# What % of your life have you been a doper **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 30, 2008, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-your-life-have-you-been-a-doper/479205 "2008-12-30T12:05:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-your-life-have-you-been-a-doper/479205/61 "2008-12-31T09:56:20Z")
I was born in 1961, and I started reading Cecil’s column in the LA Reader in 1983. The batteries just crapped out in my calculator and I’m too lazy to go look for the solar one, so (1 – (22/47))%. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-your-life-have-you-been-a-doper/479205/62 "2008-12-31T10:30:15Z")
Depends on the definition of Doper. In the strict “member of this message board” sense – 17.77%. But I started using Cecil’s points to back up arguments in print here in NZ back around 1986-1987 or so, as soon as I found the first of his books I laid my paws on in a secondhand bookstore. So, seeing as I’m 45 now, that’s very close to the “half my life” mark. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-your-life-have-you-been-a-doper/479205/63 "2008-12-31T22:42:35Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > The batteries just crapped out in my calculator and I’m too lazy to go look for the solar one. . . . . . said the man operating a computer thousands of times more powerful than those used to plan the moon landings. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-your-life-have-you-been-a-doper/479205/64 "2008-12-31T23:14:17Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > 36.67% of my life. Mreh? I’m 35.9%, but I’m younger than you. By months, I’m 115/320. Though I was on the website and reading the books before March 1999. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-your-life-have-you-been-a-doper/479205/65 "2008-12-31T23:22:26Z")
> [@threemae](#): > > I think I won this thread the last time we did it: > 41%. > > Somewhat concerning. 51% – Been a consistent reader & fan & advocate of Dope for 21 years. 13.5% – If you’re only counting board membership ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-your-life-have-you-been-a-doper/479205/66 "2009-01-01T18:38:41Z")
Oh boy, math. Started in 2000, that’s 8 years. I’m 38. 8 is to 38 as X is to 100. Ummm… I got nothin’. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-your-life-have-you-been-a-doper/479205/67 "2009-01-01T18:40:59Z")
> [@heyhomie](#): > > oh boy, math. > > Started in 2000, that’s 8 years. I’m 38. 8 is to 38 as x is to 100. Ummm… > > I got nothin’. 8 \* 100 / 38 = 21% edit: your join date suggests 9 years, so 9 \* 100 / 38 = 23.6% ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-your-life-have-you-been-a-doper/479205/68 "2009-01-01T18:46:51Z")
Very roughly, about 31% :eek:, and legally, at least, all of my adult life. I joined when I was 18. I’ll be 28 in a few months. Odd to think. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-your-life-have-you-been-a-doper/479205/69 "2009-01-02T01:44:54Z")
10.71% if I did the math right. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-your-life-have-you-been-a-doper/479205/70 "2009-01-02T02:24:10Z")
> [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](#): > > Mreh? I’m 35.9%, but I’m younger than you. By months, I’m 115/320. > > Though I was on the website and reading the books before March 1999. You are aware that the SDMB existed in another form before March 1999, right? I’ve been around since October 1997. I didn’t actually calculate by month, I just rounded by the years. It would actually be greater if I did that. ETA: Although for about a year and a half in 1999-2000 I wasn’t around. I signed up as soon as the SDMB moved from AOL to the web, but I was abroad at the time and had a terrible connection, and then I forgot about it for awhile. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-your-life-have-you-been-a-doper/479205/71 "2009-01-02T02:36:16Z")
33%, give or take a fraction of a percent. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2009, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-your-life-have-you-been-a-doper/479205/72 "2009-01-02T03:22:38Z")
I hung out as soon as the AOL board allowed non AOL people on that one. I was there mostly getting the Straight Dope online. I’ve read the Straight Dope since the end of 1980, which I got from the Madison based Isthmus. They always had a best of the year issue that was indispensable for entertainment venues, and many funny awards that people voted on for the winners. I also started to pick up the Onion which was a Madison based free paper at that time. I’d consider anybody that read The Straight Dope to be a Doper since they read the column and not when they joined the boards. That put’s me at about 61% ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-your-life-have-you-been-a-doper/479205/73 "2009-01-02T04:03:19Z")
Let’s see 9/54=16.66% ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-your-life-have-you-been-a-doper/479205/74 "2009-01-02T05:51:04Z")
Not sure. Date says 32%, however I took a year or two off during the middle so I can’t say for sure. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-your-life-have-you-been-a-doper/479205/75 "2009-01-02T06:18:43Z")
In April it’ll be 25%. Joining your birth month makes it easier to figure out ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-your-life-have-you-been-a-doper/479205/76 "2009-01-02T06:46:48Z")
25% ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-your-life-have-you-been-a-doper/479205/77 "2009-01-02T19:30:24Z")
I have been on this board about 20% of my life, depending on how you want to calculate the math. I think about half my life if you count from when I first encountered Cecil’s writings. And if you are using the word “doper” in its other common meaning…nah, not telling;). ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-your-life-have-you-been-a-doper/479205/78 "2009-01-03T01:08:51Z")
Approximately 10%. It’s just over 5 years since I started lurking obsessively. ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-your-life-have-you-been-a-doper/479205/79 "2009-01-03T01:12:16Z")
Ok, since we’re including lurking and reading Cecil, I’m upping my percentage to 27%. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-your-life-have-you-been-a-doper/479205/80 "2009-01-05T17:43:30Z")
~21% Feck me that’s quite a bit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-your-life-have-you-been-a-doper/479205.md?page=3)