# why is this site so addictive? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 14, 2002, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-so-addictive/103612 "2002-04-14T20:21:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-so-addictive/103612/1 "2002-04-14T20:21:55Z")
Now I love the straight-dope site, but I spend far to much time here, answering other peoples pointless questions which no one ever reads, reading mindless factoids and raving opinions. Why can’t I stop? Any other self-confessed addicts out there, and ideas how to stop? ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-so-addictive/103612/2 "2002-04-14T21:41:41Z")
Since I am not in college any more, I have no other forum for those heated “who would win in a fight: Superman or Godzilla” debates. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-so-addictive/103612/3 "2002-04-14T21:44:32Z")
You have to admit that it isn’t good for you, before you can give it up. I am not ready to make such a statement. Next… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-so-addictive/103612/4 "2002-04-14T22:13:00Z")
What a silly question. Superman, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Jojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecd19e/32.png) [@Jojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jojo)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-so-addictive/103612/5 "2002-04-14T22:45:42Z")
Superman is flying around feeling really horny and looking for some action. Suddenly he sees Wonder Woman lying on the ground with her legs open so he zooms down and - BANG - in, out and away in one smooth move. Wonder Woman says “Wow, what was THAT?”. The Invisible Man replies “I dunno but my ass hurts like hell” ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-so-addictive/103612/6 "2002-04-14T22:47:07Z")
I figure **death** will slow me down. Until then, no way. ---
**Author:** ![AndrewL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-so-addictive/103612/7 "2002-04-14T22:48:04Z")
But what if Godzilla ate some green kryptonite first? ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-so-addictive/103612/8 "2002-04-14T22:54:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scm1001 \* > Now I love the straight-dope site, but I spend far to much time here, answering other peoples pointless questions which no one ever reads, reading mindless factoids and raving opinions. Why can’t I stop? Because it beats the snot out of the nonsense you get on Yahoo! message boards. Here, if you say something, you damn well better have something to substantiate your view. ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-so-addictive/103612/9 "2002-04-15T12:24:12Z")
After reflection, I feel that in my case it is (i) simply misplaced effort, e.g. rather than doing what I should be doing but hate (paper filing, etc) etc, it is much better searching the internet for the economics of ball bearings, or quantum mechanics, and get a buzz out of answering a someones question, and (ii) a nerdish delight in stupid, useless facts. Must get back to work, must get back to work… ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-so-addictive/103612/10 "2002-04-15T12:30:32Z")
Oh come now. 119 posts and you’re talking about addiction? Talk to some of the dopers with several thousand posts to their names if you want to see some serious back-monkeys. An you want to stop? I’m sorry, but that phrase doesn’t make any sense. And what is this work thing of which you speak? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-so-addictive/103612/11 "2002-04-15T12:58:04Z")
**yojimbo** introduced me to it. Here **yojimbo** , try some of this crack. It’s fun! Nah, you won’t get addicted; that’s a myth… ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-so-addictive/103612/12 "2002-04-15T13:33:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Why A Duck \* > \*\*Oh come now. 119 posts and you’re talking about addiction? Talk to some of the dopers with several thousand posts to their names if you want to see some serious back-monkeys. > > An you want to stop? I’m sorry, but that phrase doesn’t make any sense. And what is this work thing of which you speak? \*\* well thats about 100 posts since the new board started in march, so give me a chance. + I like to lurk, so thats 1000s of posts read. Definition of addiction - if you think you have a problem then its probably too late already ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-so-addictive/103612/13 "2002-04-15T13:45:07Z")
I prefer a Catch-22 definition myself. If you’re sane enough to realize that you have an addiction, than you can’t possibly be addicted. It’s only those people who claim they can give it up anytime that are truly hooked. \*\* \*\* This applies to the SDMB only and is not meant to be a blanket statement on chemical or other other behavioral addictions. ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-so-addictive/103612/14 "2002-04-15T15:19:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scm1001 \*Any other self-confessed addicts out there, and ideas how to stop? \*\* Great topic! The ones who know how to stop are no longer here to tell us how they did it.😛 I confess to being an addict. My excuses are – My job is boring (actuary) – I want to retire anyway. Both excuses are bogus, of course. ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-so-addictive/103612/15 "2002-04-15T16:03:08Z")
“-- My job is boring (actuary) – I want to retire anyway” scary job - you will be able to work out exactly how many years left you have left after you retire. I sort of would not rather know ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-so-addictive/103612/16 "2002-04-15T16:23:49Z")
[Moderator Hat ON] Moving to IMHO. [Moderator Hat OFF] ---
**Author:** ![Doubting\_Robert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@Doubting\_Robert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doubting_Robert)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-so-addictive/103612/17 "2002-04-15T18:11:06Z")
Hi. My name is Robert. I am an SDMB addict. _(Hi, Robert!)_ Ideas on how to quit? If I had any good ones, I wouldn’t be posting to this (or any other) thread. ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-so-addictive/103612/18 "2002-04-15T18:27:33Z")
I feel your pain. I love message boards. I read about 5-6 different ones on different topics. However, here I just keep on reading. Over 700 posts (actually, over 800 with the crash) is huge for me…I usually get sick of a board before I get 200 posts. The message board that I’m most active in other than here is over at Anandtech, where I have about 225 posts. I had one other board I used to go to where I had about 375 posts. The answer: This board is NEVER lacking in interesting discussion. There are so many different things being discussed here, and the people are fun, nice, and of above average intelligence. All of that adds up to an interesting, witty discussion with tons of active threads. Jman ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-so-addictive/103612/19 "2002-04-15T18:47:10Z")
What else would I do at work?