A Little Refresher Course on The FAQ for Newbies Board

This is a place to learn about TER, the Hobby, and, rarely, sex.  The title of the Board is the "FAQ" for Newbies Board, not just the Newbie Board.

That means that there HAS to be a Presumption that the Newbies need to be educated rather than slammed for what they ask are say.  Having said that,

NEWBIES:  

Please use the "Search Messages" feature at the top of the board to see if your question has recently been asked before you post.  Every TER board has this feature and it really is an invaluable tool.

If you click on it and type in some of the key words related to your question or comment, change the date value to 90 days, and hit enter, you may very well find your answer before you ask your question.  Read the information that comes up, and then if you have any further questions, I encourage you to post them.

When you do make a post, please make sure that you draft your post so that you have a clear question or topic that you need help on.  If you need to rant or ponder first, fine, but then make sure you narrow the focus of the post to something we can help you with.

If you don't agree with the feedback you get, or you are surprised by it, please don't argue.  Accept the advice and either follow it or don't, but be gracious enough not to argue with it.  If you do argue, be prepared for a response.

Finally, ask early and ask often.  If you need help, this is the place to come to get the answers you are looking for or to be pointed to them.

VETERANS:

Thank you for helping the newbies.  Please do so with restraint from the normal response tone that some of these questions would draw on the Regional or General Boards.

Please keep in mind that most of these newbies need to be educated about their questions, tone, topics, decorum and general ignorance of the nuances of the hobby - not slammed.  This is a sex and hobby site, so you don't have to coddle the newbies, but you can't slap them down or put them in their place either unless they start to argue.  Then you may respond without escalating, but please get all of your response in on one shot because I will not allow a thread to degenerate into a two or three party argument.

If you suggest something regarding this site, like using a certain feature, please include a little instruction on how to use it.  If you see a post that doesn't really belong here and you want to inform the Newbie before I see it and move it, please include in your post a brief description why it doesn't belong and how to get to the right board.  

All hobbyists are, deep down inside of us, perverted dogs, and we are more lovable for it. However, this is not the board to go sniffing around the providers who are responding to the threads.  Please refrain from the "Oh how I would love to ...." or "You're so Hot that I want to ...." type posts.  Track them down on their local boards to do that or send a PM.

These are simple rules.  Please follow them and remember that when you are tempted to negatively respond to a post as you would if you saw it on another board, step back, think about WHY you are reacting to it that way, formulate THOSE thoughts into a post that is then designed to educate rather than put down.

Have Fun.

• Share everything.
• Play fair.
• Don’t hit people.
• Put things back where you found them.
• Clean up your own mess.
• Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
• Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.
• Wash your hands before you eat.
• Flush.
• Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
• Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
• Take a nap every afternoon.
• When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
• Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
• Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
• And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.

Source: "ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN" by Robert Fulghum.

Thanks for the refresher DC

one of the best ones here. Hell, even us old buzzards aren't above learning something new, or just being reminded of things we forgot. It's that age thing...Some of us forget more than others.

There's some other great essays in that little book, like how to play "Sardines."

I really enjoy reading this board and have learned a tremendous amount about the hobby just by hanging out here.  Thanks to to all the Newbies and vets alike and thanks to all for (mostly) following the rules.
-RVW

Re: A Little Refresher Course on The FAQ for Newbies Board

DC, You are incredible my friend. Seriously, thank you. I still consider myself a newbie, i guess semi newbie is more accurate? Anyhoo, i dont know what i would have done if not for the guys and gals who have been so supportive and helpful. The indusrty can be overwhelming for noobs on both sides!! Hugs and gratitude for all, Belle.

Robert Fulghum!! I forgot about him. I am going to put him on my fantasy client wish list!! Seriously Thanks BB. I have all of his books, great life lessons. Namaste, Belle.

Hi Matt. I dont remember Sardines? I do remember the gummy lump though!! : ) B.

Which of his books was that in? I was talking about one of his chapters in "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." Can't remember which chapter off hand. Which books, of his, have you read?

Re: A Little Refresher Course on The FAQ for Newbies Board

Always love your answers Belle..Didn't recognize your handle

Believe me your approach to running the GD and newbie board is textbook education principles  

Leaving up examples of not what to do and then correcting it

Lecturing and then giving helpful advice

Making "sure" that the bullies do not pick on the other kids.

I am impressed

Re: A Little Refresher Course on The FAQ for Newbies Board

Muah!!