So, I was bored at work today and decided to peruse the board. I was reading a thread about homemade porn being returned to a video store when my coworker took an avid interest. He wanted to know what I was reading, how to get there, and what login he should register under. I told him to hold off on the registration until he had lurked a bit and learned the rules. At press, he was still lurking like a pro.
So, Dopers, I need your help. I want to get this guy on the board, cause he’s super cool and I want someone in real life who I can discuss Dope-related stuff with. But he needs a neat login and a crash-course in the unwritten board rules. Stuff like: spell-check and preview often.
So, will you help me? Give me some ideas I can pass his way? Or, that he can read for himself? Thanks so much!!
The best advice that I can give is to lurk for a while. If you lurk, you learn the unwritten rules, the answers to annoying questions that non-prelurking newbiews ask (who’s Opal?), and generally how to behave on the boards. No written list of rules could substitute for the experience.
But the one thing I’d say is that nothing makes people here ignore a poster faster than the absence of capitalization/punctuation. Not even deeply screwed up coding is as disdained.
Like Gila said, lurk for a while, and make sure you use correct capitalization/punctuation. It also might be a good idea if his first post wasn’t about how his unorthodox political/religious/scientific theory is the right one, and everyone who thinks otherwise is wrong and evil. Have a sense of humor. Be polite. Remember that the other posters on this board are actually people, who will react to you in a variety of ways, and that some you’ll like, and others you won’t, and that’s ok. Remember to sleep and eat. It’s easy to forget that on here.
The two rules that help the most are always us correct grammar and be considerate of others. The typing on the screen is the only way to convey your thoughts, expressions, and feelings. The correct usage of the Engligh language is essential. Since there are a wide variet yof individuals here you will also come across a diversity of views & opinions. Try your best to respect them.
Have him go through some old threads in ATMB. I know there was an ‘unwritten rule’ thread in there a while back – I’m getting no love from Search right now or I’d find it for you myself. ATMB’s a good place to keep an eye on, anyway – a lot of common questions get asked and answered. And make sure he reads the FAQs stickied to the top of it, too.
Rue DeDay came up with a great guide for newbies, but I think it was lost in the great crash. Personally, I think a great bit of advice is to search before asking a question - it’s amazing how much has been covered already. Several times, I logged on thinking I had a great, thought-provoking query, only to find it had been done - sometimes to death.
Other than that, don’t be a jerk and don’t sweat the small stuff. And if you send me chocolate, I’ll be your friend.
