What is this goat business I keep hearing about? I think I’ve been Doping long enough that I should know. I guess this either came about while I was on a board hiatus, or before I joined (which would be odd since I seem to be noticing it only now).
Can someone please explain or point me to a relevant thread?
All I know is it went with ‘feltch’.
P.S. I think I once started a thread called ‘Goat’. Could be wrong tohough.
Don’t worry - I hear that most people don’t remember the goat after the fact. Blocking emotionally traumatic experiences and all that…
There is a persistent rumour going around here that all new members must endure an initiation rite that involves a goat, some Jell-o, and a straw. As Minister of Goats I can confidently assure you that these rumours are, in fact and without question, no more plausible than any of the other wild rumours you might find floating around the internet without substantiation, such as, for example, that thing about man having visited the deepest part of the world’s oceans, the Challenger Deep in the Marianas Trench, just once. In 1960. For 20 minutes. Just once. In 1960. For 20 minutes.
Oh, dear Lord, a new board injoke has started. :smack: 
The goat is used for initiation of new Moderators, and (from time to time) new members of the Straight Dope Science Advisory Board. It is NOT used for new members, there are just too many and it would be exteremely tiresome.
Speculation is useless, no one who knows the secrets will tell anything.
If this goat is related to Goatse, please, please pleasepleaseplease don’t look at it. In fact, stop asking questions. It is one of those Lovecraftian Things Man Wast Not Meant To Know.
And if it’s not related, then you haven’t missed anything.
At least, not for less than a sawbuck. 
American Humane Association: No animal was harmed in the making of this moderator
Bah. We’re just trying to get your goat.
You can have my goat when you pry it from my cold, dead…aaaaah, what the heck. Here you go.
We had “deergoat” at Lobsang’s place. :eek:
I’m pretty sure that was the neighbor’s German Shepard.