# 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:** 303
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2026, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6430 "2026-02-10T20:53:33Z")
I’m intrigued by the number of people here who use and like the mouse. I have a touchpad and wouldn’t dream of trading it in for a mouse. Funny how opinions differ. ---
**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:** [February 10, 2026, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6431 "2026-02-10T20:56:53Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > You need one of those gel cushions, though, and have to set your mouse sensitivity very high so you can cover the entire screen without shifting your hand. Precision takes some practice. Mostly, i just use a touch pad, with the added advantage that it’s closer to my keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2026, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6432 "2026-02-10T20:56:58Z")
Not exactly what you guys are describing but there exists a different mashup of sorts: > **[Pokkén Tournament](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokk%C3%A9n_Tournament)** > > Pokkén Tournament\[a\] is a 2015 fighting video game developed by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game combines gameplay elements from Bandai Namco's Tekken series and other fighting games, such as 3D and 2D movement, with characters from the Pokémon franchise. It was released for Japanese arcades in July 2015 and worldwide for the Wii U in March 2016. An enhanced port for the Nintendo Switch, Pokkén Tournament DX, was released in September 2017. The arcade version was published by Bandai Nam Pokké... `//i\\` ---
**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 10, 2026, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6433 "2026-02-10T20:58:59Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > an _extremely_ detailed game design doc for a GTA/Pokemon mashup built around illegal dog-fighting rings. Reminds me of the music video for “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ktvTqknDobU/maxresdefault.jpg "Imagine Dragons - Radioactive") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktvTqknDobU) Run by an evil Lou Diamond Phillips! ---
**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:** [February 10, 2026, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6434 "2026-02-10T21:06:00Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Hmm. This reminds me of the time i watched a cock fight. It wasn’t something arranged by people, it was just two wild roosters in Hawaii fighting for dominance. It was spell binding, and i understood why people want to watch it. Also, because it was just two wild birds, with no bits of metal attached to them, neither was seriously injured. The loser admitted defeat and flew off in shame. I’ve seen eagles lock talons and fall out of the sky (part of a mating display I believe?) and of course I’m sure we all like our share of nature docs where animals fight. It’s undeniably awesome (in the sense of inspiring awe) to watch animals make full use of their natural talents in competition with one another. That doesn’t mean it isn’t cruel to force them to do it outside of their natural behavioral inclinations. > [@Miller](#): > > That doesn’t really work as a joke game, because it sounds legitimately awesome. I didn’t mean it as a joke, I would love that game - it would be the greatest evolution (no pun intended) of the classic Pokemon formula that I can imagine. Pokemon is fun but at the end of the day it’s a very simplistic game (unless you’re super deep into the meta with breeding for stars and such). An in depth tactical version of the game would be amazing. You could also make the Type system a bit more involved. Maybe Fire is resisted by more things than Lightning but Lightning mostly has single target attacks while Fire is almost universally AOE, for example. Maybe you have to pick between Charizard having a move that damages enemies in a long line or in a shorter cone. Maybe different Pokemon have really high base stats, or really good move sets, and maybe you have to choose between a fire pokemon with really good base stats and a fire pokemon with weaker stats but better movement abilities, like the option to fly. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2026, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6435 "2026-02-10T21:09:56Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’m thinking that this is an interesting discussion, we are in the pit, and the thread is still here for when we need it for its primary purpose. And I’m thinking that hijacks suck no matter what forum they are in. I’ll check back on this thread in a week or two after this riveting discussion of a computer accessory has run its course. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2026, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6436 "2026-02-10T21:28:39Z")
What is with DrDeth’s weird insistence on defending Epstein associates in the Epstein files thread? Is he on there? Or is it just his attachment to certain Dems like Clinton? ---
**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 10, 2026, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6437 "2026-02-10T21:31:43Z")
It kills him to see someone falsely accused or declared guilty without full legal proceedings. And by “someone”, I mean a white male over 40 years of age. The rest of y’all had it coming to you. ---
**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 10, 2026, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6438 "2026-02-10T21:43:12Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > I’m intrigued by the number of people here who use and like the mouse. I have a touchpad and wouldn’t dream of trading it in for a mouse. Funny how opinions differ. In my case, there’s no question. I won’t own a laptop because the screen is too small (and if I got one with the screen big enough, it would be too heavy to carry around, so what would be the point) and the keyboard is uncomfortable for me for extended use, I need an ergo keyboard. The last time I had a laptop, it sat in a cradle to feed my big screen, and my big keyboard, and my mouse, so all it did was take up space. Now I have an HP all in one that sits on my desk taking up minimal room, and wireless keyboard and mouse that can be set aside when I need my desk for non-computer activities, as I frequently do. I only do computer work at my desk. I do not need the latest anything for what I use computers for, and if it weren’t for Windows changing versions all the time I would be able to keep and use them longer than I do/can now. At least until some important part actually starts to wear out. So here’s a small fraction of your market for mouse usage: people who don’t want laptops. I have never gotten used to using a touchpad, and have avoided them whenever possible, so I can’t say that I have given them a fair shot, they just annoy me and I avoid them. Given the number of different brands and types of mouse available, I don’t think they will be disappearing any time soon. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2026, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6439 "2026-02-10T21:48:43Z")
Fair enough! As I say, it’s neat to see how much opinions differ. I’m definitely on Team Laptop for…well, for all sorts of reasons, one of which certainly is that I prefer a touchpad to a mouse. I haven’t had a desktop in years, and don’t miss it. ---
**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 10, 2026, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6440 "2026-02-10T22:04:21Z")
> [@Disinfectus](#): > > And I’m thinking that hijacks suck no matter what forum they are in. I’ll check back on this thread in a week or two after this riveting discussion of a computer accessory has run its course. Your point is well-taken. I’m the inadvertent instigator of this mouse wars hijack and I take responsibility for lighting the fuze, if not for quite how big a **BOOM** resulted. Now go post something stupid elsewhere so we can pile on here and thereby re-rail this thread to your satisfaction. 🤪 [FTR: just kidding.] ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2026, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6441 "2026-02-10T22:07:09Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Yes, but you have to admit that “is it safe to refrigerate this food?” is an unusual question. The oddity is the one word “safe”. Asking if it’s necessary to refrigerate something, or if there are downsides to doing so, is reasonable. For example, refrigeration can degrade the texture of foods that never needed refrigeration in the first place. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > For me at least, I don’t like a big clunky crude mouse pointer when I’m already tracking it with my eyes; something small and delicate is better for precision pointing. But then it’s small enough to get lost. Hence my preference for turning on the “highlight my mouse position” feature. My mouse pointer is slightly easier to find that the standard one because it’s animated – unsurprisingly, it features a wagging tail! I don’t believe Microsoft has offered this particular cursor since maybe back in Windows NT 4.0 or even earlier, but I’ve ported “wagtail.ani” from one computer to another for decades. It’s not truly “my” computer unless the tail is wagging! 😃 ---
**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 10, 2026, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6442 "2026-02-10T22:08:04Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Now go post something stupid elsewhere so we can pile on here and thereby re-rail this thread to your satisfaction. 🤪 [FTR: just kidding.] This thread already has been derailed so often, but it always got back on topic when some Doper posted shit elsewhere, so no worries, it’ll happen again. ---
**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 10, 2026, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6443 "2026-02-10T22:10:40Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > So here’s a small fraction of your market for mouse usage: people who don’t want laptops. I feel obligated to point out that you don’t need a laptop to have a touchpad. They make external touchpads just like a mouse. They can be useful for desktop users who prefer a touchpad over a mouse (as a couple people in this thread commented) or if you have minimal desk space and a mouse isn’t practical. An example: [![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0551/3972/9497/files/t1-wired-trackpad-for-windows-mb1.png?v=1704878098) ](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0551/3972/9497/files/t1-wired-trackpad-for-windows-mb1.png?v=1704878098) They also come wireless for even more convenience. ---
**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 10, 2026, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6444 "2026-02-10T22:11:42Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > This thread already has been derailed so often, but it always got back on topic when some Doper posted shit elsewhere, so no worries, it’ll happen again. The hijack is not over until @LSLGuy posts “what were we thinking?” Come on, get it over with… > [@LSLGuy](#): > > What were we _thinking!?!?!_ > [@LSLGuy](#): > > What were _we_ THINKING? ---
**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:** [February 10, 2026, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6445 "2026-02-10T22:23:08Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > The hijack is not over until @LSLGuy posts “what were we thinking?” Come on, get it over with… Points upthread ⬆ > [@LSLGuy](#): > > So to get the thread back on track … > > What was I _thinking??!?_ 🤦‍♂️ > > And **Acey** is back to asking about whether invoices from Russian scammers are real. Move along. Nothing to see here folks. It didn’t take. 🤷‍♂️ ---
**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 10, 2026, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6446 "2026-02-10T22:25:05Z")
He erred by taking responsibility himself. The trick is to blame us all. ---
**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 10, 2026, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6447 "2026-02-10T22:27:19Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > maybe back in Windows NT 4.0 or even earlier, but I’ve ported “wagtail.ani” from one computer to another for decades. It’s not truly “my” computer unless the tail is wagging! 😃 I first moved to the Midwest about when NT 4.0 came out and I had that as my home desktop OS. A couple years later there was a massive outbreak of periodical cicadas throughout the Midwest. It was the big brood and they were everywhere. And new to me, since those things didn’t exist anywhere I’d ever lived before. I’d read of them of course, but the actual experience of a big brood emergence is quite something else again. As part of the Cicada hysteria (nowadays we’d say “Cicadas were trending that month”) I found a website that had made an animated cursor of a cicada. It had big red glowing eyes that alternately blinked and it slowly “orbited” in a octagon formed of IIRC 8 images. Of course I installed it. It was kinda hard to use since the upper left corner of the orbit was the actual “tip of the arrow” and anywhere else in the cicada’s orbit you had to guess where the pointer really was. Sadly I lost that cursor in the move from one PC to another. But I probably had it for 8-10 years. I’d trot it out every Spring during cicada season. I hadn’t thought about cicada cursors in a long time … a long time. Thank you. 😁 ---
**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 10, 2026, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6448 "2026-02-10T22:37:26Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > He erred by taking responsibility himself. The trick is to blame us all. In the spirit of (IIRC) @Miller’s immortal posting on revised profanity rules for the Pit … Listen up motherfuckers! I’ve about had it with your motherfucking mice fucking up this this motherfucking thread! Touchpads, touchscreens, and trackpads too. Those motherfuckers all belong in the motherfucking e-waste garbage, not here in this motherfucking thread. Capeesh???!!? Good!! 😁 ---
**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 10, 2026, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6449 "2026-02-10T23:04:08Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Capeesh???!!? Good!! Ok, your rant convinced me. I’m going back to toggle switches for computer input devices. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=302) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=304)