06-05-2012, 03:08 PM
Leanne advised me when I first joined to participate in the non-poetry forums so that people would get to know me (and that even though I was an asshole, I wasn't really the bad sort of asshole...well at least not usually), but as Geoff says it is a given that the people who have been here will know each other better than someone who has just arrived. It is also a given that people will align with those of like mind to some degree (however the way the site is designed, it does not really promote exclusiveness, as all areas are open to all members). Plus there is always the perception at first that the "newby" is on the "outside", and the rest are on the "inside".
I don't think it is necessary, but if you want to do something, you can assign a specific mentor that the person can chat with about anything they don't understand, that way they feel attached to the group through that person, plus it gives them someone who can act as a confidant when they come up against rules, or people, or whatever they think are goofy, it gives them someone to blow off about it with. Generally however, if a person doesn't have the necessary ego strength to stick around without help is that really someone you want on the site, as it generally ends up being someone you have to tip toe around. So I am not sure that just increasing numbers, without regard to quality, is really a valid goal. I think if the site has integrity it will attract people who will both benefit from the site and be a benefit to the site (although that kind of growth, though more sound, is also much slower. Deep roots take time!).
Of course if the goal is simply numbers, then an attitude of accommodating, or catering to the lowest common element of tolerance would need to be followed in order to keep any members one attracted. One such measure I have seen on other sites is to allow the primary poster to delete any comments or critiques they find not to their liking. Another approach is to implement an achievement system unattached to real quality, and one that simply rewards participation. This way anyone can have a sense of achievement within the community, and a new comer has a clear way lined out to become one of the group. Such an approach also keeps members because the individual does not want to quit, and thus leave behind the tangible sign of their status. A final approach is to allow people to have an individualized home page, and to individualize their post through visual adornment by such as background color, styles and images, and animation, access to a multiplicity of font types, styles, colors and so fourth, and implementation of A/V elements within the page.
One thing you might consider is that which generally generates rapid numbers also increases the trend towards sub-groups as most people cannot feel apart of a group once it passes a certain number of people, thus necessitating the need for the formation of cliques.
Dale
I don't think it is necessary, but if you want to do something, you can assign a specific mentor that the person can chat with about anything they don't understand, that way they feel attached to the group through that person, plus it gives them someone who can act as a confidant when they come up against rules, or people, or whatever they think are goofy, it gives them someone to blow off about it with. Generally however, if a person doesn't have the necessary ego strength to stick around without help is that really someone you want on the site, as it generally ends up being someone you have to tip toe around. So I am not sure that just increasing numbers, without regard to quality, is really a valid goal. I think if the site has integrity it will attract people who will both benefit from the site and be a benefit to the site (although that kind of growth, though more sound, is also much slower. Deep roots take time!).
Of course if the goal is simply numbers, then an attitude of accommodating, or catering to the lowest common element of tolerance would need to be followed in order to keep any members one attracted. One such measure I have seen on other sites is to allow the primary poster to delete any comments or critiques they find not to their liking. Another approach is to implement an achievement system unattached to real quality, and one that simply rewards participation. This way anyone can have a sense of achievement within the community, and a new comer has a clear way lined out to become one of the group. Such an approach also keeps members because the individual does not want to quit, and thus leave behind the tangible sign of their status. A final approach is to allow people to have an individualized home page, and to individualize their post through visual adornment by such as background color, styles and images, and animation, access to a multiplicity of font types, styles, colors and so fourth, and implementation of A/V elements within the page.
One thing you might consider is that which generally generates rapid numbers also increases the trend towards sub-groups as most people cannot feel apart of a group once it passes a certain number of people, thus necessitating the need for the formation of cliques.
Dale
How long after picking up the brush, the first masterpiece?
The goal is not to obfuscate that which is clear, but make clear that which isn't.
The goal is not to obfuscate that which is clear, but make clear that which isn't.