How does someone become an "SD Science Advisory Board" member?

[Una_Persson]

@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.

[Drunky_Smurf]

Cecil is not a real person.

So, you work for a robot?

[Frank]

@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?

[Jragon]

@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?

[Una_Persson]

@Drunky_Smurf

Cecil is not a real person.

So, you work for a robot?

Sure, why not?

[Una_Persson]

@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.

[Una_Persson]

@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.

[Asimovian]

@Una_Persson

The power can also be transferred during sexual intercourse, just like Moderator powers.

Wait…what???

[IvoryTowerDenizen]

@Una_Persson

The power can also be transferred during sexual intercourse, just like Moderator powers.

Wait… what?!

[Digital_is_the_new_Analog]

So all those times we wondered who such and such slept with to get that position…

[Morgenstern]

@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.

[wonky]

@Una_Persson

The power can also be transferred during sexual intercourse, just like Moderator powers.

Wait… what?!

[Colibri]

@Asimovian

Wait…what???

@IvoryTowerDenizen

Wait… what?!

Some people evidently haven’t read all the way through the Moderator’s Handbook yet.

[Asimovian]

@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.

[IvoryTowerDenizen]

@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.

[Leo_Bloom]

@Colibri

Some people evidently haven’t read all the way through the Moderator’s Handbook yet.

I’d love to see that book.

[Digital_is_the_new_Analog]

@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.

[Chronos]

Quoth Una Persson:

The power can also be transferred during sexual intercourse, just like Moderator powers.

Wait… What‽‽

[sub](now with more interrobang!)[/sub]

[Spiderman]

@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.

[Colibri]

@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.