Some posters will get so wrapped up in personal asides that they
will forget about the discussion at hand. Discussion board regulars love
noobs that come into their forum and add to the debate. Some advice:
Always have sources for information. Don't just say "Martians are planning
to attack the world!", say "Martians are planning to attack the world:
Says the Big Newspaper Daily" and give links whenever available.
Where Everybody Knows your Name
Discussion forums can have thousands of members or as few as two.
With separate discussion forums available on every topic in the sun,
there will be many forums where about 10-30 people post regularly. As you
have found out by now, or will find out in the future, a discussion
group becomes an odd sort of family.
Imagine a discussion forum as a bar. You go in, sit down and start
being loud and making fun of the regulars. That probably won't go over
well. But if you take a little time at the beginning to get to know the
regulars and treat people with the respect you would like, then soon,
there will a be a seat at the bar just for you.