My encounter with a batshit right-wing nut at the bar this evening

[Ralph Wiggum]

titaniumsalute (1,500 posts)

My encounter with a batshit right-wing nut at the bar this evening

I'm traveling to Myrtle Beach for a few days for business. There's a small craft beer/food joint that I like to frequent while in town. It is usually fairly quiet, nice local folks drinking solid beer and eating great wings.

Tonight there was what seemed to be a friendly 50 something couple sitting behind me. The place was fairly quiet so at some point we struck up a light-hearted conversation. They asked what I do for a living and we talked about that for awhile. Then some other light-hearted stuff came up. No big deal.

I somehow mentioned that my previous career was in research as I have a degree in statistics. The guy looked at me and said something like "Well we all know statistics lie." I asked, "What are you talking about???" He said, "Well you know statistics lie. Just look at the polls that come out all the time." So I explained that statistics is just math. Period. It doesn't have anything specifically to do with polling, politics, agendas, etc. It's just math. There are thousands of people who study stats that never do anything with polling. However, I told him I used to do statistical analysis for a living including specialized audience polling and measurement.

He then started saying that "You know, some polls are designed to steer the message or result." I told him that maybe in politics there is some polling done that might try to steer a message, but that the vast majority of statistical polling is simply done to learn more about certain areas for companies or groups to make better decisions. The guy got kind of mad and said loudly "YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!! Politicians use polls to steer voters. And liberals do it all the time!! They make up numbers and call them polls." I told him that I'm sure some politicians might highlight certain aspects of polls in the media to create a message. THEY ALL DO IT!" Of course he said...no way. The Demo-rats (yes he said Demo-rats) do it all the time. Conservatives do not. I started laughing and said "Are you insane? Every politician spins polls and information to their own benefit. THEY ARE POLITICIANS!! That's what they do."

I had an AH-HA moment. I had a quick decision to make. Do a serious verbal complete throw-down on this miserable ****wad or take the high road and let this guy metaphorically hang himself. I decided a good metaphor lynching was in play. I simply said "I have no idea what you are talking about...my degree in statistics has nothing to do with politics...why are we discussing this?" He started ranting about MSNBC and Rachal Maddow...the communist. I told him that I didn't care who Rachael Maddow is (to deflect the argument) but I have seen that pretty much every cable news network is for quick ratings and entertainment. They will say whatever they need to say to make ratings to sell ads. I specifically mentioned Fox news when I said this. He was starting to foam at the mouth and his wife said "Bob, that's enough. You're acting like an ass again." I started cracking up. He was PISSED. I then said..."I don't waste my time watching cable news crap...I prefer to be a good American dad and read books, play with my kids in the evening, and spend time with my wife". This guy hollered "How do you learn about what the hell is going on in our country?" I told him I trust the President to make those decisions. I thought his head would explode. At that time his wife said "WE NEED to LEAVE BOB." I smiled, shook his hand, and said "It's been a pleasure. Maybe next time we can discuss sports or something more interesting. He pivoted and hauled ass out the front door.

I have learned as I've aged that I'd rather get a right winger to try to say really stupid things rather than go sparing with them. This guy was being belligerent...even his wife thought so. He sounded like an ass. After they left the bar owner came to apologize about three times and bought me a beer. She said he's there about every other night doing this shit.

Oh well...take a village. And a village idiot.

The guy didn't appear drunk. He was just hell bent on spewing his right wing talking points. When I didn't play ball he got very upset. This is an epidemic in our society now.

At least I'll give a few points for creativity in this complete bullsh*it story, but no conversion, no bushes, and he/she/it didn't start the story with "so".  Although the word "so" is contained in the narrative.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I didn't bother reading through the responses, as it seemed to be the regular pat-on-the-back stuff.  But this one is classic:

RobertEarl (5,731 posts)
44. People are slowly learning

Learning that you can't win an argument about life in general when you go up against a long-time DU person.

 

[Carl]

I didn't bother reading through the responses, as it seemed to be the regular pat-on-the-back stuff.  But this one is classic:

RobertEarl (5,731 posts)
44. People are slowly learning

Learning that you can't win an argument about life in general when you go up against a long-time DU person.

 

They mistake either the hysterical laughter or astonished look that a person could actually be THAT stupid as winning an argument.

[ChuckJ]

He was starting to foam at the mouth and his wife said "Bob, that's enough. You're acting like an ass again."

So a Republican wife, whose place is barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen OR groveling at the foot of a man (at least as per DU), said the above and this guy, who is waging a never ending war against women (at least as per DU), didn't slap her across the room?

[67 Rover]

Where was the nodding heads of the other patrons and spontaneous applause? 

[Purple Sage]

This guy hollered "How do you learn about what the hell is going on in our country?" I told him I trust the President to make those decisions.

The DUmmie would have thought he won the argument if he had said this to me.  I would have been "struck dumb" by such a statement.  That's why it's called "mind-numbing stupidity."  Heck, I had to pick my jaw up off the floor just reading it.

I suspect the Conservative had to exercise all the self control he could muster not to pistol whip the idiot.  Assuming any of the bounce is true, of course.

[JohnnyReb]

Myrtle Beach attracts X-wives and DUmmies.....so, I believe DUmmie was in Myrtle Beach but I can't believe he said all that and got out alive. Horry county, the S.C. county Myrtle Beach is in is the most dangerous county in S.C..

[Chris_]

a long-time DU person

Is that like the Swamp Thing or The Creature From The Black Lagoon?

[delilahmused]

I don't know anyone who would start hollering at a restaurant, regardless of the issue. It's just a stupid conversation, the same kind of bullshiting that goes on when strangers strike up a conversation. Nor would any normal person, conservative or not, go on about polls or Rachel Maddow. As the DUmmie said in it's head when making up this story, mentioning every detail, including exact quotes (why do the DUmmies never see how impossible this is), statistics are just numbers. Analyzing and sorting them, even in a biased poll, is nothing more than breaking down what the numbers show. No one I know would be stupid enough to think about it like this idiot's fake encounter. It's kinda like the GAO, who can only work with the numbers they're given.

Besides, there wasn't even a waitress that jumped out from behind a bush, let alone a cop who was also eating there. DUmmies love fake cops who side with them.

Cindie

[Skul]

Gotta love their absolutely perfect recall of every word.  

Kewl story, bro.  

[DLR Pyro]

My encounter with a batshit right-wing nut at the bar this evening

The Demo-rats (yes he said Demo-rats)

I had a quick decision to make. Do a serious verbal complete throw-down on this miserable ****wad

really?  the nerve of a "batshit right-wing nut " or "miserable ****wad"  to use such a derogatory term as "demo-rat".  

After they left the bar owner came to apologize about three times and bought me a beer. She said he's there about every other night doing this shit.

either the right wing nut is a huge tipper which causes the barkeep to allow this regular disruptive behavior or the DUmmy is lying.

[delilahmused]

Gotta love their absolutely perfect recall of every word.  

Kewl story, bro.  

I cant even remember more than the gist of a conversation I had in the checkout line. You know the ones that last about a minute and that start with such things as, "cute baby", "why don't they open another check stand", "XYZ product in either cart sure has gone up in price".

Granted, I live in a state where they think we're too stupid to pump our own gas, but I've rarely had conversation with the attendant and I live in a very small town. When I do, it's usually something innocuous, like the weather or a new restaurant or something. There's one attendant I do have short (how long can it be while pumping gas) conversations with that go beyond casual but I've known him for years. Outside of the gas station.

Cindie

[Karin]

Purple Sage, I was floored by that too.  The DUmmie feels no need to stay informed on current events, because he just trusts the president (to make those decisions, a non-sequitor). 

Dangerous way to live, bro. 

[JohnnyReb]

Granted, I live in a state where they think we're too stupid to pump our own gas,
Cindie

I had to look to see what state that was.....the invading intelligent elite from Cmmiefornia has driven down your states IQ average.

[njpines]

Granted, I live in a state where they think we're too stupid to pump our own gas

Cindie

Heh, me too! I don't usually have anything else to say other than "20 dollars, regular, cash please".

[jukin]

What tale of DUcheness. When and where did the DUmbass get a degree in statistics? When I was earning a BSME there were math majors. No statistics degree. Maybe that has changed. I bet I know just as much about statistics and that amounted to quarter classes in my junior year. I bet my HP 15C can handle anything the DUche thinks he knows. It is pretty basic stuff. Maybe the DUchebag got a degree from the city college and they called it a statistics degree. If there was a modeling of populations then I can see more study but i would think that would be in sociology.

Either way, this never happened.

[Delmar]

Response to bluestate10 (Reply #1)Tue Feb 25, 2014, 10:46 PM
Star Member titaniumsalute (1,500 posts)
2. I think he was a local only because

The owner knew his and his wife's names and she told me she has to listen to this crap 3 or 4 times per week.

I know Myrtle Beach is much more even keeled than the rest of the state as many northerners have moved here over the years.

Response to Pretzel_Warrior (Reply #8)Wed Feb 26, 2014, 06:55 AM
Star Member titaniumsalute (1,500 posts)
48. Yeah I get that

When I worked in audience measurement most of my clients didn't understand the science. If their data results were favorable they thought our research was sound. If their data was not favorable, our research was flawed and made up.

This individual I was talking to last night just wanted to pick a fight. He's a true believing right winger and it didn't matter what I said.

Response to steve2470 (Reply #37)Wed Feb 26, 2014, 07:12 AM
Star Member titaniumsalute (1,500 posts)
50. Yeah when I said I used to do statistics and research

he immediately tried to quote that Mark Twain quote "There are lies, damned lies, and statistics." When he said that I asked him what he meant? He didn't really even know and that's when he deflected into the "mainstream media" commentary.

I also should have realized when he said "I listen to a lot of talk radio" where the conversation was headed.

Response to Douglas Carpenter (Reply #43)Wed Feb 26, 2014, 07:14 AM
Star Member titaniumsalute (1,500 posts)
51. Of course...

that was the point. I wanted him to cry.

Response to Enthusiast (Reply #47)Wed Feb 26, 2014, 07:19 AM
Star Member titaniumsalute (1,500 posts)
53. That is such a true statement

It is a form of complete brainwashing and indoctrination. What is interesting is it was by design, not for ideology but for ratings and ad sales. The big media companies realized that there are enough right-wing morons to follow the right-wing hosts lock-step. They will listen like a Baptist in a Sunday morning sermon. They will buy their merchandise, books, coffee mugs, etc. They will give them Arbitron ratings and Nielsen ratings...turning those ratings into ad revenue.

The Democratics on the other hand don't usually follow lock-step like sheep. We don't buy coffee mugs and listen to talk radio like sheep. We read the NY Times, go to the library, watch the BBC, listen to NPR, think for ourselves.

Response to SummerSnow (Reply #55)Wed Feb 26, 2014, 01:38 PM
Star Member titaniumsalute (1,500 posts)
68. It certainly was the case

By about 10 minutes in she was paying the check...saying "honey...that's enough and OK we need to go...." THen the ass comment was priceless. Maybe he was just sloshed.

Basking in the warm glow.  A DUmp giant for a day.  Cherish this day always, Star Member titaniumsalute.  

[jukin]

Star Member titaniumsalute owes decades of back dues to Local 25 of The Projectionists United Workers union.

[HawkHogan]

He listed a bunch of far left sources (NY Times, BBC, NPR) to make himself sound well-rounded.   What a ridiculous fake story. 

[Purple Sage]

What tale of DUcheness. When and where did the DUmbass get a degree in statistics?

Either way, this never happened.

Good point.  The very first thing they teach in Statistics 101 is that the class is about manipulating data for presentation.  That is the whole point of learning all the different ways of charting the data such as histograms and pareto charts to present the data in a manner that best reflects what the charter wishes to show.

This guy with his supposed degree in statistics doesn't know this?  I'd bet the farm he has never even attended a single statistics class.

[Ptarmigan]

Sounds like a bouncy to me.  

[98ZJUSMC]

Sounds like a bouncy to me.  

Even more than most, this one reeks of:  "I got my ass handed to me, I went home and sulked for four hours and then penned this gem."  It hits all the usual projection points with total conversation recall, in ...a ....fricking ....bar, as a bonus.

[Vagabond]

What tale of DUcheness. When and where did the DUmbass get a degree in statistics? When I was earning a BSME there were math majors. No statistics degree. Maybe that has changed. I bet I know just as much about statistics and that amounted to quarter classes in my junior year. I bet my HP 15C can handle anything the DUche thinks he knows. It is pretty basic stuff. Maybe the DUchebag got a degree from the city college and they called it a statistics degree. If there was a modeling of populations then I can see more study but i would think that would be in sociology.

Either way, this never happened.

I took a class in college statistics right out of high school.  I distinctly remember the teacher saying there three types of lies...little white lies, damn lies, and statistics.   She even showed the class most of the basic methods used to generate a desired number instead of the correct number. 

[diesel driver]

This guy with his supposed degree in statistics doesn't know this?  I'd bet the farm he has never even attended a single statistics class.

His degree came from a Cracker Jack's box.   

[vesta111]

Even more than most, this one reeks of:  "I got my ass handed to me, I went home and sulked for four hours and then penned this gem."  It hits all the usual projection points with total conversation recall, in ...a ....fricking ....bar, as a bonus.

Recall of spoken words is a science in itself.   Then there is sight recall that no two people will see an action the same way.  

How many times in my life have I heard words from another and misinterpreted them or they misinterpreted my words to mean the opposite of what each of us meant.

Who was it who said " You better smile when you say that "?