# Why isn't The Straight Dope very popular? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 1, 2020, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837 "2020-04-01T21:28:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![a\_ant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@a\_ant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a_ant)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837/142 "2020-04-08T20:13:03Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Well, nobody is good at that. At least not in definitive, conclusive ways. That’s why there are so many religions and philosophical movements. Human beings are well-equipped to discuss these things but not to come to indisputable conclusions. Cecil is, as long as, like me, you are looking for a more scientific approach to philosophy instead of a more philosophical approach to philosophy. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837/143 "2020-04-08T21:56:45Z")
Can you give us some examples of columns where Cecil displayed a scientific approach to philosophy? ---
**Author:** ![a\_ant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@a\_ant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a_ant)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837/144 "2020-04-08T22:43:52Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Well, nobody is good at that. At least not in definitive, conclusive ways. That’s why there are so many religions and philosophical movements. Human beings are well-equipped to discuss these things but not to come to indisputable conclusions. Cecil is, as long as, like me, you are looking for a more scientific approach to philosophy instead of a more philosophical approach to philosophy. ---
**Author:** ![a\_ant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@a\_ant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a_ant)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837/145 "2020-04-08T22:49:23Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Can you give us some examples of columns where Cecil displayed a scientific approach to philosophy? Well I don’t want to open a can here, but I was thinking of the article where he answered why Christianity has been so prominent for so long, or something to that effect. His approach was unapologetic and from the standpoint of why people accept it from a logical stand point, and not " because it is true" or some such, which I know is an over simplification. Perhaps religion is not quite the same as philosophy, but to me they are similar enough that it shows what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837/146 "2020-04-08T23:15:22Z")
I presume that you’re talking about this column: > **[Why did Christianity become so popular?](https://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1167/why-did-christianity-become-so-popular/)** I would call that a historical approach rather than a scientific approach. He doesn’t give any scientific proof of his assertions, just an attempt at putting them into a historical perspective. Furthermore, he’s talking about the history of Christianity, not its truth. He makes no attempt to prove the truth or falsity of Christian beliefs. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837/147 "2020-04-09T21:59:42Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > The Straight Dope is not popular because it’s not cool, and doesn’t even try to hang out with the cool boards to try to become cool. The Dope insists on wearing pocket protectors in a button down white shirt buttoned up to the collar without a tie. The Dope wears socks and sandals, **a pair of black rim glasses held together with tape where they join over the nose**. The Dope has bowl haircut and a cow lick. It’s pretty much hopeless. Damnit, you won’t even help people do their homework. The other boards have the Straight Dope’s lunch money and bicycle, the Dope has to take the long way home to avoid getting the crap kicked out of it by the bully boards. The Straight Dope knows that the name for that sector of spectacles is called the **bridge**. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837/148 "2020-04-09T22:34:57Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > The Straight Dope knows that the name for that sector of spectacles is called the **bridge**. 'Cause there’s a lot of fart smellers here. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837/149 "2020-04-09T22:47:38Z")
Mmmm…farts… ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837/150 "2020-04-10T00:39:26Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I would say that the single most predominant characteristic of this board is that it tends to operate at a higher average intellectual level than most others, and has a higher than usual proportion of posters who are educated professionals and are knowledgeable and insightful. Leaning liberal is not some intrinsic nature of the board or its founders; it is, in my view, merely a consequence of being aware of evidence-based truths, which in the broader American context is unfortunately perceived as being “liberal”. Damn, that’s well-articulated. I was a Conservative when I got here (well, a Pseudo-Libertarian, with a lot of views that hadn’t been challenged or played out). I’ve “leaned more Left” since joining, as a result of hanging around smart people. > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Every time this question arises, I compare this site to Reddit, which is vastly larger but also much younger… I was about to say “So, the Dope is like Reddit for grownups!” But then the fart jokes started… ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837/151 "2020-04-11T02:30:18Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > Define “nice”. Heh, no. You know it when you see it. Knowing nice from not for most is pretty clear by preschool or kindergarten. See? That was not nice. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837/152 "2020-04-11T02:33:25Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > The Straight Dope knows that the name for that sector of spectacles is called the **bridge**. OK, and next week start giving me _twice_ your lunch money every day. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837/153 "2020-04-12T08:33:11Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > even more than leaning left, I believe over 60% here are atheists. I know because I once asked. That’s way,way above the number in the US or most first world countries. The SDMB overall does skew leftist, atheist, and male. What’s more, the personality typology INTJ is said to be unusually predominant around here. I’m leftist but neither atheist nor male. As typology INFP, I match the SDMB 2 out of 4. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837/154 "2020-04-12T08:38:09Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > I don’t think the SDMB is that good at answering deep philosophical/religious/political/etc. questions, most of which have been debated for millenia. We often can discuss the historical background to those questions and explain the boundaries of what can be known. We are not that good at answering the essential questions though. Discussions of the historical background of those questions and explanations of their boundaries is all I would want from _anyplace_. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837/155 "2020-04-13T00:15:23Z")
My question is, have we become any more popular during the recent Covidness? More members, more posts per day, more time spent per visit, higher overall ranking, anything at all? As for why we’re not more popular overall, it’s because over the past 20+ years we’ve turned from a new community into a small town, the type of small town where everyone knows everyone else’s business and we don’t take to strangers. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837/156 "2020-04-13T05:26:28Z")
I think it’s because social media got everybody used to expressing themselves in 200 characters or less, and our posts are tl;dr with not enough cute abbreviations. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837/157 "2020-04-13T12:01:53Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > I think it’s because social media got everybody used to expressing themselves in 200 characters or less, and our posts are tl;dr with not enough cute abbreviations. Hey! We’re plenty cute! When someone shows up with a new puppy or kitten, we (most of the time) insist on pictures. That cute enough for you? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837/158 "2020-04-13T14:54:36Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Hey! We’re plenty cute! When someone shows up with a new puppy or kitten, we (most of the time) insist on pictures. That cute enough for you? 😛 LOL UR RITE +1 #cutepuppies #cutekitties ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837/159 "2020-04-13T15:24:51Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > LOL UR RITE +1 #cutepuppies #cutekitties No! UR the cute one! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837/160 "2020-04-13T16:40:21Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > I think it’s because social media got everybody used to expressing themselves in 200 characters or less, and our posts are tl;dr with not enough cute abbreviations. We also don’t allow avatars (if you don’t want 'em), animated gifs or indeed, pics of any sort in the postings themselves. I have described The Dope to people who are unfamiliar with it as The Grey Lady of message boards. In other words, we’re like the New York Times. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837/161 "2020-04-13T17:00:58Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > Define “nice”. It’s not nice to begin posting in any forum without first reading the rules, forum descriptions, FAQ, and lots of posts. Speaking only for myself, if someone initially won’t do that minimum, I’d rather they not post. The solution to that is to not post on that subject until you improve your arguments, or stop posting on those subjects entirely. I’m not talking about people who don’t follow the rules, I’m talking about people who are new, and may not be quite up to the level of the discussions around here- they get lit up in terms of defending their positions, etc… in a NOT very gentle way, often with loads of condescension, snark and general smart-assedness. And I don’t mean religious posters either, although they do get an outsized share of this. I just mean people who may hold views different from the mainstream, or who merely may not have articulated their point well. It doesn’t matter; we have a large contingent of seemingly bitter, angry, sarcastic smart-asses who despite being decades out of college, \*\*\*still \*\*\*seem to delight in showing how smart they are relative to others. And we have another group of ideological extremists who deal in absolutes, as if they are RIGHT, and everyone else is wrong. Hell, this kind of BS is frustrating and aggravating to me, and I’ve been here for a long time and posted a whole lot. I can completely see how someone might chime in on a topic and get a hostile response, and say “Fuck this… I’ll go use Reddit”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-straight-dope-very-popular/850837.md?page=9)