# Whose face is more punchable: Martin Shrkreli or Ajit Pai? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 16, 2017, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-face-is-more-punchable-martin-shrkreli-or-ajit-pai/804596 "2017-12-16T01:33:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2017, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-face-is-more-punchable-martin-shrkreli-or-ajit-pai/804596/61 "2017-12-21T14:06:41Z")
Ajit Pai’s face measures only 0.4 on the Shrekli Scale of Punchability. Mind you, that’s pretty darn high - Dustin Diamond is only a 0.3, and peak Ross Perot only reached 0.35. ---
**Author:** ![Asylum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@Asylum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asylum)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2017, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-face-is-more-punchable-martin-shrkreli-or-ajit-pai/804596/62 "2017-12-21T14:40:50Z")
**Wilson** , goddamn I am laughing so hard. I’m stealing “Shkreli Scale of Punchability”. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-face-is-more-punchable-martin-shrkreli-or-ajit-pai/804596/63 "2017-12-22T18:00:57Z")
Right. On this scale, we set Shkreli equal to 1.000. That’s because, just like with the Fahrenheit scale, Shkreli’s punchability is the largest we can create using current technology. Maybe in the future we might find a face that scores over a 1.00, but that’s somewhere in the future. We don’t set the scale at 1 because Shkreli is the highest conceivable, instead he’s just the highest that actually exists in the present day real world. There are some actors who, with some work, can artificially reach 1.00, like, say, the aforementioned James Spader in 1986, or [Richard Harmon](https://cdn1.thr.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/NFE_portrait/2012/04/richard_harmon_amc_the_killing_a_p.jpg) (aka that guy from that show you just wanna punch in the face). But that’s actors, using dangerous performance enhancing substances and editing. Shkreli clearly has the highest known _un-enhanced_ punchable face. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-face-is-more-punchable-martin-shrkreli-or-ajit-pai/804596/64 "2017-12-22T18:43:24Z")
The intensity of sound and earthquakes are measured in logarithms. Base 10 logarithms log[sub]10/sub are based on 10. Natural logarithms ln(x) are based on the value of e, approximately 2.718281828459. We need Shkreli logs, log[sub]s/sub. I leave it to you gentlepersons to determine the value of s. ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-face-is-more-punchable-martin-shrkreli-or-ajit-pai/804596/65 "2017-12-22T19:43:19Z")
Yeah, I thought of going with something like the Richter Scale for the Shkreli Scale, but decided setting the baseline of 1 = Shkreli (as **Lemur866** explained very well) made more sense, since he is the maximum currently attainable. I still doubt that James Spader ever approached anywhere near a 1.000 - but I’m not too familiar with his work in the 1980s. I mean, even Wesley Crusher only reached 0.88 Shkreli. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-face-is-more-punchable-martin-shrkreli-or-ajit-pai/804596/66 "2017-12-22T21:03:29Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > After watching Paul Ryan try to justify the tax cuts for the rich on the talk shows today, I’m feeling even more conflicted. Maybe it’s no Shkreli, but that face is still pretty damn [punchable](https://i.huffpost.com/gen/811209/thumbs/s-PAUL-RYAN-WORKOUT-large640.jpg?6). Applicable Onion (band name): > **[Paul Ryan Confident American People Will Warm Up To Tax Plan Once They...](https://www.theonion.com/paul-ryan-confident-american-people-will-warm-up-to-tax-1821509050)** > > WASHINGTON—Saying the current disapproval would soon give way to support, House Speaker Paul Ryan was confident Thursday that the American people will warm up to the new tax plan once they realize life is a cruel and meaningless farce. “Although it... ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-face-is-more-punchable-martin-shrkreli-or-ajit-pai/804596/67 "2017-12-22T21:05:35Z")
> [@Wilson](#): > > I still doubt that James Spader ever approached anywhere near a 1.000 - but I’m not too familiar with his work in the 1980s. He was alternately punchable and creepily hot in Pretty and Pink, so the hotness tempers the punchability. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-face-is-more-punchable-martin-shrkreli-or-ajit-pai/804596/68 "2017-12-22T22:23:33Z")
> [@Wilson](#): > > I mean, even Wesley Crusher only reached 0.88 Shkreli. Good G-d! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-face-is-more-punchable-martin-shrkreli-or-ajit-pai/804596.md?page=3)