But they gave Sue two, so you see, it all evens out in the end.
Welcome to the boards, SparrowHawk! You’ll find it’s a very colorful place here, with lots of different personalities and such. Probably you’ll find me referred to as someone who posts a lot. (which is true) Enjoy your stay!
F_X
The hamsters are also responsible for double posts? I guess they like Sue better than me. Perhaps someday I will win their affection, too. So now I have to reconcoct my post? Use my brain and actually think again? Oh, cruel hamsters!
Well, since I already said thank you and pleased to meecha again (though less effusively), I will just add my dream, since I do everything Dave tells me to.
Except, I prefaced it with a disclaimer, which I repeat, that if you think telling one’s dreams is “the last word in egotism”, as I have seen it otherwhere described, you may skip this bit and peruse another wonderful post brought to you elsewhere by this fine message board.
The Dream
I am making a bird from clay and having it come alive in my hands. It was supposed to be an eagle, but as I stroke it and talk to it, coaxing it alive, it proves to have a mind of its own and becomes a sparrowhawk. It’s so soft and sleek, with beautiful white feathers with black markings (not quite like the real bird, but this is my Dream Bird). I love this bird. I am afraid to let it fly away, in case it doesn’t return, but my daughter advises me that I should let it fly.
(/The Dream)
Ta-da. Now I shall return to figuring out how to navigate this vast space to best use my limited time to indulge my interests. I have read the FAQ and I think I figured out how to manage code (It appears to have worked in the preview. Is that why everything loads so frickin’ slow, or are the hamsters undernourished?).
I have yet to find “Code Buttons and Clickable Smilies” mentioned therein and I don’t see any explanation for the little envelopes on the left of the thread listings. You know, red open ones, yellow open ones, blue closed ones, blue closed ones with little surprise marks or radiant beams of light or whatever they are. Blessed as I am with a swift, keen grasp of the obvious, I have managed to figure out “Announcement” and “Sticky” icons, Stickies being an Announcement one can reply to, yes?
I was hoping to find an easy way to mark threads I am interested in, but it appears to be more complicated than a single click somewhere. So I shall have to use my brain again. But not now, I am already overexerted. <fans self>
See you around!
Welcome, SparrowHawk . The experienced (and/or lazy) have learned that when they intend to submit a lengthy and well thought out and totally brilliant post, it’s best to compose it in a word processor program, then copy and paste to the SDMB. That way when the hamsters eat it, (Those type posts are the ones they’re most fond of), you will have a copy to submit again.
If, when you are replying in a thread, you’ll click on the “Post Reply” button instead of using the ready-made box, all will be revealed about clickable smilies, code buttons, etc.
And yes, the hamsters are badly undernourished. It’s a pity that the coolest site on the net is also the slowest. Que sera, and all that.
Good hunting, SparrowHawk! 
Welcome to our odd little community, SparrowHawk!
You want a fun way to kill an afternoon (or, more likely, the rest of the month), use our ‘search’ feature and search for posts by your brother.
I think I’ll go hide from his righteous wrath now. See you around. 
You do? Geez. You’re the only one, then. The rest of us just tell him he’s full of s***.
:::flee!:::
Heya SparrowHawk! [sub]Mmmmm, sparrow[/sub] :smack: Sorry, I’m a cat. Still trying to get over the instincts. [sub]Oooo, fresh hamster, board hampst-[/sub] :smack: Argh. Anyhoo.
Clears throat Welcome to the StraightDope, where people become psychopaths overnight!
Thank you, John. Yes, I see them now. I also found an explanation for the little envelope icons at the bottom of a page, but I can’t recall what context they appear in. I haven’t seen them again.
You underestimate me, KK, if you think I haven’t already done so.
Now that I have discovered the smileys, perhaps I should add :rolleyes: , since it apparently wasn’t obvious to anybody (but Dave, of course) that that was heavily laden with sarcasm.
BTW, I did all this quoting by hitting quote for the first one and cutting and pasting the rest, coding by hand. Is there an easier way to consistently format multiple quotes? (Also, is it okay to keep asking such questions here or is there a more appropriate place?)
Thanks in advance.
You might try the ATMB forum. Many formatting questions are already addressed there. Or you could do a search for that particular item.
And pay no attention to Persephone. She hides the fact that she has an unabashed crush on me behind a thin veneer of wise-assery. And whatever you do, don’t mention Starbucks to her.
She thinks I’m a god, you know (so you realize she’s delusional).
Oh yes, I got the sarcasm. I was slamming Dave. 'Cuz I think he’s a God.
Whoops, just noticed it’s time for me to take my meds…
Hmm… deity rivalry and sibling rivalry appear similar. I hope Dave survives. Fortunately, he was toughened up by an adverse childhood.