# Message Boards **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 15, 2002, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470 "2002-09-15T00:22:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2002, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470/21 "2002-09-15T18:21:12Z")
If you’re interested in Astronomy, check out [Bad Astronomy](http://badastronomy.com/). There’s a link to the message board on that page. The site is run by Phil Plait who posts here at SDMB as **The Bad Astonomer.** ---
**Author:** ![Tinkertoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f19dbf/32.png) [@Tinkertoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinkertoy)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2002, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470/22 "2002-09-15T20:31:50Z")
If you have more time than it takes to read the current threads (I wish I did) go back and read some of the past threads. JDT alone will keep you busy for weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2002, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470/23 "2002-09-15T20:55:18Z")
I will toss out a couple of decent special purpose boards.[Slashdot](http://www.slashdot.org) is pretty good for technology or geek related issues, if _very_ anti-Microsoft. Another board you’ll see a few Dopers at is [The Pizza Parlor](http://thebruces.stormbirds.org/forums/index.php?s=) if you’re interested in discussing Christianity specifically. Our own **Polycarp** is a moderator there, and it’s where I go if I have church related questions. The only remotely comparable group I know of on-line in terms of wit and variety is the Hell’s Mensans Group on Yahoo, but that is a private, Yahoo Group, which means no separating of posts into individual threads. The conversation is good, but following individual conversations gets difficult for me. This is the only message board I go to regularly (too regularly!) because the conversations here are not only better than most message boards, they’re better than a fair number of real-life conversations. It’s also a place where you can discuss topics which can quickly lead to flared tempers such as religion and sexuality without getting into a flame-war. You can also learn things you never dared to ask or never knew existed. Sometimes I might have been better off keeping it that way, but fighting ignorance includes my own. Congratulations, my friend, you’ve found nirvana. Just be warned – a former poster called this place “cyber-crack” and I’ll second him. CJ ---
**Author:** ![dreamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@dreamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dreamer)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2002, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470/24 "2002-09-15T23:29:19Z")
Oh yeah, I can see it now… “So **dreamer** , what do you do in your spare time?” “Oh, I do an enormous amount of _cyber-crack_, you should really try it sometime!” 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470/25 "2002-09-16T00:10:23Z")
If they’re like you, keep pushing the stuff! 😉 Besides, I’m working on getting another friend hooked (as if agentfroot weren’t enough). CJ ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470/26 "2002-09-16T00:20:44Z")
This is such a singularly unique place on the web, sort of like \*\*Cheers \*\* \*\*MTV Spring Break \*\* \*\*Fraiser \*\*and \*\*Who Wants To Be A Millionaire/Jackass/Survivor \*\* . I’ve only just found, and am lurking there, http://www.forteantimes.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=11]This Which is Fortean Times Message board, same Vbulletin as ours and faster too. Caters to news of the strange/phenomena and the MPSIMS that we carry on so about. They seem to like de-bunking stuff too. It’s based in England so some of the slang is over my yank head. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470/27 "2002-09-16T00:22:58Z")
www.forteantimes/com/forum :smack: ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470/28 "2002-09-16T00:49:34Z")
How about a [third try](http://www.forteantimes.com/forum/index.php?), Shirley? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DarkBrigade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5e9695/32.png) [@DarkBrigade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkBrigade)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470/29 "2002-09-16T01:04:53Z")
To rsa, cjhoworth, and Shirley Ujest: Thank you for the links I glanced over them already they look good so far I will be sure to check them out in detail as soon as possible. To Tinkertoy: Yes, I will be sure to go back and do so; the sheer volume of information on Straight Dope and school is the only thing keeping me from doing it immediately. To 5-HT, red\_dragon60, iampunha, Cougarfang, masonite, dreamer, cjhoworth, and neutron star: Thank you all for you opinions, comments, and help. To Lynn Bodoni: Thanks for moving this thread. What is a hamster? (Besides the obvious little fir-ball in the cage.) Benjamin of the darkbrigade ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470/30 "2002-09-16T02:38:47Z")
You want other message boards? My word, you must have too much free time, or not enough dedicatiopn to the Dope yet! 😉 Seriously, this one is the best. I do post at a few other ones, but they’re much more topic-specific. Unless you’re interested in bridal stuff or historical clothes, they’re pretty boring… ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470/31 "2002-09-16T05:50:11Z")
**kniz** , I couldn’t get my ass kissed in here if I tried… Seriously, I’ve found other special-interest boards ([hardwarecentral.com](http://hardwarecentral.com) for instance), but nothing quite like this. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470/32 "2002-09-16T06:23:27Z")
I heard a rumor somewhere that another board, VERY much like the Dope could be found at [Metatus.com](http://Metatus.com) I haven’t checked it out in awhile so, who knows? ---
**Author:** ![jacksen9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@jacksen9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacksen9)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470/33 "2002-09-20T00:02:28Z")
**Lady Ice** > [@](#): > > This place is very addicting. Good grief! I was more disturbed than I would have ever guessed. Am I hooked or what? It is great to be back. I am relieved.🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470/34 "2002-09-20T01:23:43Z")
This is the best multi-purpose board. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470/35 "2002-09-20T02:46:59Z")
t-keela, metaus is ok, but doesn’t change all that much. I got bored with it really, really fast. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470/36 "2002-09-21T04:47:49Z")
Stick around… we have cool smilies (although I never use them, it’s cool to know that I can) ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470/37 "2002-09-21T04:49:01Z")
Oh yeah… and the people… they’re cool. 😃 (ooh! I used one!) ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470/38 "2002-09-22T00:45:54Z")
If you’re into sports, [Fanhome.com](http://Fanhome.com) is good. That’s how I found out about this board. ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470/39 "2002-09-22T01:25:42Z")
After lurking awhile on the SDMB, I abanoned my old message board (which shall remain nameless) in favor of this one. The near-realtime interaction is great, as are the variety of topics, and the cool people - quite a few of whom I’ve met IRL. It’s a wacky community, but one I’m glad to be a part of. Just knowing I could be stranded somewhere, and a Doper would help me out, and/or take me in, is an example of how incredible we all are. Just hang out here for a while. You’ll want for nothing more. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470/40 "2002-09-22T14:29:57Z")
Try Fathom for the next-closest thing to the SDMB. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-boards/128470.md?page=3)