# Things You Suspect But Could Never Prove **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 16, 2010, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177 "2010-02-16T06:09:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Dr.Love](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Dr.Love](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Love)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177/41 "2010-02-16T18:02:58Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Corporations/big business/wall street, whatever you want to call it, is WAY, WAY, WAY more evil than any of us suspect. That they outright own our politicians and manipulate our economy for profit and do not, even a whit, give a shit about any suffering they cause. I’ll thrown in the opposite. Corporation and government control far, far less than most people think they do. They may want to manipulate the economy for profit, but no one alive, nor any group of people, is capable of processing enough information to do this effectively. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177/42 "2010-02-16T19:49:38Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Every even integer greater than 2 can be expressed as the sum of two primes. > > There are an infinite number of pairs of twin primes. > > Every Collatz sequence eventually reaches the 4,2,1 cycle. > Wait, is that not what the OP is looking for? The first two were the ones that occurred to me. But I’m a feckless geek. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177/43 "2010-02-16T20:25:13Z")
> [@Sefton](#): > > Glenn Beck is a consummate showman who doesn’t believe a word he’s saying. Inwardly, he’s laughing at all the idiots who take him so seriously. You could also probably add in “Rush Limbaugh” or “Ann Coulter” for Beck and probably be right. To be honest, sometimes the “modern conservative” movement reminds me a bit of the Enclave in Fallout 3: the followers are sincere, but the brains of the organization is actually a computer which spits out random patriotic slogans, and its handlers don’t believe a word of them. ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177/44 "2010-02-16T20:31:44Z")
P ≠ np ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177/45 "2010-02-16T20:54:11Z")
I strongly suspect that if anything disastrous is going to happen in 2012, it will happen as a result of self-fulfilling prophecy, and NOT as a natural or cosmic event. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177/46 "2010-02-16T21:19:32Z")
A large percentage (more than half) of academic papers are meaningless twaddle, and the academics who write them are well aware of it. They continue writing such papers because they’re paid to do so. Most of the legislation passed by Congress in a given year is the result of quid pro quo exchanges of votes for money and other favors. During the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, the Bush Administration was well aware that all of the evidence of Saddam’s WMDs and ties to al Queda was fake. That’s because they (the Bushies) were the ones who faked it. An average, middle-class adult possesses more common sense wisdom than an average politician, businessman, lawyer, professor, or media personality. > [@control-z](#): > > -Drug companies invent diseases to make drugs for, and basically bribe doctors to prescribe these medications [Proving that is easy enough.](http://www.nybooks.com/articles/22237) ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177/47 "2010-02-16T21:20:55Z")
A roommate stole my ski jacket in '85. ---
**Author:** ![uncle\_squeegee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b5e925/32.png) [@uncle\_squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uncle_squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177/48 "2010-02-16T21:27:07Z")
During the kerfuffle over the Killian documents I believed they were created by President Bush’s allies but the text was copied from authentic documents. That way both these statements would be true: -All information related to President Bush’s National Guard service have been released. -The documents used by “60 Minutes” are forged. And now, about half the time I think I was crazy and the other half I think I was right. ---
**Author:** ![Haunted\_Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/94ad74/32.png) [@Haunted\_Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haunted_Pasta)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177/49 "2010-02-16T21:46:30Z")
All those modern artists making all that incredibly stupid art (you know the kind I mean) are just jacking with us. They know full well that their works took little creative effort and have no artistic merit and could be created by anybody who could do it and talk about it with a straight face. This is especially true of those crucifix-in-urine types who know damn well that all they want is a shocked reaction but don’t want to risk the legal consequences of flashing their tiny genitalia at schoolgirls. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177/50 "2010-02-16T21:51:43Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > A roommate stole my ski jacket in '85. Yah know what? Since that big cold snap here in the deep south that thing sure has come in handy 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177/51 "2010-02-16T22:22:42Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Nobody truly likes steak tartar or caviar or champagne I love steak tartare and champagne. Have not had caviar since I was a child–didn’t like it then, but I can imagine I might like it now. > [@Mosier](#): > > American Idol is rigged. If that were the case, Taylor Hicks never would have won. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177/52 "2010-02-16T22:23:48Z")
These chips are delicious. _Pause_ Damn. Proven correct once again. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177/53 "2010-02-17T15:47:02Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Nobody in the US government actually gives a shit about gun control, abortion, or gay marriage one way or the other. These, and a few other hot-button issues, are simply a way to keep people angry and distracted from the .gov’s other plans. YES! I BELIEVE THIS, ABSOLUTELY! They consider ‘the people’ ignorant sheep to be manipulated one way or another (well, maybe we are!), and the only thing they care about is money and power for themselves. Every politician is a big phony, including the family man bible-thumpers. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177/54 "2010-02-17T16:37:17Z")
Golly neds, I had no idea that some actually like caviar and champagne, and apparently a few even like steak tartare (and unlike me, can even spell it correctly). Consider ignorance fought. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2010, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177/55 "2010-02-17T16:46:16Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > A roommate stole my ski jacket in '85. Similarly, I am still certain that my former coworker maliciously sabotaged my spreadsheet two years ago. I am so goddamn certain that I would bet this Friday’s paycheck on it. I had quasi-proof, but it wasn’t enough. I _know_ she did it. I am certain. ---
**Author:** ![snowmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@snowmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowmaster)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177/56 "2010-02-17T17:06:54Z")
The Oak Island Money pit is the result of brilliant engineering and does actaully contain items of substatial intrinsic value. L. Ron Hubbard and Joseph Smith both acted for their own self interest, for fame and profit, and perhaps a bit of amusement at what they could get people to believe, and substantially did not believe what they preached. No dispespect to anyone’s religion, just one man’s poorly informed oppinion, FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![filling\_pages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9bd4f/32.png) [@filling\_pages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filling_pages)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177/57 "2010-02-17T18:46:07Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > An average, middle-class adult possesses more common sense wisdom than an average politician, businessman, lawyer, professor, or media personality. Aren’t many average, middle class adults businessmen, lawyers, and professors? ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177/58 "2010-02-17T18:53:46Z")
That neither Circus Peanuts nor Orange Slices have been manufactured since WW II, just periodic reshuffling among retailers. ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177/59 "2010-02-17T20:31:44Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Corporations/big business/wall street, whatever you want to call it, is WAY, WAY, WAY more evil than any of us suspect. That they outright own our politicians and manipulate our economy for profit and do not, even a whit, give a shit about any suffering they cause. I can’t remember where I read this but it was stated that there was some evidence that there is a larger percentage of true psychopaths attracted to these types of institutions than in other fields of work. Makes sense to me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177/60 "2010-02-17T20:48:48Z")
> [@snowmaster](#): > > The Oak Island Money pit is the result of brilliant engineering and does actaully contain items of substatial intrinsic value. I came to talk about the pit too: The Money Pit is actually an ingenious attempt to engineer a freshwater well from seawater. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-suspect-but-could-never-prove/529177.md?page=4)