# 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:** 321
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6790 "2026-03-14T20:09:37Z")
I agree with leaving the thread title alone. I think it captures the intent of the thread nicely. ---
**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:** [March 14, 2026, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6791 "2026-03-14T20:13:05Z")
And with a fourth vote to leave the thread title exactly as it is (with “THINKING” capitalized for emphasis) I think we should consider the issue closed! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6792 "2026-03-14T20:33:24Z")
I think you should change it to something having to do with begonias. Like ‘begonias I have known’ or ‘begonias:history and myth.’ 85 posts on that topic will attract curious looky-loos wondering why so many people are obsessed with begonias. Then - profit. Maybe. ---
**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:** [March 14, 2026, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6793 "2026-03-14T20:37:08Z")
I’m not bothered with sidetracks in this thread, although this last one did go a bit long and then veered partway into something else again. I just take it to mean that there haven’t been any offenders worth mentioning in the thread, which is a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6794 "2026-03-14T20:56:14Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > I just take it to mean that there haven’t been any offenders worth mentioning in the thread, which is a good thing. But we wouldn’t get to read any messageboard drama. Isn’t that why we’re here? ---
**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:** [March 14, 2026, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6795 "2026-03-14T20:58:20Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > But we wouldn’t get to read any messageboard drama. Isn’t that why we’re here? I thought we were here for the free arguments and gratuitous insults! ---
**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:** [March 14, 2026, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6796 "2026-03-14T20:59:57Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I thought we were here for the free arguments and gratuitous insults! No, we’re not, asshole. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6797 "2026-03-14T21:39:39Z")
She wore scarlet begonias tucked into her curls ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6798 "2026-03-14T21:43:59Z")
**Come on, I already moved a 65 post hijack out of this thread today.** **Can you keep your off-topic silliness to other threads without any real purpose.** **This thread loses a lot of value when more off-topic posts are made than on-topic.** ---
**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:** [March 14, 2026, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6799 "2026-03-14T22:06:03Z")
I’m of mixed mind about the title. The regular users of the thread are used to it. But we do get lost drive-bys from time to time. If we are of a mind to change it, I propose: “What were you THINKING? {When good posters break bad}” ---
**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:** [March 14, 2026, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6800 "2026-03-14T22:08:08Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I also vote to leave it as it is. With the addendum that people really should read the OP of a thread they’re considering posting in. EXCELLENT observation. One of my pet peeves for sure! I propose that when somebody does post to this thread and it’s evident they didn’t read the OP, we regulars roundly excoriate them with a chorus of > Didn’t read the OP, eh? What were you THINKING? That’ll learn 'em. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6801 "2026-03-14T22:17:11Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I see that **Librarian** has earned a suspension for attacking me. Again. Not that I complained to anyone about it; that’s not my style. Shame. I liked him 😁 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6802 "2026-03-14T22:19:14Z")
I’m really hoping @The_Librarian can refrain from attacking people outside of the pit. A suspension doesn’t have to lead to a ban. We have examples of that. ---
**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:** [March 14, 2026, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6803 "2026-03-14T23:58:56Z")
I’m hoping so also. They’re not somebody I want to lose. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2026, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6804 "2026-03-21T16:25:09Z")
> [@Chuck Norris (hospitalized 19 March 2026), died 20 March 2026](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-norris-hospitalized-19-march-2026-died-20-march-2026/1028578/33): > > If the as-yet undisclosed cause of death is sexually transmitted AIDS… > > (bonus points if they flew in Haley Joel Osment to break the news to him) (From the Chuck Norris thread) Color me confused by this. What would be the relevance of Norris being a homophobe to his theoretically having sexually-transmitted HIV? And what does Haley Joel Osment have to do with it? Please enlighten me. But please don’t tell me this was intended as a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6805 "2026-03-21T16:40:52Z")
He was a homophobe (who used the statistic that many African Americans churches advocated against California’s gay marriage initiative to cry “if you call me a homophobe then _you’re_ a racist.”) Yes, Chuck Norris subsided an HIV/AIDS charity in India, which is commendable, but it’s exclusively pediatric. Hey, it’s his money, sure. But are we still having this conversation: “you’re only worthy of help if you don’t do sinful stuff… like _having sex_!” It’s not a gay joke, it’s a what if the homophobia was all about denial joke. And Haley Joel Osment played a sweet little boy injected with AIDS- infected needles to shut him up by his scum bag junkie parents on Walker Texas Ranger. Well, instead of another dojo, how about opening a methadone clinic? ---
**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:** [March 21, 2026, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6806 "2026-03-21T16:48:24Z")
Not a very funny or effective joke, I have to say. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6807 "2026-03-21T16:49:07Z")
“Making people laugh is the lowest form of humor.” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6808 "2026-03-21T16:52:44Z")
Well, good news is you failed to do that. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2026, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6809 "2026-03-21T16:57:19Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > It’s not a gay joke, it’s a what if the homophobia was all about denial joke. So you’re wishing a (once) deadly disease on someone for the theoretical sin of hypocrisy? Stay classy, dude. Or here’s a thought: just directly say in that thread what you said in this thread, and stop trying to be so fucking clever about it. Because it makes you come off like a shitbag. > [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > “Making people laugh is the lowest form of humor.” Yeah, nobody’s laughing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=320) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=322)