# newbies?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newbies/68054>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [June 8, 2001, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newbies/68054 "2001-06-08T13:55:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![RocketHorse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RocketHorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RocketHorse)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newbies/68054/1 "2001-06-08T13:55:46Z")

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ok, i realize that i am but a mere newbie for now. when is the rite of passage to the next level of message board user? are there classifications other than newbie and old fart?

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**Author:** ![SuaSponte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newbies/68054/2 "2001-06-08T14:08:59Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by RocketHorse \*  
> \*\*ok, i realize that i am but a mere newbie for now. when is the rite of passage to the next level of message board user? are there classifications other than newbie and old fart? \*\*

It’s an elaborate and secret ritual that you will learn about soon enough.

Two things I can tell you:

1. Let us know IN ADVANCE if you are allergic to seaweed;
2. We do NOT take personal checks.

Welcome aboard!

Sua

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**Author:** ![Tommy\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Tommy\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tommy_the_Cat)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newbies/68054/3 "2001-06-08T14:09:45Z")

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The secret initiation into The Elite Posters in Dope (or T.E.P.I.D.) involves some sort of sacrifice, a goat, and a straw, or so I’ve been told. Once a TEPID member, you will be privilaged to secrets like the third common word ending in -gry.

Other than that…

There isn’t any hard and fast rule. There are posters who have only been here a month or two and they’ve proven themselves. There are posters who have been here for longer who are just taking up space (hey why is everyone looking at me?). There are posters whose post count isn’t over 500, but they only chime in when they have something constructive to add. There are posters who have an astronomically high post count and never seem to say much.

That being said, the rule of thumb that I go by is 6 months OR over 500 posts. There will be exceptions both ways.

Hope this helps and welcome to the boards.

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**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newbies/68054/4 "2001-06-09T02:30:17Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Tommy the Cat \*  
> **Once a TEPID member, you will be privilaged to secrets like the third common word ending in -gry.**

It’s true…they told me the word! 😃 Although, I’m probably not a TEPID member. (I would know, wouldn’t I?) Anyway, I’m too **hot** to be TEPID. 😉

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**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newbies/68054/5 "2001-06-09T04:13:39Z")

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Welcome fellow newbie. I’m just getting my feet wet, too. As a long time lurker, I’m sure I’ll enjoy the banter.