Every online fourm seems to have unwritten rules...

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does this one? every time i join an online group i read the rules, but i still manage to make people mad at me somehow... What are things that set people off here, things i should try not to do (even if not listed under the rules)? I just joined an hour ago.

Every forum that has written rules needed a writer for those rules. That writer is only one person. When others start going onto the forums, they bring their individual values with them, and weigh the rules against their values. Even if they believe they are sticking with the rules, they interpret the rules through their minds, and not the mind of the writer. The writer can express a finite set of intentions within any given language.

I hope that helped answer your question.

I tend to discover what the unwritten rules are when I inadvertantly break them. The only real way to learn is as you go. I know that doesn't help much, but that's life. Believe me, if there were another way, I'd do it.

My unwritten rule for myself is that I follow the lead of my role model and accept everybody on WP as they are, no matter what their values and beliefs are. I also refrain from posting in threads that I don't like as a way to avoid hurting the feelings of the OPs, or I wish them luck on what they have planned for themselves.

The 'unwritten' rules here are just like in real life: Don't be a jerk. Easiest way to do that is to imagine that whatever you're typing on the screen is something you're saying out loud to someone's face. Still want to say it? If not, then find another way to say it.

The unwritten rule of wrong planet is don't start a thread that goes something like this " I have this strange habit, trait, physical anomaly etc.- is this an aspie thing?".

Thats all I can think of at this time.

A universal unwritten rule is don't upset the uber posters, especially on small forums, because it is their personal club.

F**k the rules (I don't mean the actual WP rules) - do it your way - we get used to one another in the end. Just stick with it and don't expect too much at first.

We're all pretty much broken - so we can't fix you - but we can glue the odd bit back on now and again

This is a forum for aspies so if there is any forum where you can inadvertently break the 'unwritten' rules and be forgiven, it should be here. Be yourself, and just make sure you stick with the written rules and you should be fine.

A serious answer:

Posts that are in 'The Haven' are there for sympathy & support don't be sarcastic or flippant on a person's thread in that part of the forum.

All people, Aspies and NTs have self-esteem, egos, fears, doubts, and pride. Anyone who denys that is not being forthright.

As with ALL communities, not just NTs but Aspies as well, there are unwritten rules. Even if you follow the rules some people will not like what you say. Thats ok. You cannot please everyone, nor can I or anyone else unless they deliberately avoid anything controversial. Ultimately this means that a person never really expresses what they really think. They call it "nice"; I call it living a fiction.

In the end you have a choice: state your mind or keep it to yourself. So long as you are respectful you are fine. And if they don't like it, let it go and move on. Personally, if people don't like what I have to say here, I move on. Just my opinion.