# Have you noticed every other message board is populated by idiots? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 15, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542 "2006-11-15T16:38:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542/21 "2006-11-15T18:21:54Z")
[QUOTE=Ethilrist] There’s nothing to reward or punish them for their writing skills or lack thereof [. . .] if you can understand what they’re saying, it’s Miller time. [/QUOTE] Miller Time would be punishment enough for me. [/beer snob] 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542/22 "2006-11-15T18:22:32Z")
[QUOTE=Ethilrist] People are lazy, not necessarily dumb. There’s nothing to reward or punish them for their writing skills or lack thereof, so their writing gets dumbed down to the lowest common denominator, aka, if you can understand what they’re saying, it’s Miller time. [/QUOTE] Hey, leave me out of this. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@The\_Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Octagon)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542/23 "2006-11-15T18:23:35Z")
Craigslist always has items listed as ‘for sell’ in the clearly marked ‘Items for sale’ category. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542/24 "2006-11-15T18:24:16Z")
The only other board I’m really active at is the Speed Channel forum, and nary a day goes by that I don’t hear someone say “its’ just the internet, man, chill out!!!” when I correct a misspelled name. There are several posters there with excellent writing skills, but some people seem to type by banging on the keyboard with their heads. And I really wish someone would take the time to explain the “one or none” rule for question marks and exclamation points. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542/25 "2006-11-15T18:25:19Z")
Two things are certain when it comes to Grammer, Spelling and Message Boards. 1. Many posters in other message boards completely ignore grammer and spelling errors. 2. Many posters of the SDMB feel they’re vastly superior simply because they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Tully\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ab992/32.png) [@Tully\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tully_Mars)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542/26 "2006-11-15T18:25:51Z")
I’ve not spent much time on other boards, but this makes me happy that I paid my $15.00 for SDMB. Besides, where else can you learn that you can mix llama piss with pixie dust. I would have never thought of that combination. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542/27 "2006-11-15T18:32:27Z")
[QUOTE=Eve] Have you noticed every other message board is populated by idiots? [/QUOTE] No, not every other message board. ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542/28 "2006-11-15T18:33:41Z")
The xkcd forums are quite literate, but as the comic caters toward geeks, almost all thread are based in math, science, or some part of nerd culture. On the other hand, that forum is politically much more balanced. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542/29 "2006-11-15T18:36:22Z")
[QUOTE=brianjedi] And I really wish someone would take the time to explain the “one or none” rule for question marks and exclamation points. [/QUOTE] [Someone did. 😃](http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/11/03) (Also includes other common 'net issues) ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542/30 "2006-11-15T18:37:42Z")
[QUOTE=Bear\_Nenno] Two things are certain when it comes to Grammer, Spelling and Message Boards. 1. Many posters in other message boards completely ignore grammer and spelling errors. 2. Many posters of the SDMB feel they’re vastly superior simply because they don’t. [/QUOTE] Must . . . not . . . point it out . . . ---
**Author:** ![Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542/31 "2006-11-15T18:40:20Z")
I appreciate the emphasis on good writing here but some people take it too far. I mean the sort of person who follows up on a 2000 word post about (say) the history of art, or quantum physics, or something, by posting to point out that the first poster left out the second u in “contiguous”. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542/32 "2006-11-15T18:41:28Z")
Spelling is nothing compared to the debate skills (or lack thereof) on other boards. While having a “discussion” (I use the term loosely) on another board, someone questioned one of my comments and so I gave evidence, including the website where I got my info. The person I was debating totally ignored the fact that I was right, changed the subject, cited info from the website I provided, and accused me of thinking he wouldn’t go to the site to see for himself. WTF? Why do you think I gave you the website? ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542/33 "2006-11-15T18:42:56Z")
[QUOTE=Eve] And where did all the Upper-Case Letters go? Why does everyone write like e.e. goddam cummings?! [/QUOTE] There’s A Message Board I Frequent Where Some Posters Type Like This. It Makes My Eyes Hurt. Bashing others for spelling and grammar makes them behave like spoiled children _(“No one cares about that as long as you understand what I’m trying to say! You’re not my mother! This isn’t school!”)_, so it’s not even worth trying to fix. I can’t even begin to wrap my mind around the concept that makes them think capitalizing every word is okay. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542/34 "2006-11-15T18:43:42Z")
[QUOTE=Bear\_Nenno] 1. Many posters of the SDMB feel they’re vastly superior simply because they don’t. [/QUOTE] Yes, but we’re right. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542/35 "2006-11-15T18:44:32Z")
[QUOTE=Bear\_Nenno] Two things are certain when it comes to Grammer, Spelling and Message Boards. 1. Many posters in other message boards completely ignore grammer and spelling errors. 2. Many posters of the SDMB feel they’re vastly superior simply because they don’t. [/QUOTE] There’s a third thing, and it has something to do with **Gaudere**. 😉 _triple checks own post before submitting_ ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542/36 "2006-11-15T18:52:00Z")
[QUOTE=DeadlyAccurate] The only other board I hang out on regularly is Absolute Write. [/QUOTE] Thanks for mentioning AW – I’m a writer and editor so I took a look, and I just registered. Seems like a cool place. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542/37 "2006-11-15T18:55:47Z")
[QUOTE=Tully Mars] Besides, where else can you learn that you can mix llama piss with pixie dust. [/QUOTE] Sprinkle, not mix. If you mix 'em, it ain’t gonna work! Yeesh, do you have the reading comprehension of a third-grader, or what? 🙂 Seriously though, I also frequent two “hobby” type BBs: 1. Fan site for The Clash. Very good, well-formed arguments about the band, music in general, and politics, politics, politics! Impeccable spelling and grammar; we even picked on one guy so much for his sloppy spelling and grammar that he left. How many band fan sites can say that? 2. A motorcycle BB focusing on my model of bike. Poor spelling, grammar, and when we do discuss politics, very poorly formed arguments for the most part. Only a handful of critical thinkers in the bunch. P.S. I love the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542/38 "2006-11-15T19:11:27Z")
> [@](#): > > There’s A Message Board I Frequent Where Some Posters Type Like This. It Makes My Eyes Hurt. Actually, they don’t. ACTUALLY, THEY TYPE LIKE THIS. But fortunately, the software for many message boards (including, at least, the SDMB) will not allow an all-caps post or title. When someone submits a post typed in all caps, the software will automatically convert it to the slightly-less-obnoxious form you describe. Ideally, it would auto-convert it to correct capitalization, but it’s much harder for software to decide what that is, and Capitalizing The First Letter Of Each Word is probably better than converting everything to pure lowercase, which is the other easy option. Back on topic, I have seen other message boards comparable to the SDMB in intelligence and presentation, and I’ve also seen boards where intelligence and proper presentation are common, though not universal. What I haven’t seen is any such board that is as active or as broad as this one. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542/39 "2006-11-15T19:16:11Z")
It all depends on whether, by “every other”, you mean alternating with those populated by nonidiots > [@](#): > > each second in a series; each alternate : _I train with weights every other day._ … or “every message board other than SDMB” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542/40 "2006-11-15T19:40:31Z")
[QUOTE=BiblioCat] There’s A Message Board I Frequent Where Some Posters Type Like This. It Makes My Eyes Hurt. [/QUOTE] I call that Pooh Case, because the Bear of Very Little Brain capitalizes that way in the stories. 😛 Sailboat [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-noticed-every-other-message-board-is-populated-by-idiots/380542.md?page=3)