I have apples. I have pie. But I can't post in cider press?

Not sure what the deal is. Honestly I don't understand the apples/pie system very well. I'm sure there's a post somewhere laying it all out, and I probably read it once or twice, but I have failed to absorb it.

Nevertheless, I've often wanted to comment on threads in Cider Press and been frustrated after typing up my most eloquent response to see that I don't have those privileges, and confused about how to obtain them.

What am I missing?

One slice of pie lasts one month.  
Looks like the last pie slice you got was at 5/22/2024 6:02:49 PM.  

I think this link should tell more about the pie system https://permies.com/forums/pie/list

r ranson wrote:One slice of pie lasts one month.  
Looks like the last pie slice you got was at 5/22/2024 6:02:49 PM.  

I think this link should tell more about the pie system https://permies.com/forums/pie/list

Thanks. When I follow that link, I land on a page that explains about pie. Some of the links on that page are circular--they land me back at that same page--but never mind, finally after clicking around I found a page where I could acquire pie. (https://permies.com/forums/pie/list#my)

But I'm confused again, because first, on that page you linked me to, I was told "Or, earn enough Apples to get pie." Then, on that page I just linked to above, I learned that I had earned pie by getting 20 apples. I now have over 100 apples, but no pie. Shouldn't I have 5 pies? Can I set up a slow release of pie, one per month for 5 months?

(And that's assuming I earn no more apples over that time, though surely I will earn more...at which point what I'd like is to continue the automatic conversion into pie. Is that possible?)

(By the way, if 20 apples = 1 pie, is converting apples to pie like spending, where the apples go away, or is it accumulative?)

And, this is the first time I am comprehending that pie only lasts a month, though I'm sure I've been told that already. What I haven't been told is, does this mean during that month I can post in Cider Press as much as I want, or do I need one pie for each comment I write?

Pie sounds really nice. I want to share it. But is it zero sum? If I have pie and I give someone pie, do I lose my pie? If I don't have pie, does that mean I lose applies by giving pie? Or can I only give pie if I already have some?

I don't see answers to any of that.