sage advice: (How-to) Not be a noob:

Noobs are the players you meet who are selfish, rude, inconsiderate, unskillful, seem to have no concept of spelling or grammar, and are always bored – because the pleasure they derive from annoying others never quite seems to satisfy. Does this describe you? Don’t worry – there is hope!

Please note that noobs are not all to be confused with newbies – as the latter are friendly, willing to learn, and busy developing their skills – while the former are diametrically opposite.

* If you think that being a noob is fun, you are missing out! Wait ’till you see how much more fun is is to be a respected member of the Mars Explorer community – and the world in general!

* Though this may seem counter intuitive, the first step towards attaining the esteemed position of non-noobishness is to work on your communication skills. Once you establish yourself in the habit of fluently articulating everything you enter into a computer, not only will everyone else respect you more – but you will also be forced to think before you speak – and best of all, you won’t be automatically identified as a noob by others you come in contact with.

* Once you are communicating with ease, the only other skill you need to master is courtesy. When you begin treating others as fellow human beings with insightful ideas, valuable time, and intrinsic worth – instead of just objects to freeload from and annoy – you will no longer be a noob.

* Sounds easy, doesn’t it? It is easy. All you need is dedication and will, and you already have both of these – Exercise them!

* In closing, imagine what you will be able to do with all the time you are no longer investing in pointless activities! Find something productive that you enjoy, and become the best that you can at it – whether it’s rocketry, knitting sweaters, playing a musical instrument, entrepreneurial endeavours, or hacking.

via Mars Explorer – FAQ.