A serious answer to the question.
I view a certain amount of abuse towards newbies as sort of "rite of passage" - I enjoy participating in it and went through the same when I first started posting. Some people get more of a kicking than others and deserve respect for persevering (Darth in particular).

There needs to be a balance between the initiation period (for want of a better description) as it gives people a taste of what to expect and the type of humour on OT and not putting newbies off completely - otherwise with churn over time OT will die a death.

Sockpuppets need to be discouraged - they tend to be a pain in the arse on the whole, with only the occasional rare exception.

Some people need to remember there is a line that shouldn't be crossed (eg Bobby posting mine and my wife's name on here).

People should lurk before they start posting (Quentin) so they get a feel of what OT is like and don't piss everyone off.

lurkers: welcome, come and say hello.
( Fucking hell Jeff I am not a robot, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 16:27, 5 replies, latest was 14 years ago)

Quentin set out to offend.
He can fuck off.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 16:29, Reply)

I applaud this post
and not just because Battered is being nice about me
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 16:29, Reply)

I hate new people, they're all cunts

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 16:30, Reply)

Bobby has since changed his name to andy, which is his real name.

(Bazongaloid, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 16:33, Reply)

That is his choice, but it doesn't give him the right to publicly name others,

( Fucking hell Jeff I am not a robot, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 16:35, Reply)

I know
I was just pointing out that Andy C's real name is mostly his username.
(Bazongaloid, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 16:38, Reply)

Haha edit.

(NoeI «:::P:::» «:::E:::» «:::R:::» «:::V:::» «:::E:::», Wed 16 Nov 2011, 16:44, Reply)

I've said the same thing before.
It b3ta isn't for you, best find out early on.

Adam is a good example of folks that never learn this lesson.
( mark morrisons prison shoes I love Willie, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 16:47, Reply)

Adam you say?
Who is this person?
(Bazongaloid, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 16:48, Reply)

Frisbee Adam. I don't think he does OT all that much.

( mark morrisons prison shoes I love Willie, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 16:55, Reply)

i think he followed you here

( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 16:56, Reply)

I was kidding actually
I forgot the there is no reasons why mmps would have any idea that Adam had already been on here trying to insult me.
(Bazongaloid, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 16:59, Reply)

Ah, fair dos.
He is a pointless cunt.
( mark morrisons prison shoes I love Willie, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 17:06, Reply)

He did here quite a bit, came up against Al and a couple of other complete bastards, met his match and fucked off again.

(NoeI «:::P:::» «:::E:::» «:::R:::» «:::V:::» «:::E:::», Wed 16 Nov 2011, 17:00, Reply)