# What the hell is Triangle Man's problem, anyway? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 6, 2005, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006 "2005-10-06T04:40:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006/21 "2005-10-06T07:46:52Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > m and science and tries to conquer them while God’s just off doing his own thing.[/SIZE] Also, I didn’t mean to cut off the rest of that quote. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006/22 "2005-10-06T09:47:32Z")
Holy cannoli! **Ultrafilter** ’s figured out Particle Man! That makes perfect sense. I’m absolutely gobsmacked. p.s. I actually know someone with a prosthetic forehead on his real head. ---
**Author:** ![mrrealtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@mrrealtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrrealtime)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006/23 "2005-10-06T09:54:54Z")
wait until frosty the supervisor hears about this! Oh, what’s gonna happen to chesspiece face?? ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006/24 "2005-10-06T13:16:19Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > It’s all very symbolic. Triangle Man represents Christianity–a triangle has three sides, Christians believe in the Trinity–it’s a good match. Person Man represents humanism and Particle Man represents science. Universe Man is clearly God. So the song is all about how Christianity hates humanism and science and tries to conquer them while God’s just off doing his own thing. > > For the humor-impaired: IT’S A JOKE!!! I came up with a similar analysis years ago, that dazzled my drunken friends at the time. Particle Man was science, Triangle Man was death, Universe Man was God, and Person Man was mankind. So death will eventually come for mankind, and that means science won’t last in the very long term without mankind. But death doesn’t bother to have a showdown with God (perhaps because they work together, or are parts of a whole). Although I like your explanation even better! ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006/25 "2005-10-06T13:26:15Z")
Moderator’s hijack in a stage whisper: I have deleted two of **astro** ’s posts, which were posted in the wrong thread (and probably the wrong forum.) However, I only saw that because someone hit the REPORT button (the little exclamation point in the red triangle in the upper right.) I would never have seen it if I was just cruisin’ through threads. **astro** , I know you can’t report your own post, but hit REPORT for the post above or below and provide explicit instructions/directions, and you’ll get a response. Just asking in a thread doesn’t mean the Moderator will see it… ever. For all the rest of you, a reminder: REPORT a post, and it will come in the Moderator’s email and get attention. Just posting a request to a thread means you have to hope that a Moderator will read that thread and see your post. There’s way more threads and posts than we can read. Please, use the REPORT function! ---
**Author:** ![dasgupta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@dasgupta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasgupta)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006/26 "2005-10-06T13:32:33Z")
I guess Triangle Man is just a bit obtuse. Sadly, he’s an enigma. We get extra verses on Particle Man, Universe Man and Person Man, but nothing on Triangle Man. He’s an acute mystery. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006/27 "2005-10-06T13:36:34Z")
Maybe he’s looking for his lucky ball and chain? At least after person man dies in glorious battle with triangle man, he’ll come back as a bag of groceries. Know what I’d like to see? Triangle Man vs. MEGAMAN! ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006/28 "2005-10-06T13:45:10Z")
I always thought Triangle Man either had something to do with [nuclear weapons/war](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallout_shelter), or [toxic waste](http://www.stickergiant.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=sg&Product_Code=rst8529) myself. (Symbols that have something to do with them have triangles/near triangle shapes in them.) 😕 Universe Man is God IMO. Also, the correct [lyrics](http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Lyrics:Particle_Man) are: > [@](#): > > Triangle man, Triangle man > Triangle man hates particle man > **They have a fight** , Triangle wins > Triangle man ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006/29 "2005-10-06T13:57:52Z")
> [@dasgupta](#): > > I guess Triangle Man is just a bit obtuse. > > Sadly, he’s an enigma. We get extra verses on Particle Man, Universe Man and Person Man, but nothing on Triangle Man. He’s an acute mystery. Hardly an equilateral arrangement. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006/30 "2005-10-06T14:00:21Z")
OMG, can’t believe somebody else posted this. I bought a few TMBG songs on puretracks a little while ago and was wondering the same thing! Interesting replies so far. Followup question for ultrafilter or somebody else. I’ve been wondering about this passage in ‘birdhouse in your soul’: > [@They might be giants](#): > > There’s a picture opposite me > Of my primitive ancestry > That sat on rocky shores > And kept the beaches shipwreck free > > Now, I respect that a lot. > But I’d be fired if that were my job > After killing Jason off > And countless screaming argonauts. I have to ask… is this largely nonsense or is there maybe a real reference to mythology there? Beyond the mention of Jason and the Argonauts… was there someone or something that kept them from dying in a shipwreck?? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006/31 "2005-10-06T14:05:46Z")
> [@chrisk](#): > > OMG, can’t believe somebody else posted this. I bought a few TMBG songs on puretracks a little while ago and was wondering the same thing! Interesting replies so far. > > Followup question for ultrafilter or somebody else. I’ve been wondering about this passage in ‘birdhouse in your soul’: > > I have to ask… is this largely nonsense or is there maybe a real reference to mythology there? Beyond the mention of Jason and the Argonauts… was there someone or something that kept them from dying in a shipwreck?? 🙂 I always figured that since the song is from the point of view of a nightlight (shaped like a blue canary, of course), its “primitive ancestry” is a lighthouse, something “that sat on rocky shores and kept the beaches shipwreck free.” I’m not sure if Jason and the Argonauts encountered a lighthouse in their travels, though. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006/32 "2005-10-06T14:12:34Z")
> [@chrisk](#): > > I have to ask… is this largely nonsense or is there maybe a real reference to mythology there? Beyond the mention of Jason and the Argonauts… was there someone or something that kept them from dying in a shipwreck?? 🙂 I don’t remember anything specific about a lighthouse, and Google doesn’t turn anything up. I think it’s just a combo of needing a sailing reference that TMBG’s audience would get and that fits the song. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006/33 "2005-10-06T14:13:23Z")
> [@Zabali\_Clawbane](#): > > Also, the correct [lyrics](http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Lyrics:Particle_Man) are: That’s what happens when you post lyrics from memory… ---
**Author:** ![dotchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dotchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dotchan)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006/34 "2005-10-06T14:13:39Z")
For some reason I always think that the repetition of “man” is parenthetical, as in: > [@](#): > > Triangle, man, Triangle, man, > Triangle, man hates Particle, man. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Greywolf73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@Greywolf73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greywolf73)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006/35 "2005-10-06T14:57:44Z")
He’s pissed off because he’s trapped in a Minimum Waaaaaaage job. Yeah! _Cracks whip_ ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006/36 "2005-10-06T15:44:48Z")
I can’t believe in this board of geeks, nobody has answered this yet: Why does Triangle Man hate everyone? He just isn’t right. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006/37 "2005-10-06T16:35:29Z")
> [@chrisk](#): > > OMG, can’t believe somebody else posted this. I bought a few TMBG songs on puretracks a little while ago and was wondering the same thing! Interesting replies so far. > > Followup question for ultrafilter or somebody else. I’ve been wondering about this passage in ‘birdhouse in your soul’: > > There’s a picture opposite me > Of my primitive ancestry > That sat on rocky shores > And kept the beaches shipwreck free > > Now, I respect that a lot. > But I’d be fired if that were my job > After killing Jason off > And countless screaming argonauts. > I have to ask… is this largely nonsense or is there maybe a real reference to mythology there? Beyond the mention of Jason and the Argonauts… was there someone or something that kept them from dying in a shipwreck?? 🙂 The song is told from the point of view of a nightlight in a socket on a wall. Across the room from the nightlight is a painting or photograph of a lighthouse. The nightlight contemplates the picture and thinks he comes up short when compared to the lighthouse. After all, in lightbulb-world, the lighthouse is a big deal. The nightlight says he doesn’t think he’s up for the job of lighthouse and spins a fictional and anachronistic scenario about the _Argo_ running aground against the rocky shores. It could have been any ship, but the _Argo_ just give it that certain something that you expect from the guys who brought you the saga of “Paritcle Man.” ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006/38 "2005-10-06T17:23:33Z")
See I mistook the reference of the argonauts as a bird imagry. Didn’t they send a bird through the two great rocks that crashed into each other to time them and safely navigate through? Of course that has nothing to do with a lighthouse… and a lighthouse has nothing to do with Jason and the argonauts… my god it is a mind puzzle of such intricate subtlety!! ok just a bad stretch on my part. Personaly I prefer a more strightforward song like Minimum wage. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006/39 "2005-10-06T19:39:18Z")
No no no. TMBG are all anime fans. It’s a song about the Cell saga in Dragon Ball Z. Triangle Man is Cell. ---
**Author:** ![saramamalana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@saramamalana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saramamalana)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006/40 "2005-10-07T02:25:13Z")
He’s older than he’s ever been and now he’s even older. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-triangle-mans-problem-anyway/325006.md?page=3)