# Your forum topics are screwy **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 14, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958 "2011-07-14T01:54:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958/21 "2011-07-14T12:43:39Z")
\< sigh \> So, no one actually answers him, folks just respond snidely and snarkily, and then are surprised that he’s upset and says he’s leaving? In case you return, **JimH52** : formalized forums using academic categories (like “economics, history, physics”) don’t work for us. We get questions and discussions that are too difficult to classify. So instead of classifying by topic, we started out by classifying by “type of discussion.” - Comments on Cecil’s Column was meant for discussion of any of Cecil’s columns, which is the basis of our existence as a website. - Discussions about factual questions with factual answers go in General Questions forum - Discussions about questions that have no answers (politics, religion) go in Great Debates - Discussions about personal issues go in MPSIMS - Discussions about personal opinions go in IMHO - Flaming and insults go in BBQ Pit. THere are a couple of more recent forums that do go by “topic”, thus Cafe Society for discussion of entertainment/arts and Game Room for discussion of games/sports. There is a logic to it, but I agree that it’s a little peculiar and takes some getting used to. I hope you’ll overlook the somewhat childish responses you’ve got so far in this thread, and reconsider. ---
**Author:** ![Roseanne\_Valerie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e95f7d/32.png) [@Roseanne\_Valerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roseanne_Valerie)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958/22 "2011-07-14T13:00:11Z")
Urk. ---
**Author:** ![Roseanne\_Valerie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e95f7d/32.png) [@Roseanne\_Valerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roseanne_Valerie)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958/23 "2011-07-14T13:03:00Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > \< sigh \> So, no one actually answers him, folks just respond snidely and snarkily, and then are surprised that he’s upset and says he’s leaving? > > In case you return, **JimH52** : formalized forums using academic categories (like “economics, history, physics”) don’t work for us. We get questions and discussions that are too difficult to classify. So instead of classifying by topic, we started out by classifying by “type of discussion.” > > - Comments on Cecil’s Column was meant for discussion of any of Cecil’s columns, which is the basis of our existence as a website. > - Discussions about factual questions with factual answers go in General Questions forum > - Discussions about questions that have no answers (politics, religion) go in Great Debates > - Discussions about personal issues go in MPSIMS > - Discussions about personal opinions go in IMHO > - Flaming and insults go in BBQ Pit. > THere are a couple of more recent forums that do go by “topic”, thus Cafe Society for discussion of entertainment/arts and Game Room for discussion of games/sports. > > There is a logic to it, but I agree that it’s a little peculiar and takes some getting used to. I hope you’ll overlook the somewhat childish responses you’ve got so far in this thread, and reconsider. Some mods just got chastened, I do believe. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958/24 "2011-07-14T13:07:10Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > \< sigh \> So, no one actually answers him, folks just respond snidely and snarkily, and then are surprised that he’s upset and says he’s leaving? I didn’t get the feeling people were surprised that he left. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958/25 "2011-07-14T13:35:05Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > \< sigh \> So, no one actually answers him, folks just respond snidely and snarkily, and then are surprised that he’s upset and says he’s leaving? I was kind of annoyed by the insta-snark, too, but I honestly had no idea what he was talking about. I would have had no way of responding to his concern if I wanted to, as he gave no clue as to what exactly he found so screwy. Glad you were able to figure it out. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958/26 "2011-07-14T13:39:27Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > \< sigh \> So, no one actually answers him, folks just respond snidely and snarkily, and then are surprised that he’s upset and says he’s leaving? No one answerd him because he didn’t appear to ask a question, other than “you don’t mind that so few people return?” All he said was “your forums are screwy.” No explanation, no comment, nothin’. Heck, I’m as polite as the next person (assuming that person is _very_ polite!) but I think he got the responses he deserved. ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958/27 "2011-07-14T13:41:04Z")
> [@Roseanne\_Valerie](#): > > Some mods just got chastened, I do believe. The very first response was from a mod. That was my first thought as well (that it was inappropriate, not that the mod was correct). ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958/28 "2011-07-14T13:46:00Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Glad you were able to figure it out. My first thought (after that the snark wasn’t really needed) was the same thing Dexter “figured out”. It wasn’t a really well thought out OP, but I could see what he meant (assuming both of us got it right). ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958/29 "2011-07-14T13:48:31Z")
The Dope is unique. It’s not going to be a “fit” for everyone, so it’s okay with me if he didn’t want to hang around. But we snarked first. Reminded me of me a few years back, actually.😉 Q ---
**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:** [July 14, 2011, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958/30 "2011-07-14T14:05:11Z")
> [@choie](#): > > No one answerd him because he didn’t appear to ask a question, other than “you don’t mind that so few people return?” All he said was “your forums are screwy.” No explanation, no comment, nothin’. > > Heck, I’m as polite as the next person (assuming that person is _very_ polite!) but I think he got the responses he deserved. Maybe he didn’t deserve an answer from\* you\*, but he did deserve an answer from the mods. And Dex was able to somehow glean what the OP might have meant, and I was able to glean it too. It really wasn’t that hard. Marley did ask for clarification, though, so that’s cool. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958/31 "2011-07-14T14:53:39Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Maroon? I doubt it. I don’t think they had an internet connection. > **[Maroons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maroon_(people))** > > Black Seminoles, Bushinengue, Jamaican Maroons, Mauritian Maroons, Kalungas, Machapunga, Palenqueros, Quilombola > Historical groups > Maroons are descendants of Africans in the Americas and islands of the Indian Ocean who escaped from slavery, through flight or manumission, and formed their own settlements. They often mixed with Indigenous peoples, eventually evolving into separate creole cultures such as the Garifuna and the Mascogos. > Maroon entered English around the 1590s, from the French adj... ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Why](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/96bed5/32.png) [@Doctor\_Why](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Why)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958/32 "2011-07-14T15:27:24Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > \< sigh \> So, no one actually answers him, folks just respond snidely and snarkily, and then are surprised that he’s upset and says he’s leaving? He didn’t even check the place out long enough to see if he liked it or not before signing up and posting about how he didn’t like the place. He’s gonna catch some snark if he’s going to be like that. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958/33 "2011-07-14T15:31:57Z")
For shame, people. On more _refined_ boards, new posters who announce “you guys suck and I’m leaving!” are showered with gentle words, forgiving kindness, and fruit baskets. Go ahead, try it! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958/34 "2011-07-14T15:34:53Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > For shame, people. On more _refined_ boards, new posters who announce “you guys suck and I’m leaving!” are showered with gentle words, forgiving kindness, and fruit baskets. > > Go ahead, try it! **hefts fruit basket** **eyes Vinyl Turnip** **eyes Dex** **puts down fruit basket** ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958/35 "2011-07-14T15:41:29Z")
Hey, that’s a nice fruit basket. Mind if I take it? ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958/36 "2011-07-14T15:44:26Z")
Post #1 didn’t deserve the snark, but post #3 did. Just sayin’… ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Why](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/96bed5/32.png) [@Doctor\_Why](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Why)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958/37 "2011-07-14T15:45:28Z")
I say, **Vinyl Turnip** , can’t a man enjoy his Tanqueray and Schweppes in peace without the inane chatter of the rabble? ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958/38 "2011-07-14T15:46:51Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > \< sigh \> So, no one actually answers him, folks just respond snidely and snarkily, and then are surprised that he’s upset and says he’s leaving? But he didn’t really ask a question, all he did was say that the forum topics are screwy. He didn’t elaborate, he didn’t ask for clarification, he didn’t sound like he wanted explanation. He just bitched that we don’t do things the way he thinks we should, and didn’t even elaborate on what that should be. Of course he got snark. Newbie posts a whine without any content that suggests we don’t do things _right_. What is there to answer? ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958/39 "2011-07-14T16:02:12Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > But he didn’t really ask a question, all he did was say that the forum topics are screwy. He didn’t elaborate, he didn’t ask for clarification, he didn’t sound like he wanted explanation. He just bitched that we don’t do things the way he thinks we should, and didn’t even elaborate on what that should be. I disagree. It’s clear to anyone, and especially to a newcomer, that our forums are screwy. Just because we’re used to them, that don’t mean they’re not pretty much off-the-wall. They’re not categorized in the way 94.2% of other boards are categorized. Even long-time members are occasionally perplexed “mundane and pointless” being applied to, say, an obituary. I don’t think it takes any great leap of imagination to understand what a new comer means when they say that they don’t unnerstand our forums. You think the HIS comment was “bitching”?? I guess it’s all a matter of how one reads tone. I read it as a somewhat cutesy way of saying, “hey, this is confusin’.” One can, remember, read “good morning” as a dismissal. > [@Dr Why](#): > > He didn’t even check the place out long enough to see if he liked it or not before signing up and posting about how he didn’t like the place. He’s gonna catch some snark if he’s going to be like that. He has over 80 posts. That seems to me to be checking the place out, plenty. ---
**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:** [July 14, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958/40 "2011-07-14T16:10:33Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Hey, that’s a nice fruit basket. Mind if I take it? When you’re done with the basket, can I have it? I have travel plans. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-forum-topics-are-screwy/588958.md?page=3)