# How did you find Straight Dope? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 16, 2001, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-find-straight-dope/76610 "2001-08-16T19:14:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![frock75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@frock75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frock75)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-find-straight-dope/76610/41 "2001-08-18T05:52:26Z")
I was under the influence of something, one night, when I spied the television show. It was probably about 3 am or something. I waited religiously every week to see more. Then one day, it abandoned me. I felt so alone. So ashamed at myself for letting it get ahold of me that way. I wandered the streets, mumbling to myself, losing the last bit of dignity I had left. Those were rough times. Then one day a miracle happened. I was waxing nostalgic at my computer desk, when I decided to try “Straight Dope” on a search engine. I know I was being desperate. My family had begged me to forget about this. Maybe seek some counciling, but I had to try. I pressed ENTER. Trumpets played blissful music in my head when I finaly found my Straight Dope again. And if anyone tries to take it away I’ll bite their fucking fingers off!!! Um, yeah. ---
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-find-straight-dope/76610/42 "2001-08-18T06:03:04Z")
The link on Jokeaday. ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-find-straight-dope/76610/43 "2001-08-18T06:55:45Z")
I was looking for potato gun plans which lead me to [. They had a link to [url=“[http://www.hermithut.com/](http://www.hermithut.com/)”] **The Hermit Hut** ]([http://www.xinventions.com/home.htm](http://www.xinventions.com/home.htm)" **xinventions** [/url), which had a link to [**Misterpants**](http://www.misterpants.com/), which had a link to [**The Card House**](http://www.cardhouse.com/), who had a link for the Straight Dope. ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-find-straight-dope/76610/44 "2001-08-18T07:00:57Z")
I’m sure you want the link to [Xinventions](http://www.xinventions.com/home.htm). It is a site maintained by an eleven year-old boy who’s hobbies include; potato guns, pyrotechnics, and pneumatic cannons. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-find-straight-dope/76610/45 "2001-08-18T12:20:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lsura \* > \*\*I, er, got here by way snopes, which I got to by way of the Left Behind Message Boards. > > And that’s all I have to say about that. \*\* That’s pretty funny. Me, too. Exactly. I lurked for a while before registering. ---
**Author:** ![NaSultainne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8797f3/32.png) [@NaSultainne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NaSultainne)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-find-straight-dope/76610/46 "2001-08-19T22:12:16Z")
I got lost browsing for trivia one night. Doesn’t everyone have at least one nagging question on the meaning of life that only SD can answer? Anyone? Hello? ---
**Author:** ![pesch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pesch/32/4925_2.png) [@pesch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pesch)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-find-straight-dope/76610/47 "2001-08-19T22:20:17Z")
I read the column in the Baltimore City Paper back sometime during 1984-1988. Bought the first book, too, when it was printed by a Chicago publisher. ---
**Author:** ![sewalk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@sewalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sewalk)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-find-straight-dope/76610/48 "2001-08-20T12:02:49Z")
I happened across a copy of the Chicago Reader during a layover at O’Hare several years ago (1987 or '88). I had my local bookseller in OKC do a search for the books available at that time and I’ve been hooked ever since. **Gingko** and I have been trying to get the Oklahoma Gazette to carry Cecil’s column every time they do a reader poll but to no avail. We need more help combatting ignorance in the Sooner State. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-find-straight-dope/76610/49 "2001-08-20T13:07:33Z")
Saw an article in the Reader’s Digest about Cecil and the Straight Dope. I was so impressed I kept the issue. Years later, I bought the first book, ripped out the article, and put it in there, where it still is to this day. Once I got on-line, I visited 9,742 theatre sites, then the Straight Dope. The only non-theatre site I visit, unless you count ebay (I don’t cause mostly I buy theatre stuff). ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-find-straight-dope/76610/50 "2001-08-20T13:12:40Z")
An ad on AOL directed me to the AOL-link to the SD. This is when T.S.D. was hosted by AOL. I found the boards but wasn’t too intrested in them at the time - got turned on to them later. ---
**Author:** ![Cyrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Cyrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyrin)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-find-straight-dope/76610/51 "2001-09-11T04:19:29Z")
Maximum Overdrive showed me the light… **Eternal Thanks!** ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-find-straight-dope/76610/52 "2001-09-11T04:52:18Z")
me “whats the shortest distance between 2 points?” a friend “a straight line, duh” me “Wrong FOO! the shortest distance between 2 points is the path that light would follow since gravity bends light a straight line is only the shortest path when its also the path that light follows.” a friend "you should check out [straightdope.com](http://straightdope.com) yould like it. he was right. ---
**Author:** ![BooBoo316](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@BooBoo316](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BooBoo316)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-find-straight-dope/76610/53 "2001-09-11T05:09:02Z")
A computer I bought in '96 came with AOL access and when I found the Straight Dope link on the front page I was hooked. I read every article I could find. I bought the books. When the switch to the web took place I came over as well and discovered the SDMB. I lurked for a very long time before I decided to register and become an active member here. I have learned a lot thanks to this site and I hope it will be around for a very long time. ---
**Author:** ![lovelee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@lovelee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lovelee)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-find-straight-dope/76610/54 "2001-09-11T05:22:31Z")
I was working at the Wright Sound CD Exchange, in Normal IL. A Used-CD-Pseudo-Pawn sorta emporium, which happened to be a quick walk from the public library. I found myself a copy of “Return of the Straight Dope” while browsing in the non-fiction section for some reading material to get me through my work night. I was hooked. Thank you, Cecil. ---
**Author:** ![Kamikazee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Kamikazee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamikazee)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-find-straight-dope/76610/55 "2001-09-11T12:18:01Z")
I received an e-mail link from my brother about the origins of cheese. Story originally posted by “Uncle Beer”. Registered immediately and am seriously addicted to the message boards, my productivity at work has dropped something terrible. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-find-straight-dope/76610.md?page=2)