# WTF? Pay Up or We Let Your House Burn Down? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 6, 2010, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210 "2010-10-06T03:08:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 48
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210/941 "2010-11-17T09:43:12Z")
I am Sparkupdetrailerus! CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210/942 "2010-11-17T15:23:00Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > **emacknight** : You forgot one important question to (re)ask. Is there any actual proof of the animals Cranick alleges to have perished in the inferno? > [@Monty](#): > > Of course we know he didn’t pay for the service. He’s already admitted that. While his story as to why he didn’t pay changed from the original version, he has not asserted that he actually paid. Nor is anyone, other than you in your latest attempt at trolling, asserting that this particular structure may not have been Cranick’s. Interestingly enough, not only has no \*proof \*of the presence of animals been offered, nobody seems to have offered an \*assertion \*that animals were present. Except **gonzo**. Without a cite. Needless to say, my disappointment, like my amazement, knows no bounds. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210/943 "2010-11-17T16:14:59Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > How do we know you’re not Cranick? > > Hmmmmm? That would explain a lot, me thinks. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210/944 "2010-11-17T16:59:20Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Or that his house was the one that burned down. Or do we know for sure he didn’t pay the 75 bucks and there wasn’t a clerical error? In a long thread chock full of your idiocy, this reaches new heights of deliberate stoopid. If Cranick had paid up for the year and the F.D. had somehow made a clerical error, Cranick would not have been pleading to pay anything over-the-phone when he called in the fire; he’d have been screaming, “I PAID you assholes, and have a receipt, but it’s in my rapidly burning HOME, so git yer asses out here NOW GAWDDAMIT!” ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210/945 "2010-11-17T17:02:35Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > In a long thread chock full of your idiocy, this reaches new heights of deliberate stoopid. > > If Cranick had paid up for the year and the F.D. had somehow made a clerical error, Cranick would not have been pleading to pay anything over-the-phone when he called in the fire; he’d have been screaming, “I PAID you assholes, and have a receipt, but it’s in my rapidly burning HOME, so git yer asses out here NOW GAWDDAMIT!” Maybe he forgot that he paid. Or maybe he forgot that he had forgotten to pay? One thing is for sure though, \*\*gonzomax \*\*has yet to offer up the $75 for even one resident. Maybe this is all about the money. It certainly hasn’t taught \*\*gonzomax \*\* or Cranick anything. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210/946 "2010-11-17T17:09:16Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > If Cranick had paid up for the year and the F.D. had somehow made a clerical error, Cranick would not have been pleading to pay anything over-the-phone when he called in the fire; he’d have been screaming, “I PAID you assholes, and have a receipt, but it’s in my rapidly burning HOME, so git yer asses out here NOW GAWDDAMIT!” I’ve heard that the dog (may he RIP) ate the receipt. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210/947 "2010-11-17T20:28:45Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > I’ve heard that the dog (may he RIP) ate the receipt. And his homework! ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210/948 "2010-11-17T23:07:52Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > And his homework! And his $75. And both family bibles. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210/949 "2010-11-18T02:59:48Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > In a long thread chock full of your idiocy, this reaches new heights of deliberate stoopid. > > If Cranick had paid up for the year and the F.D. had somehow made a clerical error, Cranick would not have been pleading to pay anything over-the-phone when he called in the fire; he’d have been screaming, “I PAID you assholes, and have a receipt, but it’s in my rapidly burning HOME, so git yer asses out here NOW GAWDDAMIT!” How did the firemen know? Lets face it, you guys are pulling rationales out of your asses for many pages. People have suggested he spent 75 bucks in the bar. They have given long range analysis of his character with no knowledge whatsoever. They don’t want to appear to be cold hearted jerks ,so they make shit up. Sorry but cold hearted jerks is what they are. I understand trying to pretend he is some bad guy who deserves his house burning down and his animals dying. I just don’t share the feeling. I feel bad for him and his animals, no matter what kind of person he may be. I also don’t relate to people who pile on and enjoy a guys misery. He didn’t pay 75 bucks and all his memorabilia fried ,his home burned down and his animals died. It is not the kind of story that gives me any enjoyment at all. I guess it is good for you to feel some kind of evil equilibrium was attained. He paid big, real big. But for you, it was all a deserving result. Just as fair as it gets ,I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210/950 "2010-11-18T03:11:17Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > It is not the kind of story that gives me any enjoyment at all. And yet you’ve posted about it continuously for the past six weeks. 79 times. Weird. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210/951 "2010-11-18T18:36:12Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > And yet you’ve posted about it continuously for the past six weeks. 79 times. > > Weird. I believe Giraffe you stuck your neck into it too. I tried to let it die a couple times. But you guys are having too much fun. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210/952 "2010-11-18T18:45:01Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > I believe Giraffe you stuck your neck into it too. I tried to let it die a couple times. But you guys are having too much fun. You know how you let something die? You stop freaking posting. It’s not our fault that your outrageometer can’t stand other people having fun at your expense. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210/953 "2010-11-18T18:58:01Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > I believe Giraffe you stuck your neck into it too. I tried to let it die a couple times. But you guys are having too much fun. That’s a lie and you know it. This is my second post to this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210/954 "2010-11-18T18:59:35Z")
Have I posted to this thread? I’d hate to think I was keeping it alive. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210/955 "2010-11-18T19:41:29Z")
I’ve often been accused of not being able to let things go. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210/956 "2010-11-18T19:47:27Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > I tried to let it die a couple times. You heartless bastard. You stood around watching this thread die when YOU COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING. Reasonable people don’t stand around and let threads die over SEVENTY FIVE DOLLARS. But it’s not about the money. It was about teaching all of us a lesson. I don’t know how you live with yourself. [Other professionals wouldn’t stand around and let threads die](http://www.superiorthreads.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210/957 "2010-11-18T20:01:45Z")
[QUOTE=Garfield226] . [Other professionals wouldn’t stand around and let threads die](http://www.superiorthreads.com/). [/QUOTE] Niiiiice ---
**Author:** ![Turtledove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc8723/32.png) [@Turtledove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turtledove)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210/958 "2010-11-18T20:44:21Z")
This is my first post 🙂 It seems obvious that the only way for a fire department to exist in a voluntary system is that one must pay or no deal, otherwise what keeps a fire department in business? It is harsh. Reality is harsh and I am sorry life can be tough. To keep costs down and to help each other, we have to pool our efforts. A few cannot support everybody. If someone has a financial crisis, the opportunity to volunteer a buck or two from others in a special fund could be made available to help the truly unfortunate. (I know…who is to say who is truly unfortunate?) ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210/959 "2010-11-18T21:12:03Z")
Welcome to the forums, **Turtledove**! Don’t let \*\*gonzo \*\*get you down. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210/960 "2010-11-18T21:21:44Z")
> [@Turtledove](#): > > This is my first post 🙂 It seems obvious that the only way for a fire department to exist in a voluntary system is that one must pay or no deal, otherwise what keeps a fire department in business? > > It is harsh. Reality is harsh and I am sorry life can be tough. > > To keep costs down and to help each other, we have to pool our efforts. A few cannot support everybody. If someone has a financial crisis, the opportunity to volunteer a buck or two from others in a special fund could be made available to help the truly unfortunate. (I know…who is to say who is truly unfortunate?) This kind of logic is all well and good, but what if there’s a tiny little bunny inside the house? Twitching his little nose and hopping around? What then? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210.md?page=47) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-pay-up-or-we-let-your-house-burn-down/556210.md?page=49)