Question: what is the best way to use this forum? Just post a random question, or is it better to join a thread? (i'm still having trouble navigating the forums)
I would suggest posting vague questions no one understands, without helpful photos. People will post a bunch of answers which probably will not be relevant or useful. Because we are bored. If you get 10 answers and agree that one answer is right, expect several of the other guys to get mad and ask you why you asked a question if you didn't intend to listen, ignoring the fact that you actually took someone else's advice right in front of them.
When you feel a strong desire to buy something you don't really need, but you can't quite make yourself do it, post a thread asking if you should buy it. We will help you overcome your common sense. Except for a couple of guys who berate and belittle everyone who ever buys anything, because they have forgotten that hobbies are supposed to be fun. Ignore them. Credit card debt is part of a normal healthy life.
This is a good place to exercise your pedantry. Write posts in which you cite obscure, no-life-having beer scholars, as though you were writing an important paper for
The Lancet instead of participating in a forum dedicated to helping old guys get loaded on good beer on the cheap. German-sounding names always impress. Learn the ASCII code for an umlaut. Pretend to know a lot more about science than you really do. Master the use of big, intimidating words you don't actually understand. This has always worked for me.
You should periodically post a photo of the beer you're drinking. Put it in the "New post a photo of your pint" thread. We can only drink so much, and once we're full, we enjoy drinking vicariously through other people's pictures.
Hope this is helpful.