My question on Newbies has been answered

[suityou01]

Do you think 'sir' that this might be the reason that new people don't join or don't stay?

No.

HTH BIVMDI.

[NotAllThere]

I was going to suggest that a lack of sense of humour caused people not to stay... but you're still hanging around, so can't be that.

I've been on a number of boards over the years, and this question is raised with monotonous regularity, often by someone who's a newbie - who doesn't like some of the things about the board they've just joined, and rather than adjust their own behaviour to fit in, and then start to mould the community, demands instead that everyone starts doing things his way, immediately. And when that is politely (or impolitely) declined, starts slagging off everyone who's been here for years.

When you've been contributing for a year, then start your anti-bullying campaign - when you've established yourself.

[suityou01]

Does this mean I can now start my own anti-bullying campaign?

MF, ole son - just desserts.

[d000hg]

I asked the question 'Where are All The Newbies?'. I wondered if the reason there seemed to be so few new people is that the veteran posters here don't want them and gang up on them.

Here's who responded to my question.

Posts - Name ------ Joining Date

15,654 Mariliion Man July 2005 (3 replies)
25,082 AtW July 2005 (2)
5,755 snaw Jul 2005
5,752 Cliphead Nov 2005 (5)
7,407 Pondlife May 2006
5,088 Old Greg Mar 2007 (4)
13,494 eternaloptimist Jul 2005
17,172 Zippy Aug 2006 (7)
1,366 Fullyautomatix Feb 2010
98 Benny Apr 2006
9,343 d000hg Dec 2007 (2)
1,474 Simon Mac Aug 2007
7,794 Minestrone Apr 2008
3,550 Ruprect Jun 2006
5,352 Mary Poppins Apr 2008 (3)
5,777 Owlhoot Jul 2005
151 Darrenb Sep 2006
1,916 K2p2 Sep 2009
1 harrygibson Jul 2011 (another poster said he was a regular pretending to be new)
5,457 Gonzo Sep 2006 (7)
39 Pork Belly Jun 2011

There were 46 posts altogether from 21 different posters (not including myself).

Only 4 were from people who joined in the past 3 years.

12 of the 21 posters joined in 2005/2006.

31 of the 46 posts were from people who joined in 2005 / 2006.

I ask again - where are all the newbies?

And why are there not more of them?

Are they discouraged from joining and when they do are they picked on?

Are the moderators encouraging or discouraging new posters?

It'd be a pretty crap community of the majority of posts were from new members. The fact most posts are from non-noobs suggests we actually have a community where posters stay and build relationships. A bit like real life.

[Craic]

There are many newbies on the CUK. They can be found in the professional and Welcome/FAQs forums. They are treated courteously and they have their questions answered.

Some come into the bear pit that is General, most don't as it serves a different purpose.

General is a playground and playground ettiquette takes precedence. Anyone who had to join a new school will be familiar with this etiquette.

Do not try to be an alpha without first finding out the lay of the land. Do not attempt to lead groups without first joining them. Show them that you are worthy of their friendship, to this end be collaborative while showing that you are independent and not sucky or needy.

And if you want to ignore this ettiquette that's fine too, but don't whinge that people react negatively when you do.

This forum isn't much different to others. People are people and that's the way they work.


HTH.

Thank you. That explains quite a lot. However, I disagree with your acceptance of it and with your statement that the 'bear pit' is just people being people. There are lots of Forums where people don't act and react like that. People can be, and do, good as well as bad. That applies on Forums as well as in life. What is needed is better moderation - and the right kind of people who will make sure that newcomers are welcomed. It appears that the Moderators here run with the 'pack' in the 'bear pit' - to mix my metaphors.

[suityou01]

I think the mods are generally ok (now) although there was a settling in period which was to be expected.

NATs post was fair, and explained fully what you need to do. Perhaps you didn't read it fully?

[Craic]

I think the mods are generally ok (now) although there was a settling in period which was to be expected.

NATs post was fair, and explained fully what you need to do. Perhaps you didn't read it fully?

This condescending tone to newcomers is perhaps part of the reason that they don't stay. Telling them that they have to 'fit in' rather than the Forum being accepting of new people will not cause them to stay.

[cojak]

Well then you'll probably be a bit surprised and not a little disappointed when you discover that admin will not change moderators on the advice of you.

[mudskipper]

Are you very, very bored?

My response was to a post, full of statistics, that must have taken some considerable time to compile.

Possible response, which may have elicited a warm hearted answer:

Lol, yes I guess I must be.

But serious question - why do you think there aren't more newbies?

But what we get is:

It begins.

It's the old technique.

If you can't attack the argument - attack the person making it.

It's very, very predictable.

If you think being asked if you're bored is being attacked, perhaps you need to hang around a little longer.

[eek]

This condescending tone to newcomers is perhaps part of the reason that they don't stay. Telling them that they have to 'fit in' rather than the Forum being accepting of new people will not cause them to stay.

I was going to write a long reply but it's not worth the effort. Online communities that support their regulars last, online communities that change the rules die.

Hence my advice would be if you want to join in please do, if you want to give us your "advice" please go elsewhere.