# 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:** 298
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6330 "2026-01-28T15:38:59Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > A thread about the 40th Anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Challenger turns into a Durp fight about the definition of “explosion” and what parts of the aircraft constitute the actual “Challenger”. Agreed. I can’t believe this is still going. 🙄 ---
**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:** [January 28, 2026, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6331 "2026-01-28T15:51:33Z")
It’s the classic trees vs forest distinction. Everyone is politely explaining, instead of trying to “win”. This is what I come to the SDMB for. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2026, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6332 "2026-02-07T01:22:36Z")
RE: **Dallas\_Jones** I’ve learned from you. Given time, I’m confident that I’ll learn more from you. I’m glad you’re a Doper. But … ``` https://boards.straightdope.com/t/savannah-guthrie-today-show-co-anchor-mother-missing/1027414/40?u=davidnrockies ``` Frequently playing the TDS (“Trump Derangement Syndrome”) card, or its equivalent, is piss poor compensation for your manifest inability to defend Trump and his administration: - Using facts, preferably with valid citations from reputable sources - Using logic - Using critical thought - Demonstrating an analytical perspective, informed by a wide variety of reputable sources - Leaning on verifiable or falsifiable statements Yes, it’s _that_ obvious. ---
**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:** [February 7, 2026, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6333 "2026-02-07T12:46:37Z")
He’s a total trumper. But once in awhile has something useful to say on non-trump topics. He also usefully demonstrates how many of them walk unnoticed amongst us IRL. They seem like normal human beings. Until they reveal their personal Fascist goals. ---
**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:** [February 7, 2026, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6334 "2026-02-07T13:37:55Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > He’s a total trumper. But once in awhile has something useful to say on non-trump topics. Funny that he never has anything useful to say in Trump topics. Also funny that none of our ~~card carrying~~ red hat wearing MAGAs ever defend their (what passes for) ideology. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2026, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6335 "2026-02-07T14:09:58Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Also funny that none of our ~~card carrying~~ red hat wearing MAGAs ever defend their (what passes for) ideology. I think it is implicitly 2nd grader logic, that effectively says A) You are all a bunch of losers, and B) I am the the rubber, you are the glue, what bounces off me, sticks onto you. Many of us outgrew that style of “arguments” around age 6 or 7… but we have Trump making them at both local and international levels. And people support the man. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2026, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6336 "2026-02-09T18:39:02Z")
> [@Super Bowl LX](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-lx/1027508/215): > > > [@Super Bowl LX](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-lx/1027508/214): > > > > B-1B optimized for low-altitude, radar-evading penetration at high subsonic speeds (Mach 1.25), > > Mach 1.25 is supersonic, isn’t it? > [@Super Bowl LX](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-lx/1027508/216): > > It was from the AI blurb. I know. Please don’t post crap because you’re too lazy to check your source. As you said, you know better. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2026, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6337 "2026-02-09T19:40:39Z")
The original B1A was intended for low supersonic dash. That airplane would’ve been oretty good at its job. But it got cancelled as the ideas about what missions it could / should do kept changing. The derivative B1B was a resurrected project to funnel money to certain congressional districts. It was changed to high subsonic dash. In the interest of quicker development it also maintained a list of features that were inappropriate for its revised mission. So a kludge from nose to tail. So it’s easy to see how an AI would be fooled. But that’s the problem: _everything_ about the real world has these warts and history and variants and details and disclaimers and … Every one if which AIs cannot "understand ". ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2026, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6338 "2026-02-09T21:44:04Z")
I was reading the thread and spotted a post from @gnoitall that caused raised some significant issues for me. > [@Super Bowl LX](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-lx/1027508/241): > > > [@Super Bowl LX](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-lx/1027508/214): > > > > Totally pedantic: B-1B bombers are not strategic. > > Are not, **currently**. I can assure you, they were, once, part of the strategic fleet. And the B1-B redesign was for the sake of strategic operational viability; the switchover from high-altitude strike bomber to low-altitude penetration bomber, but both for the mission of putting nukes on Warsaw Pact targets. > > My cite is probably still classified. If I see someone who has or has had a clearance revealing classified information, this is a must report situation. People who have had clearances should not, even light heartedly, imply something they posted is classified. It can lead to uncomfortable meetings with investigators. Fortunately, I was able to find a public government source, so the “still classified” brag was just that. [U.S. Strategic Bombers | Congress.gov | Library of Congress](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF12945) > The U.S. Air Force deploys three strategic (or [heavy](https://1997-2001.state.gov/www/global/arms/starthtm/start/abadefin.html#36def)) bombers—the B-52, B-1B, and B-2—to carry bombs or air-to-surface missiles for conventional and nuclear missions. Bombers carry heavy ordnance loads across long distances, for long periods of time, to strike adversary targets of tactical and strategic importance. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2026, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6339 "2026-02-09T22:23:23Z")
The B-1B absolutely was built as a nuclear bomber. And trained as one. And stood alert as one for a few years. Then history happened. From **[Rockwell B-1 Lancer :: Operational History - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockwell_B-1_Lancer#Operational_history)**. > [@Wikipedia](#): > > The B-1B no longer carries nuclear weapons;[[41]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockwell_B-1_Lancer#cite_note-lee_p.13-43) its nuclear capability was disabled by 1995 with the removal of nuclear arming and fuzing hardware.[[129]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockwell_B-1_Lancer#cite_note-Jenkins_p141-131) Under provisions of the [New START](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_START) treaty with Russia, further conversions were performed. These included modification of aircraft hardpoints to prevent nuclear weapon pylons from being attached, removal of weapons bay wiring bundles for arming nuclear weapons, and destruction of nuclear weapon pylons. The conversion process was completed in 2011, and Russian officials inspect the aircraft every year to verify compliance.[[130]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockwell_B-1_Lancer#cite_note-132) ---
**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:** [February 9, 2026, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6340 "2026-02-09T22:27:57Z")
I came for rants and fighting, and then a savage history lecture broke out. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2026, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6341 "2026-02-09T22:30:24Z")
What were we _thinking!?!?!_ ---
**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:** [February 9, 2026, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6342 "2026-02-09T22:32:38Z")
I have to say good ol’ **acey** has been doing a pretty good village idiot the last couple of days. "Hi, I’m a IT pro who also does desktop support of multiple PCs at work. I got a new one at home. Should I use Windows Defender or Norton? Or both? While we’re at it, are wireless mice safe, and do I need to replace the batteries every week?" WT ever-lovin’ F? ---
**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:** [February 9, 2026, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6343 "2026-02-09T22:39:16Z")
Nobody who does IT support for a living should be asking these questions unless it’s their first week getting hired at Best Buy for a summer job. I love how in the 10th post of the thread, he answered his own question by saying he looked it up on Google. It’s the correct answer, but why the fuck create this thread with a poll? I’m not convinced that the phrase… > I’ve seen and repaired many staff pc’s with viruses at my job. …has anything to do with computers. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2026, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6344 "2026-02-09T22:41:00Z")
Proceeding entirely according to character as experienced for years now. It’s when I see some _other_ type of post that I’m surprised. I’m not often surprised. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2026, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6345 "2026-02-09T22:43:56Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I’m not convinced that the phrase… > > > I’ve seen and repaired many staff pc’s with viruses at my job. > > …has anything to do with computers. He has often mentioned that he’s an IT professional, and I’ve always had this disconnect between the ridiculous computer questions he uses to post here (and if you don’t know this stuff, even every non-computer person can easily google these kinds of problems), and a professional career in the business. Doesn’t…compute. ETA: he also had a thread a few days ago asking for advice for backing up his private computers which revealed that he knew jack shit about data backup strategies and techniques. And he does computer support for a living? ---
**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:** [February 9, 2026, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6346 "2026-02-09T23:08:42Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > And he does computer support for a living? Before I moved into software, I was in environmental consulting but found myself performing simple IT support for some really clueless users. I once had to help a woman who “lost her mouse.” Thinking maybe someone stole hers, I was going to help her requisition a new one. Nope, she couldn’t find the cursor on the screen because she’d moved it up into a corner. I moved her mouse to bring the cursor back to the middle. I imagine Acey does support like that. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2026, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6347 "2026-02-09T23:18:38Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Before I moved into software, I was in environmental consulting but found myself performing simple IT support for some really clueless users. I once had to help a woman who “lost her mouse.” Thinking maybe someone stole hers, I was going to help her requisition a new one. Nope, she couldn’t find the cursor on the screen because she’d moved it up into a corner. I moved her mouse to bring the cursor back to the middle. In between the several different IT fields I worked in, there were sometimes support cases like that. “My printer doesn’t print! Help!” “Is it plugged into the computer?” “I don’t know, how does the cable look like?” Describes parallel cable, plug and port (it was long ago…) “Yes, it’s plugged in. Please come here fast, I need to print something out” Get into my car and drive a few kilometers to the office, look under the table, see that the printer isn’t plugged in properly, plug it in, send a document and it prints. 🤦‍♂️ 😆 Acey would have asked first on the Dope for a solution… ---
**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:** [February 9, 2026, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6348 "2026-02-09T23:37:21Z")
My first IT-related job was at a computer store. I was there for 6-7 months, initially doing what you would call “sales support”. That means when a customer comes in, I greet them, find out what they need, help them with simple requests (I want to buy a mouse, I want to upgrade my RAM), and if they want something more (like buying a large item or they have a computer needing repair) I’d get them in contact with an actual salesman or get their computer logged and set up with a repair ticket for our technical staff to fix. I went into that job knowing very little about PCs (since I grew up with Mac computers, and the old Macs worked like appliances). Yet I picked up enough in the first couple of months on that job to know the answers to stuff like this. (I did eventually become salesman and then assistant manager before I left that job, but I didn’t start out that way.) I have trouble believing that Acey is a full-time computer tech. Maybe he has a job where he helps people on occasion because he’s already there and can muddle his way through things. But seriously, if your day-to-day job involves working on computers, these are basics anyone would pick up pretty quickly. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2026, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6349 "2026-02-09T23:42:24Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I have trouble believing that Acey is a full-time computer tech. Maybe he has a job where he helps people on occasion because he’s already there and can muddle his way through things. But seriously, if your day-to-day job involves working on computers, these are basics anyone would pick up pretty quickly. I’m not so sure, I seem to remember that he also does programming. Anyway, yeah, you pick stuff up, and I knew a few people who didn’t have a professional IT background who got into that field because they were interested, tech savvy and the person most knowledgeable and competent in computers at their firm/office. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=297) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=299)