I'm new at this chatty, quick repartee via the keyboard, oh my god what should I say, stuff. I've joined the Mudcat Chat a couple of times and alway's feel that I've just entered a dinner party. I'm new and not sure I'm supposed to be there because a friend said come on it will be a great time, and he hasn't showed up yet. The conversation stops and all heads turn towards me.....

How do you enter the Chat room? Are there common rules of courtesy regarding starting new topics, or listening to old topics? How do you know what's been going on before? Can you sit and just "listen in"?

I'm from Texas (Now in DC) and speak after I've thought a bit (My wife just says I'm slow). This habit transfers to my keyboarding. In the chat room is it ok to respond to something that flew by a couple of minutes before after the conversation as careened off in a new direction? Is it rude to carry on multiple conversations/threads at the same time?

Dazed and confused...

JAB