Brand new to this platform, and I’m curious to know if anyone knows what the true meaning of the word “dope” actually is? Probably not what you think..
Welcome. The term “Straight Dope” has nothing to do with drugs-
Noun
- (slang) The true information; the whole story
Hiya and welcome!
If you’re interested in words and their origins, you’ll find many wordsmiths and linguists of varying stripes here.
Enjoy!
The true meaning of the word “dope” in this context is “information”.
The idea that words have one true meaning is a nonsense. A few words, usually specialized vocabulary, have one narrow agreed meaning. The vast majority of words, or at least English words such as “dope” are meaning mongrels, and trying to elevate one meaning as strictly more legitimate as the others is just silly.
Bu welcome to our silly club. We hope you’ll hang out a bit and enjoy the conversation.
“Silly club” sums this place up well. We can get deadly serious at times, but we can also laugh with each other, commiserate with each other, prop each other up if necessary, and otherwise have a good time here. We all have varying backgrounds and expertise, so if you’ve got a question about pretty much anything, ask away. Likely that one or more of us can answer it … err, that is, give you the Straight Dope on it. 
Welcome!
Be sure to check out our sister publication — it’s all about plumbing — called The Pipe Dope. 
Not to be confused with The Dope Pipe.
Dave’s not here, maaaaan! 
Answered in 1. So, just curious, what did YOU think we thought it meant?
I know a use for “dope”.
I live with a couple of them. 
The real question is the meaning of “straight”. Is this message board the heterosexual moron?
Or talk gravity sports at The Half Pipe.
We are the “smartest and hippest”
So we are “Dope” you might say.
(Except the dipsticks)
Beware of Take 5 Oil Change! They busted off the dipstick in the tube and then wouldn’t replace it without “persuasion.”
No, ‘straight’ in this context means that the dope is pure and uncut.
Uncut truth, untainted with any falsehood filler, that is.
Our newfound friend showed up around midnight Eastern. I wonder if / when they will return?
… And if substances were involved
Eh.
If we had a magic substance impairment detector and magicked away every Dope post ever made while non-sober, I bet this place would look very different. Kinda like somebody took a shotgun to each thread. And double-barrelled the fun ones.
I think a slightly more current word meaning approximately the same thing would be "tea’.