New here - any tips on fitting in?

[Cat_Whisperer]

A little clarification; double posts are somewhat frowned-on, but not a complete no-no. If that was the case, I’d have been banned about five years ago. Not being able to edit your own posts is a good thing here, the way we like to argue and pick nits.

As for the hijacks, that’s more of an art than a science. Like ComeToTheDarkSide said, not all hijacks are created equal. Discussions naturally move away from their original topic and onto other things. Sometimes they’re given a punt over there. If the OP requests a hijack be ended, it usually is. If people are hijacking with a very contentious issue, they’ll usually be asked to take it into its own thread. If they’re hijacking with discussions of what they put on their weiners, we just ignore them.

Oh, the other thing I wantd to mention - babysitting the threads you start. You’ve been doing very well in this thread. I don’t know about the general attitude towards this, but it bugs me when people start threads (especially asking for advice), and then never come back again. They might be reading the thread and nodding with every post, but it’s nice when the OP comes back and participates in their own thread. It’s like throwing a party; the host doesn’t invite everyone over and then just leave them all there.

[twickster]

@featherlou

…it’s nice when the OP comes back and participates in their own thread. It’s like throwing a party; the host doesn’t invite everyone over and then just leave them all there.

I’d include GQ threads in this – a “thanks for the answers!” post is always courteous.

[tomndebb]

@Heffalump and Roo

And while I would not create an argument with a moderator, . . .

Just in case it is not clear, Mods are simply posters with too much time on their hands who have volunteered to fix coding, delete spam or copyright violations, and prevent fights. Arguing with Mods is pretty much par for the course, around here. You may even call Mods names and level charges of barbaric or disgusting habits against Mods (as long as you do it in the Pit).
The one time that arguing is contra-indicated is if a Mod gives an instruction while identifying himself or herself as a Mod in the text of a post. At that point, you may post your argument in the BBQ Pit (or send it by e-mail), but continuing to argue over board rules while in a thread outside the Pit is frowned upon.

[BiblioCat]

@tomndebb

Just in case it is not clear, Mods are simply posters with too much time on their hands who have volunteered to fix coding, delete spam or copyright violations, and prevent fights.

And they wear funny hats.

[twickster]

@BiblioCat

And they wear funny hats.

And Underoos.

[ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies]

And jackboots.

The training required means that small children are mentored in the fine art of modding.

This little guy seems to have lost his funny hat, but the rest of his uniform is intact.

[Heffalump_and_Roo]

@Jaade

I haven’t had time to read your thread yet but welcome! and I love your name!

~Jaade (part tigger)

Thanks for the welcome and the comment on my username. I spent a couple minutes thinking of ways that people could mangle my username and didn’t find too many awful abbreviations. (And to anyone reading this, this is NOT an invitation to try to mangle my user name into an awful abbreviation.)

@ianzin

As for Heffalump and Roo, welcome to the Boards. You have already received plenty of good advice. All you need now is to remember to observe the
Straight Dope Message Board charter

Thanks for the welcome.

Nice charter. I don’t know if children will be memorizing it in schools, but it’s pretty informative. Thanks.

@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies

It depends on the combined vibes of the hijacker and the thread in question.

So I can pretty much guess that newbies with guest status need not apply. Do I have that right?

@SunSpace

Back to the OP: there are a number of topics that tend to get closed by the mods, which are listed in the Rules for Posting FAQ. One that I did not see mentioned there was direct requests for homework help. These are not allowed.

That’s as it should be. Those whippersnappers should have to struggle with their own homework just as I did with mine.

@tdn

Look, pal, I think you’ve stumbled onto the wrong message board. Your freakish kind is not welcome around here. You may leave the way you came in. We don’t want no trouble.

Ketchup on tofu dogs indeed. I may need to eat a peanut butter and pickled egg sandwich just to return my tastebuds to some sence of normalcy.

Hmm. I may have to re-think that whole ‘not starting a Pit thread’ idea. Just kidding.

Now if it were ketchup and and pickled egg sandwich, that might be a whole 'nother story.

@featherlou

Oh, the other thing I wantd to mention - babysitting the threads you start. You’ve been doing very well in this thread. I don’t know about the general attitude towards this, but it bugs me when people start threads (especially asking for advice), and then never come back again. They might be reading the thread and nodding with every post, but it’s nice when the OP comes back and participates in their own thread. It’s like throwing a party; the host doesn’t invite everyone over and then just leave them all there.

Thanks for the tip, but aren’t those the best kinds of parties sometimes. . .where the host doesn’t show up. That’s when you get to trash the place and there’s no one to stop you. (Of course, I wouldn’t know anything about this. I’ve just heard about it from others. Seriously.)

@twickster

I’d include GQ threads in this – a “thanks for the answers!” post is always courteous.

Thanks for the tip!

@tomndeb

Mods are simply posters with too much time on their hands

You’re trying to trick me, aren’t you? I have it on good authority. . . ianzin’s SDMB Charter that:

“3. And we will not be Junior Mods, for the Mods are of special greatness that we are not fit to emulate, and we shall not make false Mods nor worship them, and we shall honour the Mods and observe their laws even when frankly we think their decisions stink for mighty is their wrath, and we do honour them and offer sacrifices of beer and chocolate therapy, for so it has been written.”

If I allow you to lull me into a false sense of security, you might swoop down on me with your awesome mod powers and create HUGE problems for me. I’m not falling for it.

[Beware_of_Doug]

What, no squck?

[Sunspace]

@Heffalump and Roo

Thanks for the welcome and the comment on my username. I spent a couple minutes thinking of ways that people could mangle my username and didn’t find too many awful abbreviations. (And to anyone reading this, this is NOT an invitation to try to mangle my user name into an awful abbreviation.)

You realise, don’t you, that that last sentence is almost indistinguishable from a direct challenge to the twisted minds of this place to come up with ‘creative’ interpretations of your username?

[Sunspace]

@Beware of Doug

What, no squck?

The squck is ‘down south’ with the alligator.

[Least_Original_User_Name_Ever]

**Heffalump and Roo ** = Lumpy, RooPoo, HeffaRoo, Loo, H. Lump & Roo Co., Hump, My Hump
I think I’ll stop there.

[Kythereia]

@Sunspace

The squck is ‘down south’ with the alligator.

…eating naked people on crack?

[Oakminster]

@Heffalump and Roo

If I allow you to lull me into a false sense of security, you might swoop down on me with your awesome mod powers and create HUGE problems for me. I’m not falling for it.

Nah. Tom’s the good cop. ** Lynn** and Tuba_Diva are the asskickers.

Joking aside, the local Mod Squad does a damn fine job around here. I’m a mod elsewhere on teh interweb, have been for years, so I know a little bit about what it takes to do the job…

[BiblioCat]

@Oakminster

** Lynn** and Tuba_Diva are the asskickers…

But they can be appeased with liquor and chocolate.