The SDMB is not where the airplane on a treadmill idea came to being

[ChiefScott]

1. There’s only a few things that “started” here and most only make sense here.
2. Chandler beats Joey hands down as best ever Friend (Unless we count boobs and then Rachel wins.)
3. Hi, Opal!

(I know that started here…)

[StinkyBurrito]

We were hundreds of pages into the plane on a treadmill discussion over at physorg.com when the thread started here. I made a deliberate point not to join into that thread because I knew what would happen. (Even though I had the right answer from the get-go.) And I doubt that it was started there either.

[Musicat]

Until I came to SDMB, I had never heard of pie…

[StinkyBurrito]

I missed the edit window while researching this, but the Physorg.com discussion began on July 19, 2005 and this discussion began on 12-07-2005.

In fact, in the OP, bouv states…

@bouv

have seen this question posted on a couple other message boards I go to, but seeing asd most of the people at those messageboards don’t have a large knowledge of physics, I am posting here in hopes to get the correct answer.

[thelurkinghorror]

@Musicat

Until I came to SDMB, I had never heard of pie…

That did not originate here, either.

[Antigen]

@thelurkinghorror

That did not originate here, either.

Well of course not, someone had to bring it back with them.

[zuma]

Who here claimed it started at the sdmb? Links plz. Thinking it started here is well, kind of retarded, but at least provide some background hot stuff.

[Antinor01]

@ChiefScott

1. There’s only a few things that “started” here and most only make sense here.
2. Chandler beats Joey hands down as best ever Friend (Unless we count boobs and then Rachel wins.)
3. Hi, Opal!

(I know that started here…)

I’m not sure how counting boobs is going to settle it. They only had 2 each.

Or have I missed the point?

[askeptic]

@Antinor01

I’m not sure how counting boobs is going to settle it. They only had 2 each.

Or have I missed the point?

Some boobs count more than others, if you know what I mean…

[Zabali_Clawbane]

Isn’t that an old physics conundrum in the first place?

[zuma]

@ChrisBooth12

Why does it seem most of you think this? The SDMB is not the original board or the biggest board to have this discussion

I don’t think anyone thought we did…

[Santo_Rugger]

I never had sex with a goat until I joined the SDMB. I think that’s just coincidence, though.

[Santo_Rugger]

@Harmonious Discord

<snip> My solution was for if we were in a hurry and needed to actually go somewhere in the near future. Turn the plane perpendicular to the track.

Depending on the prevailing winds, 180 degrees might actually work better.

[Really_Not_All_That_Bright]

@thelurkinghorror

That did not originate here, either.

Did another message board start endlessly quoting Weebls before us, or is Weebls what you’re talking about?

[Don_Draper]

Uhhmmmmmm, so forgive the hijack, but…what IS the “airplane on a treadmill” thing? I’ve seen numerous threads on the topic, but never was curious enough to open them, and I’ve never seen Mythbusters. But seeing as this seems to be a particular undying obsession on the board, I’d like to know what it’s about. Does anybody care to elucidate?

[Santo_Rugger]

@The New and Improved Superman

Uhhmmmmmm, so forgive the hijack, but…what IS the “airplane on a treadmill” thing? I’ve seen numerous threads on the topic, but never was curious enough to open them, and I’ve never seen Mythbusters. But seeing as this seems to be a particular undying obsession on the board, I’d like to know what it’s about. Does anybody care to elucidate?

In short, if an airplane were on a treadmill that was going backwards as fast as the plane was going forward, would it take off. It’s not really a valid question, though, because airplanes propel themselves through the… well, air, and not through their wheels. Debate has, regardless, ensued.

[cochrane]

@The New and Improved Superman

Uhhmmmmmm, so forgive the hijack, but…what IS the “airplane on a treadmill” thing? I’ve seen numerous threads on the topic, but never was curious enough to open them, and I’ve never seen Mythbusters. But seeing as this seems to be a particular undying obsession on the board, I’d like to know what it’s about. Does anybody care to elucidate?

Why, soitenly!

An airplane taxis in one direction on a moving conveyor belt going in the opposite direction. Can the plane take off?

And revisited here:

“A plane is standing on a runway.” No it’s not. Here’s why.

[ShibbOleth]

Oh, sure. Now you’re going to try and tell me that “14 k of g in a fpd” did not start here, either? Spoilsport!

[thelurkinghorror]

@Really Not All That Bright

Did another message board start endlessly quoting Weebls before us, or is Weebls what you’re talking about?

Yeah, the very first Weebl episode. I’m sure some recognize it, but more don’t know the origins.

[hawthorne]

Bump. Via kottke.org is this waxy.org thread Origins of the “Plane on a Treadmill” Meme

At this point, it was appearing on several message boards, inspiring heated debate everywhere it went. In December 2005, the question was posed to the Straight Dope discussion forum with no clear answers. A few weeks later, Cecil Adams himself addressed the question in his February 3, 2006 column. Cecil’s syndicated column broke the question into the mainstream.