# Gibberish when opening threads

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gibberish-when-opening-threads/638446>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [October 21, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gibberish-when-opening-threads/638446 "2012-10-21T19:17:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 17\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gibberish-when-opening-threads/638446/1 "2012-10-21T19:17:19Z")

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In the last week or so, when I try to open individual threads here on the SD with Firefox or chrome, I’m getting gibberish. I’m posting this question through Explorer, which I never use ordinarily. I do run Noscript and Ghostery, but turning them off doesn’t help the problem. Anyone know why this would be? I’d hate to resort to using Explorer just for the Dope! Thanks.

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**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gibberish-when-opening-threads/638446/2 "2012-10-21T19:49:33Z")

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Threads you open on the SDMB contain nothing but gibberish you say? Nah, too easy… 😉

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gibberish-when-opening-threads/638446/3 "2012-10-21T19:56:15Z")

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Do you mean all threads, or just a few? Because we’ve had a rash of spambots which post garbled nonsense as OPs.

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**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gibberish-when-opening-threads/638446/4 "2012-10-21T20:03:41Z")

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At first it was just some - today it’s all threads. But only in Chrome and Firefox.

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**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gibberish-when-opening-threads/638446/5 "2012-10-21T20:08:27Z")

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VFDE%YS^T\*(i90uuigo2rtft7irfg_y_t%^e$3bujhuihupy&_)  
FTdfc568Ty_g^$$#543vgjnjkn89-Y789^hi89-6tyfY  
_(&_(&gHBklmlyfed\_)M’klhiyddwsw$azsxio\_)()\*)(%^e$$&\*e

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**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gibberish-when-opening-threads/638446/6 "2012-10-21T20:10:31Z")

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> [@John\_DiFool](#):
>
> VFDE%YS^T\*(i90uuigo2rtft7irfg_y_t%^e$3bujhuihupy&_)  
> FTdfc568Ty_g^$$#543vgjnjkn89-Y789^hi89-6tyfY  
> _(&_(&gHBklmlyfed\_)M’klhiyddwsw$azsxio\_)()\*)(%^e$$&\*e

39jgmomv3537-097097J443\_(&)(\*&&YFJ3IH3!

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**Author:** ![Snerky\_Snerk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Snerky\_Snerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snerky_Snerk)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gibberish-when-opening-threads/638446/7 "2012-10-22T01:00:55Z")

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Can you please describe the gibberish? Is it just jumbled text, or lots of little squares, or ?

Is it possible to copy a sample of it and paste into Explorer?

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**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gibberish-when-opening-threads/638446/8 "2012-10-22T01:10:37Z")

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Mackdonna shoehorn butterhorse

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**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gibberish-when-opening-threads/638446/9 "2012-10-22T02:04:16Z")

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> [@Snerky\_Snerk](#):
>
> Can you please describe the gibberish? Is it just jumbled text, or lots of little squares, or ?
> 
> Is it possible to copy a sample of it and paste into Explorer?

Here’s one from Firefox:

‹”Tk›Fý\Kþ7äC¤•{q¶5[%~¤+å±ÝקÕc˜]˜¡3ã—ªþ÷Þìâˆ6ñ Ùó:çž{î…É‹Ùçéꏇ9dºÈáá—wî§`Ù®û›7uÝÙj¿ÿ¸úøFÎV’pÅ4œä®;ÿd•i]®»Û휝発«ŸÝ½áp3µué$:±îú½Iq_ä\…<#ß÷k¸ “¡•kiANxZ”×”$øÿݤ š€¡°éŸe¶ ©àšrm¯%µ ®W¡¥é^»†òâŒHEux¿ül¿yóÚ·G¸wKVjP2>i9׎çŒÝ¨`6CÎ’e¦Î“úaK¥Â”‘ç]ûã±çûµÀ Iih=‘-©é¬»‰[ÏŒêJ,'^I)§’h![·ï6yN5ãà9ß;žQÕïÃžéa’d¢Z(˜#Sz€µ˜«9Ð}iL|5I›“¡µ \<þFx\_‰Í᧠U§NÒrÆŸAÒ\<´X©?¢{d’®OF‚ ^Ga°4Ó‰(©‹ÂUI¹ë(©¨æfâ\<|zÔPs¿°m˜.—°Ô‡œªŒR ¶m’Qf4¸©k¬PKÐÁ¨qðÑlá]÷êªß»‚/œ5´f»bàÕ²a3TaÛêΫÛúîgŒ®ñºÛïE"9ô{aãE$~N¥Øð$€—‹jÜâv,r!qgX ³³F‡‘`ˆµ’4ÚÄæñq9€·’‘|¿R™N Ðl[QÉÖV™2ÀëroÀsZ’$a\< YGØãŽðŽ9Kàå|h\<ü»ß#©ÓŒüGbæuGµ×8üéñî–áûJ“ãõfùˆLàû0X³-=”«ísÜb1eUN‰s™›ˆÒ(Lg(a³ý5‹Ïœ5uí×…•üŠÉŽŽ‰î ô¼áÐ÷oÏL8©•G"O.’àXÓjÕUÔu5LóŽØ ~pðí €NϹN5oè:‹~cÓÇå±3þÎÖX,nn:ÙÑH_1ÃSóùï°zþÖÅiƒZ¦Ö¸NW;¡'÷šõ¿öÕLÿá\_ÕUÏZˆ›ñk¥k–]év‚ZéV¸ÿÿ´WÛr‚0ýÞl B[{yë¨ý 'BtÂeHµ\_ß]‚08èè0NÙ³Ùdwω=\«é1ÜöÙ„«‘Î¥â.}ø‡¯ÆÔVÚïxµ´ 4Dp-Ë0GÓÜ–š8ÝårÔ´ÞVïw—ù¼¬ñ]F)Øi¡IIš¼-J^Ùn[k’oD‡Ãgap]Áþ¨?èÆ$e|ÿ9Õ™’2Ïz3\î‚rÊÛê@Ñ(Ú_¹ YãLß8;иjÜ„ò ÔF8dupqXƒñÐ}½½Ðo9O¤„s„¿k žd)í—l/ã3RmIyß)$ ê8 »aëè[SüDsCkÿ@_ØÚçúuùt‹ùÿ{q4‹ ™ÌmUü†×hùƒÐ¶ú;%4SüÇ‚õa"0€eÌ•„#N]¨²AµxYù«—õÜQ%hT¼x‚EŽœÌݦaâíXüº¿ Dº¿ŽÌ‡ÓXŽÅÇ)ì昂ìNŸÂNÞ4ªmJ3µÁ£N​:trade\_mark:[wu¢B»ËÍ\>\>ü~íˆÿÕ ¨+ RÔXuI kP†²ûïÏr÷Yw‚oØ}èbŒæÿÿÿÌXMoƒ0=ï\_ø†T©í_Uê\>n°ý(0"AAîRõ¿ÏNâ&Œí£‡’4¼gâWÇö-,œ

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gibberish-when-opening-threads/638446/10 "2012-10-22T02:19:07Z")

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Now it’s working normally again. Praise Jesus.

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gibberish-when-opening-threads/638446/11 "2012-10-22T03:08:06Z")

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I’ll move this to ATMB.

Colibri  
General Questions Moderator

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gibberish-when-opening-threads/638446/12 "2012-10-22T03:14:14Z")

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> [@pohjonen](#):
>
> Now it’s working normally again. Praise Jesus.

Witnessing belongs in Great Debates. I’ll move this for you… 😃

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**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:** [October 22, 2012, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gibberish-when-opening-threads/638446/13 "2012-10-22T13:16:45Z")

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This is a new one for us --not sure what you had happening.

Glad it’s over, whatever it was.

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**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gibberish-when-opening-threads/638446/14 "2012-10-22T19:43:44Z")

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> [@John\_DiFool](#):
>
> VFDE%YS^T\*(i90uuigo2rtft7irfg_y_t%^e$3bujhuihupy&_)  
> FTdfc568Ty_g^$$#543vgjnjkn89-Y789^hi89-6tyfY  
> _(&_(&gHBklmlyfed\_)M’klhiyddwsw$azsxio\_)()\*)(%^e$$&\*e

Cite?

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**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gibberish-when-opening-threads/638446/15 "2012-10-22T21:57:48Z")

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> [@pohjonen](#):
>
> Here’s one from Firefox:
> 
> ‹”Tk›Fý\Kþ7äC¤•{q¶5[%~¤+å±ÝקÕc˜]˜¡3ã—ªþ÷Þìâˆ6ñ Ùó:çž{î…É‹Ùçéꏇ9dºÈáá—wî§`Ù®û›7uÝÙj¿ÿ¸úøFÎV’pÅ4œä®;ÿd•i]®»Û휝発«ŸÝ½áp3µué$:±îú½Iq\_ä\…\<#ß÷k¸ “¡•kiANxZ”×”$øÿݤ š€¡°éŸe¶ ©àšrm¯%µ
> 
> :snip:

You might have accidentally changed a language setting to one without a font installed and the software was doing the best it can, then you managed to reverese the process. I’ve done that a few times but don’t recall what it looked like.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gibberish-when-opening-threads/638446/16 "2012-10-22T23:19:02Z")

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And, this is the first time you’ve noticed that?

I finds threads full of gibberish all over the place here on the Internet.

Believe me, that’s nothing new.  
(J/K)

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**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gibberish-when-opening-threads/638446/17 "2012-10-22T23:46:19Z")

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> [@samclem](#):
>
> Witnessing belongs in Great Debates. I’ll move this for you… 😃

What about posting in tongues?