# What's your favorite metaphor for what the SDMB is for you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 28, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-metaphor-for-what-the-sdmb-is-for-you/565639 "2010-12-28T19:56:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-metaphor-for-what-the-sdmb-is-for-you/565639/1 "2010-12-28T19:56:29Z")
Is it a clubhouse? A Geeks Anonymous meeting? An encyclopedia? A desktop toy you fiddle with? Entailed in the question is how you use this place. Do you come here for the diversion? for the camaraderie? perhaps the scintillating wit? the reliable information? the smackdowns? What? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-metaphor-for-what-the-sdmb-is-for-you/565639/2 "2010-12-28T20:00:52Z")
All of that and more. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-metaphor-for-what-the-sdmb-is-for-you/565639/3 "2010-12-28T21:51:09Z")
I came here for the conservative camaraderie. I was misinformed. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-metaphor-for-what-the-sdmb-is-for-you/565639/4 "2010-12-28T22:20:13Z")
For me, it’s like a community. Just like you chat to people you meet in real life, I chat with people I meet when I find a thread title that interests me. And just like in real life, there are lots of times when I find that the same person can have a viewpoint that I completely disagree with on one topic while we are in complete accord on another topic. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-metaphor-for-what-the-sdmb-is-for-you/565639/5 "2010-12-28T22:38:20Z")
It’s a great distraction during downtime at work. It’s the most intellectual board I’ve ever been a member of, which is really saying something. There’s a focus on truth and cites without being annoyingly pedantic. And with very few exceptions, nobody talks in jargon or employs an overly high level of speech. It’s essentially a group of really smart people talking like really real people. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-metaphor-for-what-the-sdmb-is-for-you/565639/6 "2010-12-28T22:54:06Z")
Honestly? Okay, honestly. The truth is that the SDMB is my substitute for family and friends sine I have very few of either. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-metaphor-for-what-the-sdmb-is-for-you/565639/7 "2010-12-29T18:08:39Z")
I think “community” works for me, as well. This place is a great source of information, to be sure, but I spend most of my time in CS, IMHO, and MPSIMS: I’m here for the personalities. Even when some of them don’t like me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-metaphor-for-what-the-sdmb-is-for-you/565639/8 "2010-12-29T18:19:23Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > It’s a great distraction during downtime at work. It’s the most intellectual board I’ve ever been a member of, which is really saying something. There’s a focus on truth and cites without being annoyingly pedantic. And with very few exceptions, nobody talks in jargon or employs an overly high level of speech. > > It’s essentially a group of really smart people talking like really real people. Yeah, what she said. I really do enjoy the intellectual level here…the sharp and sometimes caustic debate. Too often, in many discussion groups, a disagreement just degenerates into snarkiness and name-calling. That seems to pass for debate in most folks’ mind, especially if not always those of conservative political/social persuasion. Can’t really blame them, I suppose they learned their technique from listening to Glenn Beck or reading Ann Coulter. Anyway, I enjoy the level of conversation here, the (generally) reasoned tone, the diversity of subjects. SS ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-metaphor-for-what-the-sdmb-is-for-you/565639/9 "2010-12-29T19:08:26Z")
I have learned more in GD than I have in school. I wasn’t ever able to really articulate even the theory of evolution until I read it here. (thanks Skald). But most importantly; The Funnies. Best funnies on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-metaphor-for-what-the-sdmb-is-for-you/565639/10 "2010-12-29T19:17:37Z")
Intelligent people I can relate to…mostly. Fighting ignorance is something I can get behind and I hope everyone on here remembers that is the original idea. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-metaphor-for-what-the-sdmb-is-for-you/565639/11 "2010-12-30T01:47:24Z")
**LouisB** - you have lots of friends here. You would be surprised how many follow your posts. I come here to steal funny and clever thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-metaphor-for-what-the-sdmb-is-for-you/565639/12 "2010-12-30T03:01:18Z")
Just **The Dope** – slightly addictive and effects me different ways at different times but more often than not it leaves me feeling better. ---
**Author:** ![Walmarticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Walmarticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walmarticus)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-metaphor-for-what-the-sdmb-is-for-you/565639/13 "2010-12-30T03:14:03Z")
The underside of the toilet lid: It’s (arguably) the least shitty- not counting the WoW general forum, [Baptistboard.com](http://Baptistboard.com), and the _m4m_ section of Craigslist personals. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-metaphor-for-what-the-sdmb-is-for-you/565639/14 "2010-12-30T04:45:01Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > **LouisB** - you have lots of friends here. You would be surprised how many follow your posts. > > I come here to steal funny and clever thoughts. Thank you for saying that. It made my day. My real life family is widely scattered as are my friends. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-metaphor-for-what-the-sdmb-is-for-you/565639/15 "2010-12-30T05:07:33Z")
The Dope is a pretty flower, that smells bad. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-metaphor-for-what-the-sdmb-is-for-you/565639/16 "2010-12-30T08:56:26Z")
Sweet, sweet crack. ---
**Author:** ![JessMagic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c0e974/32.png) [@JessMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JessMagic)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-metaphor-for-what-the-sdmb-is-for-you/565639/17 "2010-12-30T10:32:36Z")
I’ve got two, neither of which are especially brilliant: A substitute for weed. A bridge across the Atlantic. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-metaphor-for-what-the-sdmb-is-for-you/565639/18 "2010-12-30T12:17:48Z")
A group of people exactly like me, who humbly share their genius, wight rell, have a, clear understanding of; punctuation, never make types, always use appropriately gramer and speeling, and who are able to express themselves cogently, completely and. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-metaphor-for-what-the-sdmb-is-for-you/565639/19 "2010-12-30T12:46:17Z")
A place to go where everybody knows your name. Except it isn’t your real name, so it’s a place to go where nobody knows your name.