Help for Newcomers to the Forum

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread

I realized reading one of Diane's responses to Kevin, that maybe some helpful hints for newcomers are needed. I came to this forum in the summer, and it took me a while to learn some of the "neat tricks." I had lots of help from other posters (you know who you are!!) and now I'd like to share some of the things I learned with others. I won't remember everything, so anyone else feel free to join in.

In the beginning, I always came to the forum by way of Ed's home page. Just clicked where it said "forum." Diane, that is why you are seeing "everything in a small box." Use this URL as a bookmark, and enter the forum this way. If you do, when you click on a "hotlink" inside a thread, it will automatically give you the address, plus you will be viewing a whole page:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a.tcl?topic=TimeBomb%202000%20%28Y2000%29

(For those who may be new to the 'Net in general, you can highlight the address and use your edit key to copy the URL and then paste it in your address window- keeps you from having to type all of that by hand)

If you want to post (reply) to a particular thread (a question that has been asked,) at the very bottom after all of the responses inside that thread, click on "contribute an answer to....." and follow the directions. If you want to start a new thread (ask a new question,) look at the top of the entire forum. You can click on "Ask a Question," and follow the directions given there. If you give a bogus e-mail address, or don't want all of the answers in your personal e-mail box, make sure you check NO where it asks if you want to be notified by e-mail responses.

Another thing it took me a while to learn: each day when I came to the forum, I wanted to read any new responses that had been made. (There were a LOT less in those days!) I would open up each thread to see if anyone had posted any new answers. DUH! If only I had paid attention to the fact that one of the choices at the top of the forum is "New Answers." If you click on that choice, you will be able to see all of the most recent posts that have been made.

When a thread makes its way to the top, it eventually disappears out of the "New Questions" area. If you want to locate it again, every thread is archived down below in the "Older Messages by category" section. It may take a little looking, but you can find it there. Also, even after a thread has disappeared, people may still be posting on it, because it will still be visible in the "New Answers" section if it is active.

For help with HTML tricks like using bold, italics, etc., look under the "Tips on Posting HTML" thread by Jon. I'm still working on those!!

WELCOME to all of the newcomers. I hope this helps a little.

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), November 12, 1998

Answers

And watch your spelling. Points are deducted.

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), November 12, 1998.

Ha, Ha! (said sarcastically with hands on hips) I'll let that slide this time, Uncle Deedah, since you were the one who answered the very first question I ever posted. But, from now on, WATCH IT! :-)

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), November 12, 1998.

Thank Donna,

That does help.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 12, 1998.


Oops, Thanks Donna. (Gotta remember to read over what I write before posting).

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 12, 1998.

Sheesh!!! Gayla. Man I need another latte!!!

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 12, 1998.


Great idea, Teach!...hey...it's okay with me if it's okay with Diane if you mix us up. Heck, my mom could never sort out the three sisters and I was the only "D". I kinda like when I'm mixed up with Diane! :)

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), November 12, 1998.

Another tip, Gayla is one of the sweetest posters on this forum!

-- madeline (runner@bcpl.net), November 12, 1998.

I'll second that!!!!!!! :-)

-- Blondie Marie (Blondie@future.net), November 13, 1998.

And I'm your worst nightmare come to life!!!!!

S.O.B.

-- sweetolebob (La) (buffgun@hotmail.com), November 13, 1998.


In some other forums on www.greenspun.com [which one can see via the link at the bottom of the "Time Bomb 2000 (Y2000) Top Level" page, in the sentence "You might find some of the other discussions running on this server interesting."] the newest new thread is at the top of the "New Questions" area, rather than at the bottom as in this forum.

-- No Spam Please (anon@ymous.com), November 13, 1998.


Another tip.......

The site robot keeps track of all newbies to this site. After two weeks, it automatically emails a test to them on Y2K. The test much be finished within two hours and passing mark is 80%.

Those that either fail to complete the test in time, or do not get a passing mark of 80% will have a very powerful virus downloaded to their computers. Not only does it bring up the blue screen from hell, but any contact with your keyboard will cause certain unnamed parts of your body to dry up and fall off.

Unfortunately, I only scored 75% on this test. The good news is that I have decided to become a nun.

-- Craig (craig@ccinet.ab.ca), November 13, 1998.


Craig,

"Unnamed" parts of the body?

No, no, no. But I forget if it was "unused", "unneeded", or "unwanted" body parts.

Was that the last multiple choice question? You know, where they forget to add: [ D.] All of the above.

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), November 13, 1998.


Omer? Izzat you?

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), November 13, 1998.

Craig,

Just refuse to take the test. Tell 'em it's got embedded bugs, and can't be fixed. You'll pass.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 14, 1998.


Hey, anyone home?

Question: What in the h* do all those different abbreviations you use mean?

BTW, IHMO, etc., etc....

Provide a list for us new-bees?

Thanks,

One who lurks

-- Lurker (nubee@theschool.com), November 19, 1998.



Here's a list of the most used ones here: (some people use variations or makeup entirely new ones...up to you to decipher them ;) )

BTW= by the way IMO= in my opinion IMHO= in my humble opinion IMVHO= in my very humble opinion SHTF= s*** hits the fan (as in "when SHTF" refering to roll-over to 2000) TEOTWAWKI= the end of the world as we know it FCGSBTCTTOA= secret code between canucks. I can't tell you what it means, I'm a canuck and I'd be giving away our plans

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), November 19, 1998.


Oh yes and initiation rites include composing poetry. This is the only forum that demands this, but you have to keep up standards after all.

-- Richard Dale (rdale@figroup.co.uk), November 19, 1998.

They used to say,

This guy is okay.

Should you ask today,

Stay away- they'd say,

He only talks Y2K.

-- Lurker (nubee@theschool.com), November 19, 1998.


Lurker, you got the idea, must think up a new craze.

-- Richard Dale (rdale@figroup.co.uk), November 19, 1998.

For those who need help with abreviations, try:

http://wombat.doc.ic.ac.uk/foldoc/index.html

Do a search for the one you need.

-- I (don't@care.com), November 19, 1998.


I tried the wombat site It really was ok And so I found, that LOL, was what I do all day!

(Laugh Out Loud)

Thanks!

-- Gail (nother@nubee.com), November 19, 1998.


VERY good, Gail! You even rhymed! (You don't have to rhyme all of the time, just in Hardliner's asylum. PS- I know most people think of asylum as a place for crazy people, and some of us may be :-) but the number one definition of asylum according to Webster is "a place of refuge.")

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), November 19, 1998.

NOW the newest threads are at the top! (And it took only 18 days.)

-- No Spam Please (anon@ymous.com), December 01, 1998.

Thought I'd bring this thread back and add a few hotlinks to other helpful threads in the archives of this forum. Would be a good idea IMO to bring this thread back once in a while and add to it. As a sort of FAQ. Old timers are good at setting records on longest running threads ;-)

Y2K Forums

Link for the most complete list on food storage shelf life?

HTML 101

Tips on posting HTML (a more advanced thread on HTML and good to use for practice)

How To Create A Hotlink In This Forum



-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), January 28, 1999.

Recommended Emoticons and Smileys for Email Communication

Dictionary of Computing

Simply HTML

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), January 28, 1999.


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