# Should Gawker have published the O'Donnell 'One night stand story"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 30, 2010, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863 "2010-10-30T10:59:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863/41 "2010-10-31T05:41:32Z")
How could you leave out her lack of understanding of the Bill of Rights? This, to me, is the most egregious. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863/42 "2010-10-31T05:50:41Z")
She gets far more attention than sh edeserves. She has no chance of wining, has never had a chance of winning, and if she wasn’t reasonably attractive no one would know her name. The story was garbage,it accomplished nothing, it was from nobodyand it affects nothing except smearing O’Donnel, who deosn’t deserve it because she is going to be afootnote. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863/43 "2010-10-31T05:55:04Z")
> [@Peeta\_Mellark](#): > > That struck me as the most unbelievable part of the story. I figured he was covering for whiskey dick or something, because I know once I get somebody’s pants off I’m pretty committed to going to town. That isn’t the point when I’m going to start worrying about hair styling. My take on it was that when he said “Obviously that was a big turnoff” he was referring to her lack of sexual experience and her wanting to remain a virgin, not (just) her hairy bush. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863/44 "2010-10-31T05:57:34Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > You might just be right about that. Lack of ability to perform is not something I’d expect a guy to admit to…even anonymously. > > As I said, the truth usually lies somewhere in the middle. I don’t think spinning it to avoid some personal embarrassment makes the whole tale suspect, though. If anything, it would be the anonymous nature of the story. Well, actually, in politics, and in this particular instance, no, the truth does not often lie somewhere in the middle. Typically, someone is lying their ass off, or making a HUGE exaggeration. If you go by “the truth lies in the middle” you empower the liars, because they can create suspicion and doubt just by lying and letting people like you, who THINK they are being fair-minded, but actually are not, assume that the truth is “somewhere in the middle.” In the case of this anonymous accusation, we got NO idea where the truth lies, and I’d feel like an IDIOT if I gave credence to an anonymous source in a he-said she-said argument like this. I despise O’Donnell’s politics, but in this case, I go with her statement, simply because she is not anonymous. Let Mr. Anonymous declare himself, and give us some reason to believe him. Oh, by the way, I totally fucked Mary Cheney. Turns out she’s not a lesbian! Some would say I am lying, but hey, the truth USUALLY lies somewhere in the middle. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863/45 "2010-10-31T06:54:20Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > Staying a virgin while you’re young for moral reasons, ok , I can understand. Coninuing to do it when you’ve hit 40 sounds really creepy. Political reasons for staying a virgin after age 40. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863/46 "2010-10-31T07:29:49Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Political reasons for staying a virgin after age 40. And a “born-again virgin” at that! ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863/47 "2010-10-31T15:09:45Z")
If they didn’t have sex then it doesn’t even count as a one night stand. This is just some guy who had a lousy time with her, its a complete non story. ---
**Author:** ![Peeta\_Mellark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Peeta\_Mellark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peeta_Mellark)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863/48 "2010-10-31T15:15:13Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Oh, by the way, I totally fucked Mary Cheney. Turns out she’s not a lesbian! Some would say I am lying, but hey, the truth USUALLY lies somewhere in the middle. Well, _I_ double-teamed George Clooney with Brad Pitt. I have a picture of the two of them standing together in a bar if you don’t believe me. Part of my ear lobe is totally visible in one of the pictures. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863/49 "2010-11-01T11:38:48Z")
> [@Peeta\_Mellark](#): > > I agree it’s none of our business, but the threshhold on what Gawker found gossip worthy for a woman versus what it takes for a man is different. So long as this woman considers what goes on in other people’s bedrooms her business then what goes on in hers becomes our business. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863/50 "2010-11-01T12:21:43Z")
The instant a politician makes his or her sexual activity (or lack thereof) part of his or her platform, it’s open season, IMHO. If you’re courting constituents by appealing to their religious/moral beliefs, then those who oppose you are welcome to attempt to tear down the image you’re fostering for your own political benefit. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863/51 "2010-11-01T12:31:14Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > The instant a politician makes his or her sexual activity (or lack thereof) part of his or her platform, it’s open season, IMHO. If you’re courting constituents by appealing to their religious/moral beliefs, then those who oppose you are welcome to attempt to tear down the image you’re fostering for your own political benefit. But “by any means necessary?” That is, even if we accept that by saying she favors chastity, a story about her unchaste behavior is relevant, does it follow that an anonymous claim, with no particular supporting documentation, is permissible? ---
**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:** [November 1, 2010, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863/52 "2010-11-01T13:06:17Z")
What do you mean by “permissable?” ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863/53 "2010-11-01T18:05:06Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > But “by any means necessary?” > > That is, even if we accept that by saying she favors chastity, a story about her unchaste behavior is relevant, does it follow that an anonymous claim, with no particular supporting documentation, is permissible? It goes to establishing character your honor. ---
**Author:** ![Burton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Burton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burton)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863/54 "2010-11-01T19:10:18Z")
I’m fine with it. She’s deserving of being exposed as a fraud as many times as she has carelessly left herself open to the opportunity. ---
**Author:** ![Peeta\_Mellark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Peeta\_Mellark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peeta_Mellark)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863/55 "2010-11-01T19:21:44Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > It goes to establishing character your honor. An anonymous Penthouse letter from a guy who just happens to have a Boy Scout uniform hanging in his closet and can’t touch a vulva that looks post-pubescent establishes character? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863/56 "2010-11-01T19:40:02Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > What do you mean by “permissable?” Whatever you wish it to mean - that is, the question is “Should Gawker have published…” One theory advanced is apparently, “Yes, because a story about her being uncahste is relevant since she promotes chastity.” I’m asking whether the anonymous nature of the story is relevant to this conclusion. ---
**Author:** ![Walmarticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Walmarticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walmarticus)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863/57 "2010-11-01T19:44:59Z")
No, Gawker should not have published it because it is far more boorish than it is relevant. Sure, it’s good to know who the hypocrites are, but it’s never necessary to know the intimate details of the willing sexual encounters of others. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863/58 "2010-11-01T20:23:34Z")
> [@DoctorJ](#): > > I don’t feel bad for O’Donnell. If this didn’t happen she needs to say that it didn’t happen. If it did happen, she should take the chance to clarify her positions on sexual morality. But the only point of publishing the article was to make opponents of O’Donnell feel good about ourselves. Pff. Her “position” on this is the “position” of pretty much everyone else who pushes this line of crap. That “position” is “do as I say, not as I do”. Same as always. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863/59 "2010-11-02T02:09:30Z")
> [@Peeta\_Mellark](#): > > An anonymous Penthouse letter from a guy who just happens to have a Boy Scout uniform hanging in his closet and can’t touch a vulva that looks post-pubescent establishes character? It establishes _his_ character as someone who’s at least as sexually hung up as CO’D, in his own way. I mean, honestly, dude. The gentlemanly thing would have been to give her some foreplay, maybe a little foot rub and toe sucking, then the two of you share some tender, passionate oral sex. Christine’s notional cherry remains intact, you both get off and go to sleep happy. Geez, didn’t anybody learn _anything_ from Bill Clinton? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863/60 "2010-11-02T03:07:28Z")
> [@Peeta\_Mellark](#): > > An anonymous Penthouse letter from a guy who just happens to have a Boy Scout uniform hanging in his closet and can’t touch a vulva that looks post-pubescent establishes character? What else? I don’t know if it is true. i don’t know if it is false. She is not a good witness for herself. She has shown herself to be a loon. How is anything she says believable? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gawker-have-published-the-odonnell-one-night-stand-story/558863.md?page=4)