# The Thing I Hate About The Straight Dope Message Board **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 13, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499 "2003-06-13T03:34:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Super\_Gnat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Super\_Gnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Super_Gnat)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499/41 "2003-06-13T06:21:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cuauhtemoc \* > \*\*It always seems to degenerate into a discussion of who has the right to prevent who from saying what. \*\* Was this what you were trying to say in the OP? My sarcasm scannings were coming back inconclusive. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499/42 "2003-06-13T06:22:21Z")
Underpants. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499/43 "2003-06-13T06:27:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cuauhtemoc \* > \*\*The thing that chaps my ass is people who want to restrict the rights of people who believe that those who hold the opinion that people who think that certain opinions should be banned need to keep their mouths shut from stating their opinions. People who think that need to shut the fuck up and let the decent, civilized people of this community have our discussions in peace. How can anybody argue with that? \*\* After reading your paragraph 28 times and constructing a crude [visual aid](http://neutronstar.realbadidea.com/visual.jpg), I’ve come to the practically undeniable conclusion that the object we are at issue with here isn’t one that can even come close to being rationally discussed without eliciting the ire of a of a fourth party, that being those who have come to the consensus that the first party, that being, of course, those that want to restrict the rights of the people who should shut up about stating their opinions that certain opinions should be banned, is full of a certain brown substance. This fourth group is particularly obnoxious, an almost cult-like clique of opionated, circumcised, self-righteous, cretins. They fail to realize that the opinions of others don’t, in fact, restrict their rights, or even the rights of the people who think other peoples’ opinions should be less opinionated, but rather the rights of sane-minded individuals who desire nothing more than the free access to suicide machines that every American should be entitled to. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499/44 "2003-06-13T06:38:52Z")
It’s frightening how helpful **neutron star** ’s visual aid actually was. ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499/45 "2003-06-13T06:42:56Z")
Mmm… asprin… arrrrrglglglglgl… F\_X ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499/46 "2003-06-13T07:33:14Z")
I am fairly sure that the opinion presented by the OP can be understood by dividing the total odd numbered words in the successive (relevant only) even numbered posts by the square root of 74587 and then applying Bible decoding software to the resulting lettter/number combination. But I could be wrong… ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499/47 "2003-06-13T08:12:28Z")
This is pretty simple once you deconstruct the complex verbiage. As **neutron star** so apty illustrated using his bootleg copy of a Chinese knockoff of MS-Pain, there are people who express unpopular opinions. Those are the Ideologues. Then we come to those who want to silence the Ideologues. Those are the First-Order Suppressors. Finally, we come to those who want to silence the First-Order Suppressors. Those are the Second-Order Suppressors. (We can construct _n_th-Order Suppressors _ad librium_, in fact, but going to the second order is a useful illustrative tool.) What **cuauhtemoc** said in his needlessly headache-inducing way is that all Suppressors are stupid, and that one can only be pro-free speech if one doesn’t try to silence anyone, including those who wish to silence others. (The fact that plenty of Ideologues want to silence others is conveniently glossed over here, in fact, as plenty would be First-Order Suppressors if given half a chance.) ---
**Author:** ![BadBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71c47a/32.png) [@BadBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BadBaby)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499/48 "2003-06-13T08:16:50Z")
Thank god I’m not the only one who doesn’t quite understand. Oh the graphic was lovely, and a very kind attempt to help others, as well. It’s just that it’s very late here, I’ve had quite a few cups of coffee and I thought that might be the reason my eyes were crossing every time I tried to parse the OP. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499/49 "2003-06-13T09:23:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Derleth \* > **As neutron star so apty illustrated using his bootleg copy of a Chinese knockoff of MS-Pain** Heh. Yeah, it was MS Paint along with a freeware, command-line, BMP-\>JPG converter. Perhaps it was the two cups of Theraflu I drank\* that made the circle, square, and line tools seem too rigid and confining. Pencil tool all the way, baby! \*This may have also contributed not only to the fact that I made the graphic at all, but that I even _tried_ to decipher those mind-boggling sentences. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499/50 "2003-06-13T09:51:24Z")
Was it not Voltaire who said “I may care not for the fact that you’re expressing the opinion that you or others may or may not agree or disagree with the proposition that people expressing opinions with which one disagrees should or should not be discouraged from expressing said views should be stifled or not, but I will defend to the death your right to express the view that these people should or should not be allowed to continue expressing the view or its opposite”? Perhaps not. ---
**Author:** ![Mayfield\_St.Cloud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/67e7ee/32.png) [@Mayfield\_St.Cloud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mayfield_St.Cloud)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499/51 "2003-06-13T10:20:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cuauhtemoc \* > \*\*Look, I have no problem with people who question whether the belief that the opinion that calling for the banning of the expression of certain opinions should be restricted, that’s not the issue here. > > The thing that chaps my ass is people who want to restrict the rights of people who believe that those who hold the opinion that people who think that certain opinions should be banned need to keep their mouths shut from stating their opinions. People who think that need to shut the fuck up and let the decent, civilized people of this community have our discussions in peace. How can anybody argue with that? \*\* I particularly loved this follow-up. That last line caused me to flashback to _Blazing Saddles_ ---
**Author:** ![j\_kat\_251](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/71c47a/32.png) [@j\_kat\_251](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j_kat_251)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499/52 "2003-06-13T10:35:25Z")
> [@](#): > > - jjimm said\* > > Voltaire Verbose guy, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499/53 "2003-06-13T10:39:16Z")
**cuauhtemoc** , thank you. After getting singed in the wars on another board, in some perverse, warped, and twisted way, I needed that. Of course, I’m assuming some of my brain cells were only stunned, not killed. CJ (Formerly cjhoworth. Don’t be fooled – I think I still can’t spell your name.) ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499/54 "2003-06-13T11:44:42Z")
I think **cuauhtemoc** is a big poopy-head and should just shut up… 😉 I love the OP. I had to read it sideways to understand it even a little bit… sort of… ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499/55 "2003-06-13T12:17:14Z")
I’ll take “Rubber Bed-sheets” for $100, Alex. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499/56 "2003-06-13T12:30:58Z")
Words, words, words. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499/57 "2003-06-13T12:35:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cuauhtemoc \* > \*\*Not obvious enough? \*\* If it was a parody, no. And you are supposted to post a frigging **LINK** with a parody thread. Plus, shouldn’t a parody thread be, umm, funny? If were serious, then I need a stronger brand of coffee or something because your 2 posts were gibberish. So I am hoping it was a bad, non-linked parody thread. ---
**Author:** ![FranticMad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c68b51/32.png) [@FranticMad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FranticMad)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499/58 "2003-06-13T12:44:48Z")
It was Nietzsche who said “It is hard enough to remember my opinions, without also remembering my reasons for them!” At least, I think it was Nietzsche. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499/59 "2003-06-13T12:53:06Z")
I’ll have what he’s smokin’. ---
**Author:** ![FranticMad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c68b51/32.png) [@FranticMad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FranticMad)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499/60 "2003-06-13T12:53:36Z")
Or, as Marx said : “And those are my principles. If you don’t like them…well, I have others.” “A child of five could understand this. Fetch me a child of five.” “I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn’t it.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-i-hate-about-the-straight-dope-message-board/181499.md?page=4)