# Have the Straight Dope message boards Jumped the Shark? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 15, 2004, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-straight-dope-message-boards-jumped-the-shark/255210 "2004-07-15T03:53:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-straight-dope-message-boards-jumped-the-shark/255210/1 "2004-07-15T03:53:17Z")
First they started charging a fee for those in the fight against ignorance (even when for years members have tried to donate money to help financially, and where declined). And now, they may be banning posts where questions are asked on how magic tricks are performed. What’s next? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-straight-dope-message-boards-jumped-the-shark/255210/2 "2004-07-15T03:56:18Z")
Could you please translate the verb “to jump the shark”? ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-straight-dope-message-boards-jumped-the-shark/255210/3 "2004-07-15T04:02:08Z")
From [jumptheshark.com](http://jumptheshark.com) > [@](#): > > Q. What is jumping the shark? > > A. It’s a moment. A defining moment when you know that your favorite television program has reached its peak. That instant that you know from now on…it’s all downhill. Some call it the climax. We call it “Jumping the Shark.” From that moment on, the program will simply never be the same. > > The term “jump the shark” was coined by my college roommate for 4 years, Sean J. Connolly, in Ann Arbor, Michigan back in 1985. This web site, book, film, and all other material surrounding shark jumping, are hereby dedicated to “the Colonel.” > > The aforementioned expression refers to the telltale sign of the demise of Happy Days, our favorite example, when Fonzie actually “jumped the shark.” The rest is history. > > Jumping the shark applies not only to TV, but also music, film, even everyday life. “Did you see her boyfriend? She definitely jumped the shark.” You get the idea. ---
**Author:** ![Bean\_Counter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/db5fbb/32.png) [@Bean\_Counter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bean_Counter)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-straight-dope-message-boards-jumped-the-shark/255210/4 "2004-07-15T04:07:21Z")
**Cunctator** , “jumping the shark” comes from the 70’s TV show “Happy Days”. The “popular” opinion is that the show began declining in entertainment value after the episode in which Fonzy jumped over a shark tank on a jet-ski. When something has “jumped the shark” it has come to mean that it has peaked, climaxed, hit the highest, most popular point, etc. and is now in decline. **Xray** , try some PeptoBismol for that belly-ache. It usually makes me feel better. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-straight-dope-message-boards-jumped-the-shark/255210/5 "2004-07-15T04:10:10Z")
Thanks for the advice **Bean Counter**. I’m looking for opinions of others on these message boards. Not whether or not I have a belly ache. If you want to criticize the way I feel please don’t do it here. ---
**Author:** ![Bean\_Counter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/db5fbb/32.png) [@Bean\_Counter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bean_Counter)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-straight-dope-message-boards-jumped-the-shark/255210/6 "2004-07-15T04:20:26Z")
> [@x-ray vision](#): > > If you want to criticize the way I feel please don’t do it here. Hmmm… that is what I would have expected a moderator to say because you are either: 1. Posting a poll which goes in IMHO, not MPSIMS. or 1. Complaining about the board which goes in the Pit. Otherwise you might be more of a Tums person. It does have more calcium. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-straight-dope-message-boards-jumped-the-shark/255210/7 "2004-07-15T04:25:58Z")
What is your problem? ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-straight-dope-message-boards-jumped-the-shark/255210/8 "2004-07-15T04:27:25Z")
I think you need to start a few MORE threads about this. ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-straight-dope-message-boards-jumped-the-shark/255210/9 "2004-07-15T04:58:13Z")
There’s no doubt in my mind that this message board ‘jumped the shark’ the day they let me become a Charter Member. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-straight-dope-message-boards-jumped-the-shark/255210/10 "2004-07-15T04:58:30Z")
Off to the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-straight-dope-message-boards-jumped-the-shark/255210/11 "2004-07-15T05:01:24Z")
Yes. Maybe it’s time for you to leave. ---
**Author:** ![Bean\_Counter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/db5fbb/32.png) [@Bean\_Counter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bean_Counter)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-straight-dope-message-boards-jumped-the-shark/255210/12 "2004-07-15T05:01:49Z")
> [@x-ray vision](#): > > What is your problem? Yeah, you’re right. The problem is definitely me. How could I have been so stupid? The answer was right there in front of me the whole time! :smack: I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your deep insight. I have turned a corner. I am a new man. The veil has been lifted from my eyes and I can see clearly! The whole time it was **ME**! :eek: Yup! Me! I started yet another thread (in the wrong forum, mind you – that is until Coldfire moved it to the Pit) about a topic that is currently being covered on this board like Oprah’s ass in a muumuu. :rolleyes: So to answer your question, yup, the ol’ boards finally gone and done it. Jumped the shark badly. Tis best for you to abandon ship, them. Nothing more here for you. Get thee gone! See ya. Hasta la bye bye. :wally ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-straight-dope-message-boards-jumped-the-shark/255210/13 "2004-07-15T05:03:23Z")
Actually, the more important question is: “Has the expression ‘jumped the shark’ jumped the shark?” Oh, wait. That’d be a resounding “yes.” Next? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-straight-dope-message-boards-jumped-the-shark/255210/14 "2004-07-15T05:30:50Z")
Gee…you’d think that someone with x-ray vision would have seen this coming. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-straight-dope-message-boards-jumped-the-shark/255210/15 "2004-07-15T05:40:22Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Gee…you’d think that someone with x-ray vision would have seen this coming. 😃 Nope. But he can see our skeletons! :eep: Get your lead underwear on. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-straight-dope-message-boards-jumped-the-shark/255210/16 "2004-07-15T06:36:00Z")
> [@Bean Counter](#): > > **Cunctator** , “jumping the shark” comes from the 70’s TV show “Happy Days”. The “popular” opinion is that the show began declining in entertainment value after the episode in which Fonzy jumped over a shark tank on a jet-ski. Wasn’t it a motorcycle? ---
**Author:** ![Atticus\_Finch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Atticus\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atticus_Finch)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-straight-dope-message-boards-jumped-the-shark/255210/17 "2004-07-15T06:53:48Z")
**X-ray** , stop your goddamned whining. One thread gets closed down and it’s a world-shattering catastrophe. Go have a bitch about that thread shutdown in the two other pit threads that are there for that purpose, and get the fuck over it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-straight-dope-message-boards-jumped-the-shark/255210/18 "2004-07-15T06:53:59Z")
To answer your question with more seriousness than it deserves; No. It hasn’t. Nearly 4000 people have payed for a year on this site. Conversation is still lively and board speeds are better than ever. Regarding the magic threads: it should comfort you that so many intelligent and knowledgable posters are around to combat the ignorance inherent in the “it’s illegal to talk about magic” argument. ---
**Author:** ![factorial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ed8c4c/32.png) [@factorial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/factorial)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-straight-dope-message-boards-jumped-the-shark/255210/19 "2004-07-15T07:25:50Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Wasn’t it a motorcycle? Waterskis. ---
**Author:** ![AveDementia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@AveDementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AveDementia)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-straight-dope-message-boards-jumped-the-shark/255210/20 "2004-07-15T07:36:57Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Wasn’t it a motorcycle? Henry Winkler couldn’t even ride a motorcycle! The only time he ever did was the few seconds of the opening scenes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-straight-dope-message-boards-jumped-the-shark/255210.md?page=2)