# Whence "I burning your dog"? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 9, 2003, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-burning-your-dog/206464 "2003-10-09T12:03:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-burning-your-dog/206464/1 "2003-10-09T12:03:14Z")
I hate feeling like I’m the only one that’s not in on it. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-burning-your-dog/206464/2 "2003-10-09T12:08:42Z")
[This is an easy one.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=203185) ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-burning-your-dog/206464/3 "2003-10-09T12:11:05Z")
Thank you, but I must confess I am still not a great deal wiser. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-burning-your-dog/206464/4 "2003-10-09T12:19:20Z")
It’s best not to look too deeply into the thought processes of the recently departed **Thaidog** – it would only end in tears. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-burning-your-dog/206464/5 "2003-10-09T12:24:15Z")
The bizarre turn of phrase was so… poetic… that people latched onto it. “The rock in the box, I burning your dog.” Just beautiful. Also, I like the thought that the ultimate punishment for all wrongs would be setting fire to someone’s labrador. I mean, it’s a really twisted, cruel thing to do, but WTF? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-burning-your-dog/206464/6 "2003-10-09T12:33:09Z")
Well **r\_k** , the need for wisdom has little to do with this phenomenon. As you already know, “I burning your dog” is just another of those phrases that for whatever reason gets caught in the SDMB consciousness. It gets picked up, and then tossed around endlessly like a hot potato. OK. Crappy metaphor, but you know what I mean. Here are some others I’m sure you remember… All your base are belong to us. Gotcha ya. Fucko-off. Og smash. When come back bring pie. … and the most recent, 1920’s style death rays. Apparently there is something about a slightly strange turn of phrase that compells its repetitive use. I’m not sure if it’s the humor that tickles our fancy, or if people just repeat it to feel part of the “in” crowd. Perhaps neither. Perhaps both. Someone could probably do a dissertation on this behavior. Heck, someone probably already has. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-burning-your-dog/206464/7 "2003-10-09T13:12:05Z")
Someone (Not it!) ought to make up a SDMB “Where’s that phrase from” thread or page or book or something. You left out : 1. ItShut Up! 2. My cat’s breath smells like cat food. and of course 1. Hi Opal! ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-burning-your-dog/206464/8 "2003-10-09T13:17:32Z")
Elsewhere at SDMB there’s a “predict the next…” thread. This concept would make an ideal entry in that thread. Predict the next catch phrase or word group that gets run into the ground. ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-burning-your-dog/206464/9 "2003-10-09T13:25:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Max Carnage \* > Someone (Not it!) ought to make up a SDMB “Where’s that phrase from” thread or page or book or something. I had the same thought quite a while ago. I did a bunch of research on these phrases (and more) for my own edification, and documented it all. Then I thought it might be a good idea to share the findings with the membership at large. I ran the idea past **TubaDiva** , who ran it past other mods, and the decision was that they thought it wouldn’t be a good idea to dredge up the past by posting the explanations and origins of these catch-phrases. Fair enough. **Max** , can you fill me in on “ItShut Up”? I don’t recall ever seeing that before. ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-burning-your-dog/206464/10 "2003-10-09T16:40:55Z")
If it is OK to ask, where did the '_in communist Russia…’_ responses originate? Was there a specific thread? _In communist Russia, dogs burn you!_ ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-burning-your-dog/206464/11 "2003-10-09T17:23:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Aro \* > \*\*If it is OK to ask, where did the '_in communist Russia…’_ responses originate? Was there a specific thread? > > _In communist Russia, dogs burn you!_ \*\* It’s a reference to the alleged comedy routine of Yakov Smirnoff, whose every joke seems to be along these lines. Did you ever see the episode of \*King of the Hill \* where Bobby is trying to sell him jokes? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-burning-your-dog/206464/12 "2003-10-09T18:24:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rube E. Tewesday \* > \*\*It’s a reference to the alleged comedy routine of Yakov Smirnoff, whose every joke seems to be along these lines. Did you ever see the episode of \*King of the Hill \* where Bobby is trying to sell him jokes? \*\* Actually, variations of that joke predate Yakov Smirnoff. I recall reading the following in a '60s issue of Mad Magazine: “Under capitalism, man expolits man. But under communism, it’s the other way around.” ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-burning-your-dog/206464/13 "2003-10-10T00:24:59Z")
Hundreds of quote sites credit it to John Kenneth Galbraith, using the version: “Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it’s just the opposite.” As always, none of them appear to give any source for the quote. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-burning-your-dog/206464/14 "2003-10-10T01:00:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > \*\*I recall reading the following in a '60s issue of Mad Magazine: “Under capitalism, man expolits man. But under communism, it’s the other way around.” \*\* Aha, found it! “Lighter Side of Women” - Dave Berg - March '63. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-burning-your-dog/206464/15 "2003-10-10T02:12:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Algernon \* > \*\*… and the most recent, > 1920’s style death rays. \*\* An even more recent one seems to be “ouija boar”, which I’ve seen at least a half dozen times in various threads. ---
**Author:** ![mrsface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@mrsface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrsface)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-burning-your-dog/206464/16 "2003-10-10T02:17:59Z")
While we’re on this subject, can I just ask where “when come back bring pie” came from? ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-burning-your-dog/206464/17 "2003-10-10T02:23:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Algernon \* > \*\ ***Max** , can you fill me in on “ItShut Up”? I don’t recall ever seeing that before. \*\* [Here ya go](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=154587). That one never really caught on, though. ---
**Author:** ![Kri\_kla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/edb3f5/32.png) [@Kri\_kla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kri_kla)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-burning-your-dog/206464/18 "2003-10-10T11:14:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mrsface \* > \*\*While we’re on this subject, can I just ask where “when come back bring pie” came from? \*\* It’s from the [first](http://www.weebl.jolt.co.uk/pie.htm) Weebl and Bob animation, which has got a lot more episodes since, and a computer game too. Don’t watch too many of them in one sitting, or your brain might feel like the poop. ---
**Author:** ![mrsface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@mrsface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrsface)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-burning-your-dog/206464/19 "2003-10-10T13:17:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kri’kla \* > \*\*It’s from the [first](http://www.weebl.jolt.co.uk/pie.htm) Weebl and Bob animation, which has got a lot more episodes since, and a computer game too. Don’t watch too many of them in one sitting, or your brain might feel like the poop. \*\* Thanks for that. It extremely weird.