# The best message boards for learning about specific subjects **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 11, 2007, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-message-boards-for-learning-about-specific-subjects/415198 "2007-08-11T00:25:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2007, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-message-boards-for-learning-about-specific-subjects/415198/21 "2007-08-13T16:42:28Z")
[www.birdboard.com](http://www.birdboard.com) is good for bird owners. The moderators tend to be self-important and domineering, but it’s a great way to learn about all kinds of pet birds and behaviours. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2007, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-message-boards-for-learning-about-specific-subjects/415198/22 "2007-08-13T18:12:14Z")
[Eng-Tips](http://www.eng-tips.com/index.cfm) is a great place for technical engineering subjects. The forums at [Mtbr](http://forums.mtbr.com/) are good for everything about mountain bikes and riding. ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2007, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-message-boards-for-learning-about-specific-subjects/415198/23 "2007-08-13T19:24:57Z")
Maybe a little more narrow than the others already posted, but for SCUBA diving, I’ve been going to [Scubadiving.com’s message board](http://www.scubadiving.com/forum/default.aspx) for years. It’s not quite as newbie-friendy, or as active, as it once was, mostly due to a format change, but there are still some extremely knowledgeable, helpful people that hang out there. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2007, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-message-boards-for-learning-about-specific-subjects/415198/24 "2007-08-13T19:56:51Z")
BrewBoard for homebrewing enthusiasts. Affiliated with [Homebrew.com](http://Homebrew.com) where you can get mail order equipment and ingredients. ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-message-boards-for-learning-about-specific-subjects/415198/25 "2007-08-14T16:10:58Z")
For handguns, rifles, and all things that go bang: > **[The High Road](https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php)** > > The Best Gun Forum on the Internet J. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-message-boards-for-learning-about-specific-subjects/415198/26 "2007-08-14T16:23:06Z")
I’ve bounced around a couple watch-related boards looking for a good one. No luck yet, but if any mechanical watch (pocket preferably) enthusiasts know of one I’d love to hear about it. Here’s the aptly named Smith & Wesson forum [http://smith-wessonforum.com/](http://smith-wessonforum.com/) The 1911 site is kind of rambling, but still interesting [http://forum.m1911.org/](http://forum.m1911.org/) And the [AR-15](http://www.ar15.com/forums/board.html?b=3) one has a **lot** of good stuff, I never post there but I built a rifle from the ground up based on the info I got from them. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-message-boards-for-learning-about-specific-subjects/415198/27 "2007-08-16T04:03:14Z")
A bit of self-promotion: I run a fairly busy urban planning-related message board called the [Cyburbia Forums](http://www.cyburbia.org/forums). ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-message-boards-for-learning-about-specific-subjects/415198/28 "2007-08-16T04:25:05Z")
> **[Fred's TDI Page. TDIClub.com. VW TDI Enthusiast Community](https://www.tdiclub.com//)** > > Fred's TDI Page and Forums. Also called TDICLUB.com, a great place to make other Dieselheads interested in the VW Group's TDI (Turbo Direct Injection) Diesel including Audi. Forums, news and more... My only extremely specific board. If you are thinking of buying or would like to inform yourself about any aspect of modern high-tech diesel engines then this is the place. The diesel heads there are super friendly and in love with the tech. I even met a guy there once who let me park my car at his house while i went to europe for two weeks. ---
**Author:** ![papaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@papaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papaw)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-message-boards-for-learning-about-specific-subjects/415198/29 "2007-08-16T04:37:17Z")
For etymology, I frequent [Wordorigins](http://www.wordorigins.org/) , and if any of us is interested in Vintage hand tools, visit [Tool Talk](http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/index.php) ---
**Author:** ![toadbriar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@toadbriar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadbriar)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-message-boards-for-learning-about-specific-subjects/415198/30 "2007-08-16T04:51:40Z")
[Kingsnake](http://forums.kingsnake.com/) is the best site for learning how to care for any sort of reptile, and lots of invertebrates too. The [Rats Rule](http://www.goosemoose.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,118/forum,rat) forums are the best for pet rat care. [Knitty](http://www.knittyboard.com/) has awesome forums on knitting, spinning, and yarn. [Craftster](http://www.craftster.org) is pretty much great for anything and everything craft. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-message-boards-for-learning-about-specific-subjects/415198/31 "2007-08-16T06:35:12Z")
For sound recording tips, tricks and explanations of functions and settings of Cool Edit Pro and Adobe Audition (prior to 2.0): I came in to tell you about the Syntrillium Forums that _were_ archived at [audiomasters.org](http://audiomasters.org), but I found out just now that that website no longer exists. It’s merely a placeholder with ad links. Sad. There was a wealth of discussion and information there, from when Syntrillium was a going concern. A portion of its information, which I suppose represents the best of the previous discussions, is archived at [adobe.com](http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx/.2cccaa19/) as a continuously updated, but read-only FAQ section. It could be considered a primer for how to proceed with Audition 2.0. Learn how the old functions worked and then discover how they’ve improved them on the 2.0 users’ forum. In addition, adobe hosts user-to-user fora for just about every one of their products - audio, video, web design, you name it. ---
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-message-boards-for-learning-about-specific-subjects/415198/32 "2007-08-16T11:03:50Z")
For all aspects of _Poker_, [Two Plus Two forums](http://www.twoplustwo.com). For _Television in general_, [Digital Spy](http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/). For _Quiz TV_ (of the play-from-home variety), [Quiz Telly](http://www.quiztelly.com/forum/index.php). For anything to do with _Money_, including getting a good deal on anything from bank accounts to holidays, Martin Lewis’ [MoneySavingExpert](http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/). _All of these apart from the first one are UK-centric._ ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-message-boards-for-learning-about-specific-subjects/415198/33 "2007-08-16T12:54:19Z")
For a variety of Earth-related topics, everything from volcanoes and earthquakes to groundwater, petroleum and paleontology, both inside and out of the confines of US borders, [The United States Geological Survey](http://www.usgs.gov/) (USGS) site provides an excellent array of articles, maps, monitors, links, etc. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-message-boards-for-learning-about-specific-subjects/415198/34 "2007-08-17T05:09:18Z")
Hey! I found the audiomasters forum! The entire Syntrillium forums archive, plus a new message board is at [audiomastersforum.net](http://www.audiomastersforum.net/amforum/index.php). So anyone who is interested in years’ worth of older information, plus new discussions of sound recording in Audition 2.0, this is the place to go. I’ve got it bookmarked now. I’ve got lots of reading to do! ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-message-boards-for-learning-about-specific-subjects/415198/35 "2007-08-17T15:19:31Z")
[QUOTE=Fir na tine] [Woodworking Forum](http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?Cat=) [/QUOTE] That’s what I came in to post… ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2007, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-message-boards-for-learning-about-specific-subjects/415198/36 "2007-08-18T15:03:31Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Oh, crikey. brainfart - combination of your anonymous-looking username and the content of the post - I’m sorry - it looked like spambot posting for _just_ long enough for me to click the button. sorrysorrysorry. [/QUOTE] Heh. Way to go…trying to shoo away our members…gosh! ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2007, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-message-boards-for-learning-about-specific-subjects/415198/37 "2007-08-18T16:43:31Z")
[creativecow.net](http://www.creativecow.net) is by far the best community for any and all creative media production, enormous user forums, a seperate board for each kind of software software. and the mods post killer webbased and video tutorials online. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-message-boards-for-learning-about-specific-subjects/415198.md?page=1)