Newbies
 

Hi, I thought it was a good idea I saw recently that a newbie gets an automatic signature or avatar which says, I am a Newbie, please be nice. I have seen a couple of responsive posts lately where people are not being very nice to new people even though these people are stating they are new. Just because you are grumpy gives you no right to be mean or moody with a new poster. I mean what are we trying to do, make it a one or two person forum. At this rate of going there wont be a site for people to post on, cause like me of recent I have kept away due to the fact you always get a few which, for some reason decide to make comment on something in a very very negative way. I can bet your bottom dollar if I stood face to face you wouldnt dare say some of the things that are said on here, directly to me. Its all well and good hiding on your little computer sometimes.

Basically my point is we want to keep this forum alive and the odd few grumps are potentially putting newbies off.

Re: Newbies
 

while I appreciate what you are saying, the forum has always(in my memory anyway) had comments like yours levelled at it......and lo, it is still here.(and I'm not getting at you when I say this - just pointing out a fact)
Sometimes the newbies bring it upon themselves by trying to dictate how they think the forum should be.
Personally, I try to be helpful (where possible) to all members of the forum.

It isn't real life, and if the new folks find it difficult on here, then how do they make out in real life?

Re: Newbies
 

I wouldn't take anything you say personally Margaret :) I've learned that by now. I know what you are saying, but when someone posts and the thread is old but they might not have noticed (not offay, with using a web forum) someone comments saying it helps if you read the whole thread, when some threads go on and on and on. if you aint got owt useful or nice to say, don't open yer pie ole x

Re: Newbies
 

I think it helps to observe the forum for a little while before jumping in.
Learn who the grumpy burgers are.(life is full of them - it is just how they are)
Read some of the old threads, find out how the search facility works...and ask an established member for advice...or the mods for that matter. It isn't always about being 'au fait' with web forums either...it is a combination of things.

And if all that fails and someone thinks they have been treated badly, then the moderators are always there to smooth the path...but, and this is a big but..it isn't baby school.

The internet is not a great media to nuances across and sometimes people take the huff over very little.

Re: Newbies
 

I am now picturing a burger with a HUGE frown on its 'face'. :D

Hairylee, I don't think it's a bad idea-I don't suppose it will be welcomed or approved on here, though. I think it would suit better a forum which was aimed at one subject in particular-so that if somebody is new to a certain subject they can ask questions or speak about things and not be mocked or ridiculed for not knowing a lot?

This forum seems to be (I'm relatively new myself!) a more 'general' forum just focused on a certain local area.

I agree Margaret-have often thought myself, if somebody takes offence or gets very upset, over somebody being nasty with them on an internet forum, then how must they cope with the difficult things life throws at us.

I also think this can be applied to 'real life', getting upset over what strangers think of them, generally. I don't think this means that it's okay to be horrible on a forum, particularly in cases where there is absolutely no basis for it. I'm not a 'nasty' person, and those who are really harsh with others on forums, I sometimes wonder why.

I think I behave pretty much the same online as I do in real life-and I don't tend to like people who are nasty for no reason, in person or online.

What confuses me a lot is, some people I have met after knowing them online, or have known personally then view their behaviour on the internet, and each is a COMPLETELY different persona!THAT, I do NOT get my head around! :)

Re: Newbies
 

I try to be as courteous as possible...after all, courtesy costs nothing...and bad manners just show you up to be an uncouth person....but(there is always a but, isn't there?)...it is really easy to get carried away when you are passionate about something...especially if that 'something' is local and affects your life.
There is also the phenomenon of 'mirroring'....which is where you get back the attitude you gave out......same as in real life. If you post something which has an angry or aggressive tone...then you get back anger and aggression....and sometimes the reader will read something which they perceive to have an angry or aggressive tone when that wasn't what the poster meant at all.
It all becomes very tangled, very confusing......and sometimes very acrimonious.

But, Hey...it's not real.

Re: Newbies
 

Well lets be honest here hairylee, yeh have been a member oer 8 years of accyweb n in that time contributed 83 posts, which is fine no problem, But its a bit rich when yer saying if we want to keep this forum alive.:rolleyes:

Re: Newbies
 

Hairylee, you reckon no one would say to peoples faces what they say on here? I wouldn't like to bet on that, i have met quite a few members and every one of them has been the same in person as they have been on here, myself included, if people haven't got the balls to be themselves then why be someone else?

And before you have a rant about me 'getting at you' i'm not, you started a thread which is open to all members to comment on....so i commented

Re: Newbies
 

This forum is no different than the local boozer.

You have grumps, bores, mates, people you find interesting and the occasional non-regular.

Just like the pub, some non-regulars enjoy the banter, come back, and become locals others feel that it ain't their cup of tea and go find another pub.

Re: Newbies
 

And theres always those who tell us all how to improve the forum,:rolleyes:

Re: Newbies
 

Another point which occured to me this morning was, if we adopted the temporary signature....avatar indicating a newbie and asking for 'kindness'(what is that exactly?)
It could have the opposite effect and cause people to bait these new members because of the avatar/signature.

We have all been new.......I would have been mortified if anyone had attached such an avatar or signature to my name as a newbie.

We should all be able to 'hold our own' in both life and on a forum....those who can't do that are poor specimens and need to hold mummy's hand(whatever age they might be).

Re: Newbies
 

Cracking, just cracking. This is not the place for me obviously.

Flashy, I wouldn't suggest you were getting at me, taking things a little too personally there? Maybe you have got me wrong?

I may have been a member for 8 years, and only posted 83 times but I/we (me and my husband use this username) are busy people work full time and have a child. Its not possible or fair to my child to be on here all the time. It is quality not quantity,rep power or the number of posts that counts. i don't walk round this town with a neon sign saying how many posts I have made on the variety of forums I am member of.
I still stand by the fact that if you haven't anything useful or relevant to say then don't say it. I TRY not to take things too personally, however I do have trouble when the response is delayed and I would much prefer to speak face to face, but the nature of it is you can't. I find this frustrating.

How does anyone of you know how many members have started this forum because of me, because of how good and local and informative it WAS? I have suggested many people to join, which they have from positive feedback I have received and good genuine answers to questions. This is what this forum is for Accrington and its people.

This forum will die a death, which would be a great shame.

There are generations of young people, who suggest things which are relevant to today, which keeps the site exciting, innovative and get knocked back and fed up of the attitudes on here 'them youngens like to try to tell us owdens how this site should be run' if you don't get fresh blood, with no disrespect there is a point where the older members won't be on here any more for a variety of reasons (probably off changing their tena for men)

if you don't get any youngens and treat them fairly, nicely and respectful just as you would expect to be spoken to yourself in the flesh, its a dying site. If a young person responded in the way some people on this forum respond, they would get a clout round the ear and be told to respect their elders. (or as today's society is going maybe you wouldn't dare, you might get glassed or abused :o) Respect is a two way street, so Margaret I agree a mirroring issue can occur, and people can get on the wrong foot from the start.

I have suggested, if you don't like fair enough. It's a SUGGESTION.

Re: Newbies
 

Oh dear, what a shame so many bright ideas but no sense to read the rules, excuse me whilst I press the report button, SHARING, a user name is not allowed. After all you share, we don't know whom it is we're annoyed with, plus you need to get something called a 'life', not just a busy one.

:o

Re: Newbies
 

pftt, your on here so much Less it might as well be called, Lessweb, tis you that needs to get out and smell the fresh air. REPORT away Zzzzzzzz....

Re: Newbies
 

You big baba, is that the best you can do?

I was up at 5.00 this morning having the cobwebs blown away from me on the North Sea, what were you doing?

:D

Re: Newbies
 

After a 5 mile run I took my daughter to a pre op. :P is this a classroom squabble now.

Not that its any of your beeswax

Re: Newbies
 

People have been saying this for as long as I have been here(some 8 years) and it hasn't happened.
People come and people go...for their own reasons. Sometimes as you say, life...real life gets in the way of coming on the forum...and while your real life was getting in the way, who was keeping the forum alive?

It was Less and all the others too numerous to mention who come on here and keep the site alive with posts and comments....and Hairylee, I am not getting at you.
As for your suggestion......I think we all know it was just a suggestion...but if a suggestion isn't implemented it isn't personal.

I'm sure the young people who have visited the site can stand up for themselves.......they don't need some kind of badge to get them through....and those who stay(and there are lots of us) it is because we can take the banter, and stand our corner.

Re: Newbies
 

So why bother to tell us about it then? And it will only be a classroom squabble if you make it one.

Re: Newbies
 

This I like, a good honest decent answer! /\ /\ /\

I've just read a blog by Less about the start of accyweb, it was very good, I found it interesting, sometimes though I think the members that post a lot can be seen as a clique. After all you are good friends and have built a friendship as part of this forum. However I do not feel part of this 'friendship' I am not begging here, I cannot dedicate enough downtime to post on here frequently. Just pointing out what I feel :)

The suggestion was something I saw on Money Saving Expert it was put to good use. The Moderators seemed to automatically see what a newbie was posting but I also understand about the being pointed out about being new, could be potentially singled out.

Re: Newbies
 

Well thats not very useful or relevant is it? I have lost count of the number of people that have said that.:hehetable The reason most forums die a death imho is the lack of regular contributors, Bit ironic that i would say.

Re: Newbies
 

That is a good post.
And I am sure that most of us know that family comes first.
You can be part of it....by just posting when you can...something interesting, something funny, how you feel about certain things......slowly, slowly the friendship grows...a lot like in the real world.
Hairylee, please don't be put off.

Re: Newbies
 

we keep going over the same ground here.

It is relevant. it's about new people, protecting them from never returning. No newbies, just slowly fading into nothingness. I also agree the frequent posters are keeping this site alive...I am not a frequent, but I am here. :coffeecup
You just don't get to hear from me a lot. Which i'd think you agree Cashman you would be happy if it continued in that fashion ;)

I cause too many debates...woken you all up though :jimbo:

Re: Newbies
 

I don't think new people need their hands held.
The forum has information to help new people...though it seems that not many of them read it.......there is a report button if people feel that someone is behaving badly, there is almost always(unless the poster is posting in the middle of the night) a moderator available...and they don't bite.
If new people cannot manage with the support available then they should not be at any keyboard - they are not mature enough.

This is only my opinion - for what it is worth.

Re: Newbies
 

Why would or should i be happy if that continues? Its of little consequence to me either way, And because of yer very busy life, pray tell me how yeh cause too many debates?:confused:because n sorry if it offends, but an average of less than 1 post a month for 8 years cannot in any way cause that many debates.:rolleyes: You are just demonstrating immaturity as far as i'm concerned, Thought yeh would be a bit more grown up at your age.:eek:

Re: Newbies
 

I already apologise for going this low-this discussion to me is essentially 'I have an idea, what do you think', -and then yes or no.

I am an observer that is all no strong opinions, BUT the above posts want me to type *Gets Popcorn*.

Seriously, I am the most 'immature' (and I have strong opinions regards the definitions of that word) person you will meet. I follow animals other than humans-I truly believe we do not stop 'playing' because we grow up, but that we 'Grow Up' because we stop playing.

However that said, the above made me think 'What the actual H, are we in an infant playground?!'

Seriously, folks, really?!

We're all from different walks of life,we all do different things with our lives. It's not a competition here, on a local internet forum, to see who has done 'more' or 'better' or 'more impressive'. Too subjective, for a start, also who decided that was the point of the forum?!

2cents done I'm off. :do-one:

(I'm 'half-expecting) a "S/he started it!!!"!

Re: Newbies
 

Oh whoa is me, guilty as charged I recently suggested that a newbie read the whole thread and below is the proof:-


http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...ect-62575.html
Including the newbies post the whole thread was 7 yes SEVEN posts long.

It wasn't a dig, it was advice, the newbie wanted a free item that had already gone, had they taken the bother to read the thread (as difficult as it may be to read through the whole of it) they would have seen the item had gone, but no, they hadn't bothered/been capable of performing such a marathon task.
So I posted a little reply.


It wasn't insulting, it was just a bit of advice, they could take it or leave it.

Perhaps you could use some of your own advice?

After all, with such a long membership but a very low post count between two of you, you are hardly in a real position to pass judgement on other members.
:)

Re: Newbies
 

Oh dear. There is that word again :hesoff:

Re: Newbies
 

Isn't that implicit in the post count and "member since" details against everyone's name?

Re: Newbies
 

Less it was not directed at anyone personally, one that I saw was from you and you may notice I tried to employ diplomacy by not mentioning names, that wasn't the objective of my suggestion. However on hindsight I've never bothered to read the rules, and believe it or not off this forum I am rule maker. I shall take your advice and read the rules of the forum. However I am not being funny by saying this but...I understand you did not make a dig, however it could of been a little more courteous towards the new person, by directing them to the rules or just plain saying
sorry mate its sold?
I don't understand why this seems to have turned into a trial where you find it necessary to re quote and attach what you previously have said as if we are in a court of law. And the amazing regurgitation of my non existent post count?

Re: Newbies
 

this is where the plan is flawed technically I am a newbie, as I've been a member forever, but I've got a minuscule post count, good job im a woman, or I'd start to get a complex! ;)

Re: Newbies
 

Ha! A woman without a complex...that'd be a first! :D :hidewall:

Re: Newbies
 

It would almost be like a man with culture :D

I did say almost.

Re: Newbies
 

Cashy...we both know that the exception tests the rule. :D

Re: Newbies
 

Yes it is a good job you're a woman or I might be inclined to think of you as a massdebator.

I don't believe you have woken anyone up, check through the site, I think you will find newbies have been discussed on many occasions, funnily enough the threads are almost always started by folk like you, prepared to condemn the majority, because they dare to correct a newbie, though it doesn't happen to every newbie, just a privileged few.
:)

Re: Newbies
 

Yep - that's why I added the "member since" statistic. Just a quick bit of mental arithmetic puts you in at less than one post per month in 8½ years while I've been on half as long but have approximately two posts per week.

The reader can, if inclined, make assumptions about the nature of a participant if they look at this sort of thing.

Re: Newbies
 

WHAT!!! Are you trying to tell me that I haven't been visiting LESSingtonweb for all these years?