talkmagic.co.uk

First off, I am as guilty of the follwing as anyone:

When New Members post, they fall into 3 sections.

A, Good posts/introduction. Welcomed by all.

B, No, or non magic introduction, tend to gain sarcastic posts. May be genuine and want to learn.

C, Tell me, I want for free, I got DVD's to sell. Normally told where to go!

My suggestion.

The first member, ( but not another new one) who sees the post, reply with "have PM'd, please await my reply.
Until the reply comes, nobody else post. The Member can check by PM to see if it is someone genuine/remind them of the rules. Depending on the replies you get back, you can then post either a "welcome" message, or PM a Mod if you feel they are secret grabbers.

It seems like a bit of work, but it will keep the sarcastic comments of the forum. At the moment, if other "lurkers" see some of the posts, it may put them off joining. It will also help the Mods out, as we can help by letting them know if someone has just not read the rules, or just want to ignore them.

Hope that makes sense.

Well, I'm as guilty as anyone of making sarcastic comments, but the other side of the argument is that people invite them by not bothering to read what this place is for or about. For some, it seems to be a write-only medium and they deserve a bit of gentle chiding. I mean, it's not like there aren't lots of guests browsing and several new accounts being set up every day, so it's really only the blockheads that get covered in sarky goodness.

Darn right Tomo. Make Registration Harder.

I take it you both read the whole car manual, before you drive off in a new car? The same as any manual, rules or instructions. Has ANYONE always read them all FIRST?

Darrel wrote:I take it you both read the whole car manual, before you drive off in a new car? The same as any manual, rules or instructions. Has ANYONE always read them all FIRST?

Well, I do tend to read car manuals enough to find out what all the switches and buttons do before I drive off - especially for the headlamps, how to get the petrol cap off and how to get the bonnet open.

I think the point of contention for many members is that a few people just turn up, register, don't read anything (not even the descriptions attached to where you click to enter a section of the board) and just blast away at the keyboard regardless. Look at how many review requests that are met by a link to a review, for instance, and how many requests for exposure as first posts there are too. Like any complaint, if we don't tell them, they'll never know.

Then again, when someone introduces themselves, and says they've been lurking for a while, you know they probably already get it and will be a useful member of TM.

It is the people in between these that can be put off. They can make a first post which CAN be taken the wrong way. It normally IS taken the wrong way, because of all the other posts. I think there are 2 or 3 members that I PM'd when they joined, as I felt their wording was wrong, but there intention was correct. The problem is, they had the kind of answers that would discourage them from the boards. They have shown they are interested and taken advice since given by people.

Writing is impersonal. If you were able to talk to them, you would get a better idea if they were genuine. The spammers deserve to be put in the Sin Bin straight away. Just lets give the "maybe! ones a chance.

I had already been here a while before I posted and had read some of the messages and had the common sense to know this wasn't a exposure forum and I'm glad it isn't because you appreciate the effect a lot more if you have to pay to find out the secret.
I also read a lot of messages in the sinbin so I knew what not to post - it might be good to make new members read the last sinbin message so they are well aware of what not to post ie no selling dvds, asking how a effect is done but asking where to find a certain effect (what book or dvd it is in or website they can find it)
I think some people misunderstand this and tell a lot of new members off when they just want to know where to find a effect.
I know I don't post replies to introductions but I am interested in talking to people in the other topics and I think people shouldn't be so quick to judge but I also know its hard not to get angry when people come on here wanting everything handed to them on a plate

I think that newbies who take the time to post a decent intro that's not in text speak and is generally well punctuated, DO get a warm welcome from the TM membership.

If pople don't post decently then they get what they deserve. There's nothing wrong with a little sarcasm now and then as long as it doens't get personal, threatening or abusive. I think that I;ve only read one thread from a newbie that fell into these Categories.

I agree that few people will read the rules but that does not exuse anyone from asking for exposure.

Is it okay to review a product thats already been reviewed by someone else?

Misanthropy wrote:Is it okay to review a product thats already been reviewed by someone else?

I'd say yes, because then you can get a more rounded view before parting with your cash.

Misanthropy wrote:Is it okay to review a product thats already been reviewed by someone else?

Not only OK but warmly welcomed! Alternative or complimentary reviews are always fine as it gives added depth to the understanding of the item in question. If the original Review is a long time ago with few responses then a new Review is OK but if there was an active old thread then just add it to that thread anyway. It means we can keep all the comments together and it saves flicking between different threads and links all the time.

Just going back to the original topic, whilst we should always try to welcome newcomers and give them a little leeway until they settle in, with some people you just know it isn't going to happen. Those who are aggressive or accusative, or who insist on using TXTSPK and/or abbreviations (why isn't there an abbreviation for 'abbreviation'?) or can't be bothered to spell check etc will soon get sarky responses. If they find it offensive then the answer is to do whatever is needed to get in synch with TM and the way we do things here. It isn't the same as everywhere else, thank goodness for that, and thank goodness the other Forums are different as well.

Sometimes responses have been OTT and we need to be aware that we can make mistakes so perhaps the initial rush of sark could be toned down - give them a break and see if it helps them adjust. If they continue or get arsy then there isn't much else we can do. Youngsters and newcomers are the future of TM but they do need to understand that visiting and ultimately inheriting this Forum means continuing the standards and style as much as anything.

To a certain extent, it could be argued that if they perform magic and get a bad response from the audience, that will be far worse than anything we can do here so we are perhaps toughening them up a little ready to face the flak.

PS How about we amend the title of this thread slightly to 'Making Talk Magic More Welcome?'

Mandrake wrote:PS How about we amend the title of this thread slightly to 'Making Talk Magic More Welcome?'

Quite right and amended.

Mandrake wrote:Sometimes responses have been OTT and we need to be aware that we can make mistakes so perhaps the initial rush of sark could be toned down - give them a break and see if it helps them adjust. If they continue or get arsy then there isn't much else we can do. Youngsters and newcomers are the future of TM but they do need to understand that visiting and ultimately inheriting this Forum means continuing the standards and style as much as anything.

Got it in one.

I just thought that doing it by PM, I find I get a better idea if it is someone who does need the help. Does anyone mind if I try out my idea, if it is a borderline case?