# What's with different "borders"? (An observation) **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 22, 2004, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-different-borders-an-observation/230439 "2004-02-22T00:47:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-different-borders-an-observation/230439/1 "2004-02-22T00:47:53Z")
Okay, maybe it’s just me and my browser, but what’s happening with the ‘thickness’ of borders between posts? Given [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=240933), I notice that if you look at the blue line beneath every post, it changes from some posts to others. **MEBuckner’s** got a thicker line, whilst **Broomstick** ain’t got none at all. Is there something I’m missing, or is it something I just noticed? I’m not picking on a thread, it just happens to be one I’ve been perusing through. Tripler I wish _I_ had a thick line underneath me. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-different-borders-an-observation/230439/2 "2004-02-22T00:56:34Z")
Looks normal to me with I.E. 6. Maybe your browser’s just not loading the page completely. Ahh, you’re using “Straight Dope” style. What happens with me is that the blue bad gets obscured as you scroll and the browser doesn’t rewrite them. If you minimize the window and then restore it they should reappear normally. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-different-borders-an-observation/230439/3 "2004-02-22T00:58:05Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > Okay, maybe it’s just me and my browser, but what’s happening with the ‘thickness’ of borders between posts? Come on. Why don’t you tell us what browser you’re using, if you think it might be that? ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-different-borders-an-observation/230439/4 "2004-02-22T01:17:09Z")
> [@Achernar](#): > > Come on. Why don’t you tell us what browser you’re using, if you think it might be that? I.E. v6. And it’s weird. . . 'cause in _other_ threads, I note the same thing. Hell, even in _this_ thread the borders are different. Ain’t that a kick in the pants? Tripler I can’t see IE not loading a page completely either. Not if I let that particular page sit for 2 or 3 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-different-borders-an-observation/230439/5 "2004-02-22T02:53:55Z")
I see it too. I’d notice that a little bit before, but now it’s annoying me. Not worrying me, though, so, eh. I guess its just one of those things -S&S (who secretly hopes he gets a nice big border) ---
**Author:** ![collinsc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f6c823/32.png) [@collinsc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/collinsc)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-different-borders-an-observation/230439/6 "2004-02-22T03:26:15Z")
To add even more confusion, select a block of text that crosses the border, then unselect it… ---
**Author:** ![wolfstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-different-borders-an-observation/230439/7 "2004-02-22T03:58:21Z")
For me, it seems to have to do with hilighting. If I select text, spilling over from one post to another, the space between the posts goes blue. My mouse had a mousewheel, and the featuer that I can push on it, and then scroll down the page by moving the mouse relative to a little circle it creates in place of the cursor. That circle eats a little bite out of the border as I scroll. IE6. ---
**Author:** ![Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-different-borders-an-observation/230439/8 "2004-02-22T04:56:38Z")
I don’t have IE (any version), but, FTR, I checked this under a few Linux browsers (Mozilla 1.6, Mozilla Firefox 0.8, Galeon 1.2, Konqueror 3.1.1) , and I didn’t see any variation in thickness (or other problems) in the linked thread. I don’t know what’s causing it, but it’s probably a browser specific issue. IE is known to bungle CSS in some cases, but I don’t know enough to say where it might have a problem. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-different-borders-an-observation/230439/9 "2004-02-22T20:56:08Z")
I reported this in the [post=4491811]bug thread[/post] a while back: > [@](#): > > when displaying a thread with the “Straight Dope” style, the bottom border of a post varies in depth. It can go from a thin black line with space between it and the next post to a wide black line that fills that space… > > I noticed that if I highlighted that area, then dehighlighted it by clicking somewhere else on the page, the entire area is then filled. At least now I know I’m not the only one seeing this. ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-different-borders-an-observation/230439/10 "2004-02-23T05:30:36Z")
Here’s some more fun and games: Mentally choose one of those thinner lines, then scroll the page up and down such that the thin line disappears above the top of the page. When you bring it back down, magically it changes thickness, goes back to thin, or disappears entirely. Very random. Weird. ---
**Author:** ![TheMadHun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@TheMadHun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMadHun)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-different-borders-an-observation/230439/11 "2004-02-23T16:14:30Z")
Also shorter lines. When I first entered this thread **Tripler** ’s line was shorter on each end by 1/2 inch than the other posters. And some had no line. But sometime while I was reading they all filled in. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-different-borders-an-observation/230439/12 "2004-02-24T00:58:21Z")
> [@xash](#): > > Here’s some more fun and games: > > Mentally choose one of those thinner lines, then scroll the page up and down such that the thin line disappears above the top of the page. When you bring it back down, magically it changes thickness, goes back to thin, or disappears entirely. Very random. > > Weird. > [@TheMadHun](#): > > Also shorter lines. When I first entered this thread Tripler’s line was shorter on each end by 1/2 inch than the other posters. And some had no line. But sometime while I was reading they all filled in. I’ve noticed that too, **TheMadHun**. While I scrolled down a few longer threads whilst browsing last night, it did the same thing. Or, a post would have no line, but it would magically appear if I scrolled back up. Weird indeed. Tripler I found it first, so I’m calling it “ **Tripler’s Mystery** ”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-different-borders-an-observation/230439/13 "2004-02-24T01:20:18Z")
Not so fast! :mad: I reported it on 01-26-2004 (see my post above). First publication, you know. Thus any gentleman would agree it be called **rowrrbazzle’s riddle**. Otherwise we shall meet on the field of honor! Choose your weapon. I propose searches at 10 paces. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-different-borders-an-observation/230439/14 "2004-02-24T04:54:20Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > Not so fast! :mad: I reported it on 01-26-2004 (see my post above). First publication, you know. > > Thus any gentleman would agree it be called **rowrrbazzle’s riddle**. Otherwise we shall meet on the field of honor! Choose your weapon. I propose searches at 10 paces. 😉 Aaah yes, but it’s not about first publication. It’s about _marketing_ my friend! Edison knew Alternating Current was dangerous, and proceeded to electrocute a pachyderm in the process. However, wiser minds came to bear, and realized that if they marketed AC correctly, it would win. And that’s why my computer runs off of 120V, 60Hz. And thus my point: Are you willing to electrocute an elephant? Tripler And in retrospect on the above text, I have no idea why I just told that story. But I’m tired, and I guess it works in my sleepy little world. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-different-borders-an-observation/230439/15 "2004-04-13T08:02:00Z")
A little more data. While fiddling around, I rediscovered **wolfstu** ’s trick with the mouse wheel scroll cursor. I also noticed some odd results with the find box (ctl-f). Here are the ways I moved it across the separator and the results.[ul][li]straight side to side, any speed - full thickness.[/li][li]straight up and down quickly - full thickness.[/li][li]straight up and down slower - varying thicknesses left by the trailing edge depending on the speed. On one attempt I got a thin separator with a little white space on both sides. On another attempt while moving the box up, I got two thin separators, with white space between them, each separator abutting the nearest post.[/li][li]straight up and down, very slowly - separator completely erased where the box crossed it.[/li][li]diagonally, upper left to lower right, slowly - across a full thickness separator, the upper edge erased the separator diagonally on the right side. Where the left upper edge passed over the separator, it was erased cleanly and completely, i.e., with a vertical edge.[/li][/ul]It’s odd that different speeds would affect the erasure in the up-down motion and not in the side-to-side motion. Could it be related to the top-to-bottom way the screen is scanned? I’m running Win98, IE 6, Nvidia Riva TNT graphics. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-different-borders-an-observation/230439/16 "2004-04-13T16:09:35Z")
> [@](#): > > However, wiser minds came to bear, and realized that if they marketed AC correctly, it would win. And it was indeed marketed correctly. To the board of directors of the World’s Columbian Exhibtion in 1893 in Chicago. Except that Westinghouse based their Alternating Current power installation on Tesla’s ideas, not Edison’s; Edison championed DC power generation. > [@](#): > > In May 1885, George Westinghouse, head of the Westinghouse Electric Company in Pittsburgh, bought the patent rights to Tesla’s polyphase system of alternating-current dynamos, transformers, and motors. The transaction precipitated a titanic power struggle between Edison’s direct-current systems and the Tesla-Westinghouse alternating-current approach, which eventually won out. > [@](#): > > Westinghouse used Tesla’s system to light the World’s Columbian Exposition at Chicago in 1893. His success was a factor in winning him the contract to install the first power machinery at Niagara Falls, which bore Tesla’s name and patent numbers. The project carried power to Buffalo by 1896. [http://www.neuronet.pitt.edu/~bogdan/tesla/bio.htm](http://www.neuronet.pitt.edu/~bogdan/tesla/bio.htm) [http://www.neuronet.pitt.edu/~bogdan/tesla/chicago.htm](http://www.neuronet.pitt.edu/~bogdan/tesla/chicago.htm) ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-different-borders-an-observation/230439/17 "2004-04-13T16:11:25Z")
Ooops. I see you’ve said much the same thing as I, Tripler. I misread your post. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-different-borders-an-observation/230439/18 "2004-04-13T16:18:16Z")
And let’s not forget other evidence of the genius of marketing displayed in 1893 in Chicago - Juicy Fruit gum and Shredded Wheat.