# What if the SDMB were . . . older? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 6, 2007, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-sdmb-were-older/429056 "2007-12-06T18:34:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-sdmb-were-older/429056/1 "2007-12-06T18:34:53Z")
In one of Roger Ebert’s review collections, he commented on how cool it would be if we had movies made before motion-picture technology was actually invented. A costume drama set in the 18th Century is one thing, but suppose it were a film **made** in the 18th Century, by people with 18-Century minds and assumptions and esthetic sensibilities? What a window on the times it would give us! Of course, that’s the kind of thing that, barring a “Connecticut Yankee” time-traveler scenario, logically cannot happen. Motion-picture technology depends on electric-light and photography technologies, which depend on earlier steps of technological development, and technological change drives social, political, and cultural change. An 18th Century capable of producing movies would **be** the 20th Century for all intents and purposes. Same with the Internets. Nevertheless, let’s pretend. Along the lines of [Geoffrey Chaucer Hath a Blog.](http://houseoffame.blogspot.com/)\* What if the SDMB had a searchable archive going back centuries? What kind of threads and posts could one find from times past? And what would be, say, the 19th-Century equivalent of contemporary 'Net jargon phrases such as “blog” and “flame” and “spam” and “viral”? \*Doo-dah, doo-dah! ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-sdmb-were-older/429056/2 "2007-12-06T18:41:52Z")
Who’re you picking, Barabas or Jesus? (The first annual crucifixion post party!!!) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-sdmb-were-older/429056/3 "2007-12-06T18:57:42Z")
Do women talk about their ankles? (TMI) ---
**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:** [December 6, 2007, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-sdmb-were-older/429056/4 "2007-12-06T19:03:04Z")
I pit the plague! ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-sdmb-were-older/429056/5 "2007-12-06T19:06:18Z")
Anyone excited for _King Lear_ at the Globe Saturday? ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-sdmb-were-older/429056/6 "2007-12-06T19:08:18Z")
The waltz is evil and corrupting society. WON"T SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN??? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-sdmb-were-older/429056/7 "2007-12-06T19:10:12Z")
The pit would have a sub-forum all about black people. ---
**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:** [December 6, 2007, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-sdmb-were-older/429056/8 "2007-12-06T19:13:23Z")
All Ur Colonies Are Belong To Us ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-sdmb-were-older/429056/9 "2007-12-06T19:13:36Z")
Shall I thrash my uppity manservant for failing to black my boots? Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela . . . What are the can’t-miss holy relics? Debunking phlogiston crackpottery GQ: Does the Holy Roman Emperor still have any power? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-sdmb-were-older/429056/10 "2007-12-06T19:14:08Z")
Haydn’s new symphony (#94): SPOILERS ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-sdmb-were-older/429056/11 "2007-12-06T19:15:28Z")
**Pit Thread** : Copernicus pulls heliocentric theory out of his ass – die, already! **General Questions** : Can additional bathing actually help prevent the Black Death? **Great Debates** : Is slavery beneficial to those being enslaved? **MPSIMS** : A wooly mammoth killed my neighbor today **IMHO** : Will railroads replace the need for horses? (a poll) **Cafe Society** : The Magic Flute (9/30/91) [open spoilers] And on preview, damn you, **silenus**! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-sdmb-were-older/429056/12 "2007-12-06T19:33:14Z")
**Great Debates** : Leaving the ocean was a BAD idea. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-sdmb-were-older/429056/13 "2007-12-06T19:38:32Z")
When come back, bring pottage. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-sdmb-were-older/429056/14 "2007-12-06T19:47:20Z")
I Pit assholes who drive huge stagecoaches ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-sdmb-were-older/429056/15 "2007-12-06T19:48:58Z")
**Rachm Qoch** ’s Death Pool List, 1793: Louis XVI of France Marie Antoinette John Hancock Francesco Guardi Johann Adolph Hasse Charles Bonnet John Mudge Ignacije Szentmartony Gilbert White Timur Shah Olympe de Gouges Roger Sherman Pietro Nardini ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-sdmb-were-older/429056/16 "2007-12-06T20:04:41Z")
Finally, we learn the name of Evil- Ghengis Khan ---
**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:** [December 6, 2007, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-sdmb-were-older/429056/17 "2007-12-06T20:08:10Z")
Posted 1/5/1920–MMP. I’m building a Death Ray! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-sdmb-were-older/429056/18 "2007-12-06T20:10:17Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] Posted 1/5/1920–MMP. I’m building a Death Ray! [/QUOTE] _snerk_ You owe me a new clay tablet. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-sdmb-were-older/429056/19 "2007-12-06T20:13:41Z")
_Threads which were sure to be locked in Ye Olden Days_: Doper Priests: I’m dyspectic and covered with boils–Does this sound like demonic possession? Jews poisoned the wells in Mecklenburg, and I can prove it! Best place in Canterbury to procure a harlot? Lady Godiva sighting in Coventry–with sketches! ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-sdmb-were-older/429056/20 "2007-12-06T20:17:08Z")
I’m going to the Marianas Trench next week. (circa 1960 or so) also I pit Lincoln and the war between the states. (circa 1861) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-sdmb-were-older/429056.md?page=2)