# Is there an online forum w/intelligent people and little moderation? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 7, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151 "2008-12-07T18:54:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151/41 "2008-12-20T15:14:11Z")
> [@Cagey\_Drifter](#): > > And once you think about it, that lack of acceptance means that if you go against the flow, you can’t really enjoy being here because it means that no one understands you or appreciates having you here. I wouldn’t want to be here and be myself, just to find that I continually upset people-- and they wouldn’t want me here either. It sounds like you want a board where people will like you no matter how obnoxious you choose to be. I don’t believe this can exist. I’m not saying that SDMB is the only intelligent board on the Web by any stretch, but intelligent people tend to disagree and be contentious. Intelligent people or not, a message board where people don’t get upset with one another is a rarer beast than the bastard love child of a roc and a gold-plated unicorn. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151/42 "2008-12-20T15:18:09Z")
> [@fluiddruid](#): > > It sounds like you want a board where people will like you no matter how obnoxious you choose to be. I don’t believe this can exist. There’s probably one in heaven. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151/43 "2008-12-20T15:39:52Z")
I really see where you are coming from Cagey- but mostly I think that Lenur866 is right. I think “Don’t be a jerk” doesn’t mean, don’t have and share your thoughts and opinions… it means don’t go about maliciously baiting, don’t troll, don’t thread poop, don’t call people names (unless it’s in the Pit). Basically, don’t go out of your way to make life a pain in the ass for other posters. Just be yourself- and I think you’ll find that most people won’t find you a jerk. They may find you offensive, abbrasive, off putting, who the hell knows what… you may even find that you’re being called out in the Pit now and then. Whatever. The truth is you can’t have everybody believe the sun shines out your ass. Especially if you truely have uniquely strange ideas we’ve never heard before. It is simply not possible to please everybody with everything you say, so don’t try. But you do yourself, and us, a disservice by attempting to be somebody you are not. ---
**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:** [December 20, 2008, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151/44 "2008-12-20T20:45:11Z")
I wish more people would just be themselves here, dissenting opinions or not. What turns this place into a groupthink more than anything is the dissenters not posting their opinions, creating a vicious circle. I think I’ve said this more than once; this board is what WE make it. You have to contribute what you want it to be to help make it want you want it to be. ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151/45 "2008-12-20T22:41:26Z")
> [@Fish](#): > > Can you give examples of what you mean? > > On the Straight Dope boards, we were making up darkly humorous headlines right after 9/11. We crack puns at the stupidest times. > > It’s true I’ve heard (and said) tasteless things in real life that I wouldn’t say here, but then again, I’ve made jokes here that I would never say aloud. Humor works differently in print; I can’t think of a way around that. Are you familiar with tribute.avi? I’m not sure that would have been considered funny back in Sept 2001 around these parts. ---
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151/46 "2008-12-21T06:36:06Z")
hm, i realized something intriguing a moment ago. YouTube is kind of a weird community to observe. The drive-by nature of the commenting, and the ability to say as fucked up comments as you possible can think of without accountability. It’s a place filled with trolls and people waiting to be trolled-- and the broad range of videos essentially divide it up into discussion topics. The commentary never gets much beyond arguments about how the accompanying video is dumb/no it’s awesome fuck you, crazy wackjob conspiracy theories, and lots and lot of LOLZLZZLZOZLZ!!1 But if it could be reigned in somehow-- harnessed, if you will-- it could be a neat place to hang out. At least in theory. But it would take a lot of work, to build and to maintain. But right now, you can’t even search your own comments history, which is simply shocking for a site that seems to be trying to build a community. ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151/47 "2008-12-21T06:40:10Z")
> [@Cagey\_Drifter](#): > > hm, i realized something intriguing a moment ago. YouTube is kind of a weird community to observe. The drive-by nature of the commenting, and the ability to say as fucked up comments as you possible can think of without accountability. It’s a place filled with trolls and people waiting to be trolled-- and the broad range of videos essentially divide it up into discussion topics. The commentary never gets much beyond arguments about how the accompanying video is dumb/no it’s awesome fuck you, crazy wackjob conspiracy theories, and lots and lot of LOLZLZZLZOZLZ!!1 But if it could be reigned in somehow-- harnessed, if you will-- it could be a neat place to hang out. At least in theory. But it would take a lot of work, to build and to maintain. But right now, you can’t even search your own comments history, which is simply shocking for a site that seems to be trying to build a community. Why? Why would it be a neat place to hang out? At best, this is like saying Hell would be a great place to stay without the eternal anguish and suffering. Valete, Vox Imperatoris ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151/48 "2008-12-21T06:47:25Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > I wish more people would just be themselves here, dissenting opinions or not. What turns this place into a groupthink more than anything is the dissenters not posting their opinions, creating a vicious circle. I think I’ve said this more than once; this board is what WE make it. You have to contribute what you want it to be to help make it want you want it to be. This sounds a lot easier in theory than in practice. In practice, when you hold the minority view constantly or even just a minority view that is way off the beaten path in a few areas, it’s difficult to keep up with the opposing posts, and having people behave like they’ve won an argument because others agree with them gets very old. . .fast. Even trolls don’t stick around for that long for the most part. It takes a lot of work to be one, I would imagine. In many ways, I give trolls credit for their stamina. So no, I wouldn’t recommend that people really said everything they believed. It could be a fast ticket out of a message board, depending on the belief. ---
**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:** [December 21, 2008, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151/49 "2008-12-21T21:13:45Z")
But if more people with non-standard views posted, maybe there would be more people to shoulder the burden of being the odd men out and it wouldn’t be so difficult for each individual odd person. ---
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151/50 "2008-12-22T00:41:35Z")
**Cagey** : The only ‘communities’ that are equivalent to YouTube in the way you suggest that I know of are the 'chans, but you specifically excluded 4chan. ---
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151/51 "2008-12-22T02:19:33Z")
The more I think about it, the more I think that actually this board is a good mix of intelligent and ‘anything goes.’ I guess it’s really just the oversensitivity that bugs me. Also, I’d feel guilty about posting here drunk. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151/52 "2008-12-22T02:21:30Z")
> [@Cagey\_Drifter](#): > > Also, I’d feel guilty about posting here drunk. Why should you be any different? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151/53 "2008-12-22T17:48:48Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > I wish more people would just be themselves here, dissenting opinions or not. What turns this place into a groupthink more than anything is the dissenters not posting their opinions, creating a vicious circle. I think I’ve said this more than once; this board is what WE make it. You have to contribute what you want it to be to help make it want you want it to be. In context this is an unintentionally ironic post but I totally agree with you. ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151/54 "2009-03-02T04:13:03Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > A forum with no rules whatsoever wouldn’t be a place in which intelligent people would want to linger. It would quickly fill up with lunatic posts replete with capital letters and copious exclamation marks. That settles it! I’m off to **4chan /b/**! **USER WAS PANNED FOR THIS TOAST** ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151/55 "2009-03-02T04:42:38Z")
> [@Cagey\_Drifter](#): > > I’m looking to join an online forum or message board where there are intelligent people who talk about all kinds of stuff, including possibly taboo and offensive subjects, but where there is little moderation or organized efforts to “control” the dialogue. Anyone know of any? Not 4chan, please. If there was such a place, it would have already been common knowledge on the dope and alot of cross posting. So realistically anything out there is just going to be a sliver of the dope and spread across 6 or 8 different boards. Declan ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151/56 "2009-03-02T06:11:32Z")
> [@Declan](#): > > If there was such a place, it would have already been common knowledge on the dope and alot of cross posting. Unless it, like, just sprung up overnight or something. ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151/57 "2009-03-02T06:29:58Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > Unless it, like, just sprung up overnight or something. Rather like [this](http://domebo.net/forum/index.php), in case there are any active posters here who’ve missed it. Valete, Vox Imperatoris ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151/58 "2009-03-02T20:09:29Z")
That’s some pretty good mind reading there, young padawan. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151/59 "2009-03-02T23:41:47Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > Unless it, like, just sprung up overnight or something. Its the internet so something is always starting up or crashing down, but I was thinking more about established boards than new start ups. Declan ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2014, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151/61 "2014-07-02T07:57:09Z")
> [@shobby](#): > > before having a forum for smart people see how many smart people are in the world. how many people are smarter than you > an interesting [http://www.youinall.com/1/5](http://www.youinall.com/1/5) Reported. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-forum-w-intelligent-people-and-little-moderation/476151.md?page=4)