May I suggest, using clichés as appropriate: [ul][li]People aren’t always the best at expressing themselves. Sometimes it looks as if they’ve said something insulting when it was really not intended that way. Always clarify before flying off the handle.[/li]
[li]You may wish to also bear in mind that we often post as if it were light conversation but read as if it were a formal report. So Read Twice and Post Once[supTM[/sup]. Beware of your tone.[/li]
[li]Grow a thick skin. Point one aside, insults in the pit in particular tend to be easy come, easy go. Don’t take them to heart. It’s Only A Message Board[supTM[/sup][/li]
[li]A stylistic point: use short paragraphs and shorter sentences. This is not the printed word. Streams of text hurt. Your point will be much more punchily made if you remember this. Check out some of Scylla’s posts in particular for a wonderful example of how to make this work for you.[/li]
[li]Try not to keep grudges. People really do have short memories. Whilst you think that your argument with PosterPants (post count 5 billion) was the most important thing in the world ever, he has probably forgotten that it ever even happened, let alone who it was with.[/li]
[li]Like shit, Cliques Happen[sup]TM[/sup]. The board is a microcosm of real life. We make friends. We like those friends. We talk to those friends. We reminisce with those friends. We are also highly open to making new friends. Don’t take offense if something goes over your head - you wouldn’t do so in real life, would you? Give it time and you’ll be the one making in jokes and going to DopeFests.[/li]
[li]Trust The PHP[sup]TM[/sup] - don’t repost your masterpiece until you have double and triple checked that it didn’t make it onto the post. Write your work in notepad or control-c it before you post. You’ll be much happier.[/li]
[li]Finally, the cardinal rule: never ever compound an error by pointlessly using another post to correct it. “Oh, sorry, I meant to say “felch” rather than “flech” in that last post”. We know. It’s only worth adding an addendum if the error materially affects comprehension. Sometimes saying “there” instead of “their” changes the meaning of a whole paragraph. This is worth changing. Other mistakes are not.[/ul]There. You asked for it - you got it.[/li]
I’m sure that I’ll be back.
Don’t you listend to him Flamsterette_X! This is very, very bad advice! Some of our most, ahh, educational threads have been started by people flying off the handle and exploding.
There’s nothing quite like the sound of Whoosh! Boom! in the morning.
Although that does lead me to another point of etiquette:
[li] Don’t whinge on about how much better the world would be if you could just edit your damn posts. We know. We also know how much worse it would be. These things are decided for a reason.[/li]
Now repeat ten time: [sup]TM[/sup], [sup]TM[/sup], [sup]TM[/sup], [sup]TM[/sup], [sup]TM[/sup], [sup]TM[/sup], [sup]TM[/sup], [sup]TM[/sup], [sup]TM[/sup], [sup]TM[/sup]
Actually, my sister was joking around on the weekend that my standard greeting for our friends’ greeting cards was a trademark (and also that she and my brother liked bugging me about it… I know that much!), so here it is!
Hey (insert friend’s name here)! How’s it going?[sup]TM[/sup]
Flamsterette_X, maybe it’s time that we tell you some people around here flirt. Shamelessly.
Yesterday, you asked about YMMV. I’ll bet that someone has already addressed this, but you are correct about it. I find that people use it to mean, “but you might have a different opinion” or “you might have different experiences on this point.”
Robb, after seeing some of the threads on this board (particularly in MPSIMS), I have that general idea. For myself, I wouldn’t flirt THAT much! (or at all, depending) It doesn’t really bother me, but to me, a message board is like a microcosm of society: you get all kinds! Note to all: No, this is NOT an open invitation to flirt with me! If you do so, I will probably flame you in the Pit or something!
Thanks for the explanation of YMMV… I was trying to figure out in which thread I had posted it so I could go back and see if anyone had responded to it. Needless to say, I could not find it… I didn’t even remember which one it was! :eek:
Don’t post full articles, only a small part & link to the rest.
Be brief.
Don’t ask something already asked. Use the search engine when its working right. You can’t search for anything three characters or less (Unless that has changed)
Hit submit ONCE & wait.
Don’t use profanity unless its part of the question.
Don’t insult people.
Get a free email account at Yahoo or Hotmail, wherever, & use that for board registration, that way can you can have a board email & keep your privacy.
Oh? And what is it that they say about Canadian women? That we’re not receptive to affection or something? Just curious… if I was truly simmering over this, I would take it to the Pit!
And Robb, you’re right: I DO mean it! Besides, I don’t know any of you well enough to be able to do that! Net flirtations are all very well and good for some people, but for me, I’d only do it if I felt I “knew” the person well enough to know that it wasn’t anything serious! (it probably wouldn’t be, but you never know… I only semi-flirt with one person [not on this board… on ICQ], and that’s because I know him fairly well now, and he said it was all in fun… if it wasn’t, I’d have issues with that) Just my opinion…
