# Proper Etiquette in the "Ask the" threads...

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-etiquette-in-the-ask-the-threads/417341>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [August 29, 2007, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-etiquette-in-the-ask-the-threads/417341 "2007-08-29T07:45:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2007, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-etiquette-in-the-ask-the-threads/417341/1 "2007-08-29T07:45:36Z")

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So what is proper etiquette in the “Ask the \<blank\>” threads if you are also a \<blank\>? Is it acceptable to chime in when your experiences differ than that of the thread starter? How much participation is acceptable before you risk hijacking the thread?

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**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2007, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-etiquette-in-the-ask-the-threads/417341/2 "2007-08-29T08:08:16Z")

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I’ve never seen anyone admonished for this. You just go in and say “I’m also a \<blank\>, although of course I did all my \<blanking\> under \<deleted\> circumstances, but I’ll try to answer anyway”.

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2007, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-etiquette-in-the-ask-the-threads/417341/3 "2007-08-29T12:13:26Z")

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As with most things, we don’t have hard-and-fast lines to say THIS is acceptable additional participation and THIS isn’t. Basically, providing additional information or other points of view is considered appropriate: the purpose of the thread, after all, is to share perpsectives in discussion, and not to provide a lecturn for one [blank] only.

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**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2007, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-etiquette-in-the-ask-the-threads/417341/4 "2007-08-29T20:10:47Z")

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[QUOTE=C K Dexter Haven]  
… not to provide a lecturn for one [blank] only.  
[/QUOTE]

[sings]One blank only! One blank only! You’ll be the only one…[/sings]

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**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-etiquette-in-the-ask-the-threads/417341/5 "2007-08-30T13:13:11Z")

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I had an “Ask The…” thread in which another Doper emailed me privately to see if I was OK with them chiming in, as the subject was of a personal nature. I felt honored that they sought my acceptance beforehand, and had no problems with they or anyone else sharing their experiences in the thread.