# hello :) **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 20, 2001, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello/82816 "2001-09-20T16:24:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Clarissa\_xx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Clarissa\_xx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clarissa_xx)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello/82816/1 "2001-09-20T16:24:18Z")
Hello everyone. I’m new here and was directed becase someone loaned me a straight dope book and I loved it! I will check this out but wanted to say hi!! If anyone has some pointers for me, I would love to hear them!! ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello/82816/2 "2001-09-20T16:34:55Z")
I think the main advice would be read for a while before you post…get a feel for the place. Plus, check out the forum descriptions…then you can post in the right place (I would guess MPSIMS would be a better place for this)…and it’ll get a lot more responses there;) Enjoy!! ---
**Author:** ![Sunglasses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5fc32e/32.png) [@Sunglasses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunglasses)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello/82816/3 "2001-09-20T16:48:19Z")
I have no pointers, just Hi and Welcome! ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello/82816/4 "2001-09-20T18:46:22Z")
Hi. Welcome. A few things to keep you out of hot water. 1. Read (and heed) the forum descriptions on the main board page. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/index.php](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/index.php) This will give you a general guideline of what is expected in each forum. 2. Read at least 10 threads in each forum to get a feel for that forum, what is allowed, decorum and such. (Make each 30 or more posts per thread.) Especially look for Moderator or Administrator notes on moving and closing threads, or on correcting behavior. These will show you what not to do. 3. When you post, avoid flaming or kidding anybody for at least 100 posts. The reason, you have to give people a chance to see you are a nice person and not rude or a troll. Flaming is obvious. Unfortunately, with the board dynamics it is sometimes hard to tell when a person is kidding politely or being rude - no facial expressions and all. Smileys help, but aren’t perfect. Thus establish yourself before you get too playful. 4. Learn vB coding. This is especially useful when quoting someone. You use the quote feature and it offsets the quoted material. 5. When quoting, be selective. Don’t quote an entire post (especially a lengthy post with 3 or 4 points) only to make a one line sentence. PLEASE. Pick the line or two you want to refer to, quote them, then add your response. If you must quote a lengthy segment or make response to multiple points, try breaking them up into small bits. Sometimes don’t quote if you can paraphrase - but often clarity requires quoting. Just try to excercise good judgement. 6. Don’t be a jerk. 😉 You knew that. 7. Do Not Feed The Trolls. Trolls are people who post purposely antagonistic or leading statements and questions just to start a fight and get attention. Replying to trolls only encourages them, no matter what you say. Ignore them. Um, these are what I can think of offhand. They should help you transition quickly to a valued member of the board, and not somebody with 30 threads about them in the Pit. Happy posting. ---
**Author:** ![pezpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@pezpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pezpunk)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello/82816/5 "2001-09-20T19:02:54Z")
Hello Clarissa\_xx! Perhaps you lost an X along the way? maybe? Hopefully? [sub]Why can’t my life be more like a porn movie?[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello/82816/6 "2001-09-20T19:10:05Z")
Ah, yes, PezPunk, thanks for reminding us. Prepare to be flirted with. ---
**Author:** ![pezpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@pezpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pezpunk)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello/82816/7 "2001-09-20T19:18:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ethilrist \* > \*\*Ah, yes, PezPunk, thanks for reminding us. Prepare to be flirted with. \*\* flirting? I was flirting? Was I flirting? who me? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Clarissa\_xx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Clarissa\_xx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clarissa_xx)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello/82816/8 "2001-09-20T19:24:15Z")
Oh rats! I did forget an x!!! :; No, when I was applying for MSN I was getting real frustrated because it would always reject my name as already used. Every combination, no matter how weird was taken. Finally, I was so frustrated I put \_xx and it worked. I keep using it because it is also my email address and it helps getting people to flirt 😉 ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello/82816/9 "2001-09-20T19:25:28Z")
Don’t torque the Moderators… They HATE that! ---
**Author:** ![Clarissa\_xx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Clarissa\_xx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clarissa_xx)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello/82816/10 "2001-09-20T19:25:39Z")
smiley test 😉 ---
**Author:** ![pezpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@pezpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pezpunk)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello/82816/11 "2001-09-20T19:26:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Clarissa\_xx \* > \*\* I keep using it because it is also my email address and it helps getting people to flirt 😉 \*\* How you doin? 😉 so uhhhhhh does Clarissa REALLY know it all? [sub]bet that’s a REAL original line eh?[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Clarissa\_xx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Clarissa\_xx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clarissa_xx)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello/82816/12 "2001-09-20T19:26:48Z")
Torque the moderators? That means twist, right? That does sound painful! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Clarissa\_xx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Clarissa\_xx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clarissa_xx)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello/82816/13 "2001-09-20T19:29:07Z")
How do you do the quote thing?? Oh yes, I’ve never heard the know it all thing before ;). It’s cool though. I’m doing fine, school started again so busier. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello/82816/14 "2001-09-20T19:37:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Clarissa\_xx \* > \*\* How do you do the quote thing?? Oh yes, I’ve never heard the know it all thing before ;). It’s cool though. I’m doing fine, school started again so busier. \*\* Hi Clarissa! Look here for [vb codes explained](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=50923) which tells you about quotes, smilies, and lots of other stuff which you may or may not care about. And bienvenue. ---
**Author:** ![Clarissa\_xx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Clarissa\_xx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clarissa_xx)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello/82816/15 "2001-09-20T19:41:41Z")
> [@](#): > > How do you do the quote thing?? Oh yes, I’ve never heard the know it all thing before . It’s cool though. I’m doing fine, school started again so busier. Wow! It works! Thank You! ---
**Author:** ![Clarissa\_xx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Clarissa\_xx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clarissa_xx)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello/82816/16 "2001-09-20T19:58:51Z")
Is it bad form to quote yourself?? I mean, somebody’s got to do it!