# Sweet! Apparently "Dude, be cool" is a compelling argument. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 11, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-apparently-dude-be-cool-is-a-compelling-argument/634425 "2012-09-11T19:50:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-apparently-dude-be-cool-is-a-compelling-argument/634425/1 "2012-09-11T19:50:47Z")
Very mundane and highly pointless, but this put a smile on my face, so I’m sharing. So just now I was standing at an intersection near a bus stop. The bus let off some guy who pointed behind him to a woman a little over a half block away, running toward the bus, waving her hands, signaling for the bus to wait. The guy said to the driver, “You have one more,” to which the bus driver responded by beginning to close his doors as if to drive off. Oh, come on! I threw up my hands and exclaimed, “Dude, come on! Don’t be like that!” The driver then re-opened his doors and let the lady on. Oh shit, sweet! I heckled someone into being cool. I wonder how much further I can take this. I think I’m going to head to the liquor store with no money, shrug to the cashier and be like, “Be cool, man.” Or maybe I’ll face a speeding ticket (lead foot) and will just look at the cop and go, “Dude…” I like this. I like this a lot. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-apparently-dude-be-cool-is-a-compelling-argument/634425/2 "2012-09-11T20:00:00Z")
Dude, you have to be cool with your new powers. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-apparently-dude-be-cool-is-a-compelling-argument/634425/3 "2012-09-11T20:10:03Z")
Yeah but what if the bus crashes now and that woman goes flying through the windshield? You’re gonna have to share some of that free liquor. I hope it doesn’t run over her too. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-apparently-dude-be-cool-is-a-compelling-argument/634425/4 "2012-09-11T20:54:02Z")
With great power comes great responsibility. And, perhaps, free beer. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-apparently-dude-be-cool-is-a-compelling-argument/634425/5 "2012-09-11T21:00:43Z")
> [@shiftless](#): > > Dude, you have to be cool with your new powers. absolutely! now, are you in favor of “Dude” going for both males and females? you OK with “Dudette” or is that heinous? 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-apparently-dude-be-cool-is-a-compelling-argument/634425/6 "2012-09-11T21:12:20Z")
I’ve used “dude calm down and lower your eyebrows” to de-escalate discussions getting out of hand. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-apparently-dude-be-cool-is-a-compelling-argument/634425/7 "2012-09-11T21:52:45Z")
I’ve used “Dude, take a deep breath,” which caused the aforementioned dude to throw his anger my way. But everyone else smiled or laughed. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-apparently-dude-be-cool-is-a-compelling-argument/634425/8 "2012-09-11T23:03:59Z")
The Dude clearly still abides. I take comfort in that. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-apparently-dude-be-cool-is-a-compelling-argument/634425/9 "2012-09-11T23:14:25Z")
On _Lost_, Hurley convinced Sawyer to give medicine to another passenger with the phrase, “Dude, you could use the points.” ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-apparently-dude-be-cool-is-a-compelling-argument/634425/10 "2012-09-11T23:18:23Z")
You’ve discovered the magical power of dude! Use it wisely, and always be excellent to each other. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-apparently-dude-be-cool-is-a-compelling-argument/634425/11 "2012-09-12T02:55:02Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > absolutely! > > now, are you in favor of “Dude” going for both males and females? > > you OK with “Dudette” or is that heinous? 🆒 Dude, I’m from California; we’re all dudes. > [@Ibanez](#): > > I’ve used “dude calm down and lower your eyebrows” to de-escalate discussions getting out of hand. Ha, nice! I think I’m going to steal this. So I was just happy because people are such dicks that I didn’t expect my appeal to work. I just thought I was letting him know that I found his behavior to be dickish, but then then he stopped, and it was as if the world got slightly less dickish, as if there were a break in the clouds. But then, come to think of it, I don’t say anything when I see people being jerks. I just shake my head and internally lament what jerks they are. From now on, I’ll see how often I can shame/dude people into awesomeness. ---
**Author:** ![Faruiza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@Faruiza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faruiza)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-apparently-dude-be-cool-is-a-compelling-argument/634425/12 "2012-09-12T03:07:05Z")
Must be Cali. Being able to wield that word in such a native way has transcendent properties. I use it for all kinds of situations, but shaming/duding people into altering their behavior is THE BEST. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-apparently-dude-be-cool-is-a-compelling-argument/634425/13 "2012-09-12T03:24:34Z")
Well I live in flyover country now (Chicago), but I think the dude powers I learned in the fatherland are strong enough that they work even here. When I’m in a long line at the post office, and I see an employee walk by doing nothing, I’m going to look at her, exasperated, and go “Dude!” This should work. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-apparently-dude-be-cool-is-a-compelling-argument/634425/14 "2012-09-12T03:36:43Z")
Oh, that’s what I did wrong. I yelled, “hey, loser, let me fix that for ya!” yesterday when a jogger knocked over a bike. He just kept jogging. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-apparently-dude-be-cool-is-a-compelling-argument/634425/15 "2012-09-12T03:52:05Z")
Ha ha, nice. I’m known to say “Nice job, dickhead.” I’ve been doing this wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-apparently-dude-be-cool-is-a-compelling-argument/634425/16 "2012-09-12T05:49:01Z")
> [@Ibanez](#): > > I’ve used “dude calm down and lower your eyebrows” to de-escalate discussions getting out of hand. https://www.youtube.com/embed/GqavDqWL_Q0?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-apparently-dude-be-cool-is-a-compelling-argument/634425/17 "2012-09-12T07:30:34Z")
Well, to _me_ **MeanOldLadytheRatKiller** , you’re so cool you could probably stop the rain, so I’m not surprised. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-apparently-dude-be-cool-is-a-compelling-argument/634425/18 "2012-09-12T15:28:07Z")
I got it! Next time there’s shitty weather, look skyward and say, “Come on, dude!” ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-apparently-dude-be-cool-is-a-compelling-argument/634425/19 "2012-09-12T15:54:45Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > the dude powers I learned in the fatherland are strong enough that they work even here. As a fellow Californian living outside the state, I can report that your Dude powers stay with you. And don’t get me started with the Laughing Dude-speak version - Du-hu-hu-hude!! I can get \*New Yorkers \*to tone it down a notch with that one 😉 If you really need to get Cool on their asses, you need to pull a full Bill and Ted and say: “Be \*excellent \*to each other dudes!” But that’s the nuclear option, dude. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-apparently-dude-be-cool-is-a-compelling-argument/634425/20 "2012-09-12T16:21:13Z")
Be careful, or you might have to drop the “ **Mean** ” from your username. You did a seriously cool thing there, **OldLady**! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-apparently-dude-be-cool-is-a-compelling-argument/634425.md?page=2)