# Is it because I'm a newbie??? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 14, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609 "2003-09-14T20:26:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609/21 "2003-09-15T01:05:15Z")
Nah, it’s not you. Look at my thread [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=155677&highlight=anita+blake) about Anita Blake. Nary a single response and I haven’t been a newbie for a couple of years. ---
**Author:** ![sunstone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunstone/32/3372_2.png) [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609/22 "2003-09-15T01:26:15Z")
Contrary to what you might think, newbies are given a bit of slack. Just don’t expect everything that you write (or that others write) to aways be the basis of a popular thread. IMHO, this board is one of the most democratic and egalitarian places that you can spend time on. Having said all of that, I read a lot, and post seldom…so even though I’ve been a member for quite a while, you might still consider me a newbie with my low post count. So one newbie welcomes another! ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609/23 "2003-09-15T01:44:52Z")
lel is right, you need to be more readable. I’ve had threads people responded to and threads they didn’t. In four years, I’ve started two really successful threads, a couple of decent ones, and a number of bombs. One of my best threads was when I was a newbie. One of the threads with no replies was last month. Sometimes I start threads I don’t really expect a reply to - I’m more throwing it out into the ether. But I don’t start many either. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609/24 "2003-09-15T02:03:11Z")
My perceptions are that there is absolutely no rhyme or reason behind thread death, and that newbies are usually given a little more leeway, even if perhaps talked to condescendingly by some posters. Not quite as bad as an actual smackdown people get after they’ve been here for a while and built up, er, a reputation. Don’t take it personally. You’re too new for _that_ yet! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609/25 "2003-09-15T03:05:56Z")
I think all but, like, TWO of the threads I’ve started have dropped like tons of lead. I almost never start threads - I usually just reply. For every thread that lives at the top of the damned page for a week, there are probably 15 or so that don’t even get a nibble. Also, I am a threadkiller. So if this thread only gets three or four more replies, I apologize in advance. One other thing - there really isn’t newbie discrimination, I don’t think. As with anywhere, even though the jerk-offs are a small segment of the newbie population, they’re noticed more. _shrug_ ---
**Author:** ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609/26 "2003-09-15T03:17:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Biggirl \* > \*\*It’s not you. It’s not your threads or your newbieness. Sometimes threads just die. > > I’ve been here for more years than I care to figure out, with more posts than I really want to count and I’ve got threads with absolutely no responses. \*\* You have been here for about 3.5 years, and you have almost 5400 posts. You’re welcome, it took me awhile, but I did care to figure it out and count. ---
**Author:** ![Tabithina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@Tabithina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabithina)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609/27 "2003-09-15T03:18:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CanvasShoes \* > \*\*Like someone else here said. More lines between paragraphs please. And it’s not because I’m a “text snob”. In the past few years I’ve been a victim of plain old garden variety “needing reading glasses,” and trying to read a huge block of squashed together text is really difficult. > > There have been some OPs that I’ve struggled through because they were “that good”. But for the most part, if I open a thread and am confronted with a wall of text unrelieved by spacing. I usually will just back right out again. \*\* Me too. I really should break down and get a pair of bifocals, but until I do so, big blocks of unspaced text make my head swim, especially when I’m tired. I tend to read the SDMB late at night when my eyes are not at their best. BTW…welcome to the boards, **hanza**. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609/28 "2003-09-15T03:37:38Z")
I’m ecstatic if one of my threads gets to a second page. This has happened maybe four times. My real selfish joy, though, comes from answering someone’s query first, and correctly. That’s even rarer. btw, if you really want a long thread, call someone fat. You’ll be lynched and hated forever more, but the thread full of arguments will go on for pages and pages. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609/29 "2003-09-15T03:45:47Z")
Either that or start a thread about psychics. Heres an idea for a thread title: Near Death Experiences: Are they real? Has anybody here ever had one? I can absolutely guarantee you will get at least one response within thirty seconds? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609/30 "2003-09-15T03:59:59Z")
How _dare_ you distract me with this thread!!! But now that I’m here, welcome **hanza** and **quiltguy**. (I like anyone who can knows the lyrics to _My Funny Valentine_.) Have fun. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609/31 "2003-09-15T06:48:15Z")
What are you whining about? I’ve been here for years and MY threads get ignored on a regular basis. All of them. Nobody cares! I try and I try and I try… You’re not even reading my reply, are you? **LISTEN TO ME DAMMITT!!!** ::grumphhhh:: ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609/32 "2003-09-15T07:08:26Z")
Did you guys hear something? ---
**Author:** ![Aankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@Aankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aankh)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609/33 "2003-09-15T07:22:38Z")
Hear something? _crickets chirping_ Nuh-uh. Not here. Nope. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609/34 "2003-09-15T07:24:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > \*\*And remember this above all: Always, always previewq. \*\* Paging **Gaudere** … Paging **Gaudere!** 😉 (unless this was on purpose, in which case - :)) ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609/35 "2003-09-15T09:37:01Z")
Well, this thread’s doing alright; thirty-something responses. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609/36 "2003-09-15T10:17:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by John Carter of Mars \* > \*\*See, there are certain people here who are known as _Illuminati_. \ \*Send **FairyChatMom** and **Biggirl** chocolate. Lots of chocolate. \*\* Illuminati - me? Nah, not me. I never got the keychain or the discount card, and I certainly haven’t been taught the secret handshake. So I can’t be one of them. But the part about the chocolate is correct! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609/37 "2003-09-15T10:29:13Z")
You ain’t a true doper [until you’ve had a thread drop like a stone unanswered.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=100962) ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609/38 "2003-09-15T10:40:24Z")
is this a good place to ask what’s going on over at **Davebear’s** thread? it’s really way too long to find out for myself… ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609/39 "2003-09-15T10:43:00Z")
oops, here’s the link. [Oh, My Freaking God! (Looong!)](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=197284) ---
**Author:** ![pencilpusher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d6d6ee/32.png) [@pencilpusher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pencilpusher)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609/40 "2003-09-15T11:11:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by John Carter of Mars \* > \*_See, there are certain people here who are known as Illuminati. I won’t even try to name them all, but four have already posted to this thread. If you treat them as they require_(instructions below), your future posts will receive many responses. > > \*Send **FairyChatMom** and **Biggirl** chocolate. Lots of chocolate. > **Steve Wright** and **Jeff Olsen** will usually be satisfied if you post links to nekkid pictures of yourself. > > You now know what you have to do. Success is yours for the taking… > > 😃 \*\* You forgot to mention saying hi to Opal… :wally [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-because-im-a-newbie/201609.md?page=3)