# 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:** 11
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/201 "2023-11-30T17:47:12Z")
I have had that exact thought since he first appeared on our doorstep. Possibly harmless, possibly a wannabe influencer using us to practice and/or develop a following. Not my kinda poster in any case. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/202 "2023-11-30T19:56:19Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > So a poster who previously submitted an amusing video about a fear of birds has now put up a video of himself doing “stand up comedy” about transgenderism, with a terrible laugh track on it. I was going to post a thread in ATMB about whether the content of that video would warrant a warning for the poster if it were somehow translated to text, but I do see the moderators have the whole thread under review. To be clear, to me that video is grossly offensive, and that thread warrants a warning, despite the fact that it’s embedded in a video. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/203 "2023-11-30T20:01:04Z")
I didn’t see the video but based on your description, I’m glad it was reported. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2023, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/204 "2023-11-30T20:04:20Z")
I couldn’t get through more than twenty seconds of it. I did a quick search and all of his OPs and posts seem to be promoting his youtube channel. I don’t think that that’s within the rules. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/205 "2023-11-30T20:48:36Z")
OK, I got through part of the video. I think it’s totally inappropriate, but from an intent perspective, I have to wonder, is this like some weird Andy Kauffman performance art thing? Like is the “joke” supposed to be that stand up comedians make puerile jokes about things they don’t understand? The laugh track starting with the mere _mention_ of the word transgender just seems so on the nose. Am I reading too much into this? ---
**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:** [November 30, 2023, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/206 "2023-11-30T20:52:53Z")
If there is any reason to respect the work of the moderators here, it’s that they will have to watch the whole video in order to make a decision. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2023, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/207 "2023-11-30T20:53:28Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Am I reading too much into this? Probably but I would have infinite respect if that was the case. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/208 "2023-11-30T20:55:05Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > OK, I got through part of the video. I think it’s totally inappropriate, but from an intent perspective, I have to wonder, is this like some weird Andy Kauffman performance art thing? Like is the “joke” supposed to be that stand up comedians make puerile jokes about things they don’t understand? The laugh track starting with the mere _mention_ of the word transgender just seems so on the nose. > > Am I reading too much into this? This has been my same question for a while, all the way back to the bird videos. I have no way to figure out what the answer is, each possibility is currently indistinguishable from the other. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/209 "2023-11-30T21:11:52Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Am I reading too much into this? Yes. Or else, Fox News is the greatest performance art stunt in the history of television. Stranger ---
**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:** [November 30, 2023, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/210 "2023-11-30T21:29:36Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > If there is any reason to respect the work of the moderators here, it’s that they will have to watch the whole video in order to make a decision. OMG yes. The number of times I’ve seen threads which were just so wrong (A recent Asuka based thread comes to mind) without having to go to the much less appropriate links makes me thank the FSM that I’m not a mod. Not enough brain bleach in the world. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2023, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/211 "2023-11-30T22:06:40Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > OK, I got through part of the video. I think it’s totally inappropriate, but from an intent perspective, I have to wonder, is this like some weird Andy Kauffman performance art thing? Even Andy Kaufman started out by lip-synching Mighty Mouse, so that people would know that he was a comedian. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2023, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/212 "2023-11-30T22:28:38Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I have to wonder, is this like some weird Andy Kauffman performance art thing? I’d give it a 5% chance, versus 95% that he’s just kind of a weird dude. But that point seems immaterial to me. If his sole purpose of posting is to drive traffic to his Youtube channel, then I don’t think we need that here. It’s clear the “please provide feedback” is a crock because he doesn’t listen or respond to any feedback. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2023, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/213 "2023-11-30T22:37:15Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > If his sole purpose of posting is to drive traffic to his Youtube channel, then I don’t think we need that here. He’s literally a spammer in that case. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/214 "2023-11-30T22:54:23Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > I’d give it a 5% chance, versus 95% that he’s just kind of a weird dude. I’m pretty sure Andy Kauffman was kind of a weird dude. So, I think it makes it a 100% chance this guy is just a weird dude either way. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2023, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/215 "2023-11-30T22:59:52Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > So, I think it makes it a 100% chance this guy is just a weird dude either way. Absolutely true. There’s a difference between being naturally weird and being weird as a form of performance art, but rather than those things being mutually exclusive, in most (if not all) cases the first thing is a prerequisite for the second one. Generally, it’s like… “I’m naturally weird. People see me being weird and think it’s funny, so I get social benefit out of it and find acceptance that way, and draw attention. Oh wow, I can actually make money doing this too.” It’s a fairly logical progression. But not an inevitable one. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/216 "2023-11-30T23:02:08Z")
Andy was funny, along with being weird. This new guy here…not so much on the funny side. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2023, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/217 "2023-11-30T23:26:04Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > This new guy here…not so much on the funny side. Yeah, in his case he might not have gotten past the “I’m naturally weird” part of my scenario. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/218 "2023-11-30T23:35:54Z")
I’d be ok with banning Andy Kaufman from the dope. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/219 "2023-12-01T00:14:47Z")
Yeah, I mean, he was a professional troll. ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/220 "2023-12-01T00:22:22Z")
He’s not a Troll, he’s a Troll Stylist! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=12)