An intro of myself and a request for 411 on S.D.

[Lazerus]

Allright I'm here looking around 4 a while, pretty good discussions, pretty smart people, lots of different views. So I decided I would register and stay here for a while. But I got some questions...

Where is "here" ???

What is the 411 on Straight Dope???

Are the books worth my time? If so why?

Just Kinda curious about where I'm @.
I'd appreciate your help on this matter.

Thanx SDMB

L.I.C.
LAZ

[DrFidelius]

The books are worth anyone's while. Buy several copies of each to distribute to friends and family.

After reading them you may be capable of expressing your thoughts without resorting to semi-literate Net-lingo.


------------------
Dr. Fidelius, Charlatan
Associate Curator Anomalous Paleontology, Miskatonic University
"You cannot reason a man out of a position he did not reach through reason."

[Sake Samurai]

U R Here @ the SBMB, LOL, no ROTFVMLMALOL!! IIRC, The 411 is Chig@go, IL., but we B all over the USA FYI!!! C U LA TER DU DE!!!

------------------
Hell is Other People.

[Ursa Major]

Aw, don't chase the guy off.

Laz: Just click on the "Straight Dope Home Page" link directly below. Read the columns. There's several hundred in the archives. If you feel the need to read even more, buy the books. If you find them boring or uninformative, this probably isn't the MB for you.

[AuntiePam]

Lighten up, guys. Not everyone knows how to spell "for" or "at." ;)

[DrFidelius]

SD is South Dakota. It is bordered by Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana. Its capital is Pierre. Its state tree is the Black Hills spruce.

The area code for the state is 605.

1-605-555-1212 will give you directory assistance for South Dakota.

[psycat90]

I really am curious how people get here, without knowing where here is. What brought you here Laz? And yes you should read all the books cover to cover, they are interesting,funny and you will definately learn alot. Welcome.

------------------
If three people say you are an ass, put on a bridle.
-Spanish Proverb

[David B]

[Moderator Hat: ON]

Ok, here's the first moderatorial piece of advice: Don't post non-debates in Great Debates. :)

Off to "About This Message Board" we go. (I think that's the most appropriate place. < shrug > )

------
David B, SDMB Great Debates Moderator

[Moderator Hat: OFF]

[wolfstu]

What are these books to which the Original Poster alludes?

[Ice Wolf]

Sorry 'bout the hijack, guys -- but why does Lazarus' post count read "0"?
End hijack. Back to your regular programme.

[absoul]

Originally posted by wolfstu
What are these books to which the Original Poster alludes?
Welcome to the Straight Dope! (http://www.straightdope.com/)

Here are some links for the books... linkety (https://securesite.chireader.com/cgi-bin/dopestore/buystuff.bat), link (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=books&field-keywords=%20%20straight%20dope&bq=1/ref=aps_more_b_1/107-9284275-5087765).

...and if you are to broke to buy the books... just follow me around the boards and bask in the wisdom of my glow.

[Freedom]

Wolfstu

Mind if I ask why you dug up a year old thread?

[Gaudere]

[Moderator Hat ON]

Well, discussions about the books and general info on the board belong in About the Message Board. So that's where this goes.

[Moderator Hat OFF]

[TubaDiva]

Originally posted by Ice Wolf
Sorry 'bout the hijack, guys -- but why does Lazarus' post count read "0"?
End hijack. Back to your regular programme.

I dunno. Some little glitch, we've had a passel of 'em lately.

As long as the board works I don't much care about the little oddities. The techs feel the same way.

your humble TubaDiva
Administrator

[wolfstu]

Originally posted by absoul

Here are some links for the books... linkety (https://securesite.chireader.com/cgi-bin/dopestore/buystuff.bat), link (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=books&field-keywords=%20%20straight%20dope&bq=1/ref=aps_more_b_1/107-9284275-5087765).

...and if you are to broke to buy the books... just follow me around the boards and bask in the wisdom of my glow.
[/B]



Thank you. Help is always welcome.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Freedom

Wolfstu

Mind if I ask why you dug up a year old thread?

[QUOTE]


Among other things, I wanted to know what the 'books' were, and it seemed that the tread had some merit for new readers of the BBS.


Thank you for the info and the response.
wolfStu

[Show_Biz]

Anyone who can get a special post on the first try (one with a post count of 0) deserves to hang around a while longer. Sure, it might have been beginner's luck, but it could also be a sign of important things to come. Welcome.

[Ice Wolf]

Thanks for the info on the "0" biz, TubaDiva.

I've also seen a "N/A" post count. Both from 1999-2000 (early). Maybe something to do with the older system? WAG? Don't really need an answer. I'll accept it as just another of Life's sweet, sweet mysteries ...

[Duck Duck Goose]

Oh geez. [groan of exasperation]

I just got done reading this whole entire thread trying to help a newbie, only to finally check the dates and realize that this thread's from over a year ago!?

Wolfstu, sweetie, you gotta exercise a tiny bit more judgement when it comes to bumping antique threads, 'kay? ;) Anything older than about 2 months, start a new thread and link to the old thread. Say, "I know this has been discussed before but..."

Wait, I know, here's a link to some ATMB threads where we discuss "how old is too old?" and "bumping threads".

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=53670

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=50488

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=50272

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=40568

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=2093

'kay? ;) Lova ya, baby, I really do, but sheesh... :D

[Duck Duck Goose]

And P.S. What were you doing up there in the Great Debates attic, anyway? Does your boss know what you're doing when you're supposed to be working? :D

[Coldfire]

wolfstu asks a question based on an old thread he reads. In that very thread, because it seems to him the place to ask his question. He wants to know about "the books". Someone answers his question. That's about it. I know, hardly a paperback thriller.

Why do some people think we have rules about how old a thread may be to still be resurrected legally?
The answer is: we don't. If a newbie is smart enough to use the search engine, and finds a thread that is related to what he wishes to know, but does not answer his question, then what is the problem in asking it then and there?
I'm all for good searching. If wolfstu had started a new thread without doing his homework, I'm sure someone would have come in with a link to an older thread - maybe even this one (in other words: no matter how you do it, there's always someone to disagree, right?). At least in this case, wolfstu is showing us he put some effort in this.

Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose
Anything older than about 2 months, start a new thread and link to the old thread. Say, "I know this has been discussed before but..."Where did this come from, exactly?
There are no strict guidelines for this. If a resurrection post adds fuel to the discussion, it's valid. No matter how old the thread is.

[Derleth]

But ya gotta admit, Chron-guy, a thread full of obsolete code is rather annoying. This thread really is not so bad, but some threads are so full of <BLOCKQUOTE> and <IMG SRC...> tags it's hardly worth it to drag them back up. Visually jarring, you understand. I won't go into people boosting threads with inflammatory comments in them. And seeing a WallyM7 post is ... disconcerting, even so long after his passing. I'm all for boosting relevent threads even if they are real antiques. But some things really should be left in the root cellars.

[Chronos]

Gee, Derleth, you're really having a hard time with us moderators tonight, aren't you? First Alphagene was "Arnie Winkie", and now Coldfire is "Chron-guy"?

I would also add, by the way, that when resurrecting an old thread, it's usually a good idea to mention in your post that it is, in fact, an old thread. Less confusing that way, for everyone else.

[Duck Duck Goose]

Originally posted by Coldfire
Why do some people think we have rules about how old a thread may be to still be resurrected legally?
The answer is: we don't. If a newbie is smart enough to use the search engine, and finds a thread that is related to what he wishes to know, but does not answer his question, then what is the problem in asking it then and there?
Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose
Anything older than about 2 months, start a new thread and link to the old thread. Say, "I know this has been discussed before but..."Where did this come from, exactly?
There are no strict guidelines for this. If a resurrection post adds fuel to the discussion, it's valid. No matter how old the thread is. [/B]

Eh, I don't recall ever saying, "These are the rules for resurrecting old threads," but I do recall saying, numerous times, "These are the rules of thumb for resurrecting old threads." There's a difference. ;)

But, hey, Coldfire, I'm flattered that you think my word carries enough weight that I could be accused of laying down rules for old threads. :D "Bow down before the Holy Duck, whose judgement is true and whose word is law." :D

I disagree that it's always okay to bump a thread if you think you have something to add, no matter how ancient the thread is. I personally don't appreciate seeing some of those old wars get resurrected and refought, and sometimes it's hurtful to see the names of good posters who stomped away, angry, and haven't been back since.

I also didn't appreciate seeing Tracer's Enterprise vs. Star Destroyer GD thread from summer of 1999 get bumped. If somebody wanted to discuss that, and had used Search to find it, surely Spoofe's thread would have come up, too.

If the poster then didn't want to add to Spoofe's 800-page Russian novel, :) (an understandable reaction) why not start a new thread? As it is, all we got to see was a few contributions before David locked the thread. Should David have left the thread open, so we could continue a discussion that was begun way back when we were all still wondering whether the world was gonna end in 6 months?

I still think it's better to leave the antiques up in the attic.

But I agree, this particular ATMB thread here is problematical. Wolfstu wanted to know what "books", so he bumped it. I spoke out of exasperation at having scrolled all the way through the dern thing, only to realize that the OP, whoever he may have been, was long gone.

And I'll admit that after stumbling across the SDMB last spring, it took me a while, too, to tear my keyboard away from the MB and make my way to the Home Page and realize what these "books" were.

:)

[Coldfire]

What I'm worried about is the fact that in this particular case (wolfstu) people have been dropping advise left and right (some well meant, like DDG here, and some a little confrontational, like Esprix in the Pit) to educate the newbie in what's the right way to go about posting (or not posting) to old threads.

In reality, these are (as DDG points out) rules of thumb rather than rules carved in stone. The official answer is and will always be: it depends. And while I enjoy seeing regs trying to point out certain "faux pas" to newbies, it sort of annoys me when those "faux pas" aren't based on official rules, but rather on personal preference. That's not exactly helping a newbie like wolfstu. For all I know, he's been lurking for two weeks, and got the impression that reviving an old thread is the thing to do when it covers the topic you wish to discuss. And I couldn't blame him for that, because there's enough people referring to old threads when a newbie asks a question out of the blue.

See what I mean?

I guess the bottom line is: cut the newbie some slack. He's trying to be a good citizen, untill proven otherwise. He did nothing wrong, and will get the hang of it in due time.

[Esprix]

How related is "what are these books?" to "give me the 411 on the SDMB?" Could have easily been a new thread, IMHO.

I'm waiting for someone to read the OP, post a "welcome!" message, and then go "D'oh!" One of the many reasons reviving such old threads bothers the heck out of me (obviously).

Esprix

[Fenris]

Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose
:D "Bow down before the Holy Duck, whose judgement is true and whose word is law." :D
[/B]

All Hail the Mighty Triple-Waterfowl. Fear her mighty, Goose-like wrath. Cower in fear as her downy wings blot out the sun! Worship not false fowl, only the Goose speaks Truth!

<I always wanted to belong to a personality cult. Hey DDG! If you do start a cult, can I be the thuggish kneebreaker-guy who punishes unbelievers? :) >

Fenris

[The Ryan]

At least the OP's name is appropiate...