# What would happen if we put an X on CNN? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 28, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069 "2005-11-28T16:52:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/161 "2005-12-06T03:43:38Z")
_faints_ ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/162 "2005-12-06T03:49:03Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > I am sure the Taco Bell was moved by the Librul Media at the behest of the Beast Kerry or was it Clinton? OBVIOUSLY it was that she-devil. I’ve no wish to speak her name, lest her gaze fall upon me. Everything is…and when the stars are right she will devour your spouses and force your children to marry homosexually. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/163 "2005-12-06T04:00:06Z")
Well, that only took a week. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/164 "2005-12-06T04:01:56Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > Well, that only took a week. Well, it was worth the wait? ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/165 "2005-12-06T04:13:26Z")
:: punch line of joke :: “Tonight’s the night!” No, not worth the wait. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/166 "2005-12-06T04:14:21Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > But frankly, people, you should all be ashamed of yourselves. That X won’t hunt. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/167 "2005-12-06T04:20:28Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > I’ve seen much better pile-ons than this, and I’m disappointed in you. As with some good football teams, the (leftist) Teeming Millions tend to play to the level of their opposition. We (leftists) are disappointed in _you_. Seriously, if you’re going to start a thread like this, why abandon it for days? ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/168 "2005-12-06T04:47:48Z")
Apologies to our resident crap-flinger for prodding him in GD about this 17 minutes after his post here. For some reason, after all those days I didn’t do a search every 17 minutes. Silly me. I have to retune my CrapFlinging-Monkey-Radar. So, **Clothahump** this thread was just to provoke a reaction, huh? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/169 "2005-12-06T05:20:27Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > I must admit, this has been amusing beyond belief. I can’t imagine it takes very much to amuse you. > [@Clothahump](#): > > I started to respond to some earlier messages, but I’m glad that I took the time to read through the whole quagmire before I did. I assumed it was just taking you the last week to get through it. > [@Clothahump](#): > > First, let me set the record straight on something. It appears the X did happen. Did anyone in this thread ever suggest otherwise? > [@Clothahump](#): > > It also appears that it really was a technical glitch. Did anyone with more than two functioning neurons really think otherwise? > [@Clothahump](#): > > It further appears that the story of the telephone operator being fired is apparently bogus. Really? A story that you reported based on a conservative blog turned out to be fabricated? Color me unsurprised. > [@Clothahump](#): > > When I first heard it being reported on the news, it sounded like a real deal and I responded accordingly. Did you follow that up by responding to the email from that nice Nigerian man? > [@Clothahump](#): > > My response was based on incorrect information, and I retract it. No, your response was based on your willingness to believe anything—no matter how fantastic—that conforms to your narrow, reactionary worldview. > [@Clothahump](#): > > Mea culpa. Even when you’re admitting you were wrong, you still hedge and blame the “incorrect information,” rather than your own inability or unwillingness to adopt even the merest hint of skepticism when it comes to an opportunity to bash the “liberal” media. > [@Clothahump](#): > > Now, as far as this thread goes…I know I haven’t posted in it lately and I know that the tradition is to pile on when that happens, so to that degree, I can’t complain. But frankly, people, you should all be ashamed of yourselves. Go back and read it from start to finish. You sound like a bunch of five year olds throwing a temper tantrum in a sandbox. > > \ > > Etc., etc. Actually, I’ll retract what I said earlier about you guys sounding like five year olds. That was insulting to five year olds; they’ve got more class. I mean, if you’re going to do a pile-on, I expect something better than just plain namecalling. We’re the SDMB; we have higher standards than that. The limerick came close, but the rest of it was just plain lame. I’ve seen much better pile-ons than this, and I’m disappointed in you. Let me get this straight. You post an inane OP, and an equally ridiculous follow-up post or two, filled with speculation, inaccuracies, and your own pathetic conspiracy theories. Then, when it becomes clear that you are full of shit, you abandon the thread for days on end. Then you return and tell the participants in this thread that they should be ashamed of themselves for heaping abuse on you, but also that you were expecting a better pile-on. You are apparently too stupid even to be consistent from one paragraph to another, within the same post. You, sir, are a douchebag and a craven coward (yes, i know it’s something of a redundancy, but in this case it serves as an intensifier). It takes a special kind of pathetic yellow streak to run away from a debate that you start on an anonymous message board. > [@Clothahump](#): > > On a scale of 1-10, this ranks about a 3. And the only reason the thread scored that high was because of the limerick and because of **jrfranchi** ’s class act. It _was_ a class act, and one you didn’t deserve. The other responses you quoted were much more appropriate to your level of participation in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/170 "2005-12-06T07:37:21Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Let me get this straight. You post an inane OP, and an equally ridiculous follow-up post or two, filled with speculation, inaccuracies, and your own pathetic conspiracy theories. Looking through his tracker, it seems that he has exactly three posts in this thread. [The OP](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6840210&postcount=1), the second post of the thread which was [two line post giving a cite.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6840214&postcount=2) And finally his [Non -apology apology.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6868428&postcount=160) So, to be fair, he didn’t even have the guts to make a ridiculous follow up post, just provided a cite and then ran away so quickly that he left twin trails of fire behind him like any cartoon character would while fleeing. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/171 "2005-12-06T07:49:16Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > When I first heard it being reported on the news, it sounded like a real deal and I responded accordingly. My response was based on incorrect information, and I retract it. Mea culpa. I’m aware that it’s a little ridiculous to say the following in the Pit, but I’ll do it anyway: is it really too much to ask for people to try and get all the facts before flying off the handle? It seems like half the Pit threads I read have the same problem. The OP will get something fundamentally wrong because his emotions got the better of him, or because she reacted instantly and didn’t hear something important. For example, in your first two posts, you apparently didn’t know that the X flashed across Cheney’s face for less than a tenth of a second. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/172 "2005-12-06T13:54:23Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’m aware that it’s a little ridiculous to say the following in the Pit, but I’ll do it anyway: is it really too much to ask for people to try and get all the facts before flying off the handle? It seems like half the Pit threads I read have the same problem. The OP will get something fundamentally wrong because his emotions got the better of him, or because she reacted instantly and didn’t hear something important. For example, in your first two posts, you apparently didn’t know that the X flashed across Cheney’s face for less than a tenth of a second. Maybe we need a 5 day waiting period… ---
**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:** [December 6, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/173 "2005-12-06T14:57:35Z")
Well he came back an apologized for the ill informed or ill verified OP. He slung a little mud but considering it is the pit and we dumped about 5 tons of mud on him to over the last week, I think it is a good sign that at least he acknowledged his mistake. Personally, I would have shown up sooner and apologized without flinging back the mud, but I think this is a positive step forward. **Clothahump** you’re welcome. I hope you live up to the verifying one-source articles in the future it will be better for everyone. Have a good day all. Jim ---
**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 6, 2005, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/174 "2005-12-06T15:05:47Z")
**Clothahump** , what have you learned from this fiasco? Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/175 "2005-12-06T15:49:08Z")
**Clothahump** , this thread isn’t a quagmire…it’s VICTORY! Can’t you taste the smell of victory? > [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Clothahump, what have you learned from this fiasco? I’m going to guess that “Don’t fight a land war in Asia” probably still isn’t on his list. -Joe ---
**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:** [December 6, 2005, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/176 "2005-12-06T15:58:25Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > …snip…I’m going to guess that “Don’t fight a land war in Asia” probably still isn’t on his list. > -Joe Never match wits with a Sicilian? ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/177 "2005-12-06T16:21:22Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > **Clothahump** , what have you learned from this fiasco? > > Daniel Well, **FinnAgain** and **mhendo** are assholes. Oh, wait, I already knew that. I learned the hard way about pile-ons. This was my first; hopefully, it will be my last. ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/178 "2005-12-06T16:30:26Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > Never match wits with a Sicilian? Go ahead, actually. It’s kinda fun - except when _death_ is on the line! ---
**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:** [December 6, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/179 "2005-12-06T16:39:05Z")
> [@Nature's Call](#): > > Go ahead, actually. It’s kinda fun - except when _death_ is on the line! Actually I have matched wits with a Sicilian. He got all pissed of when he loss and threaten to beat me the way Sonny beats a wife-beater. Thankfully he did not carry through on the threat. He decided I was at least a paisano. 😉 Jim ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/180 "2005-12-06T16:43:17Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Well, **FinnAgain** and **mhendo** are assholes. Oh, wait, I already knew that. > > I learned the hard way about pile-ons. This was my first; hopefully, it will be my last. So, no more posting moronic Righty-Blog conspiracy theories as OPs in the pit? Or just not again till next time? -Joe, waiting for next rant on Left-Wing Media Bias [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069.md?page=10)