To the question, "When am I not a newbie anymore?" was in the post linked below.

-- Modified on 4/14/2014 12:01:10 AM

and no one is an expert.

We all have things to learn, and if we're lucky we will.

It's only a matter of degrees.

regardless of how long we have been active in this hobby, we can still learn something.  I know I learn something new every so often, based on the questions people ask.

Swim

number of years (not months) in P4P, by the number of providers and/or civies you have boinked, nor by the amount of $ spent on providers. You will receive your diploma when you have earned your man-card in this arena. When you feel comfortable TOFTT and/or exchanging pleasantries with providers you have not met.

I have been doing this for about 12 years and still learn stuff periodically. We are never too "old" to learn whether it be in this arena or our professional lives. Once we know it all, we should go hide in a cave.

guess I'm still a newbie after thinking about it- not yet ready to TOFTT(READ TO MANY HORROR STORIES)- maybe in the future

-- Modified on 4/15/2014 12:24:39 AM

I'm now 6 years in.  I'm not a total ROOKIE.  I made some potentially serious mistakes in my first attempts.  I was LUCKY.  Luck is NOT A PLAN!  Guys have been caught on their first attempt before they ever saw a girl!  (The guy used an email that wife had access to!)  
These days, I try to guide others to avoid my Rookie mistakes...  while I continue to learn.

Not the same thing.  I went and made a lot of dumb moves over the years and with luck I've been able to come out relatively unscathed, each mistake cost me time, money, once an overnight in jail with a disturbing the peace charge and  a small fine as the outcome. (Hint never drink, hobby and then pee between two parked cars outside the provider's apt.  Cruising cops will arrest your drunken ass. -- ah to be 22 again!). Boy was I a dummy.  Over time I learned how to stay out of trouble, not get ripped off, have a good time without paying through the nose and choose my providers with more care.

Here in TER you have a resource that I never had until a couple of years ago.  Reviews, that while may not be 100% honest, are something to go by partially.  Take everything you read with a grain of salt.  Few experiences are as good (or as bad) as they are made out to be.  Discussion board wise, you're on your own, I'm new on the board as well, but hobby wise, you're only as wise as your experiences.  Try to learn from not only your own, but use TER for the great resource it is.  I highly recommend more reading than posting before you jump in with both feet but even with all the little tempests in the various threads, there is a pretty knowledgable community here that can be quite entertaining and enlightening.

Above all, don't overthink it, just have fun.