# Unwritten rules of the SDMB **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 17, 2006, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071 "2006-09-17T15:27:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/81 "2006-09-18T03:22:09Z")
[QUOTE=John DiFool] Every message board I’ve been on has certain posting standards that everyone seems to agree with, such that someone not holding to these standards usually stands out as a clueless newb. I’ll start with two: No “LOL!”-type responses to another’s joke. If the post was genuinely funny, respond in kind with another gag, or don’t respond at all. If it was bad, ignore it completely (which often means you aren’t sure if the joke went over well with your intended audience or not). Very spare use of smilies. Some boards have smilies all over the place. Here, if you must use a smiley, no more than one per post, and only if it will perfectly punctuate the point you are making. [/QUOTE] It’s not necessary to quote the \*\*entire \*\* OP. ---
**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:** [September 18, 2006, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/82 "2006-09-18T04:44:55Z")
[QUOTE=Rilchiam] I shudder to think what GD and the Pit would be like if we did have an edit function. That’s another unwritten rule: once you’ve posted, it’s on you to back it up, clarify it, live it down or live with it. No backsies. [/QUOTE] I certainly didn’t mean to imply that the edit function should be enabled, just that the lack of such a function makes follow-up posts almost inevitable at times. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/83 "2006-09-18T04:51:03Z")
Yeah, I know. And as far as I’m concerned, people can quintuple-post, if that’s the price of inability to pull the rug out from under a dispute by changing the post(s) that triggered it. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/84 "2006-09-18T04:56:38Z")
As a nit-pick: > [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally Posted by silenus > > All cat posts must contain pictures! > > Originally Posted by KlondikeGeoff > Oh, yeah, people who post a reply already posted because they don’t read the thread, I guess. That wasn’t a repeat, it was an upgrade: > [@](#): > > Originally posted by FisherQueen > Kitten threads must always include links to pictures of kittens. Even when posting about cats that are not kittens, pictures are required. Let no cat topic poster think they are absolved from posting pictures due to the age of their pet. Non-cat nitpicks and arguements may resume. ---
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/85 "2006-09-18T05:42:17Z")
But Coca-Cola really did leak out of my nose! No, really! And instead of just saying that I laughed out loud, well, I refered (is that spelled right?) to the fact that I shouldn’t imbibe cola when reading Skald the Rhymer’s posts. What I really want to know about is this pie stuff. What’s the unwritten rule about pie? I mean, if people really aren’t going to send pie, then they shouldn’t say they’re going to, because I have better things to do than sit by the front door waiting for a pie delivery. And what’s “leet speek?” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/86 "2006-09-18T05:44:51Z")
Unwritten rules around this joint - Announcements of your leaving are not particularly interesting to anyone else here. Announcing that you’re leaving because of mod/admin/Chicago Reader behaviour are even less interesting. Just go. Voicing non-politically correct opinions is a no-no. In your part of the world, you may see a certain condition every day of your life, but to post that it exists will be inviting a pile-on and being labelled a bigot. On the other hand, you can say almost anything here if you choose your words extremely carefully (except for non-PC opinions). It makes for great exercise in precision word-smithing. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/87 "2006-09-18T05:47:31Z")
[QUOTE=Rilchiam] Yeah, I know. And as far as I’m concerned, people can quintuple-post, if that’s the price of inability to pull the rug out from under a dispute by changing the post(s) that triggered it. [/QUOTE] Some places though have the edit function available for a limited time-say, an hour or so after one posts. I think that would be fair. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/88 "2006-09-18T08:40:16Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] Why does that bother you? I’ll admit to doing three in a row occasionally, sometimes more, just because it’s so much easier to quote each post individually and respond to it, rather than having to go back up the thread and select, copy, and paste. This is especially true when there is a long thread involved. If I have time, and can be bothered, I’ll consolidate my responses, but I don’t feel obligated to. After all, my main objective is usually to exchange information, not to make my posts look pretty. I also have little compunction against posting repeatedly if I happen to remember some significant point I left out of a previous post. If we had an edit function, I’d be happy to use that, but we don’t. [/QUOTE] Just speaking for myself here, but I always assume that a post that starts without a quote (like this post) is a reply to the post above it. I also don’t always bother to check the name of the poster - not if I get caught up in the conversation. As a result, several posts in a row by the same poster will often seem like some weird, one-sided conversation, which can be kind of confusing. I often have to force myself to stop reading, scroll up, figure out who’s who and then read the damn thing again. It’s annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/89 "2006-09-18T09:11:03Z")
[QUOTE=Guinastasia] Some places though have the edit function available for a limited time-say, an hour or so after one posts. I think that would be fair. [/QUOTE] An hour is way way too much. Some debates or Pit threads rack up ten to twenty posts in that time. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/90 "2006-09-18T11:07:22Z")
Another unwritten rule- If you’re the OP, please return to the thread you started and reply at least once. Especially if you have asked advice or a question. Especially of people wrote long, well thought out replies to your OP. It doesn’t happen too often, but it drives me batty when it does. There you go folks, don’t make me tell you twice. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/91 "2006-09-18T11:26:57Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] Any thread of 75 or more posts must contain at least one reference to a Monty Python sketch. Or it will be closed for being too silly. [/QUOTE] Unless it’s the MMP. Which is absolutely too silly, yet allowed to get over 5 pages every week. It’s too silly on purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/92 "2006-09-18T14:11:38Z")
[QUOTE=IvoryTowerDenizen] Another unwritten rule- If you’re the OP, please return to the thread you started and reply at least once. \ [/QUOTE] That’s a good one. People starting an OP and just abandoning it drives me nuts, too - it just seems so darned rude. Like asking someone a question and then walking away as they’re answering it. Regarding grammar/spelling police - we will indeed correct grammar/spelling, etc., but it is considered poor form to attack what is obviously a typo (especially during an argument). ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/93 "2006-09-18T14:45:15Z")
[QUOTE=Priceguy] An hour is way way too much. Some debates or Pit threads rack up ten to twenty posts in that time. [/QUOTE] True, but I think a ten to twenty minute time frame wouldn’t hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/94 "2006-09-18T20:00:39Z")
[QUOTE=NoClueBoy] I wasn’t prepared for _that_. :dubious: [/QUOTE] Nobody expects the Batman. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/95 "2006-09-18T23:31:53Z")
Here’s an unwritten rule that’s sure to ruffle a few feathers, but is very true: You are not allowed to post comments critical of Isreal or Isreali government policies. Anyone who does so will be accused of being an anti-semitic bigot and/or a terrorist sympathizer. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/96 "2006-09-19T00:04:05Z")
[QUOTE=Diceman] Here’s an unwritten rule that’s sure to ruffle a few feathers, but is very true: You are not allowed to post comments critical of Isreal or Isreali government policies. Anyone who does so will be accused of being an anti-semitic bigot and/or a terrorist sympathizer. [/QUOTE] But they will also be defended if their complaints are merited or fairly presented. Related ongoing pit thread: [I’m fed up with anti-antisemitism and pro-antiarabism on this board.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=388466) Jim ---
**Author:** ![2lazy2pee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/4bbf92/32.png) [@2lazy2pee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2lazy2pee)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/97 "2006-09-19T01:59:10Z")
[QUOTE=Sunrazor] \ And what’s “leet speek?” [/QUOTE] From Unca Cece: [“What the heck is Leetspeek?”](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030110.html) ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/98 "2006-09-19T03:19:23Z")
Say, what’s the proper way to emphasize a word here? Agreed, it can easily be overdone, but sometimes I’d like to put a little extra oomph on a word. Am I the only one with this need? I should stifle it? ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/99 "2006-09-19T03:28:55Z")
[QUOTE=Civil Guy] Say, what’s the proper way to emphasize a word here? Agreed, it can easily be overdone, but sometimes I’d like to put a little extra oomph on a word. Am I the only one with this need? I should stifle it? [/QUOTE] I _recommend_ the _use_ of _italics_, a _capability_ that _we_ have _here_, not _being_ limited _to_ simple _text!_ ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/100 "2006-09-19T03:47:08Z")
Good, because otherwise I was thinking about using Comic Sans. Another unwritten no-no on this board, no? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071.md?page=6)