# \#sdmb\_rules-and-notes **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/tag/sdmb-rules-and-notes/118.md [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) --- ## [Thread and Topic Bans for Politics and Elections](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-and-topic-bans-for-politics-and-elections/847726)
**Author:** [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2026, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-and-topic-bans-for-politics-and-elections/847726 "2026-09-03T03:32:32Z")
John Stamos Left Ear, From Politics and Elections and Great Debates, until 3/9/20 Manwich is banned from the “Mike” Bloomberg Presidential campaign, 2020 until Feburary 22, 2020 DrDeth is forbidden from P&E until 4/15/… --- ## [How to avoid the YouTube posting bug](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-avoid-the-youtube-posting-bug/1007499)
**Author:** [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2026, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-avoid-the-youtube-posting-bug/1007499 "2026-07-21T16:39:08Z")
You’re trying to post a YouTube video, but you get a popup saying “You can’t embed media items in a post.” Here’s how to avoid that. There are a couple of minor variations. I haven’t written my post yet Write your pos… --- ## [Muting (Hiding) by Thread, Tag or Forum (Category). Alerts for new threads by tag or category. Also doing a linked reply & more tips](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muting-hiding-by-thread-tag-or-forum-category-alerts-for-new-threads-by-tag-or-category-also-doing-a-linked-reply-more-tips/997946)
**Author:** [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [June 29, 2026, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muting-hiding-by-thread-tag-or-forum-category-alerts-for-new-threads-by-tag-or-category-also-doing-a-linked-reply-more-tips/997946 "2026-06-29T21:03:21Z")
Table of Contents: Muting a thread is really simple Muting or Tracking a group of threads with the same Tag Muting a Category / Forum Alternate way to Mute Tag or Category (Forum) To Find your Muted threads Editing … --- ## [In Memoriam](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-memoriam/489917)
**Author:** [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Replies:** 89\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2026, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-memoriam/489917 "2026-06-11T07:26:06Z")
Over the years the Straight Dope community has included a huge variety of memorable and remarkable people. Posters come and go for their own reasons, but some have left us much sooner than we would have liked. This is … --- ## [Changes to Hijacking Rules in the Politics and Elections Forum](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-to-hijacking-rules-in-the-politics-and-elections-forum/1029405)
**Author:** [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2026, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-to-hijacking-rules-in-the-politics-and-elections-forum/1029405 "2026-04-22T01:15:17Z")
The P&E moderator staff are announcing a change to our rules with respect to hijacking. First, some background: The more stringent current hijacking rules came into existence in 2020, largely authored by Jonathan Chanc… --- ## [New Rules for Politics and Elections – January 2020](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rules-for-politics-and-elections-january-2020/845727)
**Author:** [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2026, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rules-for-politics-and-elections-january-2020/845727 "2026-04-21T15:26:33Z")
Moderation in Great Debates and Politics and Elections In general, Great Debates and Politics and Elections are the most contentious fora on the SDMB. Because of that, you’ll find that moderation is more active and pro… --- ## [ImgBB on an iPhone, steps to display images for the SDMB](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imgbb-on-an-iphone-steps-to-display-images-for-the-sdmb/1024594)
**Author:** [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2025, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imgbb-on-an-iphone-steps-to-display-images-for-the-sdmb/1024594 "2025-11-06T17:21:01Z")
In @Mean\_Mr.Mustard’s monthly photography threads (here for Nov 2025 ➜ \*\*Monthly Photo Competition #36– November, 2025 – “A Whole Lot of \_\_\_\_\_”\*\* \[Poll added\] ■ ) we recently discovered that images hosted on imgur are no… --- ## [\*\*\*\* Forum Rules: PLEASE READ! \*\*\*\*](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-rules-please-read/329913)
**Author:** [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2024, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-rules-please-read/329913 "2024-03-03T17:14:07Z")
We’ve consolidated and slightly revised the Rules for Cafe Society. Basically, we’ve put one rule per post, for easier reference. Please note that this forum is for discussions related to arts, entertainment, and similar… --- ## [\*\*\* Forum rules and FAQ: Read this first! UPDATED October 3rd, 2014 \*\*\*](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-rules-and-faq-read-this-first-updated-october-3rd-2014/438452)
**Author:** [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2021, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-rules-and-faq-read-this-first-updated-october-3rd-2014/438452 "2021-02-10T17:53:53Z")
What kinds of threads should go in this forum? Any threads which are about sports belong in this forum, as well as about games of any kind. Any games being held on the boards, such as Mafia games, should instead be in … --- ## [Beginner's Guide to Glossary of Terms on Straight Dope Message Boards](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beginners-guide-to-glossary-of-terms-on-straight-dope-message-boards/307442)
**Author:** [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2005, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beginners-guide-to-glossary-of-terms-on-straight-dope-message-boards/307442 "2005-06-08T12:59:29Z")
There are a number of terms commonly used on the Straight Dope Message Boards, that are basically “in-jokes” or references. There are several threads listing such, I have tried to compile them all into one post here. If… --- ## [Thread and Topic Bans for Great Debates](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-and-topic-bans-for-great-debates/847725)
**Author:** [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 2020, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-and-topic-bans-for-great-debates/847725 "2020-11-29T23:27:09Z")
..Thread Bans: kevlaw Is there a non-bigoted reason to be anti-same-sex-marriage? see post 368 7-27-2021 {What Exit?} DrDeth: Is 'Zoo Hypothesis' Mainstream? . . . Damuri Ajashi is forbidden from PE and GD until … --- ## [New Rules for Great Debates and Elections – January 2020](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rules-for-great-debates-and-elections-january-2020/845726)
**Author:** [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2020, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rules-for-great-debates-and-elections-january-2020/845726 "2020-01-01T17:41:48Z")
Moderation in Great Debates and Politics and Elections In general, Great Debates and Politics and Elections are the most contentious fora on the SDMB. Because of that, you’ll find that moderation is more active and pro… --- ## [Factual Questions Rules & FAQs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/factual-questions-rules-faqs/447561)
**Author:** [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2010, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/factual-questions-rules-faqs/447561 "2010-08-03T13:01:29Z")
Please be aware of the general rules for the Straight Dope Message Boards, which applies to all forums: FAQ - Rules for Posting on the Straight Dope Message Boards includes how to report bad posts, copyright rules, fo… --- ## [Forum Rules](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-rules/849673)
**Author:** [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-rules/849673 "2021-04-08T04:35:15Z")
Updated slightly by Puzzlegal, 12/29/2021: This forum is about anything related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Keep politics and debates out of this forum. Great Debates and Elections may be used for those threads and p… --- ## [Revised Forum Rules for the BBQ Pit: read this before posting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revised-forum-rules-for-the-bbq-pit-read-this-before-posting/487209)
**Author:** [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2017, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revised-forum-rules-for-the-bbq-pit-read-this-before-posting/487209 "2017-08-23T07:49:53Z")
The BBQ Pit is the forum for rants about the outside world or quarrels between posters - often the first turns into the second. Although the standards of discourse are looser than in the other forums, the Pit is NOT a fr…