# list of rules for SDMB? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 26, 2004, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526 "2004-08-26T00:42:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526/21 "2004-08-26T01:52:30Z")
**Squink** ~laughter~ my mistake, prolly my second thread then (the Dope is working very slow for me right now and I’ve had a post history query going for the last five minutes so I can’t see my post history.) I’m actually kinda ashamed of the thread I refrenced… based on an innacurate news story that I didn’t follow up/research and then I reacted _very_ defensively when I was called a coward over not wanting folks to be drafted… And, simply because I’ve really liked your username since I first saw it, I can’t resist… Fnord. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526/22 "2004-08-26T02:01:37Z")
> [@Eats\_Crayons](#): > > They use bagpipes and scare the little critters so bad they jump right our of their skins. Very effective as you can do several at once. That’s an old urban legend. It stems from the traditional practice of tuning a bagpipe by skinning a live cat, and comparing pitches. Of course, nowadays they do all the bagpipe tuning by computer. The cat-skinning is just for fun. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526/23 "2004-08-26T02:13:03Z")
> [@](#): > > **FinnAgain** : Fuck. New rule #4? ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526/24 "2004-08-26T02:15:58Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > New rule #4? [Wilhelm Reich says yes (from beyond the grave)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Reich) ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526/25 "2004-08-26T02:22:10Z")
If Shroedinger’s cat skinned itself in its box, would it be skinned, not skinned, half skinned, or neither? ---
**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:** [August 26, 2004, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526/26 "2004-08-26T02:24:58Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > 1. Hack her to death with a kitchen knife. Good thing I’m working late and nobody else is around, or the sudden wild high-pitched cackle would have gotten me a visit from The Man. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526/27 "2004-08-26T02:29:24Z")
Jus’ cuz I’m curious: what’s the joke behind number “hack… with a kitchen knife?” I take it that it’s part of the SDMB lingo, like knowing about Og? Or that “3. Hi, Opal” thing? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526/28 "2004-08-26T02:29:44Z")
There is more than one way to skin a cat: **#39** - Invite cat to play strip poker. Cheat. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526/29 "2004-08-26T02:32:52Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > That’s an old urban legend. It stems from the traditional practice of tuning a bagpipe by skinning a live cat, and comparing pitches. Of course, nowadays they do all the bagpipe tuning by computer. > > The cat-skinning is just for fun. I thought that was how they made sporans… ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526/30 "2004-08-26T02:40:34Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > Jus’ cuz I’m curious: what’s the joke behind number “hack… with a kitchen knife?” > > I take it that it’s part of the SDMB lingo, like knowing about Og? > Or that “3. Hi, Opal” thing? Actually, it’s [newly minted.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=272850&page=1&pp=50) Stems from the observation that the Repblican spokesthing in the thread’s OP has the same name as the actor who played the villain in _Psycho_. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526/31 "2004-08-26T02:45:15Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Actually, it’s [newly minted.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=272850&page=1&pp=50) Stems from the observation that the Repblican spokesthing in the thread’s OP has the same name as the actor who played the villain in _Psycho_. Puts me in mind of the hypothesis that language didn’t evolve for communication, but instead as a way of quickly identifying which tribe you belonged to. If you know the SDMB lingo, you’re a member of the tribe. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526/32 "2004-08-26T02:54:11Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > Puts me in mind of the hypothesis that language didn’t evolve for communication, but instead as a way of quickly identifying which tribe you belonged to. > > If you know the SDMB lingo, you’re a member of the tribe. I tend to think it works in the opposite direction: people recognize a distinct group they want to be a part of, and try to integrate with it by copying what they perceive to be distinct about it. This can include anything from a guiding philosophy, to a style of dress, to a clever catchphrase. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526/33 "2004-08-26T02:58:29Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I tend to think it works in the opposite direction: people recognize a distinct group they want to be a part of, and try to integrate with it by copying what they perceive to be distinct about it. This can include anything from a guiding philosophy, to a style of dress, to a clever catchphrase. I’m sure that can happen too. It just strikes me as a very quick and easy, as well as rough n’ ready, way of being able to say “You aint from around here, are you boy?” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526/34 "2004-08-26T03:48:44Z")
Alright, then let me ask you this: when you’re hanging out with friends, and you make a joke that refers to something that happened years ago, that only people who are your close friends would know about. Are you doing it to be exclusionary? Is it “tribal identification,” or is it just folks having a good time? ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526/35 "2004-08-26T04:03:35Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Alright, then let me ask you this: when you’re hanging out with friends, and you make a joke that refers to something that happened years ago, that only people who are your close friends would know about. Are you doing it to be exclusionary? Is it “tribal identification,” or is it just folks having a good time? A few things: First, I said it was a hypothesis, not a theory. It’s a model, and I’m not getting 100 percent behind it. Second, the point isn’t to be exclusionary, but it ends up being a very quick way to identify someone. Think about it, if you’re British and you talk to someone who doesn’t have the same accent, you know immediately and without any need for analysis that they’re not from the same place you are. (yes, I realize that not all brits have the same accent, but you get the idea) Same thing with a group of friends. If your buddy says “Oh, but at least it’s not \*\* soy sauce\*\*” you might laugh over it, but would someone new to your group of friends get it? It isn’t meant to serve as a marker for who ‘gets it’ and who doesn’t, but it sure as heck can work out that way without much difficulty. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526/36 "2004-08-26T04:18:40Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > A few things: > > First, I said it was a hypothesis, not a theory. It’s a model, and I’m not getting 100 percent behind it. > > Second, the point isn’t to be exclusionary, but it ends up being a very quick way to identify someone. Okay, sorry, I mistook the point you were trying to make. I agree with what you’re saying. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526/37 "2004-08-26T04:40:07Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Okay, sorry, I mistook the point you were trying to make. I agree with what you’re saying. No sorries necessary. And looking over my posts I guess I wasn’t very clear. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526/38 "2004-08-26T12:12:04Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > If your buddy says “Oh, but at least it’s not \*\* soy sauce\*\*” you might laugh over it, but would someone new to your group of friends get it? It isn’t meant to serve as a marker for who ‘gets it’ and who doesn’t, but it sure as heck can work out that way without much difficulty. But isn’t it meant as a marker, really? …_ominous chord_… Because even within groups there are pecking orders and doesn’t an ‘old in-joke’ establish affiliation seniority “Mwah-ha-ha, well clearly _I_ have been part of the group longer than _you_, because _we_ go waaaaay back. Ergo, I have tribal seniority! Now gimme the kitten knife.” Meh, I’m talking out of my ass, but I’m just podering the hypothesis out loud and looking at related implications. Is soy sauce ‘just having a good time’?.. Tune in next week when Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom follows a tribe of Dopers across the Boards. _cue music_ ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526/39 "2004-08-26T12:38:17Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > It’s all pretty simple actually… > > 1. Don’t be a jerk > 2. The first rule of the ignore list is you don’t talk about the ignore list > 3. Hack her to death with a kitchen knife. 1. The Lord loves a workin’ man. 2. Don’t trust whitey. 3. See a doctor and get rid of it. ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526/40 "2004-08-26T15:40:41Z")
Holy, I didn’t realize the ignore list works. That might explain a few things… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-rules-for-sdmb/261526.md?page=3)