# 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:** 367
**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:** [July 29, 2026, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7711 "2026-07-29T05:05:16Z")
Jeebus hell, I can kind of understand why other posters made this the auxiliary USB-B thread, but why would you come here to keep not understanding that the shape of the good old USB-B connector keeps one from doing stupid things and has other benefits beyond that, @Whack-a-Mole? ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7712 "2026-07-29T10:14:40Z")
**This** is why they developed USB-B…because people don’t understand why we need USB-B. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2026, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7713 "2026-07-29T12:06:17Z")
Yup. Evidence stares us in the face as to why it mattered. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2026, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7714 "2026-07-29T12:14:23Z")
Reply moved to the correct thread. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7715 "2026-07-29T12:39:53Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Imagine is was USB-A both sides. Would the printer and/or your PC blow up or be fried? Then the computers on both ends would be fried. Printer? What printer? The user didn’t use that cord to plug in a printer. > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > It’s up to the peripheral to get it right. What if there is no peripheral? ---
**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:** [July 29, 2026, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7716 "2026-07-29T13:11:29Z")
I just want to say… No one ever engages in a long argument, obviously loses it, and says, “oh, now i see why i was wrong”. Sometimes people do that if they quickly understand they make a mistake, but once you invest a lot of effort in defending your position, you aren’t going to pivot. That being said, sometimes people recognize the error of their ways later, after the passion of the arguing dies down. That’s the outcome I’m hoping for in this case. Not that Whack-a-Mole admits he now understands why the printer can’t have a USB-A port to attach it to the computer, but that he eventually understands it. Also, i looked at my printer, and it has a USB-A port on the front, right under the little keypad entry area! I wonder what it does. My guess is it’s to attach an optional keyboard for inputting those monster passwords y’all keep telling me about. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7717 "2026-07-29T13:14:16Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Also, i looked at my printer, and it has a USB-A port on the front, right under the little keypad entry area! I would guess it’s for a USB stick with docs/photos. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2026, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7718 "2026-07-29T13:15:25Z")
Oh, that would be cool. Maybe I’ll try plugging in a thumb drive with some photos on it and see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7719 "2026-07-29T13:23:21Z")
I see you’re doing the same thing here, which is basically: Whack-a-Mole: USB-A and USB-B are exactly the same signals, just a different connector. Why? Reply: To prevent you from connecting two hosts together and causing damage. Whack-a-Mole: But USB-A and USB-B are exactly the same signals. Reply: Yes, to prevent you from connecting two hosts together and causing damage. Whack-a-Mole: But USB-A and USB-B are exactly the same signals. Reply: Yes, to prevent you from connecting two hosts together and causing damage. Whack-a-Mole: But USB-A and USB-B are exactly the same signals. Reply: Yes, to prevent you from connecting two hosts together and causing damage. As I said in the other thread, you are either incapable of understanding what should be a relatively simple concept, or you’re just trolling. The fact that you have posted the same argument here leads me to believe the latter. ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7720 "2026-07-29T13:24:56Z")
I had a brother printer that had the USB port and a SD card slot card for the same purpose. If I remember correctly it could also be used to scan something and save it directly to the external media rather than using a program on a computer to do so. `//i\\` ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7721 "2026-07-29T13:27:01Z")
I love that my last post in that crazy thread was meant to finally put an end to the back and forth, and then you closed it! ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7722 "2026-07-29T13:37:47Z")
No matter what you post, there’s nothing preventing him from repeating “but USB-A and USB-B are the same signals!” and restarting the loop. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2026, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7723 "2026-07-29T13:42:03Z")
There were several very clear explanations 40 or 50 posts back. If he didn’t get it from those, rephrasing it wasn’t going to help. Thanks for putting it out of its misery. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2026, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7724 "2026-07-29T13:48:09Z")
Hear here! ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7725 "2026-07-29T13:56:04Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > As I said in the other thread, you are either incapable of understanding what should be a relatively simple concept, or you’re just trolling. > > The fact that you have posted the same argument here leads me to believe the latter. Incapable maybe. Trolling no. Why would you think I’d have a different opinion here? I think if I did then that would be actual evidence of trolling. Many hours later with no response from me it is all of you who are still on this. Peace out. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2026, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7726 "2026-07-29T13:57:49Z")
I was also happy with the final post to that thread. 😆 ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7727 "2026-07-29T14:05:35Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I just want to say… No one ever engages in a long argument, obviously loses it, and says, “oh, now i see why i was wrong”. Sometimes people do that if they quickly understand they make a mistake, but once you invest a lot of effort in defending your position, you aren’t going to pivot. Yeah, become most people don’t dig their heels in so much when everyone is telling them they are wrong. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2026, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7728 "2026-07-29T14:20:12Z")
Had that just been one evening I’d have blamed some combo of fatigue, obstreperous mood, and drink. At least that’s what converts me into somebody like that. But when it just kept coming, and coming, and coming, long after the time anyone would have slept off the mood or recreational substances, that’s when I lost patience. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7729 "2026-07-29T14:34:44Z")
Because no one can sincerely be that much of a stupid fucking asshole. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7730 "2026-07-29T15:31:09Z")
The thing that puzzles me: why the argument? It’s a factual answer based on historical fact. There’s absolutely no point to pushing back on it. You’d need a time machine and the ability to argue with the designers of USB 1.0 for the argument to mean one fucking thing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=366) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=368)