# Does the SD have an attitude problem? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 11, 2017, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386 "2017-05-11T19:34:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386/21 "2017-05-11T22:03:59Z")
This board seems to be pretty civilized for two reasons (neither necessarily being the quality of those posting, though that isn’t bad either). 1. There are codes of conduct that mods actually enforce. If you personally attack someone in Great Debates you’ll get called on it. If someone asks a question in General Questions and you start ranting about politics you’ll get warned. 2. The board provides an outlet for most of the behavior that is prohibited elsewhere. Using my previous examples, if you want to call a poster an idiot for spreading misinformation in Great Debates, start a Pit thread. Your political rant may not be appropriate for General Questions but it is fine in Great Debates. It’s like having a government that doesn’t allow any violence at the mall, but you can go next door to the gladiatorial arena to bludgeon someone to death so you can release the aggression without pestering folks at Orange Julius. It’s _Death Race 2000_ in action on a message board. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386/22 "2017-05-11T22:06:12Z")
Sorry I meant to say in my reply above but forgot, yes the SDMB really is _much_ better than the vast majority of boards out there, its the only one I use for that reason, so my OP isn’t really meant to compare it that way, although I wasn’t clear about that. And now, bed… ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386/23 "2017-05-11T22:12:01Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > The OP mentioned “even in GQ”. > > From my observations, the hummingbird don’t put up with that stuff. Quite civilized there. Squeaky clean that forum. Not really; it can be quite a snarkfest if the OP is seen as asking a “stupid question”. Many of us, including **Colibri** , have also lost patience with people who insist on posting blatantly incorrect information, and who won’t back down. Don’t get me wrong-- it’s mostly very positive, but not always. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386/24 "2017-05-11T22:16:24Z")
NM ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386/25 "2017-05-11T22:18:27Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I believe you may have misunderstood the fundamental purpose of the Internet. :dubious: Ah, yes: > [@Holden McNeil](#): > > The Internet is a communication tool used the world over where people can come together to bitch about movies and share pornography with one another. …and there’s some things about cats, too. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386/26 "2017-05-11T22:35:03Z")
The Straight Dope, i.e. the column by Cecil Adams, has an attitude. I don’t think that’s a problem. Should it be surprising if some of that attitude is reflected in the SDMB? ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386/27 "2017-05-11T23:02:58Z")
> [@Atomic\_Alex](#): > > I realise this is like waving a red flag in front of a furious bull but its something I’ve been thinking about for a while. Realize[.](http://bit.ly/21ki1Zs)😉 ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386/28 "2017-05-11T23:22:24Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Realize[.](http://bit.ly/21ki1Zs)😉 and that! now i realiz(s)e **Count Blucher** was making a funny, but quite often during a serious discussion someone will pop in to nitpick a spelling or word choice, and it has nothing to do with said discussion. it’s either someone just showing that they’re smarter than everyone else, or trying to use the error to show that the poster is not smart enough to understand what’s being discussed. attitude! mc ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386/29 "2017-05-11T23:37:01Z")
Yeah, we got a attitude. What are you gonna do about it? ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386/30 "2017-05-11T23:40:29Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > and that! now i realiz(s)e **Count Blucher** was making a funny, but quite often during a serious discussion someone will pop in to nitpick a spelling or word choice, and it has nothing to do with said discussion. it’s either someone just showing that they’re smarter than everyone else, or trying to use the error to show that the poster is not smart enough to understand what’s being discussed. attitude! > > mc Why do you refuse to capitalize? Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386/31 "2017-05-11T23:49:17Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Why do you refuse to capitalize? Just curious. lazy. why do you refuse to get over it? mc ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386/32 "2017-05-11T23:55:11Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > lazy. > why do you refuse to get over it? I told you I was only curious. I’ve never asked you that question before. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386/33 "2017-05-12T00:43:42Z")
on 3/29/17 > [@Political responses to opioid abuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/political-responses-to-opioid-abuse/783317/5): > > Sorry, I know this is a bit of a mini-hijack but could I request that you capitalize when it’s needed? I don’t understand this, it seems like you have to go out of your way and intentionally _not_ capitalize. My computer automatically capitalizes the first word in each sentence. I’d have to make an effort to un-capitalize. It’s annoying and it detracts from whatever point you’re trying to make, simply because it makes it harder to read. 0n 5/7/17 > [@Is internet shaming a good way to combat racism and bigotry?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082/28): > > > [@Is internet shaming a good way to combat racism and bigotry?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082/25): > > > > And use some capital letters, man. I feel like I’m talking to a little kid. > > If he did that then how would he stand out from others here? It’s part of his online identity. Unique. and again today mc ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386/34 "2017-05-12T00:51:01Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Dispite your reluctance, examples of what you mean would probably help Ha ha ha…oh my…ha ha ha ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386/35 "2017-05-12T00:51:57Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > on 3/29/17 > … > 0n 5/7/17 > … > and again today > … > mc You’re “too lazy” to capitalize, yet you take the time to keep careful track of who it annoys? Do what you want of course, if you want to make it your “thing”, but in my opinion it does tend to detract from the clarity of your otherwise coherent writing. It’s like run-on walls of text, it makes it difficult to read. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386/36 "2017-05-12T01:00:34Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > on 3/29/17 > 0n 5/7/17 > > and again today > mc I’ve brought up the subject before but I’ve never asked you why you do it. Not before today. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386/37 "2017-05-12T05:58:43Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Realize[.](http://bit.ly/21ki1Zs)😉 [Realise or Realize: What’s the Difference? - Writing Explained](http://writingexplained.org/realise-or-realize-difference) 🙂 Though interestingly ‘realize’ is the original spelling and not the other way around, I would have thought that was the newer American version but apparently thats not the case. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386/38 "2017-05-12T11:05:47Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Ha ha ha…oh my…ha ha ha Actually, I was asking the OP for an example, but I thank you for jumping in with an example. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386/39 "2017-05-12T11:13:18Z")
> [@steatopygia](#): > > Snark can be clever and funny without being mean. That distinction is a mark of the best posters. There is a lot of needless enmity lately. Meanwhile numbers are heading down. > > This place\*\* is\*\* a shadow of what it used to be. Seems to be a theme in the wider world too. Yes to this. So weird getting into a forum where I contributed some profound, erudite post 😉 a few hours ago and see the thread still in the top 5 or so. Back in _my_ day, grumble, grumble… ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386/40 "2017-05-12T12:44:40Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > i’ve noticed quite a bit of animosity in threads on topics some of the members consider closed for discussion, ie; antivax, evolution, religion in general but the existence of god in particular, young earth. . .you get the idea. now i understand that these topics have been discussed to death here and elsewhere and many are tired of having to re-argue the case, but we have to remember that there are people coming of intellectual age everyday, and these discussions might be something new to them, but answering a poster’s query on the pros and cons of antivax vs autism by saying “they’re idiots” is just rude and does nothing to promote the cause of “fighting ignorance” “Animosity” generally arises when someone 1) posts a meme on one of these subjects that has been refuted to death previously, and 2) persists in it after his/her misapprehensions have been corrected in a civil manner using appropriate evidence. As for These Kids Nowadays and/or Cranky Veteran Posters being quicker on the trigger and more vituperative currently, I recall numerous board wars on various topics in the past that went on and on, whereas now, moderation would likely tone them down and or close the thread more quickly. Personally, I am less prone these days to participate in endless exchanges, as opposed to dropping my [del]turds[/del] pearls of wisdom and then moving on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sd-have-an-attitude-problem/786386.md?page=3)