# About This Message Board **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/about-this-message-board/8.md?page=245 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 246 --- ## [Signatures](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signatures/515367)
**Author:** [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signatures/515367 "2009-10-29T00:26:46Z")
Is there a way to make your sig show up with every post, instead of “whenever I remember to check the box that I almost never notice”? I would really like to clear up any lingering questions about my gender. --- ## [Could someone please help me dig up a thread on prison?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-please-help-me-dig-up-a-thread-on-prison/515393)
**Author:** [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-please-help-me-dig-up-a-thread-on-prison/515393 "2009-10-28T18:11:01Z")
Some time ago there was a fascinating thread - which contained a link to another thread, on SomethingAwful - about being in prison. The SomethingAwful thread was a really fascinating post by someone who had done time and… --- ## [Xan Suspended](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xan-suspended/515445)
**Author:** [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2009, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xan-suspended/515445 "2009-10-28T14:59:39Z")
We’ve suspeded Xan for two weeks based on his failure to follow moderator instructions in this post: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11709672&postcount=43 --- ## [Reporting "spam" posts; Overkill?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reporting-spam-posts-overkill/515391)
**Author:** [@SleepyDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SleepyDuck)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2009, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reporting-spam-posts-overkill/515391 "2009-10-28T12:41:49Z")
OK, so I’m surfing the dope, and spot some fresh spam. As a dutiful netizen, I report it. I return to the forum and see that the spammer has posted its message multiple times. Should I report each of these posts redundan… --- ## [This place needs a "sandbox"...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-place-needs-a-sandbox/513320)
**Author:** [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2009, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-place-needs-a-sandbox/513320 "2009-10-28T04:34:10Z")
… test threads that will just stay around for an hour or so. ﬞ ײַ ﬠ ﬡ --- ## [Can the PM limit be raised](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-pm-limit-be-raised/515264)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2009, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-pm-limit-be-raised/515264 "2009-10-28T00:28:37Z")
I have private messages I don’t want to delete, and I’ve been converting them to word documents to make room. The 50 PM limit for both sent and received messages gets filled quickly. Can a function be added so that we m… --- ## [Some Posts Get "Lost In The Ether"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-posts-get-lost-in-the-ether/514178)
**Author:** [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-posts-get-lost-in-the-ether/514178 "2009-10-27T20:31:01Z")
Or maybe there’s just a time-lag, but I have noticed that although some of my answers appear instantly, some never appear at all, which makes me think I have to re-write them. Thanks Q PS: I DO hit Submit --- ## [The Etiquette of the Padlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-etiquette-of-the-padlock/514993)
**Author:** [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-etiquette-of-the-padlock/514993 "2009-10-27T15:27:15Z")
In the thread Would This Thread Be Acceptable?, the OP’s question about permission was answered in Posts 4 and 5 by two mods who said they wouldn’t permit it even though it wasn’t against the rules. But other posters co… --- ## [Test Post](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-post/514380)
**Author:** [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2009, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-post/514380 "2009-10-27T13:07:30Z")
typing merrily along trying to hit the keys to make this post disappear Nope , not alt windows keys Not ctrl alt not shift alt Not shift/ctrl Not ctrl shift Thanks Q --- ## [RSS feed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rss-feed/515285)
**Author:** [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2009, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rss-feed/515285 "2009-10-27T12:46:39Z")
I’m surprised that The Straight Dope doesn’t have an RSS feed. Practically all news sites, blogs, forums, etc. have an RSS feed these days. It’s very widely used. It means that people get notified each time there is new… --- ## [Appalling board performance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appalling-board-performance/512112)
**Author:** [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Replies:** 90\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2009, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appalling-board-performance/512112 "2009-10-27T12:01:46Z")
For the past couple of days the board’s performance seems to have hit an all-time low, for me at least. Yesterday, and all this afternoon, I’ve been unable to connect to the boards, as I keep getting a “Connection Reset… --- ## [Question about mitochrindontial DNA](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-mitochrindontial-dna/515206)
**Author:** [@Mary\_G.Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mary_G.Bailey)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-mitochrindontial-dna/515206 "2009-10-26T22:23:16Z")
I think I answered my own question. I just thought it through. Thankyou very much. Mary G. Bailey --- ## [Thread about bottles with residue](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-bottles-with-residue/515075)
**Author:** [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-bottles-with-residue/515075 "2009-10-26T15:50:21Z")
In a thread from this summer or early fall, the OP asked about soda bottles s/he’s finding that have plastic wrap around them and a brown residue in the bottom. I’ve used both SDMB and Google searches under every term I… --- ## [Local Forums?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-forums/515001)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2009, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-forums/515001 "2009-10-26T04:50:15Z")
When the board started the Chicago forums, I had suggested instead that they have a “local” forum, where people can sign up to a region-based group and only members of that group see the forum listed on the main page. Th… --- ## [Suggestion: A "Random Questions" Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-a-random-questions-thread/515019)
**Author:** [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-a-random-questions-thread/515019 "2009-10-25T16:50:08Z")
Somewhere under General Questions, I think we should have a Quick Questions sticky, where people can post General Questions that don’t require a whole thread. For example: “What is the largest land mammal?” has a three w… --- ## [How do I post a poll? (test)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-post-a-poll-test/514863)
**Author:** [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2009, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-post-a-poll-test/514863 "2009-10-24T14:16:10Z")
Okay, I checked the box below to post a poll. Let’s see what happens when I hit submit. --- ## [Would this thread be acceptable?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-acceptable/514652)
**Author:** [@Happy\_Poster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Poster)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-acceptable/514652 "2009-10-23T21:33:49Z")
Would I be permitted to start a thread in MPSIMS titled “Private Message me your confessions” and with the content of the thread something along the lines of “Got something you want to share with a stranger on the intern… --- ## [pest toll.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pest-toll/514742)
**Author:** [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pest-toll/514742 "2009-10-22T18:34:26Z")
All pests must pay a toll. --- ## [If you re-up as member do you lose post counts for posts made as a guest?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-re-up-as-member-do-you-lose-post-counts-for-posts-made-as-a-guest/514664)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-re-up-as-member-do-you-lose-post-counts-for-posts-made-as-a-guest/514664 "2009-10-21T21:39:18Z")
If you are posting as a guest and were previously a member, and you re-up as a member do the posts you made as a guest become part of your total member posts or not? --- ## [Factual question about arts: Where to post?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/factual-question-about-arts-where-to-post/514461)
**Author:** [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2009, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/factual-question-about-arts-where-to-post/514461 "2009-10-20T21:43:31Z")
If I have a factual question about a typical CS topic, e. g. “Which actor played character X in movie Y?”, where should I post it? GQ or CS? --- ## [Why Was This Thread Closed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/513002)
**Author:** [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Replies:** 91\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/513002 "2009-10-20T19:12:04Z")
Here. I clearly and specifically was \*\*not \*\*asking for advice on how to break the law. I was stating my position on whether a particular action should be legal, and asking how to do it once it is legalized. I made it… --- ## [Hall of Infamy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hall-of-infamy/514113)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hall-of-infamy/514113 "2009-10-20T19:05:05Z")
In an another message board I went to there is a Hall of Infamy where banned members are listed and discussed. Should there be a similar thread for this site? --- ## [RSS?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rss/496722)
**Author:** [@georgebaily](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/georgebaily)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2009, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rss/496722 "2009-10-20T06:12:58Z")
If Straight Dope is fighting ignorance, why doesn’t the main site have an RSS feed? --- ## [Picture link test](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picture-link-test/514348)
**Author:** [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picture-link-test/514348 "2009-10-19T17:39:20Z")
HERE! clip\_image002.gif --- ## [Picture link test](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picture-link-test/514349)
**Author:** [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picture-link-test/514349 "2009-10-19T17:03:30Z")
HERE! Calypso\[1\].JPG --- ## ["You have selected 3 posts" message?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-selected-3-posts-message/514293)
**Author:** [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-selected-3-posts-message/514293 "2009-10-19T16:36:47Z")
I’ve been getting the following message under the entry box lately when I’m typing a reply to a post. This isn’t true, or at least I don’t think so. What is it supposed to mean? Who else is getting this? --- ## [Where is the key to the little boxes on the left?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-key-to-the-little-boxes-on-the-left/514150)
**Author:** [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2009, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-key-to-the-little-boxes-on-the-left/514150 "2009-10-19T03:46:27Z")
Lock is fairly obvious. Blue and yellow envelopes are what? And there is sometimes a curious little blue square with a chevron meaning what? Are there others? What are these things called in boardspeak? --- ## [How Do PMs Work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pms-work/514173)
**Author:** [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-pms-work/514173 "2009-10-18T19:03:01Z")
I’ve previously sent 1 PM and did not expect an answer to it so I don’t what to do now. What’s the etiquette for sending a PM? I’m involved in a thread that I hi-jacked (after the OP was answered) and would like to con… --- ## [Another test to ignore - just how many options can the polling feature handle?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-test-to-ignore-just-how-many-options-can-the-polling-feature-handle/514098)
**Author:** [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-test-to-ignore-just-how-many-options-can-the-polling-feature-handle/514098 "2009-10-16T23:53:50Z")
A test to see how many options this thing can take. I hope that I can cancel this thread before I post it, my apologies if I do not succeed. --- ## [VBulletin too short message question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vbulletin-too-short-message-question/513881)
**Author:** [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vbulletin-too-short-message-question/513881 "2009-10-16T23:28:26Z")
I’m getting the following message when trying to start a new thread on my other computer: This is happening even though it’s obvious that there is a title and normally long message. This occurs while previewing my po… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/about-this-message-board/8.md?page=244) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/about-this-message-board/8.md?page=246)