# Red Letter Days at SDMB **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 21, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326 "2014-06-21T21:18:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326/21 "2014-06-22T02:18:03Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Well, I’m trying to get a handle on what you consider to be “red letter days” on the board. > > Honestly, I don’t see any value in this, any more than I see value in your other posts looking to create a spreadsheet. You put my age (revealed in unrelated threads, and it’s not a secret) in multiple posts without asking.) That’s why I asked what you expect to get out of it. What is your goal? I apologize for not asking your permission about posting your age. The goal of this Red Letter Days concept is to try to have a reference (for those who might care to see one) of the “significant days” in the 15-year history of this board. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326/22 "2014-06-22T02:21:07Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Is there a way to query threads with the most posts? Yes. Either by person posting or by thread starter or on “keyword” and by selecting a sort on “number of replies” (either low-to-high or the other way). ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326/23 "2014-06-22T02:21:28Z")
Zeldar just likes stats and lists. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326/24 "2014-06-22T02:22:21Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Well, there was [that day back in 2008](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=467835) that **Siam Sam** discovered pigeon eggs on his balcony, and the SDMB hasn’t stopped talking about it since. Diggit. And that burning dog is still glowing, too. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326/25 "2014-06-22T02:23:54Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > The goal of this Red Letter Days concept is to try to have a reference (for those who might care to see one) of the “significant days” in the 15-year history of this board. We know them, don’t we? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326/26 "2014-06-22T02:29:09Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > We know them, don’t we? Some of us may. Some weren’t here for them the first time around. I didn’t arrive until 2003, so 9/11 was before my time and I had to go digging to see what all had been said about it and by whom. I’m done trying to justify this idea. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326/27 "2014-06-22T02:37:08Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Some of us may. Some weren’t here for them the first time around. Those who weren’t around for certain subjects that they see comments and references to can look for them, if they’re interested. > [@](#): > > I didn’t arrive until 2003, so 9/11 was before my time and I had to go digging to see what all had been said about it and by whom. Just like that! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326/28 "2014-06-22T13:55:30Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Those who weren’t around for certain subjects that they see comments and references to can look for them, if they’re interested. Sure, we can do that. But I appreciate a good index/summary/timeline summation of my favorite sources and subjects. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326/29 "2014-06-22T14:03:12Z")
There was the day Ted Kennedy died - that seemed to, for some reason, spur about 2-3 threads per forum. Very odd. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326/30 "2014-06-22T14:04:19Z")
When the news broke that we got Osama bin Laden. When Opal passed away. The “cardboard tube” controversy that seemed to go on forever. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326/31 "2014-06-22T14:23:24Z")
Just as a frame of reference, an earlier effort at this idea covered way too much ground and so I was looking for a much more streamlined output from this current thread. But the idea was there in > **[An SDMB Timeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=651905)** > > Does such a thing already exist? If so, where? If not, I think it might be fun to build one with such details as: Sequence of starting dates for the various fora Vital statistics of Mods and Admins (etc.) — Join Date — Date of becoming... Straight Dope Message Board \> Main \> About This Message Board An SDMB Timeline ``` #1 05-15-2012, 05:35 PM ``` Zeldar #174 03-10-2013, 04:04 PM AncientHumanoid ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326/32 "2014-06-22T16:31:48Z")
I think that an honorable mention might go to May 4th and 5th every year since 2000, when **Coldfire** started the [“ **May 5, 1945 - we shall remember** ”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=23572) thread. Obviously the SDMB was not around in 1945, so it was not “real time” like 9/11, but the thread gets resurrected annually and I am always happy to revisit it and know that some people are seeing it for the first time. Truly one of the great SDMB threads, and well worth reading from start to finish. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326/33 "2014-06-22T16:40:06Z")
The neverending presidential election of 2000 generated a huge number of threads and posts. One thing that the OP might consider is threads where the SDMB acted like a major news feed. For instance, I first heard of Katrina before it happened, in a thread warning southern Dopers of a major incoming hurricane. Can’t remember the name of it, though. From there, I went to the more traditional news media. I also first learnt of the Columbia disaster here on the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326/34 "2014-06-22T17:13:25Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Well, I’m trying to get a handle on what you consider to be “red letter days” on the board. > > Honestly, I don’t see any value in this, any more than I see value in your other posts looking to create a spreadsheet. You put my age (revealed in unrelated threads, and it’s not a secret) in multiple posts without asking.) That’s why I asked what you expect to get out of it. What is your goal? Then don’t read or contribute to the thread. Don’t act you are trying to be helpful just to say that you think this thread and all others like it are stupid. The goal is self-evident and was stated in the OP. If you don’t think it’s a worthy goal, you don’t have to contribute. Finally, you admit you’ve revealed your age on this board. Why would you think that anyone would expect that it would bother you to repeat it somewhere else? I don’t think it would have occurred to me that someone might ask me before revealing I was 29. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326/35 "2014-06-22T20:30:39Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Those who weren’t around for certain subjects that they see comments and references to can look for them, if they’re interested. > > Just like that! Okay, you’ve made your opinion very clear (many times) in this thread. It’s time to drop it and stop posting in this thread if you dislike the idea so much. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326/36 "2014-06-22T22:39:19Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > But the idea was there in > > [An SDMB Timeline - About This Message Board - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=651905) That thread references [Ten years of the Dope: a history](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=537416). It might be worth reviewing. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326/37 "2014-06-22T23:22:35Z")
The day it was revealed that Arafat’s underwear was radioactive. Dude was flat-out poisoned. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326/38 "2014-06-23T00:37:41Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > That thread references [Ten years of the Dope: a history](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=537416). It might be worth reviewing. Based on the contents of that thread I believe we must try to get input from the participants there to see what methods to use in updating their excellent work. I’m considering sending a PM to the ones who posted there to see if they’re aware of this thread and/or if they’ll join us in this effort. Thanks, **Digital is the new Analog** , for drawing attention to that thread! If there are other such threads, please link to them, anybody. ---
**Author:** ![PurpleClogs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f04885/32.png) [@PurpleClogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleClogs)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326/39 "2014-06-23T03:56:52Z")
I’m relatively a newbie, but I find these entertaining reading. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326/40 "2014-06-23T04:39:21Z")
> [@PurpleClogs](#): > > I’m relatively a newbie, but I find these entertaining reading. Please expand on that observation, if you will. In what way “entertaining”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-letter-days-at-sdmb/691326.md?page=3)