# What is the origin of this phrase I keep seeing on the web? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 23, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710 "2013-03-23T03:51:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MsBatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@MsBatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsBatt)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710/21 "2013-03-24T01:44:31Z")
It sorta depends on where on the web you’re seeing it. I am one of a group of people who’ve had a surgical procedure called the Duodenal Switch, DS for short. Many on-line support groups that focus on “my people” have adopted this Darth Vader poster and phrase to mean, generally, “If you’re looking into weight-loss surgery come to the Dark Side (DS), because we can eat cookies.” I’ve been seeing it in this context since about 2003. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710/22 "2013-03-24T03:17:15Z")
I have a co-worker who thinks this phrase is _sooo_ clever. One time somebody accidentally interrupted her after she said “Come to the dark side”, and I hoped against hope that she’d forget to finish that phrase. (She didn’t.) :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710/23 "2013-03-24T07:20:01Z")
I assumed it was meant to be funny on a childish level. You lure children with cookies or candy. So “come to the dark side” followed by “we have cookies” implies the whole “come to the dark side” conversation is between 6-year-olds tempting their prey with an invite for cookies (with milk, I hope), not adults playing a deadly, more sinister game… _They say a good comedian never has to explain a joke. So let me explain it…_ ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710/24 "2013-03-24T17:35:10Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Leet dudes at Anonymous and 4chan? Aren’t they just basically script kiddies? That’s the impression I had… But maybe that’s what they _want_ me to think… > > Has Anonymous actually done serious hacking? I thought it was DoS attacks for the most part. There was that stuff with the security company HBGary, they got into their web servers, email, etc. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710/25 "2013-03-28T04:30:02Z")
My own personal creation myth involves a tight t-shirt on the torso of a particularly attractive lesbian in an elevator at work. Yeah, she may have been (and still is) in relationship with a woman I used to date many years ago, but such is human nature, which was also to blame for my appreciation of the eye-catching slogan. It was in 2006 or so. ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710/26 "2013-03-28T04:40:31Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > I assumed it was meant to be funny on a childish level. > You lure children with cookies or candy. > > So “come to the dark side” followed by “we have cookies” implies the whole “come to the dark side” conversation is between 6-year-olds tempting their prey with an invite for cookies (with milk, I hope), not adults playing a deadly, more sinister game… > > _They say a good comedian never has to explain a joke. So let me explain it…_ Weird. I was imagining the flip side - the evil little girl from a Fellini movie maybe. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710/27 "2013-03-28T04:49:01Z")
Some on the interwebs claim it is originally from Spaceballs, but I didn’t enjoy the movie enough to volunteer for that particular research project. ---
**Author:** ![JLRogers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@JLRogers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JLRogers)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710/28 "2013-03-28T11:26:13Z")
As with all nonsense phrases that catch on the answer is “Nerds.” ---
**Author:** ![ski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ski)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710/29 "2013-03-28T13:40:09Z")
I always read it as a comical view of what the “Dark Side” is. I mean, by “Come to the dark side” you picture a bunch of evil warlords sitting around a table with dim lighting planning dark, evil things, laughing maniacally, randomly killing servants who don’t please them for sport, that kind of thing. But then it’s Darth Vader trying to convince you otherwise - “Hey, it’s not like that. We have cookies!” Which brings up thoughts of light-hearted fun, like a baby shower or something. Like the members of the dark side really just get together to play Pictionary and make smores. Come on, they’re not so bad! ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710/30 "2013-03-28T13:57:46Z")
Can’t you just see the Uncle Sam poster with “I want you!” replaced with the thread’s slogan? ---
**Author:** ![Sensei\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sensei\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sensei_R)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710/31 "2015-10-13T13:35:21Z")
That I know of, the last part of the saying was used by the Chicago White Sox back in the 70’s or early 80’s. ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710/32 "2015-10-13T13:56:10Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Yes of course. I was talking “in-story”. I don’t understand. There are currently 3 Star Wars films with a 4th in production. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710/33 "2015-10-13T14:32:51Z")
That should be 6, with a 7th in production. The three prequels show the temptation of Anakin Skywalker by Palpatine and his eventual choice of the Dark Side. ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710/34 "2015-10-13T14:49:09Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > That should be 6, with a 7th in production. > > The three prequels show the temptation of Anakin Skywalker by Palpatine and his eventual choice of the Dark Side. Yes, I know that is _literally_ true, but if we all try really hard, maybe we can erase the prequels from our minds. Imagine a world with out Jar Jar Binks. Surely that’s worth fighting for. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710/35 "2015-10-13T14:56:23Z")
Am I the only one who knows of the existence of all eight Star Wars movies, plus another soon to come out? And I’ve said this before, and I’ll probably say it again, but there is no “hacker group called Anonymous”. The word “anonymous” in that context means the same thing that it always means: Sometimes someone attacks something online, and they don’t say their name. That person is anonymous. There is no particular connection between that person and any other person who attacks anything online and doesn’t use their name. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710/36 "2015-10-13T17:10:04Z")
A quick search of Google N gram turns up an example from 1992. I could swear this showed up earlier at science fiction conventions on those badges. It certainly is currently on one of the Nancy Badges, but the catalog doesn’t say when it started. [http://www.nancybuttons.com/catalog.cgi](http://www.nancybuttons.com/catalog.cgi) I have no doubt that this started at some SF convention. It’s exactly the sort of thing that turns up on their buttons. I can check one of my pre-1992 catalogs, but they’re at home. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710/37 "2015-10-13T17:13:10Z")
It’s NOT in _Spaceballs_, by the way. Other button-originating phrases are “Meddle not in the affairs of Wizards/Dragons, for you bare crunchy and good with ketchup.” or “664 – The Neighbor of the Beast” ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710/38 "2015-10-13T18:34:48Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > The three prequels show the temptation of Anakin Skywalker by Palpatine and his eventual choice of the Dark Side. No they don’t. I reject your ‘reality’. Just like I’ll reject the upcoming movie, if it fails to please me. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710/39 "2015-10-14T01:30:54Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > … if it fails to please me. Which it will. ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710/40 "2015-10-14T21:34:04Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > No they don’t. > > I reject your ‘reality’. Just like I’ll reject the upcoming movie, if it fails to please me. I just consider the ‘prequels’ to be fan-fiction. The fact that it’s George Lucas fan-fiction doesn’t change a thing. To me, all indications are that the new one will be pretty good. Maybe even great. The standards will probably slip by the 19th one Disney churns out, but I’ll almost certainly still go to see them all just to make sure. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase-i-keep-seeing-on-the-web/653710.md?page=3)