# I am curious \[what is the purpose of this site\] **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 12, 2020, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-curious-what-is-the-purpose-of-this-site/925467 "2020-11-12T22:49:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Notonthisforum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Notonthisforum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Notonthisforum)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-curious-what-is-the-purpose-of-this-site/925467/1 "2020-11-12T22:49:04Z")
What is the purpose of this site? Who runs it? In the company bio, it states just that, “company”. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-curious-what-is-the-purpose-of-this-site/925467/2 "2020-11-12T22:50:07Z")
Yellow? ---
**Author:** ![Notonthisforum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Notonthisforum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Notonthisforum)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-curious-what-is-the-purpose-of-this-site/925467/3 "2020-11-12T22:54:51Z")
Kinda the same track of what I was reading. Thanks for the input. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-curious-what-is-the-purpose-of-this-site/925467/4 "2020-11-12T23:06:31Z")
Fighting Ignorance since 1973, or so I’ve been told. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-curious-what-is-the-purpose-of-this-site/925467/5 "2020-11-12T23:06:36Z")
The site is the official message board for what used to be the nationally syndicated newspaper column, _The Straight Dope_ (1973-2018). It is currently owned and operated by Sun-Times Media LLC (as in the newspaper, _The Chicago Sun-Times_), which bought _The Straight Dope_ and this message board from its previous newspaper, the _Chicago Reader_. Sun-Times has changed hands a couple times recently and I think it is currently owned by a holding company backed by Chicago investors like Michael Sacks and Rocky Wirtz. You can read the old columns at the parent site, [https://www.straightdope.com](https://www.straightdope.com) ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Notonthisforum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Notonthisforum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Notonthisforum)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-curious-what-is-the-purpose-of-this-site/925467/6 "2020-11-12T23:29:12Z")
Thank you max. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-curious-what-is-the-purpose-of-this-site/925467/7 "2020-11-13T00:07:01Z")
As for the purpose: answering questions, debating the great issues of the day, and talking about kittens. Plus pie. With a side of smart-assery. I hope you like it. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-curious-what-is-the-purpose-of-this-site/925467/8 "2020-11-13T00:21:51Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > As for the purpose: answering questions, debating the great issues of the day, and talking about kittens. Plus pie. With a side of smart-assery. I hope you like it. Kitten pictures are mandatory here. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-curious-what-is-the-purpose-of-this-site/925467/9 "2020-11-13T03:38:44Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Kitten pictures are mandatory here. And puppy and dog pictures, also mandatory. (And this is from a cat person , no less) ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-curious-what-is-the-purpose-of-this-site/925467/10 "2020-11-13T03:53:54Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Kitten pictures are mandatory here. No, that’s a common misconception. Dog pictures are mandatory because they’re so darn cute. Kitten pictures are tolerated because we’re an open-minded lot. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-curious-what-is-the-purpose-of-this-site/925467/11 "2020-11-13T04:51:34Z")
> [@Notonthisforum](#): > > What is the purpose of this site? Shenanigans. Welcome! ---
**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:** [November 13, 2020, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-curious-what-is-the-purpose-of-this-site/925467/12 "2020-11-13T05:27:27Z")
Title edited to indicate subject. Please use descriptive thread titles. Colibri Moderator ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-curious-what-is-the-purpose-of-this-site/925467/13 "2020-11-13T06:51:18Z")
At the top right corner of the page, just to the left of the magnifying glass, click on the 3 horizontal bars for a dropdown menu. It contains links to the FAQ and “About”. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-curious-what-is-the-purpose-of-this-site/925467/14 "2020-11-13T07:43:40Z")
Your thread title answers your question. It’s why I joined 15 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-curious-what-is-the-purpose-of-this-site/925467/15 "2020-11-13T08:54:31Z")
I wonder whether there’s connection between those nine lives and curiosity… ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-curious-what-is-the-purpose-of-this-site/925467/16 "2020-11-13T13:35:05Z")
Sounds about right. I found the Straight Dope & SDMB several times answering the questions of an 8 year old and a couple of times for myself. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-curious-what-is-the-purpose-of-this-site/925467/17 "2020-11-13T13:59:51Z")
> [@Notonthisforum](#): > > What is the purpose of this site? Kick names and take @$$. ---
**Author:** ![Notonthisforum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Notonthisforum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Notonthisforum)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-curious-what-is-the-purpose-of-this-site/925467/18 "2020-11-13T14:10:23Z")
I thought this was a professional political site. Thank you for your time and responses. Have a great day. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-curious-what-is-the-purpose-of-this-site/925467/19 "2020-11-13T14:13:46Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > > [@Notonthisforum](#): > > > > What is the purpose of this site? > > Kick names and take @$$. - Let’s not forget gumming chew. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-curious-what-is-the-purpose-of-this-site/925467/20 "2020-11-13T14:29:56Z")
> [@Notonthisforum](#): > > I thought this was a professional political site. Well, I got paid. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-curious-what-is-the-purpose-of-this-site/925467.md?page=2)