# Up The Butt, Bob **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 14, 2000, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439 "2000-01-14T12:34:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Phaedrus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@Phaedrus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phaedrus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439/61 "2000-01-14T17:05:00Z")
Poly, as always, you hit the nail on the head and addressed the OP at the same time. I have been grooming some clients for court next week and you are **exactly** correct. You summarized what evidence is all about in a way that many miss. Thank you for your post. Ken ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439/62 "2000-01-14T17:06:00Z")
Phaedrus: > [@](#): > > Libby, what do you think of inconsistent skepticism as a more accurate name for hyperskepticism? I’m not sure I understand the question. More accurate? I guess I would have to say hyperskeptics are quite consistent. After all, they are skeptical about everything. ---
**Author:** ![Phaedrus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@Phaedrus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phaedrus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439/63 "2000-01-14T17:13:00Z")
I see the differentiation between the two terms as being, 1. Hyperskepticism is a belief that questions everthing, even it’s own skeptical beliefs. 2. Inconsistent skepticism which is only skeptical about that which it chooses to be skeptical about. In other words if a person were truly skeptical they would be skeptical about Banks ’ claims as well as counterclaims. I don’t see that here. Does that clear it up? ---
**Author:** ![hardcore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@hardcore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardcore)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439/64 "2000-01-14T17:13:00Z")
Lib, Phaedrus: Here’s the problem with trying to use this event to catalyze a discussion about “hyperskepticism”. Right now, you have no objective evidence that this ever actually happened. Produce a tape that shows the episode in question. Or at least use an event that at one time was considered an urban legend, but was later “upgraded” to an actual event based on the evidence. I’m sure their is something out there that would fit this criteria. Then try to launch a discussion about “hyperskepticism”. If you want to accept evidence based solely on a person’s certainty that it occurred, then you must be willing to accept all accounts of alien abduction, etc. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439/65 "2000-01-14T17:28:00Z")
Phaedrus: > [@](#): > > Phil’s point was a good one. However, I have been in contact with Firing Line since it went off the air and I have been trying to get copies of all the shows with Mortimer J. Adler on them. The cost is about $700.00. They have explained to me that many of their tapes degrade over time, this could certainly be the case for the Newlywed show. Melin: > [@](#): > > One truly wonders, however, whether all of the show’s tape is extant (they are usually archived, no doubt, > but that doesn’t mean that every show from its origination is neatly preserved), and also whether anybody > has taken the time or cared enough to sit down and go through ALL of those tapes, even if the producer > would allow it. I personally don’t think $10,000 is enough money to have to sit through hundreds of hours > of that show, hoping that I haven’t fallen asleep when that bit pops up. Polycarp: > [@](#): > > To do this would require, as someone pointed out, that you assure yourself that every episode was taped, > that the tape had not been edited to remove things that did in fact air, and then review the tape of every > episode, to eliminate the possibility that it did in fact occur – a time-consuming but possible operation. Guys, guys, guys, you are all missing a monumentally important point, here, deliberately or otherwise. Not only does Lib claim to have witnessed this event himself, **he claims that Edlyn also witnessed it on a re-airing of the show in the last two months**. We aren’t talking about maybe the tape degraded, or was edited, or was lost, or that show was never taped; dammit, he says it aired sometime since the beginning of December. If it aired in December, there’s a tape, folks. The Game Show Network, according to their schedule, runs 2 episodes per day during the week: _The Newlywed Game_ at 7:00 p.m. ET (repeating at 11:00 p.m. and 3:30 a.m.), and _The New Newlywed Game_ at 7:30 p.m. ET (repeating at 11:30 p.m.). They also air _The Newlywed Game_ at 7:30 p.m. Saturdays. So, we have 26 airings per week of this show, 15 of which are repeats during that broadcast day. Let’s be generous yet realistic and speculate that each airing, on average, receives a tenth of a rating point. There being 99 million TVHH in the Neilsen population, that means over 900,000 people per airing could have seen this show. You don’t think that, out of maybe 900,000 people, one of them was watching and said, “Oh my god, it’s the ‘in the butt’ episode! Let’s tape it on the repeat later!!”? Or “Let’s call the Game Show Net and see if we can get a transcript!”? If you came up with this tape and provided it to Snopes, or to Dick Clark’s “Bloopers” show, or the TV Party web site, you’d be a popular culture hero, I assure you. According to my math, there were 23 weekdays and four Saturdays in December. That adds to 50 episodes. If someone wants to do more work than I’m willing to do, they can: 1. Contact the Game Show Network and see if they can provide production codes/episode numbers for the episodes airing in December 1999. 2. Contact the syndicator/distributor, and see if they can purchase tapes or transcripts of those 50 episodes. 50 half-hour episodes. 3 hours of viewing a day will get you done in a little over a week. A week of your life, to possibly claim $10,000 from Bob Eubanks. Who’s game? * * * “It’s my considered opinion you’re all a bunch of sissies!”–Paul’s Grandfather ---
**Author:** ![Phaedrus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@Phaedrus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phaedrus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439/66 "2000-01-14T17:39:00Z")
Phil: I didn’t miss your point, I guess I was confused about when he saw the episode. I thought it was so long ago that there wouldn’t be a home version. If it did happen recently then you are right there would be a tape. AND it would be worth going after! Have we established an approximate date for the “crime”? ---
**Author:** ![Phaedrus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@Phaedrus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phaedrus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439/67 "2000-01-14T17:44:00Z")
hardcore: Yes, it probably wouldn’t be profitable to use “this” event to determine “hyperskepticism” however I believe that there is such a thing as inconsistent skepticism. I don’t think we need to use this case to prove it. There are many cases for it. Ken ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439/68 "2000-01-14T17:46:00Z")
> [@](#): > > One of the things that David is ignoring is that I did not know this was an urban legend until 24 hours ago. Not true. Check his post of 9:55am, responding to mine of 9:51am. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439/69 "2000-01-14T17:48:00Z")
Hey Lib, Phil’s got the right idea! Go for it, and you can buy us all a drink if you win (or mooch off us if you don’t ;)). -Melin ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2000, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439/70 "2000-01-15T06:16:00Z")
FWIW, I searched all over the Game Show Network page for some e-mail or snail mail contact information and could not find any. They’re owned by Sony Entertainment Television, so I probably need to check there, but my interest is not that keen. Suffice to say that I’ve provided plenty of direction here for finding out whether it happened, I don’t care whether it did or didn’t happen, I’m doubtful that it did happen, but I am willing to be corrected. * * * “It’s my considered opinion you’re all a bunch of sissies!”–Paul’s Grandfather ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2000, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439/71 "2000-01-15T06:29:00Z")
Did anyone else besides me see the tape of Phaedrus on the Newlywed Show talking about what a great poster he was? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Phaedrus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@Phaedrus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phaedrus)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2000, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439/72 "2000-01-15T06:36:00Z")
:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2000, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439/73 "2000-01-15T06:54:00Z")
Orangecakes: I thought that was on _The Liar’s Club_. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2000, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439/74 "2000-01-15T06:55:00Z")
No David,world’s scariest posters. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439/75 "2000-01-14T19:00:00Z")
Hmmm…imagine a 36" x 24" blowup of Phaedrus hanging over David’s desk. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Phaedrus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@Phaedrus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phaedrus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439/76 "2000-01-14T19:20:00Z")
Very funny, now can we get back to the OP? Cheese Louise! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439/77 "2000-01-14T19:22:00Z")
Gee Phaedrus,how come you never said that in the earth is flat thread??? ---
**Author:** ![hardcore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@hardcore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardcore)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439/78 "2000-01-14T19:35:00Z")
Phaedrus: > [@](#): > > I believe that there is such a thing as inconsistent skepticism. I don’t think we need to use this case to prove it. There are many cases for it. I am skeptical of this claim. Please provide evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Edlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8797f3/32.png) [@Edlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edlyn)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439/79 "2000-01-14T19:57:00Z")
You guys are unbelieveable; false memories, etc. The fact is, I saw that particular episode one evening on the Game channel. I know that it was sometime after 7:30pm on a weekday, and I know that it was after I had digital cable installed, but before December 6th. So… the rerun appeared during that time period. Though the contestant did change his answer, I remember the giggling from the audience when it was his wife’s turn to answer the question. From the attire of the contestants, my guess is that the show was taped sometime in the 80’s. I also have a second “witness” account to report. Out of curiousity, I asked my boss this morning if he had watched that episode. His reply was that no, that he did not see it, however, he remembered it clearly. He received a phone call from his sister one evening, and she was in tears from hysterical laughter. She said to him, “You’ll never believe what I just saw on the Newlywed Game!” and proceeded to tell him what happened. For quite a while after that, they would repeat “Mo debly, up the butt”. This occurred while my boss was living in Shreveport, and he thought it was around 1987. He’s still laughing… ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439/80 "2000-01-14T20:00:00Z")
Then I encourage you and your boss to get the tape and give it to Bob Eubanks for $10,000. There’s nothing more to be said at this point. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-butt-bob/17439.md?page=5)