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Underground > Policy & Help >

Barbelith Introductions

02:01 / 05.03.06

I don't care if there is a thread about this already, it's doing my head in.

I'm nice, I am! But I am sick of saying that there is a proper thread for introductions.

Can someone longstanding please ask Tom to post a link to the relevant 'actual introductions' thread in the 'how to join up' email he sends and ask new people not to start their very own thread?

I acknowledge that he may already do this but people are ignoring it. If so, I think there should be a clause in the join up - you may join Barbelith but if you start a personal introduction thread please know that Olulabelle is liable to smack you.

And so are lots of other people even if they're too scared to say so here.

02:09 / 05.03.06

Guilty. I yelled at Sokkri I think. I don't remember, some new kid who was linking about Otherkin... was it zeomancer? Eitehr way, someone informed me that on several message boards, it's commonplace to start introduction threads -that it's a ban-able offense to begin posting without an introduction.

I'm all for telling the new folks to not start intro threads.

All Acting Regiment

02:48 / 05.03.06

In some ways though, doesn't starting an intro thread suggest a certain interest or motivation towards the board, and surely that's a good thing?

03:07 / 05.03.06

They certainly don't bother me. I don't care.

All Acting Regiment

08:30 / 05.03.06

I should also add that what I've said doesn't invalidate people's concerns, just, you know...people could do a lot worse than start an intro thread and I don't want people to be turned away when doing so causes all this ruckus...

Our Lady Has Left the Building

09:56 / 05.03.06

It's not a big deal to me. I would suggest that Lula perhaps finds a thread that acts as the 'best' intro thread, I would then be quite happy to help go around the other intro threads, post links to the 'best' intro thread and then move to lock them. Perhaps Grant or someone who has current access to the wiki could put a link to it in there?

10:39 / 05.03.06

FWIW, there is already something about this in the wiki, and it was revised, with a link to a suitable all-purpose thread, the last time that there was an influx of new posters/a rash of ‘introductions’ threads. Anyone thinks it needs re-revising?

(Oh, and don't you currently have access to the wiki, flowers? Everyone should have access to the wiki.)

11:33 / 05.03.06

It's not a big deal it's just annoying and very silly to have loads when we could just have one.

11:45 / 05.03.06

Given that we don't have sticky threads, nor the possibility to have them, I do think that we are being unfair to new members by chiding them any time one starts an intro thread.

Partly, I suppose, I just don't understand the irritation.

12:19 / 05.03.06

Ah, but. We have a one-page Guide to Posting Etiquette: that’s sort of like a sticky, because it’s linked to every time someone hits their ‘post reply’ button. Although some people still don’t seem to see it. I’m all for Tom making much more of an appeal for people to read *that* before posting, 'cause it’s not just about introduction threads, but it also deters people from just turning up and posting spam to their non-barbelith stuff, or rotting threads, or anything like that. And because we can change it anytime to say what we decide is important.

And I think what it already says on this subject is pretty good: it’s not a big deal, we’re not overly interested in introduction threads, it’ll be triffic if you just start posting away, but here’s an all-purpose thread for introductions if you really want to. If all new people were reading that, then I think everyone would be happier.

15:22 / 05.03.06

At the moment, the e-mail that goes out explicitly says to people that there's normally an introductions thread going in the Conversation and if there isn't they should consider starting one. If people would rather I removed this line, then let me know. At the moment the e-mail reads as follows (with a few bits edited out where links and stuff would be) - feel free to let me know if you'd like it changed and if so, how:

We would like to invite you to become a member of Barbelith!

To sign-up for the site and start posting immediately, all you have to do now is ....

Here's the melodramatic bit: Please make sure ... that you register using the e-mail address above. We do check periodically to make sure that only approved addresses have been used. Also, it is not acceptable on Barbelith for people to have multiple user names. If you do not abide by these restrictions, I'm afraid you may be summarily booted from the community.

Now that's out of the way, I'd suggest you start off by reading your way through some of the community's background on the FAQ: http://www.barbelith.com/faq/

If you wish to introduce yourself to the board in general, then there is normally an 'Introductions' thread running in The Conversation at any given time (and if there isn't, then maybe you should start one). The Conversation is also for chatty and informal threads. If you have a question about board etiquette or just want to start posting, then it's a good place to start.

Please remember to try and keep your posts in the rest of the board on topic and thoughtful and try and play nice or we'll break your legs and set your hamster on fire. Or something!

Otherwise: Enjoy!

Tom Coates

10:29 / 06.03.06

I don't really care about introduction threads either - it's no biggie ignoring them is it? (I'm more bothered about people signing their posts!!) - but how about this?

If you wish to introduce yourself to the board in general, then there is normally an 'Introductions' thread running in The Conversation at any given time (and although there's no rule about starting a new one - it's generally considered pretty pointless since there are already so many out there and it's better to let your posts speak for themselves in explaining who you are). The Conversation is also for chatty and informal threads. If you have a question about board etiquette or just want to start posting, then it's a good place to start.

11:37 / 06.03.06

Or a line which suggests they do a search for one?

Our Lady Has Left the Building

18:04 / 06.03.06

I can see the wiki but have never got round to signing up to edit it, mainly because I think the job should be left in the hands of those more articulate than me.

Less searchable M0rd4nt

23:16 / 06.03.06

It might help if we took the word "introductions" out of the Conversation forum description. I mean, imagine that you've just come from posting on a board where intros are mandatory, where the convo-analogue is mostly intro threads, you've been flamed or even banned from a couple of places because you didn't start an introduction, and hey! Here's the forum for posting your introduction in... ya see?

23:45 / 06.03.06

If you wish to introduce yourself to the board in general, then there is normally an 'Introductions' thread running in The Conversation at any given time (and if there isn't, then maybe you should start one).

Could you suggest that if they are unable to see one on the first page, maybe they should make use of the search function rather than start a new one?

08:15 / 07.03.06

They certainly don't bother me any more than the Late Shift threads do.