# SDMB improvement ideas **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 8, 2006, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558 "2006-02-08T17:56:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/1 "2006-02-08T17:56:57Z")
The SDMB is dandy, but here are some site recommendations to make it even dandier: **Contest (s):** Everyone likes contests, even Dopers. I propose a separate forum named, “Contests”. What sort of contests could be run? Some ideas: 1. Purely statistical: The winners are the OP’s whose threads from each forum garnered the most views and or replies each week. Perhaps an overall winner, as well. 2. Weekly Voting Poll: for the most profound/ most interesting/silliest/funniest/etc. OP’s and/or replies. 3. Grab bag: Dopers could post any number of one-time-only contests. Prize: Some version of a SD gold star could be attached to your profile for a period of time (I think that I deserve a gold star for this particular OP). Benefit: Win-win. Being showcased, the best threads would garner even more exposure, therefore fighting ignorance more effectively. Contests are fun; Dopers like to have fun. Positive buzz would propagate throughout the Internet resulting in unprecedented membership for the SD: Cecil et al get put into the same tax bracket as Bill Gates. Dr. Poopiepants gets thrown a few crumbs for his efforts, thereby allowing him to feed his children something besides gruel. **De-sterilize online communication.** I understand the desire for anonymity, but I believe it may be effectively maintained while still sharing a little more about ourselves Ideas: I wish that more Dopers would consider at least listing their nationality on their profiles. Whenever I read a post, I look up to see where the poster is from and I’m often disappointed to find that they have left “Location:” blank or with a silly answer. You won’t entirely blow your cover by revealing your nationality (well, unless you live in a really tiny country). **Photos:** Wouldn’t it be nice to have a forum, or a link from your profile specifically for photographs (maybe under 50kb jpegs). Those not too concerned about maintaining complete anonymity could post photos of themselves (it’s nice to have a picture in your mind of whom you are engaged in conversation). Others could post photos of things that tell a little about themselves (a pet, a landscape, a bottle of beer…anything at all). You would need a policy of no obscenity, punishable by banning. Dopers do, of course, already link to photos, but it would be nice to have a centralized, navigable area to do so properly. **Make Moderators Happy:** Lets lobby for all SD moderators to be paid a large salary with good benefits!\* What do you think, Dopers? Do you have any recommendations of your own? - Just joshing. I just have a psycological need for their approval. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/2 "2006-02-08T18:17:50Z")
> [@Dr. PoopiePants](#): > > 1. Purely statistical: The winners are the OP’s whose threads from each forum garnered the most views and or replies each week. Perhaps an overall winner, as well. Can you say “post padding”? > [@](#): > > _2) Weekly Voting Poll: for the most profound/ most interesting/silliest/funniest/etc. OP’s and/or replies._ We tried that a long time ago. Didn’t go over well. > [@](#): > > _3) Grab bag: Dopers could post any number of one-time-only contests. > Prize: Some version of a SD gold star could be attached to your profile for a period of time (I think that I deserve a gold star for this particular OP). > Benefit: Win-win. Being showcased, the best threads would garner even more exposure, therefore fighting ignorance more effectively._ Who would be the judge(s)? Personally, I see great potential for much agitation here. > [@](#): > > - I understand the desire for anonymity, but I believe it may be effectively maintained while still sharing a little more about ourselves > Ideas: > I wish that more Dopers would consider at least listing their nationality on their profiles. Whenever I read a post, I look up to see where the poster is from and I’m often disappointed to find that they have left “Location:” blank or with a silly answer. You won’t entirely blow your cover by revealing your nationality (well, unless you live in a really tiny country). \* One word: **Aldebaran**. > [@](#): > > _ **Photos:** Wouldn’t it be nice to have a forum, or a link from your profile specifically for photographs (maybe under 50kb jpegs)._ There are already at least three Doper photo albums outside the SDMB. I think that’s plenty. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/3 "2006-02-08T18:30:24Z")
This stuff has been proposed in the past and I wouldn’t be surprised you got an e-mail telling you that you are banned, not only from this board, but from the entire internet as well as cable TV and Ipods just for thinking about it more than once. Official “contests” do not go over well at here at all and it actually contradicts much of the philosophy of the board HARD. If you don’t understand why then you are not capable of understanding why and therein lies the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/4 "2006-02-08T19:09:31Z")
This thread appears to be about this message board. Moved from IMHO to ATMB. ---
**Author:** ![Ty\_Cobb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee59a6/32.png) [@Ty\_Cobb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ty_Cobb)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/5 "2006-02-08T19:51:18Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > There are already at least three Doper photo albums outside the SDMB. I think that’s plenty. I don’t see any. The Members link is disabled. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/6 "2006-02-08T20:08:28Z")
> [@Dr. PoopiePants](#): > > **Make Moderators Happy:** Lets lobby for all SD moderators to be paid a large salary with good benefits!\* On reading this while doing a quick scroll, I thought this said something along the lines of “Make Happy a Moderator.” Yikes. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/7 "2006-02-08T20:22:20Z")
I know this is a minority opinion, but I want more smileys! > **[We need some more smileys!](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=310495)** > > We have a good range of smileys, but it could be better. Here’s some I’d like to see in the table to the right of the post-box: Horny smiley: Big eyes, tongue hanging out and drooling. Useful when discussing hottie celebrities in CS. ... ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/8 "2006-02-08T20:28:53Z")
Thank you for the suggestions, this board is what we make it and your ideas are always welcome. TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/9 "2006-02-08T21:15:39Z")
> [@Ty Cobb](#): > > I don’t see any. The Members link is disabled. I said _outside_ the SDMB. In other words, places like [Opal’s Teeming Millions site](http://www.teemingmillions.com/profiles/), which seems to have lost all its pictures. Shayna’s People Pages and Max Carnage’s Unofficial Picture Page have both disappeared but [SkipMagic still has SDMB high school pics](http://home.kc.rr.com/skipmagic/sdmb.htm). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/10 "2006-02-08T21:15:52Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I know this is a minority opinion, but I want more smileys! > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=310495](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=310495) But please don’t change their **style!** I like our simple, understated smileys. The SDMB’s brief experiment with more “3D”-looking smileys was ill-advised. And let’s not even consider **animated** smileys on this board! ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/11 "2006-02-08T21:34:47Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Can you say “post padding”? Despite a pronounced lisp, yeth I can. I give Dopers more credit than to waste time padding posts in order to win a gold star for a week, maybe I’m wrong. > [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Who would be the judge(s)? Personally, I see great potential for much agitation here. Again, I find it difficult to believe that Dopers would get agitated over an informal contest meant for fun with the only prize being a valueless temporary icon. If adults become enraged over the prospect of a gold star being affixed to their names, I suggest they have misplaced priorities and self-worth issues. > [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > > [@Dr. PoopiePants](#): > > > > \ > > You won’t entirely blow your cover by revealing your nationality (well, unless you live in a really tiny country). > > One word: Aldebaran. What is that, a really tiny country? > [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > There are already at least three Doper photo albums outside the SDMB. I think that’s plenty. You do, but do others? Having three Doper photo albums suggests to me that there is, indeed, an interest in viewing fellow Dopers. Having a centralized and navigable place for them to be located would simply be a nice touch. Anyone have the links to those albums? > [@Shagnasty](#): > > This stuff has been proposed in the past and I wouldn’t be surprised you got an e-mail telling you that you are banned, not only from this board, but from the entire internet as well as cable TV and Ipods just for thinking about it more than once. Official “contests” do not go over well at here at all and it actually contradicts much of the philosophy of the board HARD. If you don’t understand why then you are not capable of understanding why and therein lies the problem. According to my…meh, forget it, your post is just too silly to respond to. Funny, Massachusetts is listed as his “Location:”, but the post sure seems to be written by a Louisianian. :rolleyes: > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I know this is a minority opinion, but I want more smileys! I like your smileys idea. I’d like to include a flabbergasted smiley, an ennui smiley and a milk-coming-out-of-the-nose-funny smiley. ---
**Author:** ![Feydeau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Feydeau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feydeau)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/12 "2006-02-08T22:05:08Z")
> [@Dr. PoopiePants](#): > > > [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > > > > [@Dr. PoopiePants](#): > > > > > > \ > > > You won’t entirely blow your cover by revealing your nationality (well, unless you live in a really tiny country). > > > > One word: Aldebaran. > > What is that, a really tiny country? Well, no. **Aldebaran** was a poster who claimed he was in the Middle East, both by his Location: entry and (apparently) by things he said. (I say apparently because I never really followed his stuff, me being totally apolitical and all.) **Lynn Bodoni** [called him on it](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5064658&postcount=85) and said he was really posting from Belgium. Apparently, this made him flame out, and he was subsequently [banned](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=294554) . I’m not entirely sure how this connects, but I just wanted to explain who **Aldebaran** was. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/13 "2006-02-08T22:05:18Z")
I wish members could search for three-letter words. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/14 "2006-02-08T22:12:55Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > I wish members could search for three-letter words. Seconded! ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/15 "2006-02-08T23:28:43Z")
Thirded. Three-letter words, common words, all of it. Make it so you can search for whatever you like, as long as the exact phrase is in quotation marks. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/16 "2006-02-08T23:45:56Z")
> [@Feydeau](#): > > I’m not entirely sure how this connects 'Twas an example of how listing one’s actual location is sometimes not a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/17 "2006-02-08T23:51:20Z")
> [@Dr. PoopiePants](#): > > You do, but do others? Having three Doper photo albums suggests to me that there is, indeed, an interest in viewing fellow Dopers. Having a centralized and navigable place for them to be located would simply be a nice touch. I was wrong, it’s four albums–two of which are no longer active, one seems to have lost all its pics, and the fourth has just a few pics of Dopers from when they were teenagers. Does that sound like there’s a real interest in viewing fellow Dopers? > [@](#): > > _Anyone have the links to those albums?_ See post #9. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/18 "2006-02-09T00:48:46Z")
> [@Dr. PoopiePants](#): > > … > > Again, I find it difficult to believe that Dopers would get agitated over an informal contest meant for fun with the only prize being a valueless temporary icon. If adults become enraged over the prospect of a gold star being affixed to their names, I suggest they have misplaced priorities and self-worth issues. > … Yes, I see by your join date you really haven’t been here very long… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/19 "2006-02-09T01:30:01Z")
> [@Dr. PoopiePants](#): > > Again, I find it difficult to believe that Dopers would get agitated over an informal contest meant for fun with the only prize being a valueless temporary icon. If adults become enraged over the prospect of a gold star being affixed to their names, I suggest they have misplaced priorities and self-worth issues. You’ve not been on the internet long have you? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/20 "2006-02-09T02:52:10Z")
I think the option of uploading a photo or avatar of ourselves on our “Profile” page is a terrific one. Me, I’d like it a lot of HTML code was enabled. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558.md?page=2)