About the Dead Parrot
Why "Dead Parrot"?
If you have to ask, you might be in the wrong place. But we'll explain anyway, because we're generous like that.
The name comes from our love of Monty Python and British comedy in general — the absurd, the sharp, the beautifully silly. It also nods to the nostalgia of BBS-era computing, when connecting to a remote system over a phone line was genuinely exciting, and communities formed around text on a screen. We thought that deserved a revival, or at least a fond tribute.
The parrot may be dead, but the conversation isn't.
What We're Not
We're not a social media platform. There are no engagement feeds, no algorithmic timelines, no promoted content, and nobody is tracking your eyeballs to sell you things. We don't have infinite scroll because we don't need you to be slightly addicted to us.
We're also not trying to be the next big thing. We're trying to be a good small thing.
What We Are
A slow, text-friendly clubhouse for people who like British humour and good conversation. The forum is the main gathering place — it's where we discuss comedy, culture, books, telly, and whatever else comes up. Thoughtful posts are encouraged. Deep dives are celebrated. Quoting sketches at each other is practically a requirement.
For those who want to go further, there's also a proper old-school BBS running behind the scenes — the retro annex, complete with door games and ANSI art. It's entirely optional, but if terminals and text-mode interfaces make you happy, you'll love it.
House Rules
We keep these short because we trust adults to behave like adults:
- Be kind. Disagree vigorously, but never cruelly.
- No bigotry. Full stop.
- Stay (loosely) on-topic. Tangents are fine — that's how good conversations work — but know the difference between a tangent and a hijack.
- Prefer substance over trolling. If your post's only purpose is to wind someone up, reconsider.
That's it. If you can manage those four things, you'll fit in fine.