# 1) Has the SDMB ever been subpoenaed to release user information? 2) Who in SDMB is allowed access? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 29, 2013, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238 "2013-03-29T03:05:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238/21 "2013-06-07T03:59:57Z")
Well, hell. Without subpoenas then. SDMB isn’t being flashed through the [PRISM](http://www.washingtonpost.com/) directly (we don’t rank), but is because we’re Google-spidered? I noticed in some thread or other that it was a big deal/debate to “submit” data…“allow” its spiders…? I don’t even know how it works. And before then we would’ve been off the grid, so to speak? ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238/22 "2013-06-07T06:53:21Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > As well as the membership and credit card details, if you ever bought SDMB merchandise there would be details and obviously an address. Actually the server that held the Straight Dope store had a fatal crash a few years back and could not be recovered. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238/23 "2013-06-07T08:10:29Z")
Aw, man. I’m starting to think that “Ask the terrorist who is planning the overthrow of the United States government by force or violence” thread I posted a few years back wasn’t such a good idea after all. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238/24 "2013-06-07T08:30:20Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Actually the server that held the Straight Dope store had a fatal crash a few years back and could not be recovered. Wow… kinda like a semi zombie MOD reply…thanks! I was wondering. all said, I feel 'secure enough to feel comfortable here to poke once in a while… tsfr aka Dale Gribble ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238/25 "2013-06-07T14:47:07Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Actually the server that held the Straight Dope store had a fatal crash a few years back and could not be recovered. So how did I renew my membership? Magic fairies? Can these magic fairies be trusted with my credit card information? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238/26 "2013-06-07T16:27:27Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > So how did I renew my membership? Magic fairies? Can these magic fairies be trusted with my credit card information? The SD Store, not the subscription server. At one point I think SDMB sold physical stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238/27 "2013-06-07T17:45:58Z")
I owned a SDMB t shirt for quite a while. Wore it on vacation down at Cape May. You know. On the beach. Around town. Just to see if someone stopped and gawked and then asked who I “was”. 😃 A few people stopped and looked hard, nobody approached. Oh, those shy Dopers. Always wanted a coffee mug. Never bought one. :smack: Is there no longer a store ? ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238/28 "2013-06-07T17:58:16Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > So how did I renew my membership? Magic fairies? Can these magic fairies be trusted with my credit card information? The mechanism for renewing your Straight Dope Message Board subscription is a function of vBulletin. It’s a direct link to PayPal, ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238/29 "2013-06-07T18:02:02Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > I owned a SDMB t shirt for quite a while. Wore it on vacation down at Cape May. You know. On the beach. Around town. Just to see if someone stopped and gawked and then asked who I “was”. 😃 > > A few people stopped and looked hard, nobody approached. Oh, those shy Dopers. Always wanted a coffee mug. Never bought one. :smack: > > Is there no longer a store ? No merchandise is currently available and we are, sad tp say, out of coffee mugs. I think this also means we can’t have any new moderators. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238/30 "2013-06-07T22:02:55Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > The SD Store, not the subscription server. At one point I think SDMB sold physical stuff. > [@TubaDiva](#): > > The mechanism for renewing your Straight Dope Message Board subscription is a function of vBulletin. It’s a direct link to PayPal, Ah, thank you. The SD should start selling mechandise again. I would love to have a t-shirt. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238/31 "2013-06-07T23:50:06Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > No merchandise is currently available and we are, sad tp say, out of coffee mugs. > > I think this also means we can’t have any new moderators. ☹ Perhaps the former Moderators would return their mugs?.. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238/32 "2013-06-07T23:53:16Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Perhaps the former Moderators would return their mugs?.. …dead cold hand…etc. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238/33 "2013-06-08T00:06:45Z")
Ouch. That didn’t even run through my head. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238/34 "2013-06-08T01:40:28Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > …dead cold hand…etc. I like a challenge. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238/35 "2013-06-08T01:41:43Z")
Sam V.S. Sam Is that anything like Spy vs Spy ? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238/36 "2013-06-08T03:04:46Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > No merchandise is currently available and we are, sad tp say, out of coffee mugs. > > I think this also means we can’t have any new moderators. ☹ Glad I got my mug. Hey, does that make me a mod? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238/37 "2013-06-08T13:57:12Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Glad I got my mug. > > Hey, does that make me a mod? 😃 Do you really want to be one? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238/38 "2013-06-08T15:00:45Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Do you really want to be one? :dubious: Only if it comes with absolute power and no accountability. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238/39 "2013-06-08T15:12:03Z")
But that’s already boilerplate. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238/40 "2013-06-08T16:11:30Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > But that’s already boilerplate. If that were the case, there’d already have been about a thousand more bannings of people who abuse the hospitality of this place and of the volunteers who do their best to keep it going. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-has-the-sdmb-ever-been-subpoenaed-to-release-user-information-2-who-in-sdmb-is-allowed-access/654238.md?page=3)