# Why do Dopers start contests regarding grave matters? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 13, 2022, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dopers-start-contests-regarding-grave-matters/973159 "2022-10-13T02:25:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dopers-start-contests-regarding-grave-matters/973159/261 "2022-10-16T14:45:41Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > _“we_ [Royal “we”] _are not amused! Cease and desist your lowly acts, or I shall slay ye with my mighty Righteous Stick!”_ Only, I only said the “I am not amused” part. The rest of it was created by you. > [@k9bfriender](#): > > it doesn’t matter if you agree with their reasons, or think they are good enough, those are the reasons they have. If someone gives a reason, it’s perfectly reasonable for me to have an opinion about that reason. > [@k9bfriender](#): > > I think that this is a big difference. To keep the theme of the OP of using hyperbolic examples, I will propose the two topic titles, “Why do people abuse their children?” vs. “I pit people who abuse their children.” > > In the first, it is asking a question. I may try to answer it, based on research into the psychology of violence or even just opinionated speculation. That wouldn’t mean that I was defending it or agreeing with it, only that I am trying to answer the OP’s question. In that case, it would be inappropriate for the OP to say that’s not a good enough reason. So, you are objecting to the _form_ or _framing_ of my OP? In the same way that I am objecting to the _form_ or _framing_ of gambling? That’s an interesting comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dopers-start-contests-regarding-grave-matters/973159/262 "2022-10-16T14:59:24Z")
I will never have the patience for this kind of endless bickering and nitpicking. I offer the OP a hearty “bugger off” in its stead. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dopers-start-contests-regarding-grave-matters/973159/263 "2022-10-16T15:36:45Z")
I’ve reached that point. Not sure why I bothered. The OP was answered right off: No the contest format does not strike pretty much any of us other than them “as treating with disrespect the lives of your fellow humans”. We think that contests as a format provides a structure for discussion. The “rules” of a “game” helps clarify exactly where analyses differ. Knowing who does better and who does poorly helps inform whose opinions to in the future take with more or fewer grains of salt. Which @Lance_Turbo explained as I did later. It does so with much greater efficacy than freewheeling discussions without having to make explicit choices which are then revisited after the fact (whether call them “predictions”, “bets”, “hypotheses” … or “fan theories” 🙂 ). The OP is “unconvinced”. The OP finds anything that they imagine is somehow related to a game to be offensive related to Things of Grave Importance. The vast majority here think the OP’s idiosyncratic definition of gambling is … different. That their specific sense that having a contest is disrespectful is way way off base. I haven’t followed the midterm races closely enough to engage in any predictions myself but I have learned by reading the prediction contest thread and may try to read up enough to place my own “bet” … again, thank you @Lance_Turbo for your tradition of creating these very useful contest threads. They are much appreciated especially by those who think elections are gravely important. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dopers-start-contests-regarding-grave-matters/973159/264 "2022-10-16T16:00:32Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > I believe it was Mel Brooks who said ‘Comedy is tragedy that happens to somebody else’. After reading through this thread I can’t say more to the ridiculousness of the OP and the replies to well thought out posts so instead I’m going to call you out for butchering this quote. And this being the Dope I’m surprised no one else did. “Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die.” ~ Mel Brooks ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dopers-start-contests-regarding-grave-matters/973159/265 "2022-10-16T16:07:11Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Comedy is tragedy that happens to somebody else “Comedy is merely tragedy happening to someone else.” –W.C. Fields. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dopers-start-contests-regarding-grave-matters/973159/266 "2022-10-16T16:37:40Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Are you really objecting to _how_ I stated my position? Well yes, as you stated your position as a question, rather than actually stating your position honestly. > [@Acsenray](#): > > Or are you just objecting to the fact that I said I found distasteful a behavior that you don’t find distasteful? No, it’s your continued insistence that everyone else should find it distasteful that is stupid. > [@Acsenray](#): > > Substituting my actual complaint with examples of various degrees can sharpen that analysis. Right, because saying that people predicting the outcome of a senate race is like murdering your grandmother “sharpens” your analysis. > [@Acsenray](#): > > If someone gives a reason, it’s perfectly reasonable for me to have an opinion about that reason. And it’s perfectly acceptable for me to think your opinion is stupid. > [@Acsenray](#): > > So, you are objecting to the _form_ or _framing_ of my OP? Yes, as I said, framing an objection in the form of a question is extremely disengenous on your part. > [@Acsenray](#): > > In the same way that I am objecting to the _form_ or _framing_ of gambling? Not the same way, there is nothing disengenous about it, even if your definition of gambling had any relation to reality, which it doesn’t. > [@Acsenray](#): > > That’s an interesting comparison. It is, actually, but only in that it is interesting just how you twist others words and act in a disengenous fashion. You know, acting like that is just like murder, you should be ashamed of yourself. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dopers-start-contests-regarding-grave-matters/973159/267 "2022-10-16T18:03:09Z")
I am duly chastened. Hopefully, I will not be targeted by space lasers. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dopers-start-contests-regarding-grave-matters/973159/268 "2022-10-16T18:11:55Z")
Mel Brooks’ Jewish space lasers? 😀 ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dopers-start-contests-regarding-grave-matters/973159/269 "2022-10-16T18:18:37Z")
Of course. Ya don’t think a Hebrew of his importance and wisdom has access to the Space Lasers? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dopers-start-contests-regarding-grave-matters/973159/270 "2022-10-16T19:59:02Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > _“we_ [Royal “we”] _are not amused!_ I always thought the royal “We” was capitalized. Divine right and all. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dopers-start-contests-regarding-grave-matters/973159/271 "2022-10-16T21:09:53Z")
I’m spit-balling, but I believe it follows the same rule as “royal”, only capitalized when it’s part of a name (e.g. His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Edinburgh). In this case, “Karen” is a generic term. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dopers-start-contests-regarding-grave-matters/973159/272 "2022-10-16T21:44:34Z")
If you are not interested in knowing the answers, because it’s just wrong to do x y or z, then why ask someone WHY they did x y or z? If you’re pissed that someone lit a cigarette in an elevator, then why ask why? Is there going to be an answer to accept? “Well, my doctor said that if I don’t smoke every 30 seconds, I’ll die.” If you do want to know, by all means ask why. In this case, it doesn’t seem like you actually want to know the answers. So when people answer you, you are just telling them that they’re wrong. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dopers-start-contests-regarding-grave-matters/973159/273 "2022-10-16T23:24:05Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > “Well, my doctor said that if I don’t smoke every 30 seconds, I’ll die.” Steve Martin – “My doctor said I wasn’t getting enough tar.” ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dopers-start-contests-regarding-grave-matters/973159/274 "2022-10-17T01:19:43Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > There are _so many_ people who might suffer horribly based on electoral outcomes. Why would you make this into a game? Doesn’t it strike you as treating with disrespect the lives of your fellow humans? To make light of things is one way people deal with stress and danger. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dopers-start-contests-regarding-grave-matters/973159.md?page=13)