Ban "Newbies" from using HTML :)

[jaw04005]

Can we please? No colors, large fonts or paragraphs filled with bold, underlined or italic text. Just plain black text. Please. :)

Since others are asking for features impossible to implement, I thought I would chime in too. I know it's not possible, but I think it's a good thought—especially in the iPhone forum.

:)

[CalBoy]

I'm not sure what this would accomplish. If someone can't write in large font, they will simply write it over and over

like this
like this
like this
like this

It has nearly the same annoyance factor IMHO.

The color limitations don't sound bad, but wouldn't this take a great deal of moderator/admin resources to control?

[Fiveos22]

Can we please? No colors, large fonts or paragraphs filled with bold, underlined or italic text. Just plain black text. Please. :)

Since others are asking for features impossible to implement, I thought I would chime in too. I know it's not possible, but I think it's a good thought—especially in the iPhone forum.

:)


I guess I haven't spent much (if any) time in the iPhone forum, but I haven't seen this happen anywhere else on MR.

[Doctor Q]

It's not a bad idea if Newbies are prone to abusing the "decorations" features more than other members. While we want to make most Newbies feel welcome, text decorations are usually not necessary to ask a question or make a comment.

There is a downside in that having a minimum post count for any forum feature will produce an incentive for overposting, and we don't want to encourage new members to spam for a qualifying post count.

[CalBoy]

There is a downside in that having a minimum post count for any forum feature will produce an incentive for overposting, and we don't want to encourage new members to spam for a qualifying post count.

Unless that count is quite high (like the avatar requirement).

Although I personally think that the Marketplace and PSRI forums need to have their requirements bumped up from 100 to maybe 150 or even 200. I've noticed a few users lately who've gone on posting streaks (lots of one liners) in order to cross the 'finish' line.

</off topic>

What would really help is if we could force all posters with fewer than 30 posts to read the forum rules before they can post a reply or begin a new thread (for each of the 30 posts). Sometimes consistency really is the key.

[Mac One]

I agree with ^
Would it be possible to make the FAQs and rules part of the registering process? Or even just highlighting that there is a search tool (or that Google is effective). I think this would certainly reduce the amounts of "MB vs MBP" or "How many posts till I get an Avatar?"

[sunfast]

Can I ask why newbies seem to be so disliked around here? We were all newbies once and I know that people can ask silly questions but surely that's part of getting to grips with a new forum and set of rules?

I even saw one guy's signature the other day that said newbies should be in their own forum for 6 months! Surely we want to encourage some new blood and extra newbies are an indication of the increasing interest in the mac platform and other apple stuff.

I got a lot of useful help and advice when I first joined MR but this anti-newbie sentiment seems much more prevelant than before.

[Killyp]

Agreed, but a lot of them do have irritating childish traits like
>>>POSTING REALLY BIG TEXT TO GET YOUR ATTENTION<<<

It's just goddam irritating...

[bigandy]

i stand by my original idea of banning newbies from posting until they had 250 posts :D


and yes, it's a joke. :rolleyes:

[mrkramer]

Can I ask why newbies seem to be so disliked around here? We were all newbies once and I know that people can ask silly questions but surely that's part of getting to grips with a new forum and set of rules?

It's because a lot of them ever since the iPhone came out have just become rude, there are still some good ones, but there are a lot more bad ones than normal now, if you haven't noticed it then look in the iPhone forums that is where it is the worst. also it is getting more often that there are two threads on the same page asking the same question.

[koobcamuk]

i stand by my original idea of banning newbies from posting until they had 250 posts :D


and yes, it's a joke. :rolleyes:

It is annoying. I wasn't like that as a n00b

[sunfast]

I must admit to never looking in the iPhone forum (will get far too jealous :o). Didn't realise the new influx we're being such bad eggs.

[d_and_n5000]

Maybe we can pop in some guidelines in the FAQs - something like keep small or large sizes to a minimum(within reason fine ie whitetext and when used as an accent), watch the fonts, keep any colors used at a readable level and at a reasonable amount(as in one total color fine, but having a rainbow throughout not), and don't use bold, italics, underline or strikethrough throughout an entire post. Make it clear that mods have the power and will use it to take formatting off of a post if it is very distracting or overly extraneous.

[twoodcc]

yeah i don't see how this would really help....but it might

[Doctor Q]

I doubt that new members, who usually join because they have something to ask or say, will want to read a long list of cautions. We could, however, give new members a few tips, probably in the form of "suggested reading," along with their welcome.

The FAQ, the Forum Rules, and the How to maximise your MacRumors troubleshooting experience thread might be worthy candidates.

[rhoydotp]

I doubt that new members, who usually join because they have something to ask or say, will want to read a long list of cautions. We could, however, give new members a few tips, probably in the form of "suggested reading," along with their welcome.

The FAQ, the Forum Rules, and the How to maximise your MacRumors troubleshooting experience thread might be worthy candidates.

i agree with this. just take it with a grain of salt.

in all honesty, i am partly annoyed with the signatures that even old timers have on their posts (too many colors & weird quotes), so does this mean that we should also have a rule? just asking :D

[CalBoy]

Can I ask why newbies seem to be so disliked around here? We were all newbies once and I know that people can ask silly questions but surely that's part of getting to grips with a new forum and set of rules?

I even saw one guy's signature the other day that said newbies should be in their own forum for 6 months! Surely we want to encourage some new blood and extra newbies are an indication of the increasing interest in the mac platform and other apple stuff.

I got a lot of useful help and advice when I first joined MR but this anti-newbie sentiment seems much more prevelant than before.
We do want new people, but we also want them to be respectful. I find it unbelievable that some newbs actually attack me because I gave them advice not to break EULA, or go around import duties! We don't want those kinds of members, or, we at the very least don't want them to develop those bad habits.
i stand by my original idea of banning newbies from posting until they had 250 posts :D
I love it! I'm with you!:p
I doubt that new members, who usually join because they have something to ask or say, will want to read a long list of cautions. We could, however, give new members a few tips, probably in the form of "suggested reading," along with their welcome.

The FAQ, the Forum Rules, and the How to maximise your MacRumors troubleshooting experience thread might be worthy candidates.
Doc, would it be possible to have the rules that are most important show up on a screen prior to the newb being allowed to post? IE, they get redirected? I really think this might help get the message across because most newbs don't seem to actually read the suggested readings.

in all honesty, i am partly annoyed with the signatures that even old timers have on their posts (too many colors & weird quotes), so does this mean that we should also have a rule? just asking :D

There is a rule on this. The sig shouldn't be too distracting or large. Check it out :)

[GSMiller]

Usually those people don't stick around long enough for it to matter. But where there's a will to be stupid there's a way and they'd find some sort of way around it.

[PowerFullMac]

i stand by my original idea of banning newbies from posting until they had 250 posts :D


and yes, it's a joke. :rolleyes:

Hey, do you mind if I quote that in my signature? Just like it is in this post, above this text, im not taking credit for it or anything...

[bigandy]

Hey, do you mind if I quote that in my signature? Just like it is in this post, above this text, im not taking credit for it or anything...

sure ;)

[Doctor Q]

Doc, would it be possible to have the rules that are most important show up on a screen prior to the newb being allowed to post? IE, they get redirected? I really think this might help get the message across because most newbs don't seem to actually read the suggested readings.Yes, possible with a bit of programming. But it would be easier to add a few sentences to the welcome message that completes the registration process.

[atszyman]

How about turning the Title for a new thread into a search term and having a confirmation screen before posting a new thread that lists threads that match the title search.

Simply ask "Do any of these threads answer your question or cover a similar topic?" You can also add the caveat that if none of the listed threads are even remotely close to what the poster is trying to ask that they might want a more descriptive title to attract help more quickly.

[CalBoy]

Yes, possible with a bit of programming. But it would be easier to add a few sentences to the welcome message that completes the registration process.

Question is, do new users who are apt to be rude and disrespectful bother to read the welcome message?

[bigandy]

How about turning the Title for a new thread into a search term and having a confirmation screen before posting a new thread that lists threads that match the title search.

Simply ask "Do any of these threads answer your question or cover a similar topic?" You can also add the caveat that if none of the listed threads are even remotely close to what the poster is trying to ask that they might want a more descriptive title to attract help more quickly.

like this (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=377760)?

[Stella]

Why do people on Macrumours think they are superior to 'newbies'?
These people seem to think they've never signed up to any other web site forum before and are completely new to the concept of a 'forum'.

Its quite sad and stuck up, really.

It would be more important to point out the MacRumours is for more than just the blind Apple follower, and that criticism, as well as positive posts are actually allowed. Some members on Apple rumours remind me of Toronto Maple Leaf fans. Blind Loyalty, no matter what.

[PowerFullMac]

sure ;)

Thanks! :)

[Eraserhead]

Why do people on Macrumours think they are superior to 'newbies'?
These people seem to think they've never signed up to any other web site forum before and are completely new to the concept of a 'forum'.

Some of the new members are fine, look at the programming forum for good examples of new member posting. But if you look in the iPhone forums for example many of the threads are full of 'LOL' posts and other bad things, I've always like MR for the lack of those kind of posts.

A solution could possibly be to have subforum moderators, maybe it would reduce the overall consistency of moderation, but it works well on Arstechnica (but maybe because it is more geeky), but it would allow more moderators to be added to the iPhone forum (for example) to try and bring up the posting standard.

[CalBoy]

A solution could possibly be to have subforum moderators, maybe it would reduce the overall consistency of moderation, but it works well on Arstechnica (but maybe because it is more geeky), but it would allow more moderators to be added to the iPhone forum (for example) to try and bring up the posting standard.

I see the potential in the idea, but wouldn't it be hard to moderate a dozen more moderators?:p Seriously, they would all require training and Arn (and whoever else chooses the mods) would have to be able to find a great deal of "mod-worthy" individuals who also happen to WANT to do it. Seems like an uphill battle. :o

[WildCowboy]

I think the moderating staff does a pretty good job right now handling the workload, but we do not read every post. We do, however, read every post report that comes in, so please report stuff that violates the forum rules and we'll take care of it.

The issue, though, seems to be with posting styles and/or attitudes that aren't necessarily against forum rules but some people find irritating. And that's a tough one to address...we can't and don't want to play Miss Manners and force everyone to post in a certain way that we deem to be the only acceptable one.

So adding mods wouldn't accomplish much without revisions to the forum rules, and I'm not sure what those revisions could be anyway. I think the best thing to do is to try to set "good" examples with our own posting styles and the culture of the forums will help guide folks in the right direction. That, and report the bad stuff. :)

[CalBoy]

I think the moderating staff does a pretty good job right now handling the workload, but we do not read every post. We do, however, read every post report that comes in, so please report stuff that violates the forum rules and we'll take care of it.

That's true, the staff does do a good job. However, I've noticed lately that the mods disappear en masse at once, and bad posts stay up for a number of hours at times (although this could be because I frequent MR at odd hours :o). Perhaps a shift system? :p JK.

The issue, though, seems to be with posting styles and/or attitudes that aren't necessarily against forum rules but some people find irritating. And that's a tough one to address...we can't and don't want to play Miss Manners and force everyone to post in a certain way that we deem to be the only acceptable one.

So adding mods wouldn't accomplish much without revisions to the forum rules, and I'm not sure what those revisions could be anyway. I think the best thing to do is to try to set "good" examples with our own posting styles and the culture of the forums will help guide folks in the right direction. That, and report the bad stuff. :)

Yeah policing tones and manners is hard to do. I think that if we want a community-wide change, the best thing to do is to ignore posts which we find rude (but not in violation of the rules) and the poster will eventually realize that using large font, every color in the rainbow, and off color images isn't appropriate.

[WildCowboy]

Yeah policing tones and manners is hard to do. I think that if we want a community-wide change, the best thing to do is to ignore posts which we find rude (but not in violation of the rules) and the poster will eventually realize that using large font, every color in the rainbow, and off color images isn't appropriate.

Either that or they'll post in ever-more-obnoxious ways in order to draw attention to themselves.

[CalBoy]

Either that or they'll post in ever-more-obnoxious ways in order to draw attention to themselves.

I'm sure that will happen for a little while, but they'll soon tire themselves out and give up. It's almost like a child who starts whining for candy in a grocery store. You're supposed to just leave them there and let them get it out of their system. They'll figure it out before long.

[Fiveos22]

Agreed, but a lot of them do have irritating childish traits like
>>>POSTING REALLY BIG TEXT TO GET YOUR ATTENTION<<<

It's just goddam irritating...

Damn! That's pretty, how did you do that!

[mgguy]

I'm fairly new to MR. I'm getting close to the number of posts required to post in PSRI, so I thought I would post here too, to bump the count up by one (ha ha). I do see the need to set guidelines on posting etiquette, but new members are not going to want to read them all at first. They probably want to play around in the forum for awhile and get to know that it suits them before investing much time learning manners. I also think people resent being diciplined by strangers. They would probably be more receptive after they have visited a few times and get acquainted with other posters. A better way to indoctrinate members about "rules," without overwhelming them initially and possibly turning them off to MR, is to have posting "tips" appear as banners occasionally interleaved among the posts. The downside is that members who already know the rules will get tired of seeing these tips, unless there is a way to make them appear only when someone has, say, fewer than 50 or 100 posts. Also, the information would be more effective if it encouraged what people should do rather than discouraged what they should not do.

[ezekielrage_99]

Can they just give the n00bs a limit, like they can do bold/italics but can't make the size bigger?

[koobcamuk]

I think there should be a ban on letting people with sub <100 posts start new threads. The amount of new threads with the same topic is astounding.

[Doctor Q]

I think there should be a ban on letting people with sub <100 posts start new threads. The amount of new threads with the same topic is astounding.We can't do that. New members regularly bring new questions to our forums, and they often join MacRumors in order to ask those questions. If duplicate threads are part of the price we pay, we'll pay.

However, we have taken a step forward, by trying an improved searching system that may help people find previously answered questions more easily. See the Extended Search Options thread for details.

[annk]

Can I ask why newbies seem to be so disliked around here? We were all newbies once and I know that people can ask silly questions but surely that's part of getting to grips with a new forum and set of rules?

I even saw one guy's signature the other day that said newbies should be in their own forum for 6 months! Surely we want to encourage some new blood and extra newbies are an indication of the increasing interest in the mac platform and other apple stuff.

I got a lot of useful help and advice when I first joined MR but this anti-newbie sentiment seems much more prevelant than before.

I feel this way too.

We do want new people, but we also want them to be respectful. I find it unbelievable that some newbs actually attack me because I gave them advice not to break EULA, or go around import duties! We don't want those kinds of members, or, we at the very least don't want them to develop those bad habits. ...[/rules]

In my experience, this has little to do with being new. You can easily get blasted by members who have been around for years for something like this. It's attitude, not forum experience.

[Scarlet Fever]

What about moderation all first posts? If they do something stupid, such as big bold fonts or Comic Sans, they can get a PM from a mod explaining why their post was edited or up for deletion. That'd make it easier to pick up spam, and it might help educate people on MR etiquette.

Yay? Nay?

[bartelby]

Yay? Nay?

I don't think the mods have time to read all first posts!

[Scarlet Fever]

I don't think the mods have time to read all first posts!

If the idea goes up for consideration, my hand is up to be a '1st post' mod. I'm finishing the final year of secondary school in a weeks time, and when i'm not smashed, i'm going to be sitting around doing nothing. At least here I can do something somewhat constructive :)

[offwidafairies]

If the idea goes up for consideration, my hand is up to be a '1st post' mod. I'm finishing the final year of secondary school in a weeks time, and when i'm not smashed, i'm going to be sitting around doing nothing. At least here I can do something somewhat constructive :)

You sound charming.

I'm a newbie. I know very little about quite a lot, and I find MacRumors really helpful. I was reading the forum for at least 6 months before I even signed up. I like how patient and willing to help people with 'time up' seem to be. Thanks guys. And dont shun the newbies. One day I may be a demi-goddess...

[bartelby]

One day I may be a demi-goddess...

Really?

Hello there, how you doin'? ;):D

[edesignuk]

Really?

Hello there, how you doin'? ;):DThis is where she replies to tell you she's 14, you dirty old perv :D :p

[bartelby]

This is where she replies to tell you she's 14, you dirty old perv :D :p

:eek:

Poo!

I didn't think of that!:o

[offwidafairies]

:eek:

Poo!

I didn't think of that!:o

I'm not 14. But maybe *I'm* the dirty old perve ;)

[xUKHCx]

I'm not 14. But maybe *I'm* the dirty old perve ;)

perhaps with your account picture you shouldn't make those remarks :p

[Scarlet Fever]

You sound charming.

I'm a newbie. I know very little about quite a lot, and I find MacRumors really helpful. I was reading the forum for at least 6 months before I even signed up. I like how patient and willing to help people with 'time up' seem to be. Thanks guys. And dont shun the newbies. One day I may be a demi-goddess...

I know not all newbies are evil people who should be shunned; I was once a newbie here, and i am still a newbie in other forums.

The problem is the bogans of the world who go to forums and start spamming and trolling all over the place. I find them to be a pain in the forums, myself, and I'm sure others will agree.

I'm not suggesting someone goes and completely re-writes any first posts made by new members, but for them to be read by a moderator. I reckon the job will be easy, because most of the time, they will go though with no editing needed (I imagine your first post here would fit into this category), but there will be some who decide no-one will read their posts unless they are in bold and bright red. It's always the stupid minority who ruin it for the intelligent majority.

[Blue Velvet]

I'm not suggesting someone goes and completely re-writes any first posts made by new members, but for them to be read by a moderator. I reckon the job will be easy...


When you see how many posts there are on this forum and how many moderators are around at a given time, then this idea is not so easy after all, along with everything else... and the word 'bogan' is not used by anyone outside Aus and NZ. ;)

[rdowns]

I love boobs. I just don't see why so many of you have a problem with them. Boobs are great.


Oh, noobs.


How about a sub-forum for new users? It could contain threads on the rules, etiquette and other important information. If it were there, I bet many would avail themselves of it. The others will do as they wish regardless.

[CalBoy]

I
In my experience, this has little to do with being new. You can easily get blasted by members who have been around for years for something like this. It's attitude, not forum experience.
This is true, but at the moment, newer users have a much higher ratio of "bad/rude" posts as opposed to members who have been around long enough to "settle" down. There are plenty of new members who are very nice and easy to get along with, and I have no problem with them. However, one step into the iPhone forum, and you see what's going on.

What about moderation all first posts? If they do something stupid, such as big bold fonts or Comic Sans, they can get a PM from a mod explaining why their post was edited or up for deletion. That'd make it easier to pick up spam, and it might help educate people on MR etiquette.

Yay? Nay?

Wouldn't that take an enormous amount of mod-hours? Aren't there upwards of 30 new threads (excluding news, macbytes, and macpolls) every day? Aside from all the reported posts, other duties, and general moderation, the mods would have no time for anything else.

[annk]

This is true, but at the moment, newer users have a much higher ratio of "bad/rude" posts as opposed to members who have been around long enough to "settle" down. There are plenty of new members who are very nice and easy to get along with, and I have no problem with them. However, one step into the iPhone forum, and you see what's going on...

Just stay out of the iPhone forums, and you won't notice much of a problem. ;) No reason to let one sub-forum get to you, there are many others in here.

[saltyzoo]

How about turning the Title for a new thread into a search term and having a confirmation screen before posting a new thread that lists threads that match the title search.

Simply ask "Do any of these threads answer your question or cover a similar topic?" You can also add the caveat that if none of the listed threads are even remotely close to what the poster is trying to ask that they might want a more descriptive title to attract help more quickly.

I've never understood why people on a forum get upset when someone else posts on the forum. :D If it was just to be a search engine, you wouldn't need forum software. Just make it a static page. :p

Seriously though, let people ask the same question over and over. How does it hurt you? Out of the 10,000 threads posted here a day thousands don't interest me and I manage to not get pissed off that someone posted them. ;)

[CalBoy]

Just stay out of the iPhone forums, and you won't notice much of a problem. ;) No reason to let one sub-forum get to you, there are many others in here.

Oh I don't venture in there too often. But once in a while there's an actual thread that's worthy of response...and that's when they come after you like rabid wolves:o

PS I like your 'tar:)

[annk]

...

PS I like your 'tar:)

Thanks, I usually have a Wizard of Oz theme going, it's just been derailed lately because I've been too busy.

[CalBoy]

Thanks, I usually have a Wizard of Oz theme going, it's just been derailed lately because I've been too busy.

I like that; a "theme" is a good idea for avatars. I usually just go through phases and rotate every 6-8 weeks.

Meanwhile...what were we talking about?:p

Oh right. I still disagree with the central premise offered by the OP. A gentle reminder to new users who are rude to be polite and respectful would do the job well enough.