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Post by Never Undressing Sneer on Jul 12, 2005 17:44:17 GMT 11
The reason newbies have trouble understanding Obernet injokes is that usually there's nothing to understand.
Like the Dual-Flush Toilets. It's pointless trying to understand the joke there, because there is no joke. I just like dual-flush toilets, and so they became a sybol of Wandiedom. There IS no explanation for that.
I think that's what confuses people! yer, that kinda thing confused me for a while. |
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Unykorn
Guildmember
**Starbuck & Apollo**
Posts: 1,428
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Post by Unykorn on Jul 12, 2005 17:48:15 GMT 11
When I first came on here, I think I had like 6 posts in a month!  But my problem was that a lot of the threads are heaps of pages long, and I felt like I couldn't just start posting without reading every single one of them. Not anymore tho |
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Post by brydie on Jul 12, 2005 19:08:03 GMT 11
i love the idea of a buddy system!! i think i would have liked that when i started posting on the old boards...but then talisha and roz and katherine were like buddies to me anyway  *grugs*
anyway maybe whoever said the popular thing phrased it wrong?
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Post by Miska on Jul 12, 2005 21:20:11 GMT 11
hey guys. i no ive been a slacker recently but yea...i noticed this thread and im sure its somethin that u cant really help if ur a newbie. after all being new means ur goin to be nervous and feel left out until u figure most of it how. however long that takes. that is somethin that just cant be avoided or changed or anything no matter what we do. and emphising that we welcome everyone (i think kayt mentioned it on the first page somwhere) to talk or whatever - well i think if we do it anymore it will be the only thing comin out of our mouths. umm yea so i guess im sayin i can see this point nad agree with it.
however what if this came from someone who isnt a newbie?! what if its an old member?! then what?! there is no reason it cant be. ok so say tis an old member - y? are they a constant poster?! probalby not. so then someone who is around but doesnt post that much. or doesnt bother posting becuase they feel like they arent being noticed or heard. personally i can see this happening. its simple. when u have a group of ppl that frequent a thread and u come in and make a comment. u usually dont get a responce or somethin straight away. like i dont no. u can be a frequent reader and notice that what u say goes unnoticed or ppl just seem to skip by it and only talk to/with/about what that main group is chatting about. ive felt this on threads. where its like ive tried a few times to get involved but everyone else in that group doesnt seem interested or isnt actually bringing me into it. and hell ive posted alot-like there is no way im a newbie. whether its because the thread moves to quickly, or i dont think i need to post a million times - only a few when i have a very vaid point - or whatever but im not being included. so i then dont bother about it and feel like tis a no go zone. yes i have felt this. i cant say where or when cos it was a while ago. but lets face it i havent been around like i used to for a while. so incomparison to that its not an 'old things'.
*shrugs* i guess this is y i dont go into SR. everytime im in there or i post somethin its like "pants. i shouldnt bother.'' i dont no how we could avoid this. but to me its a valid point. *Shrugs* im not tryin to point a fingure or anything (SR just sprung to mind then). but i guess wat i want to say is look at the bigger picture. it may not be a newbie. it may not be somethin pathetic or high skool like. it may actually be an issue that someone has mentioned. issue isnt the right word. but the survay asked ppl for their opinion and this is someone giving it. dont try and chanel it somewhere were u cant understand. think big. think of things u maynot be able to see...
anyway i hope that made sense. and the buddy idea sounds good but i dont no how well it would work. as each person goes to different places. and its hard to be a buddy when u urself dont no about a borad/area,,,but anyway yea.
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Post by Dark One on Jul 12, 2005 21:44:57 GMT 11
I don't usualy go into SR either. There's just too much stuff to look through and catch up on.
I tend to hang around on most of the other boards though.
I didn't find it that daunting when i first arrived here. I started on another forum a few years ago, with loads of people i knew so it was an easy transition.
I can understand how people could feel nervous though.
As well as the buddy system, how about some sort of 'newbies information pack' that could be emailed to them when they join?
It could contain brief explanations of each forum, and how things work
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Lucy
Guildmember
[x=chunkymonkey24]
Posts: 1,241
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Post by Lucy on Jul 13, 2005 5:41:16 GMT 11
The reason newbies have trouble understanding Obernet injokes is that usually there's nothing to understand.
Like the Dual-Flush Toilets. It's pointless trying to understand the joke there, because there is no joke. I just like dual-flush toilets, and so they became a sybol of Wandiedom. There IS no explanation for that.
I think that's what confuses people!
I don't ever feel unwanted on boards, but because of the time differences I'll put up one post and when I come back there've been 20 more and the "conversation" has completely changed. Don't know if any other non-Aussies notice that? I mean, nothing you can do (but if anyone discovers time travel please tell me).
Miska raises a valid point though. It's hard when some people know each other "off the boards" too. I suppose one way of getting round it is trying to get more detail on the situation, thought doing that anonymously may be difficult  Sorry for being so clueless! At least most of us are aware of the "situation" (no that that's the right word) and can make an effort to be more "welcoming". |
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Post by avra on Jul 13, 2005 13:57:05 GMT 11
Miska raises a valid point though. It's hard when some people know each other "off the boards" too. I suppose one way of getting round it is trying to get more detail on the situation, thought doing that anonymously may be difficult Sorry for being so clueless! At least most of us are aware of the "situation" (no that that's the right word) and can make an effort to be more "welcoming". I don't know if this is exactly what you meant by "off the boards" but I kind of know what you mean. I sometimes feel (even if that's not actually the case?) like there's a whole lot of stuff going on through LiveJournal and MSN and what not that I have no idea about, because I don't really have many people on my MSN list and I've only just now started reading LJs. I mean, it's great that people have developed such friendships and whatnot and I'm not saying they shouldn't do that, but it can be tough when it comes back here and "everyone" seems to know about something you have no idea about at all. I spose when I think about it, I've been here for a long time, but I don't really know anyone very well, and no-one really knows me. Not that I've really helped that situation myself. Sometimes when you have been around longer, it can be harder to change things, because people don't expect that from you; but when you're new, then it's different, because people expect you to be a little unsure, a little lost, and be more welcoming. SR I just stay out of because I don't think I'd get much enjoyment or fun out of what goes on in there after a while. SR+, on the other hand, I'm really enjoying, often just to read, because it's so full of amusing things on every page. And you have a go, and win a competition, or have your suggestion picked from the Naming Game, and you think yeah, I can do this! Writersmerge intimidates me a bit, but it's not because of the people, it's just because of what it's designed for, and the fact that I have no writing ability whatsoever, and doubt that I could provide any constructive feedback. I suppose the Library is a bit intimidating as well, because I'm not a particularly well read person, and when I try to discuss a book or film, I always wonder if I'm going to come across sounding a bit stupid. Again, it's nothing to do with the people that post there.. well, I suppose it is, because they seem so intelligent and knowledgeable. But yeah. </ramble> |
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Post by Miska on Jul 13, 2005 18:06:11 GMT 11
av...ur last ramble suits me as well...its like some boards i just cant get to cos i ahve nothin to add to it...but ur LJ nad msn stuff fits in with waht im saying...i guess it does come down to things like marija nad i being really good r/l friends and in teh same situation as with timm and duck or somethin...the ppl u spend more time with not jsut on the boards...u form a group and its hard to break no matter how long uve been around for. *shrugs* but thats not jsut it...there are ppl/groups that are formed just on the boards too...but yea :)ll shut up now 
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Roland
Guildmember
Ashlings' Prankmonkey 
Healer's Guildleader[x=crazedturkey]
Posts: 1,622
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Post by Roland on Jul 13, 2005 19:50:42 GMT 11
No no, shutting up is bad! I respect your opinion good Miska and I want to hear it more  . Although I don't have anything to add other than that. And I agree . I was wondering if perhaps the guild system is a good solution to that. I know a lot of newbies aren't in guilds to begin with (I wasn't), but once I joined the ashlings, I found that there was a good gang of people I could sort of add to a closer pool of online 'friends' i.e people I could torment without getting in trouble , while I found my feet. |
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Post by Rushton on Jul 13, 2005 20:08:56 GMT 11
I've found everyone on obernet to be really friendly!! Although I have to admit that I've just barely dipped my toes into SR and haven't even looked at SR Plus. I guess it's cos they seem a little daunting - in that so many of the topics have pages and pages of posts and you need to read through them to get any sense of what's going on.
This doesn't mean I find anyone unfriendly! Just that I don't feel quite comfortable jumping into the middle of a posting conversation without looking like a bit of a tool for not understanding the topic
When I first joined I had a few people PM me to welcome me to the board - and get their 2 cents in on what guild to join ;D
I have to say this was really fantastic and really made me feel special - you know who you are!!
A buddy system sounds good - maybe some of the SR regulars could give newbies a crash course in what SR is all about - so it doesn't seem quite so cryptic.
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Post by Dameon on Jul 13, 2005 22:15:10 GMT 11
I'm working on a new email to send new members when they join. Perhaps there are some things I could include in it that might help this problem.
Any suggestions?
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Post by Dark One on Jul 14, 2005 0:04:59 GMT 11
maybe a basic description of each forum, and how i works + explanations on what the MoO's/Gaurdians etc do
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DragonMornir
Guildmember
Dr. Gregory House: You can think I'm wrong, but that's no reason to quit thinking.[x=snowy_gem]
Posts: 2,116
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Post by DragonMornir on Jul 14, 2005 0:48:35 GMT 11
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DragonMornir
Guildmember
Dr. Gregory House: You can think I'm wrong, but that's no reason to quit thinking.[x=snowy_gem]
Posts: 2,116
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Post by DragonMornir on Jul 14, 2005 0:52:39 GMT 11
and i realised i just posted wit out reading the second page....... ahh shucks.....* runs off to eat chocolate mousse and pat Micky.....*
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Post by Dark One on Jul 14, 2005 1:40:39 GMT 11
don't worry, a lot of people do that. Anyway, it's nice to hear how newbies feel about joining in, no matter if its praise or criticism
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DragonMornir
Guildmember
Dr. Gregory House: You can think I'm wrong, but that's no reason to quit thinking.[x=snowy_gem]
Posts: 2,116
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Post by DragonMornir on Jul 14, 2005 18:27:55 GMT 11
hehe yeah i know......
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But my problem was that a lot of the threads are heaps of pages long, and I felt like I couldn't just start posting without reading every single one of them. Not anymore tho
Jamie Bamber rocks my socks 
*grugs* 
Sorry for being so clueless! At least most of us are aware of the "situation" (no that that's the right word) and can make an effort to be more "welcoming". 
