# What were you THINKING? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 13, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532 "2023-10-13T19:36:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 103
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2041 "2024-04-04T16:08:49Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > IMO/IME in the xkcd comic universe (XCU) obvious hair === female & no hair === male without exception. Somewhat true. The most common characters follow this rule, but there’s a recurring male characters labeled “[Hairy](https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/Hairy)” with hair. For example: [xkcd: Physics vs. Magic](https://xkcd.com/2904/) There are also portrayals of actual people who tend to have hair, like Carl Sagan: [xkcd: Earth](https://xkcd.com/2906/) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2042 "2024-04-04T17:13:34Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > If you instead think Jihi is being dishonest, or a sock/trock Neither. Which is why I posted here. Note my original message was also for @Atamasama who was contributing to the same enablement. And now I see @thorny_locust is doing more of the same. FFS. Don’t talk to trolls like they’re real posters, people. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2043 "2024-04-04T17:38:55Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Neither. Which is why I posted here. Fair enough. So we’re all doing our usual sibling-style squabbling about who’s _more_ right. 😉 I’ll just go over to the corner and do my fake big-brother (the real thing, not the Authoritarian one) act. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2024, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2044 "2024-04-04T18:26:13Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Note my original message was also for @Atamasama who was contributing to the same enablement. Bullshit. I was establishing my belief that ColdBrew is a troll and making my case, for anyone who is reading. How the fuck was I “enabling” a troll? Note that I have over a decade of experience dealing with all kinds of trolls as a Wikipedia administrator so back the fuck off and cool down. I’ll talk to whoever I want however I want, and you have zero say in it. At least your unhinged rant is in the right thread. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2045 "2024-04-04T18:34:06Z")
Agreed. Jerk. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2046 "2024-04-04T18:38:14Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > How the fuck was I “enabling” a troll? By talking to it like it was a regular poster, explaining things to it like it cared: > [@Atamasama](#): > > People generally don’t have a problem with you disliking a comic strip. I like XKCD and don’t care if you or anyone else doesn’t like it. Hell, I can even see why someone wouldn’t like it. > > But when you make up total bullshit out of nowhere, that’s what people are calling you out on. It means people can’t trust the things you say here, and they’re also going to even question your motives. What the fuck was the point of any of that? You think the troll doesn’t _know_ all of that? > [@Atamasama](#): > > I’ll talk to whoever I want however I want, and you have zero say in it. You have zero say in whether I have a say _at you_ about it, so shut the fuck up, yourself. And the next motherfucker who tells me to cool or calm down can sit on this specially-prepared cactus: > **[https://i.redd.it/i8u6ss24pvj61.jpg](https://i.redd.it/i8u6ss24pvj61.jpg)** ETA: And you were a Wiki admin, you say? Gosh, who knew, you _never_ mention it at all /s. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2024, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2047 "2024-04-04T19:06:49Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > You have zero say in whether I have a say _at you_ about it, so shut the fuck up, yourself. Then in the spirit of not enabling trolls, I’ll put you on ignore going forward. Thank you and have a great day. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2048 "2024-04-04T21:07:24Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/amrTOsYa4sA/maxresdefault.jpg "Anchorman - "I don't know what we're yelling about!" + "Loud noises..."") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amrTOsYa4sA) ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2049 "2024-04-04T21:17:03Z")
I think I’ll take a swing at this, because apparently I’m a glutton for punishment. First, a minor digression, which will apply - a certain favorite (not absolutely Good, but favorite) SciFi series featured a Time-Prophet, whose mantra included the following (and is a concept found in any number of philosophies and fictions including Robert Jordan’s works) : > “Time Begins, and then Time Ends, and then Time begins once again. > It is happening now, it has happened before, it will surely happen again…” @MrDibble - I’m not telling you to calm down, shut up, or change your mind. But remember what I said about being too damn certain of your own certainty? Yeah, that. For that matter, I’ll refer you and the others to an earlier thread hijack on the circumstances of passion vs reason, reason _informed_ by passion, and empathy. A lovely little digression on how and why we are moved, and what makes the best arguments. MrDibble has a _great_ deal of passion, and plenty of reason and intellect to back it up, but often flunks the empathy portion due (entirely IMHO) being far to focused on the passion and righteousness of their POV. Which, frankly, often makes him a jerk. Not a _troll_, but a jerk. Back to the quote above, no, I don’t think they’ll change, I’m not even 100% certain I want them to change, but it does mean I think they’ve been a jerk before, are being something of a jerk now, and will likely be jerkish (at times) again in the future. Meh, figure it’s the price I pay for having an interesting poster and POV to ponder on. Oh, and if I must, for this screed, perch atop the thorny bush, I feel good in knowing that I certainly won’t be the _only_ poster sharing their thoughts with a gigantic stick up their ass today! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2050 "2024-04-04T21:21:40Z")
Yep…and there’s a philosophy on this board. “Don’t be a Jerk” ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2051 "2024-04-04T21:23:08Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > and if I must, for this screed, perch atop the thorny bush Hey! I don’t remember consenting to that! 😀 MrDibble and I are not going to agree on this issue. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2052 "2024-04-04T21:52:36Z")
I suppose someone has to walk this board with lantern in hand, looking for an honest man. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2053 "2024-04-04T22:04:23Z")
Oh great, now when I’m not perched atop this tree of thorns (snerk) I must live within a giant amphora. Today keeps getting better. Thank you for the comparison (which can be quite pleasant and also quite biting depending on the POV of the moment), but in the words of two modern, respected philosophers: [![](https://www.troublefreepool.com/media/were-not-worthy-waynes-world-gif.186565/full) ](https://www.troublefreepool.com/media/were-not-worthy-waynes-world-gif.186565/full) ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2054 "2024-04-04T22:07:09Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I suppose someone has to walk this board with lantern in hand, looking for an honest man. - Didn’t he get banned? ---
**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:** [April 4, 2024, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2055 "2024-04-04T22:53:09Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I suppose someone has to walk this board with lantern in hand, looking for an honest man. Luckily, I’ve been here all along. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2056 "2024-04-04T23:29:19Z")
I’m all for reason and intellect, and passion gives them credible humanity. But if I want to be yelled at I can always just go hold the flashlight for my dad. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2057 "2024-04-04T23:58:17Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > I must live within a giant amphora. Nitpick: Wasn’t it a [barrel](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/73890/retrobituaries-diogenes-sinope-ancient-philosopher-who-lived-wine-barrel)? ---
**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:** [April 5, 2024, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2058 "2024-04-05T00:02:27Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Luckily, I’ve been here all along. I’d say something snarky but I try not to be hippo critical. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2059 "2024-04-05T02:33:43Z")
You are, of course, free to do what you want. But getting posters so mad that they start attacking each other is exactly what trolls want in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2060 "2024-04-05T03:18:58Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > > [@ParallelLines](#): > > > > I must live within a giant amphora. > > Nitpick: Wasn’t it a [barrel](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/73890/retrobituaries-diogenes-sinope-ancient-philosopher-who-lived-wine-barrel)? I love this place, again. When I first heard the myth/anecdote, I heard it as a giant (by various standards) clay jar, which is one of the options mentioned in your article(well “jar” which for that era I’d assume be clay). In my head at least, when I think of Greek myths, I always think “amphora”, but you’re right, it probably was far more utilitarian than the ones that spring to mind (although they could get quite large, the narrow neck would have prevented them for being used in way cited in the anecdote). So I was being a touch silly, which, IMHO, was totally appropriate for the discussion, but very much not practical on a literal basis. What was I thinking indeed! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=102) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=104)