# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/101 "2006-09-19T16:06:08Z")
[QUOTE=Ludovic] Y D0N’T j0O STFU UP Q.E.D. [/QUOTE] 😛😛😛😛😛😛 LOL!!!11111eleventyone 😃😃😃😃😃😃 Any time an OP requests that replies not contain certain content, or that replies never contain certain content, a good number of replies will contain exactly that content. Of course, if you post such a rule, what do you expect? The Spanish Inquisition? ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/102 "2006-09-19T18:21:44Z")
[QUOTE=Crafter\_Man] Unwritten SDMB rule #129: You are not allowed to criticize or make fun of **Guinastasia**. She is a member of the SDMB’s Protected Class™. Any criticism of **Guin** , whether warranted or not, will be met with immediate scorn and hatred toward the offending party. [/QUOTE] Fuck. Someone should have told me about this rule about a week ago. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/103 "2006-09-19T18:34:02Z")
Uh, well, it looks like I should have contnued reading past that point in the thread before posting. If a mod wants to delete my post or admonish me, I guess I’l submit to my lashings now. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/104 "2006-09-19T18:45:44Z")
I don’t understand the unwritten rule (or it might just be a common behavior) of not allowing for someone else’s feelings. It seems that if the OP has had some life experience and just wants to vent about it or share a grief or joy, that someone will toddle along who doesn’t share that feeling towards that life event, and therefore condemns the OP for having those feelings. This drives me nuts. Calls for people to “get a life” or “just get over it” sound as stupid here as they do in real life. But maybe that’s more of a pet peeve of mine. ---
**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, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/105 "2006-09-19T18:54:24Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] I don’t understand the unwritten rule (or it might just be a common behavior) of not allowing for someone else’s feelings. It seems that if the OP has had some life experience and just wants to vent about it or share a grief or joy, that someone will toddle along who doesn’t share that feeling towards that life event, and therefore condemns the OP for having those feelings. This drives me nuts. Calls for people to “get a life” or “just get over it” sound as stupid here as they do in real life. But maybe that’s more of a pet peeve of mine. [/QUOTE] Oh, would you just get a life! Come on someone had to do it, it might as well be me, I can take the scorn and abuse and **eleanorigby** will know it was only a dumb joke if I say it. Jim ---
**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, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/106 "2006-09-19T18:55:25Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] I don’t understand the unwritten rule (or it might just be a common behavior) of not allowing for someone else’s feelings. It seems that if the OP has had some life experience and just wants to vent about it or share a grief or joy, that someone will toddle along who doesn’t share that feeling towards that life event, and therefore condemns the OP for having those feelings. This drives me nuts. Calls for people to “get a life” or “just get over it” sound as stupid here as they do in real life. But maybe that’s more of a pet peeve of mine. [/QUOTE] If you’re talking about pittings, I totally agree with you, and I don’t understand why people have started doing this. No matter what it is, if someone complains about anything, there’s going to be some crowd of people telling them exactly why they’re wrong to feel the way they do or (more inexplicably yet) yelling at the OP for not having done exactly what they would do in the same situation. It’s just bizarre to me. It’s like a swarm of biting insects or something that gathers to rip anyone who complains about anything into pieces. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/107 "2006-09-19T20:24:49Z")
**What Exit?** --your access has been closed for construction! 😉 **Excal** -why only Pittings? I see it in more places than that. If it’s IMHO, that’s different, but even in CS, I see refusals to accept different tastes, opinions and film/book experiences on the part of some. The whole “you didn’t understand it” syndrome; well, yes, I did understand it; I just didn’t like it! It baffles me-lord knows I hate NASCAR and find reality TV horrid, but if some here like it-who am I to say anything? I can certainly share that I don’t share their enthusiasm, but it should stop there-there is no need for anything further. That is a bit OT, because I was talking about people posting about family difficulties etc. If your mother was a horrible person, and you need to share something about that, I see no reason for others to either refute the horribleness or tell you to suck it up. I’ve most likely been guilty of this as well, but it seems to be an institution around here now. I am puzzled as to why. ---
**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 19, 2006, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/108 "2006-09-19T21:58:01Z")
[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] A little emphasis calls for the _apostrophes._ A little stronger emphasis calls for **bold**. Even more emphasis calls for FULL CAPS AND EXCLAMATION POINTS!!! More emphasis, like you’re shouting at your deaf Granny in a wind tunnel, calls for all **LARGER SIZE BOLD FULL CAPS AND EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!** (Just imagine I was able to post it last night when it was more timely. 🙂 ) ---
**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 20, 2006, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/109 "2006-09-20T01:39:04Z")
Er. Just to clarify… would the little emphasis be done with _asterisks_ or with ‘apostrophes’? I don’t mean to snark, but I get confused sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/110 "2006-09-20T01:47:36Z")
[QUOTE=Civil Guy] Er. Just to clarify… would the little emphasis be done with _asterisks_ or with ‘apostrophes’? I don’t mean to snark, but I get confused sometimes. [/QUOTE] No! Are you people screwing with me? If you use ‘apostrophes’ or _asterisks_ to set off emphatic text, I will hate you forever. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/111 "2006-09-20T01:54:44Z")
C’mon, **Exy** …_chill._ ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/112 "2006-09-20T02:10:13Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] C’mon, **Exy** …_chill._ [/QUOTE] :: paints _silenus_ on the wall with the blood of his last victim :: ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/113 "2006-09-20T02:17:27Z")
**silenus** did it wrong. It’s ‘_chill_’. Jeesh-even I know that! \ ---
**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 20, 2006, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/114 "2006-09-20T14:06:30Z")
[QUOTE=Civil Guy] Er. Just to clarify… would the little emphasis be done with _asterisks_ or with ‘apostrophes’? I don’t mean to snark, but I get confused sometimes. [/QUOTE] If you use ‘apostrophes’ (also known as “quotation marks”) to emphasize, we will hunt you down and kill you. Single or double quotation marks are used when you are saying something that is not exactly what it appears to be (eg. this meat is “fresh,” meaning that the meat isn’t fresh at all). Of course, it does give me a laugh when people use quotation marks when they are trying for emphasis - “These are the “Best” Prices Ever!” ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/115 "2006-09-20T14:12:42Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] If you use ‘apostrophes’ (also known as “quotation marks”) to emphasize, we will hunt you down and kill you. Single or double quotation marks are used when you are saying something that is not exactly what it appears to be (eg. this meat is “fresh,” meaning that the meat isn’t fresh at all). Of course, it does give me a laugh when people use quotation marks when they are trying for emphasis - “These are the “Best” Prices Ever!” [/QUOTE] I’m so old-school (or maybe just old) that “quotation markss for emphasis” just confuse me, because I don’t get that they’re intended to convey emphasis. If I see “These are the “Best” Prices Ever!” I think, according to whom? Who’s being quoted here? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/116 "2006-09-20T14:21:27Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m so old-school (or maybe just old) that “quotation markss for emphasis” just confuse me, because I don’t get that they’re intended to convey emphasis. If I see “These are the “Best” Prices Ever!” I think, according to whom? Who’s being quoted here? Now, you see, those same quotes signify sarcasm – Yeah, like _these_ are the best prices ever! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/117 "2006-09-20T14:24:23Z")
Ahh! That should’ve read “You see, to me those same quotes signify sarcasm” ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/118 "2006-09-20T15:13:10Z")
Continuing with the apostrophe tangent I have a page that I check every day that shows news headlines from various sources, including the BBC health news. I swear, 9 out of 10 headlines has part (or all) of the headline in quotes. We’re talking headlines like \*Vitamin ‘may block MS disability’ \* or \*‘Unlicensed’ drug websites raided \* Drives me nuts. ---
**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 20, 2006, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/119 "2006-09-20T21:04:37Z")
[QUOTE=Jodi] I’m so old-school (or maybe just old) that “quotation markss for emphasis” just confuse me, because I don’t get that they’re intended to convey emphasis. If I see “These are the “Best” Prices Ever!” I think, according to whom? Who’s being quoted here? [/QUOTE] Hmm, I don’t think I gave my example very clearly. Quotation marks are never for emphasis (hence the hunting down and killing) - my example was an imaginary quote from some store having a sale, and putting up a sign saying (now I’m quoting the imaginary sign), > [@](#): > > Our “Best” Prices Ever! with quotation marks around “Best,” indicating that they don’t actually mean that they are the best prices ever. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rules-of-the-sdmb/373071/120 "2007-06-08T03:37:26Z")
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