This is occasioned by a GQ thread in which a new member asked about not getting her Teeming Millions password, and Dr Matrix (rightly) referred her to OpalCat and closed the thread.
Those of us who have been around for a while know about Teeming Millions, Fathom, alt.somethingorother.straightdope, UnaBoard, and all the other things that are in some loose way connected to the Straight Dope community but not a part of the Straight Dope operation and not within the purview of the Chicago Reader and this website.
But it occurred to me that it might be worthwhile to have an ATMB thread that indicates what the other boards and websites are, how to get in touch with them, and includes explicitly the disclaimer that they’re not a part of SDMB or the Reader’s operation. It would be something to clarify for newbies and folks who may not be familiar with them to know what is being talked about when somebody says “Well, in a thread on the UnaBoard…” or “There are pictures posted on Teeming Millions” in a thread here.
Completely off topic this, sorry. but just yesterday, after seeing the thread about dopers that seem to have disappeared since the board went to payments I thought of you PolyCarp and there you are!
We’re discussing whether to create a FAQ that describes such creatures.
I have to tell you, that I don’t like the idea. It’s stronger than “not part of the SDMB”, some of those locations were set up deliberately to be anti-SDMB, by people who didn’t have enough manners or sense to remain in the SDMB community. Those locations have different rules (or none), and we’ve had several cases of our members or moderators being insulted – cruelly, maliciously, and without basis – and not being aware that such insults are there, and not being able to respond.
Plus, as noted, there are zillions of LiveJournals, many of them by people with a nasssssty grudge. I don’t see why we should be helping our solid, stable, reasonable members to find these nasty folks.
I mean, you wouldn’t expect George Bush’s campaign website to provide information about how to get to Michael Moore’s website, would you? Nor would Michael Moore’s website list Fox News as a reliable source. However, as I say, it’s being discussed.
I take your point, Dex. Personally, I am about as interested in reading some of the Live Journal comments I’ve seen referenced from time to time as I am in drinking an arsenic cocktail to see what it tastes like.
However, my thought was in reference to the major units whose proprietors are nearly always on good terms with SDMB staff – Una, Opal, and The Loaded Dog, in particular. And a clarification that (1) those boards do exist, (2) are run by ____, and (3) have no connection with the SDMB or the Chicago Reader, Inc., would be useful information for newbies puzzled by the references (“How come the UnaBoard doesn’t show up on my dropdown menu?” or the lady I referenced in the OP who thought that questions about Teeming Millions should be raised here).
I’ve spent years ensuring my board is not seen or used as a kind of out-of-the-reach-of-the-SDMB-mods offshore BBQ Pit. The G’Dopers have joined the Unaboarders and others in jumping in to assist when SDMB members have been in personal trouble, we have liaised with your very fine TubaDiva and others in keeping the broader SDMB-related community troll-free, and we have installed very strict rules to ensure the SDMB and the Chicago Reader have no problems from our quarter whatsoever.
From G’Dope’s disclaimer (the following are the very first words you see when you visit that page, and have been there since the board was opened in early 2002):
From G’Dope’s FAQ:
As you can see, it’s a social board. If anybody going there still doesn’t get the idea, then I’ve spelled it out as clearly as I bloody well can here:
(bolding mine).
I humbly submit that a board with contactable administrators (who are also SDMB members) and strict policies on protecting the SDMB’s copyright and good name, is not to be lumped in with the fly-by-night anonymous dung-flinging journals that have sprung up over the last year. YMMV. I didn’t ask for any sort of link to my board from the SDMB (other than a small one in my sig which I forget to use half the time anyway). I don’t normally mention it around these parts. I’m doing so here because I feel as though my board is in the dock. I suspect Scotti may be feeling the same way about the Unaboard.
We could just add a list of SDMB-themed areas in this thread, perhaps? It might not get the coverage a sticky would, but it’s a start? (These are listed in absolutely no order whatsoever, and I’m sure I’ve missed a bunch.)
Fathom
UnaBoard
G’Dope
NADS
(What’s the name of the Canada board?) NoClueBoy’s board #straightdope
Teemings
Teeming Millions
alt.fan.cecil-adams (see previous post by RM Mentock)
misc.facts.straight-dope (ditto)
SDMB LJ community
A whole bunch of SDMB-themed LJ communities
This would be a correct assumption. Sometimes all it takes is a comment like the one made by C K Dexter Haven to make people think that something is true of ALL the groups included in the OP that is NOT TRUE of some of them. I know that this wasn’t Dex’s intention, and I just wanted to make sure that people unfamiliar with our board didn’t get the wrong idea. And I am sure that TheLoadedDog had that same concern.
Scotticher
Moderator, UnaBoard (and proud to BE one, too! )
PS: I am not making any assumptions of any kind about Fathom, I never have the time to go there and I don’t have any opinions one way or the other. Opal is a fine administrator and if she feels like it, I am sure she will weigh in with her opinion. I am simply stating my knowledge concerning the UnaBoard. And TLD is, I am sure, simply stating HIS knowledge concerning G’Dope.)
I understand and appreciate that there are some non-hostile copacetic websites. And I apologize for my poor wording, LoadedDog, I didn’t mean to suggest otherwise. I don’t read ANY of them, whether friendly or unfriendly. I already spend way too much time online, without expanding that much. My concern is how we draw a line, to say we’ll list this one and not that one in some sort of FAQ?
Dex, I suspect the line could be drawn to include those sites, like G’Dope, that have explicit disclaimers of official Dopeness, and explicit rules against board-war-flame-fanning. I’m familiar only with Fathom, not the others, but I know Opal does link to a lot of the other stuff, so people who wanted to explore beyond the congenial bounds could do so, without the SDMB itself giving them official sanction.
To answer that in the same spirit it was asked, “Pragmatically.” You list off the four or five most commonly referenced “related boards” that make sincere efforts to maintain good relations, and ignore the unmoderated and hostile sites like LJ. You add to that list as it seems appropriate. Staff and ex-staff on good terms with staff, such as Uncle Beer, will be familiar with some of the other boards and can validate them to your satisfaction.
As I said above, I haven’t asked for any official links to my site, and I’m not even sure if I want any, to be honest. Yes, it would no doubt drive some traffic my way, which is cool, but if it in any way compromises G’Dope’s independence, or as you have suggested, if it creates headaches for the administrators over here on the SDMB, it may be more trouble than it’s worth.
Might I suggest something in the middle, which would hopefully achieve Polycarp’s aims as well as minimising gnashing of teeth and rending of garments at the SDMB: A member of the SDMB (not a mod or admin) starts a thread listing the sites. This would be a vanilla, non-sticky thread. The OP wouldn’t add any links, but anybody who can prove they are an administrator or a moderator on one of those boards may add a simple one. Then, anyone with an interest in those boards would be able to bookmark the thread, and there are enough of us over the various boards that there’d be somebody always on hand to direct an inquiring newbie to that thread.
That would work for me, too, but it probably wouldn’t make too much difference one way or the other. My board is a niche board* in the first place, about half the members not being Dopers at all. Also, the SDMB Admin gave me permission to list it in my sig already, which I greatly apperciate. Also, many thanks to Una, G’Dope, Fathom, and NADs for letting me do similarly.
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