z")
know I was using it loosely and I apologise for that. I know how it is used strictly. The problem is it’s such a damn good concept it’s tempting to use it other than as originally coined. A word annoying you when used properly is something you’ll just have to sort out for yourself, though. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817/67 "2007-03-21T14:07:38Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > The point is not “angels”. Then why did you respond as if it was? **And** started another thread specifically referencing them in the title? You now claim to have “gotten” that it was a literary reference. Like was said, do you interrupt every performance of Shakespeare to contradict whatever you find questionable in the dialog? I don’t have time to add “close-captioned for the atheist drama queens” to every farging thing I post. You might consider growing a pair, or something. _added on preview_ > [@Princhester](#): > > A word annoying you when used properly is something you’ll just have to sort out for yourself, though. Substitute the phrase “literary quotation” in the above, and see if it still sounds the same. 😃 > [@Polycarp](#): > > > [@Shodan](#): > > > > How many angels can dance on Princhester’s head? > > > > Regards, > > Shodan > > Before, or after, I quote Shakespeare to him and it explodes? These details are important to constructing a rational, non-supersititious answer, you know. But people’s heads don’t really explode! A-HA! I’ve devastated your whole position! I WIN! Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817/68 "2007-03-21T14:17:02Z")
[QUOTE=Polycarp] What they have in common with you is that their attitude is that their (and your) “enlightened” understanding of **The Truth** is one that needs to be forced on everyone else. Australia used to be a free country, where one could arrive at one’s own conclusions, not have them mandated by some self-righteous prick. America still is, at least for the moment. [/QUOTE] I have reached certain conclusions that I occasionally but frankly seldom espouse on this message board, and almost never anywhere else. I am honestly surprised that you, **Polycarp** , find yourself so enraged at that you spout some complete and utter bullshit about me wanting to mandate conclusions and force attitudes. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817/69 "2007-03-21T14:25:17Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] Then why did you respond as if it was? [/quote] You have to use a little imagination and realise that angels may not have been the point _per se_ > [@](#): > > You now claim to have “gotten” that it was a literary reference. Like was said, do you interrupt every performance of Shakespeare to contradict whatever you find questionable in the dialog? Do you usually regard a post in a thread as an interruption? Or do you only view a post as an “interruption” when it is an inconvenient barb in what was otherwise enjoyable circle jerk? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817/70 "2007-03-21T14:28:28Z")
I just spotted this: [QUOTE=Polycarp] **Shodan** used a deliciously ironic Shakespeare quote to wish **badchad** bon voyage [/QUOTE] “wish **badchad** bon voyage?” Bon voyage? Right. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2007, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817/71 "2007-03-21T14:39:51Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] Remind me not to invite **Princhester** to attend [Angels in America](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angels_in_America) with me. He will interrupt the performance to inform everyone that there are no angels. Regards, Shodan [/QUOTE] I’m just hoping he never runs into [_these_ angels](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell%27s_angels)! [QUOTE=Princhester] You have to use a little imagination and realise that angels may not have been the point _per se_ [/quote] So what was your point? To prove to everyone what a humorless git you are? Do you have no concept of irony, or sarcasm, or is everything completely and totally literal for you? No such thing as a figure of speech? If the vast majority are misinterpreting what you’ve said, I don’t believe the problem is on _our_ end. It’s not our job to try and decipher every cryptic comment you make. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817/72 "2007-03-21T14:40:01Z")
[QUOTE=Happy Lendervedder] But now I’m just trying to figure out your motivation. First, you really seemed to take offense to the closed thread’s title, so I was just trying to figure that out. Why were you so upset that Shodan used a quote from Shakespeare that made reference to angels? I mean you’ve really focused in on this for some reason-- first the title of the closed thread got you up in arms, and now you seem really unnecessarily upset that Shodan might- gasp- think you’re dumb. [/QUOTE] Recreational outrage. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817/73 "2007-03-21T14:52:06Z")
I am outraged! You have broken a long line of deserved pittings of **Shodan**. Now we have to reset the clock. He’ll never surpass \*\*Clothahump \*\*now. For shame. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817/74 "2007-03-21T15:24:45Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] How many angels can dance on **Princhester** ’s head? Regards, Shodan [/QUOTE] Stop!..Stop!..You’re killin’ me! ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817/75 "2007-03-21T15:29:07Z")
[QUOTE=Princhester] Go back and read the OP. It contains clues, both as to what the OP is about and whether I am, in fact, upset. [/QUOTE] Me thinks you doth protest waaay too much. And I may have missed this, but just for the record, can you state clearly whether you got the literary allusion or not. Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817/76 "2007-03-21T15:30:24Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] How many angels can dance on **Princhester** ’s head? Regards, Shodan [/QUOTE] Are they wearing hobnail boots? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817/77 "2007-03-21T15:36:03Z")
[QUOTE=Dr. Rieux] Are they wearing hobnail boots? [/QUOTE] That’s fairies, not angels. Fairies wear boots. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817/78 "2007-03-21T15:37:17Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] That’s fairies, not angels. Fairies wear boots. [/QUOTE] You forgot the [Cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairies_Wear_Boots)! ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817/79 "2007-03-21T15:54:54Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] How many angels can dance on **Princhester** ’s head? Regards, Shodan [/QUOTE] Well played, sir. Also, Siddhartha Gautama is non-attached to you, Princhester. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817/80 "2007-03-21T15:57:01Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Happy: “Looking for validation”, “really take offense”, “so upset” “unnecessarily upset”? > > Are you capable of reading a few posts and responding to what they actually say? I think I did respond to what you said. You said, “So if I don’t know how the fuck Shodan arrives at the conclusion that I didn’t know his thread title was from Shakespeare, and it annoys me that he makes that assumption.” So I responded that it sounds like you’re upset because Shodan thinks you’re dumb. He made an assumption about your intelligence, and it upset you. I’m just going off what you said. > [@Princhester](#): > > When someone makes a wildass assumption to arrive at a wrong conclusion that “for the record” I didn’t recognise something it’s (per the OP) barely worth bringing up, but (admittedly) a bit irritating. Huh? But this might be the reason why you think I’m making wildass assumptions. I can’t figure out what the hell you’re even talking about a good deal of the time here. Just explain to me, without using paranthetical asides or “quotes,” why you are so upset at Shodan. If you can’t then I’ll just go on assuming you just like getting pissy in Pit threads when someone assumes you’re ignorant of something. > [@Princhester](#): > > I know the facts are annoying to you because they don’t allow you to portray me as unreasonably hysterical, but it’s probably better that you just deal with that, rather than strawman me all the time, huh? No, I think I can use the facts and still portray you as unreasonably hysterical. Or at least pissy and whiny. And obtuse. And condescending. And wont to starting really lame arguments in the Pit. Wait wait, are we being whooshed? Is this a parody thread? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shodans-angels/396817.md?page=5)