Strangey:
I’ve just recently begun skulking about and posting periodically and haven’t received anything but politeness. I even posted a somewhat caustic post and everyone seemed to take it in good faith that I meant well. Anyway, it’s good that you do not have a HOTMAIL account. Some of the regulars don’t like hotmail very much.
What’s with the Muzak?
Inertia’s entire philosophy in two words - Be nice.
Kellibelli,
Obviously not clever enough.
As a kid, I read books before my parents realized how dangerous they were. I loved John Lennon’s “In His Own Write” (obviously a play on words), and “A Spaniard in the Works”–refering to a wrench (a “spanner” according to the English.) You gotta read the books, I can’t explain them.
I have often reverted to that brand of language just to be a goofball. “Investolator” means investor, “Santir Monocle” means Santa Monica.
P.S. “The Stranger” is a reference to Albert Camus, not Billy Joel.
When the going gets weird, the weird turn Pro.
For whatever it’s worth… I am a relative newbie – been posting about a month, in any event – and have found pleasant, friendly people here. Of course, it helps if you read a bit… I registered in order to answer one question back on December 18th, but didn’t do any more posting until I had reconoitered a bit; my next post wasn’t until after January 1st.
In any case, if you approach this as a group of people who value language skills, debate, and above all the truth about… well… everything… then I think you’ll get along just fine.
Cheers,
Rick
Stranger -
Don’t take it too hard, you’re just the victim of a couple of “in” jokes. The problem with in jokes, is that they can sound like an attack out of left field if you don’t know the joke.
I don’t know quite what the first one refers to - my guess is David B. over in Great Debates who has to moderate threads where people would actually post what you posted - and be serious about it! Or maybe Chrome has a friend that would have written what you did. That’s the fun part about the internet. We only have the words we write & the screen name to identify ourselves. If you happen to sound like someone else, well who knows?
The second one is easier; we’ve had a bunch of hit-and-run trolls - sign on, post a bunch of inflammatory or puerile questions, then disappear after baiting the regs becomes boring. So it’s gotten to the point where some of the regs are a little itchy finger on the ol’ troll gun. That’s what moriah was referring to - not that she thought you to be a troll, but that she knows others will treat you like that until they get to know you better.
…in a state so nonintuitive it can only be called weird…
I appreciate all the good words, I overreacted at first and that’s my bad.
Now, the Muzak? post. As you can see in my post to Kellibelli (who I do not want to piss off), I just like messing around with words. Muzak=music, Literateture=Literature, Sportifs=sports. I never thought anyone would bother looking those things up.
Res ipsa loquitor
One more thing, Stranger.
Not only do people look up your profile, they can (and do)also look up everything you’ve ever posted on the board. Just stay on your toes, my friend ,and you’ll be fine.
Oh, and be careful about overuse of smilies.
Still trying to think of something witty to say here
Stranger-
I agree with some of the above posters about the trolls. We’ve had some truly obnoxious people on the board, some registered with multiple user name, just generally being unpleasant.
I kind of got here by accident. I e-mailed Unca Cecil a question, and one of the Science Advisory Board folks sent me to General Questions to let the Teeming Millions have a crack at it. I started checking out the other forums, and, well, here I am. I’ve only been hanging out here for a couple of weeks, and I haven’t had any problems being accepted by the regulars.
I just think folks here on the SDMB are being hyper-cautious about who they’re accepting the last week or so because of the multiple-identity trolls.
The trouble with Sir Launcelot is by the time he comes riding up, you’ve already married King Arthur.
Hey now…
You mention little ol’ ME in one of your first posts ever? And FIRST no less?
If ANYONE gives you a hard time, you just bring it to my attention, y’hear?
We’s gonna be GOOD friends, Stranger… 
Yer pal,
Satan
On the other hand, it depends on where you’re posting. All sorts of people post in General Questions, and as long as they’re not asking about three words that end in -gry, they’re taken seriously. But if you wander into MPSIMS (which is pretty much a social club when you get right down to it) it stands to reason that the folks who know each other have the advantage over those who don’t. Sure, people in here are damned friendly but you don’t walk into a party and expect everyone to fawn all over you. That said, I don’t recall anyone ever asking anyone else to be “humble and subservient”.
If you want to be judged on quality, go to GQ or GD. If you don’t mind being “judged” by how well people know you and have bonded with ya, welcome to MPSIMS.
“I guess one person can make a difference, although most of the time they probably shouldn’t.”
Jophiel –
I can always stand another helping of humbleness and subservience. If The Stranger’s willing to put out…
Just say no.
Loverock used smilies, and see where it got him?
God, I am not that bad!
Sorry I didnt get the jokes Stranger…and as was mentioned, I looked up your profile, and all your past posts. Thats how we check each other out…cant sniff your ass over cyberspace y’know!
Scott, for the love of pete! loose the new sig! The last thing this board can handle is more loverock!!
ACK!
That is, they can check what you posted recently. Nobody would want to read someone’s old stuff after the posts rack up.
i’ve been here a month now, and i’ve never been attacked too badly.
i get jumped on about my spelling occasionally, but that’s about it
I’m pink therefore I’m Spam
But isn’t the English title of that book usually The Outsider?
I’ve owned French and English versions, the English versions were both titled “The Stranger”.
Stranger - I’m a fellow new guy and I know exactly what you are talking about.
I think Mipsman nailed it. My advice? Just do your own thing. If you think you have an interesting question, post it. If you think you have something interesting to add to a debate, reply. (Or even something that just might make one or two people smile sometimes.)
You ** don’t ** have to “prove yourself” to anyone, despite what 20 or so people on this board may believe in their heads. You don’t have to lurk around for six months, and then post on some junior-varsity topic until you’re ready for the “Big Leagues.”
Why do I come here? Because I read Cecil’s stuff for a long time, and I like it a lot. I was overjoyed to find a web site and message board devoted to it. The Star Trek action figure-collectors out there who want to pretend this is some kind of Yale Skull-and-Crossbones Club need to take a deep breath and a step back.
Everything I’ve posted has had at least several responses that were very helpful in answering my silly little questions. Some may not have provided answers, but they were funny.
So Stranger, just do your thing, ignore the odd folk out there that think they own this place and you will have fun with it.
“In much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.” - Ecclesiastes 1:18
*BIG HUG to you Milossarian. You are exactly right. You made the best post I’ve seen all week.
“Do or do not, there is no try” - Yoda
I have to admit that I have no clue what this means, but I really hope it’s a pirate reference. Yaargh!
“I guess one person can make a difference, although most of the time they probably shouldn’t.”
Geez… I’ve been treated great!!
and I’ve been known to piss off Kelli!!!
( don’t worry I won’t tell them I’d beat ya up if you used your nasty cunning crap on me 
)
Hang in there Stranger, they really are a very nice bunch here!
OOps!! I hope I haven’t ruined anyone’s nasty reputation…
Stranger,
I started posting in here in October…did a major No No and posted one of my first postings in the BBQ pit. Talk about stupid.
Anyhow, this is a friendly group for the most part. There are a few doo doo heads, but I have been posting in message boards for a long time so one gets used to it.
I found this place via OpalCat and another message board. She’s a veteran of this board and that other board, she got womped on after she posted 10 responses to some web design stuff. She had been out of town or something and some newbies jumped all over her ass over there. So it’s not just SDers it’s all over the net.
I had to laugh when the newbies got on her ass over it. People get wierd over the stupidist sh*t.