talkmagic.co.uk

Just something i would like to think we could all discuss sensibly without the need to pick holes in one another..y'know, a normal healthy adult conversation...

this is certainly not aimed at ANY new member, more aimed at any potential new member who is currently a lurker...

i've found the following to be quite useful to bear in mind when using a forum such as this one...kinda like a contract you enter into when you join up...

1. think of a forum as a minature, living and breathing encyclopedia - written by a mixture of people with a mixture of skill sets and opinions..

2. bear in mind how long the forum has been running, and entertain the thought that maybe, just maybe the answer to your question has already been asked a few times before..hey, its only natural eh..

3. if you can't find it on the first attempt, try google - just type talkmagic followed by some key words..for example, "talkmagic mentalism" gets you straight to the sticky post (eurgh) on here..first link from google..

4. read all the stickies in the support and tips section

5. consider this, when you talk to someone on here, imagine you were in a room with them, face to face - would you say the same thing that you were about to type? or would your potential comment cause that other person to want to hit you with a chair?

6. asking for secrets - let's say you invent this wonderful effect, i find out how its done for free, and perform it badly - saying "oh well, i can't afford to buy it..so tough"...would you feel slightly miffed or annoyed? i bet you would - DO NOT ASK FOR SECRETS

7. arguments - look, they're gonna happen regardless, thats the honest truth. People feel so passionately about so many things, both in life, and in magic - if you can't or won't accept another's point of view, and feel like mocking it - fine by me...but expect the same back from others..

8. no one has ALL the answers. imagine forums to be not only like an encyclopdia, but also like a scrap book...imagine a terrible newspaper, but there is one article that is absolutely genius..so you tear it out. It's a little like that too - you sometimes have to wade through a big long thread to find one post that speaks volumes...

9. do not expect to be spoonfed. if you cannot or will not spend some time reading the stickies, doing your OWN research, and to be honest - it doesnt take a genius to use google - then hey..maybe, just maybe, you need to go start from the beginning again..

10. if you've asked for feedback on something you've done, or want to do - and kind people have taken time out to reply; listen to them. Do not go "la la la la la - yeah, yeah - whatever, i still want to do this..or buy that.." - that my dear friend, is your perogative; however you have just wasted alot of people's free time in trying to help you out in other ways.

If you're not going to take heed, then why bother asking for feedback in the first place? Oh and manners cost nothing. Say thanks...

11. when you join here, this is a wonderful place, you can exchange ideas - you can learn, you can read reviews and save or spend lots of money..BUT! this site is run for free, the mods work on here, for free - alot of people's time goes into this place - FOR FREE! try to put back in, what you get out of this place...even if that is just being polite, reading all the stickies, and searching properly...it all helps...

12. bear in mind, im just another user on here like you, all the above have just been my own observations on this place - I'm very fond of some of the people on here, and i've been here for two years or so...and i've seen (along with others) quite alot of the sames happen over and over again...do yourself a favour, and at least try to take pride in using this place - and all it's resources. You will genuinely get out of this what you put in...

13. good luck...

They are all important, but people who regularly post in the File Sharing Section really need to listen to this...

If you're not going to take heed, then why bother asking for feedback in the first place?

Nice idea Iain.

Here here Iain!

I'm glad you wrote it. I was really close to writing this. Excellent post, this is something we really needed. I've noticed a lot of this lately.

Lots of good points eloquently put.