Everyone here was the brand new guy at some point.

How did it go? Was the big bad mean admin a dick to you? How did others treat you? How did you behave? What were your impressions of the place and its members? How many questions in a row can I ask? Does anyone know?

63 in a row give or take 3 on odd numbered Wednesday's.

I can't remember back that far.

Hell, I can barely remember last week.

very smooth.

After I was a member for a short while, I was impressed when LBJ e-mailed me out of the blue for no reason and asked if I wanted a CUT.

This was in the era when CUTs were given out as prizes etc.

Good stuff overall.

No problems. It did take me a while to learn the SIGforum protocols. And to learn the SIGforum facilities. E.g., Find (advanced search) and Tools.

I dropped in here a good long time ago, not knowing a darned thing about SIG, aside from that I had just bought one at an auction.

My initial experience here was good -- the learning came quickly, and nearly everyone was quick to help when I had a question. That condition still exists, thankfully.

One fella ticked me off a little one evening very early on. It took me a few days to realize that it wasn't "what he said, but how he said it" that got under my skin. I still see him as abrasive, but most days it's easy to overlook.

I figure my early days here were very much as a spectator more than a participant. Someone's signature line says something about never missing an opportunity to shut the heck up. That's been good advice, particularly when the implied "finish" to that sentence is "and listen instead."

It was a good experience for me. I'd recently completed a course at SIG Academy and wanted to make use of my discount coupon to buy a SIG handgun. I found the forum and spent a lot of time in the Introduction forum asking about which pistol to buy. I had it narrowed down to the P229 or P239. I decided on the P239 in 357SIG. Later purchased a 9mm barrel for it from Barstow and organized a group buy which was pretty successful.

No hassles and no meanness from the big bad admin.

I wish I could read that thread.

Well, I posted I wouldn't buy a Glock in the Buy a Glock thread, so that pretty much sums up my entry on the forum FNG status...

I feel like the FNG still in most conversations. Folks here know more than me nearly every time.

I was lurking for a while and joined during the "are you fucking smoking dope" era so it went smooth for me.

I posted an offensive picture not understanding the culture here very well yet. It was a jerk move that I regret.

I remember I got into discussion with a member of why I couldn't make duplicate posts in two different lanes. I was wrong, he was right. After an admonishment from Para I observed for a while. Best move I ever made.

My experience involved meeting some of the kindest, smartest folks around.

For me it was very welcoming.
I did a lot of reading and when I asked a question everyone was at the time, and even to this day, very helpful.

Thank you Para for this place.

I actually posted/created an 'I will NOT Buy a Glock' thread not too long after I had joined. I drafted a 'long-ish' post detailing my visit to an LGS to check out a Glock 26 after seeing some pics of one in the SIGforum Classifieds that had sparked my interest in that pistol. Though I had wanted/intended to like it, as it turned out, my previous opinion re: that Glock was basically confirmed once again...BUT another handgun got my attention, and the rest was history! That pistol felt SO good in my hand that I could not say I'll Take It fast enough, and I went home with an ANIB 'KH' P225 that day. It turned out that even though I tried, apparently 'I will NOT buy a Glock'!

That said, I do regret (to this day!) not replying with a follow-up in that thread though. I was tracking the responses, which were running about 50/50, for & against the Glock, but I was traveling a lot for work at the time and never got around to it.

It has been nearly 13 years, but I don't recall any particular problems. I just planted myself and bloomed. I did spend quite a bit of time "lurking" before joining, to get a feel of the place.

I lurked for years because a lawyer I worked for turned me on to Sig Forum. When I finally started posting, you and everyone else were nice to me.

The first member that I really remember interacting with was the late great JALLEN. I sure do miss him. He made me feel welcome and a part of the forum right off the bat. Then and now this forum always seemed to me to have a lot of very knowledgeable people and a good amount of high level, intellectual conversation. I lurked for quite some time before I officially joined. I knew it was a tight run ship, which I appreciate. I obviously don’t post much but I’m here every day and thankful for it.

Dick? No, but you sure did not believe me.

Well, there was that time a bunch of us went to Shot Show had dinner at some all you can eat lobster place.
I ended up going out one night with one of the EAA/Tanfoglio models that I met at their booth. Granted this was before the cell phone camera days and I did not have a regular old digital camera so there was not any photographical evidence.
I almost got banned because someone did not believe me. Glad that did not happen I have had a wonder time here.

I think I might still have the autographed poster of the model with my personal message somewhere.

Para, I can’t thank you enough for this place. The opportunities that I have had because of this place have truly been life changing.

I was sent this unitard thing and it didn't fit. Way too tight.
This was after I got into the Sig P229. I may have asked a question or two about the P229.
I already had a Glock at that point so things have been good. Thank you.

Oh, the owner didn't welcome me, per se, but had a special brand of humor that kept me coming back.