# How many forum members does it take to change a light bulb? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 14, 2010, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932 "2010-02-14T05:45:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932/21 "2010-02-14T17:57:16Z")
> [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](#): > > I burning out you light bulb! I don’t see what you did there. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932/22 "2010-02-14T17:59:22Z")
One to post a numbered step-by-step procedure for changing the lightbulb, with the third item in the procedure being, “Hi, Opal!” Another one to point out that we don’t do that any more. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932/23 "2010-02-14T18:05:30Z")
Any SDMB light bulb change list that does not include a potato is not a reliable one. > **[Tool for extracting a broken light bulb?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=353356)** > > I’ll supply the jokes, pre-emptively: Yes, I am a tool for breaking the light-bulb. Two: one to grip the bulb too hard, and one to sweep glass shards off the floor. Okay, now that’s done, and now that the glass has been thrown away, how do I get... Besides, in another thread, the answer was found to be 42. > **[I can't change my light bulb](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=533955)** > > Seriously, I can’t do it this time. I can’t get the glass globe off to get to the light bulb. Here’s the best picture I could find on the web of the fixture we’re dealing with: ... ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932/24 "2010-02-14T18:05:39Z")
Three people to carry on a continuing flame war for 36 pages over the advantages of CFLs to incandescents. One person to accuse the OP of trolling. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932/25 "2010-02-14T18:11:03Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > i saw on this site [lightbulbsareevil.com](http://lightbulbsareevil.com) that light bulbs give you cancer. wht’s the Staright dope on this. ive already had 3 fires from all the candles-need answer fast!!!11111111111 link doesn’t work. One to post a more helpful yet snarky [link](http://lmgtfy.com/?q=how+to+change+a+light+bulb). ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932/26 "2010-02-14T18:27:31Z")
> [@enomaj](#): > > I don’t see what you did there. There’s an old, old pit thread (that I can’t seem to find) where the OP said “I BURNING YOU DOG!” It’s in there with “Once. For 20 minutes. In 1960.” and “Rio by Duran Duran” and “1920’s style ‘death ray’”. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932/27 "2010-02-14T18:40:39Z")
> [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](#): > > There’s an old, old pit thread (that I can’t seem to find) where the OP said “I BURNING YOU DOG!” It’s in there with “Once. For 20 minutes. In 1960.” and “Rio by Duran Duran” and “1920’s style ‘death ray’”. I shoulda used a smilie. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932/28 "2010-02-14T18:44:06Z")
> [@ToeJam](#): > > I call Dibs! Double damn! ---
**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:** [February 14, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932/29 "2010-02-14T19:14:32Z")
> [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](#): > > There’s an old, old pit thread (that I can’t seem to find) where the OP said “I BURNING YOU DOG!” It’s in there with “Once. For 20 minutes. In 1960.” and “Rio by Duran Duran” and “1920’s style ‘death ray’”. 1 to post a SDMB in joke. 3 to say “What does that mean” 29 explaining the SDMB joke, 15 without link and 14 with link. 3 say “Miss one memo and you are out of the loop.” Double the amounts if it’s about Hal Briston and sheep. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932/30 "2010-02-14T20:11:03Z")
> [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](#): > > There’s an old, old pit thread (that I can’t seem to find) where the OP said “I BURNING YOU DOG!” It’s in there with “Once. For 20 minutes. In 1960.” and “Rio by Duran Duran” and “1920’s style ‘death ray’”. The reason he didn’t see what you did there is that you had just burned out the light bulb. It was dark. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932/31 "2010-02-14T21:03:13Z")
Well played there \*\*enomaj \*\*. Bravo. And a golf-clap. I love it when a whoosh goes so well that the people jumping in to help are themselves whooshed. Shame \*\*GWR \*\*had to go and spoil it before we got a real pile-on of whooshed wannabe de-whooshers. Such are the heavy responsiblities of mod-dom. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932/32 "2010-02-15T02:49:03Z")
> [@enomaj](#): > > I shoulda used a smilie. 🙂 > [@Gary "Wombat" Robson](#): > > The reason he didn’t see what you did there is that you had just burned out the light bulb. It was dark. Ah, so this is what it feels like to get whooshed. Well played **enomaj** , well played. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932/33 "2010-02-15T02:56:53Z")
I change light bulbs for a living. Most folks don’t believe the obscene amount I am paid to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932/34 "2010-02-15T03:00:10Z")
Don’t forget the 4 “Back in _my_ day, we used candles and liked it!” purists. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932/35 "2010-02-15T06:43:59Z")
> [@Rico](#): > > In my surfing, I ran across the following. Does this remind you of any forum you’ve been on recently? > > How many forum members to change a light bulb? > > Only 1 to change the light bulb and to post 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 > 1 to move it to the Lighting section > 2 to argue then move it to the Electricals section > 7 to point out spelling/grammar errors in posts about changing light bulbs > 5 to flame the spell checkers > 3 to correct spelling/grammar flames > 6 to argue over whether it’s “lightbulb” or “light bulb” > Another 6 to condemn those 6 as stupid > 2 industry professionals to inform the group that the proper term is “lamp” > 15 know-it-alls who claim they were in the industry, and that “light bulb” is perfectly correct > 19 to post that this forum is not about light bulbs and to please take this discussion to a lightbulb forum > 11 to defend the posting to this forum saying that we all use light bulbs and therefore the posts are relevant to this forum > 36 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 > 7 to post URL’s where one can see examples of different light bulbs > 4 to post that the URL’s were posted incorrectly and then post the corrected URL’s > 3 to post about links they found from the URL’s that are relevant to this group which makes light bulbs relevant to this group > 13 to link all posts to date, quote them in their entirety including all headers and signatures, and add “Me too” > 5 to post to the group that they will no longer post because they cannot handle the light bulb controversy > 4 to say “didn’t we go through this already a short time ago?” > 13 to say “do a Google search on light bulbs before posting questions about light bulbs” > 7 to blame the mods for letting the first light bulb burn out. > 1 forum lurker to respond to the original post 6 years from now and start it all over again. You forgot “1 person to quote the whole fucking OP just to say they liked it.” ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932/36 "2010-02-15T08:54:41Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > I change light bulbs for a living. Most folks don’t believe the obscene amount I am paid to do it. In that case, you’re just the person… 1 to start an “Ask The Light-bulb Changer” thread. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932/37 "2010-02-15T12:55:12Z")
It’s light _globe_. ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932/38 "2010-02-15T13:00:54Z")
If the thread is in MPSIMS, 6 posters to demand photos of the lightbulb to SQUEEEE! over. ---
**Author:** ![as\_u\_wish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@as\_u\_wish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/as_u_wish)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932/39 "2010-02-15T13:53:32Z")
1 to post that if Christians were serious about their faith, they would just pray for the lightbulb to be changed. 3 lengthy posts explaining that it doesn’t work that way. 17 point by point acrimonious rebuttals totally derailing the thread. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932/40 "2010-02-15T17:56:35Z")
> [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](#): > > Ah, so this is what it feels like to get whooshed. Well played **enomaj** , well played. Nice, a Double Whoosh for the price of one… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-forum-members-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb/528932.md?page=3)