# What's the straight dope on TMI threads? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 7, 2007, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-tmi-threads/403075 "2007-05-07T10:17:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2007, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-tmi-threads/403075/1 "2007-05-07T10:17:22Z")
Are they expressly illegal? Frowned upon? Out of favor among the SDMB proletariat? A TMI thread helped bring me onto these Boards, and I kind of miss them. ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2007, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-tmi-threads/403075/2 "2007-05-07T13:16:51Z")
Personally, I would like an entire forum. Upon which I would gaze and awe. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2007, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-tmi-threads/403075/3 "2007-05-07T14:01:29Z")
I haven’t seen any announcements that they’re not allowed, just some of the grumblings about the content. Then again – if you don’t want to know the TMI details, don’t look. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2007, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-tmi-threads/403075/4 "2007-05-07T14:03:13Z")
There is no such thing! ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2007, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-tmi-threads/403075/5 "2007-05-07T14:33:58Z")
If history is any guide, then this is the deal: TMI threads are not expressly prohibited; one or two, every now and then, is okay. It’s only when the positive feedback loop gets out of control that it becomes a problem. In other words, when all of us gleeful little monkeys get overstimulated by one “ever had a big zit on your BUTT?” thread and start half a dozen similar discussions at the same time, that’s when the mods get a headache and shut 'em all down with a growl. In other words, in my view, if you really want to discuss your anal fissure and the taste of your earwax, then discipline is the key, grasshopper. I await correction by the powers above. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2007, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-tmi-threads/403075/6 "2007-05-07T14:40:50Z")
In addition to the wise words of **Cervaise** , my (non-mod) contribution is it is highly polite to clearly label TMI threads with TMI in the title, lest the unsuspecting stumble upon your proctological problems to their deep dismay. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2007, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-tmi-threads/403075/7 "2007-05-07T14:49:57Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] In other words, when all of us gleeful little monkeys get overstimulated by one “ever had a big zit on your BUTT?” thread and start half a dozen similar discussions at the same time, that’s when the mods get a headache and shut 'em all down with a growl. [/QUOTE] This pretty much nails my feelings about it.