New shitheads

[alowishus]

Admins and mods, could there be a way (and there is always a way) to have a new member HAVE to once they are given the keys, to read the rules, and a statement AND has to click a yes/no button (or something) before they can post or move on.

The statement saying in effect by clicking yes you are agreeing to these rules (a sort of contract to do no evil or harm ) and will follow them or you know in advance that you will get asskicked down the stoop and out on to the street.

Now there may already be something like this and if so please disregard, but it's been a while and a couple of changes since I joined. :o;)

I also know how many of us read the UA's (User Agreement) of things and just click yes and just go straight ahead, but that still is binding.

[RxQueen]

yeah, there is some form of agreement during the registration process. and it IS binding, whether or not they've actually read it. more of them need to realize that that agreement and the rules (and the FAQ and the forum stickies and the advice of long-time members) and everything should be taken seriously. we put them there for a good reason, and it's for their own good... not to mention their own (and the entire site's) safety.

unfortunately, there's no way to make sure that any of them actually read it. so we just keep booting out the ones that make a blatant show of ignoring it all, in favor of their own selfishness and immaturity. keep givin' 'em hell, alow... you know which ones need the old school ass-kickin!

[alowishus]

Maybe have 'em write a paper on what they just read before they get full access.....or more seriously a "poll" type thing where they have to answer a couple questions on the rules, have a couple check boxes w/ different answers if there are more then one answer or just tick circles saying:

"Did you read anything in the rules about the use of the "N" word on the site?"

Yes
NO




I wish you hadn't closed that thread, I came to it late, but I had a thing or two to say. :mad:

I know you guys are overloaded as is and although I know that there are modules you can get that do different things (don't know if anything like what i said above has already been written, I would think maybe something that could be tweaked maybe.....but as I said whom among ya'all has the time to do it.

But anyway You guys are doing a great job, please tell the others for me.

[/blowing smoke up ass] :D

[RxQueen]

thanks alow. y'know, i thought once too about a quiz... like make them describe a basic CWE and the reasons for doing it, naming 5-10 of the site's top posters.... just anything to make sure that they've done SOME amount of reading! it'll never happen, but it would be nice.

[ka11ink]

What about giving new members a probationary period where they can post/read freely for a certain amount of time then having a panel of certain select members vote on whether or not they should remain on probation, given full privs, or kicked off totally? That way they will have practice on behaving the way they should.

[alowishus]

What about giving new members a probationary period where they can post/read freely for a certain amount of time then having a panel of certain select members vote on whether or not they should remain on probation, given full privs, or kicked off totally? That way they will have practice on behaving the way they should.

Been there done that, as far as a probationary period, it didn't change a thing.

And even I, along w/ most of the others (at least back then), am against the "panel of certain select members" type deal, it was thought about but as about as elitist we want to get around here is giving newbies shit (I fucking refuse to type it w/ "00").

And besides who are junkies to be judgmental?

[upstate_007]

then having a panel of certain select members vote on whether or not they should remain on probation, given full privs, or kicked off totally?

Only if devilsdrug is on the panel.

[edhorfin]

As much as I appreciate the need for "fresh meat", so to speak, it seem the new members are often wasting time and space.

The mods do a good job of enforcing the rules, but a lot of the trash posted doesn't violate the rules, just my sensibility. I log on and go directly to "new posts" and lately, the have been days when not a single topic has sparked enough interest to open the thread.

Maybe newb could spend some time in "probation" and be required to only reply to existing threads, without the ability to start a new topic?

I don't know, I don't pretend to have the answers, but I love this site and it seems to be losing its value to me lately.

Thanks
Ed

[barbiegal]

I know for me the fact that registration was closed for awhile forced me to just read and read. At first i was frustrated because my fingers were itching to jump right in and post my thoughts/opionions. But actually it worked out better that I had to wait to register because it forced me to "learn the ropes" and get to the know the members. I don't how often registration is closed and reopened, but maybe only letting a certain amount of new opios in at a time? Might make it a bit easier on mods/admin to regulate the calibur of members. IDK...I feel for you guys though. I'm a newbie myself and i just shake my head at some of the random shit that pops up. I've yet to start a thread,I'm still getting comfortable adding to posts. If I can help at all I'd be happy to. :)

[Nonphixion]

I am new well i new to posting, but i have been reading for a long, long time, but i have read understand UA it but everyone is human u know "don't jump a newbie shit" if a mistake is made just correct/warn he or she, and if totally wrong well thats whats the Mods are for to put the hammer down if need be. just my .02...

[Suboxstitute]

I know for me the fact that registration was closed for awhile forced me to just read and read. At first i was frustrated because my fingers were itching to jump right in and post my thoughts/opionions. But actually it worked out better that I had to wait to register because it forced me to "learn the ropes" and get to the know the members. <clip>

This member is one of the N00bs that gets it... she read a lot on the site before she could register and post, and picked up some of the culture and protocols.....(written/unwritten/common sense), and isn't posting shit like " My boyfriend....(fill in the blanks).... does this (or that) with me"...or "I just took my first oxy".

One idea is having to write something short but that makes SENSE about WHY you want to join the site before you're in.

I thought I had to do that here, but maybe it was a different site. I think the question was "What can you offer the site and what do you seek to gain from this site?"

Kinda like..... "Ask not (at least at first) what the site community can do for you, ask what you can do for the site/community" (apologies and credit to JFK)

If this has already been done, tried, thought of, etc. then, well, you just wasted your time reading this....sorry.

Sue

[pinn3d]

When I registered, I did have to write a little something about why I am joining, what my intentions were, how I viewed the site and its purpose... stuff like that..... I took my time writing my response, and put a bit of thought to it..... I really wanted to make sure that I was accepted.....

But---

As soon as I hit 'submit', I was instantly registered.... so apparently no one read my 'application', I was just immediately granted membership.....

Now I understand that there are a bunch of people registering, and it would be hard to read every new members resume', but it seems like the essays could have been skimmed over to see that the applicant tried to write something worthwhile, and obviously valued their chance at becoming a member.... i dunno...

I know that when I first discovered this site, registration was down... and I had no idea if it was ever gonna be opening again... So I read through the site kinda assuming I wouldn't get to be a member....and then a month later registration opened! And I got in! But yeah, it seems like having registration closed at times, kinda forces people who want to join to just read and observe for a while.....

[sweet pea]

i also read this site for a good 6-8 months before i was able to join. i had to write some sort of essay about why i wanted to join, but honestly, i flew right thru that. i just wanted to hurry up and get it written before registration was closed again. so i don't know if those essays could be used as the best judge of character. i doubt i'm the ONLY person who did that. i didn't make shit up, i just didn't put a whole lot of thought into it. it was a "hurry the fuck up" type of situation. just a thought...

[oxy kid]

you could prolly set something up to where they had to go through separate pages for separtate rules and have to check a box at the bottom of the page. There would be a lot of pages, but the noobs would have to read the rules. I don't personally want somebody that just comes in here trying to score to take the phile away from all of us members who really find this wonderful place helpful.

[Narkotikon]

I think I had to read / write something too. Or, that could have been Junkylife. I don't remember which, and I don't exactly remember what the question was.

I'm not sure what could be done to curtail the influx of bad new members. I don't know if there's anything you could reasonably do without it being too fascist. I kind of like the idea of a test, but if you do have to read / write something, that's sort of like a test already. And I also liked the idea of having to be approved by a panel before your probation ends, but I can see people saying that gives other people too much power. So, I really don't know what could be done.

I also kind of like the idea of public scrutiny. Just let the bad people have it, no holes barred and no chance of reprisal for the people doing the bashing. But, again, people might say what gives them the right?

There's just always going to be good people and bad people.

[nick]

This comes up every time the flood gates are opened.

I have faith in the mods,they weed the undesirables and the amount of crap posted drops off after a while.

The hassle and deluge of crap posts and threads are the price we pay for the fresh blood-which ultimately keeps the place going.

[chopstix]

so i don't know if those essays could be used as the best judge of character.

I think the essays are a good measure, problem is that it's just more work for the mods to scrutinize every word and they probably all have differing opinions on what is or isn't a decent essay.

The best boards I know of are (in general, not all) effectively self moderated by the community - mods rarely have to step in - the nature of this board is different tho and the mandatory need to rapidly punt people for soliciting here obviously requires quick and alert moderation, but the community as a whole can do a lot to help keep the new peeps in check...

The board IS noisy atm - but it was kinda slow before the gates opened. I think it'll level out in time and I think it's good to see some new personalities here..

I don't think limiting new threads, or allowing with mod approval is a bad idea; but the problem is that just because you're new, doesn't mean you can't start intelligent threads and someone new may be in urgent need of help.. Again, this just boils down to more work for the already busy mods..

Maybe limiting new threads and/or flagging peeps that don't seem to get it via "report post"? That's something that could largely be instigated by the community.. I dunno, hard to advise the people that run this board, just my $.02..

[bronyraur]

<snip>

One idea is having to write something short but that makes SENSE about WHY you want to join the site before you're in.

<snip>

There is a section when new members register, titled "Why you should be a member". In past periods of open registration, we would moderate new members (they couldn't post until we approved their account). One of the key things to membership was that they gave a reason why they should be a part of Opiophile–if anyone left it blank, I deleted their account and they lost their chance at membership–I probably did that to 50+ possible members.

This last open registration, we didn't moderate members-as soon as they signed up, they could post, so no one checked to see if they *really* should be here. Some of them are gone, and I'd be surprised if more don't get booted in the future.

The next time we open the gates (and I'm thinking it's gonna be fairly soon), I'll be moderating the incoming newbs, and making sure they meet the basic requirements (i.e. have a functioning brain, not be named Chuck, etc.).

[Suboxstitute]

Thanks,buddy. I know that's a shitload of extra work you don't need. But it might help.

Sue

[bronyraur]

Thanks,buddy. I know that's a shitload of extra work you don't need. But it might help.

Sue

Well, the way I see it Sue is that we either do the work before we let newbies in, or we do once they're here, by chasing around all the stupid shit they do.

Damned if ya do, damned if ya don't.

[alowishus]

I thought Billy did read those write ups when we 1st started doing it for new members.

Sorry to say this for the billionth time but.....ohhhhh if you could have only been here in the early days.
What a great place. I liked being here more then in the real world. A nice small understanding family we had.

Get too big for our own good or stay too small to stay alive.....

I also remember Billy asking the forum about it, "should we open it up and let peeps in?"

I said hell yeah, what could be the harm; if I only knew then what I know now.....Billy knew:o

[bronyraur]

I thought Billy did read those write ups when we 1st started doing it for new members.

Sorry to say this for the billionth time but.....ohhhhh if you could have only been here in the early days.
What a great place. I liked being here more then in the real world. A nice small understanding family we had.

Get too big for our own good or stay too small to stay alive.....

I also remember Billy asking the forum about it, "should we open it up and let peeps in?"

I said hell yeah, what could be the harm; if I only knew then what I know now.....Billy knew:o

The site has changed a lot in the 3 years I've been here–it was really different back then–but change is inevitable. If registrations didn't open up, this place would've been gone a loooong time ago. How many folks are still here that joined 3-4 years ago? Not many.

[oxy kid]

I think we should make all member that have less than.....hmmmm....lets say.....300 posts....to pay some type of fee.

WHOA! WHAT DO YOU KNOW! I just made the cut!

Ha.

But all seriousness, the mods do a great job and I feel like they will get rid of the members that don't belong here. Thanks for all the work.

[alowishus]

The site has changed a lot in the 3 years I've been here–it was really different back then–but change is inevitable. If registrations didn't open up, this place would've been gone a loooong time ago. How many folks are still here that joined 3-4 years ago? Not many.


I know man, and I know we've beat this dead horse many times in the past.....

How many folks are still here that joined 3-4 years ago? Not many

The main cause; the teenage boys school drama that so many of the new (or even worse the ones that are still new but think they aren't) members pull.

I'm not asking for you or any others to work any jesus type slight of hand tricks and make everything better.
I was just lamenting.

You & I've been around long enough to know each others attitude; you know I'm not a "blow my own horn kind of guy" (I guess the real question is though if you could - would you blow your own....:rolleyes: sorry got off track there). As I was saying, I give money when I can or remember too, but back when we were growing too large for the systems that the site was on because of the new registrations, I sent a bunch of SCSI HDD and ram (maybe a cpu too can't remember) for nothing, point being I care about this site - ALOT I want it to stay and really hate to see the people that made me feel that way about it driven away by school kid shit and the lack of adult thinking like that whole points running up thing (yeah I know; who am I to say something about adult thinking :p). I never seem to see RoBo on anymore, I feel bad & sorry, to say nothing of missing them, to think those people feel they don't want to post or even come back here because we couldn't, and I mean all of us, keep the level of mentality something over a Porky's movie.

Nark made a couple posts the other day that sum things up around. He's one member that we got back and I hope he stays.....
Sorry. It's gotta just be me. As the blind man said - It's no matter I never got to see the world, I was able to make my own.

I don't have an ending to this rant.....nothing to wrap it all up w/ that the end.

[nick]

I'd like to preface this post by saying that it's not meant as disrespect to the present regime.

However I've come to the conclusion that a big part of the problem is Bi11i's departure.Obviously this was Bi11i's site so he had far greater leeway in its running,but his hands off,laissez faire approach empowered us as a community and really brought out the best in us.

[alowishus]

I'd like to preface this post by saying that it's not meant as disrespect to the present regime.

However I've come to the conclusion that a big part of the problem is Bi11i's departure.Obviously this was Bi11i's site so he had far greater leeway in its running,but his hands off,laissez faire approach empowered us as a community and really brought out the best in us.

Fucking beautiful man.

(& I mean it)