~:$ git init
~:$ echo '*' > .gitignore

# now, you'll need to force-add files you want to track (-f force-adds ignored files)

~:$ git add -f .gitignore
~:$ git commit -m 'Ignore all via .gitignore'

~:$ git add -f .bashrc .tmux.conf .vimrc
~:$ git commit -m 'Add some dotfiles'

~:$ git init
~:$ git remote add origin https://github.com/thesilas/dotfiles
~:$ git remote update
~:$ git checkout -t origin/master [-f]