# Why do hypotheticals that push people's comfort zones piss people off? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 4, 2018, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592 "2018-05-04T17:57:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592/41 "2018-05-06T13:17:42Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > …It’s also patently untrue that the board has gotten more about incest. I literally cannot remember a single thread on that topic at all. And, while creepy posts do occur, they are almost always drivebys, and they get ridiculed. They do not get accepted as normal. > > If people wonder where the line is on where I say offense is not justified, this is a pretty good one. When the offense is based entirely on things you shouldn’t be doing in the first place. If someone apologizes and stops doing the thing that offended you, you should accept it, not looking a decade later for proof they are still a horrible person. I did not mean that it was literally incestuous, I meant that this place has become a board we’re the same people interact with each other in predictable ways. You read the thread title and know exactly what posters are going to chime in and what they are going to say. It’s the same people having the same conversation and as people leave and new people don’t join, it gets worse. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592/42 "2018-05-06T14:44:30Z")
Even if you didn’t know Skald’s history, the gratuitous description of the act of porn in his most recent bonerthetical betrayed the true motivation of the OP. It’s skeevy and reading it, knowing there’s a boner behind it, really squicks me out. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592/43 "2018-05-06T16:28:22Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I did not mean that it was literally incestuous, I meant that this place has become a board we’re the same people interact with each other in predictable ways. You read the thread title and know exactly what posters are going to chime in and what they are going to say. It’s the same people having the same conversation and as people leave and new people don’t join, it gets worse. I for one love this about the dope. It really saves a lot of time. I can just read thread titles and know who is going to come in and say this and who is going to come in and say that and how they are just going to start bitching at each other over the same thing they’ve been bitching at each other about for the past bunch of years about the same old bitchings. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592/44 "2018-05-06T16:51:35Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > I for one love this about the dope. It really saves a lot of time. I can just read thread titles and know who is going to come in and say this and who is going to come in and say that and how they are just going to start bitching at each other over the same thing they’ve been bitching at each other about for the past bunch of years about the same old bitchings. Nobody said fighting ignorance would be easy. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592/45 "2018-05-06T16:52:04Z")
Humans struggle with Hypotheticals when those questions are set up correctly to challenge the moral systems of the individual and their community. In that case, the whole point to the Hypothetical is to shine a light on areas where the individual vs. community systems are in conflict. An evolutionary psychologist, Jonathan Haidt, has created a set of little Hypotheticals that he uses in tests across different populations and countries. He used the results to lay out an evolutionary-based model for the creation of moral systems in this book, **The Righteous Mind** : [https://www.amazon.com/Righteous-Mind-Divided-Politics-Religion/dp/0307455777](https://www.amazon.com/Righteous-Mind-Divided-Politics-Religion/dp/0307455777) It is excellent. The stories he sets up have to do with crossing taboo lines when, within the story, there are NO risks to exposure. So what if you are eating by yourself and masturbate with your food first? (yes, that is one of his Hypotheticals). His point with that one is to understand if that population of test subjects put personal freedom (to whack off wherever you want) or community moral systems first in their value set. What he found was not only did he get insights on whether populations valued personal freedoms vs. community systems, but in many cases the folks being given the test would get VERY frustrated / angry over the Hypothetical. I can just imagine some post-doc asking some random person in a very different culture how they feel about jerking off into their food. :eek: ETA: an article on him on Freakonomics on NPR: [Jonathan Haidt Answers Your Questions About Morality, Politics, and Religion - Freakonomics](http://freakonomics.com/2012/05/15/jonathan-haidt-answers-your-questions-about-morality-politics-and-religion/) ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592/46 "2018-05-06T18:04:52Z")
I think there are lots of things that might be done in a research setting that would be weird and inappropriate to do to random people for no reason. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592/47 "2018-05-06T18:26:54Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Even if you didn’t know Skald’s history, the gratuitous description of the act of porn in his most recent bonerthetical betrayed the true motivation of the OP. What makes the description “gratuitous”? ---
**Author:** ![expectopatronum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/expectopatronum/32/173_2.png) [@expectopatronum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/expectopatronum)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592/48 "2018-05-06T19:25:17Z")
The fact that the detailed description of the nature of the porn the character was involved in had absolutely nothing to do with the question posed, which is, would you be willing to try to talk the male character into staying with his fiancee, what would you say, and if you’re not willing, explain why. The fact that “Lindsay” was involved in porn sets up the scenario just fine. There was no need for the detailed description of what I can only describe as abuse porn, and I also find it pretty off-putting that someone would drop that in the middle of an OP without any warning up front that the post contains details that might be upsetting to some. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592/49 "2018-05-06T19:59:34Z")
> [@expectopatronum](#): > > The fact that the detailed description of the nature of the porn the character was involved in had absolutely nothing to do with the question posed, which is, would you be willing to try to talk the male character into staying with his fiancee, what would you say, and if you’re not willing, explain why. The fact that “Lindsay” was involved in porn sets up the scenario just fine. There was no need for the detailed description of what I can only describe as abuse porn, and I also find it pretty off-putting that someone would drop that in the middle of an OP without any warning up front that the post contains details that might be upsetting to some. Agreed. The subject gave no warning of the content. I can’t believe this even has to be explained. The normalization of denigrating women around here is more disturbing every day. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592/50 "2018-05-06T20:46:31Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > You know that movie trope where the guy shoves his dick up through the box of popcorn at the movies with his date? Yeah, those hypotheticals feel like dipping into that fucking box and knowing that sooner or later you’re gonna get a pinch of anteater and that’s gonna suck. As soon as you realize what’s in the popcorn box it’s time to just pass on the movietime snack action. Ain’t nobody got time for that. This is beautiful in a squicky and disgusting way. You capture the feeling perfectly. Pass the brain bleach. > [@BigT](#): > > And I’ll spell it out for you: that post was made 7 years ago, and even then was talking about things that had happened years ago from there. … > > \ > > If people wonder where the line is on where I say offense is not justified, this is a pretty good one. When the offense is based entirely on things you shouldn’t be doing in the first place. If someone apologizes and stops doing the thing that offended you, you should accept it, not looking a decade later for proof they are still a horrible person. What the ever loving fuck are you doing? People are telling you why **Skald** ’s past and **his current** behavior is creepy and you are defending him. Not only that, you are dismissing our statements and telling us we are wrong. You do not get to tell us we are wrong for feeling skeeved out by an odd sexual scenario in what is supposed to be a light-hearted mental puzzle. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592/51 "2018-05-06T21:20:44Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Damn straight I fight hypotheticals. In fact, I believe that there’s a moral obligation to do so. When people get too used to picking between bad choices in hypothetical situations, then they start picking bad choices in real situations, too. When someone asks something like “If there were a nuclear bomb set to go off in New York, and the only way to get the information to defuse it is to torture a suspect, would you do it?”, the correct answer is “That’s not the only way to get the information”. Answering either “I would torture the suspect” or “I would let New York be nuked” is to reject that, and leads to real people in the real world torturing real suspects to no benefit. In real life, there are no multiple choice questions. True as far as it goes, but when the scenario is repeated variations on “If there were a nuclear bomb set to go off in New York, and the only way to get the information to defuse it is to rape a woman, would you do it? What position? Would you use a gag, or just listen to her cry?”, you start to wonder if the guy asking is all that interested in the bomb part of the question at all. ---
**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:** [May 6, 2018, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592/52 "2018-05-06T21:25:43Z")
I can’t argue against someone saying that **Skald** ’s hypotheticals are creepy or disturbing or whatever: If you were creeped out or disturbed, then your post is your cite. But I don’t think that’s why he included those details. I think it’s just because he always includes lots of details about everything. Most of those details, of course, aren’t squicky, but the non-squicky details aren’t the ones people remember. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592/53 "2018-05-06T21:40:26Z")
How simple it is to not read what you find off-putting, disturbing or squicky. ---
**Author:** ![expectopatronum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/expectopatronum/32/173_2.png) [@expectopatronum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/expectopatronum)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592/54 "2018-05-06T21:51:24Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > How simple it is to not read what you find off-putting, disturbing or squicky. it’s pretty hard to do that when it’s dropped into a post with zero indication that something of that nature would be discussed. And once you read it you can’t unread it. Where else should the responsibility lie but with the author of the post? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592/55 "2018-05-06T21:54:28Z")
I don’t disagree with you. But you have been around long enough to know his posts. You have even cited his old threads. Why would you read anymore by him, if you know this? ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592/56 "2018-05-06T22:02:38Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > I learned the hard way not to post hypotheticals that ick people out. And that’s fine. I have no interests in offending people, so I just don’t do it. > > I see now though **Skald** is getting a few snide remarks in his latest hypothetical about a couple and the lady’s past history with porn. > I just don’t get what it is that pisses people off so much. I mean, do you also get pissed at folks like Stephan King for coming up with some of the twisted stuff he writes? > > It doesn’t make sense to me. Because, most humans don’t want to be surprised by gross lovingly detailed incest porn. If you have to post such shit here, at least put a “gross detailed incest porn “Warning in the title so it can be avoided by normal humans ---
**Author:** ![expectopatronum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/expectopatronum/32/173_2.png) [@expectopatronum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/expectopatronum)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592/57 "2018-05-06T22:04:45Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I don’t disagree with you. But you have been around long enough to know his posts. You have even cited his old threads. Why would you read anymore by him, if you know this? Again, why is the burden on me not to read it? Several people have said they found it distasteful too. I think people are hesitant to call him our because they don’t want to get piled on by Skald’s fan club. If multiple people take issue with it, perhaps the burden of change should be on the poster who is upsetting people. ---
**Author:** ![expectopatronum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/expectopatronum/32/173_2.png) [@expectopatronum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/expectopatronum)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592/58 "2018-05-06T22:09:31Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Because, most humans don’t want to be surprised by gross lovingly detailed incest porn. If you have to post such shit here, at least put a “gross detailed incest porn “Warning in the title so it can be avoided by normal humans Seriously. That along with the over the top descriptions of “Lindsay”, how special and perfect and beautiful and amazing she is, then the porn thing gets thrown at us, and then the graphic details of said porn. Yeah, he’s not getting off on this at all. None whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592/59 "2018-05-06T22:09:41Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > The thread in question was posted less than two weeks ago. You’re expecting BigTard to actually read what he’s white knighting about??? Dude, he only posts To try to sound superior to someone since he such an utter, real life failure and this makes him pontificate here because when most people ignore or laugh at him, he can pretend that he’s actually won a discussion for once in his life. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592/60 "2018-05-06T22:19:57Z")
> [@expectopatronum](#): > > Again, why is the burden on me not to read it? Several people have said they found it distasteful too. I think people are hesitant to call him our because they don’t want to get piled on by Skald’s fan club. If multiple people take issue with it, perhaps the burden of change should be on the poster who is upsetting people. How many years has he been posting this creepy shit? I don’t think we’ll be able to stop it at this late date. I do agree with all you guys. It’s bad stuff. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hypotheticals-that-push-peoples-comfort-zones-piss-people-off/813592.md?page=4)