# Is the SDMB becoming inbred? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 31, 2000, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-becoming-inbred/17371 "2000-01-31T20:07:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WallyM7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5e925/32.png) [@WallyM7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WallyM7)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-becoming-inbred/17371/1 "2000-01-31T20:07:00Z")
I know that we have over 4000 members, but I only count a couple of hundred that post regularly, and many of them in only one forum. I think we need a genetic infusion. I am not a newbie basher unless the newbie criticizes the board or the members. Maybe I’m wrong. Perhaps a newbie sees what some of us don’t. Perhaps some of us, including me, have scared off some people who would add a great deal to the diversity of the board. Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-becoming-inbred/17371/2 "2000-01-31T20:08:00Z")
Just one. Damn! Wasted it. * * * - The best lack all conviction The worst are full of passionate intensity. \* ---
**Author:** ![Lauralee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lauralee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lauralee)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-becoming-inbred/17371/3 "2000-01-31T20:12:00Z")
It takes newbies a little while to figure out where they feel comfortable. For instance, Great Debates is, as a whole, WAAAY over my head. So I don’t post here much. I lurk a little, but even that tends to hurt my head. MPSIMS is ok if you find a thread that’s not specifically to someone else. Just gotta give the newbies a little time to feel their way around, and by the time they’re comfy with all y’all wierdos (I mean that in the nicest way possible!!), they’re regulars and not newbies anymore. Just my theory, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-becoming-inbred/17371/4 "2000-01-31T20:14:00Z")
Weellll, I suppose if we wanted to get a whole bunch of new posters over here we could send a moderator and a scouting party to some other board, “infiltrate” it, have someone snitch to that board’s administration, and then wait for them to come over here in a counter-offensive, hoping that we’ll get some good posters to stick around when the dust settles. Nah, on second thought, forget it. Too incredible to even contemplate. . . . 😉 -Melin ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-becoming-inbred/17371/5 "2000-01-31T20:39:00Z")
Well, there is this board that a reg here e-mailed be about on which a bunch of people yammer on about how most of them believe in psychic powers… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-becoming-inbred/17371/6 "2000-01-31T20:43:00Z")
Don’t do it, David! They’ll know you are coming! 🙂 -Melin ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-becoming-inbred/17371/7 "2000-01-31T20:49:00Z")
Ooooh. Bad one. Weird thing about that board – they actually _encourage_ people to use Hotmail accounts to preserve their anonymity. (I did go to look and see what they were saying; I didn’t register!) Man, you think religious nuts are bad – at least that’s mostly faith-based (except for creationism and the like). These people were still touting Kirlian photography, auras, and crap like that! How many times does something have to be debunked?! [/rant] ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-becoming-inbred/17371/8 "2000-01-31T21:29:00Z")
Inbred? Not here. And don’t you go on making fun of my banjo playing… ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-becoming-inbred/17371/9 "2000-01-31T21:43:00Z")
Thread reminds me of a MST3K skit/song. TOM: Well, I think what our bright young friend’s trying to say here is the reason we three goofuses are asked to do these hazardous tasks outside the perimeter of normal society’s rationale is, we’re a danger to ourselves and others. JOEL: Hu da! Kinda reminds me of Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection. CROW: Yeah! If you’re dumb–ya DIE! TOM: That’s, I say, that’s a rich one there, Hooter! Oh, I’m a danger to myself and others. My cousins are as close as brothers. I stay out in the rain all the time! CROW: He’s a danger to himself and others. Only likes shows with Sally Struthers. I can’t even think of a word that rhymes. TOM: Ya just did! JOEL: How dumb are you Uncle-Dad? TOM: Well pretty dumb, that’s for sure! CROW: How dumb are you Uncle-Dad? TOM: Well this pipe’s filled with manure! ALL: We’re a danger to ourselves and others. Screw the earth and steal our mothers. Leave us in the woods and we’re just fine. We’re a danger to ourselves and others. Good livestock with better lovers. Hunting leeches is what we call a good time! * * * “Many count their chickens before they are hatched; and where they expect bacon, meet with broken bones.” –Miguel de Cervantes– ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-becoming-inbred/17371/10 "2000-01-31T21:47:00Z")
David…you wanna do the 2.5-kinds-of-paranormalism bit? ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-becoming-inbred/17371/11 "2000-01-31T21:50:00Z")
Huh? ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-becoming-inbred/17371/12 "2000-01-31T21:54:00Z")
Does this mean that the tarot reading I just had 2 weeks ago is bogus also? ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-becoming-inbred/17371/13 "2000-01-31T22:03:00Z")
> [@](#): > > And don’t you go on making fun of my banjo playing… I won’t. But yew shore gotta purty mouth, Doc. ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-becoming-inbred/17371/14 "2000-01-31T22:05:00Z")
Adam asked: > [@](#): > > Does this mean that the tarot reading I just had 2 weeks ago is bogus also? Lemme check with my Ouija board… Yup, the spirits say it was bogus. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![frolix8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@frolix8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frolix8)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-becoming-inbred/17371/15 "2000-01-31T22:10:00Z")
It’s a little intimidating to post here, the new guy doesn’t get the jokes, doesn’t know the dynamics, tries too hard to make a good impression. It’s like walking in on a conversation among friends, everything they say to each other is greeted with laughter and affirmation, every time you say something they all stop talking and look at you like you have a third eye. I’ve noticed that of the 4000+ registered users, only about 400 have a lot of posts, so I’m assuming that it’s the 10/90 rule in action, 10% of the posters do 90% of the posting. That’s pretty common from what I’ve seen on other boards and usenet. And why do you say inbred as if that was a bad thing? (Now you all have to stare at me and shake your heads woefully.) A new guy. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-becoming-inbred/17371/16 "2000-01-31T22:12:00Z")
David, I think Poly is referring to an article in the Jan/Feb issue of _Skeptical Inquirer._ I posted a quick blurb about it a couple weeks ago but can’t seem to find it now. It was a study, or poll, of college students attempting to make a positive correlation of beliefs in psuedoscience with religious faith. ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-becoming-inbred/17371/17 "2000-01-31T22:25:00Z")
Frolix said: > [@](#): > > It’s a little intimidating to post here, the new guy doesn’t get the jokes, doesn’t know the dynamics, tries too hard to make a good impression. **Hey!** Who said you could talk?! 😉 > [@](#): > > every time you say something they all stop talking and look at you like you have a third eye. Don’t worry, we do that to each other, too. > [@](#): > > (Now you all have to stare at me and shake your heads woefully.) Naw. We’ll just roll our eyes. :rolleyes: (There isn’t a smiley for head-shaking.) Welcome aboard! ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-becoming-inbred/17371/18 "2000-01-31T22:37:00Z")
Frolix: You didn’t happen to see the “Up the Butt” episode of the Newlywed Game, did you? [running… ouch!..] ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-becoming-inbred/17371/19 "2000-01-31T22:45:00Z")
Frolix said: > [@](#): > > every time you say something they all stop talking and look at you like you have a third eye. [http://flowerkitty.tripod.com/smile/alien.gif](http://flowerkitty.tripod.com/smile/alien.gif) Welcome! ---
**Author:** ![\_Df](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/7ba0ec/32.png) [@\_Df](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Df)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-becoming-inbred/17371/20 "2000-01-31T23:44:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Weird thing about that board – they actually encourage people to use Hotmail accounts to preserve their anonymity. But, David, don’t you see? _They_ all know who everybody is, anyway. They’re only preserving their “anonymity” from non-psychics who might otherwise make trouble for them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-becoming-inbred/17371.md?page=2)