@comity Well, fluther rules probably @AstroChuck and @Dutchess_III should have put a tilde ~ after their comment so newbies would know they are not serious. The symbol means sarcastic to help us know when people are sarcastic since online communication can be difficult to know someone’s tone or intent.
To get a name to pop up in red you use the @ symbol and then start typing the name no spaces and the list should start to come up. @com and I can see your name on a list I just click on it. The list will not come up if you have spaces or text already after where you are tyoing. For instance if I start a paragraph like this one I am in, and then want to go back write at the very top, when I try to bring up someones name the list will not pop up.
To make words in italics or bold see the directions immediately below the window you write in. You have to be sure to not have any space for the text changes to work. It’s all confusing at first, but with a little trial and error you’ll get it.