# I need a new message board a lot like the Straight Dope **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 24, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285 "2009-02-24T22:32:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/41 "2009-02-25T12:32:18Z")
Oh sure, take the easy way… kids these days, I swear 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/42 "2009-02-25T12:42:50Z")
So, is anybody actually interested in this? Same forum structure as here, but hopefully with improvements (clear rules, separate mod accounts so no merging of poster/mod, a proper Pit etc.)? I don’t mind setting the board up. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/43 "2009-02-25T12:47:40Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I’m a member of another board that i like, … > > Here’s the board: [Urban75](http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/index.php) Interesting. Unfortunately, without registering, you can only see the thread titles. Unless I’m missing something obvious. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/44 "2009-02-25T12:54:37Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Interesting. Unfortunately, without registering, you can only see the thread titles. Unless I’m missing something obvious. 🙂 :smack::smack: It’s some forums only. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/45 "2009-02-25T13:01:14Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > So, is anybody actually interested in this? Same forum structure as here, but hopefully with improvements (clear rules, separate mod accounts so no merging of poster/mod, a proper Pit etc.)? > > I don’t mind setting the board up. I would be. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/46 "2009-02-25T13:14:02Z")
Cool, see [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10872338#post10872338), so as not to continue hijacking. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/47 "2009-02-25T13:24:34Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > Cool, see [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10872338#post10872338), so as not to continue hijacking. That didn’t work out too well for you. ---
**Author:** ![tirial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@tirial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tirial)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/48 "2009-02-25T13:36:39Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > So, is anybody actually interested in this? Same forum structure as here, but hopefully with improvements (clear rules, separate mod accounts so no merging of poster/mod, a proper Pit etc.)? > > I don’t mind setting the board up. Interesting idea, but for the non-technical problems: - treading on the Reader’s copyright (e.g. Cecil Adams columns) - getting critical mass of posters (something that killed a lot of the spin-offs). - Having something to hang the boards of, a hooking point. I think the owners would object if you used Cecil’s columns, and without a way to promote itself a board doesn’t gain new members and without new blood it dies. Then you need to consider that what made this board what it was, was its moderation (and moderators) - unless you can get some people with similar skills across, the new board won’t stay civil very long. **Featherlou** regarding other forums, I used to spend a lot of time here, mostly lurking, but it has dropped a lot over the last years. I’m a lot more active of some of the other boards I’m on, but they tend to be dedicated to one interest or another, so might not be what you are looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/49 "2009-02-25T13:37:01Z")
This same thing happened here in Dallas several years ago. Some folks got dissatisfied with the way the message board was being run, called it to the owner’s attention, were told it’s my board and I’m gonna run it my way, and those dissatisfied folks formed their own message board. Then the “Tribe Mentality” set in, and war began. Then things settled down. Then there was dissension within the new board and another message board was formed. Do you see where I am going with this, y’all? Instead of diplomacy there was dick-taterin and all that got solved was that message boards became diluted and heretofore good friends became strangers. I was one of these people, and although I have tried to return, it just isn’t the same, so now I just post here and y’all have become my family. I’m not saying we shouldn’t disagree, but like a family we ought to be able to sit down and talk things out. There has been so much good done and so many people helped, that it would be a damn shame to just turn our backs and leave the playground and make another one. This is an _international_ message board. Maybe not the first of its kind, but certainly the **best** , and we need to set an example and work this out. Thanks Bill ---
**Author:** ![SomeUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e480ec/32.png) [@SomeUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SomeUserName)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/50 "2009-02-25T13:39:55Z")
Another vote for SA. I have been posting there for over four years. I normally hang out in GBS but I also go to Pet Island and Goons with Spoons. There are a lot more forums there and even if I don’t post in them I like to read what others are interested in. There are forums just for books, cooking, pets, cars, comics, DYI as well as Ask/Tell, favorites, E/N, computer software and hardware etc. They pretty much cover it all. I agree that the scene is younger but there are a lot of intellegent people there. They have started cracking down on some things that have improved the board IMO such as capitialization, using paragraphes and the use of catch phrases etc. Best $20 I ever spent. $10 for membership and $10 for Platinum that gives you PM abilites and the ability to report posts. The extra $10 was also for search but as already stated that is not working. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/51 "2009-02-25T13:44:07Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > I’m not saying we shouldn’t disagree, but like a family we ought to be able to sit down and talk things out. > > There has been so much good done and so many people helped, that it would be a damn shame to just turn our backs and leave the playground and make another one. Don’t stress too much about it, **Quasimodem** , ok? People have a right to object to changes they don’t like. They also have the right to leave if they want, and it’s not like this is the first time anybody’s ever said the board is going to be downhill and won’t be any fun anymore. For some people the end is always right around the corner. That said, most of them will still be here, and the new Pit rules don’t affect the rest of the site outside of ATMB anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Karyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/fbc32d/32.png) [@Karyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karyn)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/52 "2009-02-25T13:55:30Z")
I don’t know what all of this is about either but having just gone through a large forum meltdown followed by several spinoffs that went down in a flame of drama, became tediously lulzy or have spent months and months creating a bureaucracy and fighting about it, my only advice is not to assume that the grass is going to be greener even if you set it up yourself. People will still complain about being insulted and nitpick every rule, others will complain about not being allowed to be insult others, vast and painfully boring rules lawyering discussions will take place and people will bitch about you as mods and admins just as much as we all do it to other forum staff. Setting up the software is easy. It can range from free BBS hosting though buying a vBulletin license and and hosting it on your own server. Getting traffic is harder. ---
**Author:** ![Hot\_Buttered\_Toast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b38774/32.png) [@Hot\_Buttered\_Toast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hot_Buttered_Toast)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/53 "2009-02-25T14:29:13Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > This is an _international_ message board. Maybe not the first of its kind, but certainly the **best** , and we need to set an example and work this out. Apparently not. Why, we’re so Chicago-centric that we even have a series of subforums dedicated to it! Another vote for SomethingAwful. ---
**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:** [February 25, 2009, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/54 "2009-02-25T14:44:44Z")
> [@Hot\_Buttered\_Toast](#): > > Apparently not. Why, we’re so Chicago-centric that we even have a series of subforums dedicated to it! > > Another vote for SomethingAwful. That is not really valid. The Chicago part is not truly a sub-forum but a separate message board in theory temporarily housing on the SDMB. At least I think that is the gist of what \*\*Ed \*\*said about it at the time. I don’t like the SA board. I’ll be sad if many posters leave. I hope it doesn’t come to that. Sorry to sound like **Quasi**. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/55 "2009-02-25T14:53:46Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Sorry to sound like **Quasi**. I **saw** that!😃 Q ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/56 "2009-02-25T14:56:36Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > That is not really valid. The Chicago part is not truly a sub-forum but a separate message board in theory temporarily housing on the SDMB. At least I think that is the gist of what \*\*Ed \*\*said about it at the time. I’m pretty sure Ed never said this, and I don’t think it’s correct. If people don’t like the Straight Dope Chicago concept I’d suggest they not scroll down to those forums or just go to the “main” tab. ---
**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:** [February 25, 2009, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/57 "2009-02-25T15:05:06Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > I **saw** that!😃 > > Q I thank you for accepting it in the good humor it was intended. ETA: I just checked the ATMB thread [Announcing Straight Dope Chicago](http://209.104.5.198/sdmb/showthread.php?t=495873)and I see I was wrong. Sorry about that. ---
**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 25, 2009, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/58 "2009-02-25T15:17:58Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > So, is anybody actually interested in this? Same forum structure as here, but hopefully with improvements (clear rules, separate mod accounts so no merging of poster/mod, a proper Pit etc.)? > > I don’t mind setting the board up. That has actually been set up already at [www.teemings.org](http://www.teemings.org), which, unfortunately, is somewhat flakey and is not opening this morning. So perhaps not the best alternative. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/59 "2009-02-25T15:25:09Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > dying boards aren’t filling my “sit on my ass and be entertained” needs. [stage left] tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity Muffin seductively fan dances across the thread tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity tappity [/stage right] There, happy now? ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/60 "2009-02-25T15:45:04Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > TalkRational looks good. There’s also PhilosophyForums. Perhaps it would be an idea, though, to create a new MB with all the same forums as the SDMB? Yeah, there’s other splinter forums, but these are all centred around one individual, or a geographic region. you could check out [www.teemings.org](http://www.teemings.org). But it doesn’t seem to be working now ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285.md?page=4)