# Question about each category's URL **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 15, 2024, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-each-categorys-url/1001607 "2024-05-15T23:20:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2024, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-each-categorys-url/1001607/1 "2024-05-15T23:20:53Z")
I noticed that the URL for this category for instance ends in a number 9: [Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9) It’s a different number for each board. For that matter what does the /c/ indicate. That’s the same for each URL. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2024, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-each-categorys-url/1001607/2 "2024-05-15T23:31:33Z")
The /c/ means category, much like every thread a has a /t/. User profiles are /u/. Though tags are /tag/ The number is an index number for each category. (Forum) This helps with database storage. For instance if you were ignoring the Pit(11) but watching ATMB (8), they only need to store the respective number in each bucket. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2024, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-each-categorys-url/1001607/3 "2024-05-15T23:36:25Z")
Update: ninja’ed. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2024, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-each-categorys-url/1001607/4 "2024-05-15T23:48:07Z")
Weren’t there hidden categories, like ‘double-secret Mod Forums,’ or is asking about that going to get me ssent to the Principal’s offiice? Tripler [http://boards.straightdope.com/c/Shut-the-hell-up-Tripler-before-you-get-us-all-into-trouble](http://boards.straightdope.com/c/Shut-the-hell-up-Tripler-before-you-get-us-all-into-trouble) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2024, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-each-categorys-url/1001607/5 "2024-05-15T23:48:55Z")
There are many hidden forums. Probably some hiding from me. Minor fun trick, when looking at the forum, edit the url by removing the name and changing the number to let’s say 8. Like this: \https://boards.straightdope.com/c/8 It will resolve to ATMB. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2024, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-each-categorys-url/1001607/6 "2024-05-15T23:49:43Z")
The numbers of the forums are the order in which they were created. And yes, there exist forums that are visible only to the moderators, and forums that once existed but are now defunct but still have a lingering undead existence. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-each-categorys-url/1001607/7 "2024-05-16T01:19:52Z")
They end in 666. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-each-categorys-url/1001607/8 "2024-05-16T14:42:20Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > It will resolve to ATMB. on that, shouldn’t this thread be moved there? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-each-categorys-url/1001607/9 "2024-05-16T14:47:20Z")
Third time I was asked this believe it or not. As the question is really about Discourse in the end and not the SDMB, I figured it can stay here. Any FQ Moderator can override this of course. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-each-categorys-url/1001607/10 "2024-05-16T15:05:59Z")
👍 Got it! ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-each-categorys-url/1001607/11 "2024-05-16T15:30:05Z")
Maybe Site Feedback? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-each-categorys-url/1001607/12 "2024-05-16T15:44:07Z")
Is it really feedback? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-each-categorys-url/1001607/13 "2024-05-16T15:49:06Z")
I believe this is all of the visible forums plus one Discourse added: | Category | # | | --- | --- | | site-feedback | 2 | | comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports | 7 | | about-this-message-board | 8 | | factual-questions | 9 | | miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share | 10 | | the-bbq-pit | 11 | | great-debates | 13 | | in-my-humble-opinion | 14 | | cafe-society | 15 | | the-game-room | 17 | | politics-elections | 22 | | marketplace | 23 | | thread-games | 28 | | the-quarantine-zone | 29 | | templates | 30 | Templates are almost like text macros. I seem to be the only one using these. * * * * * * ### And please, drop the meta-conversation about where this thread belongs. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-each-categorys-url/1001607/14 "2024-05-16T16:41:29Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > forums that once existed but are now defunct but still have a lingering undead existence. What some of the extinct forums? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-each-categorys-url/1001607/15 "2024-05-16T17:15:27Z")
Exactly, though we recently got rid of a few of those also. I tagged them and moved the threads to another one of the hidden forums and Ed removed the forum completely. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-each-categorys-url/1001607/16 "2024-05-16T19:38:31Z")
What does Ed know that we don’t know that we should know? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-each-categorys-url/1001607/17 "2024-05-16T19:41:57Z")
Well he has a direct line to Cecil, but I’m not sure we should have that. I suspect he knows a lot we don’t know but as I don’t know what that is, I can’t help you know what it is we don’t know that we should know that he knows. You know? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-each-categorys-url/1001607/18 "2024-05-16T21:51:28Z")
I think that, WAY back in the beginning (i.e., 1999), there were a few hidden forums created to test things out before the real forums were created. The contents of those forums are long gone, even to moderators, but their existence has still left an imprint on the numbering of the forums that we do have. Then there were forums that did actually exist and were visible to the public for a while, like The Barn House and Straight Dope Chicago, and (briefly) an April Fool’s forum and a Halloween-themed forum. And then there are a few moderator-only forums, that we use for things like tracking Warnings and looking out for repeat sock-trolls. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-each-categorys-url/1001607/19 "2024-05-16T21:59:47Z")
Oh, and while this is partly about Discourse in general, it’s also about the history and evolution of this specific board, so I think that ATMB is probably the better fit. Moving. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-each-categorys-url/1001607/20 "2024-05-16T23:34:08Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Then there were forums that did actually exist and were visible to the public for a while, like The Barn House Cool. What was the focus of the Barn House forum? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-each-categorys-url/1001607.md?page=2)