# What are the best discussion boards on the web besides SDMB? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 10, 2005, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-discussion-boards-on-the-web-besides-sdmb/330412 "2005-11-10T16:23:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ready29003](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@ready29003](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ready29003)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-discussion-boards-on-the-web-besides-sdmb/330412/1 "2005-11-10T16:23:33Z")
I love the quality of discussion on the SDMB. I was just curious if anyone has other favorite discussion boards or communities and why? Thanks! Matt ---
**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:** [November 10, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-discussion-boards-on-the-web-besides-sdmb/330412/2 "2005-11-10T17:12:37Z")
Chronicle of Higher Education, especially if you’re a prof or a grad student. They can get pretty pissy sometimes, but generally a good group of boards and posters. ---
**Author:** ![braggingwrites](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/90db22/32.png) [@braggingwrites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/braggingwrites)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-discussion-boards-on-the-web-besides-sdmb/330412/3 "2005-11-11T00:18:26Z")
Only other one I’ve been a member on was the Darwin Awards MB, which is similar to this one, but I thought the community feeling on SDMB was stronger… Then again, that may just be b/c I’ve been reading this one for years and I was a newcomer there. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-discussion-boards-on-the-web-besides-sdmb/330412/4 "2005-11-11T00:28:23Z")
Home theater: [www.avsforum.com](http://www.avsforum.com) Computer [www.arstechnica.com](http://www.arstechnica.com) (click on “open forum”) Bad Astronomy / Universe Today : [www.bautforum.com](http://www.bautforum.com) I lurk on the later two. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-discussion-boards-on-the-web-besides-sdmb/330412/5 "2005-11-11T15:16:50Z")
I lurk on the [Internet Infidels Discussion Forum](http://www.iidb.org/vbb/index.php). I see some other members of this board post there as well. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-discussion-boards-on-the-web-besides-sdmb/330412/6 "2005-11-11T15:32:08Z")
Theatre: [www.talkingbroadway.com/allthatchat](http://www.talkingbroadway.com/allthatchat) ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-discussion-boards-on-the-web-besides-sdmb/330412/7 "2005-11-11T16:06:26Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Home theater: [www.avsforum.com](http://www.avsforum.com) > Computer [www.arstechnica.com](http://www.arstechnica.com) (click on “open forum”) > Bad Astronomy / Universe Today : [www.bautforum.com](http://www.bautforum.com) > > I lurk on the later two. > > Brian Is it just me or is the avsforum murder on the eyes? ---
**Author:** ![Fortean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/96bed5/32.png) [@Fortean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fortean)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-discussion-boards-on-the-web-besides-sdmb/330412/8 "2005-11-11T16:34:06Z")
I’m a bit addicted to message boards. I view the following almost every day: [www.fark.com](http://www.fark.com) (obligatory mention) has rather more geeks, bigots, idiots than the SD but still a lot of fun (possibly for the same reason). I’ve only recently discovered the Something Awful forums at [http://forums.somethingawful.com/](http://forums.somethingawful.com/) - you have to pay to see them properly, however, but the level of discussion is the same, and sometimes better, than on the SD. [www.metafilter.com](http://www.metafilter.com), and its sister sites [http://ask.metafilter.com/](http://ask.metafilter.com/) and [http://metatalk.metafilter.com/](http://metatalk.metafilter.com/) is an excellent community, about on the same level as the SD, and with the same kind of politics. Again, I think you have to pay. The Fortean Times forums at [http://www.forteantimes.com/forum/index.php](http://www.forteantimes.com/forum/index.php) are a lot of fun if you’re into that kind of thing. The Ship-of-fool website is nominally about liberal Christianity, but its forums at [http://forum.ship-of-fools.com/](http://forum.ship-of-fools.com/) are open to anyone of any faith who wants to discuss Christianity or a few other things. The Guardian newspaper talkboards at [http://talk.guardian.co.uk/](http://talk.guardian.co.uk/) are British-based and discuss politics, culture, chat etc. Its International forum was ambushed by a crowd of freepers (from [freerepublic.com](http://freerepublic.com)) a while back and has led to lots of extremely flamey (but funny) discussions between the rightwing republicans and left-wing socialist Brits. I’m not subscribed to The Well, at [http://www.well.com/](http://www.well.com/), but supposedly it is quite good. Again, you have to pay, and members use their own names (or at least they claim to.) Finally, for films, there’s [www.chud.com](http://www.chud.com) and [www.rottentomatoes.com](http://www.rottentomatoes.com); both have fun, if slightly exhausting forums, where they discuss politics and culture occasionally too. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-discussion-boards-on-the-web-besides-sdmb/330412/9 "2005-11-11T17:03:35Z")
This is a great board for anything doing with Nuralogical problems. The people using it are well behaved and supportive. There are also forums for jokes, ranting when you can’t take it anymore, and support when you want to talk. BrainTalk Communities [http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/](http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/) > **[A Beginners Guide To Brain Supplements - Nootropic.org](https://www.nootropic.org/)** > > If you're reading this guide, it's likely that you want to improve your memory or focus. Neuro enhancers or smart drugs are often a popular choice among ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-discussion-boards-on-the-web-besides-sdmb/330412/10 "2005-11-11T20:01:49Z")
I need to update my statement. They’ve add other medical problems to the boards. I want to stress this is the best forum for people with medical problems I know of. ---
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-discussion-boards-on-the-web-besides-sdmb/330412/11 "2005-11-11T21:57:09Z")
[SFFWorld](http://www.sffworld.com/forums/index.php?) for intelligent, current, friendly discussion of science fiction and fantasy literature, including monthly book clubs in both genres. Several published authors also contribute regularly.Also a popular writer’s forum is there, blogs, reviews, etc. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-discussion-boards-on-the-web-besides-sdmb/330412/12 "2005-11-11T23:34:51Z")
BrightPenny, did you come over here from SFFWorld because of [this thread](http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11534)? The one where I was accused of being an adbot for the SDMB? :rolleyes: Sorry, but that place (the forums at least) are nowhere near the standard held here. In two months I was accused of being an adbot, accused of lying by another poster in a discussion [that I heavily researched, as opposed to every single other person taking place](http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11381), the mods got pissed off because I dared answer the question “[How can we make the book club better?](http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7781)” and a whole host of other issues ranging from “We expect everybody to act like 12 year-old girls and play nice, regardless” to a complete disdain and disregard for newbies. Eh, they can have their little clubhouse. ---
**Author:** ![Euthanasiast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Euthanasiast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euthanasiast)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-discussion-boards-on-the-web-besides-sdmb/330412/13 "2005-11-11T23:42:33Z")
[Home Theater Forum](http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/) ---
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-discussion-boards-on-the-web-besides-sdmb/330412/14 "2005-11-12T00:46:25Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > BrightPenny, did you come over here from SFFWorld because of [this thread](http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11534)? The one where I was accused of being an adbot for the SDMB? :rolleyes: > > Sorry, but that place (the forums at least) are nowhere near the standard held here. In two months I was accused of being an adbot, accused of lying by another poster in a discussion [that I heavily researched, as opposed to every single other person taking place](http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11381), the mods got pissed off because I dared answer the question “[How can we make the book club better?](http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7781)” and a whole host of other issues ranging from “We expect everybody to act like 12 year-old girls and play nice, regardless” to a complete disdain and disregard for newbies. > > Eh, they can have their little clubhouse. I’m sorry you had an unpleasant experience there. In all the time I’ve been there I’ve never seen or experienced anything like you describe. Perhaps there was a personality clash, I don’t know; I don’t plan to rehash old shit. People there behave civilly and don’t take too well to aggressive posts. It has no Pit. However I hope that you won’t trash the site to others in the future, because all the regular posters there that I’ve observed have been extremely welcoming to newcomers - had there been a cliquish feeling about it I wouldn’t have joined or continued. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-discussion-boards-on-the-web-besides-sdmb/330412/15 "2005-11-12T04:20:33Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Home theater: [www.avsforum.com](http://www.avsforum.com) > Computer [www.arstechnica.com](http://www.arstechnica.com) (click on “open forum”) > Bad Astronomy / Universe Today : [www.bautforum.com](http://www.bautforum.com) > > I lurk on the later two. > > Brian [avsforum.com](http://avsforum.com) was the first think I thought of when I saw the thread title. ANY question you have that relates to audio or video in just about anyway, they can help. Wheather you’re trying to eliminate speaker hum or trying to figure out a way to put a six foot projector screen with 7.1 speakers in the back of your escort, they’ll figure it out. They always enjoy a good challange. The other forum(s) I like are over at dslreports. Specifically Digital Imaging, but from the lurking I’ve done most of the other forums are good as well. (Just watch out for the n00bI3s. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-discussion-boards-on-the-web-besides-sdmb/330412/16 "2005-11-12T15:28:12Z")
> [@Fortean](#): > > The Fortean Times forums at [Welcome to Fortean Times Magazine | Fortean Times](http://www.forteantimes.com/forum/index.php) are a lot of fun if you’re into that kind of thing. > > The Ship-of-fool website is nominally about liberal Christianity, but its forums at [http://forum.ship-of-fools.com/](http://forum.ship-of-fools.com/) are open to anyone of any faith who wants to discuss Christianity or a few other things. Gonna have to check that Fortean Times one! I haven’t been to Ship-of-Fools for a few months, but to clarify- it’s not so much about liberal C’nity as it is about British theologically-conservative but socially-moderate/liberal C’nity. You may get some support for U.S. Episcopal Bishop Robinson there but not for retired US Ep retired Bishop Spong. ---
**Author:** ![power\_sawyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/839c29/32.png) [@power\_sawyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/power_sawyer)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-discussion-boards-on-the-web-besides-sdmb/330412/17 "2005-11-15T03:36:49Z")
[Fathom](http://fff.fathom.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?forumid=10) [Fathom forum descriptions](http://fff.fathom.org/forums/index.php) ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-discussion-boards-on-the-web-besides-sdmb/330412/18 "2005-11-15T03:49:05Z")
For some of the smartest, funniest people around who aren’t on the SDMB, the Television Without Pity forums (located at [http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/index.php?&&CODE=00](http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/index.php?&&CODE=00) ) are hard to beat. They’re tightly-moderated to avoid rudeness, but they are heavily snarky. Of course, TV shows both good and bad are the topic of discussion. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-discussion-boards-on-the-web-besides-sdmb/330412/19 "2005-11-15T03:53:07Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > They’re tightly-moderated to avoid rudeness, but they are heavily snarky. I think the moderation there is unacceptable, frankly, and it’s a shame. I read there, but rarely participate. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-discussion-boards-on-the-web-besides-sdmb/330412/20 "2005-11-15T04:17:46Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I think the moderation there is unacceptable, frankly, and it’s a shame. I read there, but rarely participate. How do you figure? I must admit, I read more than I post, and I’ve only been there for a few months. I think the mods are much heavier-handed than the SDMB mods, but I’ve only run afoul of them once, starting a thread asking about an older TV movie in the wrong forum. I’d be really curious to know what your experiences there have been. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-discussion-boards-on-the-web-besides-sdmb/330412.md?page=2)