# What do you mean, 'Why are you reading that?' **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 25, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-why-are-you-reading-that/669674 "2013-09-25T21:35:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-why-are-you-reading-that/669674/1 "2013-09-25T21:35:35Z")
Just finished reading, “How to Fly and Fight in the F/A-18 Hornet” by David C. Isby. I can think of _all sorts_ of scenarios where the information gained in this book could be useful in my everyday life. _scene wavily fades away_ “Help, help! My baby has just been kidnapped by Islamofascistcommienazies can nobody fly this strangely convenient and heavily armed American fighter and rescue him?” _DH’s ruggedly handsome and chisled jawline steps forward from the crowd with the rest of his godlike physique following shortly_, “Why yes Ma’am, yes I _can_” …_sighs_ Why can’t real-life not be like the movies… ---
**Author:** ![LuckyBastid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecae2f/32.png) [@LuckyBastid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LuckyBastid)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2013, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-why-are-you-reading-that/669674/2 "2013-09-25T22:21:45Z")
Note to Self: Never play Trivial Pursuit with D.H. for money. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2013, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-why-are-you-reading-that/669674/3 "2013-09-25T22:43:05Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > _DH’s ruggedly handsome and chisled jawline steps forward from the crowd with the rest of his godlike physique following shortly_, “Why yes Ma’am, yes I _can_” I hate you guys! When you wreck your iconic American muscle car in the chase scenes, what do you do? Knock some innocent motorcyclist off his sport bike and resume the pursuit, leaving us to yell those contractually obligated words: “Hey! That guy took my bike!” ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2013, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-why-are-you-reading-that/669674/4 "2013-09-25T22:48:50Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > Just finished reading, “How to Fly and Fight in the F/A-18 Hornet” by David C. Isby. > > I can think of _all sorts_ of scenarios where the information gained in this book could be useful in my everyday life. > > _scene wavily fades away_ > > “Help, help! My baby has just been kidnapped by Islamofascistcommienazies can nobody fly this strangely convenient and heavily armed American fighter and rescue him?” > > _DH’s ruggedly handsome and chisled jawline steps forward from the crowd with the rest of his godlike physique following shortly_, “Why yes Ma’am, yes I _can_” > > …_sighs_ > > Why can’t real-life not be like the movies… I understand. I used to play a lot of online combat flight-simulation (IL2 mainly) and had [this \](http://www.amazon.com/Fighter-Combat-Maneuvering-Robert-Shaw/dp/0870210599/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380149131&sr=8-1&keywords=fighter+combat) on my desk at work to read through during my lunch break. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-why-are-you-reading-that/669674/5 "2013-09-26T14:13:22Z")
I always felt sorry for the poor guy who was just trying to get out of his VW minibus when some asshole speeds by and takes the door off. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-why-are-you-reading-that/669674/6 "2013-09-26T15:21:07Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > _DH’s ruggedly handsome and chisled jawline steps forward from the crowd with the rest of his godlike physique following shortly_, “Why yes Ma’am, yes I _can_” Not to rain on your Walter Mitty’ish dreams, but were you to try flying one of those based on a few hours of reading a book at Starbucks, your user name might become uncomfortably appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-why-are-you-reading-that/669674/7 "2013-09-26T21:03:06Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > I hate you guys! When you wreck your iconic American muscle car in the chase scenes, what do you do? Knock some innocent motorcyclist off his sport bike and resume the pursuit, leaving us to yell those contractually obligated words: “Hey! That guy took my bike!” We all have our parts to play Sir/Madam/Citizen of indeterminate gender _tips non-existant cap_ > [@Battle\_Pope](#): > > I understand. > > I used to play a lot of online combat flight-simulation (IL2 mainly) and had [this \](http://www.amazon.com/Fighter-Combat-Maneuvering-Robert-Shaw/dp/0870210599/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380149131&sr=8-1&keywords=fighter+combat) on my desk at work to read through during my lunch break. I have that book actually, its in my living-room bookshelf _(where only the best books are blessed to reside)_ but I haven’t got around to reading it yet. Post WW2 military aircraft have always been my thing, as I argue with my WW1 loving friend, if you can see your opponent you aren’t doing it right. 😉 Falcon 4: Allied Force is by far the best combat flight simulator I’ve ever played but unfortunately I no longer have 1 to 2 free hours in to spare in order to fly a mission. > [@Finagle](#): > > Not to rain on your Walter Mitty’ish dreams, but were you to try flying one of those based on a few hours of reading a book at Starbucks, your user name might become uncomfortably appropriate. Whew, good job you pointed that out, and there was me thinking a casual read of a somewhat outdated and poorly spell-checked popularist book about fighter aircraft really could replace several years of intensive real-world training. Strange how the other contributors took the OP in the light-hearted spirit in which it was intended. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-why-are-you-reading-that/669674/8 "2013-09-26T22:18:28Z")
_How to Fly and Fight in the F/A-18 Hornet_ is pretty useful, but [_How To Avoid Huge Ships_](http://www.amazon.com/Avoid-Huge-Ships-John-Trimmer/dp/0870334336/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top) changed my life. It was the best $372.38 paperback I’ve ever bought. Just the other day I was walking my girlfriend’s dog and managed to get the task done without once being rammed by an oil tanker. It’s a hell of a timesaver. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-why-are-you-reading-that/669674/9 "2013-09-26T22:46:29Z")
> [@armedmonkey](#): > > _How to Fly and Fight in the F/A-18 Hornet_ is pretty useful, but [_How To Avoid Huge Ships_](http://www.amazon.com/Avoid-Huge-Ships-John-Trimmer/dp/0870334336/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top) changed my life. It was the best $372.38 paperback I’ve ever bought. Just the other day I was walking my girlfriend’s dog and managed to get the task done without once being rammed by an oil tanker. It’s a hell of a timesaver. WOW 1 that book is for real and serious too boot 2 It has 555 reviews on Amazon 3 It costs that much **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![Philliam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/philliam/32/3011_2.png) [@Philliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philliam)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-why-are-you-reading-that/669674/10 "2013-09-27T00:14:42Z")
Dang, I shoulda read that book years ago. Came extremely close to being run down by a large freighter in the Mobile Bay Ship Channel while running hydro survey lines after midnight in a regular peasouper. Lessons learned: Don’t rely on a crappy 70’s vintage digital radar in a converted shrimp trawler. When it’s so foggy you can hardly see 50’ it’s time to knock it in the head - the heck with production schedules.:smack: ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2013, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-why-are-you-reading-that/669674/11 "2013-09-27T01:59:56Z")
> [@Capt\_Kirk](#): > > WOW > > 1 that book is for real and serious too boot > > 2 It has 555 reviews on Amazon > > 3 It costs that much > > **Capt** Don’t miss out on the exciting follow up: [How to Avoid Huge Ships: Or I Never Met a Ship I Liked: Trimmer, John W.: 9780881000191: Amazon.com: Books](http://www.amazon.com/How-Avoid-Huge-Ships-Never/dp/0881000191/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_2) And it’s much cheaper too! Only 99 bucks! ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2013, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-why-are-you-reading-that/669674/12 "2013-09-27T06:29:30Z")
> [@armedmonkey](#): > > _How to Fly and Fight in the F/A-18 Hornet_ is pretty useful, but [_How To Avoid Huge Ships_](http://www.amazon.com/Avoid-Huge-Ships-John-Trimmer/dp/0870334336/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top) changed my life. It was the best $372.38 paperback I’ve ever bought. Just the other day I was walking my girlfriend’s dog and managed to get the task done without once being rammed by an oil tanker. It’s a hell of a timesaver. Bargain! Should be compulsary reading in schools, won’t somebody think of the children?!? ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-why-are-you-reading-that/669674/13 "2013-09-27T21:33:12Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > Just finished reading, “How to Fly and Fight in the F/A-18 Hornet” by David C. Isby. A man can never learn enough new and interesting ways to handle his yoke. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2013, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-why-are-you-reading-that/669674/14 "2013-09-27T21:59:37Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > …_sighs_ > > Why can’t real-life not be like the movies… _thinks to self_ “…Funny, Jamie Lee Curtis never hangs off of my fighter jets at home…” ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2013, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-why-are-you-reading-that/669674/15 "2013-09-27T23:35:18Z")
> [@Capt\_Kirk](#): > > WOW > > 1 that book is for real and serious to boot > > 2 It has 555 reviews on Amazon > > 3 It costs that much > > **Capt** It costs more if you want it new instead of used. “4 New from $598.54” ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2013, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-why-are-you-reading-that/669674/16 "2013-09-28T00:58:47Z")
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