We NEED an introduction forum!

[Aaryanna]

[QUOTE=indifference]An introduction forum would be wasted on a high quality-posting site like this one. It would not guarantee that introduction threads wouldn't be posted. It would also run the risk of encouraging the attitude that one needs to create such threads or must post in them first to get approval from the other members in order to join the current topics being discussed.

What I find most endearing about this site is that you can join a discussion without the need to introduce yourself. As most introduction threads mainly consist of spamming, adding one would be like taking a step backwards for this place instead of improving it. The current atmosphere of anyone can step right in and feel welcome far outweighs the small problem of closing the occasional ?I?m new? thread that pops up.[/QUOTE]

I couldn't have said it better myself. Introductions are not needed in a place like this. I love how it's set up here, espically since every forum has threads with instructions on how to be a part of the community here. It would definately be a step backwards as the rules do state that posting I'm new or starting such threads are not allowed. Why create such a good guideline if you plan on ignoring it later?

[AlishaKitten]

Even though the mods have a point its nice to know that your welcomed when your new. Or at lease meet some people. Just then wondering around compleatly hopeless. I think it's a good idea and it wouldn't be spam if it has it's own section. But whatever I'm not a mod so I have no say in this.

[ShadowFaintZero]

[FONT=Arial]Not in any bad greetings to anyone, but here goes:
[B]Why we don't need a 'Introduction Thread'[/B]
[B]Why[/B] you may ask I have said no to them? Because, i've run several forums in my past, all of which I gave to someone else to run, not many more plans to do them in the future, but all of which have had 'Introduction Threads'. From the point of view, being a former Administrator, I can safetly say that on all of the boards:

You post and introduction, your greeted, and then [B]THE THREAD DIES.[/B]

It becomes frustrating, to have bandwith being snapped up by dead threads anyway. Especially since more spam was put into those kind of sections by: [I]"n00bs, newbs, newbies, new members, and/or dumb people."[/I]

Sure, there are other ways of doing it, Maybe all new members who don't have at least 20 posts should automatically have in their signature, something that says they are new and you guys can comment to them in PMs?

[B]Just a suggestion/opinion. [/B] [/FONT]

[James]

[font=franklin gothic medium]The thing is, people can introduce themselves within regular discussion threads. This is a message I've been trying to convey - not having an introduction forum doesn't mean that people can't introduce themselves.

Say you're in a topic about favourite pets or something. You can open your post with a "I just joined and want to say hello to everyone" type of message. That's totally fine, because you're introducing yourself [i]and[/i] contributing to a discussion. I have no problem with that. That approach suits the kind of atmosphere that we're trying to create here.

So, not having an introduction forum shouldn't suggest that people can't have introductions - it just means that introductions should be done within a discussion thread, rather than having its own thread. Works the same way and achieves the same effect, but it dramatically cuts down on the spam.[/font]

[Mitch]

[QUOTE=RiflesAtRecess]

On the other hand (my stronger hand, I guess), I have to agree with most of the others here. It seemed like about a year after I originally joined, all of these inside jokes started appearing in replies to new members. There was something about a green bee, lots of smilies, and a reference to the Mod Rod in almost every reply. No new member would understand this, I didn't even understand it. The introduction forum was just an area for members to "have fun" and look for an excuse to spam... you know, after the test forum got boring.[/QUOTE]

Must be your stronger hand. Haha.

Anyway, I personally enjoyed the Newbie forum that used to be around here. . .it was lighthearted and nice, I thought. But it was spamilicious.

I guess I could go both ways, really.

[ShadowFaintZero]

[QUOTE=Mitch]Must be your stronger hand. Haha.

Anyway, I personally enjoyed the Newbie forum that used to be around here. . .it was lighthearted and nice, I thought. But it was spamilicious.

I guess I could go both ways, really.[/QUOTE]

Thats one of the major problems, that one word you said?

[B]Spamilicious[/B]

Yeah James, I went to say that in my post, but I decided that what I said was kinda better, but both ideas would work? <3