# What threads should be required reading for SDMB History 101 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 20, 2005, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-threads-should-be-required-reading-for-sdmb-history-101/300168 "2005-04-20T01:37:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-threads-should-be-required-reading-for-sdmb-history-101/300168/1 "2005-04-20T01:37:13Z")
Since I still haven’t cut my posting umbilical cord, I was wondering what you veterans would reccomend as required reading for newbies. What threads are must reads, in your opinion, if I, and others like me, are to fully comprehend the greatness of this message board. I have read a few classics, but I am sure I have missed out on many others. Links would be appreciated. Let the education begin! ---
**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:** [April 20, 2005, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-threads-should-be-required-reading-for-sdmb-history-101/300168/2 "2005-04-20T01:40:46Z")
The thread that is most often the first to be posted in these situations is ‘The horror of blimps’ thread. Others will provide link to that far quicker than I can so I won’t bother the hamsters. There’s the ‘a’ thread. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-threads-should-be-required-reading-for-sdmb-history-101/300168/3 "2005-04-20T01:43:10Z")
Two leap immediately to mind. [May 5, 1945 - we shall remember](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=23572) and [World Trade Center Plane Crash](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=86458&perpage). ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-threads-should-be-required-reading-for-sdmb-history-101/300168/4 "2005-04-20T01:44:24Z")
Aw, hell, I misunderstood the OP. I stand by my links, however. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-threads-should-be-required-reading-for-sdmb-history-101/300168/5 "2005-04-20T02:25:41Z")
I recommend you go to the [teemingmillions](http://www.teemingmillions.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&bid=38&btitle=Classic%20Posts&mid=4&ceid=21) web page and read some of the Classic Posts. You may also want to read some of [Wally’s](http://fathom.org/teemingmillions/wally.adp#cybersex) threads. WallyM7 was a member in the Long, Long Ago days-- he’s the one that the “putz” smiley is named after. ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-threads-should-be-required-reading-for-sdmb-history-101/300168/6 "2005-04-20T04:30:15Z")
The first page or so of “Are scalar weapons for real?” which spawned the 1920’s style “death rays” meme. > **[Are scalar weapons for real?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=202225)** > > Apologies if this has been done before - I tried searching the archives but came up with zilch. Is there a) any real science behind these fabled WMD and b) any evidence of anyone having made a working prototype? I tried google but all I could find... ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-threads-should-be-required-reading-for-sdmb-history-101/300168/7 "2005-04-20T21:55:35Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > Two leap immediately to mind. > > [May 5, 1945 - we shall remember](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=23572) and [World Trade Center Plane Crash](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=86458&perpage). Thank you for those links. I read through the May 5, 1945 thread, having never read it before, and – I’m usually not a deeply emotional sort, but god – I’m sitting here at work, and I’ve got tears in my eyes… where’d the tissues go? (And thank you, **Coldfire** , for starting that thread.) FWIW, that thread definitely should count toward the OP. ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-threads-should-be-required-reading-for-sdmb-history-101/300168/8 "2005-04-20T22:10:28Z")
Great stuff, as I cry here at my computer. Although the 9/11 thread is still a little to fresh, and it just brings back all those memories of that morning and the days after. I remember the smoke from the Pentagon like it was yesterday. Sorry… ---
**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:** [April 20, 2005, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-threads-should-be-required-reading-for-sdmb-history-101/300168/9 "2005-04-20T22:14:27Z")
[Watershed moments in SDMB history; or, the SDMB Anthology Project](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=118749) is a good place to start for the older ones. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-threads-should-be-required-reading-for-sdmb-history-101/300168/10 "2005-04-20T22:28:49Z")
I can’t find these, but they are classics: The pre-hensile rectum The rock in the box - I burning your dog. ---
**Author:** ![Elvez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8491ac/32.png) [@Elvez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elvez)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-threads-should-be-required-reading-for-sdmb-history-101/300168/11 "2005-04-20T23:09:29Z")
Two words: [Goat Porn](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=33909)