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The Straight Dope Message Board (abbreviated SDMB) is a collection of forums inspired by Cecil Adams's syndicated column The Straight Dope. The board is owned by the Chicago Reader, and operated mainly by volunteer moderators.
The SDMB uses the popular message board software vBulletin and has over 50,000 members (though the number of active members is much smaller). It is ranked 49th by big-boards.com in number of posts.
Cecil has referred to his readers as "The Teeming Millions." Another term adopted by the board's members for themselves is "Dopers."
Forums
The SDMB currently has nine forums:
- About This Message Board (frequently abbreviated ATMB) is the place for users to comment or inquire about anything related to the message boards. This is also used by members to test formatting and signatures as well as by moderators and administrators to post board announcements.
- Comments on Cecil's Columns (or CCC) is the place for users to comment on columns appearing in Cecil Adams' column or the Straight Dope books, many of which are archived on the Straight Dope website.
- Comments on Staff Reports (or CSR) is the place for users to comment on reports written by staff. These are archived on the Straight Dope website and their contributors are members of the Straight Dope Science Advisory Board (SDSAB).
- General Questions (or GQ) is the place for users to post questions which have factual answers.
- Great Debates (or GD) is the place to discuss serious topics which often cause contention, such as politics and religion.
- Cafe Society (or CS) is the place for users to discuss things relating to art, music, literature and other things of that nature.
- In My Humble Opinion (or IMHO) is the place for users to post polls and threads mainly soliciting the opinions of the other users.
- Mundane Pointless Stuff I Must Share (or MPSIMS) is the place where things which don't fit into any other category goes. The content is not always mundane or pointless, as it has been used for informing the community that members (or family of members) have died as well as a 9/11 thread begun just minutes after the event.
- The BBQ Pit (or "The Pit") is where users post rants against anything, including the board administration and other members. This is the only forum in which excessively bad language is allowed.
History
The message board began in a crude form on America Online, during or before 1997. It existed in this format for a few years before moving to its current website in early 1999. The board has continually evolved, with the administration adding forums as need dictates. The most recent additions were CSR, IMHO, and CS.
In mid-February of 2002, the message board crashed and was not brought online again until March 10, 2002. All posts from December 7, 2001 through the time of the crash were lost, leading members to dub the event "The Winter of our Missed Content."
On April 27, 2004, administrator Ed Zotti announced that the board would be moving to paid subscriptions. As of 2005 guest memberships are free for 30 days and a yearly subscription is $14.95.
See also
Cecil Adams
External links
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