Adopt-a-Newbie

[inti]

[color=orange][size=1]Adopt-a-Newbie. Has anyone ever thought of this? Probably, seeing as I live in the Adventure Arena, and rarely travel outside even the Battle Arena.
But it hasn't happened yet, so I'm going to try to make it happen.
If someone doesn't change my mind about it.
Only a few sites have the Adopt-a-Newbie system, but it seems to work really well. And with the inflow of newbies OB is getting, it might be an idea to start up the system here too.
It would be like this:
[b]1.[/b] All newbies would get an automatically sent PM/email that would have a link to the forum (this wouldn't have to happen, as it may be a bit of trouble for the admins to deal with that and all the problems that come with it, as well as what they already do)
[b]2.[/b] There would be a forum titled Adopt-a-Newbie or something like that, some newbies might not go there straight off, but the description would tell all and newbies might check it out. eg: "Newbies can come here to meet members, make new friends, learn how to get around OB." etc.etc. You get it?
Also, newbies/members would start theads whicih would be answered. The first ones to answer would be the adopter/adoptee. No choosing, etc. as it would shatter people's feelings to be shunned. We dont want that, we want to welcome people.
[b]3.[/b] From there, we get to the adoption part.
[b]a)[/b] Only people with the ranks "Member" and above would be able to adopt, as they should have a thorough understanding of the rules.
[b]b)[/b] Only newbies could be adopted (clarifying that for people who didn't already asume it.)
[b]c)[/b] Once you have chosen to adopt someone, it would be permanent. Until the newbie reached "Junior Member" status, if they had any questions or needed any help (and asked you), you would have to answer them. Mods wouldnt be out of their jobs, as everyone asks them questions, etc. anyway. And they still check their forums to make sure the Newbies are being taught well, as well as fix up a few lazy members who have become ignorant of rules :p

I can't personally think of the [b]entire[/b] process of this system, but it's an idea. It could work. If we tried, and didn't give up, it could work.
I thought I should bring this topic up, as I am a Newbie myself (as you can see) and when I first got to OB, I didn't know anyone or what to do. Even with the Mods' help, it was still lonely for a while. I almost decided to just leave OB altogether. I don't want other Newbies thinking and feeling the same way.
Feedback on this please. (I suppose there will be a lot for this)[/size][/color]

[Patronus]

[size=1]I have one word for you: Spam.

Newbies can meet people through PMs, or through any one of the forums of OtakuBoards. I think an 'adopt-a-newbie' would be pure spam, nothing more, much like the old Newbie Lounge.[/size]

[inti]

[color=orange][size=1]Okay, so there would be spam.
Not if the forum were JUST for the first adoption part. There would be rules, right? And with a good Mod, there shouldn't be a problem.
I thought that might come up. Anyone else?[/size][/color]

[Radaghast]

[size=1][b]I have something to add:

Why can only people with the status Member or above adopt. Don't some Newbies and/or Junior Members have an adequate understanding of the system?

Some of these people (myself included) are just picky about where they post.[/b][/size]

[AnonymousSource]

I suppose you could have the moderator of that forum judge whether or not they would make a good Adopter... or something
That might be too much work, though, but you could always pull up a quick background on the person if they're lower then a member... or obviously are or aren't very good.

[inti]

[size=1][color=orange]Radaghast, you have an extremely good point. I also have quite a good understanding of the system.
As I see it, if Newbies or Junior Members were allowed to do the Adopting they're more likely to abuse the system than fully fledged(sp?) Members. The choice, of course, is that of the Site Admins as to how it would work. [b]If[/b] the idea is used.
Annonymous Source also has a good point. The Adopt-a-Newbie Mods would check the post records of Adopters, to see if they'd make good "parents".
This would probably be tough work for one or two Mods, but what if there were, say, four? Again, the choice is, in the end, that of the Site Admins.[/color][/size]

[G/S/B Master]

Newbies and JM should be able to adopt. If not, chosen Newbies and Jms will be able to adopt. Plus all this wouldn't be needed if they truely read through the rules. If their parents aren't active and the newb is, then they'll be a problem.

[James]

[color=#707875]I don't really like this idea, because I think that the forums are too large to support it.

Moderators are already very busy; I don't think that they have time to check up on parents/newbies.

But more importantly, this plan assumes that newbies don't understand the rules and procedures of the site. I'd take issue with that; yes, people can be confused at first. But generally speaking, a little reminder or two from staff is enough to get 'em on track.

In addition, a lot of newbies are posting with greater quality than those with Member status. So status wouldn't be a deciding factor in any case.[/color]

[inti]

[color=orange][size=1]Okay, so I didn't need much convincing. And the OB family thing seems to work fine as it is.
I'm going to delete this thread, because the only real comments on the topic have been like "we don't really need it" and stuff like that (I just want to delete it so I can forget about ever bringing it up, ok?).[/size][/color]

[Lady Asphyxia]

[size=1]Don't delete the thread. Threads are used as reference points, so even if the idea is rejected now, there'll still be something to look at in the future, or to play off. I mean, if, at some point, James decides to do something about a Newbie Initiation program, he'll want input and go back to this thread, see?

So you shouldn't delete the thread just because the idea was rejected.

However, we've had things like introduction forums before, and while it was all well intentioned, it did turn into a spam fest.

Befriending Newbies is quite easily done. You just find one you think you'll like, and PM them.They'll become more at ease when they start posting more.[/size]

[James]

[color=#707875]I also want to point out that if anyone puts an idea that gets rejected, please don't see it as a "shoot down" of your idea.

I love the fact that people keep submitting new ideas all the time. And even if 99% end up being rejected for whatever reason, it's still great that people are willing to think up solutions to various problems.

So yeah. Don't think that I don't value your ideas; I definitely do. It's just that for different reasons, they aren't always feasable for OtakuBoards.[/color]

[inti]

I'm not some kind of a sulk, so please don't think I've gone and hidden in a corner far away just because one idea was rejected. I knew what the possibilities were when I started the thread, because otherwise, I wouldn't have posted it.
I won't delete the thread, since Lady Asphyxia asked me not to, but if a Mod/Admin could close it for me? It'll still be on the boards for future reference, and if another thread like this pops up somewhere in the future, can't you just re-open this one and merge the two?
If you can't, you could always just close the thread and use it for future reference.
I'm personally done with the topic (not saying I was stupid to bring it up).

[Gavin]

[size=1]Huh I guess I was the only one beyond inti who thought that this might have been a good idea, even if it is not feasible now as James stated it could still be an idea for the future.

I agree with James who says that posts are not a judge of a person's character, I mean look at me I'm here 3 years and I've only got 636 posts that's less than one a day. But that's really beside the point.

I for one would quickly volunteer for this job if it became available because I know how hard it is for newbies here in the beginning when they've not found their feet yet.[/size]