# How does someone become an "SD Science Advisory Board" member? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 16, 2015, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841 "2015-10-16T20:21:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [October 24, 2015, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841/21 "2015-10-24T23:48:12Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Hi **Una**! > > Somehow I thought you too had hung up your shoelaces. No, I stopped writing Staff Reports when I was asked to join Cecil as his research assistant for the Straight Dope. Ten years and running now. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841/22 "2015-10-25T00:14:03Z")
Cecil is not a real person. So, you work for a robot? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841/23 "2015-10-25T00:20:26Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > I figure I’d better post, or people will keep on randomly guessing. If 1000 SDMB members randomly guess, how long until they write a Shakespeare play? ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841/24 "2015-10-25T07:04:25Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > I figure I’d better post, or people will keep on randomly guessing. Dex is no longer involved. Mail Ed Zotti or the general Straight Dope e-mail if you want to write a Staff Report. Ed is extremely busy from time to time, so you may need to give the mail a bump if he doesn’t reply. Perhaps two bumps. > > I do not think there is still an “official” policy regarding the number of reports you need to write to be SDSAB. No one has received the title in some time. Ed is the decisionmaker. > > Disclaimer: I work for Sun-Times Media but I am not the big guy. Don’t mail your submissions to me please (some do from time to time). > > Una, > For the Straight Dope So what you’re saying is we have to kill another SDSAB member and absorb their power? ---
**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:** [October 25, 2015, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841/25 "2015-10-25T12:17:36Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Cecil is not a real person. > > So, you work for a robot? Sure, why not? ---
**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:** [October 25, 2015, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841/26 "2015-10-25T12:18:47Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > If 1000 SDMB members randomly guess, how long until they write a Shakespeare play? Who says they haven’t already? Some of the psychodramas I’ve witnessed on this board in 15 years are probably worthy of production. ---
**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:** [October 25, 2015, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841/27 "2015-10-25T12:21:08Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > So what you’re saying is we have to kill another SDSAB member and absorb their power? The power can also be transferred during sexual intercourse, just like Moderator powers. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841/28 "2015-10-25T13:11:00Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > The power can also be transferred during sexual intercourse, just like Moderator powers. Wait…what??? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841/29 "2015-10-25T13:21:49Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > The power can also be transferred during sexual intercourse, just like Moderator powers. Wait… what?! ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841/30 "2015-10-25T14:16:44Z")
So all those times we wondered who such and such slept with to get that position… ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841/31 "2015-10-25T15:16:31Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > So all those times we wondered who such and such slept with to get that position… I have the complete book, starting with that guy and the sheep several years ago. ---
**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:** [October 25, 2015, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841/32 "2015-10-25T16:14:46Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > The power can also be transferred during sexual intercourse, just like Moderator powers. Wait… what?! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841/33 "2015-10-25T16:18:36Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Wait…what??? > [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Wait… what?! Some people evidently haven’t read all the way through the Moderator’s Handbook yet. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841/34 "2015-10-25T16:40:17Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Some people evidently haven’t read all the way through the Moderator’s Handbook yet. Not my fault. I’m still poring over the “Troubleshooting” section for what to do if you haven’t yet received your coffee mug. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841/35 "2015-10-25T17:03:19Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Not my fault. I’m still poring over the “Troubleshooting” section for what to do if you haven’t yet received your coffee mug. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841/36 "2015-10-25T19:57:19Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Some people evidently haven’t read all the way through the Moderator’s Handbook yet. I’d love to see that book. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841/37 "2015-10-25T21:25:12Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > I’d love to see that book. There are two versions. Scratch-n-sniff Pop-up I’m not sure how they determine which mod gets which version, but I imagine it’s completely mundane and boring. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841/38 "2015-10-26T19:53:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **Una Persson** : > > The power can also be transferred during sexual intercourse, just like Moderator powers. Wait… What‽‽ [sub](now with more interrobang!)[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841/39 "2015-10-27T04:06:30Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > I figure I’d better post, or people will keep on randomly guessing. Dex is no longer involved. Mail Ed Zotti or the general Straight Dope e-mail if you want to write a Staff Report. Ed is extremely busy from time to time, so you may need to give the mail a bump if he doesn’t reply. Perhaps two bumps. > > I do not think there is still an “official” policy regarding the number of reports you need to write to be SDSAB. No one has received the title in some time. Ed is the decisionmaker. Do you get to choose the question, in an area where you have expertise, or is it whatever random question is assigned to you? I always kinda thought each member of the SDSAB had a specific area of expertise & were called on to assist with questions in that field. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841/40 "2015-10-27T04:29:17Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Do you get to choose the question, in an area where you have expertise, or is it whatever random question is assigned to you? Members of the SDSAB have access to questions sent in to Cecil. We can choose which questions we want to answer. Dex used to send me questions he thought I had expertise on, but I was never sent something outside my field. > [@](#): > > I always kinda thought each member of the SDSAB had a specific area of expertise & were called on to assist with questions in that field. Pretty much. But although my main expertise is biology I have also done staff reports on Columbus and word origins. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-become-an-sd-science-advisory-board-member/734841.md?page=3)