Ohhh MODERATORRRRSSSS...

[Deleted member 66627]

Yes, You.

You people..With your fancy Bold (and Italic) names.. and little red Moderator thingiees.

You, who deal with wonderful people like moi on a daily basis.


Hi !!


OK.

I have an idea.. Already kinda talked about it before.. And I am SURE this is being discussed as I type this.. Buuuttt..

I just HAD TO throw my two cents in.. 😀

I think that having a sub-forum (or whatever you call it) for the New user's to have a chance to post a thread.. (and in ONE specific area..instead of scattered in miscellaneous places.) And introduce themselves, and perhaps give a little history 'bout themselves if they choose to do so.

I was perusing another forum that I joined and noticed that they had a section..and the forum provider they go through is the same as this one..

Anyways..here's there set up and such forth..

And Greeting Message Sticky Thing...

- Basically, It's a metal forum..and a lot of people are just going to post a "Hey..My name is billy joe bob..I play the geetar and Iron Maiden RULEZZZ!" or something..

Where as a forum of this context could perhaps give the new user a more personal outlook on being able to post a thread introducing themselves.


Anyways, Yeah. There you go. If this is all repetitive of already discussed topic's ..then delete and forget it.

If Not

THEN READ AND ENJOY. 😎


(I tried to send this in a mass PM. But there are 8 of you...and I can only send it to 5. So I threaded it.)

 

[-Hari-]

i second that motion!!! UKTF have one!!!! i thought you guys were the masters? how come they have one and we dont!!! its not fair!!!!!!!!! 😛

 

[Mitchell]

I've seen mod responses to many threads like this one, and I have a feeling I know what they will say, but, since its not my place to speak for anyone else, I'll wait until Myriads or another mod sees this, for them to post a reply.

Mitch

 

[Deleted member 66627]

Thank you, Mitchell. For your very insightful post. 🙂

 

[Artoo]

i second that motion!!!

Thirded. It's a good insentive for people to delurk.

 

[dalekfire]

*bounces* Truth be told, this is the first message board I joined that didn't have some sort of "Member Introductions" forum...not to put the TMF down or anything, but in my opinion, a section like that really makes a community board like this seem more of a friendly...community. lol And not only that, but that allows us to get to know new members a lot more personally (or not, depending on what the member posts).

This next point I think is the big one, though:

Since Tickling Discussion and General Discussion seem like very popular boards, new topics sometimes get pushed back a page or two in less than a day. Also, because of a vast diversity of topics, many of which may seem more "interesting" to view...people can skip over 'em all too easily. That means...less of a chance for people to really welcome the newbies. Now, if the newbies feel less welcomed, despite their welcome topics, then...well, they might not stick around at all after that. Having a separate forum can help with that. =)

Thanks for bringing this up, Crystal! I concur with your proposal 110%. =)

 

[RUNOFFSTAGE]

Crystal for president! 😀 😀 😀

Metal Militia ... How charming ^^,

 

[TMF Jeff]

Our feeling, and maybe you guys disagree, has always been that it's better to have people saying hi and introducing themselves out in the open where everyone tends to browse, rather than in a seperate sub-forum where only the compulsive hello-ers will ever check.

 

[leafstk]

Our feeling, and maybe you guys disagree, has always been that it's better to have people saying hi and introducing themselves out in the open where everyone tends to browse, rather than in a seperate sub-forum where only the compulsive hello-ers will ever check.

I agree one hundred percent with this... that's what makes us more of an inclusive community and we stand out from the rest in this regard... IMO 🙂

 

[dalekfire]

Our feeling, and maybe you guys disagree, has always been that it's better to have people saying hi and introducing themselves out in the open where everyone tends to browse, rather than in a seperate sub-forum where only the compulsive hello-ers will ever check.

Good point. But I'd like to offer a counter-point, if I may.

High-traffic-ed area or not, only certain members really post anything in the intro topics currently posted, and depending on how intriguing the topic is, may gain only so many replies or replies to replies. I don't think it has much to do with people actually viewing the topic out of browsing, rather than viewing it out of...wanting to view it. That's when the replies come in. So it wouldn't really be negatively affected if separated into a sub-forum. In fact, as Crystal stated, it would be more convenient for us "official greeters" to check...and it would mean more attention given to the newer topics, from more exposure in such a specialized forum.

What about the TMF Celebration Forum? If your statement about new member greetings were true, then why does the Celebration Forum have a sub-forum of its own? Member introductions and member celebrations seem like they deserve their own forums for the same reasons...only, IMO, member introductions have more of a...special value, especially to newcomers, than celebrations.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to argue or disagree with the way things are run here...just stating my personal opinion. I've admined a few boards of my own (granted, none as big as this one), and I've always gotten positive feedback about the seperate Member Introduction forum. It's really a nice, cozy place for newbies to unwind in and feel...well...welcomed.

But Mitchell is right...it's the mods'/admins' decision, and the staff knows this board better than any other member. Heck, with all the neat upgrades recently, there's really nothing to complain about. 😉

But here's a little something...I, personally, would have felt a lot more comfortable breaking out of my lurking shell if there was a welcoming forum around. I wonder how many others out there feel the same way?

Thanks for bearing with my rant. xD

And keep up the great work, staff! 😎

 

[TMF Jeff]

That's a really good point, Dalek.

 

[dalekfire]

Thank you for considering my viewpoint, Jeff. Hopefully others will add their constructive opinions on the matter? =)

 

[TklDuo-Ann]

I agree with Jeff, though dalekfire has something of a point.

Personally, now that my time online is limited more, I very rarely get to anything but TD and GD. Even before my time was limited, I didn't go there much. If there were an intro forum, I MIGHT pop in on occassion to find out who's new. But, unless they aren't posting, I'm going to see that in the other forums when they post, anyway.

Edit: After reading through the rest of the posts below, I do see some merit to the idea. But, I still would probably not be likely to hit it very often.

 

[-Hari-]

maybe you could trial it cause theres obviously good points from both views on the subject?

I semi agree with what jeff said but i think that if the hello threads had theyre own sub forum than they would get a better welcome cause where i agree that only compulsive hello-ers are likely to reply, woudlnt it be easier for those lovely people who like to welcome new members to find the hello threads before they get lost within the normal disscussion and pushed deep into the pit of thread?

i dont think having the hellos in the gen diss or wherever they end up (cause i really dont manage to catch many) helps the member get noticed and welcomed. it would just be better beacause when they sign up they wont feel like "woooah where do i post first i juts wanna say hi to start with but theres no obvious place for this" instead theyd go "ah a sub forum for people like me to say hi and get to grips with whats going on, marvelous", il post a hello there and then explore the wonders that await me betond each of these forum doors, ahhh blisss, what a perfect forum this is" or something liek that. i just think it would be better, 😀


as dalek said, you guys do a great job and i love it here, so thankyouuuuuu

 

[drew70]

Another opinion

I tend to agree with Jeff on this one. I wouldn't take the time and effort to go into the Noob forum, any more than I go to the Celebration Forum. I pretty much stick to the subforums that interest me. If I see an intro thread, I'll likely say hello, but I don't go looking for them specifically.

As I understand it, the Celebration subforum was created because of the sheer volume of celebratory threads cluttering up General Discussion on a regular basis. But I don't think we see anywhere near that volume of newcomer introductions.

 

[Deleted member 66627]

Appreciate all the thoughts and in-put on all parties.

Basically my mentality is that to Dale's.

If you formed a sub-forum underneath the rules and before TK and GEN, etc. It would be easy to access, and tidy up the mass spread of hello's and I'm new here's.

Giving the new user's a little 'area' of their own to create their first thread and introduce them-selves.

And perhaps we don't have many greeting thread's because new-user's or even lurker's wanting to de-lurk are un-sure of where to post?

No one has/will chastize them for posting a greeting in, say TK Discussion or Post Stories ..But. They might hesitate to do so because they don't see a New-Member area?

I personally think it would not break the unique flow of the forum, but enhance it..and perhaps encourage long time lurkers to de-lurk and say Hello.

I've seen numerous poll's about "Unofficial Greeter's" and such forth..and there is a regular flow of people who DO greet the new user's .. I think it is at least worth a shot?

 

[-Hari-]

i agree with the above, so much better than wording things than i am, i agree perhaps people dont say heloo as much cause theres no obvious place to do it...

 

[Helena]

Appreciate all the thoughts and in-put on all parties.

Basically my mentality is that to Dale's.

If you formed a sub-forum underneath the rules and before TK and GEN, etc. It would be easy to access, and tidy up the mass spread of hello's and I'm new here's.

I really think that newbie posters are not always newbie members. Most lurkers who post for the first time have been members for years.
Directing first-time posters to a sub-forum to introduce themselves seperates them from the "established posters." Why on earth would people here want to make a first post less important than a second or third. This idea is stupid.

I personally think it would not break the unique flow of the forum, but enhance it..and perhaps encourage long time lurkers to de-lurk and say Hello. I've seen numerous poll's about "Unofficial Greeter's" and such forth..and there is a regular flow of people who DO greet the new user's .. I think it is at least worth a shot?

For goodness sake...you don't give lurkers enough credit, Crystal. Anyone who has been checking this sight out for a while knows where things go. Perhaps you should have your own subforum for suggestions. Posting for the first time does not always make you a newbie.

 

[-Hari-]

this seems to be a big deal for both sides of the discussion... Would it be a massive problem if this suggestion were turned down or tried out? I might have misunderstood a few of the posts but some people seem almost angry about other peoples opinions on this, does it really matter THAT much? I think if the forum leaders arn't willing to try it regardless to the good points made each way then someone could just say no and then people wouldn't have to argue about it.. Personaly i think its a good idea and would be nice for the people that are new and haven't been lurking.but at the end of the day... I care not, it's not really a problem that NEEDS action, its just a nice idea..

 

[Deleted member 66627]

I really think that newbie posters are not always newbie members. Most lurkers who post for the first time have been members for years.
Directing first-time posters to a sub-forum to introduce themselves seperates them from the "established posters." Why on earth would people here want to make a first post less important than a second or third. This idea is stupid.

I normally don't bother responding to user's who have something obvious waved in front of them, and completely miss the point.. Along with those who follow so closely behind what other's say..instead of forming an opinion with their own words..but it's quite clear you...(again) don't get it, Helena. 🙂

For goodness sake...you don't give lurkers enough credit, Crystal. Anyone who has been checking this sight out for a while knows where things go. Perhaps you should have your own subforum for suggestions. Posting for the first time does not always make you a newbie.

Okay, honey. First of all I was never once implying that our lurkers are ignorant, Doll. Simply put that the sub-forum would give them an oppourtunity to express themselves in a area dedicated just to them.

Again, when I first joined I had no intention of posting a HELLO IM NEW..or such forth thread..I choose to just jump right in and post. Some don't want to do that..and there is nothing wrong with that..

But If I had wanted to, I frankly would have been a bit conflicted as to where to go.

And I appreciate the attempt at forming an opinion on your own honey. I do. But next time try to absorb everything before drawing your own conclusions.. because it's very much not working out for you right now.

If you need anything feel free to PM me.

Oh..And ..if I had said posting for the first time makes you a newbie..I apologize..I think I mentioned the lurker's who may be looking for a way to de-lurk that this may (or not) assist in that...but thanks for pointing that out so I could clarify.

 

[venray]

How many of you naysayers saw Corry's first post introducing herself in Gen dis? How many of you know what a sweet girl she is and how some of us got to meet her at nest....?

Point is that when a new or first time poster introduces themselves, the post drops five pages in the gen dis forum in less than a day....

A unique area for first time or even introductory posts by long time members would not be a detriment to anyone and would most likely make a first time poster feel more welcomed and not feel they are being ignored when their first post seems to vanish....

An "Introduce yourself here" sub forum under the rules forum is common among the different boards I have frequented....

We could even move the sticky thread "Show us the real you" to this type of sub forum to increase interaction between long time and new members....

 

[Deleted member 66627]

How many of you naysayers saw Corry's first post introducing herself in Gen dis? How many of you know what a sweet girl she is and how some of us got to meet her at nest....?

Point is that when a new or first time poster introduces themselves, the post drops five pages in the gen dis forum in less than a day....

A unique area for first time or even introductory posts by long time members would not be a detriment to anyone and would most likely make a first time poster feel more welcomed and not feel they are being ignored when their first post seems to vanish....

I couldn't have put it nicer...


Literally.


Thank you.

 

[Goodieluver]

Damn i need to find that metal forum....

 

[venray]

Damn i need to find that metal forum....

http://www.allmetalforums.com/forums/

 

[RobAce]

Okay since we are asking for opinions on this Ill add my own to this.

Having a seperate sub-forum for introductions is a good idea.
But sometimes a good idea should just stay that way. A good idea.

Even those that label themselves "official greeters" may not be able to check every forum every day.

Not to mention I see on the average 4 to 5 de-lurkers a week. Does that volume really need a sub-forum.

Besides the whole concept of this website to a degree is for us to become a community, share things and such.
Going to a place to introduce yourself where maybe 5-10 regular posters will frequent is not the best place to share things such as your de-lurking which to some people is a big deal. The first time they post something. Other forums are not as "personal" as this one. Using the metal board example it is not a big deal that I am "outing" myself as enjoying that music. But to "out" yourself on a fetish website is a lot more personal and deserving of something more than a forum just to "say hello and come out".

I like the way things are now, with members posting in General Discussion or in TK Discussion.
If there is need of some kind of compromise then I would suggest that the Celebrations Forum be renamed to:
The Announcement/Celebration Forum:
A place to celebrate and announce special events, posting benchmarks, and for new members to introduce and announce themselves.

That is my humble opinion.

Rob