# The 1920's S.D.R and people who use it. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 7, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1920s-s-d-r-and-people-who-use-it/200149 "2003-09-07T19:38:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Babbington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Mr.Babbington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Babbington)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1920s-s-d-r-and-people-who-use-it/200149/1 "2003-09-07T19:38:33Z")
Before I continue, I have to say something. I used a 1920’s style death ray last night. It’s not something I am proud of, and might as well be pitting myself along with the other teeming morons who don’t know when the horse is dead. I will never invoke the god-damned thing again in any of my posts because, quite frankly, I am getting sick and tired of the fucking thing. Am I the only one? Do these people need to be paraded like slaves at a Roman Victory, in order that they might meet the shouts and execration of the masses, or is it just me? Let’s put an end to it people. It’s old, the joke is cold, get used to it. ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1920s-s-d-r-and-people-who-use-it/200149/2 "2003-09-07T20:01:39Z")
My name is Ilsa, and I am a habitual user of 1920’s SDRs. _::smattering of approbation:::_ I know that it is wrong, and I know that with help. I CAN stop. :::Applause::: I have used them when they are appropriate, and in threads where they weren’t. I am ashamed, bu I have moved on. It took getting smacked upside the head with the Ark of the Covenant by some lady who hates Nazis to convince me that the path I was hgoing down was wrong. I just want to let everyone know that I will forever be free from those rays from now on. I also want to let the young people know that DR are NOT cool, no matter what their friends may tell them. OG SMAsH DEATH RAYS! ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1920s-s-d-r-and-people-who-use-it/200149/3 "2003-09-07T20:02:03Z")
You are quite right. One should never use a 1920s style death ray. It contributes negatively to the continued existence of its target, and as we are nice boys and girls, we should avoid the wanton destruction of things and individuals with 1920s style death rays. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1920s-s-d-r-and-people-who-use-it/200149/4 "2003-09-07T20:12:24Z")
Ah, they’re 1920’s style “Death Rays”. ---
**Author:** ![dalovindj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dalovindj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalovindj)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1920s-s-d-r-and-people-who-use-it/200149/5 "2003-09-07T20:14:16Z")
You know what the difference between a 1920s S.D.R-aholic and a 1920s S.D.R.-abuser? All those meetings. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1920s-s-d-r-and-people-who-use-it/200149/6 "2003-09-07T20:17:42Z")
so the solution to being tired of hearing the schtick is to open up yet **another fucking thread about it**? ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1920s-s-d-r-and-people-who-use-it/200149/7 "2003-09-07T21:06:00Z")
Well, you could start shooting people who use it with 1920’s style “Death Rays” but that would be too ironic. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1920s-s-d-r-and-people-who-use-it/200149/8 "2003-09-07T21:12:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wring \* > \*\*so the solution to being tired of hearing the schtick is to open up yet **another fucking thread about it**? \*\* C’mon, who’s going to be the first to aim their 1920s style death ray at **wring**? _The above is not a death threat. I do not own a 1920s style death ray, nor any sort of scalar weapon. If I did, I would not aim it at any member of these boards. Thank you, and good night._ ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1920s-s-d-r-and-people-who-use-it/200149/9 "2003-09-07T21:57:02Z")
Why did you and these “morons” of which you speak use your 1920’s style Death Ray to kill the horsie? Poor horsie. I’m gonna cry. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Jello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@Jello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jello)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1920s-s-d-r-and-people-who-use-it/200149/10 "2003-09-07T22:13:54Z")
I’m sorry for not being privy to the information, but could anyone point me toward the origin of this joke? ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1920s-s-d-r-and-people-who-use-it/200149/11 "2003-09-07T23:04:47Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Jello_ > > \*\*I’m sorry for not being privy to the information, but could anyone point me toward the origin of this joke? \*\* [Here ya go](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=202225&highlight=scalar), I think. ---
**Author:** ![Wabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wabbit)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1920s-s-d-r-and-people-who-use-it/200149/12 "2003-09-07T23:21:22Z")
You can have my 1920SDR when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers bucko. ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1920s-s-d-r-and-people-who-use-it/200149/13 "2003-09-07T23:25:04Z")
I-i-i-i canquitanytimeIwant! (zap zap zap) ---
**Author:** ![Ben\_Hicks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbce88/32.png) [@Ben\_Hicks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben_Hicks)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1920s-s-d-r-and-people-who-use-it/200149/14 "2003-09-07T23:27:15Z")
**Mr. Babbington** - The best thing is the joke gets funnier every time someone opens up a pit thread complaining about it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1920s-s-d-r-and-people-who-use-it/200149/15 "2003-09-07T23:27:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jello \* > \*\*I’m sorry for not being privy to the information, but could anyone point me toward the origin of this joke? \*\* A joke?!?! How can you say it’s a joke!?! A horsie is dead! BO-HOO-HOO!☹ ☹ ☹ ☹ ---
**Author:** ![TPWombat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@TPWombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TPWombat)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1920s-s-d-r-and-people-who-use-it/200149/16 "2003-09-07T23:29:28Z")
**1920’s S.D.R.** was a fair time that cannot be forgotten. And because it will not be forgotten, that fair time may come again. Also, **1920’s S.D.R.** do not work on kittens!!! ---
**Author:** ![Ben\_Hicks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbce88/32.png) [@Ben\_Hicks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben_Hicks)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1920s-s-d-r-and-people-who-use-it/200149/17 "2003-09-07T23:44:59Z")
> [@](#): > > Also, 1920’s S.D.R. do not work on kittens!!! [sub]Pssst, you’ve still got the safety on[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![JonScribe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3be4f8/32.png) [@JonScribe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JonScribe)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1920s-s-d-r-and-people-who-use-it/200149/18 "2003-09-07T23:51:43Z")
When Dopers using 1920s style death rays are banned, only … … wait. That’d work, wouldn’t it? ---
**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:** [September 8, 2003, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1920s-s-d-r-and-people-who-use-it/200149/19 "2003-09-08T00:01:25Z")
Dear **Mr. Babbington** : Using a 1920s style death ray, or any other weapon of mass destruction, against a member of the equine species, is _STRICTLY FORBIDDEN_ within 200 yards of any stable, barn, farm, fairgrounds, or other place in, upon, or within which said species is or may be found. Please make a note of this. You will not be given another warning. [signed] **Mr. EdTedFred** ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1920s-s-d-r-and-people-who-use-it/200149/20 "2003-09-08T01:00:38Z")
The infamous 1920s SDR (not to be confused with the 1930s FDR) was a catch phrase that did get old awfully quick. I’ve had occasion to use it a couple of times in what I hope were appropriately humorous and apposite situations. I do reserve the right to bring it up in a serious context if we get into a thread with a topic like **Nikola Tesla: Genius or Archetypal Mad Scientist?** where it actually does have a point. (Anyone who cares to differ will get zapped by Wardenclyffe!) And I have one more riff to make off the concept, at the appropriate time, if and when **Skammer** and I end up discussing resistance to change in the Episcopal Church (along with the absolutely best “lightbulb” joke I know). ( **Skammer** , consider this fair warning! ;)) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1920s-s-d-r-and-people-who-use-it/200149.md?page=2)