# 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:** 23
**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:** [December 27, 2023, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/441 "2023-12-27T13:40:21Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Again, it doesn’t matter if this is true or not Lately it seems like this is the mantra of the Republican Party on everything from rampant crime in cities to voter fraud. ---
**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:** [December 27, 2023, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/442 "2023-12-27T14:38:49Z")
C’mon people! If you can’t turn a routine traffic stop into an aggravated homicide without consequences why would you even want to be a cop? AmIRight Lumpy? ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/443 "2023-12-27T14:57:18Z")
It’s a hard message to fight, though. What are you gonna believe, the stuff you hear from friends and what you know, or facts? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/444 "2023-12-27T17:24:02Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > > [@Lumpy](#): > > > > Again, it doesn’t matter if this is true or not > > Lately it seems like this is the mantra of the Republican Party on everything from rampant crime in cities to voter fraud. Sort of like “It doesn’t matter if the economy is good. It only matters if people believe the lies that have been spewed at them by Republicans.” “I saw on the TeeVee that a Christmas turkey costed $500!” "Did your turkey cost $500? “Well no, but I saw it on the TeeVee, so it must be true!” ---
**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:** [December 27, 2023, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/445 "2023-12-27T17:41:51Z")
It very hard to see the trees because of the forest. People are inundated with information from TV or social media. Newspapers tell me more. Some are so biased tho’. You have to question every news article. It’s a hard thing. Many people rely on screens for news. But, we’ll never give in and fall into that trap. Right, guys? We know better.🤓 ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/446 "2023-12-27T18:04:43Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Sort of like “It doesn’t matter if the economy is good. It only matters if people believe the lies that have been spewed at them by Republicans.” > > “I saw on the TeeVee that a Christmas turkey costed $500!” > "Did your turkey cost $500? > “Well no, but I saw it on the TeeVee, so it must be true!” Well if you’re a turkey seller and no one is buying turkeys because of the false belief, does that change the fact that business is down? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/447 "2023-12-27T18:19:03Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Well if you’re a turkey seller and no one is buying turkeys because of the false belief, does that change the fact that business is down? No, but it doesn’t imply that you should embrace and promulgate the false narrative about _why_ your business is down. ---
**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:** [December 27, 2023, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/448 "2023-12-27T18:20:33Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Well if you’re a turkey seller and no one is buying turkeys because of the false belief, does that change the fact that business is down? Business might well go up, because your advertised price, and price visible in the store, is so much lower. People who believe ‘Turkeys are really expensive this year!’ probably think they’re getting a huge bargain. ---
**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:** [December 27, 2023, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/449 "2023-12-27T18:26:32Z")
‘The turkey was reaching for something that appeared to be a firearm . . . so I shot it 486 times.’ ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/450 "2023-12-27T18:26:40Z")
Yes, as others have replied: People ARE buying turkeys. The economy IS doing well because people are buying. But that does not stop the bullshit artists. “Are you going to believe me or your lying eyes?” Eventually, the economic facts do catch up with these folks, and the bullshit being peddled will get so ridiculous that only the truly deluded will still buy it. ---
**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:** [December 27, 2023, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/451 "2023-12-27T18:59:46Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Well if you’re a turkey seller and no one is buying turkeys because of the false belief, does that change the fact that business is down? I don’t buy it. The largest demographic embracing this false belief goes to the grocery store. They know what turkeys cost. If sales were down it wasn’t because said people ran from the meat department in terror whilst shopping. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/452 "2023-12-27T19:30:23Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > She’s a major threat to racists and misogynists, probably terrifies them, because if she can do it, who knows who else might?! To be fair, she’s a bit of a threat to us Dopers and other woo-fighters thanks to her [peddling of woo.](https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/1/9/16868216/oprah-winfrey-pseudoscience) ---
**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:** [December 27, 2023, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/453 "2023-12-27T20:06:58Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > To be fair, she’s a bit of a threat to us Dopers and other woo-fighters thanks to her [peddling of woo.](https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/1/9/16868216/oprah-winfrey-pseudoscience) No question, I’ve acknowledged that multiple times in this thread already. Her willingness to promote scammers is definitely a bad thing. She’s absolutely not perfect and deserves criticism for it. ---
**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:** [December 28, 2023, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/454 "2023-12-28T00:41:21Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Sort of like “It doesn’t matter if the economy is good. It only matters if people believe the lies that have been spewed at them by Republicans.” And if you point this out, you’re accused of saying that “the electorate are stupid”. And then it’s _your_ fault they’re not voting for you. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/455 "2023-12-28T01:37:56Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > I don’t buy it. The largest demographic embracing this false belief goes to the grocery store. They know what turkeys cost. Do they? Say you watch Fox News religiously and you live in an especially red area of a red state — and say you know what turkeys cost _there,_ because you just got back from a local grocery store where MAGA hats are de rigueur. What would you think if you heard about the rising cost of turkeys in _other_ parts of the country? What would you think about the cost of turkeys in other parts of the country, if you heard it was rising on average? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/456 "2023-12-28T01:49:35Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > What would you think if you heard about the rising cost of turkeys in _other_ parts of the country? But why would they care one little bit what a tofu fed, bespoke fancy turkey costs those liberal weirdos in the big cities? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/457 "2023-12-28T02:34:44Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > But why would they care one little bit what a tofu fed, bespoke fancy turkey costs those liberal weirdos in the big cities? I figure they get to make a crack about liberal weirdos — while explaining that Dems have to be kept from getting power here like they do there or they’ll do to prices here what they’re doing to prices there — plus maybe wrap it all in a quip about how there are folks who _have_ common sense and folks who, heh, something something avocado _toast,_ amirite? ---
**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:** [December 28, 2023, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/458 "2023-12-28T03:37:31Z")
Fascinating talk all - but probably should be in one of our (many) Trump/MAGA threads, probably something like how Trump’s still a viable candidate. Unless of course, one of our posters starts treating the whole $500 turkey thing as if it’s something real, at which point, absolutely drag them through the mud here. Just a gentle reminder. Because I absolutely understand the endless (What were _they_ Thinking) fascination with the contra-factual nature of modern MAGA ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/459 "2023-12-28T04:17:45Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > > [@Lumpy](#): > > > > Again, it doesn’t matter if this is true or not > > Lately it seems like this is the mantra of the Republican Party on everything from rampant crime in cities to voter fraud. That’s why I think it couldn’t hurt to saturate the country with _“It’s a sin to vote for a Republican.”_ At least _that_ has the advantage of being factual. ---
**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:** [December 28, 2023, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/460 "2023-12-28T13:21:17Z")
That will certainly alter the thinking of the small fraction of Americans who think that “sin” even exists, and the even smaller fraction of sin-believers who are not RW evangelical fundamentalists. For the rest of us? Meh. > Voting for Republicans is being an accessory to treason. is the message that is actually factual. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=24)