How to get rid of the Newbie Problem

  Alpha Centauri Forums
  The Game
  How to get rid of the Newbie Problem

profile | register | prefs | faq | search

Author Topic:   How to get rid of the Newbie Problem

tOFfGI posted 03-16-99 03:03 PM ET
"All we are Saying,
Is give peace a chance!"
-- John Lennon, Datalinks
There is no newbie problem. We have all been newbies once, and we have all tried to be polite, nice and logical in our arguments. This _is_ possible, it has been done, we can all do it if we want to. Newbies are not, by definition, bad for the forum; rather they can bring new perspectives to already discussed topics. There are, of course, bad people among them, and the only reason there are no "bad" vets is that no-one with bad intentions have stayed long enough to become one, or if they have they have learnt to be nice over time.
Let me give a short history as I see it of the whole issue. The whole vet vs. Newbie controversy appeared after the demo was released, and a few people who weren't really interested in the game came to dominate parts of the forum with their loud and abnoxious comments. Prominent among these was chrisk, quite an unsavoury character that liked to swear a lot. Though he quickly got bored and went away, his appearance sent a shockwave through many of the vets, making them angry at the very sight of a newbie. This whole issue became even more prominent when the release of the full game brought along more "bad newbies" (and of course some nice ones too), rendering many people afraid of entering the game forum.
The solution: It's a two part responsibility. (a) The Newbies who come here should be nice and polite. Quite like people in real life, actually. The Anonymity of the net doesn't mean you can rid yourself of society's convensions, of politeness, of logic, of common sense. (b) The vets have to again accept new newbies. Yes, The forum would be more fun without them, but think of all the input we're losing!
Those who don't want to follow these directives can leave.
MrSparkle posted 03-16-99 03:20 PM ET

"Hail, hail!"
-- Chuck Berry, Datalinks
HMFIC posted 03-16-99 03:24 PM ET
"Can't we all just get along?"
-- Rodney King, Datalinks
Aga1 posted 03-16-99 03:36 PM ET
"shut the hell up"
-- unknown
Freddz posted 03-16-99 04:03 PM ET
tOFfGI, next time you post a lame post like this showing off your superior attitude, can you go to the Ego section please? I'm sure Firaxis will be kind enough to open a new Forum for you.
tOFfGI posted 03-16-99 04:13 PM ET
See? That's exactly what I was talking about: "The Anonymity of the net doesn't mean you can rid yourself of society's convensions, of politeness, of logic, of common sense". Freddz, I realise you're quite new to this kind of thing, but what you just attempted is known as a "flame". It is considered "Impolite" and "Asocial". I know thiese words are a bit strange to you, but if you try to think for a while you will notice that being nice is not the best option; it's the only option. Simple.
(Oh, and this is not just my opinion (the whole "be nice" thing. It's reflected in just about all the decent people who populate these forums.
Freddz posted 03-16-99 04:24 PM ET
Well, I guess this will take some time.
"Newbies are not, by definition, bad for the forum"
"there are no "bad" vets is that no-one with bad intentions have stayed long enough to become one, or if they have they have learnt to be nice over time."
"(a) The Newbies who come here should be nice and polite. Quite like people in real life, actually. The Anonymity of the net doesn't mean you can rid yourself of society's convensions, of politeness, of logic, of common sense. (b) The vets have to again accept new newbies. Yes, The forum would be more fun without them, but think of all the input we're losing!"
Sounds like a bit of a condescending attitude to me. I don't really see be "nice thing" you are talking about. It's overshaded by your false tone of voice.
Utrecht posted 03-16-99 04:50 PM ET
tOFfGI Here Here,
It is funny that a post of reconciliation is rather quickly attacked. Granted, the actual wording could be construed as "egotistic" why focus on it, Look instead at the message.
We are not lawyers here (specific to the forum) where wording needs to be analyzed in minutia.
Try not to be offended or look for the opportunity to be offended, more times than not, people really are trying to be nice.
Freddz posted 03-16-99 05:08 PM ET
Utrecht,
No we are not lawyers. tOFfGI have written more posts though. I saw them before this one. It's not his wording I dislike, it's his whole attitude. If you go to another thread you will see him arguing why in earth we should have two groups: old timers and newbies. Well... oh well... I rest my case, your honor.
The Panther posted 03-16-99 05:16 PM ET
Why divide us into different fractions???
The newbies adapt from the oldtimers (how much oldtimer can you be right now, the game is merely two months old!!!)
and the oldtimers, well they seem to stick around anyway don't they???
Q3 posted 03-16-99 05:56 PM ET
Freddz:
I don't understand why you seem to be so dead set against ending all of this name calling.
While tOFfGI may have had some of his wording off, that is no reason for you to flat-out reject this concept.
Your attitude is more of a problem than his wording.
Rong posted 03-16-99 06:10 PM ET
The best way to get rid of the Newbie Problem is simply get rid of the newbies. Either they grow up to be veterans themselvs, or we nerve staple them so they'll keep quiet.
Imran Siddiqui posted 03-16-99 06:13 PM ET
LOL! Rong, that was funny!
Oh, Panther, I've been here since June '98, and BG has been here for a year and two months. That is pretty old timer!
And Freddz, this is not a condescending post. It is an olive branch. Grasp it, and let your hate go. Hate only leads to the Dark Side after all (sorry, I'm in a Star Wars mood!)
Imran Siddiqui
Brother Greg posted 03-16-99 06:15 PM ET
People, I humbly request of you to go read the thread "An Olive Branch"...
Freddz posted 03-16-99 06:48 PM ET
Sorry, this is a condescending post... I will not be branded with the terrible newbie mark, like the David star on Jews before World War 2...
Lal, the Peacekeeper
Nylan posted 03-16-99 06:59 PM ET
Freddz
As a newbie myself I can see why you could see tOFfGI's post as condescending, but the fact is the vets got themselves comfortable months back, and are having to adjust. They expect us to be polite and respec their views, and when you get down to it, we expect the same from then. Unfortunately the situation is complicated by SMAC. Some people like it, others don't, and its inflmaing tensions. At times we'll just have to agree to disagree. I admit its not a fun as winning the argument, but overall its better.
Nylan
-I have faith in skepticism
Achilles posted 03-16-99 08:50 PM ET
Man is a rope stretched between the animal and the Superman- a
rope over an abyss.
A dangerous crossing, a dangerous wayfaring, a dangerous
looking-back, a dangerous trembling and halting.
What is great in man is that he is a bridge and not a goal: what
is lovable in man is that he is an over-going and a down-going.
I love those that know not how to live except as down-goers, for
they are the over-goers.
-Thus Spake Zarathustra, Datalinks
That, I trust, needs no explaination .
Also, some of those whom you believe to be newbies are not. Myself, for example, I am a relic from the old forum that was on the Firaxis site before the separate alphacentauri.com url. I read the forum in the interum but have only posted sporadically.
Have a nice day !!
Doctor D posted 03-17-99 08:09 AM ET
Doctor D was dog tired. He steered his rover in a recon mission through the forum jungle since days. All he wanted to do was to take a rest but he had to go on. Would he ever find what he was looking for?
From time to time he heard heavy fire of older factions fighting in the distance. Who were they? As a newbie he could not even think of getting too near. Probably he would never find out. So he sighed and went on.
But.. what the hell... there it was! Red-eyed he stared at the mysterious tower which was higher than all the tree tops around it. He took his small weapons and left the car.
He went past some fig trees. This sure was an area where peaceful human beings went before. His hands parted the olive branches and he gazed at the gigantic old monolith. Curiously Doctor D approached this age old building and touched it --
"You status is now veteran", an ancient voice spoke to him.
4Horses posted 03-17-99 08:31 AM ET
As an Army veteran and a SMAC newbie....let me say this:
"It's the newbies that get the squad killed."
So let's get this fire fight over with, let us newbies get some kills under our belt, and the squad, the unit, and the nation will be better off.
BTW: Good story Doctor D
To close this thread, click here (moderator or admin only).


Hop to:

Contact Us | Alpha Centauri Home

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Version 5.18
© Madrona Park, Inc., 1998.

Author	Topic: How to get rid of the Newbie Problem
tOFfGI	posted 03-16-99 03:03 PM ET "All we are Saying, Is give peace a chance!" -- John Lennon, Datalinks There is no newbie problem. We have all been newbies once, and we have all tried to be polite, nice and logical in our arguments. This _is_ possible, it has been done, we can all do it if we want to. Newbies are not, by definition, bad for the forum; rather they can bring new perspectives to already discussed topics. There are, of course, bad people among them, and the only reason there are no "bad" vets is that no-one with bad intentions have stayed long enough to become one, or if they have they have learnt to be nice over time. Let me give a short history as I see it of the whole issue. The whole vet vs. Newbie controversy appeared after the demo was released, and a few people who weren't really interested in the game came to dominate parts of the forum with their loud and abnoxious comments. Prominent among these was chrisk, quite an unsavoury character that liked to swear a lot. Though he quickly got bored and went away, his appearance sent a shockwave through many of the vets, making them angry at the very sight of a newbie. This whole issue became even more prominent when the release of the full game brought along more "bad newbies" (and of course some nice ones too), rendering many people afraid of entering the game forum. The solution: It's a two part responsibility. (a) The Newbies who come here should be nice and polite. Quite like people in real life, actually. The Anonymity of the net doesn't mean you can rid yourself of society's convensions, of politeness, of logic, of common sense. (b) The vets have to again accept new newbies. Yes, The forum would be more fun without them, but think of all the input we're losing! Those who don't want to follow these directives can leave.
MrSparkle	posted 03-16-99 03:20 PM ET "Hail, hail!" -- Chuck Berry, Datalinks
HMFIC	posted 03-16-99 03:24 PM ET "Can't we all just get along?" -- Rodney King, Datalinks
Aga1	posted 03-16-99 03:36 PM ET "shut the hell up" -- unknown
Freddz	posted 03-16-99 04:03 PM ET tOFfGI, next time you post a lame post like this showing off your superior attitude, can you go to the Ego section please? I'm sure Firaxis will be kind enough to open a new Forum for you.
tOFfGI	posted 03-16-99 04:13 PM ET See? That's exactly what I was talking about: "The Anonymity of the net doesn't mean you can rid yourself of society's convensions, of politeness, of logic, of common sense". Freddz, I realise you're quite new to this kind of thing, but what you just attempted is known as a "flame". It is considered "Impolite" and "Asocial". I know thiese words are a bit strange to you, but if you try to think for a while you will notice that being nice is not the best option; it's the only option. Simple. (Oh, and this is not just my opinion (the whole "be nice" thing. It's reflected in just about all the decent people who populate these forums.
Freddz	posted 03-16-99 04:24 PM ET Well, I guess this will take some time. "Newbies are not, by definition, bad for the forum" "there are no "bad" vets is that no-one with bad intentions have stayed long enough to become one, or if they have they have learnt to be nice over time." "(a) The Newbies who come here should be nice and polite. Quite like people in real life, actually. The Anonymity of the net doesn't mean you can rid yourself of society's convensions, of politeness, of logic, of common sense. (b) The vets have to again accept new newbies. Yes, The forum would be more fun without them, but think of all the input we're losing!" Sounds like a bit of a condescending attitude to me. I don't really see be "nice thing" you are talking about. It's overshaded by your false tone of voice.
Utrecht	posted 03-16-99 04:50 PM ET tOFfGI Here Here, It is funny that a post of reconciliation is rather quickly attacked. Granted, the actual wording could be construed as "egotistic" why focus on it, Look instead at the message. We are not lawyers here (specific to the forum) where wording needs to be analyzed in minutia. Try not to be offended or look for the opportunity to be offended, more times than not, people really are trying to be nice.
Freddz	posted 03-16-99 05:08 PM ET Utrecht, No we are not lawyers. tOFfGI have written more posts though. I saw them before this one. It's not his wording I dislike, it's his whole attitude. If you go to another thread you will see him arguing why in earth we should have two groups: old timers and newbies. Well... oh well... I rest my case, your honor.
The Panther	posted 03-16-99 05:16 PM ET Why divide us into different fractions??? The newbies adapt from the oldtimers (how much oldtimer can you be right now, the game is merely two months old!!!) and the oldtimers, well they seem to stick around anyway don't they???
Q3	posted 03-16-99 05:56 PM ET Freddz: I don't understand why you seem to be so dead set against ending all of this name calling. While tOFfGI may have had some of his wording off, that is no reason for you to flat-out reject this concept. Your attitude is more of a problem than his wording.
Rong	posted 03-16-99 06:10 PM ET The best way to get rid of the Newbie Problem is simply get rid of the newbies. Either they grow up to be veterans themselvs, or we nerve staple them so they'll keep quiet.
Imran Siddiqui	posted 03-16-99 06:13 PM ET LOL! Rong, that was funny! Oh, Panther, I've been here since June '98, and BG has been here for a year and two months. That is pretty old timer! And Freddz, this is not a condescending post. It is an olive branch. Grasp it, and let your hate go. Hate only leads to the Dark Side after all (sorry, I'm in a Star Wars mood!) Imran Siddiqui
Brother Greg	posted 03-16-99 06:15 PM ET People, I humbly request of you to go read the thread "An Olive Branch"...
Freddz	posted 03-16-99 06:48 PM ET Sorry, this is a condescending post... I will not be branded with the terrible newbie mark, like the David star on Jews before World War 2... Lal, the Peacekeeper
Nylan	posted 03-16-99 06:59 PM ET Freddz As a newbie myself I can see why you could see tOFfGI's post as condescending, but the fact is the vets got themselves comfortable months back, and are having to adjust. They expect us to be polite and respec their views, and when you get down to it, we expect the same from then. Unfortunately the situation is complicated by SMAC. Some people like it, others don't, and its inflmaing tensions. At times we'll just have to agree to disagree. I admit its not a fun as winning the argument, but overall its better. Nylan -I have faith in skepticism
Achilles	posted 03-16-99 08:50 PM ET Man is a rope stretched between the animal and the Superman- a rope over an abyss. A dangerous crossing, a dangerous wayfaring, a dangerous looking-back, a dangerous trembling and halting. What is great in man is that he is a bridge and not a goal: what is lovable in man is that he is an over-going and a down-going. I love those that know not how to live except as down-goers, for they are the over-goers. -Thus Spake Zarathustra, Datalinks That, I trust, needs no explaination . Also, some of those whom you believe to be newbies are not. Myself, for example, I am a relic from the old forum that was on the Firaxis site before the separate alphacentauri.com url. I read the forum in the interum but have only posted sporadically. Have a nice day !!
Doctor D	posted 03-17-99 08:09 AM ET Doctor D was dog tired. He steered his rover in a recon mission through the forum jungle since days. All he wanted to do was to take a rest but he had to go on. Would he ever find what he was looking for? From time to time he heard heavy fire of older factions fighting in the distance. Who were they? As a newbie he could not even think of getting too near. Probably he would never find out. So he sighed and went on. But.. what the hell... there it was! Red-eyed he stared at the mysterious tower which was higher than all the tree tops around it. He took his small weapons and left the car. He went past some fig trees. This sure was an area where peaceful human beings went before. His hands parted the olive branches and he gazed at the gigantic old monolith. Curiously Doctor D approached this age old building and touched it -- "You status is now veteran", an ancient voice spoke to him.
4Horses	posted 03-17-99 08:31 AM ET As an Army veteran and a SMAC newbie....let me say this: "It's the newbies that get the squad killed." So let's get this fire fight over with, let us newbies get some kills under our belt, and the squad, the unit, and the nation will be better off. BTW: Good story Doctor D