# About This Message Board **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/about-this-message-board/8.md?page=213 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 214 --- ## [My cats want to join SDMB. If they talk but I type, is that considered a sock puppet?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990)
**Author:** [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2010, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cats-want-to-join-sdmb-if-they-talk-but-i-type-is-that-considered-a-sock-puppet/564990 "2010-12-24T02:39:35Z")
I hope I don’t get an infraction but based on the premise of the question, I think this would technically be the correct sub-forum. Of course whether the premise is reasonable, or even rational, is another issue entirel… --- ## [If you've been hit by malware - GOOD NEWS, we hope](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-been-hit-by-malware-good-news-we-hope/562486)
**Author:** [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2010, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-been-hit-by-malware-good-news-we-hope/562486 "2010-12-22T06:29:05Z")
If you’ve been hit by malware while reading the SDMB and would like to help us identify the offending advertiser(s), the following procedure is recommended by the tech support people at Rubicon Project, our ad provider: … --- ## [Multiple replies but no views?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multiple-replies-but-no-views/564994)
**Author:** [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2010, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multiple-replies-but-no-views/564994 "2010-12-21T21:04:55Z")
I feel like I’ve seen this question before, but I couldn’t find it in a search and (obviously) don’t remember the answer… I’m subscribed to thread that currently has 14 replies but 0 views. How is that possible? Does it… --- ## [zombie thread redux](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombie-thread-redux/564493)
**Author:** [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombie-thread-redux/564493 "2010-12-21T17:19:19Z")
Is it possible to change the color of the ui in some way so as to alert us if a thread has ever been a zombie (e.g.there was a gap of x amount of time between two consecutive posts)? With the recent sanctioned increase … --- ## [Posting attachments](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-attachments/564692)
**Author:** [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posting-attachments/564692 "2010-12-21T16:33:48Z")
Not that I plan to, but at what point will I be allowed to? is it by post count, or behavior, or what? --- ## [We can't state opinions as fact?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-state-opinions-as-fact/564868)
**Author:** [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Replies:** 123\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-cant-state-opinions-as-fact/564868 "2010-12-21T16:27:10Z")
The Cyndi Lauper thread in Cafe Society had some back and forth between posters about whether or no Cyndi is a great vocalist or a hack or whatever. Dio then posted this: \[Quote=Diogenes the Cynic\] I’ll take your word… --- ## [Clarification from Colibri requested](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-from-colibri-requested/564681)
**Author:** [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2010, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-from-colibri-requested/564681 "2010-12-20T22:10:08Z")
In this GQ thread I received warnings for snark, and for not providing a sufficient level of detail to back up my assertions. I don’t really care about the snark part so much, I will take it under advisement, although I… --- ## [not\_alice suspended for two weeks.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not_alice-suspended-for-two-weeks/564881)
**Author:** [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2010, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not_alice-suspended-for-two-weeks/564881 "2010-12-20T22:05:33Z")
not\_alice has been suspended for two weeks, after receiving three recent warnings in one thread, and having two other warnings from earlier this year: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13266704&postcoun… --- ## [yet again: Mods who can't moderate ...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-again-mods-who-cant-moderate/563177)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-again-mods-who-cant-moderate/563177 "2010-12-20T20:07:58Z")
…or at least who feel the need to get in personal, highly opinionated digs, while criticizing other posters for their views. Here, Tom chimes in on what he has deemed to be a hijack (and I agree, which was why I opened a… --- ## [mod props okay?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-props-okay/564670)
**Author:** [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2010, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-props-okay/564670 "2010-12-20T11:01:39Z")
I was just wondering if it’s okay to give tomndebb props for judiciously needed smackdown and aversion of yet another hijack by a poster’s pet issue? It’s very appreciated. --- ## [Why can't I post a poll in MPSIMS?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-post-a-poll-in-mpsims/564698)
**Author:** [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2010, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-post-a-poll-in-mpsims/564698 "2010-12-19T13:45:19Z")
I get the option in both IMHO & ATMB but it’s oddly not there in MPSIMS. --- ## [\[T-shirt Design\] Ed, please answer this question.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722)
**Author:** [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Replies:** 192\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2010, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722 "2010-12-19T06:34:31Z")
Ed I personally would spend cold hard cash, American Dollars, for a nice Straight Dope T Shirt. With the mast head and ‘it’s taking longer than we thought’ on the front, and ‘Cite’ on the back. Decent quality, available… --- ## [Action required to verify email change for Straight Dope Message Board](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-required-to-verify-email-change-for-straight-dope-message-board/564544)
**Author:** [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-required-to-verify-email-change-for-straight-dope-message-board/564544 "2010-12-18T20:26:22Z")
I received an email this morning concerning the subject; it includes links to a webpage and directs me to go there to verify my email address based on the statement that “since you recently changed your email address, we… --- ## [What happened to this thread?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-this-thread/564603)
**Author:** [@drpepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drpepper)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-this-thread/564603 "2010-12-18T16:06:16Z")
Wasn’t there a thread discussing a woman who was pregnant, and dating a new guy? Am I losing my mind or is it completely gone? As a sanity check I did a search on “pregnant” and couldn’t find it. --- ## [A request for a tweak when reporting posts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-request-for-a-tweak-when-reporting-posts/564628)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2010, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-request-for-a-tweak-when-reporting-posts/564628 "2010-12-18T15:28:10Z")
When we report a post using the red triangle, would it be possible for that report to be saved in our private mailboxes as a sent message? --- ## [Czarcasm is back to work](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-is-back-to-work/564028)
**Author:** [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/czarcasm-is-back-to-work/564028 "2010-12-17T17:53:53Z")
and back as moderator for IMHO. Welcome back, dear heart. --- ## [Poll weirdness](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weirdness/564269)
**Author:** [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2010, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weirdness/564269 "2010-12-17T04:56:21Z")
I’ve noticed a couple of weird things that happen sometimes when answering polls, and I just experienced both of them within about 5 minutes. When I answered the “sandwich” multiple-choice poll, I checked several types.… --- ## [Thought I Reported a Thread in GD, but it was in The Pit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-reported-a-thread-in-gd-but-it-was-in-the-pit/564170)
**Author:** [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2010, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-reported-a-thread-in-gd-but-it-was-in-the-pit/564170 "2010-12-17T04:10:23Z")
I thought I was reading GD and reported a post, but I was actually reading a Pit thread. :smack: Is there anything I need to/can do to “take it back?” --- ## [Does SDMB's native search actually cover what it claims?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sdmbs-native-search-actually-cover-what-it-claims/564290)
**Author:** [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [December 16, 2010, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sdmbs-native-search-actually-cover-what-it-claims/564290 "2010-12-16T14:25:23Z")
The advanced search function allows a choice of 1,2…10 years ago as one of the options. But recently I wanted to find a post I made in 2003 and one on 2007. I was sure about the exact dates, exact phrase and exact user… --- ## [Large text on SDMB](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-text-on-sdmb/563294)
**Author:** [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [December 16, 2010, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-text-on-sdmb/563294 "2010-12-16T02:40:34Z")
Last night I was surfing the Dope with my dog leaning up against me. She put her head on my keyboard and now everything is in large type for the visually impaired. It’s just on the SDMB, other websites are normally sized… --- ## [I pit dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-dhkendall/564051)
**Author:** [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [December 15, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-dhkendall/564051 "2010-12-15T17:09:09Z")
I wonder about the Pit from time to time. I don’t have much time to go trolling around here, mainly stay in MPSIMS due to time restraints (but some of the threads I’ve seen in most other forums intrigue me), but I wisel… --- ## [Subscribed threads not marking as read](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subscribed-threads-not-marking-as-read/562219)
**Author:** [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subscribed-threads-not-marking-as-read/562219 "2010-12-14T16:00:59Z")
Like most of you I’m sure, I auto-subscribe to threads I post in. When I click on “User CP,” it shows me if any new posts have been made. Once I visit the CP once, the threads will be marked as “read.” The last two days … --- ## [Please enforce the location field](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600)
**Author:** [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2010, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600 "2010-12-14T00:18:25Z")
Here we have yet another example of a poster asking a location-specific GQ but not providing information on where “here” is. My suggestion is that the Location field be made mandatory, and only be selectable from a drop… --- ## [Problems with clicking on links](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problems-with-clicking-on-links/564023)
**Author:** [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problems-with-clicking-on-links/564023 "2010-12-13T20:57:14Z")
Sometimes when I click on an external link in a post, instead of going to the external link, it takes me to http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/2, which, of course, gives me a 404 error. --- ## [A test poll - please ignore...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-test-poll-please-ignore/563793)
**Author:** [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-test-poll-please-ignore/563793 "2010-12-13T16:22:59Z")
I want to test an idea - is it possible to put a link in a poll option? While there may be other ways to find out, I thought I’d just try it and see. Which was the better swimmer - the Great Seal of England or the Span… --- ## [Bestway to find out WHY someone's been banned?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bestway-to-find-out-why-someones-been-banned/563711)
**Author:** [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2010, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bestway-to-find-out-why-someones-been-banned/563711 "2010-12-11T02:09:18Z")
I noticed scifisam2009 has been posting as of this morning, but is showing up as “banned.” I don’t have a mental file for that Doper at all, but I’m curious because I have nothing better to think about: why the banning? … --- ## [Why was the "John Edwards/Deathbed" thread closed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-john-edwards-deathbed-thread-closed/563744)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-john-edwards-deathbed-thread-closed/563744 "2010-12-11T02:07:54Z")
You know, this one? Just kidding. Good job, Colibri. --- ## [The Marketplace forum is now open!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-marketplace-forum-is-now-open/563315)
**Author:** [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2010, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-marketplace-forum-is-now-open/563315 "2010-12-10T23:34:26Z")
After lengthy preparation, we’re happy to announce the opening of the Marketplace forum, where SDMB subscribers may promote commercial and other ventures they’re involved in. Gary “Wombat” Robson will moderate. Visit the… --- ## [Shame on you Straight Dope! What you're doing is illegal!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-straight-dope-what-youre-doing-is-illegal/563172)
**Author:** [@regisaddress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/regisaddress)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-straight-dope-what-youre-doing-is-illegal/563172 "2010-12-10T21:33:48Z")
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685\_3-20024696-264.html?tag=cnetRiver Shame on you Straight Dope. I always enjoyed your website but, according to this CNET article (look at list of websites in image Rank#9616) , it looks l… --- ## [Silly threads can be extremely funny.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-threads-can-be-extremely-funny/563612)
**Author:** [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-threads-can-be-extremely-funny/563612 "2010-12-10T19:45:51Z")
Yet they are not allowed in IMHO So where do we post silly OPs ? Simply for humour or to make a subtle point. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/about-this-message-board/8.md?page=212) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/about-this-message-board/8.md?page=214)