# YOU are partly responsible for the BP oil spill **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 26, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-partly-responsible-for-the-bp-oil-spill/544632 "2010-06-26T21:49:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-partly-responsible-for-the-bp-oil-spill/544632/1 "2010-06-26T21:49:57Z")
If you use it, take responsibility, if only in part. They wouldn’t be drillin’, if you weren’t be usin’. Ergo, you did your part in coating fluffy little white seabirds with dirty non-nutritious petrocarbons. _Note: Amish & Anabaptist dopers are exempted from this flame._ ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-partly-responsible-for-the-bp-oil-spill/544632/2 "2010-06-26T21:51:01Z")
I’m pretty sure there would. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-partly-responsible-for-the-bp-oil-spill/544632/3 "2010-06-26T21:57:26Z")
Question: Does the electricity that powers my vibrator come from oil? ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-partly-responsible-for-the-bp-oil-spill/544632/4 "2010-06-26T21:58:51Z")
Let’s say we accept that all oil users are responsible for the spill: what happens then? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-partly-responsible-for-the-bp-oil-spill/544632/5 "2010-06-26T22:09:13Z")
> [@sassyfras](#): > > If you use it, take responsibility, if only in part. They wouldn’t be drillin’, if you weren’t be usin’. > > Ergo, you did your part in coating fluffy little white seabirds with dirty non-nutritious petrocarbons. > > _Note: Amish & Anabaptist dopers are exempted from this flame._ So. You posted this from a rock in a cave. What’s for dinner tonight? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Urban\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@The\_Urban\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Urban_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-partly-responsible-for-the-bp-oil-spill/544632/6 "2010-06-26T22:11:12Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Let’s say we accept that all oil users are responsible for the spill: what happens then? We make a concerted effort to reduce energy consumption, and move towards renewables. Nah only kidding. We carry on as before, till it runs out. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-partly-responsible-for-the-bp-oil-spill/544632/7 "2010-06-26T22:12:47Z")
While we’re here, might as well pit us for [kids covered in coal dust](http://www.theoldphotoalbum.com/images/2009/05/lewis-hine-child-labor-iii/254.jpg) in 1908 as birds covered in oil in 2010. Hereditary guilt is just as fun a cudgel as collective guilt. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-partly-responsible-for-the-bp-oil-spill/544632/8 "2010-06-26T22:15:27Z")
Are the 80 safety violations BP was guilty of before the spill also our fault? I guess so, for electing people who would in turn appoint people to regulatory positions who weren’t interested in regulating… ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-partly-responsible-for-the-bp-oil-spill/544632/9 "2010-06-26T22:23:46Z")
I’m sorry. ☹ I will try not to let it happen again. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-partly-responsible-for-the-bp-oil-spill/544632/10 "2010-06-26T22:27:41Z")
> [@sassyfras](#): > > If you use it, take responsibility, if only in part. They wouldn’t be drillin’, if you weren’t be usin’. > > Ergo, you did your part in coating fluffy little white seabirds with dirty non-nutritious petrocarbons. It’s a fair cop. But society’s to blame. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-partly-responsible-for-the-bp-oil-spill/544632/11 "2010-06-26T22:30:27Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > While we’re here, might as well pit us for [kids covered in coal dust](http://www.theoldphotoalbum.com/images/2009/05/lewis-hine-child-labor-iii/254.jpg) in 1908 as birds covered in oil in 2010. That kid is guilty too, just look at that shameful oil lamp on his hat! ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-partly-responsible-for-the-bp-oil-spill/544632/12 "2010-06-26T22:31:52Z")
> [@sassyfras](#): > > If you use it, take responsibility, if only in part. Nope, I favored responsible development, with proper government oversight, so as to prevent the kind of cowboy-cornercutting which BP used to produce this debacle. It ain’t my fault in any way or form whatsoever. Go have a chat with the deregulation crowd. I’m certain they all realize now that they’ve reaped what they sowed and are ready to take personal responsibility for their idiocy. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-partly-responsible-for-the-bp-oil-spill/544632/13 "2010-06-26T22:32:58Z")
> [@sassyfras](#): > > _Note: Amish & Anabaptist dopers are exempted from this flame._ Don’t let the Amish off the hook. Dopers on here have posted that while they won’t own or drive a car, they will accept rides to job sites (called “Yoder Toters”, I believe is the phrasing), and they cheerfully drive their buggies on asphalt roads. And likely use some items which come from oil or have oil in the chain of manufacture. [QUOTE=PlainJain] Question: Does the electricity that powers my vibrator come from oil? [/QUOTE] Only about 3% of it. Sadly, it’s the _best_ 3%. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-partly-responsible-for-the-bp-oil-spill/544632/14 "2010-06-26T22:35:05Z")
> [@sassyfras](#): > > If you use it, take responsibility, if only in part. They wouldn’t be drillin’, if you weren’t be usin’. > > Ergo, you did your part in coating fluffy little white seabirds with dirty non-nutritious petrocarbons. > > _Note: Amish & Anabaptist dopers are exempted from this flame._ I’m feeling totally under whelmed by feelings of guilt. And lest you call me a heartless basterd, I cry during sad songs (but only when no one is watching). > [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Hereditary guilt is just as fun a cudgel as collective guilt. I find myself totally immune to either. I wish I could isolate whatever that immunity is, and package it in a vaccine for all guilt-ridden liberals. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-partly-responsible-for-the-bp-oil-spill/544632/15 "2010-06-26T22:39:45Z")
By your logic, you killed my father. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-partly-responsible-for-the-bp-oil-spill/544632/16 "2010-06-26T22:40:07Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > That kid is guilty too, just look at that shameful oil lamp on his hat! You know I hadn’t considered that (perhaps too preoccupied with wondering if that thing around his neck in this famous Lewis Hine photograph would later reappear in an infamous Robert Mapplethorpe photograph.) ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-partly-responsible-for-the-bp-oil-spill/544632/17 "2010-06-26T22:40:49Z")
part of my plan all along. I hate Pelicans and the rest is collateral damage. ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-partly-responsible-for-the-bp-oil-spill/544632/18 "2010-06-26T22:50:05Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > part of my plan all along. I hate Pelicans and the rest is collateral damage. Could you go after sea gulls next? I fucking hate those things. ---
**Author:** ![TheScogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@TheScogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheScogg)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-partly-responsible-for-the-bp-oil-spill/544632/19 "2010-06-26T22:56:58Z")
If the sun were to explode, would that also be my fault? You know - since I use it’s energy. ---
**Author:** ![KinkiNipponTourist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9bcb4/32.png) [@KinkiNipponTourist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KinkiNipponTourist)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-partly-responsible-for-the-bp-oil-spill/544632/20 "2010-06-26T23:07:08Z")
and what about water supply? I scarf that stuff down. and air supply? I’m sure I bought an album or two. It’s probably the most shameful thing I’ve done. shhh… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-partly-responsible-for-the-bp-oil-spill/544632.md?page=2)