# About This Message Board **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/about-this-message-board/8.md?page=95 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 96 --- ## [The boundaries of political commentary](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816)
**Author:** [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816 "2017-01-11T15:29:18Z")
First, an explanation about how the Trivial Dominoes thread works in Thread Games. A poster reads the last post, finds a single isolated reference term in the post, and then builds a new piece of trivia, using any chose… --- ## [I don't think I've ever seen a Pit thread locked](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-think-ive-ever-seen-a-pit-thread-locked/776488)
**Author:** [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2017, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-think-ive-ever-seen-a-pit-thread-locked/776488 "2017-01-09T14:38:55Z")
Is locking threads in the Pit to be a thing now? Are we protecting posters who can’t manage to avoid drawing almost universal fire for their posts? --- ## [Chronos banned me from the Passengers thread. (Spoilers)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-banned-me-from-the-passengers-thread-spoilers/775700)
**Author:** [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2017, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronos-banned-me-from-the-passengers-thread-spoilers/775700 "2017-01-07T16:34:40Z")
So we’ve got a thread about how people shouldn’t see Passengers because it glorifies rape culture because one of the plot points involves a character who relieved his extreme isolation by waking up someone else from stas… --- ## [Cats are spamming us now.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-are-spamming-us-now/776105)
**Author:** [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2017, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-are-spamming-us-now/776105 "2017-01-07T00:10:26Z")
Several spam threads today have featured titles such as:ghghdfdfrrrsdeavedgdgd. Proof it’s cats: :smiley: --- ## [Ignore feature question.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignore-feature-question/776009)
**Author:** [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignore-feature-question/776009 "2017-01-04T21:53:04Z")
Hi, I have no knowledge about how the technical stuff behind this board works. But I have a question about the ignore feature. If someone has me on ignore would they see a thread I start? Like the title of the thread i… --- ## [Questions regarding user history](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-regarding-user-history/776211)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2017, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-regarding-user-history/776211 "2017-01-04T04:18:01Z")
When searching for my own posts, it only went back 500 posts. Is that normal? I thought all my posts were preserved and searchable. If not, is there a different way to search (I found a post and clicked on my own name an… --- ## [Calico Jack is banned](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calico-jack-is-banned/776287)
**Author:** [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2017, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calico-jack-is-banned/776287 "2017-01-04T00:45:40Z")
Violation of board rules including trolling: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=19892090#post19892090 http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=19858284#post19858284 http://boards.straight… --- ## [Test Post](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-post/775965)
**Author:** [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2017, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-post/775965 "2017-01-03T14:51:08Z")
Test post after registration. --- ## [Any info on how former mods are doing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-info-on-how-former-mods-are-doing/775840)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2017, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-info-on-how-former-mods-are-doing/775840 "2017-01-02T22:28:43Z")
Time takes its toll on all and on mods in particular, but I do miss having some of the former ones around. So do we know how they’re doing now? People like Dex, TubaDiva, Marley, etc? I know that Lyn sadly passed away bu… --- ## [Friend request?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-request/776043)
**Author:** [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2017, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-request/776043 "2017-01-02T01:41:00Z")
I received a friend request. I had no idea this existed. What is it? Is there a seekret friends list? What honors does this bestow? --- ## [Errors accessing the Dope](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/errors-accessing-the-dope/776034)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2017, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/errors-accessing-the-dope/776034 "2017-01-01T11:13:57Z")
I’ve been getting the below error from Cloudfront intermittently this morning: --- ## [Counting spammers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counting-spammers/775912)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2017, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counting-spammers/775912 "2017-01-01T00:17:09Z")
The latest spammer in gq makes me curious–once a spammer is removed, are they still counted as a member? As in, at the moment the bottom of the forums list says that there are 185,852 members, 4,725 active members and th… --- ## [Is it permissible to PM a member to say they're on your ignore list?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-permissible-to-pm-a-member-to-say-theyre-on-your-ignore-list/775748)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [December 31, 2016, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-permissible-to-pm-a-member-to-say-theyre-on-your-ignore-list/775748 "2016-12-31T05:33:09Z")
Purely academic question. I’m not thinking of sending a PM to anyone to that effect, I just wondered if it were within the rules. --- ## [Can we say that a question is a stupid question?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-say-that-a-question-is-a-stupid-question/775782)
**Author:** [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [December 30, 2016, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-say-that-a-question-is-a-stupid-question/775782 "2016-12-30T09:07:27Z")
Search isn’t working. Again. Just get a blank scene, not even an error message. Sorry. That’s a side comment. Here’s what I really came in to ask. I didn’t find any ATMB threads on this with a quick Google search and it… --- ## [Tapatalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tapatalk/775647)
**Author:** [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 28, 2016, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tapatalk/775647 "2016-12-28T17:25:34Z")
It’s not been working with SDMB for about week. Is this true for everybody or just me? --- ## [Ads](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads/775651)
**Author:** [@Vicsage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicsage)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 26, 2016, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads/775651 "2016-12-26T17:36:48Z")
Is it just me or am I noticing more ads on this site? The bottom fifth has been blocked out for some time, now I’m noticing the right side is getting them too. You can remove them but they pop back almost right away. --- ## [Username changing when quoted](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/username-changing-when-quoted/775621)
**Author:** [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 26, 2016, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/username-changing-when-quoted/775621 "2016-12-26T16:08:01Z")
I’ve seen this phenomenon before and there is probably a simple answer, but I cant figure it out, so someone please solve this mystery for me. Sometimes a poster will post something like this. But when someone else quo… --- ## [Mod Miller, the Pit, warnings, and trolling](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-miller-the-pit-warnings-and-trolling/775480)
**Author:** [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2016, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-miller-the-pit-warnings-and-trolling/775480 "2016-12-24T06:32:04Z")
Greetings Sith Mod Moderator Miller, Well here we are all thithered together. So what’s all this about? You issued a warning for altering posts to change their meaning. While I definately shortened posts, and publically… --- ## [ransomware](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ransomware/775424)
**Author:** [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2016, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ransomware/775424 "2016-12-24T06:28:11Z")
I accidentally clicked one of the banner strips along the bottom and it was ransomware. --- ## [Are we off the rails in "Elections"? Do we need corrective action?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-off-the-rails-in-elections-do-we-need-corrective-action/774974)
**Author:** [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2016, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-off-the-rails-in-elections-do-we-need-corrective-action/774974 "2016-12-23T12:45:30Z")
This spread is split off from the discussion on trolling started in this thread. The issue has been raised that discussions in the Elections forum have become so partisan and absolutist that a) no real discussion is acc… --- ## [Buying Someone Else a Membership?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-someone-else-a-membership/775401)
**Author:** [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2016, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-someone-else-a-membership/775401 "2016-12-23T06:11:30Z")
In a Pit post (I won’t link, because it’s Pitworthy) bobot says, “I offered to pay for someone’s \[SDMB\] membership once, and it was not possible to accomplish.” Is it not possible to accomplish? My first SDMB membershi… --- ## [Idle Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts/775371)
**Author:** [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2016, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts/775371 "2016-12-22T23:51:20Z")
Is Idle Thoughts in control of their account? I got a weird message from Idle and I notice they the haven’t posted in a few days. --- ## [Bone on Legal Murder of unborn Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bone-on-legal-murder-of-unborn-child/775162)
**Author:** [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bone-on-legal-murder-of-unborn-child/775162 "2016-12-22T21:44:09Z")
Post 198: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=813677&page=4 \*\*Bone Moderator \*\* \*Moderating Can we not make “legally murder an unborn child” a thing? First off, it’s definitionally incorrect becaus… --- ## [Jonathan Chance, are you okay?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-are-you-okay/775316)
**Author:** [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-are-you-okay/775316 "2016-12-21T21:10:58Z")
Just wanted to point out that it has been NINE DAYS since anybody started a “Jonathan Chance moderated me badly!” thread. :smiley: --- ## [Jonathon Chance, you struck out on this one.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathon-chance-you-struck-out-on-this-one/774551)
**Author:** [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2016, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathon-chance-you-struck-out-on-this-one/774551 "2016-12-20T23:57:11Z")
Wow. Telling someone that they wrote an incoherent post is now grounds for a warning. This was uncalled for, Jonathon Chance. Please rescind it. --- ## [Greek and math symbols in posts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greek-and-math-symbols-in-posts/774860)
**Author:** [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greek-and-math-symbols-in-posts/774860 "2016-12-20T18:26:51Z")
How does one include Greek letters and math symbols in a post. My immediate need is delta and the infinity sign, but I’d like to know this more generally. I tried searching, and came up with lots of threads about Greek… --- ## ["In it for the yocks" = trolling?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-it-for-the-yocks-trolling/774885)
**Author:** [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-it-for-the-yocks-trolling/774885 "2016-12-19T20:06:46Z")
I’m just curious and not arguing. Is this a real equation? I imagine many people are in it for the yocks. Does that mean they are all trolls? If that’s the case then I would have to say the trolling here is suffocating… --- ## [Intrusive Ads](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intrusive-ads/774406)
**Author:** [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2016, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intrusive-ads/774406 "2016-12-19T12:43:06Z")
Recently the ads have become egregiously intrusive, to the point of forcing pages to reload repeatedly (deleting responses in progress of being drafted), blasting out audio, spawning secondary modal windows with more ads… --- ## [Building A Search](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-search/774380)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2016, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-search/774380 "2016-12-19T00:58:23Z")
Can dummy or skeleton characters be used (i.e., blog\* = blogs, blogged, blogging)? And, what about typical Boolean operators? (i.e., AND, OR, NOT) --- ## [OP -- Original Post or Original Poster?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/op-original-post-or-original-poster/774560)
**Author:** [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2016, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/op-original-post-or-original-poster/774560 "2016-12-17T04:36:04Z")
This could matter: if it’s Original Post, I might get away with saying, “Wow, that OP was really dumb.” But not if it’s Original Poster. I learned (on another discussion board entirely) that OP mean Original Post. Is… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/about-this-message-board/8.md?page=94) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/about-this-message-board/8.md?page=96)