# In praise of Dopers who don't normally get praised **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 26, 2008, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-dopers-who-dont-normally-get-praised/457875 "2008-07-26T22:08:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hugh\_Jass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4da419/32.png) [@Hugh\_Jass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hugh_Jass)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-dopers-who-dont-normally-get-praised/457875/1 "2008-07-26T22:08:13Z")
We all know of one. Someone not particularly prolific, or controversial, or… whatever. Someone who isn’t a Straight Dope All Star, but makes a contribution to the overall spectacularity of the Dope. Perhaps they always have something clever to say. Or a voice of reason whenever a topic devolves into a flamefest. Or perhaps you just like the cut of their jib. It doesn’t matter. Tell me about a Doper that you just sorta like. For me, that person is **Glee**. He lives in the UK and I _think_ he’s about 10+ years older than me, but I kinda wish we were buddies. He likes chess. He likes games. He seems highly educated. He drops funny comments from time to time. To wit: After being reminded (gently) that Sid Meier’s new game Colonization was spelled with a Z instead of an s, Glee responded: “I understand - this sort of thing is why the coloniez revolted…” Now that isn’t a real gutbuster, but golly, that made me smile. And I realized that whenever I read one of Glee’s comments, I almost invariably smile. Or nod my head. Or realize that my ignorance has been fought. So who else out there deserves a little mention for what they bring to our little thing here. ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-dopers-who-dont-normally-get-praised/457875/2 "2008-07-26T22:19:51Z")
**Vinyl Turnip** cracks me up all the time. He’s tack-sharp and doesn’t take things too seriously. I imagine he’s one of those people IRL who’s probably very quiet, though. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-dopers-who-dont-normally-get-praised/457875/3 "2008-07-26T23:21:27Z")
Dopers I like reading but have never told them: The King of Soup and Pedro. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-dopers-who-dont-normally-get-praised/457875/4 "2008-07-26T23:29:57Z")
Oh, look–another level to hell. Not only did I not make the big star list, now I won’t make it onto the B list, either… ☹😉 I find these threads uncomfortable to read–I always feel bad for the people skipped over. Let me put it this way: there are 3 Dopers I actively loathe. The rest are all a big jumble skills, insecurities, humor and poignancy. It’s a nice mix. That said, I’d like to have a drink with **Stranger On a Train** and **What Exit?** (not at the same time) someday. I’d like to buy **chowder** a drink as well. ---
**Author:** ![Carson\_O\_Genic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Carson\_O\_Genic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carson_O_Genic)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-dopers-who-dont-normally-get-praised/457875/5 "2008-07-27T00:13:37Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] Oh, look–another level to hell. I find these threads uncomfortable to read–I always feel bad for the people skipped over. [/QUOTE] ``` I like your humour, and I agree there seems to be a degree of angst in these sort of threads. Reminds me of high school in an unpleasant way. ``` But like life the Dope is an illusion too. There are very few posters who participate in all fora to universal acclaim, and there is a host of lurkers increasing the view count for some reason; perhaps like me they appreciate a variety of views put forward in a largely intelligible (and well moderated ) way. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-dopers-who-dont-normally-get-praised/457875/6 "2008-07-27T00:42:45Z")
**ftg** , **AHunter3** , and **Voyager** don’t get nearly enough respect, I think. They’re on the spot with technical information and history in numerous threads, and have likely saved some people serious money in accumulated computer service charges. I’m happily on the Z-list myself; I was reasonably popular in high school (not bad for a quiz team nerd with odd friends ;)) so I probably undervalue being in with the in crowd. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-dopers-who-dont-normally-get-praised/457875/7 "2008-07-27T01:00:33Z")
This thread is SO meant for me! Come on, many of you secretly like seeing my break-almost-every-small-rule-but-not-the-big-ones contributions. I am consistently off-topic. I am notorious for drive-bys. (I’ll post a thread and that might be my only post _in_ the thread) I am often guilty of stealth-insulting theists (I do feel a little bit ashamed of that one) the list goes on. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-dopers-who-dont-normally-get-praised/457875/8 "2008-07-27T01:08:33Z")
This is a hard thread to answer to because a lot of prominent Dopers do get recognized. I like the **Voyager** nomination because he has a lot of knowledge about low level electronics and doesn’t really brag about it. He also seems like an interesting person as well. I will also nominate **Miller** even though I know for a fact that he can’t stand me. I like his style of posting and I am pretty sure he would like me in person. I will also nominate **Ruffian** although I have it on good authority that she can’t stand me either. I like her posting style as well and she seems intelligent as well as mildly aggressive which can be a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-dopers-who-dont-normally-get-praised/457875/9 "2008-07-27T01:21:29Z")
Funny – earlier today I read the [Bush Memo Redefines Birth Control as Abortion](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=476195) and was thinking how excellent it was to have **JayRx1981** as a member. There have been at least a couple other threads in which I’ve found his posts cogent and authoritative about pharmacy-related topics. The problem for me is that there are _so many_ others whose handle I recognize, but often just can’t recall – if it didn’t happen this morning, I’d have forgotten the above. I can scan just about any thread and find at least one poster whom I recognize and appreciate. Going over the first page of the thread above, for instance, there’s **FriarTed** (who, me being an atheist, I fundamentally disagree with, but find another reasonably presented POV valuable), **marshmallow** (who I believe was on hiatus for a time; I think it was he that posted something in a political thread that made me think, _how deliciously cynical_), and **Don’t Call Me Shirley** (who recently had son-induced operating system issues). Whether they’re “All Stars” or not, I’m not sure…I used the (arbitrary) metric of under 500 posts/year. Again, way too many posters to keep in my head… ---
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-dopers-who-dont-normally-get-praised/457875/10 "2008-07-27T01:33:17Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] Oh, look–another level to hell. Not only did I not make the big star list, now I won’t make it onto the B list, either… ☹ ;). [/QUOTE] Damnit, woman! I just logged in specifically to list you as one of the two Dopers I’d like to sit and have a glass of wine with. the other one is Fairychatsmom – I think she and her hubby and my wife and I could be couples buddies very easily. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-dopers-who-dont-normally-get-praised/457875/11 "2008-07-27T01:50:03Z")
[QUOTE=Sunrazor] Damnit, woman! I just logged in specifically to list you as one of the two Dopers I’d like to sit and have a glass of wine with. the other one is Fairychatsmom – I think she and her hubby and my wife and I could be couples buddies very easily. [/QUOTE] REALLY?!? [Naven Johnson] I’m somebody now![/NJ] That’s very nice of you. I’d love to do the same with you. 🙂 I like **Miller** , too, **Shagnasty** , although I think he doesn’t care for me, either, but that is due to me, IMS. Anyway, he seems to well balanced and articulate in his opinions. I want to mention **gardentraveler** because she is just so darned nice, but not soppy about it or naive. She’s just good folks. She has a kind word and something good to say about almost everything. ---
**Author:** ![Risha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@Risha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Risha)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-dopers-who-dont-normally-get-praised/457875/12 "2008-07-27T02:11:35Z")
I’ve suddenly realized that I have very little idea of who counts as “A list” Dopers. Off the top of my head, I’m always glad to see these people pop up in a thread: **norinew** , **olivesmarch4th** , **Really Not All That Bright** , **Paul in Saudi** , **SSG Schwartz** , **Anaamika** , and **TokyoPlayer**. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-dopers-who-dont-normally-get-praised/457875/13 "2008-07-27T02:24:54Z")
[irrelevant aside] I should be drummed off the Dope for my abuse of commas in that post. My apologies. [/irrelevant aside] If I could hazard to guess who the A list is: **QuadgoptheMercotan** , **Sampiro** , **tdn** , **TomnDebb** , and I hope there’s at least one woman, but can’t come up with a name (I suck at remembering names). I’m sure I’ve left off other males, too, but it’s a start. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-dopers-who-dont-normally-get-praised/457875/14 "2008-07-27T02:25:26Z")
Enamored as I am of film, aircraft and nuclear technologies, I’ve got to give nods to **Stranger on Train** , **Johnny L.A.** and **Broomstick** for their depth of knowledge and writing skills; also **Tapioca Dextrin** and **NaturalBlondChap** for sharing their similar depth of knowledge of the petroleum industry. Oh, and **Dolores Reborn** for running all those trivial feud games. That’s a load of work, I reckon. ---
**Author:** ![Most\_Creative\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Most\_Creative\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Most_Creative_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-dopers-who-dont-normally-get-praised/457875/15 "2008-07-27T02:28:49Z")
I don’t usually read these threads, and since I don’t normally post anywhere else other than the MMP, I don’t know many. But I wanna meet **Lissa Lissar**! She sounds like a fabulous cook and I would love to spend the day in the kitchen and sewing with her. She could teach me so much. And I would get to spend time with her cute baby Nat! ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-dopers-who-dont-normally-get-praised/457875/16 "2008-07-27T02:33:31Z")
[QUOTE=Risha] I’ve suddenly realized that I have very little idea of who counts as “A list” Dopers. Off the top of my head, I’m always glad to see these people pop up in a thread: **norinew** , **olivesmarch4th** , **Really Not All That Bright** , **Paul in Saudi** , **SSG Schwartz** , **Anaamika** , and **TokyoPlayer**. [/QUOTE] Thanks, **Risha,** I have always thought I was forgettable. It is nice to know that someone knows my name. I would like to bring up\*\* fisha.\*\* She is quick and funny. \*\*SnakesCatLady \*\* is up on minor league hockey and anyone who can be a fan of the Cottonmouths is ok with me. **Hockey Monkey** is probably the Doper I would love to have a beer with. He seems to be the most laid back person on this MB. All the others I could list have become famous or infamous for one reason or another (and yes **LOUNE** , and **bbs2k** , you are in that list.) SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-dopers-who-dont-normally-get-praised/457875/17 "2008-07-27T02:42:07Z")
I hate these time limits on edit. I came in here to say \*\*Matt\_McL \*\*and **chowder**. I have had fun with both on threads that I have posted and both have played well. Thanks guys. Those threads would have been lame without your help. SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Satellite\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Satellite\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satellite_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-dopers-who-dont-normally-get-praised/457875/18 "2008-07-27T02:48:23Z")
[QUOTE=Risha] I’ve suddenly realized that I have very little idea of who counts as “A list” Dopers. Off the top of my head, I’m always glad to see these people pop up in a thread: **norinew** , **olivesmarch4th** , **Really Not All That Bright** , **Paul in Saudi** , **SSG Schwartz** , **Anaamika** , and **TokyoPlayer**. [/QUOTE] I think **Rick** and (Hi,) **Opal** (!) could be added to that list… /me shuffles back into his corner… nobody knows I’m here… S^G ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-dopers-who-dont-normally-get-praised/457875/19 "2008-07-27T02:56:33Z")
Hey guys, why are we naming A-list Dopers? I thought this thread was about people who don’t normally get praised. Who am I gonna name? First name that pops to my mind is **Siam Sam**. Sometimes I wish he would post about something else, but I sure have learned a lot from him. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-dopers-who-dont-normally-get-praised/457875/20 "2008-07-27T03:01:23Z")
**Ginger of the North** always draws my attention. A fine lady. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-dopers-who-dont-normally-get-praised/457875.md?page=2)