Talk:Getting started

Note: this began as a copy of the Bogleheads Investing Start-up Kit and has been modified to serve as a landing page for a navigation link that will soon appear on the site homepage. I created this page here rather than off the home page to increase awareness of the wiki, so please keep the intended audience (people who are new to the Bogleheads and may be confused about how they ended up in the wiki) in mind when making edits. --Alex Frakt 00:30, 5 January 2010‎ (UTC) (signature modified to use timestamp --LadyGeek 15:22, 31 January 2023 (UTC))

First things first. Don't panic!
It has come to my attention this is an obscure reference to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and therefore it probably should be cited (referenced) to provide context. Otherwise I would suggest examining the dictionary definition of panic to see if that is the appropriate word choice in the lead-in section. People generally do not panic when the begin their financial journey. IMHO using the phase "Don't panic!" is more likely to turn new readers away than to invite them to read further. --Peculiar Investor 15:06, 31 January 2023 (UTC)


 * I would agree that this is a very old reference. If it no longer makes sense, then I would agree with its removal. Also note this phrase is used in Getting started for non-US investors. Does anyone have a different opinion or suggestion? --LadyGeek 15:22, 31 January 2023 (UTC)


 * My vote: delete it. Also, while we're here, "first things first" isn't the clearest of idioms either; its circular logic looks especially weird if English isn't your first language, and it doesn't seem to add anything to the page. Finally, "motto" has always grated a bit with me; girl scouts have mottoes. Perhaps "byword"? Thoughts? --TedSwippet 20:35, 31 January 2023 (UTC)
 * ✅ on both versions of the article. --Peculiar Investor 21:04, 31 January 2023 (UTC)


 * Expansion of the contraction "There's" to "There is" is also an improvement per the editors' Style guide.


 * With regards to the word "motto". The phrase Investing Advice Inspired by Jack Bogle is alternatively called a tagline, which is how I refer to the phrase in the forum's and wiki's headers. However, I believe motto is the appropriate term when used in the context here. I recommend leaving "motto" alone unless we can agree on an alternate. (This discussion also applies to Getting started for non-US investors.) --LadyGeek 21:50, 31 January 2023 (UTC)

Wiki editor Fallible requested I post this reply on his/her behalf. "Agree with deleting the line. “I’m a “Galaxy” fan, but recall that when I first read the line in “Getting started” I wondered how many readers would be familiar with its full meaning from the book. It’s possible that some readers are already in or near a panic when they arrive at this page, but if they’re not, it’s also possible the mere mention of panic could create one." --LadyGeek 01:47, 1 February 2023 (UTC)