# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/121 "2009-03-01T08:07:11Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > I don’t believe y’all want to throw in the towel that easily. Bill, I’ve stuck around for more than 9 years, through thick and thin, and through all the spinoff boards that have been created due to dramas over shit here at the Dope. I would hardly call my desire to find somewhere that I don’t have to open a new tab with a handy word list to reference, every time I feel like telling someone off in the Pit, “throwing in the towel”. _The Pit_ for Og’s sake! I love(d) this place. For heaven’s sake, I met my husband at a Dopefest! Most of the people are awesome, the forum subjects are typically interesting, and since it deserves mentioning twice, the people are mostly _awesome_. For all the years I’ve hung in there, and for all the time and effort I have invested here, including making some very dear friends, deciding I’d had enough was definitely not something I did lightly. I’m not saying I’ll never peek in here, or feel inspired to throw my two cents in if I think I have something important to add, but it’s not going to be my primary hangout anymore. I simply don’t have the patience to check a “forbidden words” llst when I’m seething mad at someone and want to tell them to fuck off in what has, until now, been the appropriate forum. I hope you’ll understand and forgive me. Hugs, Jill ---
**Author:** ![criminey.jicket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@criminey.jicket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/criminey.jicket)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/122 "2009-03-01T09:33:27Z")
I checked a board ranking site, crawled through the mire, and came up with one possible contender: [The Cellar](http://cellar.org/forumdisplay.php?f=11). I’m still checking the place out but it’s looking good (enough for me) so far. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/123 "2009-03-01T16:51:00Z")
> [@Aquila\_Be](#): > > Just by way of explanation, if you see kindergarten terms like “gently caress” or “poo poo” on SA it means you’re not logged as a paid up, registered user. > > Logged in members of SA see the terms as they were originally submitted. Super tough kindergarten expressions like: “f— you” and “sh–”, etc. etc. I’m so glad you cleared THAT up. I’ve been cruising around unregistered debating joining and thinking “Hey, this place looks OK to me” but the whole “gently caress” and “poo poo” is 1000x more annoying than all of the Hi Opals in the world. I thought it was actually what people typed because they were forbidden from swearing! Now I’m even more apt to give them my $10 because it’s so annoying and I like it there otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/124 "2009-03-01T18:26:58Z")
Yo, **Capt. Ridley’s Shooting Party** , if you’re checking this thread, you need to clear your PMs, please. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cletus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@cletus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cletus)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/125 "2009-03-01T21:18:37Z")
> [@criminey.jicket](#): > > I checked a board ranking site, crawled through the mire, and came up with one possible contender: [The Cellar](http://cellar.org/forumdisplay.php?f=11). > > I’m still checking the place out but it’s looking good (enough for me) so far. Thanks for the link. I’ve been looking for other forums too and this one looks good so far. I was hesistent to check this thread because I figured it would be full of people arguing about how much better SD is then every other forum out there and no real suggestions. I was a little surprised people would recommend Something Awful. The content is (usually) to juvenile for me. I guess it’s because you have to pay to post on that one too. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/126 "2009-03-01T21:29:15Z")
It really looks like the [domebo.net](http://domebo.net/forum/)is shaping up and growing quick. So far it has a good cross-section of posters though the GD group is very light. It is nice that the [member list](http://domebo.net/forum/memberlist.php)is available. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/127 "2009-03-01T21:39:59Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > It really looks like the [domebo.net](http://domebo.net/forum/)is shaping up and growing quick. So far it has a good cross-section of posters though the GD group is very light. It is nice that the [member list](http://domebo.net/forum/memberlist.php)is available. I know we can turn off avatars, but the one mod with a black face avatar really threw me for a loop. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/128 "2009-03-01T21:49:06Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I know we can turn off avatars, but the one mod with a black face avatar really threw me for a loop. [_“Hello Dave!!!”_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a27zbNyf3x4) ---
**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:** [March 1, 2009, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/129 "2009-03-01T23:50:38Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I know we can turn off avatars, but the one mod with a black face avatar really threw me for a loop. For what it is worth, I believe he is a Brit and I think that is some odd UK superhero and not what we would think of here. However I am not sure. ETA: Based on the link Ivan provided, I see I am wrong and it is some odd Brit humor instead. I’m not sure what to make of it. ---
**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:** [March 2, 2009, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/130 "2009-03-02T00:25:09Z")
The avatar has been removed. It isn’t a guy in blackface (rather, it is, but not in the way an American would interpret it). It’s Papa Lazarou, a comedy character any British person would be able to identify. I suppose Americans, not knowing the character, would interpret it as something else, which is why I removed it. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/131 "2009-03-02T00:49:38Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > It really looks like the [domebo.net](http://domebo.net/forum/)is shaping up and growing quick. So far it has a good cross-section of posters though the GD group is very light. It is nice that the [member list](http://domebo.net/forum/memberlist.php)is available. Looks good to me. ---
**Author:** ![Aquila\_Be](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a698b9/32.png) [@Aquila\_Be](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquila_Be)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/132 "2009-03-02T11:05:35Z")
> [@BoBettie](#): > > I’m so glad you cleared THAT up. I’ve been cruising around unregistered debating joining and thinking “Hey, this place looks OK to me” but the whole “gently caress” and “poo poo” is 1000x more annoying than all of the Hi Opals in the world. I thought it was actually what people typed because they were forbidden from swearing! Now I’m even more apt to give them my $10 because it’s so annoying and I like it there otherwise. Oh, poo poo and gently caress :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/133 "2009-03-03T19:30:33Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > It really looks like the [domebo.net](http://domebo.net/forum/)is shaping up and growing quick. So far it has a good cross-section of posters though the GD group is very light. It is nice that the [member list](http://domebo.net/forum/memberlist.php)is available. Seconded. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/134 "2009-03-03T19:55:28Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Seconded. Thirded. It’s pretty sweet. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/135 "2009-03-05T04:46:19Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Thirded. It’s pretty sweet. Fourth’d, just to continue the trend. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/136 "2009-03-05T12:13:26Z")
Well. I’m not sure this secessionism is going to solve anything, and possibly achieve the opposite of what it’s trying to do (finding a substitute for this place). First, I’m not one of the people who think that the dope is the best message board ever, populated by the most cleverest people on Earth, and I’ve always had a few issues with this place (mostly related to the attitude of some members that the dope is the best message board ever, populated by the most cleverest people on Earth ;)). That said, I’ve grown accustomed to this place. I enjoy my time here, and the debates I get into (even though I sometimes get ticked off at myself for getting ticked off at words on a screen). I’ve learned a lot of things. If we’re now all to jump from the ship some have proclaimed to be sinking because somebody left the tap open and made a puddle, what do we achieve? Well, some posters end up in place A, some in place B, and the rest are gonna be scattered across the net – and the sum of the constituent parts will end up being less than the whole. I’ve seen this before – one message board I was part of basically split in two over some stupid disagreements, and now both new forums are utterly uninteresting to me, populated only by a few hardy ghosts still trapped there because of some eternally unfinished business. I’d certainly live if this happened to the dope. But it’d be sad all the same. So why not let’s just try and actually see how this whole thing’s gonna look once all the dust has settled? We can all still leave if we find it’s just no fun any more to post here. But leaving now all in a huff because of the violation of some sacred principles or whatever isn’t going to accomplish anything, at least IMO. It’ll certainly not help the dope or create genuine alternatives. Me, I find the new rules as stupid as the next poster. But I’m not here primarily for the ability to tell people to fuck off. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2009, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/137 "2009-03-05T13:11:33Z")
> [@](#): > > So why not let’s just try and actually see how this whole thing’s gonna look once all the dust has settled? We can all still leave if we find it’s just no fun any more to post here. I think most of the posters who contributed a lot to this place have already picked one of the two new boards and done exactly that. ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/138 "2009-03-06T16:45:02Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > Is this an offshoot of what is now [FRDB](http://www.freeratio.org/index.php) and used to be IIDB? A quick glance at the users online showed most of the same people. It’s mostly an odd mixing of refugees from the former Internet Infidels, the newer Free Ratio, and the post-buyout Christian Forums, along with several from a couple of other boards. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/139 "2009-03-06T18:03:26Z")
The problem I’ve seen happen with the SDMB offshoot boards (I don’t track them all, so I don’t have a lot of cites handy, and in any case I don’t want to get into specifics so let’s just say that this is my impression) is that, after the initial flurry of excitement, they don’t have a built-in growth mechanism (e.g. the Straight Dope column which would bring people to the parent site after a google search) and so they eventually become stagnant. I do wish other boards well, but it seems that it’s hard to attract new members. The Something Awful forums are very active but from my limited experience the moderation is more strict than here in some situations and more capricious in others. Also, to be honest, I find the bowdlerizing of language somewhat ridiculous (changing “shit” to “poo poo” when you’re not logged in?) ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285/140 "2009-03-06T18:10:37Z")
Oh, I forgot what I came in here to say originally - the snopes forums are similar to some aspects of the SDMB. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-message-board-a-lot-like-the-straight-dope/487285.md?page=6)