# Sometimes they just don't get it... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 9, 2008, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-they-just-dont-get-it/436894 "2008-02-09T03:58:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-they-just-dont-get-it/436894/1 "2008-02-09T03:58:38Z")
I tried to tell two different (non-doper) people about [this](http://208.100.26.199/sdmb/showthread.php?p=9444633#post9444633) wonderful news. I tried to explain the backstory and everything, but still they look at me like “these are internet people you don’t know?” So disappointing to basically be condescended to. Y’all are so real to me. Because you are all real people, dammit! Do any of you have trouble explaining to others your relationship with other Dopers? ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-they-just-dont-get-it/436894/2 "2008-02-09T04:03:12Z")
My wife looks at me weird when I laugh out loud, or look concerned, while reading the computer. You are not alone. These are my peeps. ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-they-just-dont-get-it/436894/3 "2008-02-09T18:52:39Z")
I’m in the same boat as you, **Rebo.** My husband doesn’t look at me quite as strangely because he’s had the pleasure of meeting a few Dopers, but none of the rest of my friends and family understand. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-they-just-dont-get-it/436894/4 "2008-02-09T18:57:56Z")
I’ve found it’s just easier to mention “a friend of mine” rather than try to explain the message board thing. Besides, I’d rather not have certain folks know about me and this place. As it should be. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-they-just-dont-get-it/436894/5 "2008-02-09T19:03:31Z")
Yeah, people in real life think that I have very interesting friends and acquaintances, and they sometimes wonder why they never get to meet them 🙂 I can kind of get away with the excuse that they are all people I knew when I lived in Ontario, but after a few years, I’m going to have to come up with something else! ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-they-just-dont-get-it/436894/6 "2008-02-10T00:43:21Z")
My husband has met dopers, so he _sort of_ understands, but not really. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-they-just-dont-get-it/436894/7 "2008-02-10T01:05:27Z")
[QUOTE=TroubleAgain] My husband has met dopers, so he _sort of_ understands, but not really. [/QUOTE] So he’s a regular here? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-they-just-dont-get-it/436894/8 "2008-02-10T01:16:57Z")
[QUOTE=TroubleAgain] My husband has met dopers, so he _sort of_ understands, but not really. [/QUOTE] Mine, too. By and large, he thinks Dopers are weird, but I know he had a good time when we took the **welby** s sailing, and he thinks **Ginger of the North** is pretty cool. Fortunately, he doesn’t think Dopers are dangerous, so he has no problem if I go festing without him. In fact, I think he prefers that… ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-they-just-dont-get-it/436894/9 "2008-02-10T02:57:02Z")
I know none of you are real. Just fig newtons of my imagination. Ok, I have actually met some of ya but the rest of ya, nah… not real. 😃 The squeeze AKA ACBG and ol’ y’all know who, gets a kick out of being talked about in the MMP. Matter of fact, he’s taken to using my little euphemism, “appreciation”, when he wants to get all naughty with me. Plus, he uses some of our memes cause he’s pick 'em up from me. So, most of you all are not real, but you are contagious. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-they-just-dont-get-it/436894/10 "2008-02-10T17:23:11Z")
I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-they-just-dont-get-it/436894/11 "2008-02-10T18:05:30Z")
[QUOTE=FairyChatMom] I’ve found it’s just easier to mention “a friend of mine” rather than try to explain the message board thing. [/QUOTE] Spot on **FCM**. I’ve tried to recruit a few select friends but they are just not interested in “that whole internet thing”. It’s their loss. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-they-just-dont-get-it/436894/12 "2008-02-10T18:52:33Z")
[QUOTE=swampbear] So, most of you all are not real, but you are contagious. [/QUOTE] That’s funny, I’m going to use that somewhere… The Wife and Kid are about the only people that even know I hang out or post here. Oh, wait my mom does too, because a couple years ago when I was visiting her in Tucson, we ran off to meet **Alice the Goon** , who was then **troublmakr.** Mom thought that was weird, and I don’t think that many of my friends would get it either. Y’all are generally cooler than the people I hang out with IRL. I do like **FCM** does, I just say “a friend of mine”, that works and it’s not necessarily wrong. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-they-just-dont-get-it/436894/13 "2008-02-10T20:25:13Z")
“Member(s) of a group I belong to” also works. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-they-just-dont-get-it/436894/14 "2008-02-10T20:28:47Z")
I belong to 2 other closer-knit online groups (a Mom’s board with 30 members, and a running board) and I run into this with those groups as well. I say “a friend of mine…” when mentioning people from here or those situations. I do refer to all of my online friends as “my imaginary friends” or “Suuffelupagi” as well. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Them](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@The\_Them](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Them)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-they-just-dont-get-it/436894/15 "2008-02-10T23:39:34Z")
You people are so cool, I’m actually a bit nervous about meeting you in person. But I cannot overemphasize the lift you give to my spirits; your shocking creativity, knowledge, and wisdom…there are people who actually gripe about the pitiful membership fee? I’ve tried to essplain SDMB to a couple folks, but they think I’m just being wierd, as I usually am. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-they-just-dont-get-it/436894/16 "2008-02-11T00:43:57Z")
[QUOTE=lorene] “Suuffelupagi” [/QUOTE] Snuffleupagi, I mean. (Plural of the Sesame St character who no one believed existed for a long time.) ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-they-just-dont-get-it/436894/17 "2008-02-11T00:51:32Z")
[QUOTE=FairyChatMom] Mine, too. By and large, he thinks Dopers are weird [/QUOTE] So he reads the MMP regularly, then? 😃 Most of my meatspace friends are internet friends on this board or another, so I don’t have quite the problems some of you have. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-they-just-dont-get-it/436894/18 "2008-02-11T01:12:03Z")
Ok, I’m skeered. One of the google ads just now said “Attract Mr. Right”. Personally, I’m glad I don’t have a pet bunny. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-they-just-dont-get-it/436894/19 "2008-02-11T16:02:03Z")
I’m glad to see I’m not alone in this boat! Actually, my hubby has been to one Dopefest. It was our first date! I called him up and asked if he wanted to go to a Dopefest - he said yes when he didn’t even know what it was. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-they-just-dont-get-it/436894/20 "2008-02-11T16:19:40Z")
[QUOTE=FairyChatMom] I’ve found it’s just easier to mention “a friend of mine” rather than try to explain the message board thing. [/QUOTE] So true, and it’s amazing how often that comes up. At a party the other night I found myself referring to things I’d learned from dopers so many times during the evening, yet I found it awkward to keep saying “This guy/gal I met online said …” Everything from **WordMan** ’s musings on tonal quality of '54 Strats to **Qadgop** ’s expertise on a particular ailment to **silenus** ’s recommendations on a scotch to **Ellis Dee** ’s synopsis of the Giants strengths next year. It all came up and I was the richer for reading it and being able to share but frustrated no one else knew just what the Dope was. It’s plum amazing what you come away from this place with, cept for a reasonable way to reference the resource. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-they-just-dont-get-it/436894.md?page=2)