# What do Cajun Man and the space shuttle have in common? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 11, 2005, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605 "2005-08-11T16:48:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605/61 "2005-08-12T04:44:51Z")
> [@SkipMagic](#): > > And there’s that disagreement. I’m sure you’ll live. And I’m sure you’ll continue to be an ass or at least talking out of one. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605/62 "2005-08-12T05:36:44Z")
What the hell? Considering that you people are bitching about how a thread with tasteless jokes about dead astronauts was closed, you sure do seem awfully sensitive about the moderators’ “tone.” Thick-skinned enough to joke about shuttle disasters, but too sensitive to being spoken down to by a moderator? Choose a side, at least. Or better yet, get the fuck over it. Worst case is that there’s one less internet site where you can make juvenile tasteless jokes, leaving only one bajillion other places on the internet where you can. Don’t start with all the “the moderators are against us!” or “respect for your paying customers” bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605/63 "2005-08-12T06:45:57Z")
Perhaps we could have a list of those subjects the moderators find not to their taste. After all, the protection of their sensitivities should be paramount in all discussions on this board. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605/64 "2005-08-12T09:02:46Z")
> [@tim314](#): > > Sure, a lot of humor is about people getting hurt, but there’s a pretty big difference between Wiley Coyote falling off a cliff and then being fine in the next scene, and seven _real human beings_ dying tragically. I hope you’re not implying that I said the actual crash was funny. Because it wasn’t. Look - I can’t read other poster’s minds, so I don’t know the reason they posted those jokes. All I’m saying is that humor many times lets us deal with the horrific. If you think that Wile E. Coyote is not real enough as an example, how about the earlier movies by Mel Brooks, La Vita e bella, Chaplin’s Dictator? Humor about real life horror. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605/65 "2005-08-12T09:30:37Z")
> [@SkipMagic](#): > > And there’s that disagreement. I’m sure you’ll live. Wow. Ya know, every time I read a dickhead comment like this from an SDMB moderator it makes me pine for the days when I was a message board moderator and wish that i’d been as much of a dismissive asshole as this. I mean, not like the decision to close a message board thread is earth-shattering or anything, but it would be nice to know that that the people with the power to close threads unilaterally, when their decisions were questioned, weren’t such total cunts about it. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605/66 "2005-08-12T10:07:24Z")
> [@HubZilla](#): > > Whoa! My first closed thread! > > Perhaps my mistake was putting in the jokes themselves. I was just commenting on the phenomenon. I’ll be completely honest with you; I read your post and my initial impression was that you’d started the thread for the express purpose of becoming a repository for sick jokes (i.e. that the question itself of how they get around was some kind of thinly-veiled excuse); this impression was engendered by the example jokes; mostly because _everyone knows the phenomenon you’re describing_ - it didn’t seem necessary to provide _any_ examples; that there were four of them, as opposed to one or two, only seemed to hammer home the point. Now before you take offence, please understand that I do acknowledge this may not have been your actual motive, indeed I suspect it probably wasn’t, I’m sorry if the abov seems unduly harsh, but I’m just honestly relating _the way it seemed to me at the time_. ---
**Author:** ![Greathouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greathouse/32/2992_2.png) [@Greathouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greathouse)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605/67 "2005-08-12T13:32:46Z")
> [@SolGrundy](#): > > What the hell? Considering that you people are bitching about how a thread with tasteless jokes about dead astronauts was closed, you sure do seem awfully sensitive about the moderators’ “tone.” Thick-skinned enough to joke about shuttle disasters, but too sensitive to being spoken down to by a moderator? Choose a side, at least. > > Or better yet, get the fuck over it. Worst case is that there’s one less internet site where you can make juvenile tasteless jokes, leaving only one bajillion other places on the internet where you can. Don’t start with all the “the moderators are against us!” or “respect for your paying customers” bullshit. And right on cue we hear from the guy who must disagree with all things **Otto**. I don’t really care for **Otto** myself, but he is right in this case. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605/68 "2005-08-12T14:49:57Z")
> [@Greathouse](#): > > And right on cue we hear from the guy who must disagree with all things **Otto**. I don’t really care for **Otto** myself, but he is right in this case. The hell? Look, Jack, I didn’t even notice that **Otto** started the thread; I found it when I was doing a search on my boyfriend’s posts (and I _disagreed_ with him! Oh my God what could _that_ mean?!?). Geez, if I genuinely had all the vendettas and personal grievances with other posters that people keep claiming I have, I’d need a spreadsheet to keep up with them all. What I saw was a thread moaning about how the moderators are “over-sensitive,” and then as you say _right on cue_, it descends into the typical bullshit about how we’re all paying customers and our moderators are draconian and everyone poring over the board rules as if they were a legal document. All for the sake of a stupid thread with a bunch of stupid jokes that aren’t clever or interesting because they’re either too offensive or too dated, depending on your level of cynicism. Sheesh. The Evil Overlord Moderator himself pointed out that there was a nugget of an interesting topic there – how and how quickly do jokes spread? – so the non-shrill, reactionary response (read: the non-SDMB response) would’ve been to start a thread specifically about that topic, without all the juvenile sniggering. But no, instead we get lots of pissing and moaning and people acting as if their very freedom of expression were being impunged. As **SkipMagic** pointed out, you’ll all survive. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605/69 "2005-08-12T15:22:53Z")
> [@SolGrundy](#): > > What I saw was a thread moaning about how the moderators are “over-sensitive,” and then as you say _right on cue_, it descends into the typical bullshit about how we’re all paying customers and our **moderators are draconian** and \*\*everyone poring \*\* over the board rules as if they were a legal document. All for the sake of a stupid thread with a bunch of stupid jokes that aren’t clever or interesting because they’re either too offensive or too dated, depending on your level of cynicism. Sheesh. That’s funny, I see quite a few posters in that thread. If the jokes weren’t interesting, or the thread so banal, offensive, or dated, that point is not demonstrative by the fact that there were posters in it. The _offenderati_, in this case, are the chickenshit dopers that have reported that thread because it offended their tender sensibilities. Instead of hitting the back or X buttons, they chose to report the thread. > [@SolGrundy](#): > > The Evil Overlord Moderator himself pointed out that there was a nugget of an interesting topic there – how and how quickly do jokes spread? – so the non-shrill, reactionary response (read: the non-SDMB response) would’ve been to start a thread specifically about that topic, **without all the juvenile sniggering**. But no, instead **we get lots** of pissing and moaning and people acting as if their **very freedom of expression** were being impunged. As **SkipMagic** pointed out, you’ll all survive. Since joke threads are allegedly allowed, that shouldn’t even be a point. As for the juvenile sniggering, So. The. Fuck. What? Should we pore over every thread and post to make sure that they’re adhering to this imaginary maturity level? Should maturity mean that one can understand and/or ignore an immature joke without taking offense to it? It makes me wonder where the juvenile finger is actually pointing. Moreover, I could give shit less if SkipMagic or CajunMan strut around in this pit thread and be condescending. Such is the pit. The problem is, they’re not even attempting to defend their indefensible positions. P.S. I’ve bolded your hyperbole because your meter must be off. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2005, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605/70 "2005-08-12T15:38:01Z")
> [@SolGrundy](#): > > The hell? Look, Jack, I didn’t even notice that **Otto** started the thread; I found it when I was doing a search on my boyfriend’s posts (and I _disagreed_ with him! Oh my God what could _that_ mean?!?). It means you’re sleeping on the couch tonight, bucko. [sub]No, I don’t care if we’re at your place! Couch![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605/71 "2005-08-12T15:43:12Z")
> [@](#): > > What do Cajun Man and the space shuttle have in common? Both will ignite on entry if damaged by foam impacts at launch Both powered by 1970’s computer technology Both have a robot arm module they can attach if necessary Both have ridden piggy back Both can use LOX as an oxidizer. IIRC Cajun Man gets his from the deli. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605/72 "2005-08-12T16:52:24Z")
> [@DarkSideoftheFloyd](#): > > Whoa, whoa. Hold on a second. Are we forgetting this thread? [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=87707&page=1&pp=50](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=87707&page=1&pp=50) > > This was made on September 17th, and it contained distasteful humor as well. It probably was more distasteful than the Challenger thread, and yet, it was funny as hell. It went to a full EIGHT pages before it was closed, and the thread title contained the words “WTC humor”, so it wasn’t like a mod missed it. > > And yet, the Challenger thread (based on an event that occurred in _1986_ was closed? > > Please. > > Not to say that I disliked either thread, I’m a big fan of dark humor, but it was _ridiculous_ to close that thread. You’re aware, of course, that the thread you linked was made when MPSIMS had a completely different set of moderators, right? And since moderating is nothing more than the application of subjective judgment, that thread proves not a goddamned thing? Different folks are gonna make different subjective decisions. Christ-a-mighty. The mods made a decision. **That’s** what they do - all day, every day. You don’t happen to agree with it. So fucking what? The guys you work with make subjective decisions every fucking day, too. I’ll bet you don’t agree with some of those either. But, and here’s the thing, you get over it and move on without a bunch of petty sniping and crying, doncha, you poor persecuted pricks? Shit. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605/73 "2005-08-12T16:54:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Moreover, I could give shit less if SkipMagic or CajunMan strut around in this pit thread and be condescending. Such is the pit. The problem is, they’re not even attempting to defend their indefensible positions. Yes they are; you just happen to disagree with their reasons. You’re simply too stubborn to realize it. ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605/74 "2005-08-12T17:12:09Z")
> [@UncleBeer](#): > > Yes they are; you just happen to disagree with their reasons. You’re simply too stubborn to realize it. Somewhere in all of this there must be room to disagree with a moderators decision without the default setting being to accuse the poster disagreeing of whining (or in my case being a douchebag). Think we could ever get there? Because from where I sit it really looks as if the default setting is for moderators to make knee-jerk calls and then defend them to the bitter end. I submit that it is better to admit that you made a bad call and then to move on. p.s. I an not sure if “I made a subjective call and I have the power to do whatever I want on that front so suck it up you whiny bitch if you don’t like it” counts as an intellectually honest defense of a position. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605/75 "2005-08-12T17:20:19Z")
I’ve seen the Mods here reconsider and reopen threads several times over the years. That said, that was one of the stupidest thread lockings that I have seen here. I’m not going to lose any sleep over it though. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605/76 "2005-08-12T17:24:44Z")
> [@](#): > > Somewhere in all of this there must be room to disagree with a moderators decision without the default setting being to accuse the poster disagreeing of whining (or in my case being a douchebag). I agree. But that point was passed, in my own admittedly subjective opinion, way back at about post #17. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605/77 "2005-08-12T17:36:13Z")
> [@UncleBeer](#): > > Yes they are; you just happen to disagree with their reasons. You’re simply too stubborn to realize it. You’re right, I’m wrong, there was this: > [@SkipMagic](#): > > At any rate, there’s a difference between threads devoted to guessing the death dates of the famous and infamous, and a thread devoted to exploiting the deaths of seven people–killed in a horrible accident–for cheap laughs. If you don’t see the tastelessness of the latter, I guess we’re just not going to agree. That **Skipmagic** thinks that the Death Pool where a person wins points for guessing a person’s death for amusingment isn’t exploitative for fun is for some reason a different level of tastelessness than a single event that happen many moons ago. [Let’s use this thread as another example](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=315472) (WARNING JOKES ARE COPIED AND PASTED AHEAD. IF THINGS OFFEND YOU, MAYBE YOU SHOULD TURN OFF THE COMPUTER). [QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] What’s the difference between a Jew and a canoe? A canoe tips. (yes, I’m Jewish) [/QUOTE=x-ray vision] Thread is still open and a couple posts later: > [@](#): > > Why do Jews have such big noses? > > Air’s free. > (no, I’m not Jewish) And then: > [@Skip Magic](#): > > > [@x-ray vision](#): > > > > Why do Jews have such big noses? Air’s free. (no, I’m not Jewish) > > Absolutely not. This thread is closed. > > - SkipMagic Now, was \*\*Bryan Ekers’ \*\* joke ok because he is Jewish but **x-ray vision’s** not because he’s not Jewish? Now, let’s show that all of the jokes posted in that thread could be deemed offensive, but is it solely because **X-Ray Vision’s** not Jewish and announced that that made that thread not kosher? It was right in the middle of the thread and the only joke single out when the thread was closed. Can we make offensive jokes as long as we’re the subject of the joke? Can I make offensive gay jokes since I’m gay but straight jokes are verboten? I just am seeing problems with the application of the moderation here. It’s far from consistent in its rationale. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605/78 "2005-08-12T18:11:16Z")
> [@](#): > > I just am seeing problems with the application of the moderation here. It’s far from consistent in its rationale. Unfortunately, that’s the nature of subjective decision making. Ain’t no way to avoid it. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605/79 "2005-08-12T18:28:55Z")
> [@SkipMagic](#): > > Sorry, **Otto** , but there was plenty of reason to close it. **Cajun Man** and I both agreed that the thread didn’t need to live any longer. Yes, as he said, the underlying question was a fairly decent one, but the tasteless jokes distracted from it. > > It could have been moved over to **GQ** , but again, the jokes were disrespectful and inappropriate. Now, that said, if **HubZilla** or someone else would like to start a new thread in **GD** asking the same question (with maybe one joke to help illustrate his point), he’s welcome to do so. Perhaps this could be added to the rules? Posters are allowed one disrespectful and inappropriate joke per thread. But could we have some clarification? Is each poster allowed to illustrate his or her point with a disrespectful and inappropriate joke, or just the original poster? If the jokes are disrespectful but appropriate, or respectful but inappropriate? Could we get two in that way? How about a respectful, appropriate joke which was in poor taste? Or tasteful but inappropriate? Disrespectful, in bad taste, but highly appropriate? This is _so_ confusing! ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605/80 "2005-08-12T18:38:07Z")
They both prefer to Glide after a frictional reentry? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cajun-man-and-the-space-shuttle-have-in-common/316605.md?page=5)