VT, if you work on the basis that they're all bonkers (including - especially - the sane ones) and that you could probably settle most of the arguments with a best-of-three bouts of arm-wrestling, you'll go far.

I reckon the golden rules (insofar as there are any rules in encouragingly anarchic world of Mudcat) are:
i) maintain a sense of humour;
ii) quietly walk away if someone winds you up and only post a retort later (took me ages to work that one out!);
iii) try not to respond to personal attacks (especially as they may not be intended that way);
iv) try not to make personal attacks (no matter how much you may be tempted!);
v) try to believe that if someone appears to be a complete turd there's usually a reason for this;
vi) assume there's a possible incogruence between someone's writing style and what they're trying to say (for example, I really didn't like what one particular long term member seemed to be saying until I realised that behind the, um, waspish surface style lurked some excellent sense);
vii) really, really, really don't get into it with anyone who appears to display obsessive traits... unless it's a harmless one like being obsessively helpful or obsessively nice;
viii) don't feel you always have to follow your own or anyone else's advice. Ever.

I don't feel like I've been here long enough to welcome you, so instead I'll welcome you to Manchester in advance of next time you're passing by...