# Which message boards do you go to for specialised knowledge? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 2, 2005, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-message-boards-do-you-go-to-for-specialised-knowledge/306539 "2005-06-02T12:59:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-message-boards-do-you-go-to-for-specialised-knowledge/306539/1 "2005-06-02T12:59:10Z")
While I admire the astounding breadth that SDMB has, there are some topics which tend to be answered better on more specialised boards. The level of obsession and geekery about a single topic can sometimes be astounding. Anyway, what boards do you know of that have intelligent discussion about topics that interest you and preferably have a decent signal-to-noise ratio? For cooking, I love [eGullet](http://www.egullet.org). It’s an absolutely amazing resource filled with both industry pros and dedicated home chefs. The number of wacky, obessesive and generally just plain mind bogglingly good food that those people put out is nothing short of amazing. It also has a very admirably high level of discourse, moderating is strong and trolls are discouraged. For mens fashion, A friend tells me [Style Forum](http://66.170.193.77/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.cgi) and [Ask Andy](http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/Forum/default.asp) are the only two worth bothering about. Sadly, the level of discourse is quite shoddy. For technical discussions about technology, I used to frequent [Anandtech Highly Technical](http://forums.anandtech.com/categories.aspx?catid=50&entercat=y) but the quality has really dropped dramatically in the last few months. I haven’t yet found a replacement. For programming issues, the comp.lang.\* newsgroups aren’t too bad. For unmoderated usenet, the number of trolls is surprisingly low. But it still doesn’t beat a good message board. I’ve heard from a friend that theres a yahoo group that several fairly prominent evolutionary sociologists post on and I glanced through it a while back but I lost the link. Does anyone else have any others? ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-message-boards-do-you-go-to-for-specialised-knowledge/306539/2 "2005-06-02T13:04:07Z")
Sorry, that should be [eGullet](http://forums.egullet.org) for the forums. The previous link takes you to the front page. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-message-boards-do-you-go-to-for-specialised-knowledge/306539/3 "2005-06-02T13:25:38Z")
[For Credit](http://www.debt-consolidation-credit-repair-service.com/phpBB2/) repair & discussion. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-message-boards-do-you-go-to-for-specialised-knowledge/306539/4 "2005-06-02T13:35:23Z")
[UtterAccess](http://utteraccess.com/) is a great site for MS Access Q&A ---
**Author:** ![Walkabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walkabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walkabout)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-message-boards-do-you-go-to-for-specialised-knowledge/306539/5 "2005-06-02T13:44:53Z")
[Fodors.com forums](http://www.fodors.com/forums/?lid=Forums&lpos=top_nav) for travel. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-message-boards-do-you-go-to-for-specialised-knowledge/306539/6 "2005-06-02T13:46:17Z")
Theatre is All That Chat ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-message-boards-do-you-go-to-for-specialised-knowledge/306539/7 "2005-06-02T19:13:49Z")
[Scubadiving.com’s Diver 2 Diver Board](http://dive.scubadiving.com/talk) for all things SCUBA. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-message-boards-do-you-go-to-for-specialised-knowledge/306539/8 "2005-06-02T19:18:06Z")
[MotoModders.net](http://www.motomodders.net) for info on modding my cell phone. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-message-boards-do-you-go-to-for-specialised-knowledge/306539/9 "2005-06-02T19:22:46Z")
For saving money [fatwallet](http://www.fatwallet.com/) and [slickdealz](http://forums.slickdeals.net/) ---
**Author:** ![qubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f07891/32.png) [@qubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qubed)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-message-boards-do-you-go-to-for-specialised-knowledge/306539/10 "2005-06-02T19:24:35Z")
[AV Forums](http://www.avforums.com/) for audio visual stuff. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-message-boards-do-you-go-to-for-specialised-knowledge/306539/11 "2005-06-02T19:33:36Z")
These probably won’t be of interest to many but… For Japanese questions, the [Japanese Forum](http://www.animelyrics.com/forum/board_show.pl?bid=8&pg=1) at Anime Lyrics (yeah, yeah, I know) is one of the most helpful (with native speakers) on the web. There’s also sci.lang.japan but it’s a lot less newbie friendly. For cosmetics stuff, I like the forums at [Makeup Alley](http://www.makeupalley.com/). For fashion and shoe trends, I check out the [Fashion Spot](http://www.thefashionspot.com/forums/index.php?). For household stuff, [That Home Site!](http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/) is kinda old-school but very helpful. ---
**Author:** ![Ross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-message-boards-do-you-go-to-for-specialised-knowledge/306539/12 "2005-06-02T20:13:56Z")
People in the UK who use NTL for their phones, cable tv or internet can commiserate at [NTL Hell](http://www.ntlhell.co.uk/forums/) with the thousands of others who realised the truth too late. Useful advice on managing the services and the customer complaint lines, etc. They even sorted me out by explaining how to get my browser to use an ntl proxy server in another city because the one here is crap. NTL wanted £1.50 a minute to give me the same advice. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-message-boards-do-you-go-to-for-specialised-knowledge/306539/13 "2005-06-02T20:14:47Z")
The [ArsTechnica forums](http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/ubb.x) (especially the [Mac Ach](http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/ubb.x/a/frm/f/8300945231)) for all my computer geekery needs. ---
**Author:** ![Crimmsy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Crimmsy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crimmsy)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-message-boards-do-you-go-to-for-specialised-knowledge/306539/14 "2005-06-02T23:23:53Z")
[Slowtwitch.com](http://www.slowtwitch.com) for all things triathlon. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-message-boards-do-you-go-to-for-specialised-knowledge/306539/15 "2005-06-03T00:25:48Z")
[MousePad](http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Landshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/77aa72/32.png) [@Landshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Landshark)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-message-boards-do-you-go-to-for-specialised-knowledge/306539/16 "2005-06-03T00:55:03Z")
I find the forums at [Broadbandreports](http://www.broadbandreports.com/forums/all) great for a wide variety of topics, especially (for my needs) computer and Internet related matters. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-message-boards-do-you-go-to-for-specialised-knowledge/306539/17 "2005-06-03T01:28:07Z")
For Romance Novel talk, there’s none better than All About Romance’s[messageboards.](http://www.likesbooks.com/boards.html) ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-message-boards-do-you-go-to-for-specialised-knowledge/306539/18 "2005-06-03T07:35:17Z")
For **Woodworking** questions the message boards at [www.woodcentral.com](http://www.woodcentral.com) is the best place to go. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-message-boards-do-you-go-to-for-specialised-knowledge/306539/19 "2005-06-03T11:32:19Z")
Foir game info, [www.boardgamegeek.com](http://www.boardgamegeek.com) is wonderful. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-message-boards-do-you-go-to-for-specialised-knowledge/306539/20 "2005-06-03T11:53:18Z")
[Bicycling magazine’s forum.](http://forums.bicycling.com/index.jspa) It’s one of those where I stay out of the “general” area. But there’s some good info there for maintenance, racing, buying and training. There’s some grumpy sons a bitches there, but you can get good info. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-message-boards-do-you-go-to-for-specialised-knowledge/306539.md?page=2)