# New Forum - Oh, the Inanity! **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 16, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-forum-oh-the-inanity/567849 "2011-01-16T18:49:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-forum-oh-the-inanity/567849/1 "2011-01-16T18:49:47Z")
A modest proposal: That the SDMB form a new folder for the safekeeping/quarantining/whatevering of selected threads as a way of containing Teh Stoopid. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-forum-oh-the-inanity/567849/2 "2011-01-16T19:00:48Z")
If you want somebody ‘Boxed’, go to the Giraffe board. The is the sort of thing you are suggesting, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-forum-oh-the-inanity/567849/3 "2011-01-16T19:08:01Z")
Why, exactly, should we encourage stoopid threads? For those interested in this sort of thing, there would seem to be a superfluity available elsewhere on the net. ---
**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:** [January 16, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-forum-oh-the-inanity/567849/4 "2011-01-16T19:12:37Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Why, exactly, should we encourage stoopid threads? > > For those interested in this sort of thing, there would seem to be a superfluity available elsewhere on the net. I think you miss the OP’s point. The point being threads of stupidity that _already got made_ in one of the existing forums - move them to their own forum(sub forum) so that we can point and laugh. I’m not really for or against it. Just pointing out what I think the OP meant. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-forum-oh-the-inanity/567849/5 "2011-01-16T19:25:33Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > I think you miss the OP’s point. The point being threads of stupidity that _already got made_ in one of the existing forums - move them to their own forum(sub forum) so that we can point and laugh. > > I’m not really for or against it. Just pointing out what I think the OP meant. I understand what the OP meant. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-forum-oh-the-inanity/567849/6 "2011-01-16T20:06:09Z")
I don’t recall encouraging stupid threads. Reading the OP for comprehension yields that the OP is about addressing the abuse of the existing fora by removing or otherwise containing the work of certain posters who otherwise are free to clutter the existing fora. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-forum-oh-the-inanity/567849/7 "2011-01-16T20:17:02Z")
> [@cerberus](#): > > I don’t recall encouraging stupid threads. Reading the OP for comprehension yields that the OP is about addressing the abuse of the existing fora by removing or otherwise containing the work of certain posters who otherwise are free to clutter the existing fora. And understanding the mindset of a small percentage of posters yields that such a forum would encourage them to take less care when they post, or even encourage them to deliberately post nonsense just to see it get moved to the new forum. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-forum-oh-the-inanity/567849/8 "2011-01-16T20:17:34Z")
To be clearer about it, this would not be a forum that would allow new threads to be created - it would consist of threads moved into it from the legitimate fora. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-forum-oh-the-inanity/567849/9 "2011-01-16T20:33:10Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And understanding the mindset of a small percentage of posters yields that such a forum would encourage them to take less care when they post, or even encourage them to deliberately post nonsense just to see it get moved to the new forum. Which then begs moderator action in the case of excessive, abusive or otherwise actionable poster behavior. A Garbage Forum would allow for the transparent disposal of Teh Stoopid, provided that moderator- driven sanctions addressed posters gaming of the Garbage Forum. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-forum-oh-the-inanity/567849/10 "2011-01-16T20:42:24Z")
> [@cerberus](#): > > I don’t recall encouraging stupid threads. Reading the OP for comprehension yields that the OP is about addressing the abuse of the existing fora by removing or otherwise containing the work of certain posters who otherwise are free to clutter the existing fora. No, they are not “free to clutter the existing fora.” Really stupid OPs are frequently either deliberate attempts at trolling or made while drunk. These may be closed or disappeared. Trolls or people who persistently post nonsense may be banned or suspended. Regarding other stupid threads, there has been a considerable amount of discussion about what constitutes a thread “too stupid to live.” Some advocate that there should be no lower limit; no matter how idiotic a thread, it should be allowed to run its course. I take it that you are proposing that we establish a new forum to accommodate such threads rather than closing them. Knowing that such threads would not be closed would encourage them. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-forum-oh-the-inanity/567849/11 "2011-01-16T20:44:18Z")
Indeed: it is a helpful system. [It can be refined so that certain people can _only_ be permitted to start threads there, by putting them in their own user-group.] ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-forum-oh-the-inanity/567849/12 "2011-01-16T20:46:47Z")
Good point - I could see locking them as well. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-forum-oh-the-inanity/567849/13 "2011-01-16T20:54:13Z")
> [@cerberus](#): > > To be clearer about it, this would not be a forum that would allow new threads to be created - it would consist of threads moved into it from the legitimate fora. The only way to do that would be to lock any thread that gets started in there, which seems like it would be a pain. And every time we sent a thread there, we would probably get grief from the OP. We don’t close many threads because they’re too stupid, so I’m not seeing any need for this. And yes, creating a new forum would encourage more stupid threads. As it is, you can’t “point and laugh” (unless you’re in the Pit), but you can criticize a topic or the assumptions in it unless you take it so far it becomes threadshitting. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-forum-oh-the-inanity/567849/14 "2011-01-16T21:02:58Z")
I don’t SAGN myself. Truly stupid threads get closed. Truly stupid comments lead to Pittings. The Giraffe or Nonny fora are for bitching out Dopers as individuals, not what they post. That, I think, about covers it. ---
**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:** [January 17, 2011, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-forum-oh-the-inanity/567849/15 "2011-01-17T02:47:03Z")
This thread could be the first one sent. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-forum-oh-the-inanity/567849/16 "2011-01-17T04:17:49Z")
I don’t think it would be a bad idea to have a forum where mods can move threads they would otherwise close. Then the posters who have been enjoying participating in it can continue to do so. ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-forum-oh-the-inanity/567849/17 "2011-01-17T04:20:02Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > The Giraffe or Nonny fora are for bitching out Dopers as individuals, not what they post. Personally, I think that if we did do that, then SDMB would turn into another of the Sites That Must Not Be Named - I hang out here because we don’t usually resort to that. Even our reactions to teh crazy are more … mature … than most places. (Case in point, a recent post was outed to have been posted several places over the Internet. Looking at how some of the other places handled it made me easily tell the Dope apart from them. Putting up such a place as suggested would make it harder to tell this place apart from the others.) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-forum-oh-the-inanity/567849/18 "2011-01-17T04:28:53Z")
We used to have a lot of fun with the crazies, like **Jack Dean Tyler** , for example. Nowadays, he’d be banned out right. Why can’t we just have a specific forum for the nutbars? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-forum-oh-the-inanity/567849/19 "2011-01-17T04:42:46Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Why can’t we just have a specific forum for the nutbars? We do. It’s called Great Debates. 🙂