I’m having a great deal of trouble logging on and then navigating this board. I understand that it’s because this board is so popular, which is understandable. I love this place - when I can get access. Sadly, there are only so many hours in my day and I’m spend many of those hours waiting to read the fantistic posts here. With that in mind, what are the other “smart boards” that I can travel to when Straight Dope is so jammed with admirers that there’s no room for me? Any suggestions / URLs?
This is it. Sorry. 
I don’t know how smart it is, and I have hardly glanced at it, but It might be worthwhile. I found it as a result of getting too tired waiting for things to happen here.
This is more of a poll than a question with factual answers. I’ll move it to IMHO for you.
Off to IMHO.
DrMatrix - General Questions Moderator
Hmm. There’s the forum of the JREF (James Randi Educational Foundation), a skeptical bunch at www.randi.org . And there’s the Grammar Lady message board, populated by “recreational grammarians” at www.grammarlady.com ('Hit the Books").
Hold me back! I’m serious, hit me a tire iron now before the compulsion to delve into the difference between
a gerund and a present participle overtakes me!
There’s also the Snopes board, popular among Urban Legend Aficionados.
I have had a bit more of a look at it. There are like hundreds of seperate board rooms compared to SDMB’s 10ish
However, most if it is geared towards british TV (not surprising considering it’s the BBC’s boards). But I am sure The non Brits on this board will be able to find something relevant there if they have a good root.
Well, the posters over at www.neilgaiman.com think that they are smarter/wiser/more talented/more informed/more intelligent etc. then (and this is a direct quote) 97.63% of the message boards on the web.
They forgot to throw in conceited and mean-spirited, and oh yeah, ill-informed.
Boards? You want message boards?
I got yer stink’n message boards…
http://www.snopes.com/ulrpmb.stm (the snopes board)
Christianity Bogus Beyond Belief’s Forum
http://pub7.ezboard.com/bcbbb
And two “weed” forums
http://www.420.com/pages/public123.php
http://www.overgrow.com/edge/index.php
And another board
http://thebruces.stormbirds.org/forums/index.php?
<hits astro with a tire iron>
You know, I found that very satisfying.
I like www.fametracker.com. It’s a website and message board devoted to discussing the cult of celebrity. The subject matter is light, but I find the posters to be very intelligent, witty, and articulate.
I’m on www.randi.org (with stunning originality as ‘glee’).
It’s smaller and much quicker.
There are also several …eerrrm… unusual beliefs (such as we are descended from Martians :eek: ), and the moderating isn’t as good.
SDMB is still the best!
The JREF forums are good in some places and awful in others. Lots of chaff and a little bit of wheat. I am also a little disappointed to find the forums are largely unmoderated. There are moderators, but near as I can tell they don’t do anything helpful. Bashing is permitted in all forums, and no efforts are made to keep a neat house (misplaced threads are not moved to their proper forums).
It’s a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there.
There’s always Newsmax for comic relief. I think the Infidels has a message board.
<hiding a billy club behind my back>
So, in the quote above, is satisfying used as a gerund or a present participle?
Try www.fathom.org.
Table Talk at Salon.com has some good forums, from what I can see, but I think it costs a little bit for a membership to post.