I found the column for the first time in the local newspaper in Tampa. I was actually on a lunch break from my job at the ol’ video store, and we had a rack for the alternative weekly in the lobby. Straight Dope was always right near the front - page four, I think.
Anyway, at my next job I had a computer in front of me all day long and not always a lot to do, so I began to read many years worth of back columns on the site. Then I moved to Chicago and got another job, and still not always a lot to do, and I found the message boards and…
“I thought: opera, how hard can it be? Songs. Pretty girls dancing. Nice scenery. Lots of people handing over cash. Got to be better than the cut-throat world of yoghurt, I thought.” - Seldom Bucket
Years and years ago I bought the first book simply by chance at a book store. me and my dad fell in love with it, perfect dry sarcastic humor mixed with REAL facts and science!! perfect for us…one of the books I dont remembe which started mentioning the website. When I got the internet it was one of the first sites I went to.
My husband turned me on to the columns in the “Chicago Reader.” Then I went out and got all the books (some as gifts for him). Then I checked the website. Signed up last year to ask a couple questions. Was away from the computer for a loooong time. Remembered a couple months ago that I had an account here. Came back. Now I can’t stand to be away.
I saw the TV show a few times, liked it but never thought very much about it. I have yet to see the column in print. Quite accidentally, I ran into the old AOL forum once, and, remembering the cool TV show, I read the archives, found the Message Board, and was hooked instantly.
IIRC, the thread that really drew me in was the Cardboard Cutout of Ted Danson Thread, which was going on at the time. Ted Danson is circus peanuts! (I think there’s a mention of this on the Page O’ Flames.) I thought it was hysterical and the people were the smartest on AOL. Which was absolutely correct, btw. That was in October 1997.
First read the column ca. 1978 when it was in one of the DC alternative weeklies. (For awhile we had 2 of them; any of my fellow DC dopers remember what the other one was called? I’ve been racking my brains, what little haven’t leaked out, to no avail.) When I lived in cities that knew not Cecil, I started buying the books.
Last spring, I typed in www.straightdope.com, and started catching up on all the columns I’d missed. Commented on a couple of them, then eventually found my way to the other forums. Now I spend far too much time on the computer!
I saw Unca Cecil’s first book in the store many years ago, & thumbed through it. I was RONFLMAO & in wild-eyed admiration at his knowledge.
When I got hooked up to the Web for the first time, I did a Search for “The Straight Dope”, not knowing that there was an official site.
The rest is history. (I was posting under another name, at the time.)
You should tell the truth, expose the lies and live in the moment."-Bill Hicks
“You should tell the lies, live the truth and expose yourself.” - Bill Clinton
First read the column in the Los Angeles Reader, sister paper to the Chicago Reader, back in the Dark Ages (before the WWW). About five years ago, the L.A. Reader was purchased by another publisher and it became New Times L.A.
The new paper decided not to retain TSD. Much anger, cursing and gnashing of teeth. Boycotted the new paper for six months in protest. Sent many letters pleading that Cecil return. No avail.
Moved to Orlando, Florida, for a short while. While I was there, I went to the library and learned to surf the Web. TSD was one of my favorite sites, but the library did not have AOL access, so I was unable to participate in the Message Boards.
Moved back to L.A. Found the Central Library now has many more computers than it used to. TSD Boards now on the WWW. I soon registered and have been here ever since.
Back in February, I sent a question to Cecil about Japanese soldiers and it was answered this week. It was the first time I’d ever asked him a question.
The Straight Dope is still not available in print in any Southern California publication. I guess that’s why it’s taking longer than they thought.
I was posting on a message board about Rosie O’Donnel and Tom Selleck (you remember when she jumped on him about endorsing the NRA) and a poster named Galen made a reference to the SD so I checked it out. I lurked for a couple of months and finally joined up.
Um… I’m not sure.
I think I found a link on a Doper’s personal web site–but the personal site that comes to mind, it occurs to me, I might’ve found through the SDMB (or… how else?). umm…
Kismet. yep, kismet. (oh! maybe it was a Discordian site–weird, huh?)
I was born with the Moon in Pisces!!
Leave me alone!! SOB!!
Papal Fiat.
Seriously though…a long, long, long time ago I was browsing a bookstore and picked up one of Cecil’s books. Then one day there was a link to Cecil’s site (then on AOL) on AOL’s welcome page. The rest is history.
When I first moved to NC, my brother and I started watching the show on A&E. After that went off the air, I searched for it on the web, and found the site. Imagine how pleased I was when I realized there was a sight, a weekly column, members, books and mugs. All I knew was the show and that bald guy. I’m glad there’s more to the Dope than that goofy half hour show.
Who WAS that guy? I caught the show once and thought, “niiiiiiice”. But then again, some guys can really pull off baldness…
Oh right - the question at hand. I was in junior high (around 87 or so) when my Dad loaned me one of Cecil’s books during the yearly court-mandated vacation. When I got home, Mom told me it was inappropriate and took it away. I had already read the whole thing, and Dad gave me the column from the Reader every week after that, so my addictions of Unca Cece and rebellion were fed regularly through high school. I didn’t find the website until last summer, though.
Everybody knows that Steve McGarrett only takes orders from the governor and God - and occassionally even they have trouble.
A dear friend who posts frequently at this site as “Phouka” told me about it. I’m very glad that she did because there are many intelligent, witty people here. I also enjoy the great variety of subject matter!
Found a SD book in a second hand book store in Kathmandu, never been to Chicago (unless you count the airport). Couple of years later, in Thailand, I think, again a second hand bookstore, another SD book! Years pass, got online, one day I did a search and voila. Just when it had entirely fallen out of my awareness, here was a whole board just for my amusement. It is just for my amusement isn’t it?
“Patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings.” Bob Dylan
