# This Fucking Board Is Consuming Itself **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 7, 2006, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-fucking-board-is-consuming-itself/351667 "2006-04-07T02:19:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mister\_Falcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/439d5e/32.png) [@Mister\_Falcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Falcon)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-fucking-board-is-consuming-itself/351667/1 "2006-04-07T02:19:46Z")
I’ve been trying to decide whether or not to join. Pay, in other words. I’ve lurked for years…I like a lot of things here. Cecil and the Staff reports are great. My father gave me a “Straight Dope” paperback when I was a kid in the 70’s. Like many, I was hooked. Cecil does the Q and A like no-one else. Tis the shit. But the long-time members here are eating eachother up like the Donner Party. It’s such a turn off. And it will only spiral down as membership, inevitably, decreases. One of the great things about the “free” boards was the brotherhood of members. I really liked all the good things Dopers did for their board friends. It seemed more of a community then as opposed to now. Newbies got welcomed or smacked down. Usually on merit, but sometimes for sport. But those newbies are gone, except for the occasional guest like me. It’s changed, and I don’t like the way it’s going. So I’ll ponder. I have a few days left and it is inexpensive for what you get in return. I’m just wary of joining a sinking ship where the the survivors are climbing over one another to reach the life boats. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-fucking-board-is-consuming-itself/351667/2 "2006-04-07T02:22:03Z")
Somebody quickly. He’s gotten into the hyperbole potion! ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Falcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/439d5e/32.png) [@Mister\_Falcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Falcon)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-fucking-board-is-consuming-itself/351667/3 "2006-04-07T02:23:52Z")
BTW, it’s incredibly fucking stupid not to allow guests to search. It’s worse than cutting off your nose to spite your face. It’s like to cutting off your dick to spite your balls. I mean, COME ON!. Talk about discouraging new members. Oh, and the talk about hamsters? It’s really not too fucking cute. It’s 2006. The century of broadband. Your hardware or your techs are sorely lacking. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-fucking-board-is-consuming-itself/351667/4 "2006-04-07T02:28:19Z")
I’ve cut off my techs to spite my hardware! ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-fucking-board-is-consuming-itself/351667/5 "2006-04-07T02:29:28Z")
> [@Mister Falcon](#): > > BTW, it’s incredibly fucking stupid not to allow guests to search. It’s worse than cutting off your nose to spite your face. It’s like to cutting off your dick to spite your balls. The Dope is, among other things, a collection of information. The search function is worth the price of subscription alone because on virtually any topic, you’re likely to find “peer reviewed”, well cited discussions. > [@Mister Falcon](#): > > I mean, COME ON!. Talk about discouraging new members. Or encouraging them to pay. ~shrugs~ > [@Mister Falcon](#): > > Oh, and the talk about hamsters? It’s really not too fucking cute. It’s 2006. The century of broadband. Your hardware or your techs are sorely lacking. And yet people enjoy posting here, go fig. Don’t let that door hitcha on the way out. ---
**Author:** ![Balduran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Balduran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balduran)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-fucking-board-is-consuming-itself/351667/6 "2006-04-07T02:29:55Z")
> [@Mister Falcon](#): > > BTW, it’s incredibly fucking stupid not to allow guests to search. It’s worse than cutting off your nose to spite your face. It’s like to cutting off your dick to spite your balls. That brings up an interesting question. Personally, I would rather have my John Thomas lopped off than my nose. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-fucking-board-is-consuming-itself/351667/7 "2006-04-07T02:30:06Z")
You’re a real charmer, huh? Don’t rush into this decision, it is in fact 15 whole dollars. Several more years of lurking should do the trick. ---
**Author:** ![bizzwire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-fucking-board-is-consuming-itself/351667/8 "2006-04-07T02:30:50Z")
Tell ya what; I’ll pay you fifteen bucks **not** to join. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-fucking-board-is-consuming-itself/351667/9 "2006-04-07T02:36:59Z")
> [@Mister Falcon](#): > > BTW, it’s incredibly fucking stupid not to allow guests to search. It’s worse than cutting off your nose to spite your face. It’s like to cutting off your dick to spite your balls. I’m gonna second what **tiny ham** said about the hyperbole. As to your second point- eh. A paying membership here doesn’t get you a whole ton of privileges beyond ‘continuing to post,’ and I know I use the search function a lot. Doesn’t strike me as a big problem. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-fucking-board-is-consuming-itself/351667/10 "2006-04-07T02:39:51Z")
It’s just a bunch of people arguing mostly anonymously on a message board. Calling it “eating each other up like the Donner party” is taking it way too seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Balduran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Balduran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balduran)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-fucking-board-is-consuming-itself/351667/11 "2006-04-07T02:42:16Z")
> [@Balduran](#): > > That brings up an interesting question. Personally, I would rather have my John Thomas lopped off than my nose. I guess I should elaborate. I think either way, you are probably not going to be seeing a whole lot of action down there anymore. Might as well go with the option that at least lets you look normal in public and won’t cause breathing problems. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-fucking-board-is-consuming-itself/351667/12 "2006-04-07T02:44:05Z")
[Appropriate sound effect.](http://www.eventsounds.com/wav/hmrpig.wav) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-fucking-board-is-consuming-itself/351667/13 "2006-04-07T02:45:38Z")
Thank you for your random, unsolicited suggestion about an internet site with which you have never previously interacted, and with whose operation you have no clear vested interest. I will be certain to give your comments all the consideration they are due, and I am sure I speak for the board at large when I say that. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-fucking-board-is-consuming-itself/351667/14 "2006-04-07T02:47:01Z")
I’m still peckish; Is anybody going to eat that last arm?.. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-fucking-board-is-consuming-itself/351667/15 "2006-04-07T02:47:28Z")
> [@Mister Falcon](#): > > But the long-time members here are eating eachother up like the Donner Party. Where, in GQ, CCC, CSR, and MPSIMS? If you don’t like the conflicts, don’t go in the Pit. And it’s really no different than it’s been for the last 5 years. If anything, I perceive much _less_ conflict between long time members. Back then, you didn’t lose $15 if you got banned, so behavior in general was worse. > [@](#): > > But those newbies are gone, except for the occasional guest like me. It’s changed, and I don’t like the way it’s going. Bullshit. There are newbies here all the time. > [@](#): > > So I’ll ponder. I have a few days left and it is inexpensive for what you get in return. I’m just wary of joining a sinking ship where the the survivors are climbing over one another to reach the life boats. If your perception of this place is that different from reality, it may be best that you do leave. ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-fucking-board-is-consuming-itself/351667/16 "2006-04-07T02:49:38Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Calling it “eating each other up like the Donner party” is taking it way too seriously. Plus incorrect, the stuff I have read is more like a Hannibal Lector party. Good wine, properly prepared meats, (sear first then lower the temps to keep it juicy), a wide variety of delicious side dishes. None of the Donner-style “chunk-o-leg over an open fire” crap. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Falcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/439d5e/32.png) [@Mister\_Falcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Falcon)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-fucking-board-is-consuming-itself/351667/17 "2006-04-07T02:51:02Z")
So far, y’all are just proving my point. Before the board went to pay, I would have been flamed by MASTERS OF FLAMING. This pale imitation is a little depressing. Surely you can better? 🙂 Seriously, oooh, the search function is so precious. Get the fuck off it. It’s not encouraging sign-ups, just the opposite. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-fucking-board-is-consuming-itself/351667/18 "2006-04-07T02:52:29Z")
Are fava beans good with liver? Though vulgar, I’ve always been partial to onions. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-fucking-board-is-consuming-itself/351667/19 "2006-04-07T02:54:55Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > It’s just a bunch of people arguing mostly anonymously on a message board. Calling it “eating each other up like the Donner party” is taking it way too seriously. _eats Revtim_ Now I’ll gain his powers. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-fucking-board-is-consuming-itself/351667/20 "2006-04-07T02:55:23Z")
Sinking ship? Donner party? Lifeboats? What am I missing? All I see is Updike gone and **Mr Moto** asking for pleas for him not to leave. This is the fake SDMB, isn’t it–you all moved the party on me and left me on deck of the Titanic. I hate when that happens. Somewhere in cyberspace there is a vast collection of intelligent smartasses, clamoring for more of the same. Here-we watch paint dry and call it good. Or something like that. (are guests supposed to come in and criticize? Seems churlish to me) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-fucking-board-is-consuming-itself/351667.md?page=2)