I’m a member of the forums over at SomethingAwful.com a humor website aimed at young male geeks types. I used to hang out hear a few years back but then I discovered the SA forums which has a really imformative games section, a helpful software/hardware discussion area, information on downloading movies, an mp3 exchange, and a ‘ahem’ adult section as well. This is all stuff I’m really interested in so it’s become my regular internet haunt.
Recently though I find myself getting really annoyed with the place as it’s pretty much populated by a bunch of big headed college freshman proving that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. They shoot tehir mouths off, troll, create gimmick accounts, and just plain fill the place up with pathetic juvenile antics. To make matters worse, Lowtax the site owner/operator is an egotistical hypocrite who causes forum drama, bans people at whim and runs the place like he’s Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now. It costs $9.95 to register an account to supposedly weed out the riff-raff and this has been turned into Lowtax’s main source of income. He generates income by basically bannning individuals then allowing them to cough up $10 again to reregister. He also allows people to change others custom titles and avatars by paying $10 and other such gimmicks to make money. Basically the whole thing has turned into one big money making scam for him.
I swear to God, if it weren’t for the info and files I get through the place I’d tell him to take my account and shove it where the sun don’t shine. Is anyone here familiar with the place? If you don’t know anything about it just take my advice and stay far, far away from the joint.
In any case, I’m fairly confident that whatever you want to find out about, somebody here will be able to help you, so go ahead and tell Mr. Lowtax to shove your account where ever he damn well pleases, because you’ve come upon the greatest message boards ever known to man.
I’m pretty sure this belongs in the Pit. Even if you don’t rag on any Dopers, you’re still complaining. We generally like that sort of thing in the BBQ Pit.
I’m familiar with just the Comedy Goldmine, Photoshop Phridays, and Pranks sections. It won’t let you even look at the forums without registering, and I’m glad I’m not missing anything. You’re right that, besides the forums, it’s a pretty good site. Maybe if Lowtax got a mod or two… :dubious:
I’ve enjoyed the jokes on the site. Many are infantile geek humor, but there are usually a few good things among the bunch. However, judging by the sense of humor in the Photoshop Phridays, it’s pretty clear that you’re not likely to get much intelligent conversation there.
Get back at him by making your own site and posting all the stuff you got at his site on yours for free. Heck make it available on on of those file sharing progs.
I’m a member there too and I disagree. There’s usually at least a dozen new threads I’m interested in every day, which is actually a pretty high percentage compared to most forums.
I will say that they are merciless at times though. For example there was recently a kid who made a thread about sniffing his sister’s panties(!) and asked the members there if it was normal(yes really).
If it wasn’t a gimmick account(which I think it was) he’s pretty pathetic and got exactly what he deserved.
he only bans people who have done things to deserve it, like trolling others or breaking forum rules. If they want to come back again, they have to pay to come back.
I should have put that on my previous post, sorry.
Well, to be honest it does cost money to make and run a website. The only reason we don’t have to pay money is the good people at the Chicago Reader are saints.
That, and I think they don’t have a CLUE just how heavily trafficked this site is. I mean, I’m sure they get web-stats, but honestly, this is one of the busiest forums I’ve seen that has a free membership.
I’m a permalurker at SA, and I usually find at least one thread there per day that makes me LOL.
I go there for the silliness and come here for the hash browns… I mean, smart stuff. Normally I hang around GBS and the Goldmine, as I’ve found the debate forum is sort of like what GD would be if it were populated entirely with college freshmen.
Haven’t yet seen anyone get banned who didn’t have a deathwish. In fact, a while back I remember Lowtax complaining that so many people chose to waste $10 by acting like asshats.
I love the Something Awful forums. Plenty of stuff there that I don’t agree with, but plenty of hilarious stuff as well. I’ve managed not to be banned in spite of being a member there for about two and a half years.
I didn’t have to pay for an account, as I got grandfathered in, but I gladly would. The degree of entertainment I’ve derived from the forums is well worth it.
