# Has the SDMB lost critical mass? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 7, 2007, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502 "2007-11-07T02:50:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/181 "2007-11-08T02:10:24Z")
[QUOTE=Richard Parker] Access Gateway AGW Accident Generated Water AGW Actual Gross Weight AGW All Going Well AGW Allowable Gross Weight AGW Alt.Games.Warbirds (forum) AGW Anganwadi Worker (India) AGW **Anthropogenic Global Warming** AGW Application Gateway (telecom) AGW Art Gallery of Windsor (Ontario, Canada) AGW Atmospheric Gravity Waves AGW Automatic Girth Welder AGW Autonomous Guided Weapon [/QUOTE] Fuckin’-A. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/182 "2007-11-08T02:18:00Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] I’d heard rumors of the “more interesting land” but hadn’t found it. Rhode Island— I _knew_ I should have looked there. (Does it have to be a particular kind of window you look out or will any window do?) [/QUOTE] Look out of any window. Any morning, any evening, any day. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/183 "2007-11-08T02:26:14Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] Look out of any window. Any morning, any evening, any day. [/QUOTE] Maybe the sun is shining birds are winging or rain is falling from a heavy sky Damn you. Now I have to play it at full volume+ and I will cry for the rest of the night. Bastard. ---
**Author:** ![Brainiac4](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brainiac4/32/3534_2.png) [@Brainiac4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac4)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/184 "2007-11-08T02:34:16Z")
[QUOTE=Aeschines] That would actually decrease my level of satisfaction, as my favorite poster would not be here when I visit. [/QUOTE] No. See, if you go away, then you’re not going to be here to be disappointed by your non-posting. And the rest of us get to enjoy a Dope free of your inanity. We all win! ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/185 "2007-11-08T03:10:30Z")
[QUOTE=Brainiac4] No. See, if you go away, then you’re not going to be here to be disappointed by your non-posting. And the rest of us get to enjoy a Dope free of your inanity. We all win! [/QUOTE] No, I can’t do that because… If the sky were to suddenly open up… there would be no law… there would be no rule. There would only be you and your memories… the choices you’ve made and the people you’ve touched. The life that has been carved out from your subconscious is the only evidence by which you will be judged… by which you must judge yourself. Because when this world ends, there will only be you and him… and no one else.–DD ---
**Author:** ![lobstermobster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobstermobster/32/10033_2.png) [@lobstermobster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobstermobster)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/186 "2007-11-08T03:10:45Z")
[QUOTE=askeptic] Actually I retract that. I don’t know LM and I don’t know what made me post it. [/QUOTE] it’s okay. we all get cranky. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/187 "2007-11-08T03:15:34Z")
I think the overall volume of posts is going to show a decrease, as some folks are unwilling or unable to pay for the access. Which is sad, as I personally feel that a regular circulation of new folks is healthy. I miss a few of the old folks though. They knew who the heck I was. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/188 "2007-11-08T03:19:39Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] Look out of any window. Any morning, any evening, any day. [/QUOTE] What size scope do you usually use? Assume there’s no large game, just people and squirrels, and the window’s about 15 feet off the ground in a lightly populated residential area. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/189 "2007-11-08T03:30:04Z")
It’s worse than an old married couple. Jeez. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/190 "2007-11-08T03:30:52Z")
Part of the problem is that all the fascinating topics for discussion have been done. So every time you start a thread about what you think might be an interesting new idea, someone pops in to say, “Oh, we did that two years ago. Here’s a link.” And the new thread withers. And to be fair, when I see a thread on a topic that’s been done before, I am much less likely to jump in and repeat my brilliant insights from the earlier thread. Feels like wasted motion. When the board started, it seemed there were an infinte number of engrossing subjects to discuss. But now it sorta feels like we’re approaching the limit. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/191 "2007-11-08T03:59:29Z")
[QUOTE=Richard Parker] can we perhaps get some AGW-denial to round out the usual SDMB fare? [/QUOTE] Dubya will NEVER be the Attorney General. NEVER! ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/192 "2007-11-08T04:11:24Z")
[QUOTE=Giraffe] We discourage direct links to try to keep the drama to a minimum, but I know that past a certain point secrecy itself can fuel the drama, so anyone who is dying to check it out can email me. (Of course please keep all opinions, rebuttals, etc. resulting from a visit to said site off the boards.) Prepare to be underwhelmed. I must say I do hate having to tiptoe around the topic and play hall monitor to keep people from dragging drama from here to there (I’m all about free speech in my non-mod life), but I can see the purpose. Back when I joined, the mods kept the inevitable drama from off-board chat channels and LiveJournals to a minimum, which definitely made it easier to ignore them. Now that I’m a mod, I feel obligated to pay a bit more attention so I can now definitely appreciate what I was (happily) missing as a regular disinterested poster. LiveJournal Drama[sup]TM[/sup] is very exciting for the parties involved, I’m sure, but generally tedious for everyone else. The junior high analogy is quite apt. [/QUOTE] I’ll bite, what is this other board? I too have often heard it refered to, have a vague idea of it’s existence, but don’t really know the board. My curiosity is getting the better of me, largely due to the secrecy. I didn’t care initially, I understood what it was and moved on. But each time I see it referenced as the place that cannot be named I grow more curious. So thank you in advance for solving the mystery. And yes, you’re very likely right and I will find it underwhelming. I promise to never question your judgement again. Thank you Elbows ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/193 "2007-11-08T04:16:44Z")
[QUOTE=elbows] I’ll bite, what is this other board? I too have often heard it refered to, have a vague idea of it’s existence, but don’t really know the board. [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Giraffe] anyone who is dying to check it out can email me. [/QUOTE] Seriously. My email’s in my profile. (I’d just email you, but you’ve disabled emails from your profile.) ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/194 "2007-11-08T04:21:40Z")
What content in this thread makes it relevant for the Google ad to be “Gay Thug Dating - Free. Meet gay thugs near you”? I would have been happy to never know that existed. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/195 "2007-11-08T06:12:22Z")
[QUOTE=fishbicycle] What content in this thread makes it relevant for the Google ad to be “Gay Thug Dating - Free. Meet gay thugs near you”? I would have been happy to never know that existed. [/QUOTE] First, I don’t see that ad, so maybe it just shows up for you. But second, if you don’t see the gay thugs running around in this thread, I think you missed the point . . . read it again. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![ChattyChattyBingBing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@ChattyChattyBingBing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChattyChattyBingBing)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/196 "2007-11-08T08:45:16Z")
Hi. I’m a very remarkable fellow. I’d like to give you the straight dope about the Straight Dope. I don’t post on message boards except for my own little community. I’ve lurked at all kinds of boards, this one, something awful, fark, imdb, snopes, fathom and tens of thousands more. The sdmb, as a whole, is selfish, cliquish and elitist. Honestly, how dare you take a dynamic, valuable resource, which is what this board was, and turn it into a little playground for subscribers? Of course it’s gone downhill. Duh! The internet, or I should say the web, isn’t terribly old. The sdmb has to be counted among a handful of large communities that were both intelligent and entertaining and _free_. And then y’all shut out the world. That’s a lot of daylightl lost. Fighting Ignorance! Privately, and for a small fee, of course. This is a board that has lost it’s mission. The world can’t even come here and _search_ for pete’s sake. Of course, you’ll say, it was the only economically feasible option for viablity. I wonder, I really wonder, what with the popularity and the traffic. Anyway, it’s a shame. Good luck to you, and I’m sincere about that. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/197 "2007-11-08T11:30:39Z")
[QUOTE=askeptic] And yet, you are already boring. [/QUOTE] I think there is a verbal anal leakage component to go with her verbal diarrhea. Regardless, you have to understand everything is coming out of her ass. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/198 "2007-11-08T11:33:57Z")
[QUOTE=ChattyChattyBingBing] This is a board that has lost it’s mission. [/QUOTE] BingoBingo. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/199 "2007-11-08T13:18:59Z")
[QUOTE=ChattyChattyBingBing] Hi. I’m a very remarkable fellow. I’d like to give you the straight dope about the Straight Dope. I don’t post on message boards except for my own little community. I’ve lurked at all kinds of boards, this one, something awful, fark, imdb, snopes, fathom and tens of thousands more. The sdmb, as a whole, is selfish, cliquish and elitist. Honestly, how dare you take a dynamic, valuable resource, which is what this board was, and turn it into a little playground for subscribers? Of course it’s gone downhill. Duh! The internet, or I should say the web, isn’t terribly old. The sdmb has to be counted among a handful of large communities that were both intelligent and entertaining and _free_. And then y’all shut out the world. That’s a lot of daylightl lost. Fighting Ignorance! Privately, and for a small fee, of course. This is a board that has lost it’s mission. The world can’t even come here and _search_ for pete’s sake. Of course, you’ll say, it was the only economically feasible option for viablity. I wonder, I really wonder, what with the popularity and the traffic. Anyway, it’s a shame. Good luck to you, and I’m sincere about that. [/QUOTE] I think this is the most insightful criticism of pay-to-post I’ve heard. I really couldn’t have said it better myself[.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9121095&postcount=6) ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/200 "2007-11-08T13:32:55Z")
Quite some years ago I wrote a research essay on the notion of internet messageboards as ‘communities’. In fact, I used this very board for some of my raw data. But anyway, back then, one of the respondents to my questionaire (who has since disappeared from the messageboards I frequent\*) posited that messageboards are, by their very nature transient: > [@](#): > > I see it as a caravan-park community; close contact with strangers that is for a time, but then you hit the road again and leave them behind for new adventures. (Quote by BalmainBoy). As my SDMB years go on, I see more and more the truth in what **BalmainBoy** had to say. Some people DO move on…but if they are complete losers (like me), they stay stuck here in the caravan park, living off the stories of the people who have come and gone. There’s nothing new to say here, just the same stale old griping about the oldtimers, and the scare-tactic putdowns of the newcomers…just to give them the willies and encourage them to fuck off. Fuck, what a pathetic old bunch of crones we have become! I second the notion put here previously in the thread that we re-open this board as a non-pay site. Otherwise we’re going to suffocate in our own drivel and bile. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502.md?page=11)