# Some people are too damn stupid to live! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 12, 2008, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227 "2008-09-12T04:58:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227/21 "2008-09-12T15:43:55Z")
RE: Galveston - The part that bothers me is that others will be risking life and limb to rescue some of these folks. That’s not right. Water is already beginning to cover the island. **Poly** is right about Houston - flooding from rains is going to be their issue. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227/22 "2008-09-12T15:56:48Z")
This is really beginning to make me sick to my stomach. Those poor people. This will be like Bay St. Louis, Waveland, etc. during Katrina, when the horrible screaming 911 phone calls began to come in from folks who were drowning. [QUOTE=wunderground] The storm surge from Ike could rival Katrina’s, inundating a 200-mile stretch of coast from Galveston to Cameron, Louisiana with waters over 15 feet high. This massive storm surge is due to the exceptional size of Ike. According to the latest wind field estimate (Figure 1), the diameter of Ike’s tropical storm and hurricane force winds are 550 and 240 miles, respectively. For comparison, Katrina numbers at landfall were 440 and 210 miles, respectively. As I discussed in yesterday’s blog entry, a good measure of the storm surge potential is Integrated Kinetic Energy (IKE). Ike continues to grow larger and has intensified slightly since yesterday, and the hurricane’s Integrated Kinetic Energy has increased from 134 to 149 Terajoules. This is 30% higher than Katrina’s total energy at landfall. All this extra energy has gone into piling up a vast storm surge that will probably be higher than anything in recorded history along the Texas coast. Storm surge heights of 20-25 feet are possible from Galveston northwards to the Louisiana border. The Texas storm surge record is held by Hurricane Carla of 1961. Carla was a Category 4 hurricane with 145 mph winds at landfall, and drove a 10 foot or higher storm surge to a 180-mile stretch of Texas coast. A maximum storm surge of 22 feet was recorded at Port Lavaca, Texas. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227/23 "2008-09-12T16:01:33Z")
Although I agree with the OP that they’re stupid and all it would have been so cool if they said, “well, we figure if it’s safe for news reporters it must be safe for everyone.” I was actually hoping it would be a rant about all the news stations telling us to evacuate and hunker down and then sending reporters out to capture the storm on film. Are reporters super human, with the powers to withstand wind, rain and flying debris? No. So why they hell do they risk their lives? Mount a few stationary cameras around the city and get the hell out of there. You can film the aftermath to your little black heart’s content. I really think they are all hoping to be the first to capture their own reporters on film getting sliced in two by a flying street sign. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227/24 "2008-09-12T16:05:25Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > Although I agree with the OP that they’re stupid and all it would have been so cool if they said, “well, we figure if it’s safe for news reporters it must be safe for everyone.” I agree wholeheartedly with this. Having media there gives folks a false sense of ‘everythings must be Ok or they wouldn’t be here’. But , ya know, it’s not like there isn’t a world of info out there now on the aftermath of some of these bad storms. Looks like people would get a clue. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227/25 "2008-09-12T16:23:03Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Combined IQ of 233.15? That’s not so bad… I was originally thinking Fahrenheit, but I like the combined IQ at freezing better. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227/26 "2008-09-12T16:28:37Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > It’s important to remember that Galveston is on a barrier island. Its access to the mainland is by a couple of bridges and causeways that will be impassible in the storm. Houston, on the other hand, is slightly inland, on Buffalo Bayou. Lowlying areas are likely to be flooded – by storm surge or by flash flooding from runoff. Buy the relatively higher elevations, which I assume is where **Clothahump** lives, just have to deal with wind, rain, and possible tree/limb falls. The big issue right now is the storm surge. The surge is not like a tsunami, it’s the total raising of the water level; in effect, the sea level drops. Where I am is about 50 feet above normal sea level, so I am immune to the coastal problems and just have to worry about localized street flooding, etc. But the water that is being pushed ahead of Ike right now has no place to go except into Galveston Bay. As a result, Galveston’s sea wall is useless, because the island is flooding from the back, and all the areas along the bay like Surfside, etc. are all flooding now. When the winds really start hitting around 1600 this afternoon, the shit is really going to hit the fan. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227/27 "2008-09-12T16:35:42Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Combined IQ of 233.15? That’s not so bad… But divided among a family of six… ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227/28 "2008-09-12T17:00:10Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Combined IQ of 233.15? That’s not so bad… Okay, now I feel like the one with a low IQ. Isn’t the intersection at -40 degrees? That’s not room temperature. 😕 ---
**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:** [September 12, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227/29 "2008-09-12T17:07:24Z")
> [@Santo\_Rugger](#): > > Okay, now I feel like the one with a low IQ. Isn’t the intersection at -40 degrees? That’s not room temperature. 😕 I think he means halfway between the numbers, ie. 72 and 21 (or whatever room temperature is). ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227/30 "2008-09-12T17:09:02Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > If they all survive their stupidity unscathed they’re just going to do it again next time. It’s better that they are convinced not to do it again _before_ they can convince any other idiots to join their “God will protect us” suicide-cult. I disagree, I would like to see all the idiots join a “God will save us” suicide cult and then drink the kool-aid. YMMV, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227/31 "2008-09-12T17:16:34Z")
If the evacuation is mandatory, aren’t they committing reckless endangerment or some such, or is it okay to put your kids in harm’s way in Texas so long as you have faith in god? ---
**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:** [September 12, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227/32 "2008-09-12T17:19:58Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > If the evacuation is mandatory, aren’t they committing reckless endangerment or some such, or is it okay to put your kids in harm’s way in Texas so long as you have faith in god? It’s a misdemeanor if you only believe in small-g _god_. Perfectly legal if you believe in _God_, or are within 5 miles of Chuck Norris. Belief in Og, of course, makes it physically impossible to do anything so fucking stupid. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227/33 "2008-09-12T17:43:30Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Perfectly legal if you believe in _God_, or are within 5 miles of Chuck Norris. It’s not that it’s legal, it’s just that everyone knows that Chuck Norris can punch an incoming hurricane and reverse it’s course. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2008, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227/34 "2008-09-12T17:51:28Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > It’s not that it’s legal, it’s just that everyone knows that Chuck Norris can punch an incoming hurricane and reverse it’s course. Hurricanes put up Chuck Norris shutters. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227/35 "2008-09-12T18:01:12Z")
> [@Santo\_Rugger](#): > > Okay, now I feel like the one with a low IQ. Isn’t the intersection at -40 degrees? That’s not room temperature. 😕 Yep. Yep. **Ast** was really suggesting that the combined IQ was 40 below zero. Frick’n brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227/36 "2008-09-12T18:07:25Z")
> [@Santo\_Rugger](#): > > Okay, now I feel like the one with a low IQ. Isn’t the intersection at -40 degrees? That’s not room temperature. 😕 Sorry. Crappy joke on my part. -40 degrees C (or F) = 233.15 Kelvin [QUOTE=42fish] But divided among a family of six… [/QUOTE] Aha! Now I think we’re on to something. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227/37 "2008-09-13T00:58:25Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Sorry. Crappy joke on my part. -40 degrees C (or F) = 233.15 Kelvin > > Aha! Now I think we’re on to something. For what it’s worth, I got it. What’s that in R? ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227/38 "2008-09-13T02:07:23Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Mom: Oh, no, we are absolutely convinced that god will protect us. Saint Peter: We sent two boats and a helicopter! ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227/39 "2008-09-13T02:27:30Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > RE: Galveston - The part that bothers me is that others will be risking life and limb to rescue some of these folks. That’s not right. Water is already beginning to cover the island. Actually, the mayor of Galveston announced that from now on, they are shutting everything down. If you call for help, no one will come until things are mostly over. Cold hearted, but I agree that they shouldn’t risk a first-responder’s life for someone else’s damned stupidity. ION, there is a disabled freighter 90 miles off Galveston with 22 people aboard. They were unable to complete the rescue, so the people are having to ride it out… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227/40 "2008-09-13T03:08:33Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > Actually, the mayor of Galveston announced that from now on, they are shutting everything down. If you call for help, no one will come until things are mostly over. Cold hearted, but I agree that they shouldn’t risk a first-responder’s life for someone else’s damned stupidity. That happens elsewhere too. There is a window of time where the search & rescue or what have you doesn’t go out. I should have been more specific - one example is from today, when a gawker got in trouble in the water in Corpus Christi, and the person trying to rescue got pushed into some rocks and is in critical condition tonight. I have not looked up cite for that, take it with a grain of salt. > [@](#): > > ION, there is a disabled freighter 90 miles off Galveston with 22 people aboard. They were unable to complete the rescue, so the people are having to ride it out… :eek: I heard a big tug is trying to come in from the backside of the storm and tow them. You can hear anything, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-are-too-damn-stupid-to-live/463227.md?page=3)