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Joel Stein Warns Us Of "The Urkel Effect"

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sassenach
11/03/08

In reply to Joel Stein Warns Us Of "The Urkel Effect"
I'm concerned about the "Stein Effect" wherein otherwise intelligent voters are gobsmacked by the stupid and shallow and anything-for-a-cheap-laugh that is Joel Stein.
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legalLucy
11/03/08

In reply to Joel Stein Warns Us Of "The Urkel Effect"
what are the makings of a hipster?
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TeFrey
11/03/08

In reply to Joel Stein Warns Us Of "The Urkel Effect"
I married a nerd, the nerdiest of nerds, and I'm not sick of him yet. My dad on the other hand, is an old Navy officer, graduate of the US Naval Academy with one whopper of an anger problem and a degrading way of speaking about women. Him I'm sick of, frequently.

So if anyone thinks Obama might be too nerdy, I assure you, the fella he's running against is a million times more annoying.
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trappertrapper
11/03/08

In reply to Joel Stein Warns Us Of "The Urkel Effect"
Is he saying Encyclopedia Brown would make a bad president? Don't you want someone who can turn away neighborhood bullies through logic alone to be in charge of solving the nation's problems?
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Ratinski
11/03/08

In reply to Joel Stein Warns Us Of "The Urkel Effect"
Dear Joel Stein:

As a blogging librarian who writes anime slash fanfiction in her spare time and is currently writing this comment on a MacBook named Kouga, after the main character in a tokusatsu drama, I know this: I look forward to the day when my president is complete and utter nerd. Because on that day, I will once again have a president with a functioning brain, and it will be a glorious thing.
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Lilah
11/02/08

In reply to Joel Stein Warns Us Of "The Urkel Effect"
Oh he did not just criticize my Encyclopedia Brown. You're going to have to step off, Joel Stein. EB is awesome - he can tell if you're faking your blindness, he taught me that whale vomit is a valuable resource and his best friend is an ass-kicking girl. You know who you're like, Joel Stein? Bugs Meany. THAT'S RIGHT, I SAID IT.
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SulabhaAndreus
11/02/08

In reply to Joel Stein Warns Us Of "The Urkel Effect"
Oh, puh-leeze! I would much rather listen to Obama talk for 4 years than McCain. I actually cannot bear the thought of listening to McCain talk for 4 years straight.

Let's also not forget that Steve Urkel was an insanely popular character. He wasn't even supposed to be a recurring character, but he was so popular that they made him one.

So, yeah...I say this theory is a crackpot one.
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ceejeemcbeegee is not here
11/02/08

In reply to Joel Stein Warns Us Of "The Urkel Effect"
Obama is the definition of cool dorkiness. Look at that clip. He's nerdy and ghetto all at the same time. I love it!
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dreamypisces
11/02/08

In reply to Joel Stein Warns Us Of "The Urkel Effect"
But people could listen to McCain talk. I'll take nerd over hobbit ay day.
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ceejeemcbeegee is not here
11/02/08

@dreamypisces: You know how I know you are a nerd? You used the word "hobbit."
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gobble_dee_goop
11/02/08

In reply to Joel Stein Warns Us Of "The Urkel Effect"
wow my sarcasm detector must be turned to 'sensitive' because I've always thought that Joel Stein's articles were sarcastic in nature. The Bradley Effect seems so asinine to me for this day and era, that i thought he was creating another equally ridiculous effect.

after reading these comments, i may have to read his articles with new eyes.
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sweeet_pea
11/02/08

In reply to Joel Stein Warns Us Of "The Urkel Effect"
EXCUUUUUUUUUSE ME?? Never mind the fact that I refer to him as "President-Elect Buttah Obama" or that he is a goddamn STONE FOX...has anyone considered how on god's green earth the Urkel effect could be more influential than the "Smelly Old Guy Weird Arms Guy/Ms. Manicured Nails on a Chalkboard" effect?!!?

Srsly. Nerds may/may not be hot right now. But the alternative would be like listening to the shreiks of hell on 11. What a bullshit, bullshit article.

Raaar.
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citymuse
11/02/08

In reply to Joel Stein Warns Us Of "The Urkel Effect"
Joel Stein is a stunt journalist who writes pieces better suited to The Onion. The less attention he gets for his stunts, the better.
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kikichanelconspiracy
11/02/08

In reply to Joel Stein Warns Us Of "The Urkel Effect"
Oh yes, Joel. The silent Urkel majority. I know I will definitely have to fight it when I go to cast my vote. Because my fear of a nerdy president always trumps my fear of a bad president.
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Umisaurus
11/02/08

In reply to Joel Stein Warns Us Of "The Urkel Effect"
You had me at "mage", hortense.

I don't know if "nerd" is even used too much anymore. Everything is geek, which I admit was the label I self-identified with in school. Lettered in orchestra, ran the school paper, worked behind the scenes in theatre and played video games (before they hit their second wave of coolness)... but, to be honest, the stigma isn't really there anymore. Especially with everyone rocking glasses now, even with perfect eyesight, I don't know if the nerd label is meaningful anymore.
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eri401
11/02/08

In reply to Joel Stein Warns Us Of "The Urkel Effect"
Wait, how about this.

John is the rich boy douchy king of the campus with his Mean Girl Princess Cindy. But he sometimes swings with the crazy party girl cheerleader Sarah from the other side of town.

Barack is the nerdy one that John and his friends pick on. Yet since everyone hates the class bully, we're all ending up voting in the nerd for president.

And Hilary was the know-it-all that ALL the boys hated?

Now who gets to be Mr Belding?

And CLEARLY I am procrastinating...
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