# Well dang. If you didn't think Scott Adams was a piece of shit before, just look at him now! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 24, 2023, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277 "2023-02-24T06:16:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277/261 "2023-02-28T21:50:47Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > So what do you think about Adams? I’d have to listen to what he said to determine that. I’m not searching through several hour long podcasts. The snippets that are published by others aren’t flattering. That said, offensive or provocative statements aren’t sufficient for me to believe in exile. > [@Atamasama](#): > > Those differences of perspective are how we get into trouble. It’s not just about not liking some speech. That doesn’t matter. It’s all about labeling the kinds of speech that are too harmful to extend protection to. I don’t agree with the concept of labeling speech hate speech and then saying that’s not protected speech. We all know that such a labeling is easily abused, which is the point of creating the so-called ‘hate speech’ category. It allows one to silence others without recourse. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277/262 "2023-02-28T21:57:51Z")
But it’s not exile. It’s stopping doing business with him. Not necessarily because they think it’s wrong, but because _doing business with open racists is bad business_. If the owner of my favorite restaurant suddenly starts to advocate for racial segregation, then I might stop getting food from them. What’s the problem with making business decisions like that? ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277/263 "2023-02-28T21:59:20Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > I’d have to listen to what he said to determine that. I’m not searching through several hour long podcasts. The very first post in this thread links to the video, already cued up to the hateful BS. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277/264 "2023-02-28T22:01:12Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > That said, offensive or provocative statements aren’t sufficient for me to believe in exile. Ah, I didn’t know that we were setting him adrift on the ice flow. I thought that newspapers just stopped carrying his “comic” strip. > [@octopus](#): > > We all know that such a labeling is easily abused, which is the point of creating the so-called ‘hate speech’ category. There’s your irrational paranoia showing its head again. Not everything that you don’t like is a conspiracy theory out to get you. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277/265 "2023-02-28T22:02:46Z")
Yes, but as long as he doesn’t actually listen to it, he can winge about generalities and play the victim. Once he has actually heard what Adams said, then he would actually have to defend it to keep his position. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277/266 "2023-02-28T22:09:48Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > I don’t agree with the concept of labeling speech hate speech and then saying that’s not protected speech. We all know that such a labeling is easily abused, which is the point of creating the so-called ‘hate speech’ category. It allows one to silence others without recourse. That’s certainly a danger, I won’t disagree. And this is a great example of what I was referencing when I talked about how people will disagree on what kind of speech is dangerous. I am not going to agree that we should always protect hate speech, but I do agree that exempting it from protection is something you must be very careful to do. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277/267 "2023-02-28T22:14:19Z")
But once again, you are talking about whether hate speech is actionable enough to have criminal penalties for it. No one is saying anything like that about Adams. However, a newspaper deciding to drop a comic strip is not quite the same thing as being criminally charged. Be _very_ careful not to conflate the two. There is a difference between the privilege of making lots of money for drawing some silly characters being retracted and going to jail. Besides, I’m sure that Parlor or even Twitter could hire him for their weekly newsletter. Don’t worry about Adams, I’m sure he will be just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277/268 "2023-02-28T22:32:43Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > But once again, you are talking about whether hate speech is actionable enough to have criminal penalties for it. No one is saying anything like that about Adams. No I’m not. Free speech doesn’t just govern what might get you tossed in jail (in fact, that’s rare). It usually is an issue about whether the government can suppress your speech or take away your platform. SCOTUS has affirmed that hate speech is protected, full stop. That’s the law. That not only means you can’t be criminalized for it, but the government can’t even hinder it. But they can regulate other kinds of speech. For just one example: > **[The Public and Broadcasting](https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/public-and-broadcasting#SPEECH)** > > The Public and Broadcasting   TABLE OF CONTENTS IntroductionThe FCC And Its Regulatory Authority    The Communications Act    How the FCC Adopts Rules    The FCC and the Media Bureau    FCC Regulation of Broadcast Radio and TelevisionThe Licensing of... > **Hoaxes.** The broadcast by a station of false information concerning a crime or catastrophe violates the FCC’s rules if: > > - The station licensee knew that the information was false; > - Broadcasting the false information directly causes substantial public harm; and > - It was foreseeable that broadcasting the false information would cause such harm. > > In this context, a “crime” is an act or omission that makes the offender subject to criminal punishment by law, and a “catastrophe” is a disaster or an imminent disaster involving violent or sudden events affecting the public. The broadcast must cause direct and actual damage to property or to the health or safety of the general public, or diversion of law enforcement or other public health and safety authorities from their duties, and the public harm must begin immediately. If a station airs a disclaimer before the broadcast that clearly characterizes the program as fiction and the disclaimer is presented in a reasonable manner under the circumstances, the program is presumed not to pose foreseeable public harm. This matches what I said before, where speech that is **harmful** is not protected. It’s just a matter of deciding what is or isn’t harmful. But that’s extremely difficult to resolve and will probably always be a source of political conflict. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277/269 "2023-02-28T23:29:00Z")
a journalist’s response : > **[I apologize to 'Dilbert' comic creator Scott Adams for forcing him to be racist](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/i-apologize-to-dilbert-comic-creator-scott-adams-for-forcing-him-to-be-racist/ar-AA181XCG?ocid=U519DHP&pc=U519&cvid=a49d3f409e63416daf8ae9315a6df1f2&ei=14)** > > As a member of 'the media,' I would like to formally apologize for forcing 'Dilbert' cartoonist Scott Adams to unleash a racist rant on YouTube. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277/270 "2023-03-01T02:58:14Z")
Adams has now pivoted to the “it was satire/hyperbole” defense. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277/271 "2023-03-01T03:06:39Z")
Maybe he’ll get his jobs back. Ha ha ha ha! Fuck off, Scott Adams. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277/272 "2023-03-01T03:16:57Z")
There’s a term for this. “Too little, too late.” ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277/273 "2023-03-01T03:20:00Z")
I rather prefer ‘fuck around and find out’ ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277/274 "2023-03-01T03:23:26Z")
I think he did that previously already, and found out he’s no longer a cartoonist. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277/275 "2023-03-01T05:37:26Z")
I don’t agree with her conclusion, but she does give a good explanation for source of the “Is it OK to be white?“ Rasmussen question. Though it’s still pretty clear to me that by asking that question without providing context, Rasmussen was still trying to stir some shit up. > The poll [was prompted](https://twitter.com/Rasmussen_Poll/status/1628461149514612739) by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) [labeling the statement “It’s ok to be white” as hate speech](https://www.adl.org/resources/hate-symbol/its-okay-be-white). The ADL picked up on the fact that it has been used as an alt-right campaign in 2017, which started on the avowedly racist social networking site 4Chan and advised college students to plaster “It’s okay to be white” across their campuses to protest diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. > **[Real Antiracism Would Mean Not Canceling Scott Adams](https://www.newsweek.com/real-antiracism-would-mean-not-canceling-scott-adams-opinion-1784372)** > > I hope none of us are considered irredeemable if diligent attempts at sorting race from racism fall short. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277/276 "2023-03-01T10:10:14Z")
> **[Leader Of Aryan Prison Gang Covered Head To Toe In Dilbert Tattoos](https://www.theonion.com/leader-of-aryan-prison-gang-covered-head-to-toe-in-dilb-1850169248)** > > The Onion brings you all of the latest news, stories, photos, videos and more from America's finest news source. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277/277 "2023-03-01T12:30:16Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Adams has now pivoted to the “it was satire/hyperbole” defense. Hyperbole maybe; it’s been many years since he had any talent for producing satire. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277/278 "2023-03-01T13:43:52Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Though it’s still pretty clear to me that by asking that question without providing context, Rasmussen was still trying to stir some shit up. Oh hell yes. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2023, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277/279 "2023-03-01T15:00:00Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Though it’s still pretty clear to me that by asking that question without providing context, Rasmussen was still trying to stir some shit up. No kidding. I didn’t know who Rasmussen are before this, and my first reaction was WTF are they doing. Very often the press misreport the actual question that was asked, but not in this case. They asked a question that was analogous to asking: “Do you think all lives matter?” Rasmussen is apparently not an actual polling organization, they are alt right trolls. The only valid answer to their question is of course “fuck off”, which I suspect was not one of the available options. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277/280 "2023-03-01T15:09:05Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Rasmussen is apparently not an actual polling organization, they are alt right trolls. It’s a pretty well done troll, I have to admit. If you aren’t aware of the use and history of the phrase, it’s a push pull, leaving respondents wondering who it is that _doesn’t_ think it’s okay to be white. If you are, then it is trollery, putting a respondent in a position of either approving of racist language, or being a position to be framed as being racist against white people. It’s sometimes impressive how creative people can get in expressing their hatred. If they put their energies towards something constructive, the world would be a much nicer place. Then of course, the results speak for themselves, throwing more fuel into the right’s pursuit of the culture war. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-dang-if-you-didnt-think-scott-adams-was-a-piece-of-shit-before-just-look-at-him-now/980277.md?page=15)