Hey there,
This is my first post here. I’ve been reading here for a bit and really like the posts I see here. I like the humor and the compassion.
It would be great to find a web community that I identify with, so any tips for fitting in? Anything I should avoid posting about?
As for me, I like analyzing and learning about stuff, especially religion (or lack thereof), ideas about happiness, and philosophical ideas.
I hope to get to know a lot of you better.
In my vast months of Doperness, I have learned the following:
If you start a thread about cats, kittens, or any vaguely feline sounding term, post pictures of cats.
When come back, bring pie.
Don’t worry about the initiation thing with the squid and the goat. Opal says it’s not so bad.
Don’t call people fuckwits outside the Pit
Post more pictures of cats
Try not to be a jerk most of the time. Folks appreciate it, and sometimes cut you some slack if you have a bad day. (Not that I ever pitted a well respected poster over bullshit, got a little loopy on cold meds and cussed out a mod, or otherwise did anything embarassing)
Bring your own towel.
TANSTAAFL
citing to The National Enquirer is generally contra-indicated
Where’s my pie and cat pictures?
Otherwise, welcome aboard.
Welcome!
The more the merrier in this [del]pit of raving lunacy[/del] forum of reasoned discussion and compassionate participation.
[ul][li]Make sure you always completely discount someone’s reasoned and documented argument entirely if you can find one obscure exception to it.[/li][li]If you feel like a discussion you’re in isn’t going your way, go personal: dismiss all arguments, no matter how well reasoned and documented, if the person presenting them has ever pissed anyone off, for any reason.[/li][li]Or, change the subject only enough to focus on the other participants in the discussion, and their style of presentation, instead of actually discussing the subject at hand. [/li]Bring lots of straw.[/ul]
First of all, congratulations on the complete sentences and lack of leet speak - you’re on the right track already. (We likey our spelling and grammar.)
Second, lurk lots, post little. (Here, take my advice, I’m not using it!) Especially until you get the hang of things. We use a lot of dry wit and snark, and lots of newbies try it and hurt themselves, or at least come off looking like assholes. Knowing just how much is appropriate in which forum can be a bit of a trick until you’ve seen it, tried it, stumbled and rubbed your nose in it, apologized for it, and done it again.
No matter how obvious or well known a factoid is, be prepared to go trudging around for a cite. You *will *get called on it. Wikipedia doesn’t count (95% of the time.)
No one ever died from an apology. When you mess up, post something dumb or unsubstantiated or mean or just plain jerkish (and you will, sooner or later, we all do) and someone calls you on it, don’t defend yourself. Apologize and get on with life. No one really tallies the mistakes you sincerely apologize for - but they do remember when you dig yourself deeper and insist on being a jerk.
Some people find religion talk makes them unwelcome, as we do have a higher than normal percentage of agnostics and atheists on the board. I have not personally experienced any hostility. However, I very carefully label anything that is my opinion as my opinion, and I’m not stupid enough to try to convert anyone or “prove” matters of faith. I humbly suggest you do the same, and look forward to chatting with you on such matters in the future. (I’m a Hermetic neopagan, by the way. We have quite a few non-Christians of the religious type on the board, as well as your more mainstream religions.)
Finally, don’t take **lissener **or **Excalibre **too seriously. They like to nip at your heels, but they’re not so bad. They’re sort of like our guard dogs. Pugs, of course. Barks far worse than bites. 
Welcome on board!
[And always hit “reply” too soon.]
Do all the above and you’ll fit right in around here.
If you post in the MMP, send FairyChatMom chocolate, 'cause she’s nice, dammit.
Welcome! (I love your user name!)
I dunno. We generally frown on usernames that indicate two persons.
I’m not so new here anymore, but I have a question that help some newbies. What are “sequential threads?” I see all these threads (which themselves may or may not sequential) about sequential threads but I don’t know what they mean.
Sequential threads are threads that happen to appear consecutively in the foum.
When one thread title appears immediately above another in a forum listing (or, more loosely interpreted, in a listing of “New Posts”) so as to create a humorous or ironic juxtaposition.
For example, if this thread:
New here - any tips on fitting in?
had right below it
Ewww…get out, get out, GET OUT!
now THAT would be funny.
Also** tomndebb ** has been voted the meanest one here three years in a row, so stop pissing him off. (This is an example of how we use sarcastic humor.)
If you haven’t noticed yet, we like to type member names in bold.
Welcome!
No advice to add to the admirable tidbits already proffered. If you’ve read the various stickies on guidelines (ATMB is worth a visit), you’ll realize that the bottom line rule is “Don’t be a jerk.” Keep that one in mind and you should be fine.
You’re already doing quite well for a newbie, I see. Getting two free guest subscriptions for the price of one. Very crafty. 
While certainly not limited to the newbs, I’ve always enjoyed the “Ask the [insert whatever you happen to be that people might have questions about]…” threads that pop up now and then in MPSIMS.
As others have said:
and most importantly enjoy yourself! 
Why sometimes this place feels like a pantomime (oh no it doesn’t! :eek: )
Hello and welcome to the last bastion of sanity and common sense* left on the planet!
Allow me to offer my own few nuggets of (possibly apocryphal) wisdom and truth.
The only things that belong on treadmills are humans. And sometimes cats and rock bands. Do not ask about the effects of anything else – aircraft, for example – on a treadmill or you will be summarily fed to The Great Lonk without the benefit of a trial.
Ketchup has no business being on or near a hot dog.
The Squid is not for eating. Spit it out.
If posting a news article, it is customary to quote a small, relevant portion of said news article in addition to linking to it, though at the very least a description is expected. Experience has taught unfortunate lessons about clicking on nondescript links. One of our members still hasn’t come down from the rafters.
Pie is expected on all return trips from anywhere.
Pie is the language of friendship.
That is all.
Start a pimple thread. Particularly if it isn’t really a pimple - but more of a cyst - and if its infected, even better. And particularly if you can create a 500 word well written descriptive and gross essay on the oozing gunk you manage to squeeze out and how it comes back.
You’ll be treasured.
Don’t take much too seriously. Be prepared to cite in Great Debates. Remember that this board selects for intellegence. The average age on this board is well north of 22 - though we have 17 year olds fitting in just fine.
And a warning - people around here have LONG memories - and they can be pretty good at spotting “didn’t you once say…”. If you are going to stick around, be yourself and be relatively honest (we understand changing names to protect the innocent). More than one person has discovered they can’t maintain a fictional self here - and even your true self can come back to haunt you.
If you’re not left-handed, don’t start any of your posts left-handed.
Do not post joke “yarn” answers to General Question threads. Unless you’re really really good at it.
If you’re pro-Bush, do yourself a favor and don’t talk about it unless you’re reasonable and articulate. There’s a lot of leftist passion here that borders on rabid.
Don’t make fun of my user name.
This must be some corollary of Gaudere’s Law.
Oh, Gaudere’s Law is that you will make a spelling or grammar mistake in any post pointing out someone else’s spelling or grammar mistake.
Some conventions, not rules:
Now get out there and have fun. This is a fun board, goddammit!
I don’t know; a lot of the guys here seem pretty pro-bush.
You’re ugly and your mother dresses you funny. Is that better?