# How mant dopers does it take to change a light bulb? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 27, 2000, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-mant-dopers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/23705 "2000-06-27T06:25:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-mant-dopers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/23705/1 "2000-06-27T06:25:08Z")
Answer: 1,331 1 to change the light bulb and to post to the MB that the light bulb has been changed. 14 to share similar experiences of changing light bulbs and how the light bulb could have been changed differently. 7 to caution about the dangers of changing light bulbs. 27 to point out spelling/grammar errors in posts about changing light bulbs. 53 to flame the spell checkers. 156 to write to the administrators complaining about the light bulb discussion and its inappropriateness to this forum. 41 to correct spelling in the spelling/grammar flames. 109 to post that MPSIMS is not only about light bulbs and to please take this thread to the pit. 203 to demand that cross posting to other forums be stopped. 111 to defend the posting to this forum saying that we all use light bulbs and therefore the posts **are** relevant to MPSIMS. 306 to debate which method of changing light bulbs is superior, where to buy the best light bulbs, what brand of light bulbs work best for this technique, and what brands are faulty. 27 to post URLs where one can see examples of different light bulbs. 14 to post that the URLs were posted incorrectly, and to post corrected URLs. 3 to post about links they found from the URLs that are relevant to this thread. 33 to cut and paste the best posts to date, then quote them, and then add “Me Too.” 12 to post to the thread that they are leaveing the MB because they cannot handle the light bulb controversy. 19 to quote the “Me Too’s” to say, “Me Three.” 4 to suggest that new posters not jump into the light bulb wars. 48 to say this is just an urban legend and provide snopes references. 147 trolls who try to fan the flames of the light bulb controversy. Repeat in 2 months when another bulb burns out. ---
**Author:** ![kinoons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kinoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinoons)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-mant-dopers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/23705/2 "2000-06-27T06:29:10Z")
Ad one to the list to check the math, I came up with 1335 adding the numbers up that you gave. And that does not include the one doing the math to check the list, that woould be 1336 ---
**Author:** ![Lexicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ac8455/32.png) [@Lexicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lexicon)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-mant-dopers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/23705/3 "2000-06-27T06:52:23Z")
For more silky smooth segues, send a SASE to: Silky Smooth Segues c/o kinoons 1485 Boca Rio drive Costa Mesa, CA, 94158 ---
**Author:** ![Monster104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Monster104](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monster104)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-mant-dopers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/23705/4 "2000-06-27T07:21:56Z")
Dave, you have way too much free time. I’m beginning to think you are as Dave as we thought you are. ---
**Author:** ![dpr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dpr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dpr)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-mant-dopers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/23705/5 "2000-06-27T08:56:57Z")
_chuckle_ Do we need to mention duplicate posts? As for original question… I’m not sure but we cpould always go to the Ask the Light Bulb Changer thread (it’s only a matter of time). ---
**Author:** ![kinoons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kinoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinoons)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-mant-dopers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/23705/6 "2000-06-27T23:20:49Z")
Thanks for the pulg Santi – I’ll send you your $20 in the mail ---
**Author:** ![neuro-trash\_grrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3ab097/32.png) [@neuro-trash\_grrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neuro-trash_grrrl)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-mant-dopers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/23705/7 "2000-06-27T23:22:46Z")
You forgot the 5 to argue about how Cecil would have done it. ---
**Author:** ![Falcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/49beb7/32.png) [@Falcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falcon)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-mant-dopers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/23705/8 "2000-06-27T23:33:41Z")
You also forgot the 8 people coming in to flirt with everyone else. (And YES, I include myself in that 8. Sheesh!) ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-mant-dopers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/23705/9 "2000-06-27T23:43:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > Answer: > 1,331 > 1 to change the light bulb… > > \ > > …147 trolls who try to fan the flames of the light bulb controversy. \*\* And a sock puppet in a pear treeeeee! ---
**Author:** ![kinoons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kinoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinoons)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-mant-dopers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/23705/10 "2000-06-28T00:48:56Z")
Flirting? No one said anything about flirting – I’ll stop doing math if there will be flirting envolved… ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-mant-dopers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/23705/11 "2000-06-28T00:56:23Z")
1 troll. He holds the bulb and waits for the world to revolve around him… ---
**Author:** ![ren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@ren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ren)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-mant-dopers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/23705/12 "2000-06-28T01:11:00Z")
What, no troll hunters??? No hijacks to discuss sports??? No Threads started with “Cecil was WRONG about lightbulbs”??? No posts about the meanings of the words “lightbulb” and “change”??? We’re slipping! Actually, I particularly liked these two: > [@](#): > > 12 to post to the thread that they are leaveing the MB because they cannot handle the light bulb controversy. > > 4 to suggest that new posters not jump into the light bulb wars. best SDMB lightbulb answer I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Cynical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5fc32e/32.png) [@Cynical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cynical1)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-mant-dopers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/23705/13 "2000-06-28T02:11:23Z")
What about the 37 representatives of the “Dim Union of Malcontented Bulbs” (DUMB) writing that their cause is misunderstood and they will no longer post to a board where “Bulb diversity” is no longer tolerated? ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-mant-dopers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/23705/14 "2000-06-28T02:23:38Z")
Add 6 more with lawn chairs, beer, popcorn, and scorecards! ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-mant-dopers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/23705/15 "2000-06-28T03:25:41Z")
A classic Dave! ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-mant-dopers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/23705/16 "2000-06-28T07:53:26Z")
Well, perhaps here in MPSIMS it could be accomplished that easily. In General Questions, however, it would also require at least 100 posts each on the nature of radiant energy, and the development of electrical utilities. Glass blowing and the art of drawing wire could each require another dozen or two posts, assuming no differences of opinion on the use of incandescent lighting. Ladders, gloves, and appropriate cooling times and discussions on how to deal with potential problem from breakage, and electrical malfunctions should be thoroughly examined, perhaps two or three hundred posts. But even that pales when compared to the same topic in Great Debates. First of all, I don’t recall even a cursory examination of the original need for a change. That reveals an assumption on several levels, not only on the inadequacy of the original light bulb, but on the inherent value of artificial lighting vis-à-vis the social and physiological impact of altering the natural function of day and night. To proceed without first establishing the relative importance of light and darkness as a disassociated phenomenon makes a mockery of reasoned discourse. While it is hard to imagine an exhaustive investigation on these matters, certainly no less than a few hundred posts are required to establish the fundamentals of any need for bulb changing. However, it might be useful to start a related thread on the general affect of light levels on human behavior, so as to leave the procedural aspects of illumination repair technology a more open thread in which to develop. A logical progression on the problem presented in the OP should have itself limited to germane matters of direct involvement in light bringing. The fundamental luciferian purpose is complex enough, when one considers planning for labor management, logistics, the characteristics of materials, support facilities, and the inevitability of legal involvement. I would have to suppose that three threads would suffice for the original iteration of the basic question, however the topic would be revisited many times, over a year or so, as new members joined, and brought new perspectives to bear upon the issue. Tris ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-mant-dopers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/23705/17 "2000-06-28T08:03:07Z")
And one **Falcon** to post the pictures of the light bulb being changed on her web site. ---
**Author:** ![Falcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/49beb7/32.png) [@Falcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falcon)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-mant-dopers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/23705/18 "2000-06-28T08:12:04Z")
Awwww…thanks Chief! I think. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-mant-dopers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/23705/19 "2000-06-28T10:25:05Z")
Actually, there’s an upper bound principle that applies here. (Dont’cha love talking mathematics, first thing in the morning? ;)) There may be over 7000 registered users on the SDMB, but the vast majority of those who register never get their post count into double digits; only a few of them would even make it to the light-bulb thread(s). If the Great Light Bulb Debate rages for six months, say, before we actually change the bulb, we’re limited to the maybe 1000 or fewer posters who are active during that time. We might _seem_ to have more participants than that, but of course people change usernames over time: we might get both puffington and neutron star; Snark, Snarkberry, and Flinx; orangecakes and vanilla; johnnyharvard and ignatiustreilly; Michael Masterson, a few other MM-sock puppets, and Silo. But it’s kinda like the old problem of how many ancestors you have, _n_ generations back: in theory, you’ve got 2^n ancestors, but for large _n_, you get back to a time before there were 2^n people alive. (This is known as ‘pedigree collapse’, and can happen a lot faster in royal families and Tennessee hollers.) I think weirddave and Triskadecamus are both on target; it’s just that individual Dopers would fill multiple roles in their schema. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-mant-dopers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/23705/20 "2000-06-28T17:35:28Z")
Add one person to post some links to columns Cecil has written about light bulbs. For example [here](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/941028.html) and [here](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/941111.html). 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-mant-dopers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/23705.md?page=2)