# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/61 "2009-02-25T15:58:09Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > 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. Whatever you do, certainly don’t voice your opinion about it. ---
**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, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/62 "2009-02-25T15:59:03Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Whatever you do, certainly don’t voice your opinion about it. Yup. If you complain, we might just… do nothing, as normally happens when people are complaining. ---
**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, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/63 "2009-02-25T16:00:29Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > [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? ALRIGHT! _That’s_ more like it! ---
**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, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/64 "2009-02-25T16:02:41Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Yup. If you complain, we might just… do nothing, as normally happens when people are complaining. You don’t seriously think people who have been here for the last six months are buying this, do you? I understand you have to toe the party line, but please don’t insult us by trying to feed us revisionist history. ---
**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, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/65 "2009-02-25T16:06:07Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > You don’t seriously think people who have been here for the last six months are buying this, do you? I understand you have to toe the party line, but please don’t insult us by trying to feed us revisionist history. Well to be fair, normally nothing happens but sometimes someone steps on the wrong toe at the wrong time and the Ban/Suspension hammer comes down. To be literal, what \*\*Marley23 \*\*posted is true. Isn’t the ultimate worry that posters do not know when the inconsistent moderating is going to land on them? ---
**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, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/66 "2009-02-25T16:20:47Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Well to be fair, normally nothing happens but sometimes someone steps on the wrong toe at the wrong time and the Ban/Suspension hammer comes down. To be literal, what \*\*Marley23 \*\*posted is true. > > Isn’t the ultimate worry that posters do not know when the inconsistent moderating is going to land on them? True enough. Russian Roulette Moderating - it’s what all the cool boards are doing! ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/67 "2009-02-25T16:25:38Z")
I’m registered over at teemings now! I won’t be leaving the dope but it will be nice to hang out at another message board too. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/68 "2009-02-25T16:27:18Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > 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. 🙂 > [@WormTheRed](#): > > you could check out [www.teemings.org](http://www.teemings.org). But it doesn’t seem to be working now ☹ It’s working for me. However, IIRC **Elmwood** said that he was setting it up as a refuge or place to gather for folks in the case that the SDMB suddenly disappeared. I don’t think he has the server space for a big board like this one. ---
**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, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/69 "2009-02-25T16:30:56Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > You don’t seriously think people who have been here for the last six months are buying this, do you? I understand you have to toe the party line, but please don’t insult us by trying to feed us revisionist history. What I said is correct: it’s extremely rare that complaints about the board, moderation or policy, ever result in a so much as a warning. Even with the rule changes, that’s not going to change. I know there have been a couple of high-profile exceptions. I also understand not everybody is clear on what the Pit rules are right now or how they’ll be enforced. I’m not dismissing those and they weren’t dismissed while all the discussion about these rules went on. Meanwhile there have been 478 posts in the ATMB thread about the rules being revised, and hundreds of others in separate threads. Most have been critical or satirical, and nobody’s been warned or banned for any of it. (There was one warning for some racial slurs, but those were against the old rules, too.) That said, implying that complaints about the state of the board are normally quashed isn’t revising history - it’s inventing it. ---
**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, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/70 "2009-02-25T16:33:35Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > True enough. Russian Roulette Moderating - it’s what all the cool boards are doing! Complain about the moderating in ATMB, please, if complain you must. ---
**Author:** ![Atomicflea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@Atomicflea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomicflea)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/71 "2009-02-25T19:08:53Z")
I tried taking a look at SA, but it’s making me insane. I don’t think I could post there just because of all the inane visual noise. Also it seems really cliquey. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/72 "2009-02-25T19:46:47Z")
Well, to be honest, SDMB probably appears cliquey at first. But yeah, I’m with you on the SA thing. I’m too old for that, I think (no offense intended). ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/73 "2009-02-25T19:49:22Z")
I just gave a quick look over the SA forum, and based on just perusing the thread titles in the Book Barn and the fact that there is an entire Comics subforum, I am tentatively impressed. I’m not planning on leaving the SDMB until it croaks out its final gasp, but I’ll admit I’m pleased to have another place to investigate, particularly in light of recent events. ---
**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, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/74 "2009-02-25T20:56:47Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Complain about the moderating in ATMB, please, if complain you must. Yes, sir. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/75 "2009-02-26T00:37:55Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > The controversy is entirely about the Pit. If you never visit there (or About This Message Board, for that matter), it’s understandable that you don’t know. > > But a lot of people use the Pit to blow of steam (or at least enjoy reading invective from others), so that’s why they’re upset and leaving (among some related issues involving moderation). I realize the new Pit rules are upsetting to a lot of people. Like them, I enjoy reading the threads there, and occasionally posting there, but I don’t see how the new rules are so terrible. All that’s really happened, unless I’m completely misunderstanding things, is that we need to back off on invective and insult directed at one another, or the administration, and redirect discussions of policy and specific actions to ATMB. As for the second part of that, asking why a thread was closed, or for clarification on a policy, does seem to belong in ATMB, since there’s not necessarily any pitting implied in asking such questions. And as for the rest…is that really what makes this place go for you? Think about Pit OPs that that garner sch responses as “10!” , “9.9”!, “Bravo!”, and so on. Is it the things that would be in violation of the new rules that made those posts great? I really don’t think so. I’m surprised to see veteran posters like the OP getting so worked up over this. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/76 "2009-02-26T00:44:13Z")
I occasionally hang out at [Whitechapel](http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/) which is run by Warren Ellis. It’s heavily moderated, but explores all sorts of topics from the obscene to the obscure. Somebody else might enjoy it. ---
**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 26, 2009, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/77 "2009-02-26T00:59:18Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > \ > I’m surprised to see veteran posters like the OP getting so worked up over this. Maybe the question you should be asking is **why** veteran posters like me are getting so worked up over this. That said, this thread isn’t just about the new rules - it’s about needing a board other than the Straight Dope for my internet entertainment for various reasons. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/78 "2009-02-26T01:19:39Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I’ve been thinking the same thing. > > I’m a member of another board that i like, and i think that from now on i’m going to be spending far more time there than here. Here’s a rundown on the good and the bad (or, perhaps, the “same” and the “different”) of that board. > > Here’s the board: [Urban75](http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/index.php) > > Stuff that isn’t very different on Urban75 than on the SDMB: > [ul] > [li] quite a lot of smart people[/li][li] feeling of community[/li][li] good discussions of politics, history, culture, etc., etc.[/li][li] lots of good answers to GQ-type questions[/li][li] decent moderation (although the mods maintain less distinction between their regular posts and their Mod posts than the SDMB)[/li][/ul] > > Stuff where Urban75 is quite different from the SDMB: > [ul] > [li] smaller membership (or at least, it seems that way to me)[/li][li] not as many threads; less thread turnover than SDMB[/li][li] threads tend to run longer, on average, and develop into real extended conversations, more often than on the Dope[/li][li] politics; if you thought the Dope was left/liberal, it often looks conservative compared to Urban. There are a few avowed socialists, communists, and anarchists there; but there are also plenty of mainstream liberal/progressive types, and some conservatives. There’s still no shortage of heated debate and acrimony, but the flavor tends to be somewhat different from the Dope.[/li][li] geographic orientation;Urban is based in the UK, and the discussion tends to be UK-centric in the same way that the Dope tends to be US-centric[/li][li] No BBQ Pit. Insults are allowed in any forum, although if things get out of hand the mods do step in. The lack of restrictions on insults does lead to some thread derailings, but there are plenty of vigorous discussions that don’t descend into name-calling.[/li][li] much more _laissez-faire_ attitude to discussions about illegal topics. There is a forum specifically devoted to Drugs, and there are also frequent discussions about file sharing, bittorrent, etc.[/li][/ul] > > I think that just about does it. I think (and hope) that i’ve given a reasonably fair and accurate description, one that does justice to Urban75 and to the Straight Dope. Anyway, if that sounds interesting, you should check it out. I use the same handle over there. There are a few other former Dopers there (including our old friend **Aldebaran** ), and (i think) a few current ones. I’m on there too, thanks to a recommendation from another doper ages ago. There are at least five other dopers that I can think of who are on there. Your summary’s pretty fair. One other point in urban’s favour is that the moderation is really bloody good compared to anywhere else I’ve been online. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/79 "2009-02-26T06:10:01Z")
> [@Aquila\_Be](#): > > SA also has a “laissez faire” sub forum. About a month ago someone wished (in a “Death to Israel” thread) that AH had done a complete job on the Jews in WWII. No action was taken by the Mods and none of the other hundred or so other posters criticised him. That’s because he almost definitely wasn’t serious if he said that in LF. ---
**Author:** ![Library\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cab0a1/32.png) [@Library\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Library_Boy)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/80 "2009-02-26T06:34:56Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Complain about the moderating in ATMB, please, if complain you must. But your ad-hoc defense of it is allowed anywhere? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285.md?page=5)