How to Make Friends & Keep Them:
Hello and Welcome to Gaia! Alone? Scared? Looking for friends? You've come to the right place!
Tips on How to Make Friends here on Gaia:
Etiquette:1.
Be friendly. wink It works wonders
2.
Be polite. 3.
TRY TO AVOID TYPING IN ALL CAPS. sweatdrop It reads as if you were shouting and it is considered to be quite rude.
4.
1337 and chatspeek r not gud ideaz. You can use them, no one is going to tell you that you cannot, but please keep in mind that some of us cannot read it well and your first impression on people is always one of the strongest.
5.
Be respectful. Don't bash someone just because they don't disagree with you and do not harass someone repeatedly. You can get banned for this.
Dealing With Oldbies: Like it not, you will run into us on the forum. An oldbie is anyone whose been on Gaia for a while. Many of us post here, and some of us make it our job to try and keep track of the forum and keep it in order.
Note: These are not rules on Gaia. You will not get in trouble for not following them. However, you will earn a lot more respect from us oldbies if you follow them.
1.
Read. I can't emphasize this enough. The
FAQ's, the Stickies (
), and the
Terms of Service all provide very good information on how to get along here on Gaia. If nothing else, please check out the FAQ's. They provide you with a ton of beginner information and they will save you a lot of frustration with easy questions.
2.
Understand that we are trying to help: You may be asked to move your thread if it seems to be out of place or resize a signature. We are not doing it because we want to step on your rights of free speech or because we don't like you. Sometimes we can get a bit rude and for this I apologize. We aren't out to get you though, I swear we're not.
3.
Please be polite! If you don't agree with us on something and you want to call us on it, doing it politely will be a lot more likely to get you an intelligent response than being rude.
4.
Do not pm us asking for gold or items! Believe me, we get a lot of it and we're really not likely to give it out to random strangers. That doesn't mean that you won't get any ever, but your chances will be much, much better if you post in the
Charity/Quests Subforum, where such requests are supposed to go.
5.
Do not necro posts. Necro'ing means bringing something back that hasn't been posted on for at least 24 hours. The creator of the thread has probably forgotten about it by now and you are unlikely to get any replies on the subject.
6.
If someone says to let it die, please let it die. Chances are the topic is either misplaced or the question has been answered or something has gone on where it doesn't need replying to anymore. Check it out for yourself.
7.
Do not spread false information or hacks. The first is just plain not nice. The second one will get you reported.
Honestly, we're not out to get you, we aren't trying to gang up on you. Actually, most of us like you since we started out like you. We're just a little defensive of the place we've chosen to call home and we want to keep it presentable.
Places to Watch out For:If you're new and you're looking for a friendly place to hang out, this is probably about as friendly as it gets. However, there are some not-so-nice places on Gaia that you'll want to watch out for, if you don't like conflict.
General and Extended Discussion: Very, Very bad idea to post intro threads here or to ask for friends. They are very well known for being areas of conflict.
That doesn't mean avoid them, it means post intelligently there. Browse around, and read the stickies on each forum before posting. Remember etiquitte, as posted up top too. Spelling will be a major part on how literate you are judged to be and it will earn or lose you respect.
Remember:If you can't find a friend right away, don't worry. You have plenty of time. If all else fails, don't be afraid to explore outside of Welcome to Gaia a little. If you find an area that really seems of interest to you chances are there are a lot of people that are just like you there and plenty of chances for you to make new friends based on your interests.
~~~~
With that said and done, thankyou for your attention! Please feel free to use this thread to look for friends and to ask any further questions you might have.
Welcome to Gaia, hope you enjoy your stay
~terradi
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To Oldbies: On Dealing With Newbies: Like it not, you will run into them on the forum. That's what it's there for. Some of them will be cute, some of them will creep you out.
Note: These are not official rules, but they might help.
1.
Understand that they are new: You may have repeated the same information seven times already today but they are hearing it for the first time. Don't yell at them because of another doing the same thing. They had no control over it.
2.
Please be polite! It works wonders, actually. Tell them politely where they should post instead of telling them to stfu or that they're idiots. After all, which one of these would you respond better to:
If they ask why it's wrong, tell them and let them know these are forum rules, not just your own preferences. Directions are helpful if you're sending them off to another forum as well. Charity isn't that easy to find, as it is a subforum.
3.
If someone says to let it die, please let it die. Reaffirming that something is misplaced doesn't help anyone. Similarly, if the person has already been told where the thread should go once, they don't need to hear it again. Unless they are disregarding the post and continuing on their merry way.
4.
Take a break! If the forum is driving you up the wall, leave for a bit. Happens to the best of us.
Where things go: (Taken almost verbatim from the boards. Names removed to prevent issues, or given permission to use)
Friends Post:Example :
Possible forums: Chatterbox, or let it stay. Check post count and see if this is there first or second post. If it is, welcome them to Gaia. If they're older, send them on their way. Suggesting that they might make better friends by chatting with people of their interests and pointing them towards a forum doesn't hurt either.
Charity:Example Post:
Older Gaian
I'm giving away 50g donations to noobs only. The first 10 different posters THAT QUALIFY get the gold.
I HAVE FIVE 50G DONATIONS LEFTAnd a "please" and "thank-you" wouldn't hurt either.
Possible Forums: Charity, really. If they're just giving out one item and it's taken care of before you get there though, just let the thread die.
sad Personally I hate moving these, even though I know it needs to be done. Suggesting that they lurk and find people based on merit may work. Moving seems like the only way to get most of these threads to die, and chances are your suggestions of moving won't be taken kindly. Be prepared for flames.
Model Response:
AmpMan
Mmm... why don't you just go find random users, throughout the Welcome to GAIA Forum to give the donations to? confused You've been told where this belongs, and asked to go there already. Seems like you ignored that wish and you are now just spamming. Bumping in the Welcome to GAIA Forum and encouraging deivance: to both newbies AND oldbies. I'm going to report this now, to a Moderator, thanks. Example:
Forums: Chatterbox. Always.
Model Response:
SpitefulMage
Please take this to the chatterbox where it belongs. Not here we're for intros and welcoming in threads only. Either have this moved by a mod or let it die by not posting after this post. Thank you.
Example Post:
Gaian
~Club X~
~Club X is now looking for people to hire, it is a roleplaying club where people can come talk and have a drink while posting their own ideas not to affend anyone in particular.~
~ Current Workers ~
~ Assistant Manager: __________ ~
~ Other ~
~ Anyone wanting to join Pm me or send and email to (email address here)~
~ I am currently trying to make a guild for the workers in the club. Any donations of money and or items, Anyone that donates will be an automatic honorary member in the guild and club.~
~CLUB X~
~owner~
Appropriate Forum: Barton Town or Gaia Commerce if it is solely intended to be a club.
Model Response:
terradi
Cool idea, but something like this really belongs in Gaia Commerce, not Welcome to Gaia.
Please contact a mod to have it moved or re-post it there.
Example Post:
Newbie
How do you put pictures in below your posts?
Appropriate Forum: Here. Re-direct them to Q&A if you can't answer it.
Advice Threads:Example Post:
Oldbie
Hello and welcome to Gaia! Please ask me any questions you have!
Appropriate Forum: None. Inform them politely that their help is appreciated but that they will be more effective if they answer specific threads rather than posting their own.
If you don't scare them off they might become another WTG regular just like you, after all. Why not play nice?
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