So, I finally got some action on comments. One got marked 'troll' and is now rated 0, while another is currently rated '3' and marked interesting (and it could go higher)! For those of you who think this journal is boring, it is just a diary of my interactions with slashdot, from a new user's point of view.
I got MOD POINTS! Hooray!! I used them very quickly, and accurately (I think). Stupid comments got -1'd, and a great comment got marked 'Interesting'! I love you, SlashdotDOTorg!