# About This Message Board **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/about-this-message-board/8.md?page=486 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 487 --- ## [What Would the Administrators and Moderators Think About This?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-administrators-and-moderators-think-about-this/84150)
**Author:** [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2001, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-administrators-and-moderators-think-about-this/84150 "2001-09-30T20:43:13Z")
I’ve noticed in the past threads on this board that served basically as book clubs, film clubs, and the like. Posters do something “together,” then compare experiences and observations. Anyway, I was wondering what the … --- ## [How to insert long URLs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-long-urls/84152)
**Author:** [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2001, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-long-urls/84152 "2001-09-30T19:56:26Z")
Sometimes I want to link to a page that has a very long URL\*, instead of quoting to excess. It seems that something breaks long URLs by inserting carriage returns. These appear as whitespace or extraneous characters in … --- ## [TheNewbie screws up a bunch of code! (first test post)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thenewbie-screws-up-a-bunch-of-code-first-test-post/84250)
**Author:** [@TheNewbie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheNewbie)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2001, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thenewbie-screws-up-a-bunch-of-code-first-test-post/84250 "2001-09-30T03:46:48Z")
Well, I’ve had enough! I want to be stylish and cool. I want to quote other dopers, I want to give links, I want to be in bold baby! And I’m going to do this all on my own. No asking for help, no looking at instructions,… --- ## [Administrators & Moderators: Retired Post Count Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/administrators-moderators-retired-post-count-question/84495)
**Author:** [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2001, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/administrators-moderators-retired-post-count-question/84495 "2001-09-30T03:09:35Z")
Is it possible to have Retired Post Count Numbers, in the same way that baseball, and other sports in the US and elsewhere, have Retired Uniform Numbers? I ask this because my own Post Count is approaching 666, and I wo… --- ## [username weirdness](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/username-weirdness/84357)
**Author:** [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2001, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/username-weirdness/84357 "2001-09-29T18:37:18Z")
OK, I just hit the main page of the SDMB, and the little thing at the top said, “Welcome back, JayLa! Your last visit was Sept. 27!” (I didn’t note the exact time.) Well, my user name is not JayLa, it’s MsWhatsit. I wen… --- ## [Tuba, why was I banned?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuba-why-was-i-banned/84451)
**Author:** [@Trenchmouth2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trenchmouth2)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2001, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuba-why-was-i-banned/84451 "2001-09-29T04:05:56Z")
I was using the screen name Trenchmouth. I did a search of my posts and I saw nothing out of the ordinary, nor any reasons given for my banning by any of the moderators. Am I missing something? --- ## [Why the heck was I banned??](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-heck-was-i-banned/84448)
**Author:** [@Trenchmouth2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trenchmouth2)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2001, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-heck-was-i-banned/84448 "2001-09-29T04:03:23Z")
Seriously, I’d love to know. Trenchmouth, that is. Not this one, yet. --- ## [Massive quotes upon quotes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-quotes-upon-quotes/84271)
**Author:** [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2001, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-quotes-upon-quotes/84271 "2001-09-28T21:06:06Z")
I used to wonder why I don’t spend more time in Great Debates, and now I was just reminded of why. In the thread about would the conservatives be better off without the religious right, I see too many posts with huge chu… --- ## [What does a banned poster see when they try to post?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-banned-poster-see-when-they-try-to-post/84258)
**Author:** [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2001, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-banned-poster-see-when-they-try-to-post/84258 "2001-09-28T15:48:27Z")
I assume that if I fly right I’ll never see it. But I’m curious, what do they get as a screen? Is it a nasty message? What if they’re logged in at the same moment an administrator comes along and removes their privileg… --- ## [newbie with a question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newbie-with-a-question/83059)
**Author:** [@atypicalcarl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atypicalcarl)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2001, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newbie-with-a-question/83059 "2001-09-28T12:55:40Z")
I understand that questioning the mods belongs in the pit, but what is proper form when a moderator posts an opinion in a thread? Is it supposed to be ignored by all? I haven’t seen anything that I would criticize - I wa… --- ## [microphone check](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microphone-check/83891)
**Author:** [@Reinhold\_Messner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reinhold_Messner)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2001, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microphone-check/83891 "2001-09-28T07:40:43Z")
testing signature file . . . check . . . check 1 . . . check 2 --- ## [Yet more questions about sigs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-more-questions-about-sigs/84040)
**Author:** [@Joyfulgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joyfulgirl)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2001, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-more-questions-about-sigs/84040 "2001-09-28T03:19:17Z")
Question #1 - What’s the protocol for swearing in sigs? Is it not allowed at all? Allowed if you edit it with asterisks? Punishable by death? Question #2 - If a poster is BANNED, can they still change their sigs, or is … --- ## [A question about searching threads](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-searching-threads/83601)
**Author:** [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2001, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-searching-threads/83601 "2001-09-28T02:03:10Z")
Didn’t there used to be an option to search “All open forums”? I could’ve sworn there was, but if not, why isn’t there one? And will there ever be one? I know I’ve seen it on other message boards. --- ## [Where to place a thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-place-a-thread/84202)
**Author:** [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2001, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-place-a-thread/84202 "2001-09-28T00:44:37Z")
I am not certain about where to place a thread I want to start. It may be Cafe Society or General Questions. It’s about a book whose author and title I have forgotten, but I remember the plot. I wish to ask for help in f… --- ## [Page 2](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/page-2/84161)
**Author:** [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 27, 2001, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/page-2/84161 "2001-09-27T23:50:24Z")
A question for the admins: I am wondering how the software decides to break a thread into a new page. Sometimes I post and my remarks appear at the top of a new page. This sometimes leads to a loss of context and inevit… --- ## [Etiquette of Similar posts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-of-similar-posts/84130)
**Author:** [@Mikemike2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikemike2)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 27, 2001, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-of-similar-posts/84130 "2001-09-27T21:48:54Z")
What is the general etiquette for searching for similar threads before posting a new thread. Is this something a poster is expected to do, or are they free to post a question that has already been asked? --- ## [YMMV](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ymmv/84140)
**Author:** [@Miss\_Gretchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Gretchen)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 27, 2001, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ymmv/84140 "2001-09-27T17:18:09Z")
What does this mean? I’m not too proud to say that I’ve thought about it and come up with nothing. Please help! --- ## [What does "hijack" mean?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-hijack-mean/82683)
**Author:** [@Sea\_Sorbust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sea_Sorbust)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [September 27, 2001, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-hijack-mean/82683 "2001-09-27T15:58:34Z")
Beruang wrote in his thread about Zeppelin symbols, “And, at the risk of hijacking my own thread…”. What does it mean to “hijack” a thread? Does it mean the same thing when a post opens with the one-line word “hijack!”? … --- ## [Sig announcement](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sig-announcement/83314)
**Author:** [@MysterEcks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysterEcks)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 27, 2001, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sig-announcement/83314 "2001-09-27T04:30:52Z")
Lingerie should be the soul of sig files? :eek: Ok…I’ll go to bed now. --- ## [Suggestion for another NEW forum](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-for-another-new-forum/83767)
**Author:** [@caircair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caircair)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2001, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-for-another-new-forum/83767 "2001-09-26T21:33:47Z")
Why not a recipe forum? Call it “Good Eats” or something like that. I’ve noticed quite a few people mentioning or posting recipes, but there doesn’t seem to be a single place where we dopers could share our favorites. W… --- ## [Extra Carriage Returns in Posts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extra-carriage-returns-in-posts/83916)
**Author:** [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2001, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extra-carriage-returns-in-posts/83916 "2001-09-26T20:44:23Z")
More of a curious question than anything else. I’ve noticed many times on preview that two blank lines show up where I’ve put one. And sometimes it is like that in the actual post as well e.g. this post. I’m curious as … --- ## [Just wondering about the current Wierd Earl](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-wondering-about-the-current-wierd-earl/83890)
**Author:** [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2001, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-wondering-about-the-current-wierd-earl/83890 "2001-09-26T11:41:25Z")
Who is on record as submitting the one for the clown phobics? --- ## [How is it legal for the Straight Dope to sponsor a campaign against Fred Phelps?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-legal-for-the-straight-dope-to-sponsor-a-campaign-against-fred-phelps/83359)
**Author:** [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2001, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-legal-for-the-straight-dope-to-sponsor-a-campaign-against-fred-phelps/83359 "2001-09-25T22:10:31Z")
Sorry, I’m coming in late to this. How is it legal for the “Turn Hate into Love” website to have the Straight Dope all over it? Sure makes it look like it’s the Straight Dope’s campaign. After all the hoo-haw in days pa… --- ## [Those Avuncular Beerish People](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-avuncular-beerish-people/82961)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2001, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-avuncular-beerish-people/82961 "2001-09-25T14:53:27Z")
OK, prepare to woosh me. What, if anything aside from the literal meaning of the names, is the connection between UncleBeer and OncleBiere? I remember the first time I saw a posting by the individual OncleBiere…seems l… --- ## [One post every 60 seconds?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-post-every-60-seconds/83686)
**Author:** [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2001, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-post-every-60-seconds/83686 "2001-09-25T14:34:03Z")
I just recieved an error posting to the boards stating that we cannot post something within 60 seconds of our previous post. This is not a complaint, but I was wondering why this was done and when it was implemented. --- ## [Practicing - please ignore](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/practicing-please-ignore/82664)
**Author:** [@Mikemike2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikemike2)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2001, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/practicing-please-ignore/82664 "2001-09-25T13:40:26Z")
This is a link to IMDB This is a bolded statement --- ## [admins](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admins/83376)
**Author:** [@Anubis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anubis)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2001, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admins/83376 "2001-09-25T08:26:45Z")
How do you become a moderator, administrator, etc? --- ## [Channelling a troll?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/channelling-a-troll/83605)
**Author:** [@Anonymous\_Coward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_Coward)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2001, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/channelling-a-troll/83605 "2001-09-25T04:11:37Z")
Here manhattan uses the phrase “Channelling a troll”. I’ve never seen this phrase before. Does it mean emulating a troll, fishing for socks, or perhaps summoning the troll through arcane rituals only known by freemason… --- ## [Post subject/ continuation question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-subject-continuation-question/83571)
**Author:** [@Stiletto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stiletto)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2001, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-subject-continuation-question/83571 "2001-09-25T00:46:08Z")
Okay, Question for the mods: I originally opened a thread a few days ago in the Pit: Is anybody else worried about this wiretap thing? And now that Ashcroft has revealed the full scope of the Anti-terrorist act, I ha… --- ## [Can a thread be un-locked?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-thread-be-un-locked/83074)
**Author:** [@warmgun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/warmgun)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2001, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-thread-be-un-locked/83074 "2001-09-24T18:31:54Z")
has it ever happened? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/about-this-message-board/8.md?page=485) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/about-this-message-board/8.md?page=487)