The ABC Forums and Scribblygum in particular are very friendly places and we all want to keep it that way. When visiting the forums, as well as taking note of the rules and conditions of use, you would do well to follow the etiquette set out here by some of the regulars.

• Be nice - even if you think the question is silly or obvious
• Offer advice when you can.
• When making a new Thread in the forum INCLUDE a Descriptive Title
• When you post a question, please include as much information as possible. It’s better to include too much information than not enough. Even things that may seem trivial can be crucial in generating an accurate answer.
• Write to the best of your ability. Accurately punctuating your posting will make it easier to understand and will keep the grammar police off your back.

• Don’t swear - this is a family forum
• Don’t try to advertise your services.
• Don’t post a second, third or fourth topic on the same question just because you didn’t get the answer you were looking for the first time. It is common and accepted to "Bump" the first thread if you didn’t get an answer the first time. If you can’t find the original thread, say so in chat and someone is likely to find it for you.

Occasionally someone comes into the forum who doesn’t really want to contribute to the forum in the same way that most people do. They tend to be very critical and opinionated and sometimes have the amazing ability to very quickly turn two people who normally get along fine in the forum to argue. Trolls can quickly turn what is normally a useful forum into a seething pit of anger. Unless you deal with them correctly.

The general way to prevent trolling is by positive reinforcement. When the Troll behaves in their trolling ways, ignore them. When they provide information that is useful, respond like you would normally. Remember that the internet and the people who use it generally do not deserve emotion. Especially not negative emotion. If you cannot handle a Troll, walk away. There’s no point getting angry and upset as it will only carry over from the forum into your day-to-day life and drag you down.

From the Tech Talk Wiki