I think really the bottom line is if you bring quality posts and a quality attitude, you won't get drowned out. Being funny doesn't hurt either.
The one thing I did and still do take umbrage with though is the notion that new guys won't get their opinion heard. Yes, if you have a couple thousand posts you'll be given the benefit of the doubt sometimes, but just because you only have 2 posts does not mean nobody will notice post number 3. People take notice of quality posts no matter who is talking (as long as it gets read..sometimes a post can get buried).
Now if the biggest gripe at the heart of the thread is that sometimes new posters think they get intentionally ignored because of a low post count and low name recognition, I think that's 100% false. A good post shines through, and if you want to see a TP party, watch what happens when a new guy comes in with a zinger. It is rare though (and honestly most of the time when a newbie comes in with a really smart and well-thought out post, I assume it is someone who use to post here a lot that either left or was banned..in my experience that's more likely), but not unheard of.
If the biggest gripe is that new posters sometimes feel left out because they're not getting pinged in a pong conversation, well that is unfortunate I suppose, and lord knows I have a lot of those. My only defense I guess is that I've got like over a month of actual real hours logged here (probably 2 or 3 times that) posting, and I've gotten to know a lot of the people..and well if I want to tease someone about Wesley Matthews or Mo Williams (EW!!! GROSSS!), well sorry but I'm gonna do it.
I can tell you how to get in on those jokes or comments or whatever, at least with me: say something funny. I love funny, and I respond to funny. A good sense of humor and thick skin are the best tools for making friends in real life, and making 'friends' here.
Little bit of a ramble, but I left this page to eat dinner and go see Paul at around page six, and I just got through the whole mess, so I'm a little tired.