My Ten Favorite Wacky Comments So Far

"SteveLehto" (stevelehto) 04/06/2015 at 13:05 • Filed to: None

25

49

It’s been almost a year now since I have been regularly writing here and I’ve decided to list my Ten Favorite Wacky Comments that I have received. These are not in any particular order and I am sure I have missed a few. A couple are of a theme - comments I can count on getting anytime I write about a particular topic. Enjoy.

You ought to be allowed to yell Fire in a crowded theater. Yes, when I wrote a piece about the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , at least one person complained that any restriction on his “right” to cause a panic and kill people was an unlawful infringement on his 1st Amendment rights. Even if Oliver Wendell Holmes (and the Supreme Court itself) said otherwise.

There is no odometer fraud anymore. A used car dealer was adamant that odometer fraud is a thing of the past and he should know: He sells used cars! I never know how to address this kind of reasoning. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in America despite my efforts – and the efforts of others – to put an end to it.

Lemon law buybacks are great vehicles to buy used. Whenever I mention lemons, someone chimes in and says that they (or a friend) bought a lemon and it was “the best car” they “ever owned.” That is possible but you do know that thing about whether an exception can prove a rule? I never say Every single lemon out there is undriveable . I merely point out that many of them are, and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! who also have problems with them.

Manufacturers routinely buy back nondefective cars from customers as a matter of “goodwill.” This one is amazing and was even propagated by some other writers here. No, manufacturers do not buy back nondefective customer cars. If they did, why would they put up such a fight on the defective ones? There are a million problems with this one but I see it from time to time – usually being made by guys who buy cars at auction and re-sell them.

If a brand new car gets damaged in shipping to the dealer, the manufacturer will have it crushed. This one pops up !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and is the product of extrapolation. There are a couple documented cases of cars which were indeed destroyed because they were damaged in transit. But again, that does not prove they all are. And based on the number of cases I have seen of cars being sold with obvious repairs (from in-transit damage) many get through.

If your car is in a collision – no matter how minimal the damage – you can demand that the insurance company replace it due to its otherwise “diminished value.” I was kind of surprised by this one since I had never heard it before but someone posed this logic: Since any damage to your car might show up on Carfax, the car remains “damaged” even after it is repaired. One commenter heard that his friend’s friend had made this claim and several other commenters claimed it is how things are. But no one stepped forward to say they had managed to do this. And thus, urban legends are born.

If you are involved in a car accident and show your proof of insurance to the other party, you are admitting guilt. I’ll admit, only one person wrote this but he adamantly argued for half a dozen comments about how you flash your papers at the other party (but don’t let them get your information!) When the police show up they will assume that the party who has the other party’s information is not at fault because only guilty-minded people would so willingly give up their info. I kid you not.

Defendants who face frivolous lawsuits will pay lots of money to a Plaintiff just to make the case go away. This one pops up occasionally. If I give an example of a successful case I had, people will always ask, “But what if you had actually gone to court on that?” And the follow ups are always in the vein of “Defendants just pay to make cases go away.” Ummmm. These cases do all “go to court” and no, Defendants rarely pay money just to make frivolous cases go away. Defendants facing frivolous cases go to court and ask the court to order the Plaintiff and the attorney to be sanctioned and pay the fees and costs of the frivolous case. If this wasn’t true, attorneys wouldn’t bother looking for good cases and would just sit there and file frivolous ones and rake in the money.

Most car buying problems at used car dealerships are caused by the consumers lying to the salespeople. This is a common one also. Why do !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! they sold you? Not because they are trying to extort money from you – it’s because you lied about your income! Wait – didn’t the dealer ask to see proof of income? Oh, they delivered the car before seeing proof? And the buyer exaggerated? Assuming that is true – why can the seller “exaggerate” all day long but not the buyer? Just curious.

And finally: This has happened so many times I have lost count. I tell a story and make a general statement. “X is generally true.” Someone will always respond, “I know a time when X was not true. Therefore, you are wrong.” I won’t go into a logic dissertation here but No, your one example does not disprove my general rule.

Did I miss any? Feel free to comment below – the crazier, the better. And the pic at the top is just what I look like when I respond to wacky comments in real life. That's me on the right. I'm sure the guy on the left did not make the wacky comment I am responding to in the pic.

Follow me on Twitter: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Hear my podcast on iTunes: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Steve Lehto has been practicing law for 23 years, almost exclusively in consumer protection and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! He wrote !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

This website may supply general information about the law but it is for informational purposes only. This does not create an attorney-client relationship and is not meant to constitute legal advice, so the good news is we’re not billing you by the hour for reading this. The bad news is that you shouldn’t act upon any of the information without consulting a qualified professional attorney who will, probably, bill you by the hour.

CB > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 13:11

0

All of these comments make my brain hurt. On a similar trend, how many of your clients or potential clients have made similarly ridiculous comments or points?

SteveLehto > CB 04/06/2015 at 13:13

0

Not too many but that's because they call me with a specific problem and I try to help them with it. I have had a few of them say, "Someone told me . . . " and then they repeat one of the old wives' tales about the lemon law. Like all the old lemons are taken out and crushed, but they are usually more concerned about their own cars etc.

Opposite Locksmith > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 13:14

0

what gets me mad is how everyone thinks that cvts keep the engine in the "optimal most efficient" rpm range

For Sweden > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 13:15

1

I didn't make the list. Phooey :(

SteveLehto > Opposite Locksmith 04/06/2015 at 13:16

0

Even something like that is technical enough to where you can almost forgive people for believing it. But if they don't buy it after it's explained to them . . .

macanamera > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 13:17

0

I'm surprisingly upset I'm not on this list. Must try to be wackier.

SteveLehto > For Sweden 04/06/2015 at 13:17

1

You're clearly not trying hard enough!

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 13:17

1

I love the "your situation does not pertain to me = ergo it's a lie". I see it quite a few places on Gawker, but also in plenty of other situations. Rules of thumb exist because the majority of the time, the situation follows said rule of thumb.

PSA: People, life does not revolve only you...your situation has happened to more than one person (except in rare, complicated, cases)

SteveLehto > macanamera 04/06/2015 at 13:18

2

Sometimes I do think that the craziest comments are being made by my friends using burner accounts. Like the one by the guy who said Don't show your insurance to the other side after an accident. He posted that on April Fool's day. I later came to believe he was serious.

SteveLehto > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! 04/06/2015 at 13:19

4

I was going to write a piece about logical fallacies and how common they are in the comments. Then I realized it was a lot of work and made no sense for any of the sites my stuff is on. And then I got tired thinking about it.

But that is really at the heart of a lot of these. "I've never seen that. So it must not be true."

Toledo Disapproves > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 13:20

6

The "I've seen a time when X was not true, therefore you are wrong" one needs to be a named fallacy. The fallacy of Appeal to Single Sample? ASS?

Imirrelephant > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 13:21

1

Holy crap! you were on a panel next to "Maximum" Bob Lutz?!?!? I heard him on the Hooniverse podcast and he had some cool stories. Seemed like a nice guy. Did you get any time to talk with him?

SteveLehto > Toledo Disapproves 04/06/2015 at 13:24

1

Oh, that is good.

Thanks!

Coty > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 13:24

1

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Metro.

SteveLehto > Imirrelephant 04/06/2015 at 13:25

1

Yes. Talked to him after, a bit. Great guy.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 13:29

4

Takuro Spirit > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 13:30

1

If a brand new car gets damaged in shipping to the dealer, the manufacturer will have it crushed.

Mostly ours just have a nicked bumper, a scratch here or there....

Next door at the Honda dealer I doubt they didn't crush this one:

(transport driver left it up too high after removing other cars and tried to drive under a nearby bridge)

Tohru > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 13:30

0

Ah, I remember that shitshow I accidentally started with the City of Bangor and MV Cougar Ace comparison.

Did you hear anything about the MV Hoegh Osaka - the car carrier that listed badly and was intentionally grounded off the Isle of Wight? Unlike the Cougar Ace, the Hoegh Osaka was carrying $44.8 million worth of Range Rovers, Jaguars and Porsches, along with military and construction equipment.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 13:31

0

SteveLehto > Takuro Spirit 04/06/2015 at 13:32

2

That'll buff right out!

SteveLehto > Tohru 04/06/2015 at 13:33

1

Yes, you and I were having a perfectly normal discussion and then someone else jumped in and started going nuts. Remember it well. He keeps commenting on pieces of mine and wonders why I ignore him.

I saw that one too. There were some great photos of it on the internet.

As Du Volant > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 13:33

1

Great post, and entertaining.

I wanted to expand on one of your points since I've dealt with this one a lot...

Manufacturers routinely buy back nondefective cars from customers as a matter of "goodwill."

This is one of those ones where you're absolutely right but people misconstrue it into something it's not. Goodwill does happen, but it only happens because the car had a problem. The problem may have been fixed and may not pop back up again, but whatever it was it was serious enough for the customer to feel dissatisfied with their new car to the point of wanting to be rid of it. And the manufacturer doesn't buy it back, either. They just give the dealership a few thousand bucks to help facilitate the trade-in, and the dealership takes it on trade just like anything else. If the car was bought back by the manufacturer it is not an example of goodwill- it's a lemon.

Like I said, you're absolutely right... I just thought I'd chime in with this before all the "but my brother had this Chrysler with a problem and..." comments show up.

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 13:38

3

Writing about logical fallacies....man, you had some guts to even think about trying that. Appreciate all the free advice you give out! I think I can confidently say that the majority of here on Oppo and the Front Page greatly appreciate the time and effort you put forth to explain "lawyery and litigious" things for those of us who wouldn't have a clue.

"Keep On Keepin' On"

Tohru > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 13:40

0

Does he keep trying to argue those same points on other articles or does he bring up new stuff? I know there's a block function for sub-Kinjas (like mine, uppermidwest.kinja.com), but I'm surprised there isn't a block function on the user level.

I haven't heard anything about the cars since January. I know they got all of them off the ship, but I don't know what their fate was.

Herr Quattro - Has a 4-Motion > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 13:44

1

Ive been waiting for an article along the lines of:

"This internet blogger named Tavarish told me this was a cheap and beautiful Corvette C7, for only 1/2 price of it was new, and then I bought it, and it turns out its a POS, can you help me sue Tavarish?"

SteveLehto > Tohru 04/06/2015 at 13:44

2

He posts these 1,000 word rants where he acts like he is an expert on any topic I write about. I really wonder if he composes them offline and pastes them in. Some are longer than my articles. I haven't looked into that but if there is such a function I am going to start using it.

He has a goofy user name so I always spot his stuff and just skip it.

I suspect we haven't heard about the cars because they are all working their way into the stream of commerce.

SteveLehto > Herr Quattro - Has a 4-Motion 04/06/2015 at 13:45

0

Can you imagine? I could do class-actions on some of these if people took everything written here too seriously . . .

StoneCold > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 13:52

0

"Defendants who face frivolous lawsuits will pay lots of money to a Plaintiff just to make the case go away. "

Have you ever seen the television show Suits ? It seems like half of the problems in the show are settled along those lines. Even if it's wildly inaccurate, it's still decent entertainment.

SteveLehto > StoneCold 04/06/2015 at 13:57

1

Never seen it. Are you saying that they routinely pay money to settle lawsuits that no basis?

If so, how do I sign up?

Tohru > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 14:01

1

Ah, so he must be a front page commenter then instead of a proper Opponaut.

SteveLehto > Tohru 04/06/2015 at 14:05

1

Probably. The community here is so good that it always shocks me when someone comes in gets all wacked out over something they know nothing about.

Dusty Ventures > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 14:12

0

Regarding frivolous lawsuits, if both the plaintiff and his attorney can be sanctioned, what incentive is there for a lawyer to take a case like that? I remember a local man who sued the electric company for $250,000 because his "lucky" cat climbed a telephone pole and managed to electrocute itself. I can't imagine what lawyer would touch a case like that. (The man lost the case, of course)

SteveLehto > Dusty Ventures 04/06/2015 at 14:14

1

None. That's the point. I know attorneys who have been hit for filing claims that sounded borderline. There is usually a gray area where if it has some argument in its favor, the court will let it go (as far as sanctioning people) but the ones like you mention - that make headlines - are really 1% of 1% of 1% of the worst.

Dusty Ventures > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 14:21

0

So if it's obviously frivolous and there's no incentive but an attorney takes the case anyway, what are they hoping to get out of it? Exposure from the headlines? Are there secret contests to see who can land the craziest client?

RockThrillz89 > Toledo Disapproves 04/06/2015 at 14:21

1

I love it. You get my vote.

SteveLehto > Dusty Ventures 04/06/2015 at 14:23

0

That is why it is so perplexing. I suspect that some attorneys are desperate for the business and will take anything (or if they can get a client to PAY them to handle the case). But I have seen some horrible cases which I am pretty sure were taken on contingency. 1/3 of zero is still zero.

I've had some crazy ideas brought to me but I knew better than to take them. There is one that was INSANE and I am on the fence about whether I could write about it here or not.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 14:53

1

Do it! Unless it is horrifically violent or sexually explicit...

Dusty Ventures > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 14:58

1

I admit I was half hoping "secret crazy client contests" was a thing. I hope you mange to write about the "insane" case because now you've got me curious.

pierce is a b > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 15:28

0

If your car is in a collision – no matter how minimal the damage – you can demand that the insurance company replace it due to its otherwise "diminished value."

Back when I cared more about collision data (10 yrs ago) there was a guy who made a business of filing claims for the diminished value of cars after a wreck. He did NOT claim to be able to get you a new car, only the difference in value between what a repaired wreck vs. an unwrecked car would be. I don't know if he's still around or if he's successful (the Carfax advertising would indicate that diminished value is a thing and probably could be argued)

SteveLehto > pierce is a b 04/06/2015 at 15:29

1

Totally different argument. I know about diminished value claims (and made it clear in the thread this appeared in). Not all states allow those but a commenter said that it would work in ANY state and work EVERY time.

pierce is a b > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 15:29

1

dude oozes charisma. I've been within 10 feet of him and it's palpable

ranwhenparked > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 17:32

0

If this wasn't true, attorneys wouldn't bother looking for good cases and would just sit there and file frivolous ones and rake in the money.

Tell that to Phelps Chartered Law, seriously, they have literally nothing better to do with their time.

Bearded Bastard > SteveLehto 04/06/2015 at 20:04

1

the damage and crushed cars one is good, people always tell take about things in absolutes.

If the car can be easily repaired, it will be, and easily repaired can go a long way, we had a dealer receive a truck that went off the front of the hauler, land on it's nose, and roll onto it's roof, the dealer took the vehicle, and put a new cab on it, the person who bought it I guess bought so much extra junk it was worth it for them to repair everything.

People also steal wheels off vehicles and then they are left on their discs or diffs, after rocking around on rail, there is a couple mirror finish spots on the floor of the traincar, these repairs will go undocumented, and you wonder why your diff just can't get it's leak fixed, or why your brakes went early/had a flat spot on the disc.

The only usual event, is that the dealer will use insurance to get a write off on the vehicle, and sell it to the trucker or transporter if they want to. Otherwise they are fixed and sold

The Compromiser > SteveLehto 04/07/2015 at 18:46

0

If a brand new car gets damaged in shipping to the dealer, the manufacturer will have it crushed.

I worked in a dealership. We had a brand new SUV come in damaged a lot. Train car went off the rails crossing Texas. Repaired and sold as new. The only thing they did was ask the guy who ordered it if he still wanted it. He didn't. Not surprised at all. It was FUBAR.

SteveLehto > The Compromiser 04/07/2015 at 18:50

0

This is one which is wishful thinking - we wish they'd crush them.

Thanks for the note.

jayed_coins > SteveLehto 05/06/2015 at 14:11

2

Ah, I’m sure you heard this one a lot the last two winters here in the Mitten — “What global warming? Look at all the snow and cold weather we’ve had!”

KJabs got a Chevy SS!!! - no longer needs a Pontiac G8 > SteveLehto 05/11/2015 at 04:24

1

I have successfully gotten extra money (I forget exactly how much) out of the other party's insurance company due to "diminished future value" after an accident, but the car sure wasn't totaled! Then again, it was literally brand new, and I hadn't even made the first payment on it yet...

Britt > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 13:27

0

Was it me? I do that sometimes, then catch myself, usually too late...

SteveLehto > Britt 07/02/2015 at 13:30

0

No. The guy still stalks me! He posted a long comment to the post I put up today. I simply dismiss them as soon as I see them. He is still in the gray so I have no idea why he does it (other than his flaming mental illness). I have not responded to a piece of his since that last crazy exchange.