# 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:** 158
**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:** [October 21, 2024, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3396 "2024-10-21T21:15:48Z")
Not to insult my fellow 'Dopers, but the thread is for people who don’t have their own, dedicated Pit thread. So if Beck and her detractors want to fight, please take it to their thread. Because I know all of us follow the rules all of the time! Seriously, please and thank you. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3397 "2024-10-21T21:17:46Z")
I see you, but don’t blame us when the person of honor tries again and again to make this her second pit thread, and hers alone, for extra attention. We just can’t keep track. ---
**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:** [October 21, 2024, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3398 "2024-10-21T21:18:27Z")
Yeah, I checked out of the Beck thread a long time ago for a reason. ---
**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:** [October 21, 2024, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3399 "2024-10-21T21:23:16Z")
Oh! I had this open (in a window with dozens of tabs), checked it, and didn’t realize it wasn’t the Beck thread! Wow… ---
**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:** [October 21, 2024, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3400 "2024-10-21T21:35:39Z")
I’m not yelling at anyone, see my polite language (especially for the Pit?). 🙇‍♂️ Just asking of course, IANA Mod, and I fully acknowledge that there’s a lot of blurring between the various threads. For the record, I’m in the group that finds Beck more pleasant than not, but even I will acknowledge that her recent comments in this thread (I’m not in the dedicated Pit thread) did her no good. Seriously @Beckdawrek, I do like you. But this: > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Boy that sounds so easy. > > Yeah, that works. /s In response to the other comments that posters have tried to just shut up and stop digging, or apologize quickly and completely was antagonistic. Yes, you have the right to defend yourself (whether or not it’s wise is another question) but that comment and the ones after were in the category of “keep digging” if you get my drift. I absolutely won’t tell you to not post here, or in the Pit in general, but the more reflexively defensive you get, the more personally you take any comment (especially in the Pit!), the more likely you are to make things worse. And that’s it for this topic for me, just addressing what has happened _here_. Ya’ll come back when one of us supposedly sane and balanced posters self-supplies the next “Boot to the Head!” moment. [CUE THE MUSIC!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajEOZ4tBqjQ) ---
**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:** [October 21, 2024, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3401 "2024-10-21T22:52:24Z")
I’m thinking I shouldn’t even post a response. My first inclination is maybe not. I’m sorry if I sullied your thread, with What I was Thinking. You quoted my post. It was not meant to be about _me_, but the board in general. Apologies are not accepted courteously here. Because they say it’s about me may be their own guilt talking. The same ol’ tired characters saying the same ol’ tired comments. Now. Sit back and see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3402 "2024-10-21T23:18:46Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I’m sorry if I sullied your thread Liar. > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Apologies are not accepted courteously here. Patently false, passive-aggressive non-apologies aren’t accepted courteously in most places. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3403 "2024-10-21T23:45:37Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > Unless, of course, one isn’t a fool at all. We’re all fools now and again. ---
**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:** [October 21, 2024, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3404 "2024-10-21T23:57:42Z")
Predictable #3…✓ ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3405 "2024-10-22T00:12:53Z")
[edit: will move to her own thread] ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3406 "2024-10-22T10:46:31Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Liar ![](https://media1.tenor.com/m/kpyNqODMstIAAAAC/princess-bride-witch.gif "Liar GIF - Princess Bride Witch Yell - Discover & Share GIFs") ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3407 "2024-10-23T13:40:44Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > > [@What\_Exit](#): > > > > Thank you. Also Yuck. What a weird thread and weird defense. > > I’m surprised that you don’t remember that. The original thread was years before my time but the blowback from it rattled around for years. Even during my early time here people were prohibited from even mentioning it. [Note the number of hits in ATMB](https://boards.straightdope.com/search?q=paper%20towel%20%23about-this-message-board%20order%3Alatest). In truth, though, things like “paper-towel tubes” and “cow-orkers” and “1920’s-style death rays”, and the dozen more memes we’ve created over the past quarter-century are part of the culture that makes this board a community. Although I don’t see them referenced too much anymore, which is probably a good thing, as it could be off-putting to newbies. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2024, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3408 "2024-10-23T16:53:41Z")
Cow-orker is older and much more widespread than The Straight Dope. (Even the AOL version.) ---
**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:** [October 23, 2024, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3409 "2024-10-23T17:11:18Z")
It’s from Dilbert, I think. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3410 "2024-10-23T17:13:04Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > It’s from Dilbert, I think That’s essentially where I first heard the “cow-orker” term, from when I was a subscriber to Scott Adams’ e-newsletter, probably 20+ years ago (i.e., before it was clear that Adams was a conservative asshole). I have no idea if he originated the term, or just adopted it. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3411 "2024-10-23T17:13:13Z")
How far back can we go? 1. paper towel tubes 2. cow-orkers 3. Hi, Opal! ---
**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:** [October 23, 2024, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3412 "2024-10-23T17:16:35Z")
But “The Horror of the Blimp” and the 1920’s-style death rays were shared joys. “The Horror of the Tubes” was something we suffered through together. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3413 "2024-10-23T17:17:40Z")
Something about a goat and a squid. There was the brief “Let’s go down to the quarry and throw things in there!” but that was just the one guy trying too hard to make it catch on. … which come to think of it, works well for the O.P. topic. We’ve circled back around! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3414 "2024-10-23T17:17:55Z")
“1920’s-style death ray” [1920s-style death ray? What? - Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share - Straight Dope Message Board](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-ray-what/199277) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3415 "2024-10-23T17:30:27Z")
And there was: “Once. In the sixties. For twenty minutes.” That originated long before I started lurking in 2006 but still continued to be a popular meme for quite some years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=157) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=159)