Well, saying something like “Hey, I post at this board, here’s my screen name, come chat to me!” would just be asking for trouble. But saying “Oh, I browse Fark” (or some other high user-number board) seems safe to me.
I don’t really know about him as much as many people on here do, but from what I do know, no, i’m not suprised. But there are many different sites I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a look at, and i’m sure what must be his pretty full schedule can’t allow him enough time to look at all of them, let alone post on or take an active role in. And you’re right in saying that the thing which makes them famous can also be a factor in increasing the likelihood of posting here, but it also has other effects; a famous person is likely busy doing those things which make them famous (and getting interviewed about it all over the country/internationally) and so has less time for message boards and stuff.
Of course, if there’s any famous people reading this now who’d like to prove me wrong (especially if they are of the attractive and/or funny persuasion) feel free to email me to protect your anonymity on the boards.
So, I’ll say, if he has time, I could see David S. Goyer lurking. 3.5
Oh, and for GWB? WhyNot, I think you underestimate his computer savvy. He has a great personal, portable computer that he uses mostly for image manipulation. And when he wants to start over, it’s designed so that he just picks it up and shakes it for a new image…
I think the reality is that the Internet is a big place, there are billions of messageboards, and The Straight Dope is a complete unknown to most people outside Chicago.
Sure, we’ve got posters from all over the world here, but I’d be willing to bet most of the international ones (myself included) stumbled across the place by accident.
Still, it stands to reason that someone out there who’s reasonably well-known reads the boards, but it’s not something I ever stop to ponder about…
“The Straight Dope” used to run in other newspapers throughout the U.S., including a lot of college newspapers. That’s how I first heard of it. My friend also recommended the book, which was a compendium of the best articles. If you haven’t read “The Straight Dope” I highly recommend it. It’s really entertaining.
Bah. Dumbguy is much too mild an epithet for Richard Simmons.
I gotta second Keith Olbermann. Several times while listening to him I’ve thought: hmmm, sounds like he’s been hanging out in Great Debates today. I give him a 4.9 for style, a 4.2 for technique.
Al Franken is another strong possibility. He certainly is Internet-literate, and strikes me as being good Doper material.
[cheapshot] Ann Coulter would never post here. She’d be intimidated by the “quote” function. [/cheapshot]
Not true – the Straight Dope books have pushed its fame wider (as did the short-lived cable TV series, and occasional references by other Internet sites). And, as noted, the Dope is or at least was carried by other papers like the Reader. Sadly, the Boston Phoenix no longer carries the Dope. (sniff)
