When did you become Straight Dope material?

[AndyPolley]

I’ve lurked for quite a while. In fact, I’m usually lurking (Heh heh heh…) but I felt like an actual Doper for the first time when I hosted my own “Ask the guy…” thread. I’m still intimidated by most of what happens in GD, but I do enjoy the perspective gained reading there.

BTW…it was Ask the guy who’s severely color-blind

[sturmhauke]

Had the Dope existed when I was a wee child, I would have gravitated to it like a freefalling mass to a black hole. My dad actually bought me that Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, and I spent many hours reading it when I wasn’t building spaceships out of Legos. Sometimes in school I would get bored with the lecture, so I’d sit in the back and read a random page out of the World Book.

And yet, I also have a taste for the absurd. My first post here was in a TMI thread, something about someone’s feet smelling like corn chips I think.

[Seven]

When did you become Straight Dope material? After a few years I’ve decided I’m not. I’m posting here less and less every day. That said I think it’s the nature of the board these days more then anything. Less funny/educational in the last year or so.

Bummer as well because I just renewed.

Hmmmm? I think I’ll start a thread and give away my membership.

[phungi]

@featherlou

… “Why get upset? You’re probably arguing with 12 year olds.” Yup. That sort of snaps it back into perspective.

Have you considered that doper posters, by nature, are rubbery, and doper repliers are inherently goo? Thus, whatever you post paradoxically glances off of you and adheres to them?

[Asimovian]

@Clothahump

Post while you’re masturbating like a motherf… It seems to be a very popular pastime here on the SDMB.

What?

I think I’ll just say that the majority of my Doping takes place at my desk at work, and I’ll leave it right there.

@serious lark

I watched my husband convert (to becoming a doper), then lurked for a while before signing up for the privilege of putting my 2 cents in, so I had gotten a pretty good feel for this board before starting to post.

My wife is actually responsible for me joining. She’d send me emails (and still does) once in a while with links to Threadspotting threads and Cecil’s columns. Eventually, she convinced me to really look around a bit, and after reading the threads for an hour or so, I decided to I needed to be a part of this.

[Biggirl]

@phungi

Have you considered that doper posters, by nature, are rubbery, and doper repliers are inherently goo? Thus, whatever you post paradoxically glances off of you and adheres to them?

I’m so gonna use this the next time one of my kids tries to snap on me.

[silenus]

@Zeldar

This is the ultimate test as far as I’m concerned. It doesn’t take all that much to post (nor to start a thread). But once you’ve said something that others react to strongly enough to credit your post in the process, that’s a way of saying (in effect) “right you are, Doper.”

For some of us, it’s more a case of “Wrong you are, Doper. Here’s why…”

[Nature_s_Call]

I just had my Doper moment today. The first reply to this thread wasQuickSilver calling me a Doper. Now I feel I’ve arrived.

[Zeldar]

@silenus

For some of us, it’s more a case of “Wrong you are, Doper. Here’s why…”

Yes, I’ve had a few of those. The majority of the responses would fall in the “no response” category. Then the rest are split maybe 70-30 favorable or supportive vs. unfavorable or challenging.

A lot of that may have to do with the choice I make not to express opinions when they aren’t solicited. I try to offer facts whenever they’re the issue, and to stay out of debates that really boil down to tastes and preferences. I’m not clear enough on my own thinking on religion and politics and other “big ticket” topics to offer my take. It’s much less nerve-racking that way.

[akira5822]

As you can see from my number of posts i’m nowhere near being a real doper yet,But i do love to read the fun stuff here.

[Otanabi]

Does being a faithful Lurker count? Yep, I’ve had this board bookmarked for years, and keep coming back.

For the information.
For the logic.
For the humor.
For the delightfully good writing.

I paid to be a Charter Member, somehow let it lapse, and recently paid the full price to be a Member again. I want to support this board even though I don’t post. It’s only fair.

But I lurk. Faithfully. So am I truly a Doper?

[AncientHumanoid]

@Otanabi

I’ve had this board bookmarked for years, and keep coming back.

For the information.
For the logic.
For the humor.
For the delightfully good writing.

Damn! You’ve missed all of my posts then!

[Scott_Plaid]

@NoClueBoy

Damn! You’ve missed all of my posts then!

Mine too.

But really, if you have been quoted, I would have to say you are a doper, and it looks like you have been.

[joyfool]

Asimovian, I know this will sound hard to believe, but the best way I got over feeling intimidated and truly got my feet wet… was by posting in the Pit. Since emotions can run pretty high there, if I said anything only minorly stupid, I was ignored for much more important fodder. Hell, I’m still ignored a lot now. So I could reply with abandon because no one paid much attention to me. However, if I did say something worthwhile among that group and got recognized for it, it’s like being given free ice cream in your favorite flavor.

And don’t worry y’all, I think everyone of you are already “Straight Dope material”.

[kniz]

@Lobsang

The SD was my first message board (before that I was a chat room Junkie) so I was never really intimidated here. I dived right in and pushed the boundaries of jerkishness… it took time to turn me into the doper I am today

I believe cannon-balled right in may be a better way of saying it. [sup]The passage of time works miracles.[/sup]

:smack: [sup]Someday it may work for me.[/sup]