Is there a newbie survival guide?

[SamanthaJones]

I feel like a fish out of water and am :scared: to commit any major faux paus like getting a thread locked. Any good advice you can give me?

[swag]

1. Welcome to DU

Relish having your threads locked.

It happens to everybody.

It is no shame.

[SamanthaJones]

20. I'll keep that in mind -- thanks!

eom

[sbj405]

2. Welcome

Hang out in the lounge until you get your feet wet. :-)

[SamanthaJones]

22. Oh, I will

I've lurked over at GD and GDP long enough to know it's safer in here.

[KitchenWitch]

Welcome to DU

just don't call anyone a freeper

[SamanthaJones]

24. thanks!

eom

[cally]

3. not really

Most of us are are very nice so PM us.

Ask questions. We're basically friendly as long as you don't tell me Arnie is a moderate. My personal outrage.

[SamanthaJones]

23. Arnie is a moderate

NOT. :P

[cally]

32. Welcome to DU

Ilike your humor

[tavalon]

96. Actually, in a lot of cases

he is. But don't say that until you have over 1000 posts. ;)

[WilliamPitt]

4. Go talk about how you support the war, hate Dean, love Nader,

despise a woman's right to choose, and how it is a moral imperative that 'Terri' get her feeding tube back. Do it in General Discussion.

Go on. You'll learn everything you need to know. :P

[VelmaD]

8. Be good

Don't poke the newbies. :spank:

[Richard Steele]

9. Will is in a MEAN mood today...

:evilgrin:

[SamanthaJones]

18. Heh

You're the first person I :spank: on DU. I hope you're flattered.:7

[VelmaD]

21. Don't worry...

he likes it. ;) He's a bad bad boy. :evilgrin:

[SamanthaJones]

28. I've noticed...

He isn't complaining. :evilgrin:

[WilliamPitt]

29. I'm flogging myself

Oops. I said the quiet part loud again.

[VelmaD]

33. NO SEX THREADS!

:P

[SamanthaJones]

34. If you lock my thread

there will be no more :spank: for you! Although...I *am* thrilled you're enjoying yourelf. }(

[GreenPartyVoter]

60. Why don't you just haul her pants down and write SPANK ME across

her nether cheeks? SHEESH, Pitt! *lol*

[latteromden]

5. Welcome to DU! I was afraid to get my threads locked too, at first. :X

I got over it after I got a few posts deleted. It's not as bad as I thought it was!

The Lounge is your friend, though. ;) Much more laid back than the rest of the board.

[SamanthaJones]

30. Thanks

that's good advice.

[MadHound]

6. Well, don't be afraid, first off

Have a thick skin, and mainly just enjoy yourself. Poke around a bit, find something you think is interesting and jump in. I know right now there are *lots* of Schiavo threads, but give it a few days, we'll get around to other things. And if you get a post deleted, don't sweat it, we all have that happen to us at some point or another.

And Hey! Welcome aboard!:hi:

[SamanthaJones]

35. I've got a thick skin that's for sure

Thanks for the welcome!

[never cry wolf]

7. Here ya go

The DU glossary: http://dug.amystrange.com/

And welcome to DU!

:hi:

[SamanthaJones]

36. Thanks for the link!

:hi:

[lenidog]

10. Welcome to DU

Though we have met on another page already. I have yet to get a thread locked though I keep on trying.:evilgrin:

[SamanthaJones]

37. LOL

Thanks!

[The_Casual_Observer]

11. Welcome to DU

You don't sound/read like you have anything to worry about here, the posters at DU are very good people.


And, have a great Easter!

[SamanthaJones]

38. Have a great Easter!

Thanks for the welcome.

[tavalon]

97. Wow

I just realized you posted a thread in which you can up your post count without resorting to "I'm _________, ask me anything?" Cool. Much more creative than the rest of us hacks.

Welcome to DU!

[_TJ_]

12. Welcome SJ !

I'm a newbie too. Just be nice and everything will be ok. If
you f*ck up someone will explain it to you quickly enough but
they are polite about it so be cool :D

[SamanthaJones]

39. Thanks!

[tavalon]

98. Not always

Trust me on that one. I've had to replace a few tail feathers from time to time.

[mike_c]

13. welcome to DU....

Have no fear-- if you push the limits of DU conformity too much someone will call you a freeper, or worse, but hey-- it's just an anonymous message board after all. Personally, I think I'm the only real liberal here and the other sixty thousand or so folks who've passed through were all posers. The inexorable rigor of my arguments has exposed them one by one and sent them screaming to their tombstones.

You sure you WANT to join this community?

[SamanthaJones]

40. Now that you mention it

I'll have to think about it. :P

[Left Is Write]

14. Send money and candy to all posters whose usernames begin with "Left."

[SamanthaJones]

42. No problem

I'll send you some of my left-over Halloween candy from 2 years ago that I just can't get rid of. :D

[Left Is Write]

58. Oh, I *am* sorry, but stale candy is a violation of the DU rules.

Or, at least, the LiW version of the DU rules.

:D

[no name no slogan]

15. Welcome!

You have nothing to fear here. If you're like me, you'll either 1) piss most people off, or 2) be completely ignored.

No worries! :hi:

[SamanthaJones]

43. I don't mind pissing people off

but being ignored is just not my style. :)

Thanks for the welcome.

[huskerlaw]

16. Welcome to DU!

There's really nothing to worry about. Everyone is quite nice...usually. :toast:

[SamanthaJones]

44. Thanks!

eom

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

17. Does "duck and cover" have any meaning for you?

You'll need to know it, probably sooner than later... :evilgrin:

The second one to know is "Stop, Drop, and Roll" (for the flames)

[tigereye]

19. reread your posts before you hit post

that seems to be a good strategy.

[SamanthaJones]

47. "duck and cover" -- got it!

will keep that in mind.

[miss_kitty]

25. the first thread I ever made was locked. and I waited til like 424 posts

to make my first thread. and I thought it was a big deal. And it was. but not the way I thought-It was a badge of honour!

[lenidog]

26. I been on thread that were locked but yet to have one locked

I waited till soemwhere after 250 posts to start my own thread because I knew there was a waiting period and a couple people told me that after 250 posts you could start a thread.

[SamanthaJones]

48. Thanks for sharing!

eom

[Ariana Celeste]

27. Hey man, Welcome to DU!

:toast:

I'm still pretty new myself, and mainly stick around the Lounge man.

So far I have learned: Be very careful when typing posts and replies in the GD, if you use bad wording people will take you the wrong way.
Also, don't be upset if you don't get any replies to a post~ this place gets super busy sometimes and TONS of threads end up in the archives with no responses. I've had a couple~ and was just happy that one post I started got a couple responses LOL!

Have a good time, man, folks in the Lounge are cool as hell.

[SamanthaJones]

50. Ok, man

thanks.

[crispini]

31. My favorite feature is "my posts"

so you can see who's responding to you. Took me a while to find it!

And, welcome to DU! :hi:

[SamanthaJones]

52. Thank you

It's already one of my favorite features. :hi:

[CO Liberal]

41. Don't Start Any Threads About Woody Allen's Yak Wearing a Thong

This will make more sense to you the longer you're here. Welcome!!!

:hi:

[SamanthaJones]

53. Uhm, okay, I'll take your word for it.

:hi:

[CO Liberal]

54. Trust Me On This One

:-)

[SamanthaJones]

63. Believe me

I will. :)

[fleabert]

45. become a post whore!

hang out in the lounge in the late nite/early am and you will find us either still awake or just up!

post like there is no tomorrow and you'll be old hat in no time. :-)

Learn how to post a pic, there's lots of those threads in the Lounge, I use photobucket.com.

and Flea says 'welcome!', well, she really said BARK BARK, but I know what she meant...



oh- and 'nt' means 'no text', 'eom' means 'end of message' to be used in your subject line of course, if nothing follows - those confused me for quite a bit.

[SamanthaJones]

55. Flea is a lovely bitch

I'll have no problem being a post whore! :7

[fleabert]

64. you are so sweet!

LOL. She hasn't had a heat since she got a boobie tumor and had to be fixed. Poor thing had a hormone imbalance and had false pregnancies after each heat. :-( she'd lactate and everything, adopt something as her 'puppy' and get really protective for a few weeks, chew on her poor engorged boobs, it was pitiful. It took her getting a tumor to convince the dh to have her fixed. He's weird about fixing pets. ?

i look forward to your first : "I'm ________posts away from _______, ask me anything!"

[SamanthaJones]

65. Sorry to hear that

I'm a big animal lover myself. I have a 13 year old mutt named Wonka, I brought him to NYC from California and he's not too happy about it either. He had a nice yard to run around before and now he's in a small, crowded apartment where he could barely move and has to wait for his momma (me) to take him out and do his business.

My best to flea from Wonka. :)

[tavalon]

99. I think this is

her "I'm ______posts away from _______, ask me anything!" Hers is just a bit more creative. She's answering almost all of us. Her post count is going to be awesome after this!

I applaud the creativity.

[bridgit]

46. welcome 2 du!

you'll reckon it by & by, there's alot of good people here

:hi:

key components seem to be: suck a little buttermilk, kiss a little ass, speak certain parts of your mind, and pursue happiness via freedom & liberty!!! most of which clearly imo...

[SamanthaJones]

56. Thanks

"kiss a little ass" -- That depends who's ass it is. :evilgrin:

[bridgit]

61. that's part of the part you'll reckon by & by...

:toast:

[Amaya]

49. Let me say

nice choice on your avatar and quote.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[SamanthaJones]

57. Thank you!

Gotta love Ms. Samantha Jones. :hi:

[sparky_in_ma]

51. Welcome to DU

Take a deep breath before responding to a post that pisses you off, and then don't respond. :D

[SamanthaJones]

59. LOL

Sounds like great advice, thanks!

[sundog]

62. start topics about abortion in gd

they'll love ya for it :P

j/k

welcome to du :toast:

[SamanthaJones]

66. Nice try!

and thanks. :toast:

[yellowdogintexas]

67. welcome to DU, and everybody had to be a newbie for a while,

anyway.

Lounge is great!

Nice to have you with us.

[SamanthaJones]

72. Thanks!

eom

[Ladyhawk]

68. Hey, welcome to DU!

Don't worry too much. You'll be under suspicion until your thread count is up, but don't let it bother you too much. :)

I did really well until last week when I had two threads locked and one deleted, so it can happen to even those of us who are crazy enough to post over 5000 times. :)

Just read the rules and don't make Skinner mad...that should leave you in good standing. :D

[SamanthaJones]

73. "Don't make Skinner mad"

I'll try not to.

[jandrok]

69. Greetings from a fellow newbie

Or kinda semi-newbie anyway. Relax and just go with the flow. Lots of cool folks here. This site is a lot of fun, and it always keeps me on my toes.

:hi:

[SamanthaJones]

75. Greetings

I'm lovin' DU so far. :hi:

[tavalon]

100. You clearly haven't been to GD near enough ;) n/t

[smbolisnch]

70. Wecome to DU!

:hi:

[SamanthaJones]

76. Thanks

:hi:

[SarahB]

71. Just don't mess with Kleeb.

He's one scary dude.

Welcome to DU! Love the name!!! :hi:

[SamanthaJones]

78. Thanks!

:hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

74. No. You just make mistakes, get slapped around for them, end up with

Skittles kicking your ass...and then all is well. :hi: Welcome to DU.

[SamanthaJones]

79. Thank you

Cute kitty! :hi:

[Discord]

77. Flack Jackets help.

:P

[SamanthaJones]

80. I have one in pink

:P

[Discord]

82. good call! and Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[immoderate]

81. Welcome.

Just be yourself, or somebody else. :hi:

--IMM

[SamanthaJones]

83. Thanks

I'll be both. :hi:

[JimmyJazz]

84. I suggest you throw out the book.

You need better advice, btw. ;)

[miss_kitty]

85. hmmmm. I wonder where THAT would come from

:evilgrin:

[JimmyJazz]

86. What? The lovely magenta ball? I liked it and was thinking of

adding it to my sig line - after I resize it of course :D

[miss_kitty]

87. ooooh

nice! C U later!
:P:P:P:P:P

[Kathy in Cambridge]

90. BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

:evilgrin:

[SamanthaJones]

89. I'm learning as I go

"You need better advice, btw" -- best advice I've received so far.:)

[RetroLounge]

88. Lurk for about 3 years in the lounge

and then ask permission to join a clique...

RL

p.s. Never knew we had a question mark icon. Hmmmm.

[Gannon Man Date]

91. That's what I did

I lurked for several months, then sold my body and soul to JimmyJazz and progmom for a pack of smokes each. Now if somebody wants to mess with me, they gotta go through those two.

[JimmyJazz]

92. Erm - neither of us smoke.

But if we get your body...Well, just call us "Science" :D

[Gannon Man Date]

93. Smokes are a commodity

And it's better if you don't smoke, cuz then you aren't burning up your "money".

[progmom]

94. DU = prison?

:tinfoilhat:

[Gannon Man Date]

95. Shhhh!

Most people don't realize it yet.

[Misunderestimator]

101. Welcome to DU, SJ. Did you post this because you're really scared?

Because I just went through a bunch of your posts and to me, it looks like you already seem quite comfortable in the lounge. :shrug: Has anyone treated you badly here?

[entanglement]

102. Hi from another 'newbie'

I lurked DU for 3 months or so before getting an account. I read as many posts as I can, but resist the temptation to reply unless I have something useful to say. Another good idea is to check your post for ad-hominem attacks before posting, it's quite an unconscious thing.

Hmmm, that's a lot of advice from someone with 30-something posts, don't ya think? :P