I'll do it... but it just seems a waste...
Posted on 10/26/2009 4:32:01 PM PDT by Admin Moderator
This is a public service announcement from your friendly neighborhood Admin Moderators (Sidebar gave us some attitude so we shoved him in the closet for a while. He never recovered from the Yacht incident) For a while, we have noticed some things happening that we need your help with. The Free Republic community is strong; we are almost a family, albeit very dysfunctional at times. Like any community, we have new members joining us daily. Unfortunately, the air of suspicion and the desire to keep things “the way they are” has fostered a feeling of distrust with new members. Almost every day, we see new members join, then, because of comments of suspicion, they often don’t return. For any community to thrive, it must grow. Because of this, we are asking for your help. Here are some important things you should know:
The Internet has changed greatly since Free Republic first started. When we formed, few people had their own websites, now, everyone has their own blog. With this, there is an attitude change where someone who doesn’t understand how our community works may be more interested in self-promotion than we have been used to in the past. We don’t want to change the overall feel of this site- it is about our shared values, not about self promotion, however, we don’t want to drive people away simply because they link to their own blog. There are blog “pimps” who want nothing more than to promote their own sites, but for most people, it is simply how they start out sharing their thoughts on a matter. Encourage these members to take part in existing discussions.
Many new members may not communicate well what they believe and it gives the appearance they are not 100% kosher in their Conservative beliefs. This may have nothing to do with their Conservative credentials but simply how they are communicating their beliefs or how the media/pop culture has told them what to think. Be an example and discuss what you think is wrong. A liberal troll’s true colors will reveal themselves while a new member who is honest, but may not communicate well, may learn from the conversation.
Remember, how you respond to a topic not only reflects your thoughts, but also is a reflection of the community and Conservative values. We need to be an example of positive conservative values when responding to members, especially new ones. As mods, we make a strong attempt to screen all new members. Every new sign-up goes through a period where their posts are reviewed. This helps us eliminate most trolls, porn and commercial spammers, and those who don’t fit in with our Conservative values. This isn’t a perfect system, but it does help us make sure that by the time a new member reaches the community, there is a greater chance this person is the type we want around. Some slip through, yes, and you can always help us by hitting the abuse button. (of course, we do let some world class morons through every once in a while as “Live Chow”- after all, the kitties have to have toys.)
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With all that said, we need to grow. We need to be far more welcoming to new members and guide them into how to use our community best. With this said, we are issuing a challenge to our long time Freeper family. We would like to start up a ‘welcome wagon’ type of ping list or group whose job it is to welcome new members, show them the ropes, and guide them through our community. This could be as simply as giving new members a kind welcome, guiding them to how to post topics or replies, or just making the experience pleasant.
As this is your community, we would like your thoughts, ideas, and most importantly, for some of you to step up and help us with this.
We are passing the ball to you. What do you think?
I'll do it... but it just seems a waste...
Are you series?
Being nice is nice...but, I flat refuse to join hands and sing Kumbya or It’s a small world after all...maybe a good drinking song would be ok.
As it stands it is almost impossible to "fit in" without lurking for a number of months then screwing your courage to the sticking place before offering yourself for sacrifice at the discretion of the FReeper's mood that day. And I say this as someone who LOVES this site!
A bit of a leash and training for noobies plus a little (maybe just a tiny bit) of restraint on the part of us with more experience (I only have one year here) might make things a little easier for good conservatives to get up to speed and discourage trolls and idiots from bothering us so much.
You misspelled "horde."
;-p
Should have known something was up when she started posting all the Tom Cruise threads.
In my case, I arrived here because someone who I greatly admired suggested I stop in. Once here, I was very impressed with the high level of discourse, compared to the places I haunted at the time.
I was so impressed, in fact, that I simply didn't join for about a year, but read here every week. By the time I actually joined, I had a very good feel for the community, and didn't make any egregious newbie errors in posting.
To tell you the truth, I'm sometimes surprised at the abandon with which some new people dive right in, on day one, before ever really getting a feel for the place.
Naturally, a lot of those newbies make terrible faux pas, right from the start, and are quickly sighted down on as trolls.
I was like you when I started, cautious and careful what I said, and so pleased when I started getting replies! Lol
Don't think in all my years here, that I've ever seen as many new signups as we've had in 2008 and 2009, and I have been amazed that they seem to post so many of the threads! To join and immediately post a thread 'might' make some suspicious.
My main complaint with some new FReepers is ‘language’, there seems to be more bad language. Even if ‘dashes or symbols’ are used it is clear what the meaning is. When some use profanity, it seems to incite others to follow suit. I can't help but feel that many new Freepers are very young when they do this.
I saw a new FReeper post in the middle of the night and in a less than 15 word sentence she had three cuss words about needing some wine!
I try to stay away from 'Michelle' threads because the meanness does bother me. Save the hate for the deeds, there are plenty to choose from.
One change I'd recommend is banning anyone who posts "see my tagline[sic]". C'mon! If you have to draw attention to it then it isn't so hot in the first place, is it!
Oh, include for banishment those who post "I re-did [sic] my tagline[sic]" - after which the reader is instructed to *GASP* "see my new tagline[sic]".
And two week suspension for using 'tagline' rather than 'tag line'.
Other than that I will certainly do my part in making new members feel at ease and comfortable here.
OK, you’ve gone too far now. I’m gonna have to do an opus.
A post full of it. It being Common Sense.
Have a “new members only” thread to introduce themselves as well an information thread about what Free Republic is about.
I like floggings.
Make it a good one. The last few have been really weak and not really worth ridiculing.
Well that explains the "10 minutes in Heaven" FReepmail I got.
An initiation? Cool!
xzins, please be a good fellow and help Darksheare dress the Wombats in their armor whilst I go heat up the 50 gallon vat of custard.
Will somebody please set up the trampoline?
Damn, Crip. You've never recovered from whatever happened on that thread, have you?
Go on - post another vanity. Really, I'd love to read it. I'll bet it'd be a good one. I even promise not to call the Vanity Police on ya ...
In the new spirit of FR friendliness, let me be of assistance, noob.
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