# 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:** 159
**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, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3416 "2024-10-23T17:41:11Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > It’s from Dilbert, I think. In use on Usenet at least as early as 1989, which _probably_ predates the first Dilbert usage as Dilbert began in 1989 and may not have used the term straight out of the gate. > **['cow-orkers' - why?](https://ask.metafilter.com/15649/coworkers-why)** > > 'cow-orkers' -- why do you write this? I see it on Usenet and elsewhere, and the term seems insulting, but by context is not always meant to be... if it's not always implying one's co-workers are... ---
**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 23, 2024, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3417 "2024-10-23T17:46:56Z")
Years ago, Twickster ran a game where we were guests at a party, and each of us had a secret schtick that another player had to guess. My assigned schtick was that I would keep referring to classic SDMB memes and in-jokes. This post was my best. > [@Party Quirks II: Electric Boogaloo](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/party-quirks-ii-electric-boogaloo/456240/96): > > Oh, man. I wish I’d known you last December. Me and some friends bought a pavilion and charged people to come in. The inside was fogged up with fine droplets of “medicine” that would cure their allergies. The spray was a total scam, though: it was just menthol-scented water. We kept it up for three months. Man, those were good times. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3418 "2024-10-23T18:14:02Z")
> [@digs](#): > > the 1920’s-style death rays were shared joys Joy? Have you never been zapped by a death ray? It stings! ---
**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, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3419 "2024-10-23T19:44:38Z")
Well, you’re lucky it was a 1920’s-style one. The 2020’s-style ones actually work. I’ll bet Elon’s bolting one onto his Flying CyberJeep as we speak… ---
**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 23, 2024, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3420 "2024-10-23T19:45:51Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Have you never been zapped by a death ray? I used to zap ants with a solar-powered death ray as a sadistic kid. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3421 "2024-10-23T20:28:50Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Well, you’re lucky it was a 1920’s-style one. The 2020’s-style ones actually work. [![](https://www.wunderland.com/WTS/Rash/misc/images/fiddlesticks.jpg) ](https://www.wunderland.com/WTS/Rash/misc/images/fiddlesticks.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3422 "2024-10-23T20:35:39Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > 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. Brief? That poster kept up with that shit for years. But yeah, it never caught on. I do recall a long thread about pan-fried semen. That was, uh, interesting. ---
**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, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3423 "2024-10-23T20:53:14Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > Brief? That poster kept up with that shit for years. But yeah, it never caught on. He even reprogrammed his keyboard so that every time he typed LOL his little catchphrase spewed out. In EVERY thread, regardless of the appropriateness (it was often very jarring). He was a prolific poster, and was asked SO many times to stop it, but admitted that he loved annoying everyone here. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3424 "2024-10-23T20:57:39Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > 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. I thought he just did it because it amused him so much (like DrDeth typing “enuf”). I actually thought it was hilarious, but I think I may have been the only other one… ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3425 "2024-10-23T21:02:42Z")
You weren’t the only one. I enjoyed it, as well. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2024, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3426 "2024-10-23T21:06:27Z")
Same here. Regards. ---
**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, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3427 "2024-10-23T21:08:11Z")
I found his shtick silly and immature, but I really miss @Snowboarder_Bo for his insight and many hilarious anecdotes from the music business. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3428 "2024-10-23T21:09:49Z")
Actually, looking back at old threads about it, lots of people liked it. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3429 "2024-10-23T21:42:55Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > 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. I never liked the incessant beating of the memes. They were intrusive and annoying, and I’m glad they’ve faded. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3430 "2024-10-23T21:51:48Z")
I saw that! Go to your room! ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3431 "2024-10-23T22:00:35Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Cow-orker is older and much more widespread than The Straight Dope. (Even the AOL version.) Yeah, I knew it from Salon TableTalk where I hung out before it went defunct. Which is how I searched for and found The Dope. ---
**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 23, 2024, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3432 "2024-10-23T22:09:04Z")
I like the memes and catch phrases. It like having a secret language with your twin. Or group speak, where everyone knows what you mean when you say it. It gives a kind of connected-ness. It’s an innocent form of fun and games. ---
**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, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3433 "2024-10-23T22:42:50Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > beating of the memes Sounds like some pagan ritual. “And now, it’s time for … the BEATING of the MEMES!” ---
**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, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3434 "2024-10-23T22:52:13Z")
Oh, sorry, I just came for the Beating of the Mimes… . . I’ll see myself out. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3435 "2024-10-23T22:58:26Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > “And now, it’s time for … the BEATING of the MEMES!” Don’t say that or people will start posting recipes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=158) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=160)