I read Joke A Day, which has a link to the Straight Dope, which has a link to the message board.
I lurked for about 5 minutes (long enough to read the rules and such) and I registered.
I read an article in Reader’s Digest about the
Straight Dope and Cecil, and it impressed me
so much I saved the copy. I later found the
first book, and put the ripped out article in
it (I still have it). When I got on line, I
found the site in a hurry. I just love it.
Here in Hawaii we have an alternative paper called the Honolulu Weekly. I only picked it up because there’s a zillion Weekly stands on campus at the university. I read the columns quite faithfully, and one day I noted the URL and actually visited the site. I then spent a whole day reading the column archives, and explored the entire site.
Lastly, I clicked on the SDMB link, and found this place. I registered right away, but lurked for about three months. Been posting like mad ever since.
Oh yeah, and I got all the books, too.
Back in 198-something, I ran across Cecil’s first book while loitering in a book store (one of my favorite pastimes). As luck would have it that day, I had money in my pocket, so I bought it. I would whip out a Straight Dope reference during any argument, thereafter.
“Oh yeah? That’s not what Uncle Cecil says!”
Really pissed off the unenlightened.
So there I was, my lazy assed strapped to my chair in front of my computer, loitering in AOL instead of a book store. I decided to see if Cecil had a web site. Behold, he had his very own section right in AOL. I’d go back every week to read the new columns, and spend time in the archives.
But I didn’t find the message board until recently.
I started this new job, as an administrative assistant. There isn’t really alot to do, and I have this kick-ass T3 going on, so I, like any irresponsible temp, started to surf. I re-ran accross this here web-site. I spent the next few weeks re-reading all the archives.
Now here’s the kicker. I saw the link to the message boards. The first thought that goes through my mind is “Message Boards Schmessage Boards - who needs more dumb blond jokes.”
Then one day, in a serious case of nothing to do’s I decided to check it out. First thing I read was Wally Tries Cyber-Sex. Once I regained conciousness (do you know how painful it is trying not to laugh at that?) I registered, and Viola - here I am, Hampburger Helper references and all.
I was a fan of the Notes and Queries in the Guardian and was searching for arcane knowledge/ urban legend-type sites.
Came across a link to Is it true the quack of a duck will not echo? column.
Read the online column for about 18 months but did not look at the Boards until the survey posted on the main page a few months back.
picmr
My late best friend turned me on to Cecil Adams’ books (we don’t get the columns where I live). I loved how he mixed knowledge with humor, and was so curmudgeony.
Fast-forward several years. I’m doing something on the Internet, somewhere, and I see a banner ad for The Straight Dope! Cue the “Hallelujah Chorus!” (Don’t know why I’d never thought to search for The Dope on-line prior to that. It just didn’t occur to me.)
Went here, read all of Cecil’s columns, replied to a Mailbag item, and that was that.
I originally signed on in late December 1999. But I changed my name after like 10 days, and now it shows January 2000. Too bad. “Member since 1999” would have given me so much increased credibility. 
I used to watch the tv show religously. When I started to play on the Internet I decided to try and find Unca Cece and then spent the next month reading every item in the archives. I didn’t pay any attention to the boards until Threadspotting, then it was awhile before I just had to chime in on something.
[Gump/on]And that’s all I have to say about that[Gump/off]
The link was mentioned on the Snopes message board…
That reminds me, I gotta go visit…
Found it a while ago, been here ever since.
Saw the first book in Waldenbooks, been a fan ever since. The Straight Dope Marches On. Waiting anxiously for the next Straight Dope book
I was on AOL for a while, and they had a shortcut to the SDMB. Became addicted. AOL stopped hosting MB. Got counseling. Visited TMHP. Laughed at the Pages o’ Flames. Needed more therapy. Wound up here. Screw the therapy.
TSD is not in the local papers; when I was in Chicago for Comdex this spring, we stayed at the Raphael. Not sure of the streets, but behind it in the shadow of the Hancock tower is a movie theatre/mall/market/whatever. They had copies of the Chicago Reader in the restaurant complex on the 2nd floor, and I finally saw a copy, and am no longer a CRV.
Hope you will respect me in the morning.
Been reading the column in the local paper for years. Then went to college and had to switch to online. FOr a year or so, never bothered to click the “MB” link…eventually did, then lurked a good while before signing on…
A member of SDMB posted a link on my board concerning Wally. I followed the link (natch), and was instantly impressed. I am deeply regretful that I never had the chance to banter with WallyM7.
Ever since that point, having never been exposed to the column or the books, I have caught up on my SD reading. But even more significant in my mind is the community inhabiting this MB. It never ceases to entertain, enlighten and somtimes mystify me. Keep up the GREAT work~!
O
vidi vici veni
I started with Cecil’s books back in the early 90’s. I’ve been frequenting the SD page nearly daily since about 96, I think. I first came to the board because of the ‘Strangest things said during sex’ thread on threadspotting.
I registered so I could tell Amy what was wrong with WallyM7’s Harley (‘Putzcycle for sale’ – it sounds like a classic oil breather timing problem). To my horror and deep regret, WallyM7 perished before I could correspond with him.
Now, of course, I’m hooked. Thanks everyone for adding a new dimension to my life.
I wa reading the Snopesmessage board (I found Snopes when trying to find out about a UL, but that’s another story :rolleyes: )
Someone on their mentioned The Straight Dope so I clicked on their link.
I read the archives for a bit and then thought of my own question (Number Of Fingers).
I posted it to Cecil but he was too busy to answer; I was pointed to the MBs and posted that Q in GQ. And I’ve kept coming back to this site ever since.
Shortly after I moved to Jax in '83, I discovered Folio Weekly, which included the two fabulous columns, The Straight Dope and News of the Weird. When we moved back to Jax this past July, I was surfing and for kicks, I decided to see if Folio had a website. There I came across the link to this site, and here I’ve been ever since - lurking a little, and becoming much more bold and verbose of late…
Shouldn’t this thread by in IMHO (as a poll)
…A thought 
I think I’m the first to say
The TV show drew me in.
Yup, back in sophomore year, spring semester (1997) I was surfing the channels for some late Sunday TV when Mike Lukas and his bald head appeared. Freakin’ funny. So, I investigated the website.
Tripler
Which is more than I can say for 99.8% of the other websites I’ve found.
After several people telling me that I’m not the only one from the TV show, I’ve decided to tell the truth . . . :mad:
I was in Vegas getting a lapdance from a $5 hooker, and I saw “www.straightdope.com” tatooed on her left breast.
Tripler
I’m serious about this folks. Trust me. . .
Joke a Day dragged me here. Blame them.
I tripped over the first SD book in 1986 at the Baylor University bookstore. I was immediately addicted. Unbeknownst to me, the Dallas Observer carried the column, and when I found this out, I started reading The Straight Dope in that paper. My parents got worried.
Then, some time later, I got Internet access, and started looking for a SD website. I found the Usenet group, followed by Matt Jetmore’s site. sigh Now, I’m here 
Robin