# a little help **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 2, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-help/670197 "2013-10-02T17:51:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sentrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@sentrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sentrix)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-help/670197/1 "2013-10-02T17:51:40Z")
i need a mentor on this board. as you will. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-help/670197/2 "2013-10-02T17:54:24Z")
Moving to IMHO from Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![sentrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@sentrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sentrix)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-help/670197/3 "2013-10-02T17:55:13Z")
thank you. ---
**Author:** ![want2befree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3e96dc/32.png) [@want2befree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2befree)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-help/670197/4 "2013-10-02T17:55:23Z")
What do you need a mentor for? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-help/670197/5 "2013-10-02T17:55:58Z")
In what way do you think you need a mentor? Personally, I think you’re doing fine. If you think you’re coming off abrasive or tangential, well, you wouldn’t be the first. The best advice is to simply read much more than you post. I doubt anyone will have the time or inclination to do anything more than comment inthread. ---
**Author:** ![sentrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@sentrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sentrix)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-help/670197/6 "2013-10-02T18:02:54Z")
ok i don’t mean to be abrasive or pithy. i would sincerely like not to be called a ‘jerk’ anyway. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-help/670197/7 "2013-10-02T18:12:10Z")
> [@sentrix](#): > > ok i don’t mean to be abrasive or pithy. i would sincerely like not to be called a ‘jerk’ > > anyway. Have you recognized what you’re doing that leads you to being accused of “jerkish” behavior? We like pithy; abrasive? Not so much if it really is just jerkishness… ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-help/670197/8 "2013-10-02T18:16:17Z")
> [@sentrix](#): > > i need a mentor on this board. as you will. I’ll do it. I have a lot of really good ideas. For instance, how are you at typing umlauts? ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-help/670197/9 "2013-10-02T18:21:43Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > I’ll do it. I have a lot of really good ideas. For instance, how are you at typing umlauts? I usually make an “¨” by taking the top two pixels from a “X”… you can’t make an umlaut without break a few x’s. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-help/670197/10 "2013-10-02T18:30:05Z")
> [@Asympotically\_fat](#): > > I usually make an “¨” by taking the top two pixels from a “X”… you can’t make an umlaut without break a few x’s. OK, you’re going on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-help/670197/11 "2013-10-02T18:53:17Z")
> [@sentrix](#): > > i need a mentor on this board. as you will. People have been giving you advice since you got on the board - why not try to work with what we’ve already given you? Namely - slow down. Look around. Figure things out. Let’s start with this - why in the world did you think this was a thread for Cafe Society? Knowing the forums and what they’re for is a pretty good basis to have. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-help/670197/12 "2013-10-02T18:55:32Z")
> [@Asympotically\_fat](#): > > I usually make an “¨” by taking the top two pixels from a “X”… you can’t make an umlaut without break a few x’s. In the name of all that is holy, how long have you been waiting for a conversation that brings up creating umlauts to whip out that gem? ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-help/670197/13 "2013-10-02T18:58:05Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > OK, you’re going on the list. Ithankyou…the matinee performance will be on Sunday ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-help/670197/14 "2013-10-02T19:01:03Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > In the name of all that is holy, how long have you been waiting for a conversation that brings up creating umlauts to whip out that gem? This is the honest truth: I thought of that joke in about 1997 when reading a book about linguistics, this is the first chance I have had to use it. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-help/670197/15 "2013-10-02T19:05:39Z")
Hi, My name is Tor. I’ll be your mentor. think about it… ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-help/670197/16 "2013-10-02T19:21:50Z")
> [@sentrix](#): > > ok i don’t mean to be abrasive or pithy. i would sincerely like not to be called a ‘jerk’ > > anyway. OK, here goes. 1. Start using capitalization and punctuation. When I see a lack of effort on this front, I assume I’m corresponding with a teenager and have a hard time taking anything too seriously. We’ve had (maybe still do) teenagers as regulars on this board before and some were wonderfully intelligent; they used proper grammar and punctuation too. 2. Stick to the thread topic. It’s OK to crack a joke or make a tangential comment, but not all the time. 3. You tend to pop into threads only to deliver short, irrelevant posts or to offer up your opinion on the matter without adding much. For example in this Great Debates thread: [What difference would it make if Atheist ruled the world?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=703724) your input so far in this thread has been: > [@](#): > > a belief system is a crutch in my humble opinion. Irrelevant opinion. > [@](#): > > the new york atheists beg to differ. Not sure who you are addressing and why. > [@](#): > > same here. > > sticks and stones may break my bones but whips and chains excite me. Lady Gaga quote? > [@](#): > > go inverse. religions rule the world. give atheists a go. > > just think if we had no religious restrictions what a wonderful world it would be. Not much content there to offer. > [@](#): > > i believe it because without religion the world would be free. > > take a look at the political situation globally. more wars have been started in the name of religion or who is goring who’s gawd then anything else. You had no cite for this, and it was later disproven with a cite. > [@](#): > > yeah mikiel. > > i want to ask. what do you need from religion? what has it given you? OK. Engaging at least. > [@](#): > > i’ve had more syrians weeping on my shoulder than you have had hot dinners. > > can never go back. Presumptuous, patronizing and without further details perhaps even false. > [@](#): > > i have been in situations in gender based, religious places that i was so shit scared for my life you wouldn’t believe. See above. > [@](#): > > talk islam. talk christians. buddhists. ??? > [@](#): > > shhh let him google. Not adding much to the debate. Think before you post and try to make it relevant. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-help/670197/17 "2013-10-02T19:23:58Z")
> [@Asympotically\_fat](#): > > I usually make an “¨” by taking the top two pixels from a “X”… you can’t make an umlaut without break a few x’s. (Golf clap) ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-help/670197/18 "2013-10-02T19:27:39Z")
Less style more substance. Try complete sentences to start. Dial back the nonsense and 'tude, Dude! These few simple things would take you a long way to finding a less jerkish voice. ---
**Author:** ![want2befree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3e96dc/32.png) [@want2befree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2befree)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-help/670197/19 "2013-10-02T19:51:33Z")
What Leaffan said. Especially the capitalization and grammar. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-help/670197/20 "2013-10-02T19:56:58Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > People have been giving you advice since you got on the board - why not try to work with what we’ve already given you? Namely - slow down. Look around. Figure things out. > > Let’s start with this - why in the world did you think this was a thread for Cafe Society? Knowing the forums and what they’re for is a pretty good basis to have. We have a volunteer! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-help/670197.md?page=2)