# Why do we have to take irrational questions seriously in GQ?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-to-take-irrational-questions-seriously-in-gq/564992>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [December 21, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-to-take-irrational-questions-seriously-in-gq/564992 "2010-12-21T19:39:50Z")\
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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-to-take-irrational-questions-seriously-in-gq/564992/80 "2010-12-22T22:57:18Z")

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> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#):
>
> It wasn’t obvious to me that the OP was kidding, and we’ve had plenty of posters who really do believe in ghosts. Satirical intent is more obvious with vampires because those are not something that millions of people really believe in and take seriously (unless they’re talking about the goth role players or fetishists), or something that has an entire industry of con artistry behind it. If the OP had been more clear about the question being whimsical, I wouldn’t have given it a second thought. Tom certanly appeared to have gotten the impression that the OP wanted serious answers.

The OP of the original thread has provided this explanation in the current Pit thread on the matter:

> [@I have goblins in my pants, please Straight Dope, tell me a factual answer to getting rid of them.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-goblins-in-my-pants-please-straight-dope-tell-me-a-factual-answer-to-getting-rid-of-them/564951/80):
>
> Sorry, thought my atheism was well-known (given my username) and that ghosts and such would be lumped along with that. Didn’t think I needed to put all the disclaimers and such, but I should have known people would take it seriously and tell me that ghosts aren’t real. Thanks. Got something to tell me about Jesus? Because I haven’t heard about him or The Word either.
> 
> At any rate, if you read further down you’ll see that I posted it drunk. I probably would’ve made the effort to post the disclaimers otherwise. Guess I’m not as famous around here as I previously believed… 🙂

To reiterate what I said previously, a thread on such a subject might be permitted in GQ if there had been disclaimers, such as a discussion of what the common folkloric or religious beliefs are with regard to getting rid of ghosts.

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