"Can't win a piss fight with a skunk", ever hear that from your parents ?

[steve2470]

When I became politically aware in 1972, Watergate was beginning to rage away. I lived in the middle-sized town of Orlando, then newly famous for WDW and long a citrus industry town/center. Accordingly, the Orlando Slantinel (officially called the Sentinel but you get my drift) was VERY right-wing and very supportive of Nixon.

I would read the Slantinel and get apopleptic with rage over their selective coverage and their editorials and columnists (mostly conservative but not all). So, like any good teenager on a mission, I would write my LTE. Several of them.

I complained vigorously to my dad, who in exasperation one day said, "Son, you can't win a piss fight with a skunk." I knew immediately what he meant LOL, and quietly resolved to stop wasting my time.

My dad rarely said things like that. He was pretty religious in the old-school Episcopalian (easter and sunday boys ya'll) way, so it was a surprise hearing that come from him!

[LeftInTX]

1. Never heard it

But sounds like great words of wisdom!

When I would write complaint letters, my dad would say, "You're writing a complaint letter, not an epistle".

I have a tendency to complain and complain and complain........

[True Dough]

2. We can all smell that stench

emanating from the White House...

[rusty quoin]

3. I never heard that but it is worth remembering.

[sammythecat]

4. Considering all the piss fights I've been in,

it's a little surprising I never heard that phrase.

[OriginalGeek]

5. I've lived in Orlando for almost 35 years now

We dumped the sentinel about 32 years ago. My grandpa got it on Thursday and Sunday for coupons and sports but it never took me more than a glance or two to remember why I hate them. He saved me the rest to put in my fire chimney.


I've probably wasted a lot of time piss fighting with skunks. Wish I had heard your dad's advice sooner!

[steve2470]

6. haha!

It must have been a very old Jacksonville southernism he passed along. My dad was born in 1917, so you can see where I'm going with this.

I've lived here maybe 55 years grand total between a few moves out of area. The Slantinel has gotten considerably better since the 1970's but it's still too conservative, yes. I only read it online here and there for some news stories. I have no idea what they've said or not said in their editorials about Trump, but probably NOT enough and not soon enough.

I'm a bit surprised I'm the only one so far, hmm! I thought this was a fairly common one.

[teach1st]

7. The Sentinel did endorse Hillary Clinton

I used to compile articles about education for a Florida teacher blog, and the Sentinel, as conservative as it is, has been on the progressive side of certain educational issues. The editorial department has not been favorable toward President Trump. They did endorse Ms. Clinton, even though it was a rather backhanded endorsement: "While we are troubled by (Benghazi, the e-mails, and the Clinton Foundation), our concern doesn't approach our misgivings about Trump."

I'm in the Tampa Bay area and I've heard your father's "piss fight with a skunk" remark from others, and it describes one reason that I rarely engage with Trumpsters.

[steve2470]

11. still a bit of a skunk they are, I see lol

Benghazi WTF...emails again wtf and CF..... at least they grudgingly endorsed Clinton but MAYBE ... just maybe if they had been as rigorous as the best of the national media, they might have swayed a few others. IIRC, Orange and Osceola counties went blue but the other central Florida counties went RED except for Hillsborough.

Yep, I agree with you about Trumpsters. Skunkish as in ignorant and hopelessly biased.

[sarge43]

8. My brother's take on that one

If you have to get in a pissing contest, stay up wind.

[DinahMoeHum]

9. I've heard that expression before. . .

. . .and here's a song about it. . .

[TomSlick]

10. Mine is close.

Even if you win a pissing contest, you'll still get your boots wet.