# Thing Fish was right and I was wrong **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 20, 2018, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-fish-was-right-and-i-was-wrong/824868 "2018-11-20T22:01:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-fish-was-right-and-i-was-wrong/824868/1 "2018-11-20T22:01:59Z")
Some weeks ago, **Thing Fish** and I made a wager. I lost and he won. I suppose I could do this over PM, but I suspect he, and many of you, will enjoy this more if it’s a public thread. I expect a good bit of ribbing, probably not all of it good-natured, and that’s fine. I only ask that you abide by the rules of this forum and avoid getting this thread moved to the Pit (because I’d bow out of it at that point). Perhaps some thoughtful members can even help us with some suggestions on refining the details. Here is the essence of [the wager](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=21235481#post21235481): > [@](#): > > … if the D’s get more than 47 million votes, I’ll donate $10 to a tax-deductible charity of your choice, in whatever (reasonable - I’m not wearing a chicken costume and flying to Puerto Rico or anything crazy like that) manner you choose, and an additional $10 for every million votes above that (48M = $20, 49M = $30, 50M=$40, etc). Conversely, if the D’s don’t get more than 46 million votes, you donate $10 to a charity of my choosing, in a (reasonable) way I choose. For every million votes below that, you donate an additional $10. Agreed? I don’t have an exact figure on how many votes the House Dems got, and I understand they may still be counting a few votes. I’m willing to wait as long as **Thing Fish** wants for them to finish up counting, and am open to hearing suggestions from him or others on what we should use as the tally. I don’t think it’s terribly practical to have to dig up 50 states’ official websites, but I’m not sure who has a good, reliable total. Also, **Thing Fish** , where’s the money going? The only stipulation we had was it has to be a tax-deductible charity. What’s your choice? And, while verification wasn’t part of the official wager, if there’s some mechanism you can think of that protects my PII but gives you confidence the donation actually happened, I’m open to hearing your suggestions on the matter as well and will try to make reasonable accommodations. Let the fun begin. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-fish-was-right-and-i-was-wrong/824868/2 "2018-11-20T22:03:48Z")
Thanks for coming back and posting this. Nice job! ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-fish-was-right-and-i-was-wrong/824868/3 "2018-11-21T15:15:50Z")
This may be helpful: [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WxDaxD5az6kdOjJncmGph37z0BPNhV1fNAH\_g7IkpC0/htmlview?sle=true#gid=0](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WxDaxD5az6kdOjJncmGph37z0BPNhV1fNAH_g7IkpC0/htmlview?sle=true#gid=0) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-fish-was-right-and-i-was-wrong/824868/4 "2018-11-21T15:49:34Z")
I hope it’s to Planned Parenthood. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-fish-was-right-and-i-was-wrong/824868/5 "2018-11-21T16:02:21Z")
According to [this article](http://time.com/5452258/midterm-elections-turnout/): > [@](#): > > About 51.7 million Democrats voted in midterm House races this year versus 47.4 million Republicans, according to data from the Washington Post. So looks like you’re going to pony up $50. Good on you for being a good sport about this. If I were **Thing Fish** , I’d choose a non-political charity such as the Red Cross, but it’d be funny if he chose something like _Save the Whales_. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-fish-was-right-and-i-was-wrong/824868/6 "2018-11-21T16:18:08Z")
The ACLU seems like it would be a good choice of non-profit. I mean, who doesn’t like civil liberties? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-fish-was-right-and-i-was-wrong/824868/7 "2018-11-21T16:38:49Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > According to [this article](http://time.com/5452258/midterm-elections-turnout/): That article is 8 days old, and looks much lower than awldune’s spreadsheet. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-fish-was-right-and-i-was-wrong/824868/8 "2018-11-21T16:50:17Z")
If we are all offering up suggestions, I suggest [VoteRiders](https://www.voteriders.org/what-we-do/). They help people get IDs so they can vote. ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-fish-was-right-and-i-was-wrong/824868/9 "2018-11-21T19:13:28Z")
The spreadsheet I posted is from David Wasserman’s twitter, BTW ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-fish-was-right-and-i-was-wrong/824868/10 "2018-11-21T20:31:33Z")
Victims of the OK city bombing relief fund. ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2018, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-fish-was-right-and-i-was-wrong/824868/11 "2018-11-22T00:01:17Z")
I don’t like being wrong but I pride myself owning up to it when I am. CYA is the biggest time waster in American society. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-fish-was-right-and-i-was-wrong/824868/12 "2018-11-28T02:48:38Z")
Sorry, it’s been a busy month, I’m back now! [CNN, quoting Cook Political Report,](https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/26/politics/2018-midterms-democratic-wave/index.html) has the total at 59 million plus, so that’s a nice $130. Still accepting suggestions for the designated charity. ACLU and PP are both good ideas. Also considering Equality Utah, a group which advocates for LGBT folks in HD’s home State, where it certainly seems they can use all the help they can get. Anyone have any ideas for how HD can prove the donation was made while still protecting his personal information? Maybe we could identify a mutually trusted Doper to act as middleperson? ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-fish-was-right-and-i-was-wrong/824868/13 "2018-11-28T16:15:53Z")
As much as I’d love **HD** to give to Planned Parenthood, that feels a little too much like rubbing it in to me. The ACLU and Equality Utah are both good choices. If it were me verifying payment, I’d be OK with a scanned copy of the thank you letters with his name blacked out. But I’m a trusting guy. If you want to go the route of trusted middleperson, I’d nominate **Bricker** or **Bone** if they are willing. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-fish-was-right-and-i-was-wrong/824868/14 "2018-11-28T17:34:41Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > Sorry, it’s been a busy month, I’m back now! [CNN, quoting Cook Political Report,](https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/26/politics/2018-midterms-democratic-wave/index.html) has the total at 59 million plus, so that’s a nice $130. Still accepting suggestions for the designated charity. ACLU and PP are both good ideas. Also considering Equality Utah, a group which advocates for LGBT folks in HD’s home State, where it certainly seems they can use all the help they can get. > > Anyone have any ideas for how HD can prove the donation was made while still protecting his personal information? Maybe we could identify a mutually trusted Doper to act as middleperson? He can provide either your email or physical address (I’d use a work or neutral one so no one has a way to hassle you should they want to) when he makes the donation; the organization will send you a note telling you it was made in your name. Planned Parenthood of Utah would be a perfect recipient, they’ve been under attack by the Utah legislature/Mormon legislative lobby for several years. ---
**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:** [November 28, 2018, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-fish-was-right-and-i-was-wrong/824868/15 "2018-11-28T19:25:30Z")
Thank you for posting this thread. Now I have an example to follow if it ever turns out that I am wrong. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-fish-was-right-and-i-was-wrong/824868/16 "2018-11-28T22:47:38Z")
Good on you for paying up, **Hurricane Ditka.** And well done, **Thing Fish**!!! As for proof, one possibility might utilize the opportunity to donate in someone else’s name (although not all charities offer this, many do). If **HD** donates and does so in **Thing Fish** ’s (real) name, most likely **TF** will be sent a donation notification by the nonprofit. Me, I’d go for something consistently liberal/progressive in nature. ACLU can be a double-edged sword, which I do admire, but since I’m vindictive as hell, it isn’t craw-sticky enough for what I’d do were I the victor in this bet. 😃 Some ideas: - Americans United for Separation of Church and State - Black Youth Project - Center for American Progress - Common Cause - Council on American Islamic Relations - EMILY’s List (supports pro-choice women candidates) - Fight for $15 (supports $15 minimum wage) - Media Matters for America - Move-on Civic Action (note: not tax-deductible; that shouldn’t matter IMHO) - NAACP - National Immigration Law Center - National Center for Transgender Equality - Progressive Policy Institute **- Southern Poverty Law Center** (this is the one that I’d choose) - Transgender Law Center ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-fish-was-right-and-i-was-wrong/824868/17 "2018-11-28T23:13:15Z")
Just because HD tried to preempt the chicken suit and flying to Puerto Rico thing, are we just going to rule it out? ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-fish-was-right-and-i-was-wrong/824868/18 "2018-11-28T23:21:47Z")
I admire this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2018, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-fish-was-right-and-i-was-wrong/824868/19 "2018-11-29T18:54:10Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Just because HD tried to preempt the chicken suit and flying to Puerto Rico thing, are we just going to rule it out? I don’t believe he specifically ruled out a cow suit. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Royal\_Nonesutch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecb155/32.png) [@Royal\_Nonesutch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Royal_Nonesutch)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2018, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-fish-was-right-and-i-was-wrong/824868/20 "2018-11-29T21:42:44Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > Also considering Equality Utah, a group which advocates for LGBT folks in HD’s home State, where it certainly seems they can use all the help they can get. For what it is worth, I know someone whose older sister was a volunteer for Equality Utah several years back, and according to her, most of those on the board of directors whold probably be happier with a couple of fat, uncut grams of quality Bolivian Marching Dust or some good, clean X. Seriously, she said that when it came to (after-hours?) debauchery and illicit substance use, often using misdirected program funds, 90% of the people working there made Led Zepplin look like The Osmonds. She ended up quitting in disgust and started working for a Unitarian LGBQT outreach group. That was a while back though, maybe they have cleaned up their act? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-fish-was-right-and-i-was-wrong/824868.md?page=2)