# Technology doesn't work that way - SamuelA's Pit Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 3, 2017, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420 "2017-12-03T00:52:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/401 "2018-01-03T14:45:20Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > [Brain and brain! What is brain](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzuXqzdYmTQ)? He’s a genetically altered laboratory mouse with visions of conquering the world, but that’s not important right now. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/402 "2018-01-03T15:17:52Z")
Actually, it’s what brings zombies and people together, but that’s not important right now. ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/403 "2018-01-03T16:39:07Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > A little late to the party. . . but my two cents > > Boo fuckin’ hoo! If being “mean” is calling you out on omissions, errors, bullshit and persistence in both of them, and it finally dawns on you that you are that dumb, then I am the meanest S.O.B. on the boards. > > Let me refresh your memory of what _actually_ happened to put you on the radar (and not your attempt at revisionist history): > [ol] > [li]After mis-comprehending a question and making an unrelated response, in [post #22](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20611316&postcount=22) he tries to tell us that the AEA of '46 allows POTUS to authorize a strike, and posts a [lobby group’s](https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2009_5/Lanouette) article as his first source. He apparently skimmed over that article, since Paragraph 2 and 3 of that article directly contradict his claims. I bring this to his attention later in post #83. [/li] > [li]He then tries a personal attack in post #89, which fails. Then in [post #90](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20615540&postcount=90) he reasserts his incorrect opinon, without really any citation or backup. I ask him to actually read the AEA of '46 and to provide a citation. He then does some handwaving about hippies at the front gate in what I presume is a redirect tactic.[/li] > [li]He then skims the AEA of '46 to provide “evidence” without reading the context of the section, or the Act for that matter. He bases his argument on “probably come from” and a “seems to give him” statements–far less than hard evidence. I bring this to his attention.[/li] > [li]He then scrambles to find actual evidence to support his claims, and indicates that he read it in the [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/12/01/no-one-can-stop-president-trump-from-using-nuclear-weapons-thats-by-design/?utm_term=.a0dc4cf321ab) (which hadn’t appeared in any discussion prior to this point). Again, he’d skimmed that article, missing the statement that “_[the Act] firmly put the power of the atomic bomb in the hands of the president and the civilian components of the executive branch_”[sub]underlining by Tripler[/sub]. He also either misses or ignores the statement from the WaPo article that “_Eventually, the brass adopted the idea that, when it came to nuclear matters, they were at the beck and call of the president. It was not generals’ responsibility to make the order; it was their responsibility to carry it out._” [/li] > [li]After being baited and taken in by his first redirect, I realize it, and get back to the initial point about the POTUS having the ability to launch with the [War Powers Act of 73.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20617480&postcount=108)[/li] > [li]Then there’s some back and forth from posts #[115](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20617969&postcount=115) - [121](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20621977&postcount=122), with **Ravenman** stepping in to help him understand the meaning of the WaPo article. [/li] > [li]Finally in #[122](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20621977&postcount=122), he attempts another redirect because he gets caught with his pants down, and I let it go, while the conversation rolls into some other irrelevant side discussions. [/li] > [/ol] > > Why do I bring up the WaPo article? Because it’s too late in the game, and because at no point does that article state the AEA of '46 allow POTUS to launch, nor does it imply Congress passing that particular law to allow him to do so. When called out, he scrambles to find anything that he thinks will bolster his case _after the fact_. However, **SamuelA** ’s lack of reading comprehension and flair for grandstanding false expertise while making fantastical claims makes me immediately suspicious of anything he says or references. Everything he says or posts is suspect. > > Ahem. . . _Cite?_ I’m going to say that you did a solid effort here, and you’re right, I don’t know why the President is allowed to launch a nuke. That’s totally crazy that he even can. Unlike most of the other posters here, you actually do have a reasonable, coherent argument. It happens to be ‘proof I’m a poo-poo head’ but at least you have some basis for your conclusion. Now my motivations were different than your guesses. (1) I did read the Washington Post article first, I didn’t lie about that. But that lobby group’s article, that I only skimmed, seemed more credible. (2) Sorry about any personal attacks. (3) Yep, my bad (4) \*\*“Eventually, the brass adopted the idea that, when it came to nuclear matters, they were at the beck and call of the president. It was not generals’ responsibility to make the order; it was their responsibility to carry it out.” \*\* Isn’t this exactly the point I was making? Like, wasn’t this the entire topic of discussion? Not sure why you put this here. (5) It’s the War Powers Act of 1973? Wait. So the original topic of discussion was that **you** said that Congress was \*helpless \*to stop the President from killing us all. Something that is a real, though small risk. So yeah, you got me. I did a shitty job in these responses and you’re right. But now I’m wondering…was I right, by accident (broken clocks and all), in my first assertion that Congress can pass a law to take the power of ordering a first strike away from the President? Because if it’s the 1973 War Powers Act that gives the President this power, not the 1946 Act which you claim doesn’t…why can’t Congress repeal it? The original topic of discussion wasn’t supposed to be “who’s a Poo-Poo head”. It was the question : “we’ve got one of the most unstable Presidents ever to sit the office. A sane nuclear strategy would be ‘no first use’, as if that President ordered an all out first strike on Russia, it would kill America with it. Can Congress do something to take away the President’s power to murder most of the population of the United States on a whim?” And yeah, I screwed up and should have read my sources and made less grandiose claims and shouldn’t have said mean things to you. But does this original topic have an answer? ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/404 "2018-01-03T16:48:49Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > We’ll see how long this “ignore list” thing works, eh! He’s back complete with a “maybe we’re on the same side after all” argument. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/405 "2018-01-03T18:19:14Z")
He’s grading his critics now. Every time you insult him you have to think of it as a competition, [like this](https://www.vulyplay.com/img/blog/trampoline-event-olympic-games-rio-2016-scoring.jpg). But remember, it’s a crowded field! I still think [this one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20638613&postcount=5044) deserves a perfect 10, but it’s in a different thread so I don’t think it qualifies under Olympic rules. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/406 "2018-01-03T18:20:25Z")
That was a good one. 🙂 I love this bit from **Sammy** ’s latest response: > [@SamuelA](#): > > And yeah, I screwed up and should have read my sources and made less grandiose claims and shouldn’t have said mean things to you. Bwahahahahaha. ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/407 "2018-01-03T18:30:20Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > He’s grading his critics now. Every time you insult him you have to think of it as a competition, [like this](https://www.vulyplay.com/img/blog/trampoline-event-olympic-games-rio-2016-scoring.jpg). But remember, it’s a crowded field! > > I still think [this one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20638613&postcount=5044) deserves a perfect 10, but it’s in a different thread so I don’t think it qualifies under Olympic rules. You can’t insult someone if you, in doing so, reveal you have worse negative traits than the person you are insulting. This is why all your ‘cognitive science’ arguments fall flat. Because if you knew anything about cognitive science, you wouldn’t make such sweeping generalizations because you lack the evidence for them. You clearly know almost nothing about the subject yourself. Notice how Tripler doesn’t try to argue about the part of this discussion he knows nothing about? You would do well to follow his example. Whatever piece of neuroscience you think you understand, it clearly doesn’t extend to the part I’ve been talking about the whole time. So the reason that insult doesn’t get a 10 is because it’s baseless. I don’t dodge questions like Houdini, I answer them. The rest of your insults just sound childish. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/408 "2018-01-03T18:50:42Z")
Well [del]Vizzini[/del], perhaps you should re-examine your propensity for dismissively calling everyone else morons. As I say, everyone on this Earth has something to teach you, even the little baby in the carriage. If you consider yourself so brilliant that you can’t listen to anyone, then you’re not actually brilliant, you’re a damned fool. ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/409 "2018-01-03T18:56:11Z")
SamA, he maintains his impressive standards… ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/410 "2018-01-03T19:02:29Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > Whatever piece of neuroscience you think you understand, it clearly doesn’t extend to the part I’ve been talking about the whole time. You seem to have run into another problem with terminology there, pal. Seems to be a weakness of yours, not knowing what technical terms mean. At no point was I talking about “neuroscience”. I was talking about cognitive science. Do you know the vast and fundamental difference? No, you apparently do not. Perhaps you thought neuroscience was what _ **you** _ were talking about – it was hard to tell, because much of the time it was, frankly, nearly incoherent. But that clearly was never actually the subject of discussion. Actually I think your confusion about this was at least part of the reason you appeared to be so obtuse. Not understanding what “computation” means just compounded your confusion. And your argument wasn’t actually with me, if you go back and read for comprehension. Your argument was with Jerry Fodor, whom I quoted as flatly contradicting your blather, and who you dismissed as just a “philosopher” and not worth paying attention to. And who, as anyone familiar with the field would know – but you obviously did not – was one of the singular most important contributors to the computational theory of mind in cognitive science. Naturally, you claimed he was wrong. Because you took a signals course! 😃 P.S.- After you were done looking up “computational” in the dictionary, did you take my advice and look up “moron”? ---
**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:** [January 3, 2018, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/411 "2018-01-03T19:18:46Z")
I’m not going to take the time to slog through all 9 pages of this excellent thread to find out if someone has pointed out the utter lack of real life experience shown in post #5 of the tread below. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=846040](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=846040) Master Plumber **SamuelA** tells us that the problem with frozen pipes is not that water expands when it freezes, but that it is the increased water pressure that blows the pipes. Water pressure. No, Sam, water expands quite forcefully when under going the phase change from liquid to a frozen state. Ask the rocks on any mountain. Most things contract when cooled, water has it’s own funny way of being different. Usually the pipe break comes at some weak point, a tee, elbow, valve or even a weakened spot in a straight section. Water pressure… He is still advising in all the various frozen pipe threads going on. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/412 "2018-01-03T19:27:14Z")
**SamuelA** is right-We should get back to original topic of this thread…which would be using his own posts to point out how much of a self-absorbed, ignorant blowhard he really is. ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/413 "2018-01-03T19:47:09Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > I’m not going to take the time to slog through all 9 pages of this excellent thread to find out if someone has pointed out the utter lack of real life experience shown in post #5 of the tread below. > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=846040](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=846040) > > Master Plumber **SamuelA** tells us that the problem with frozen pipes is not that water expands when it freezes, but that it is the increased water pressure that blows the pipes. Water pressure. > > No, Sam, water expands quite forcefully when under going the phase change from liquid to a frozen state. Ask the rocks on any mountain. > > Most things contract when cooled, water has it’s own funny way of being different. Usually the pipe break comes at some weak point, a tee, elbow, valve or even a weakened spot in a straight section. > > Water pressure… He is still advising in all the various frozen pipe threads going on. And I cited my sources. Per the source, frozen pipes burst downstream of the actual ice dam. From lengthwise ice expansion leading to water pressure increases. Not only does this make intuitive sense, if it is wrong, a credible source is also wrong. “real life experience” : I’ve had frozen pipes, so have you. 1 or 2 experiences does not make you an expert. You just pitted yourself, revealing you are a moron and not qualified enough to comment. Ignored. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/414 "2018-01-03T19:50:19Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > You just pitted yourself, revealing you are a moron and not qualified enough to comment. Ignored. Dude, seriously, fucking knock it off with your ignorant claims and constantly calling everyone else morons. GROW THE FUCK UP, _child_. ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/415 "2018-01-03T19:50:18Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > P.S.- After you were done looking up “computational” in the dictionary, did you take my advice and look up “moron”? Cognitive science is just philosophy without considering the neuroscience underneath it. I’m just going to go ahead and add you to ignore, you simply don’t make enough worthy arguments to be worth paying attention to. Are you even in graduate school or did you not make it that far? What are _your_ credentials? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/416 "2018-01-03T19:51:10Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > You just pitted yourself, revealing you are a moron and not qualified enough to comment. Ignored. You’ve been “ignored”, **Dallas Jones** -now he’ll _never_ stop yapping at you. ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/417 "2018-01-03T19:52:10Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Dude, seriously, fucking knock it off with your ignorant claims and constantly calling everyone else morons. > > GROW THE FUCK UP, _child_. Pay attention to the evidence. Read above why I called him a moron. There was clear and convincing evidence. You’re also too stupid to respond to any further, so adding to ignore. ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/418 "2018-01-03T19:53:30Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > The best part is that once he grows his big boy hairs and gets out of middle school, he can’t delete any of his posts here and is stuck with 1,843 reminders of what a supercilious jerk he was. Too stupid to pay attention to. Ignoring. ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/419 "2018-01-03T19:54:50Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I think if you did a little Christian fellowshipping with **Czarcasm** you’d find he’s really easy to talk to and not at all insulting. Religious people are stupid. Ignoring. ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/420 "2018-01-03T19:55:52Z")
> [@Ramira](#): > > It is amusing SamA thinks the above is an effective response and not something confirming that he is a childish idiot. He will in no doubt ‘flounce’ again. Obviously this poster is incapable of reading or critical thinking, otherwise he’d be on my side. Adding to ignore. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420.md?page=22)