# 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:** 129
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2024, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2563 "2024-04-18T23:10:21Z")
Anyone else hearing the song Blurred Lines? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2024, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2564 "2024-04-18T23:14:52Z")
Nice, so you’re admitting that you read that other board! ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2024, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2565 "2024-04-18T23:29:52Z")
Oh, I octo still around? Hadn’t noticed. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2024, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2566 "2024-04-18T23:30:42Z")
You didn’t get the memo through the hive? ---
**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 18, 2024, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2567 "2024-04-18T23:34:05Z")
I _personally_ want to thank Octo for really stepping up and giving the near-platonic ideal of what screaming for attention in the pit looks like. Really. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2024, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2568 "2024-04-18T23:44:36Z")
Oddly I don’t stir any shit over there. I participate in the Megapolls mainly. I assume he means my Pit posting here. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2024, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2569 "2024-04-18T23:49:01Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Anyone else hearing the song Blurred Lines? I always think of that as Burl Ives. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2024, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2570 "2024-04-18T23:57:50Z")
For the record, I don’t know why posters are against Octo. I don’t remember reading any of his posts, all I know is hive mind. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2571 "2024-04-19T00:16:00Z")
the bad-bad-bad life-journal posts are a (minor) nuisance … but quite easily sidestepped. What irks me more are posters with their “_favorite songs with the letter “A” in them_” which I find way more offensive … i hope this poster stops at “Z” and doesnt move into Excel “AA, AB, AC” territory. Those 20+ senseless threads I do find borderline-board-out-of-line (dont get me wrong, 1 or 2 could be ok or fun, but running the whole alphabet through screams **attention-junkieing** to me ETA: went from attention-whore to attention-junkie (see next post) ---
**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 19, 2024, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2572 "2024-04-19T00:21:03Z")
Eh, we’ve been trying to avoid that term (see many related threads), attention junkie is the overall better choice if you want to keep it nice and insulting. (large areas of different opinion, this is mine, ymmv, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2573 "2024-04-19T01:35:17Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > The most recent: Yeah, that sort of took me aback too – especially in the context of a thread where the topic was being addressed in a reasonable manner up to that point. Was a “well, that escalated ~~quickly~~ instantly” moment. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2574 "2024-04-19T01:43:14Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > I repeat, I actually like this poster, and first want to state that it’s absolutely fine to dislike America’s gun culture, gun violence, and the consequences. I will likely agree 80% or so of the time, but that’s me, that’s them, and no problem if we disagree. > > The problem is, that when guns come up in threads, you have a tendency to loose control of your internal filters and post in a manner that’s appropriate for the Pit, not for other forums. The most recent: Meh. Considering the issues America has with guns, I think @Ulfreida’s attitude is _right on the money_. The only thing they did wrong was violate board rules in expressing that attitude. ---
**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 19, 2024, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2575 "2024-04-19T01:57:26Z")
Which is again, the ONLY thing I’m criticizing them for - so we’re all on the same wavelength. I did try to be careful to say this is at _worst_ foot-in-mouth disease. But we can say that here, without worrying about hijacking a thread, or (hopefully) devolving into another gun control debate. Just constructive criticism and perhaps backhanded compliments for their advocacy. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2576 "2024-04-19T03:19:20Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Beck, take this as from someone who wasn’t involved in the kerfuffles you got called out on, who doesn’t see you as fundamentally a bad person, and who thinks this arguing back and forth is both futile and pointless – STOP DIGGING! > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > If you don’t want to be exposed to swearing, stay out of the Pit. > [@What\_Exit](#): > > For your own sake, put the pit on ignore and just avoid it. You’ll be a happier person if you ignore it. Just quoting these to repeat them. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2577 "2024-04-19T03:30:47Z")
I endorse @digs post. Also, I enjoy many of Beck’s bad bad bad threads. @Beckdawrek , I encourage you to return to posting those. That lets people who enjoy your stories find them, and gives you places to hang out where swearing is generally not appropriate, and where the people who piss you off and who you piss off are unlikely to show up. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2578 "2024-04-25T14:08:14Z")
108 posts were split to a new topic: [The Crane Brouhaha over Gaza, Pit edition](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-crane-brouhaha-over-gaza-pit-edition/1000742) ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2600 "2024-04-23T07:23:51Z")
Well this is petty; not only in general but especially after a conversation about much deeper events. I recently started a thread [asking for peoples’ experience with the Freedom From Religion Foundation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-belong-to-the-freedom-from-religion-foundation/1000441). @Darren_Garrison (un)helpfully instructed me to look on Google. He then pointed out previous times it has been mentioned on SDMB (I think the most recent was 2019). I was not looking for random mentions in years of post history. I tried to clarify that I was looking for peoples’ _personal experience_ but he was busy pointing out that it was also searchable under it’s full name. I could almost hear the “…dumbass” at the end of his posts. DG is certainly not the first to do this; just the most recent for me. Can we please all agree that directing someone to a website without meaningful commentary isn’t cool. Unhelpful at best and really kind of passive aggressive. ---
**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 23, 2024, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2601 "2024-04-23T07:29:47Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > Can we please all agree that directing someone to a website without meaningful commentary isn’t cool. Unhelpful at best and really kind of passive aggressive. “LMGTFY” has always been that kind of low-key thread-shitting (one I’ve no doubt been guilty of myself) and this is even lazier and shittier than that. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2607 "2024-04-23T09:17:10Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > I recently started a thread [asking for peoples’ experience with the Freedom From Religion Foundation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-belong-to-the-freedom-from-religion-foundation/1000441). > > @Darren_Garrison (un)helpfully instructed me to look on Google. Maybe I should have said that I once kept close tabs on atheist-related news and over the years have read many news items about the work of the FRFF on specific sites that I no longer remember, but probably including Hemant Mehta’s _Friendly Atheist_, PZ Myers’s _Phyrangula_ and Jerry Coyne’s _Why Evolution is True_, _Panda’s Thumb_, and _talkorigins_ but haven’t been closely following any if those type sources lately and therefore have remaining only a general sense of goodwill towards their work to offer (including mentioning that I was familiar with the works of the president of the group from the early 1990s, a book that I have shared with others and recommended in the past). I pointed out dozens of times the foundation or links to it were mentioned on the site because you said “It seems like something that would be right up a lot of Dopers’ alley but I don’t recall anyone talking about it here.” I was genuinely attempting to provide you with positive feedback on the FFRF as best I could with stale knowledge. And I was one of very few people in the thread to attempt to do so. If that is something unhelpful that you need to slap me in the face over, then fuck you, and I’ll try to remember to never waste my time trying to help you again. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2608 "2024-04-23T09:46:14Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > “LMGTFY” has always been that kind of low-key thread-shitting (one I’ve no doubt been guilty of myself) and this is even lazier and shittier than that. They asked specifically in the OP if the FFRF accomplishes anything. “Look at Google News” is a perfectly cromulent way of gauging what they accomplish. For instance, the Google News link I provided had these news items very early on: > **[Mobile County Public School's Theodore High School paints over Bible…](https://1819news.com/news/item/mobile-county-public-schools-theodore-high-school-paints-over-bible-verse-after-freedom-from-religion-foundation-threat)** > > The Freedom From Religion Foundation is claiming a victory in Mobile County after the public school system allegedly complied with its request. | Alabama… > **[Freedom from Religion Foundation forces Putnam City School District to take...](https://www.citynewsokc.com/news/freedom-from-religion-foundation-forces-putnam-city-school-district-to-take-down-bible-scripture/article_fb3bbc3c-f030-11ee-a36a-3b352a26889c.html)** > > The Freedom From Religion Foundation has nosed its way into Oklahoma classrooms in the Putnam City Public Schools after a concerned Putnam City Schools employee reported the existence of a > **[Oklahoma school district halts daily prayer broadcasts following Freedom from...](https://okcfox.com/news/local/oklahoma-school-district-halts-daily-prayer-broadcasts-following-freedom-from-religion-foundation-intervention-prague-ok-public-school-social-media-constitutional-violation-religion-worship)** > > The Freedom from Religion Foundation has persuaded an Oklahoma school district to stop broadcasting daily prayers at an elementary school. > **[Freedom From Religion Foundation removes bible quotes from Oklahoma classrooms](https://ktul.com/news/local/freedom-from-religion-foundation-removes-bible-quotes-from-oklahoma-classrooms)** > > The Freedom From Religion Foundation recently reported that Skiatook Public Schools has removed Christian displays from several classrooms after a state/church [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=128) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=130)