# What should you do if you can't log in? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 25, 2016, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082 "2016-04-25T12:39:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082/21 "2016-04-25T15:13:25Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > > [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > > > I do think the recent outage demonstrated an area where the Dope has not come into the modern era and it should. There is no official SD twitter, facebook, tumblr, instagram, nothing and if you weren’t already aware of the facebook group or the giraffeboards address, you had no way of knowing anything until ITD was able to get a sock through to post an update. I know for me and I suspect for many of the posters who created socks, the intent was to try to communicate where posters could look to find out what was going on and what the current status was. > > There is in fact a Straight Dope Twitter. It is for the main page and linked to on there. When it was discussed before on here I seem to remember a bunch of posters talking about how much they hate Twitter. It doesn’t seem like many here are following. If you want I can pass on that future communication about similar problems can be announced there but it won’t do much good if members don’t follow. That seems a silly argument. I don’t follow the Straight Dope Twitter feed (or any Twitter feeds for that matter), but in this extraordinary circumstance I made a point of seeking out the SD one to see if any information was available. I’m sure I’m not the only one. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082/22 "2016-04-25T15:35:19Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Maybe I was just delusional, but I scoured every page and did not see a webmaster link. Possibly I just didn’t look hard enough. It’s at the bottom of every page, whether you are logged in or not. > [@](#): > > Send comments about this website to: [webmaster@straightdope.com](mailto:webmaster@straightdope.com) That will get you in contact with the right folks if you have trouble logging in. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2016, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082/23 "2016-04-25T15:37:29Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > That seems a silly argument. I don’t follow the Straight Dope Twitter feed (or any Twitter feeds for that matter), but in this extraordinary circumstance I made a point of seeking out the SD one to see if any information was available. I’m sure I’m not the only one. Y’know- that’s a really good point. I don’t think anyone of us thought about Twitter. We were posting on the SDMB group on Facebook and providing some updates at GB, but that is insufficient for the casual user. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082/24 "2016-04-25T15:38:08Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > … > Maybe I was just delusional, but I scoured every page and did not see a webmaster link. Possibly I just didn’t look hard enough. > … I found the webmaster address on the page that said “you can’t log in”. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082/25 "2016-04-25T15:40:48Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > That seems a silly argument. I don’t follow the Straight Dope Twitter feed (or any Twitter feeds for that matter), but in this extraordinary circumstance I made a point of seeking out the SD one to see if any information was available. I’m sure I’m not the only one. Hence the reason why I said I would pass on the suggestion that it could be used for announcements in the future. I’m not sure that was even thought of in the rush to fix the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082/26 "2016-04-25T15:49:56Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > You don’t have to be friends with any of the members. Just send a message to the group owner. > > They let me in when I did that. It took a few days. Who is the group owner? I want to make sure I’m messaging the right person. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082/27 "2016-04-25T17:07:48Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > It’s at the bottom of every page, whether you are logged in or not. > … > That will get you in contact with the right folks if you have trouble logging in. > [@puzzlegal](#): > > I found the webmaster address on the page that said “you can’t log in”. I truly don’t know why I didn’t see it. :smack: > [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Y’know- that’s a really good point. **I don’t think anyone of us thought** about Twitter. We were posting on the SDMB group on Facebook and providing some updates at GB, but that is insufficient for the casual user. My emphasis. I did. I tweeted to @Str8dope\_com but got no reply. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082/28 "2016-04-25T17:22:50Z")
During the recent outage, no one knew what was going on except it looked a lot like a DDOS. Management wasn’t communicating (or wasn’t able to communicate) with the teaming masses in a meaningful way, leaving most of us to fend for ourselves and speculate what was going on. Creating a sock was one way to test if the board could be accessed by a new name even if not by an old one. It was just a test and an attempt to learn what we could. Other circumstances might suggest other methods of response. In all cases, it would be best if management would be more forthcoming with info, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082/29 "2016-04-25T17:44:30Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Who is the group owner? > > I want to make sure I’m messaging the right person. I don’t know how to find the group owner (which probably means that it was so painfully obvious that I missed it), so I just messaged the first admin. I ended up approved in a few hours. As has been mentioned already you don’t need to be FB friends with someone to send them a message (although they might miss it if they aren’t checking for messages from non-friends). ETA The FB group is “Straight Dopers” ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082/30 "2016-04-25T17:59:36Z")
It’s been a while since I signed up on FB. I probably sent a message to an admin as well. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082/31 "2016-04-25T18:11:34Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Who is the group owner? > > I want to make sure I’m messaging the right person. If you go to [Redirecting...](https://www.facebook.com/groups/2408464343/) there should be a “Join Group” (or similar wording) button to the left of the “Share” button in the lower right of the big Straight Dope header image… That will allow the admins to see your request for approval. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082/32 "2016-04-25T18:39:30Z")
As far as I can tell, you can’t see the Facebook group unless you have a Facebook account, but you can read tweets from @Str8dope\_com without having a Twitter account. So as the last person in the world without either a Facebook or a Twitter account, it would be helpful if communications came via both systems. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082/33 "2016-04-25T19:45:47Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Speaking of which, I still can’t find the alleged Facebook group. When I search for Straightdope or any of its derivatives I get 1) a fan group which hasn’t had any posts since 2012 b) a fan group which hasn’t had any posts since 2013 c) a closed group which seems to be comprised of South Africans and d) a closed group where there’s a message to send a message if I want to join, but I can’t send a message because I’m not FB friends with any of the people listed as members. > [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > You don’t have to be friends with any of the members. Just send a message to the group owner. > > They let me in when I did that. It took a few days. If you can’t FIND the group, sending a message to the owner can be a bit tricky. ETA: Thanks to **Canadjun** for supplying the group name. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082/34 "2016-04-25T20:16:33Z")
I for one am pretty grateful for those who took the trouble to make socks. I mean, I was planning to wait it out, anyway, but it was nice to check in and see that the problem was universal and that some people had posted and explained. I agree straight dope needs a facebook page. I can’t believe I am saying it, but it is true. :ritualistically spits: ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082/35 "2016-04-25T20:24:20Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > … > I agree straight dope needs a facebook page. I can’t believe I am saying it, but it is true. :ritualistically spits: It has [one](https://www.facebook.com/groups/2408464343/?notif_t=group_r2j_approved¬if_id=1461343929939418). ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082/36 "2016-04-25T20:26:30Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > It has [one](https://www.facebook.com/groups/2408464343/?notif_t=group_r2j_approved¬if_id=1461343929939418). That’s not official, is it? I’m part of that one, but I meant one run and maintained by Ed. It doesn’t even have to have frequent posts, as noted earlier - just posts when needed. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082/37 "2016-04-25T20:48:12Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > That’s not official, is it? I’m part of that one, but I meant one run and maintained by Ed. It doesn’t even have to have frequent posts, as noted earlier - just posts when needed. Oh. I didn’t know that’s what you meant. I don’t think there needs to be a Facebook page. At times when global messages need to be sent out, Twitter is the most efficient way. Even if you hate it and never use it any other time. Heck, people in revolutions, riots, and natural disasters use it to keep in touch at those times. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082/38 "2016-04-25T23:09:37Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > If you go to [Redirecting...](https://www.facebook.com/groups/2408464343/) there should be a “Join Group” (or similar wording) button to the left of the “Share” button in the lower right of the big Straight Dope header image… That will allow the admins to see your request for approval. Quoting from the group description: > [@](#): > > If you are a member of the SDMB and want to join this Facebook group, and your profile is completely private, please send a private message to join. We have way too many spammers trying to join and they almost always have private profiles. Thank you! So, they may want you to do more than “Join group” ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082/39 "2016-04-25T23:42:22Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > The Webmaster email at the bottom worked well for me. I got a courteous and pretty prompt reply and apology for the ‘severe technical difficulties’. Ditto this for me too. Another strategy: [Close your browser, shut off your computer and go outside for some exercise and fresh air.](http://profdkp.sdf1.org/) ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082/40 "2016-04-25T23:57:24Z")
I was able to read the board even though nobody could log in. For at least a few hours, that more-or-less satisfied my cravings. And enabled me to see all those remarks by all those sockses, so I knew it wasn’t just me. (My e-mail to webmaster was answered, but I got that the following day.) After that, I just followed my own advice: > [@Senegoid](#): > > Another strategy: [Close your browser, shut off your computer and go outside for some exercise and fresh air.](http://profdkp.sdf1.org/) Had I gotten any more desperate, my next reaction would certainly have been to look over at Giraffe’s place, where I was confident the matter would be under discussion. We have so many members in common at both places, and SDMB is so often discussed over there, it’s the obvious place to go. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-do-if-you-cant-log-in/753082.md?page=3)