# \[T-shirt Design\] Ed, please answer this question. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 25, 2009, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722 "2009-03-25T11:07:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722/121 "2009-04-13T20:32:50Z")
The SDMB isn’t the only message board where “Cite!?” is in common use. But something about it just doesn’t sell. I should know. I’ve only sold [one](http://sickslug.com) shirt and a couple stickers in the 7 years I’ve had them available. (Probably would help if I updated the web site every once and a while) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722/122 "2009-04-16T00:48:06Z")
> [@Ed\_Zotti](#): > > I’m not saying we would never do this. However: > > 1. We don’t sell a huge amount of merchandise, never have. Currently we gross a few thousand a year, and that’s for everything - books, mugs, shirts. It’d take me a while to figure out the net, but it’s probably under $1,000 per year. But you are in the black? Does that cover hardware and sys/admin? $1000 Is hardly a margin to work with, but I was under the impression that the SDMB was a great drain on the Chicago Reader. ---
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722/123 "2009-04-16T10:35:49Z")
Well, since no one has really submitted anything, I’m gonna get the ball rolling with a cheesy idea… Start working on some designs, every one! I’m setting the bar pretty low here! [http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/4174/trench1.jpg](http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/4174/trench1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722/124 "2009-04-16T12:26:41Z")
That’s really cute! ---
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722/125 "2009-04-16T12:32:08Z")
Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722/126 "2009-04-16T12:35:12Z")
I loff it! I’d buy one. I’m a sucker for those scary deepsea fishies. RAWR ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722/127 "2009-04-16T17:44:33Z")
Very clever, I would buy something like that. In the spirit of SDMB geeky accuracy I would replace the minisub drawing with one that more likely resembled The Trieste. [http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://blog.usni.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/drawing1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://blog.usni.org/%3Fp%3D912&usg=\_\_bPEMLvsVmHA1k2F5qwP0odCzUK8=&h=535&w=740&sz=63&hl=en&start=11&um=1&tbnid=vjs-U-QFDR9ocM:&tbnh=102&tbnw=141&prev=/images%3Fq%3DTrieste%2Bdrawing%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://blog.usni.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/drawing1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://blog.usni.org/%3Fp%3D912&usg=__bPEMLvsVmHA1k2F5qwP0odCzUK8=&h=535&w=740&sz=63&hl=en&start=11&um=1&tbnid=vjs-U-QFDR9ocM:&tbnh=102&tbnw=141&prev=/images%3Fq%3DTrieste%2Bdrawing%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1) ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722/128 "2009-04-18T03:49:34Z")
I’m in for at least one t-shirt, _if_ it carries the Straight Dope id. Sweatshirt too. Tpo quality, with no neck tag. I don’t need no stinking ball cap. Now I shall read some of the other posts. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722/129 "2009-04-19T21:27:06Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > Take a look at my public profile picture. I’m not wearing a stitch, and I’ve been told I look pretty cute in that picture. > > First suggestion in the thread, and I quite like it. Suggestion: Front, “FIGHTING IGNORANCE” and below that “It’s taking longer than we thought.” And on the back, “Cite?” (With a question mark) ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722/130 "2009-04-20T23:54:47Z")
> [@Amblydoper](#): > > Well, since no one has really submitted anything, I’m gonna get the ball rolling with a cheesy idea… Start working on some designs, every one! I’m setting the bar pretty low here! > > [ImageShack - Best place for all of your image hosting and image sharing needs](http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/4174/trench1.jpg) I don’t get it… ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722/131 "2009-04-21T00:17:32Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I don’t get it… And I don’t get it… ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722/132 "2009-04-21T00:25:19Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I don’t get it… Long standing inside joke where a poster had the piss severley taken out of him for a double post about only ever visiting the Mariannas Trench once for 20 minutes in the 1960’s. I’ll see if I can find the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722/133 "2009-04-21T02:14:34Z")
Try [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=283407&highlight=marianas+trench). The thread has become famous, thanks to **Legion**. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722/134 "2009-04-21T03:50:31Z")
One simple way to do it is to take an old public domain image, such as a government-sponsored propaganda one, and alter it slightly. Here’s an example. [http://65.69.77.33/files/SDMB/SDMB5.jpg](http://65.69.77.33/files/SDMB/SDMB5.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722/135 "2009-04-21T04:08:30Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > One simple way to do it is to take an old public domain image, such as a government-sponsored propaganda one, and alter it slightly. Here’s an example. > > [http://65.69.77.33/files/SDMB/SDMB5.jpg](http://65.69.77.33/files/SDMB/SDMB5.jpg) I lke _that_ one! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722/136 "2009-04-22T05:06:41Z")
Ok, here are some simple contributions. The front could have the mast in the upper left hand corner of the T-shirt. Like so: [http://wm54.inbox.com/thumbs/13\_130bab\_a464f83\_oG.gif.thumb](http://wm54.inbox.com/thumbs/13_130bab_a464f83_oG.gif.thumb) Hm. Some of the fonts may be small. Maybe it would have to be plastered over the front. Or we could just have “SDMB” in front: [http://wm54.inbox.com/thumbs/14\_130baa\_de726a27\_oG.gif.thumb](http://wm54.inbox.com/thumbs/14_130baa_de726a27_oG.gif.thumb) The back has “Cite?” in Trebuchet MS: [http://wm54.inbox.com/thumbs/12\_130bac\_45b2c6e3\_oG.gif.thumb](http://wm54.inbox.com/thumbs/12_130bac_45b2c6e3_oG.gif.thumb) Hm. I think there’s a poster with the name tshirts or something who has experience with this sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722/137 "2009-04-22T12:58:52Z")
The “cite” should be in some sort of manic font (if there is such a thing), to reflect the tone in which it’s often asked for. Maybe followed by “pant pant pant” ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722/138 "2009-04-23T22:56:36Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > The “cite” should be in some sort of manic font (if there is such a thing), to reflect the tone in which it’s often asked for. > Maybe followed by “pant pant pant” Serious question, in regards to suggestions like the one above (and any others that don’t use protected material) why not just go to CafePress and have it made? Why involve the SD at all? Plus it would be cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722/139 "2009-04-23T23:20:36Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > Serious question, in regards to suggestions like the one above (and any others that don’t use protected material) why not just go to CafePress and have it made? Why involve the SD at all? Plus it would be cheaper. That is what **TubaDiva** is planning on doing. The point of involving the SD, is because we want to support our message board. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722/140 "2009-04-24T00:19:31Z")
> [@Amblydoper](#): > > That is what **TubaDiva** is planning on doing. The point of involving the SD, is because we want to support our message board. I’m not following that closely, but last I knew Ed wasn’t giving permission to use the SD logo so it seems a little one sided. But I have no vested interest, I was just wondering. [Here’s my take](http://www.flickr.com/photos/37668629@N06/3469824790/) on **mangeorge** ’s idea. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/t-shirt-design-ed-please-answer-this-question/490722.md?page=8)