# 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:** 8
**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 7, 2007, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/141 "2007-11-07T23:50:35Z")
wow. you guys are the worst hipsters ever. You’ve convinced me that you’re indeed old school but haven’t yet proven that’s something to be jealous of. If you guys are the screeching representatives of the past of this message board, it’s good to be new. i like this place i think it’s fun. if the dinosaurs are bored maybe its because they are running out of steam. i can’t speak for the rest of the new assholes but i for one am just getting started. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/142 "2007-11-07T23:52:37Z")
[QUOTE=El Cid Viscoso] Actually it is. She has identified a critical component of her personality that she will not modify unless someone else modifies his behavior first. For someone as real as **Jodi** seems to be, this is willful ignorance. No judgment implied, but if you choose to be “not nice” because somebody else is acting a certain way, you’re kind of admitting to being a jerk. [/QUOTE] There is a small but subtle difference between modification and causation. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/143 "2007-11-07T23:54:59Z")
[QUOTE=wring] don’t know how you got that out of what you quoted. My interpretation of **Jodi’s** comment was (boiled down to) “you can chastise about me jaywalking right after you stop robbing banks”. [/QUOTE] Well, she jumped all over Aeschines, calling his interpretation of some numbers “pure subjective crap”. I explained to her why every interpretation is subjective, and in the process asked her not to be such a dick (by jumping on people for nothing more than holding subjective opinions). She responded with a paragraph-long insult offering to change her behavior when I change mine. Nothing related to this issue at hand, mind you, but my behavior as she sees it from time to time. She had at least one alternative way to respond — something along the lines of, “You’re right, opinions are subjective and I came down on him kind of hard.” But I guess that would have elicited fewer cheers from her fans. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/144 "2007-11-07T23:56:09Z")
[QUOTE=fisha] There is a small but subtle difference between modification and causation. [/QUOTE] The difference is neither small nor subtle; it is complete and utter. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/145 "2007-11-08T00:00:22Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] If you believe that I am the cause of your behavior, then you’re crazy. Get counseling. [/QUOTE] Liberal, check your tank. You’re a brain low. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/146 "2007-11-08T00:00:23Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] Well, she jumped all over Aeschines, calling his interpretation of some numbers “pure subjective crap”. I explained to her why every interpretation is subjective, and in the process asked her not to be such a dick (by jumping on people for nothing more than holding subjective opinions). She responded with a paragraph-long insult offering to change her behavior when I change mine. Nothing related to this issue at hand, mind you, but my behavior as she sees it from time to time. She had at least one alternative way to respond — something along the lines of, “You’re right, opinions are subjective and I came down on him kind of hard.” But I guess that would have elicited fewer cheers from her fans. 🙂 [/QUOTE] that’s the play by play. Your post suggested that she was claiming that you **caused** her behavior. And I don’t get that interpretation from her post, as I noted in the post you quoted. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/147 "2007-11-08T00:01:11Z")
Now read it with a bit of sarcasm. Ok, rather a lot of sarcasm. Don’t move your lips. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/148 "2007-11-08T00:01:48Z")
[QUOTE=Jodi] What I _was_, was a bitch. But since he invited it by his gratuitous swipe at me, I offer no defense or apology for it. Like I said, we’ll roll the way he wants to roll. [/QUOTE] That’s exactly my point. You proved it right there. It’s like an electric blanket for you broads, you can just turn “bitch” on and off. ---
**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, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/149 "2007-11-08T00:01:49Z")
[QUOTE=lobstermobster] i can’t speak for the rest of the new assholes but i for one am just getting started. [/QUOTE] And yet, you are already boring. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/150 "2007-11-08T00:02:15Z")
And you, **Liberal** , had a number of alternate ways to make your initial point that did not involve insulting me out of left field AGAIN. So if you’re going to turn your penetrating insight to the issue of whether other choices might have been made as to what to say, I’d suggest you analysize your own conduct before presuming to analysize mine. And you might also consider whether people have “cheered” not because they are my very own personal fans but because THEY AGREE WITH WHAT I SAID. _That’s_ a difference neither small nor suble, right there. ---
**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, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/151 "2007-11-08T00:04:59Z")
[QUOTE=Jodi] And you, **Liberal** , had a number of alternate ways to make your initial point that did not involve insulting me out of left field AGAIN. [/QUOTE] Well, then please allow me to retract and regret my “dick” comment, leaving only the point of the post — namely, that in the end subjectivity is all there is. I’m sorry for calling you a name. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/152 "2007-11-08T00:05:15Z")
[QUOTE=El Cid Viscoso] It’s like an electric blanket for you broads, you can just turn “bitch” on and off. [/QUOTE] Oh, yeah, us “broads,” so unlike some of you men, where the “asshole” doesn’t have an off-switch. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/153 "2007-11-08T00:06:55Z")
> [@jodi](#): > > I don’t have the slightest idea what is or is not being said about me in other fora, or even in other rooms. Without any basis to respect the opinions offered or the people offering them, why would I care? But even if I could not claim blissful ignorance – even if I knew or thought that somewhere, someone was talking smack about me – I sure as hell wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of living my life differently because of it. Actually, you don’t have to change a thing. You seem to be well liked over at the other place. Looking at you in this thread it isn’t hard to explain why. lol. ---
**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, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/154 "2007-11-08T00:07:59Z")
[QUOTE=askeptic] And yet, you are already boring. [/QUOTE] Actually I retract that. I don’t know LM and I don’t know what made me post it. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/155 "2007-11-08T00:09:01Z")
[QUOTE=El Cid Viscoso] That’s exactly my point. You proved it right there. It’s like an electric blanket for you broads, you can just turn “bitch” on and off. [/QUOTE] Ooh, talk dirty to me. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/156 "2007-11-08T00:09:05Z")
[QUOTE=askeptic] Actually I retract that. I don’t know LM and I don’t know what made me post it. [/QUOTE] **Liberal**. ( I keed, I keed) ---
**Author:** ![H3Knuckles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@H3Knuckles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/H3Knuckles)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/157 "2007-11-08T00:34:06Z")
[QUOTE=Justin\_Bailey] I’ve honestly never understood the hand-wringing over “the other board.” Jesus, I think most people here couldn’t even tell you the URL or what even goes on at “the other board.” I know I can’t. Just like Bush constantly talks about how everything is different after 9/11 and Slashdot fanboys whine about how video games are being ruined because the console makers don’t let us play pirated games, the SDMB has a few weirdos who are convinced what happens at some other board matters to everyone that posts here. It just boggles my mind… [/QUOTE] I’ve been following the SDMB off and on since the AOL days and this thread is the first time I’ve ever even heard the phrase “the other board.” I have no fucking idea what “the other board” refers to. 😕 But you can bet I’m insatiably curious _now_. 😛 Lastly; are we in Junior High School for fuck’s sake?! Are we still wringing our hands and having moments of personal anxiety because kids at the other table might say something bad about us while we’re not around? Who fucking cares? Why does it matter? If they come here to stir shit up, they’ll get banned by our dutiful moderators. If they want to say crap about us over there, fuck em! That’s right, fuck em! It’s their right to say what they want behind our backs, and if they choose to be assholes, we shouldn’t waste our time worrying about it. PS. As I’ve said before, I love the SDMB. I agree it’s not the community it once was, and I regret not being more involved at the time and getting to enjoy that, but I still think it’s an awesome board and as long as we’re re-upping to show our support I don’t think the site’s going anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/158 "2007-11-08T00:44:32Z")
[QUOTE=H3Knuckles] I’ve been following the SDMB off and on since the AOL days and this thread is the first time I’ve ever even heard the phrase “the other board.” I have no fucking idea what “the other board” refers to. 😕 But you can bet I’m insatiably curious _now_. 😛 [/QUOTE] Ditto. Sweet lord, what is this other board of which people speak? I am too curious now. [QUOTE=Justing\_Baily] SDMB has a few weirdos who are convinced what happens at some other board matters to everyone that posts here. [/QUOTE] This line is cracking me up for some reason. I have taken to calling my co-workers ‘squares’ lately, to their utter bafflement. I have no idea why I do it, but I do know that I will begin replacing ‘squares’ with ‘weirdos’ tomorrow morning. It just tickles me for some reason. ---
**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, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/159 "2007-11-08T00:44:38Z")
[QUOTE=Jodi] Sorry to induce the winces, but I don’t appreciate being called a dick by someone I wasn’t even addressing. [/QUOTE] You’re a cunt. Is that better? ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502/160 "2007-11-08T00:50:25Z")
The SDMB is like California: a place that has always been “used to be better” for as long as anyone can remember. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-sdmb-lost-critical-mass/425502.md?page=9)