# About This Message Board **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/about-this-message-board/8.md?page=430 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 431 --- ## [Archived newspaper articles, and the SDMB's Copyright Policy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archived-newspaper-articles-and-the-sdmbs-copyright-policy/164188)
**Author:** [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 27, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archived-newspaper-articles-and-the-sdmbs-copyright-policy/164188 "2003-03-27T22:02:32Z")
In my job I have reason to use commercial archive search engines like Lexis-Nexis \[tm\] and Dialog \[tm\] to look for archived newspaper articles. The other day, I saw a several-year-old article from the New York Times tha… --- ## [Is there a problem with threads not being updated?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-problem-with-threads-not-being-updated/164432)
**Author:** [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 27, 2003, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-problem-with-threads-not-being-updated/164432 "2003-03-27T13:26:43Z")
This thread, in the Pit, appears in the thread list as having zero replies, when in fact it has two. Several of the threads to which I subscribe also have the last post marked inaccurately. Is this happening for anyone e… --- ## [Why is this message board so \*agonizingly\* slow?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-message-board-so-agonizingly-slow/163818)
**Author:** [@Rusalka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rusalka)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2003, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-message-board-so-agonizingly-slow/163818 "2003-03-26T23:29:12Z")
I live in Chicago, (which I believe is the same area as the server for this board) and I access this board from two different Chicago access providers, both broadband connections. It pings fine, and the traceroute show … --- ## [Who is Earl?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-earl/163934)
**Author:** [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2003, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-earl/163934 "2003-03-26T15:04:41Z")
I never thought about it until a friend I had told about the Straight Dope website asked me and I had no idea: Who is Earl? Why is he weird? And what great deed did he do to earn a spot on the front page of the Straight… --- ## [Can banned users come back?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-banned-users-come-back/162885)
**Author:** [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-banned-users-come-back/162885 "2003-03-26T02:47:24Z")
I’m still new here and trying to learn, but I don’t know where to ask this question. If someone is banned, are they allowed to come back under another name after a certain amount of time has passed? Or are they banned … --- ## [Linking to a post and not the whole thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linking-to-a-post-and-not-the-whole-thread/164055)
**Author:** [@Ashkicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashkicker)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2003, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linking-to-a-post-and-not-the-whole-thread/164055 "2003-03-25T19:48:01Z")
Okay in this thread there is some discussion going on about not linking the whole thread, but to link directly to the post instead. I can link the page, but not directly to the post. I put the cursor over some of the but… --- ## [Kim Kommando on Weird Earl's?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-kommando-on-weird-earls/163886)
**Author:** [@Payne\_N.Diaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Payne_N.Diaz)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-kommando-on-weird-earls/163886 "2003-03-25T19:45:54Z")
Instead of working on school assignments this afternoon, I found myself where I usually am, on “Dope” (heh, heh). I noticed that Weird Earl’s link today was brought to us by Kim Kommando. Is this the same Kim Kommando th… --- ## [Searching for appropriate term](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-for-appropriate-term/163492)
**Author:** [@SouthernSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SouthernSky)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2003, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-for-appropriate-term/163492 "2003-03-25T08:41:32Z")
Does anyone know the term for when a newbie (such as myself) adds a comment to a thread which is so inane as to preclude any more discussion? I seem to remember seeing a name for it, but after 3 days of digging into my … --- ## [subscribing to threads...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subscribing-to-threads/163516)
**Author:** [@dajah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dajah)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2003, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subscribing-to-threads/163516 "2003-03-25T06:26:49Z")
i never do it. but somehow i am getting email notifcation for every thread i post in… i have checked and double checked to make sure i am not requesting to subscribe to any thread. i read through the FAQ and didn’t see… --- ## [Searching for a three letter word....](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-for-a-three-letter-word/163409)
**Author:** [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2003, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-for-a-three-letter-word/163409 "2003-03-24T02:51:30Z")
From the FAQ I don’t usually use the search function, but I just watched the movie One Hour Photo last night and I wanted to see what people on the boards might have said about it. So I went to the search page and sear… --- ## [Can keyword \*and\* user name searches be done?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-keyword-and-user-name-searches-be-done/162730)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2003, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-keyword-and-user-name-searches-be-done/162730 "2003-03-24T02:38:33Z")
With the search engine, you can search for a keyword, or by a user name, but I haven’t been able to get anything trying to search for a keyword by a poster. Can it be done? --- ## [testing-feel free to ignore](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testing-feel-free-to-ignore/163531)
**Author:** [@slice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slice)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 23, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testing-feel-free-to-ignore/163531 "2003-03-23T20:27:56Z")
Since this is the place for practice posts, here I am, practicing. --- ## [THREE million posts!!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-million-posts/159971)
**Author:** [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 23, 2003, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-million-posts/159971 "2003-03-23T13:55:11Z")
We oughtta celebrate or somethin’. Who made the 3,000,000th post? --- ## [Editing your own posts, revisited](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-your-own-posts-revisited/162479)
**Author:** [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [March 23, 2003, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-your-own-posts-revisited/162479 "2003-03-23T02:44:57Z")
I know this editing posts thing has been beaten to death, but would it not be possible to allow editing within a time limit or until a post has been made after yours? I’ve seen other forum boards that behave this way, an… --- ## [Move along citizens, nothing to see here](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-along-citizens-nothing-to-see-here/163042)
**Author:** [@Phax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phax)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2003, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-along-citizens-nothing-to-see-here/163042 "2003-03-22T04:00:26Z")
You had to look anyway, eh? Really, I’m just practicing! This is blue This isn’t font font font FONT! font. I’m fond of fonts \[ul\] \[/ul\] What is this??? Underlining Sky Blue Squirrels eat crimson nuts on orange… --- ## [tiny trademark type](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-trademark-type/161946)
**Author:** [@MissGypsy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissGypsy)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-trademark-type/161946 "2003-03-21T18:05:32Z")
How do I make those little “tm” trademark things appear small and in superscript? --- ## [The Worthless Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worthless-thread/38869)
**Author:** [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2003, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worthless-thread/38869 "2003-03-21T11:16:20Z")
Test Page 25 … 50 … 75 … 100 … --- ## [Closing a thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-a-thread/162994)
**Author:** [@Winsling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winsling)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2003, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-a-thread/162994 "2003-03-21T04:45:23Z")
Can you give me a general idea for when the OP can request to have a thread closed? In particular, when the thread has taken an unexpected direction, does the OP still have “rights” to close it? I assume it wouldn’t be… --- ## [banned or BANNED?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banned-or-banned/162992)
**Author:** [@Canadagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadagirl)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2003, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banned-or-banned/162992 "2003-03-21T04:38:20Z")
I was just wondering, reading around, what is the difference between a user that is banned and a user that is BANNED? --- ## [Deletting of post?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deletting-of-post/162827)
**Author:** [@MachineHead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MachineHead)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deletting-of-post/162827 "2003-03-20T19:45:50Z")
I know I posted in Hentor the Barbarian’s thread, directing a certain member to a thread in which I pitted him. Did one of the mods delete it? I know I posted it, but in search I cannot find it. --- ## [test](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test/162513)
**Author:** [@NixDorf\_90000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NixDorf_90000)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test/162513 "2003-03-20T17:03:51Z")
rerye34534 --- ## [Identifying specific posts in a thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identifying-specific-posts-in-a-thread/24624)
**Author:** [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2003, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identifying-specific-posts-in-a-thread/24624 "2003-03-20T15:41:07Z")
I’ve just noticed that in the new version of vB, it uses the HTML # markers at each post, so that a URL can point to a specific post in a thread, rather than just the thread. This is a very nice feature, and it’s actuall… --- ## [A question concerning fair usage of board material and copyrights](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-concerning-fair-usage-of-board-material-and-copyrights/157526)
**Author:** [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2003, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-concerning-fair-usage-of-board-material-and-copyrights/157526 "2003-03-20T08:05:29Z")
Today somebody pointed out the number of views that the “horror of blimps” thread got, and I was stunned. I went to google and put in “horror of blimps” and sure enough this thing is everywhere, and I’m happy. While ev… --- ## [testing -- ignore](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testing-ignore/162431)
**Author:** [@Cessandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cessandra)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2003, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testing-ignore/162431 "2003-03-20T07:51:18Z")
i hope you don’t mind, i’m testing a new plugin for my browser that claims to let me click on urls that aren’t clickable links… http://unidentity.net --- ## [sig test](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sig-test/162658)
**Author:** [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2003, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sig-test/162658 "2003-03-19T23:49:26Z")
Howdy howdy --- ## [elusive illustrations?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elusive-illustrations/162243)
**Author:** [@terrific422](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terrific422)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2003, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elusive-illustrations/162243 "2003-03-19T12:43:45Z")
I think this web site is just fine without all the blinking lights and flashing headlines. The HSW web site is way too commercialized and I hate their pop up ads!! Straight Answers is Straight Dope! If I want flash I’… --- ## [Sig Test](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sig-test/162448)
**Author:** [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2003, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sig-test/162448 "2003-03-19T04:31:58Z")
Wonder if my new sig is too long? Hmm. --- ## [sig test](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sig-test/162229)
**Author:** [@MissGypsy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissGypsy)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 18, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sig-test/162229 "2003-03-18T23:40:06Z")
trying out my first sig --- ## [How many veteran Dopers among our 32,000 plus?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-veteran-dopers-among-our-32-000-plus/162187)
**Author:** [@Lorenzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorenzo)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 18, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-veteran-dopers-among-our-32-000-plus/162187 "2003-03-18T23:35:30Z")
YMMV, but I’d estimate anyone with more than 2,000 posts at the SDMB and at least 6 years (or however far back such records are kept, whichever is shorter) posting experience would qualify as a veteran poster. My UWAG i… --- ## [Why Do Some Threads Get Locked, and Others Get Deleted?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-threads-get-locked-and-others-get-deleted/161897)
**Author:** [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 18, 2003, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-threads-get-locked-and-others-get-deleted/161897 "2003-03-18T21:29:27Z")
What makes a thread get deleted, whereas another is simply locked? A week or so ago, I posted in a thread in which the OP was obviously trolling. The next day when I was on the Board, it was totally gone. Bemused, I eve… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/about-this-message-board/8.md?page=429) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/about-this-message-board/8.md?page=431)