A new section to welcome people

[Spacey]

I think an important question that needs to be asked is how this would improve anything, or how it would be ultimately functionally different from what happens already.

Is there that great of a need to this? Are new members being marginalized and not welcomed here? Or are they being integrated into the community?

My opinion:
I don't really see a need for it, and I think what we have works well.

The arguement that exists is that if the section is there then new people would post in it. I think that is a conclusion that lacks evidence. If someone doesn't want to post, then they won't. Esp. if they are new, nervous, and don't wish to draw attention to themself; as many new members do.

[Ancient Oneill]

I'm not saying forum members aren't welcoming here, what I am saying is that new forum members think the other forum members aren't very welcoming.

When I first became a member here the reason I didn't post was not because I did not want to, (actually I quite wanted to become one of the main forum members) it was because I was new on the forums so I thought other forum members would not care what I had to say and would ignore my posts. Now I know I was cleary mistaken however I think new forum members do not know it is a mistake to think that and so they decide not to post.

The new section would allow the new member to post somewhere that is intentionally designed to introduce themselves where they know they will get at least a Hello post in response which will give them confidence posting next time and would make them realise they are mistaken about people on the forum. It would also allow the other forum members to show that they are nice people who are welcoming people.

[Angnoch]

it is hard for people who are not generally that outgoing or people that dont want to be mocked that this section would help. Not to say that they would be the only ones but I use them as an example because they are easy to visualize having a problem integrating themselves into this forum.

[Dagr]

I don't really see any reason not to have one most people agree it would help(myself included). And what harm would it do? Worst comes to worst people rarely post and other people just flame the threads, we get rid of the section. And even if that did happen there would still be a great deal of people wanting to be nice.

[Ancient Oneill]

That's true as well so can we get a yay or nay from an admin please.

[Ancient Oneill]

I don't want to double post but we still haven't had any news on this. Admins?

[agapooka]

Well, I hope that you're not disappointed by the fact that only one admin is responding, when you specifically called for "admins," ( ) but here's my response:

When I first read this thread, I beleived that it wasn't needed, but now I'm wondering. If not for such a section, is there anythign else that would have brought uo your confidence to post? I'm addressing people like Ancient Oneill who say that it is their experience to ahve been misguided into thinking that the forum was not a friendly palce towards newer members when they first joined.

I'd like to hear alternative solutions, if you (pl.) can come up with any.

J

[Ancient Oneill]

Thanks for the response. I shall think on that one and get back to you ASAP.

[Ancient Oneill]

Unfortunately I haven't been able to think of any other way in the last 4/5 days. Sorry.

[Dagr]

Perhaps make a welcoming committee to people who newly register. Have them send a welcoming pm and give them friendly advice. I'm for the section but this is the only other thing i could think of.

[agapooka]

Section is better. Where'd we put it?

[Biscuit]

In or below the Newbie section? You could have it like the market section. Have the welcome area as a sub section of the newbie section.. just a thought

[Zeratul]

remember, it needs to be easy to find... that way newbies will actually find it...

[Spacey]

Section is better. Where'd we put it?

what shall I do with the welcome thread? move it to new section? archive it? delete it?

[Ancient Oneill]

It needs to be in a place that will be seen easily.

Personally I think the best place is above Stargate Wars General so that a new member reads the rules/important stuff first then has a place to introduce themselves and then the rest of the forums for them to get posting in after saying hello/introducing themselves (If you see what I mean ).

Other good places in my opinion would be above or below the Newbie section or as [Biscuit] said, make the newbie section like the market one and then rename it Introduce Yourself/Newbie FAQ etc (or something to that effect ).

As you can see I'm quite happy as I didn't think my suggestion was going to happen .