At 6/30/09 01:30 AM, Gagsy wrote:
Oh I know new/hi threads don't work at all, I just wish the mods would handle them better.
I agree with what you're saying here, at least I think. Hi/I'm new threads obviously don't work, and they are a pretty good indicator of whether or not the new user has read the rules. Still, with that in mind, you're going to have users that won't read the rules. I think that's inevitable, no matter how pistive you try to see the forums. It means that those sorts of threads will probably be a feature of the forums until the day it dies.
It may be incredibly wishful thinking, but I think the overall attitudes towards new users just need to be more positive, from both the mods and the regulars. As mods like Poozy say every day though, and as idle has said before, as well as Dobio in this very thread: we're not going to see a full picture of things. I think that's fair enough, and true to a lot of cases. Still, I think everyone's entitled to an interpretation.
Yes, an interpretation of aspects of the BBS subculture. You heard me.
And a lot of users that seem innocent enough end up being alt accounts.
Yes, the problem with discovering gimmick alts is it almost makes you paranoid afterwards with every low level, few posts, new sign up users you see. Real or not, real or not? It's bad that's it's a concern to wonder about it really =(
When I see an I'm new thread and decide to post in it, I tend to throw in a line that goes something like, "...as long as you're not fooling around with us..." somewhere. I think that's innocent enough, and I won't look like as much of an idiot than I might've done otherwise. Obviously, some "new users" are going to be terrible alts, but I think they're easy enough to identify in the most extreme cases. I think if you start focusing more on it though, you end up slipping down the slide of BBS cynicism... and trust me, I think some of the "criticisms" of the BBS are almost as painful to read as the problems they're trying to point out, like horrible gimmick alts. Again, incomplete picture maybe? Hmm, you decide.
Not to say I don't get paranoid on the BBS though! Yeah, seriously.
At 6/30/09 01:25 AM, Dobio wrote:
I get that, completely. If the user is geniuenely just trying to introduce themselves, they shouldn't be chastized, and the mod team shouldn't be contributing to that, 'but' sometimes the urge to be humourous trumps the responsibility to be courteous, especially when the user just reeks of poor intentions.
Oh yeah, I understand that completely. I would've thought most users suffer from that, even those with good intentions, at some points in their BBS life. It can be funny at times too, perhaps if it's been considered a little. Also, I am aware of some of the unwritten benefits of being a mod that are relevant here: you get to be in on jokes, and your experience allows you to be a little tongue-in-cheek with new users.
I think the criticism there is that it sometimes goes horribly over-the-top, unfunny, and downright condescending. It doesn't apply to everyone, but some seem to have more of a knack for it than others. It's been brought up before, and I'm risking going off on a huge tangent if I keep talking, so.... yeah.
At 6/30/09 02:03 AM, JadeTheAssassin wrote:
*hisses* I'M COMING FOR YOU, CHILDREN. I WILL EAT YOUR TOES
Can't sleep, Jade'll eat me... can't sleep, Jade'll eat me.
Wow, that's two dated Simpsons references in one thread from me. You guys bring out the worst in me! >:(
