To whom it may concern

Postby **Icepick** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 12:29 am

Before I get started, I would like you to read coolsi's post in this thread, as a prelude to what I'm about to say.

This post is an attempt to improve the way 'n00bs' on the forum are treated by a majority of forum users. I'll try and keep it short and to the point (though I can't guarantee the short part). Also note that this is not a rant, it's an attempt to make the forums a nicer place to visit.

The way regular users of this forum treat new comers has been deteriorating for some time now, and has gotten especially bad recently. People asking questions about the game are treated with hostility and normally don't get the help they came here to find.
This is not a good thing - It seems that some people need reminding that, first and foremost, this is a forum about Uplink.

Now, as most of you are probably aware, the forum had some issues a little while ago, which caused a large number of posts to vanish from the forum. This means that, when someone asks a question, telling them to 'use the search button' is not helpful in the slightest, since there is a good chance the answers they are looking for aren't even there anymore.

Worse than this is when people simply hurl a string of expletives at the person. Not only does this make you look bad, but it reflects badly on the entire forum. I'd like to think that at least some of us are friendly, helpful people, but when the first thing a new poster sees is abuse directed at them, that isn't the impression they are going to get.

Now, if someone asks a question, and you don't want to answer it, then consider this. Instead of shouting abuse at the poster, how about you just don't post at all. This alone will make the forums a much more pleasant place.
If the question has been asked before, instead of just saying 'use the search button', if you're so sure the question has been answered before, why don't you find the post with the answer in and post a link to it. It takes all of 5 seconds of your time, the poster gets the answers they need, and everyone is happy. Hell, even a link to the relevant section of my Uplink Guide would be better than nothing.

Now, things I would like people to try and avoid doing:
Telling them to 'read the FAQ' - the FAQ is rarely helpful, and, contrary to popular belief, doesn't contain all the answers.
Telling people that they are posting in the wrong section of the forum.
Hurling abuse at 'n00bs' for asking questions (this one is not a suggestion)

Now, I like to think this forum is run in a very relaxed manner, and people are granted a great deal of freedom when it comes to posting (especially compared to other forums - look around if you don't believe me), and I would certainly like it to continue this way. But if this harsh treatment of new members of the fourm continues, I may have to start becoming more strict in my moderating.

Remember, we were all beginners at some point.

DuctMasta · Postby **DuctMasta** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 12:36 am

(sniff, sniff) That... was ... beautiful. And I wholeheartedly agree with it. Very well said.

code red hacker · Postby **code red hacker** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 12:48 am

The very reason I left for a while; to much moronic flaming.

Adriac · Postby **Adriac** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 1:13 am

I move we make unnecessary flaming of newbies an editable offense.

Not to strain Icepick too much, but if he feels like it...

DuctMasta · Postby **DuctMasta** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 1:15 am

I second that.

Adriac · Postby **Adriac** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 1:21 am

Seriously, it's the one thing I think should be strictly enforced: basically, just be nice to children. How hard is that?

If a little first grade boy walks up to you, giant-ruled notebook in hand, and asks you how to spell "duck", do you slap him upside the head and tell him to check a dictionary before he asks you stupid questions?

Think about it.

(Edited by Adriac at 8:23 pm on Sep. 16, 2003)

einstein · Postby **einstein** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 2:14 am

Yeah... thats about all i have to say... and also maybe, its about time...

Icepick, i dont envy the job you have ahead to make this place n00b-friendly...

I fink stage one should be the banning of the word n00b... if it is in fact a word.

bgreene2001 · Postby **bgreene2001** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 7:31 am

I think there is something to be said for telling noobs how to find information for themselves (ie, the room of geniuses might not always be there), but there is a very fine line between that and flaming. I have to admit, I've been guilty of slightly flaming noobs when they ask stupid questions when I'm tired, but I generally try to answer the question, and point them to the search button, faq, or how I found the answer.

Edit: Oh, and also try to search or check the faq before you say 'Search' or 'Read the FAQ', to make sure the answer is actually there migth help

Edit: spelling, and only a month or two after I posted

(Edited by bgreene2001 at 12:52 pm on Oct. 30, 2003)

Postby **NeoThermic** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 7:43 am

Quote: from einstein on 2:14 am on Sep. 17, 2003[br]
I fink stage one should be the banning of the word n00b... if it is in fact a word.

Well, actualy no, that would not be a good idea. The way that the term n00b is used in the fourms is not derogitive, its more to the point. They are new to the fourms, and therefore they are a n00b.

As my post in another topic [ http://www.introversion.co.uk/cgi-bin/i ... &start=100 ] stated, we rank others by how much they have contrubuted to the community. This is mainly done via what we see on the fourms. When someone joins the forurms, they have yet to prove that they are someone to listen to, as we judge others on not how they look, what color or race they are, what religion they hold dear, but how they act. These can be seen in a variety of different aspects: Your debate and discussion skills, how well you hold a conversation with others, how willing you are to help, and most importantly your written English…

So banning the word n00b is like banning the idea that someone is labed as new to the fourms, when they actualy are...

NeoThermic

Floydan · Postby **Floydan** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 8:02 am

I can´t say how please I am to see that someone with athourity has finally got enough when it comes to n00b bashing.

The bashing has kept me from writing any posts or asking questions, which has been good in one way (I had to find our myslef) but when I really got stuck i´m stuck there forever baby! =)

so on behalf of the n00b part of this community: thank you

coolsi · Postby **coolsi** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 8:07 am

That is exactly the point I was trying to make, if people flame n00bs they are kept from making any posts at all.

Postby **Icepick** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 12:29 pm

Another idea.
Instead of telling people blindly just to 'read the FAQ', why don't you check that the answer is actually there first, and if it is, copy and paste the text into your post. Would that be so hard?

Deepsmeg · Postby **Deepsmeg** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 12:43 pm

True, but /some/ of them do seem to prefer the lazy way of doing it and getting us to hold their hand through the whole game.

Adam Black · Postby **Adam Black** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 2:03 pm

Oh grrr. I hate it when this happens.

While I do agree with everything that has been said etc. etc., I feel that we have reached a stage where the forum is no longer a forum but...well...

For an example, I shall give you my recent encounter at my school with a teacher in a private study period. Before we all sat down and got in with our work she read out this massive list of rules and stuff that were totally meaningless:

'It's okay to talk, but not so loudly that I have to tell you to stop talking, and while we're on the subject you can't talk while you're eating something so don't, and when you come in you must sit down and be very quiet blah blah blah blah...'

And I was thinking, 'Jesus Christ, chill woman! It's only private study!' I mean, most of the stuff she read out was commom sense anyway.

And now I feel the same thing is happening now. I wouldn't have felt the need to say this if, for example, an amendment was made to the forum rules, and possibly a little topic to draw attention to it, but now you've got people starting topics and stuff and, well, I can't really put this into words, I mean...well, think what you think, ignore me if you want, I'm just rambling.

Phydaux · Postby **Phydaux** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 2:55 pm

Quote: from Adam Black on 2:03 pm on Sep. 17, 2003[br]... most of the stuff [is] commom sense anyway.

It's quite obvious then that most of the forums vets have lost all their common sence. It takes someone to point out what is happining so people get a reality check.

--

It seems that people here seem to get all flustered when either a n00b question or warez get mentioned. People need to calm down and actually read what they are posting, and not jump on the anti-n00b/warez bandwaggon, flamethrowers ablaze.

It's already been mentioned but if you don't have anything constructive to say don't say anything, you have every right to ignore a post as you do to reply.

To whom it may concern

Who is online