can someone explain how Forums Work

hi! that's a good question! i'd say that the main things to keep in mind when talking on forums is that, unlike social media, this baby is largely collaborative! when you post a new topic, it's because you want to talk with a bunch of people on a specific subject. so take an interest in other people's thoughts! ask about their opinions! ask to see their art! reach out, and everything should go perfectly.

oh, also, posting is slower, so responses will be longer. feel free to get kinda dramatic with it. i like to imagine i'm writing letters to a long lost friend, off in The War.

you're doing good so far!

-Try not to double post.

-Adhere to basic rules of compassionate social interaction and remember that there is another person on the other side of the screen.

-It's okay to troll, but do it in a way that is so veiled and elegantly subtle that it is barely noticeable.

-Put a bunch of stuff in your signature, particularly images; treat it like you would an Animal Crossing house.

Honestly, the most important part of a thread is staying on topic. Even if you're gonna type a joke, or "troll", keeping it related to the discussion is always effective and widely welcomed (I like to do this a lot).

From past experiences, arguments will happen and my advice is to just not take it too seriously. Once you get personally offended you'll look like the fool in the end. If you ignore or dismiss them, you come out on top (most of the time).

im a newgen relatively, but just follow the rules of the forum, try not to troll, post twice in a thread in a row, or 'necro-post' (i.e. post on a very old thread that has not gotten replies in a long time), and remember that you are talking to Real Beings behind the screen, so be kind. like kevin said, posting is slower and you get longer responses (unlike some social media i.e. that one hellsite).