VEGANGELICA

See, I thought we were *supposed* to ask new members what their favorite music is to learn more about them in the introduction thread. When I greet people in the intro thread, I have usually copied what people like AwwSugar do, which is post little one-liners like, "Favorite bands?" Except, of course, I use more words than that. I still remember Antonio was the first person to greet me! AwwSugar is a great greeter...I see her greeting people all the time.

My recommendation for the site is for the moderators or administrators to put a "Welcome" section at the very top of the MB homepage that has 3 threads:

Proposed WELCOME TO MUSICBANTER SECTION (placed at the very top of the homepage, below the line that includes "Search" etc. on it):
1. "About Music Banter" -- including its philosophy and history, and instructing people who want to join to read the next thread ("MusicBanter Community Rules");
2. "MusicBanter Community Rules" --listing all the rules and explaining what happens if you break them, and telling people who want to join to first introduce themselves in the next thread.
3. "Introductions" --move the introductions thread out of the lounge and up here to the new WELCOME section.

Over the last 5 months I have reminded around 20 people who post in the songwriting thread about their opportunity to introduce themselves in the introduction thread down in the community section. I think they (like I did) may not see the introduction thread at first because it is below the other content in the site. I think some people miss that there is an introduction thread until they've been here a while, plus they may not be reading the rules since the rules aren't right at the top of the site's homepage. Having all of these topics (About Music Banter; Rules; Introductions) at the very top may ensure more people know what is expected of members.

__________________

Urban Hat€monger ?

1 & 2 Threads like you suggest are already in the introduction forum, and are stickied at the top.

3 Has already been suggested before, Sadly according to the Admin it cannot be moved for various reasons.

__________________

FETCHER.

I'm not disagreeing (SP?) here or saying it's not a good idea, but when I join, I think it's good to ask the noob about themselfs a little, I always feel like I'm welcome in the community, but I agree that they should speak about music through the forums, but I feel that If I simply say "Welcome" it isn't very welcoming, and thats what I want the noobs to feel like to perhap encourage them to stay. I joined a forum once and got shit welcomes. I've been on it once since. anyhoo, I still think it's a good point your making.

__________________

My Journal.
Last.Fm if your interested...

NumberNineDream

Maybe we can recommend some threads or places he should visit after he'd told us more about himself.

__________________

Urban Hat€monger ?

Then you say 'Hello *******, tell us a bit about yourself and after you've done that feel free to go into the forums & tell us about the music you like as well'

__________________

right-track

^ Good idea.

VEGANGELICA

Hi Urban,
I meant pulling the "Newcomers Guide to MusicBanter" and the "MusicBanter Forum Rules" out of the Community Section so they are in their own free-standing section visible on the home page at the very top...which apparently Admin won't allow, since they won't allow the introduction section to be moved up and out of the Community Center to the top of the home page?

Would Admin allow the "Newcomers Guide to MusicBanter" and the "MusicBanter Forum Rules" to be moved (or simply provide copies of them--the best course of action) out of the section in which people introduce themselves so that, at least, they are their own threads visible on the home page within the Community Center down at the bottom? That might make it easier for moderators because more people might read these threads since they would see them on the home page.

When I first visited MB and scanned the home page, I was looking for some "Intro to MB" or "MB rules" and saw nothing like that. It was off-putting, because I didn't know what was expected; I didn't know where I was supposed to go first. Normally the first thing you do is visit what is at the top of the page, which in the case of this forum is the MB Reader. Within that section, within the Album Reviews, 4th thread down is right-track's thread describing rules, but that doesn't inform me about the introductions section (where people post intro threads) or the "Newcomer's Guide" down in the Community Center. I would think having the "Newcomers Guide to MusicBanter" and the "MusicBanter Forum Rules" be visible on the home page would make it easier for moderators since then they don't have to go on explaining rules to people because the people happened to miss the rules, since they are currently buried (albeit close to the top) of sections, but are not visible on the main home page. Perhaps this reorganization would cut down on the number of people who post cruel or self-promotional stuff, and thus help maintain the quality of MB (that is, the focus being on polite and interesting discussion of music).

__________________

Urban Hat€monger ?

While I agree with you for the rest of your post,Let me tell you it won't affect this one bit.

Spammers are only here to spam, they're not interested in becoming members. You could print the rules in 6 foot high lettering and they'd still do it.

And the people who get infracted or banned are made well aware of the rules before any action is taken. Like your friend Unfan. Yes he had 7 infractions, but that doesn't take into account the hundreds of friendly warnings & PM's sent to him asking him to stop trolling people and the hours wasted by mods past & present on him. So he's upset that a couple of us descended to his level, well boo hoo. I think the fact we tolerated him for something like 2 years and didn't permaban him we can be forgiven for letting slip just once or twice.In fact I think it's a testament to our patience he was here that long.

Actually I find it funny how Unfan says 'Mod favoritism is the reason MB is such a ****ty community'. Because any favouritism from mods seems to be exclusive to those people who don't cause any trouble.

__________________

MURDER JUNKIE

The only reason it sucks is because I'm not around much

Urban Hat€monger ?

^

x2

How's things MJ

__________________