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Adopt a Newbie v2
When the new forums were first rolled out, someone (mojo, I believe) started a thread that allowed newer users to get in touch with the older users of the site and seek a bit of guidance towards becoming a well-established member of this community. I searched a good long while for the original thread and couldn't find it, so I'm reposting it. If it was helpful three years ago, then it's probably bordering on absolutely necessary these days.
The idea is simple. Some of us have been around here for a very long time. Others have joined recently, maybe even today. We older users know the ropes. We understand what's expected from a good user. We know the thread creation guidelines like the back of our hands. We are (mostly) familiar with what'll get you banned and what'll get you kudos. In short, if you're new and have a real interest in becoming a contributor to this community, we can help you.
The guidelines for becoming an RT Mentor (as I'll call the older members participating in this program) are as follows:
A Mentor should ideally have around two years' experience using this site.
He should be capable of answering any of the usual battery of questions usually asked by newcomers. Understanding of the Sponsorship system, the karma system and its rules, and the guidelines for thread creation and posting are all examples of things that a Mentor should possess.
His spelling and grammar must not be atrocious. A misspelled word here and there is one thing, but there are two reasons why a Mentor should be concerned with the way he writes. One, it allows him to communicate effectively and efficiently with others, and two, it sets a good example for newcomers. Nothing is more irritating than having to spend time trying to decipher the shorthand and Internet jargon 1337_n00b_514y3|2 uses when he posts.
To maximize the quality of the time invested in his adoptee, a Mentor should adopt no more than one or two newcomers. Trying to help fifty people at once is noble, but not very effective.
Of course, there won't be any sort of screening process here. But if these things don't apply to you, then I ask that you consider not participating.
Likewise, there are a few things to be asked of the Adoptees. There will be people spending time with you that could just as easily be spent elsewhere, so please try to keep the following things in mind:
Be at least 16 years old. If you're under the age of 16, you're not supposed to be here, as stated in the Terms of Use you agreed to when you signed up. Breaking a rule before you even post anything isn't a good way to start.
Keep a good attitude. If you don't, then you're going through this whole process for nothing. Don't be offended if your Mentor tells you to stop doing something or to shape up in some area. He knows what he's talking about.
Ask, ask, ask! Your Mentor is there to answer your questions, so don't be afraid to ask him. Are you thinking about posting a Linkin Park thread in the Gaming forum? Check with your Mentor first and see if it's such a good idea (it's not). Confused about why your thread was locked? Ask your Mentor instead of creating another thread to complain about it. He's taken the time to help you. Let him help.
Listen, listen, listen! Your Mentor has been around this place for a good long time. He knows what's going on, and if he tells you that you to do something differently, he's probably right.
Use good grammar and spelling. This is one of the most important parts of being a successful user of this site. People are much more likely to respond favorably to someone who seems able to voice an intelligent thought. This is your biggest weapon when posting. The latest version of Firefox has a built-in spellchecker. If you're not a good speller, then I'd suggest looking into this. It will save you a lot of grief.
Contribute! You're here to be a part of this community, so be one! A good poster will post something relevant and interesting in a topic. A bad poster will post things nobody wants to read, and gain a bad reputation very quickly. Keep your reputation sparkling, and see how much more fulfilling your RT experience becomes.
Now, if you're still interested in becoming a Mentor or an Adoptee, just say so. Post in this thread and say "I'll be a Mentor" or "I need some help." Ideally you'll be able to find someone to mentor/be mentored by with little problem. If you're having trouble finding someone to adopt you, PM me and I'll try to hook you up with someone who can help you.
Additionally, adopted users shouldn't stay adopted forever. There are lots of people here who will need help. The whole idea behind this is that once your adoptee is ready to become a contributive member of the community, you take the training wheels off and let him ride. Once your adoptee's cruising safely down the street, come back and find someone else to help.
Now let's get to it!
Current RT Mentors:
You can pick one of these members at random or just post and someone will pick you.
acidrain700
ad_713
alexthegreat
ChurchesWife
Count3d
dragonbanez
Dwarf_Ninjas
Fhajad
randomiser
TECHSKATER IS COOL, TOO
The idea is simple. Some of us have been around here for a very long time. Others have joined recently, maybe even today. We older users know the ropes. We understand what's expected from a good user. We know the thread creation guidelines like the back of our hands. We are (mostly) familiar with what'll get you banned and what'll get you kudos. In short, if you're new and have a real interest in becoming a contributor to this community, we can help you.
The guidelines for becoming an RT Mentor (as I'll call the older members participating in this program) are as follows:
A Mentor should ideally have around two years' experience using this site. He should be capable of answering any of the usual battery of questions usually asked by newcomers. Understanding of the Sponsorship system, the karma system and its rules, and the guidelines for thread creation and posting are all examples of things that a Mentor should possess. His spelling and grammar must not be atrocious. A misspelled word here and there is one thing, but there are two reasons why a Mentor should be concerned with the way he writes. One, it allows him to communicate effectively and efficiently with others, and two, it sets a good example for newcomers. Nothing is more irritating than having to spend time trying to decipher the shorthand and Internet jargon 1337_n00b_514y3|2 uses when he posts. To maximize the quality of the time invested in his adoptee, a Mentor should adopt no more than one or two newcomers. Trying to help fifty people at once is noble, but not very effective.Of course, there won't be any sort of screening process here. But if these things don't apply to you, then I ask that you consider not participating.
Likewise, there are a few things to be asked of the Adoptees. There will be people spending time with you that could just as easily be spent elsewhere, so please try to keep the following things in mind:
Be at least 16 years old. If you're under the age of 16, you're not supposed to be here, as stated in the Terms of Use you agreed to when you signed up. Breaking a rule before you even post anything isn't a good way to start. Keep a good attitude. If you don't, then you're going through this whole process for nothing. Don't be offended if your Mentor tells you to stop doing something or to shape up in some area. He knows what he's talking about. Ask, ask, ask! Your Mentor is there to answer your questions, so don't be afraid to ask him. Are you thinking about posting a Linkin Park thread in the Gaming forum? Check with your Mentor first and see if it's such a good idea (it's not). Confused about why your thread was locked? Ask your Mentor instead of creating another thread to complain about it. He's taken the time to help you. Let him help. Listen, listen, listen! Your Mentor has been around this place for a good long time. He knows what's going on, and if he tells you that you to do something differently, he's probably right. Use good grammar and spelling. This is one of the most important parts of being a successful user of this site. People are much more likely to respond favorably to someone who seems able to voice an intelligent thought. This is your biggest weapon when posting. The latest version of Firefox has a built-in spellchecker. If you're not a good speller, then I'd suggest looking into this. It will save you a lot of grief. Contribute! You're here to be a part of this community, so be one! A good poster will post something relevant and interesting in a topic. A bad poster will post things nobody wants to read, and gain a bad reputation very quickly. Keep your reputation sparkling, and see how much more fulfilling your RT experience becomes.Now, if you're still interested in becoming a Mentor or an Adoptee, just say so. Post in this thread and say "I'll be a Mentor" or "I need some help." Ideally you'll be able to find someone to mentor/be mentored by with little problem. If you're having trouble finding someone to adopt you, PM me and I'll try to hook you up with someone who can help you.
Additionally, adopted users shouldn't stay adopted forever. There are lots of people here who will need help. The whole idea behind this is that once your adoptee is ready to become a contributive member of the community, you take the training wheels off and let him ride. Once your adoptee's cruising safely down the street, come back and find someone else to help.
Now let's get to it!
Current RT Mentors:
You can pick one of these members at random or just post and someone will pick you.
acidrain700
ad_713
alexthegreat
ChurchesWife
Count3d
dragonbanez
Dwarf_Ninjas
Fhajad
randomiser
TECHSKATER IS COOL, TOO