Becoming afraid to post

[JanYpe 17]

look at jacky she has like 20,000 post but never EVER would somebody call her a spamerquote>

That's because she does bad, wicked things to those who do call her that. You ever see that scene in 'The Godfather' with the horse's head? That is nothing, nothing compared to the mess she can make of you with a butterknife, a frying pan and a mug of tea.

Why do you think we have this smiley?

[SpecialEddie 3]

Originally posted by: Amerikaner or if your a "spamer" look at jacky she has like 20,000 post but never EVER would somebody call her a spamer...quote>

 

Jacky's the untouchable mob boss. Leave her out of this!!!

"good work cant wait for more" isn't spam. 

"good work cant wait for more" x1000 is.

[Tommy_Vercetti3 3]

Spam= something that isn't realated to the topic at hand. Spam is( well mostly) short ads for whatever thing.

Eg: "Fr33 tac0s h3r3( link here or something.)"

There are other kinds of spam but really I agree that great job and good work count as it. Because really, I tend to like being complimented, even if its a pat on the back.

And I also agree that what many have said. Post if you have something meaningful to say, not just because you want to.

[DOXXP29 5]

Regarding people posting meaningless comments to increase their post count, I've never quite understood that. Really, what's the difference if one's post count is 50 or 500. Last I looked, no one was giving away any prizes for high counts. I agree with Cleaner. It's about quality, not quantity.

[Cleaner475 150]

Thanks for agreeing - I respect anyones opinion on this topic - But I still stand by what I sdaid that Quality is better than Quanitity.

Anyone else like to share their opinion?

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: SpecialEddie 

"good work cant wait for more" isn't spam. 

"good work cant wait for more" x1000 is.quote>

 

"good work cant wait for more" x 1000 can give the impression that you didn't really read it at all; you are just saying the same thing over and over again.

People, CJ authors for instance, like to hear feedback that implies that you actually paid some attention to their work.  It doesn't have to be long or elaborate.

"Good work.  I like the way the train winds through the trees."

"Nice city.  Having the cemetary in the middle of the industrial complex was an unusual choice.  Never saw that before."

"Good work.  Your riverfront plaza looks very realistic."

or whatever the case may be.

[SpecialEddie 3]

Originally posted by: DOXXP29 Regarding people posting meaningless comments to increase their post count, I've never quite understood that. Really, what's the difference if one's post count is 50 or 500. Last I looked, no one was giving away any prizes for high counts. I agree with Cleaner. It's about quality, not quantity.quote>

 

Last I recall, prizes were being given out (at the Trixies). I think sloppet got one...But he didn't spam. He actually had something to say in all his posts.

[yoshikoroyimara 5]

So basically...it is freedom of speech...but parts can be frowned upon...or censored.

I don't really get that...so in other words...it is censored freedom of speech...which is like the same thing as "Opposite Day"

I understand that people just like to share what they think...which is good...but sometimes it is overwhelming...

No...just because I have the hammer, sickle, red star, and quotes from Karl Marx (Our Saviour)...I am not sharing any communist ideas...I just don't understand censored freedom of speech...

[Micah 16]

"Becoming afraid to post"

I'm pretty much afraid to post everyday because I'm afraid that I'm going to post something dumb or random like usual.

For instance:

You know what I wish? I wish I collected those two cents that everyone seems to offer in their posts. I'd be a millionare! 

I just don't understand censored freedom of speech...quote>

Basically, this site isn't a democracy. It's a dirktatorship. I think that pretty much sums it all up.

[Joesocwork 4]

Originally posted by: SpecialEddie

Originally posted by: DOXXP29 Regarding people posting meaningless comments to increase their post count, I've never quite understood that. Really, what's the difference if one's post count is 50 or 500. Last I looked, no one was giving away any prizes for high counts. I agree with Cleaner. It's about quality, not quantity.quote>

 

Last I recall, prizes were being given out (at the Trixies). I think sloppet got one...But he didn't spam. He actually had something to say in all his posts.quote>

 

I'm scratching my head remembering how might have honoring a highest poster!    Actually I do remember Sloppet getting the SimTropolis HeartThrob Award b/c of how members responded to him.   We sure have our share of interesting and entertaining members!

[Godzillaman 21]

do any of you think of me as a spammer? i read through the update unless i have little time, and i say something nice but i don't really have anything original to say because my mine doesn't think of creative things fast. and i do not post for the post count. so am i a spammer?

[Cleaner475 150]

no I don't think you're a spammer and never would - You signed up a few months ago to if you were a spammer you would be posting on boards with random rubbish like ' fsgadgsddg' or a pointless sentence or something. You are not a spammer.

[richgray100 0]

Its a very big forum, perhaps some people feel a little out of touch unless they have over 1000 posts. I feel like a small fish in a freaking ocean, but id never spam for post counts. But that feeling has meant ive not bothered to post here for months.

People with thousands of posts SHOULD have something good to say regularly, but a lot think theyre better than everyone, and others are just plain spammers. Not been here long enough to know any of the posters, but on other forums its the same.

[JanYpe 17]

.I just don't understand censored freedom of speech...quote>

Someone's taking this way too seriously.

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

Someone's taking this way too seriously. quote>

Have to agree with that one ...  especially the whole issue of spam.  Some people need to take a chill pill.

Frankly this whole silly spam argument that has been simmering for a while in several different forms on ST is annoying the heckfire out of me.

Two months ago I thought that spam was something you got in your email inbox advertising viagra or fake rolex watches or some bogus business opportunity...

Two months ago I had never posted on a public forum, and had no idea about the "rules."  I have since learned fast.

What I have found is there is a very definite "culture" or "ettiquite" in a forum.  There are the written rules and guidlines which every member should take the time to read,  but there are also the unwritten "rules" that you sometimes have to learn the hard way.

I have really only posted on ST (except for a few on simcity.com when I first started playing SC two months ago..) and I have discovered that the vast majority of members on this site are friendly and welcoming.  In fact it was the helpfulness of one member on Simcity that led me here in the first place.  Most members are patient with people who are new and still learning the ropes.  I started my posting career in the off topic section because that is where I felt most comfortable as I did not really know anything much about SC - let alone ST.

My style can be pretty off-beat at times and my sense of humour can sometimes get me into trouble - albeit unintentionally.

However, (rarely) on occasion a member will get irritated by a post or PM and you discover that you have broken some unwritten rule.

Once I had got the hang of playing SC and learned how to do stuff like post pictures I decided to try a CJ.  This was not completely without reservation because having read some of the comments on others CJ's I wondered what sort of reception a brand new player with little experience would receive.

Anyway I took the plunge and have tried my best to fit with the culture and ettiquite of the CJ forum.  I have waited for two or three comments to come in before replying and only bumping the CJ from the back pages with a genuine update.

I did however upset one person over the weekend when I sent them a simple message that I had updated my CJ.  It was meant as a friendly courtesy, but they saw it as spam.  This was a person who had already commented in my CJ and expressed an interest in it and its progress.  It was certainaly not a random PM to someone I had never met or communicted with before.  I did send an apology straight away - I am not too proud to admit fault if I have upset someone.

Anyway this is what I mean about learning the "unwritten rules"  - 

"Thou shalt not PM certain members to tell them you have updated your CJ even if they have posted a comment and expressed an interest in its progress."

Actually this was just one person only - most people were quite happy for me to PM them .... but we live and learn.

As for the comments in my CJ generally?  On the whole they have been 99.9% supportive, encouraging and helpful.  As far as I am concerned any comment - even "nice work" is welcome at least they have taken the trouble to look and post.  

Not everyone makes posts as long as mine ...

Herein lies my two cents worth except that the smallest coin in NZ is now a ten...

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Many of the unwritten rules are actually written down, and the ones that aren't are being worked on right now.

The New Guide to Creating and Posting a City Journal, which is stickied at the top of the CJ forum covers a lot of these issues.

[Cleaner475 150]

is annoying the heckfire out of me.quote>

if I ever need to ask for brilliant words I'll come to you

_____________

So far this has seemed to have calmed down a bit so now I am happy. I will still keep psoting in the CJ section even if *names not to be mentioned* keep saying I'm a spammer.

Thanks for your support guys and your views.

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

Jasoncw:  Thanks.  You can be sure that I have read everything that is there to be read - and it is all helpful sensible stuff.  I am well aware of the stickied threads.

I also recommend that anyone who should dare to hit any "reply to topic" button in any forum takes the time to read the stickied threads at the top of each respective forum.  It can save a lot of grief and anx.

Perhaps some of the oldtimers could do with a refresher read ... as well  ...not just the newbies.

However I can assure you (as a relatively new person) that there is a definate forum culture and ettiquite that is not as obvious as reading a stickied thread.  There certainly are "unwritten rules" that you need to learn pretty darned fast if you are not going to go around upsetting people.

As always there will always be one or two loud mouths that seem to think that they are above the need to maintain civility. That is the sad fact of any community.

Those who shout loudest about wanting respect have generally not grasped the concept that respect is a two way process.  If people want to be respected then they need to begin by showing respect to others.
 
As I say the vast majority of members on this site are courteous, polite and understanding of "mistakes."  Most are willing to guide new members as to what is expected in a reasonable manner.  

[IDS2 3,346]

I have guidelines to filter through what is spam and what isn't:

CJ SECTION:

-no empty comments (we all know what THOSE are, right?)

-no double-posts (unless accidental) and they can be deleted

-multiple cj comments a OK so long as they aren't all the same. If you must comment on multiple cjs, make sure EVERY COMMENT is different and that you actually REFER to the cj/topic. Example:

"Excellent work my friend, I love that Parker Street Tower, and the seawalls look nice too. I can't wait for the next update now!

FORUM GAMES:

Multiple threads OK

No double-posts

That's pretty much it...

[Xyloxadoria 1,099]

Well i think that you have to have something to say when you post. And when you do there should at least be more than one or two words that you say. When you have one or two word posts, like "cool" "great job" or when you quote someone and just add "I agree" or "ditto" or anything like that, I think that that is spamming.

The only time that a one or two word post is acceptable is in forum games, where that is the rule, but for CJ's i think that one or two word posts are just spamming.

[tahill79 13]

who cares

[Shingure 56]

Cleaner475. In my CJ no body is considered a spammer for 1 reason. They are responding to what Update has come...That's how I look at it. Dont be afraid. Embrace Simtropolis because we have alot of good people here.

[Cleaner475 150]

So sometimes if there are lots of CJs I like and want to comment on then I open a few windows normally about three at once and leave my comments but then when I press the reply button and look at the list of CJs it looks like I've written four replies in 1 minute which kind of is suspciiosu - I don't mean to but sometimes I do it accidentally - Lots of people do it but if it gets on your nerves then I think I should stop and wait a few minutes before posting another reply. What do you think?

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Normal people do not write 4 replies at once...

It will help your posting habits if you read a thread, write a message, and post it, and then go on to the next thread.

But yeah, doing what you said will not make you look good.  But even still, your average posts per day is almost 14, which is A LOT.  I don't go in the forums you post in much, so I don't know you personally, but 14 posts per day is a lot.  I'm at almost 4 a day, and that feels like a lot, I can't imagine posting 14, and I don't think I could if I tried to (while keeping the messages worthwhile).

So instead of 14 posts a day, try to do 7, but make them twice as good. 

[Cleaner475 150]

Yes but I am quite new and love the CJ's - Jacky has 17 and Homeandaway has 2o something and lots of people have about 15.

I couldn't do less because I like to many of the CJ's here - I wont open to many windows at once then.

thanks Jason it helps.

[purpledaddy 6]

Originally posted by: Jasoncw Normal people do not write 4 replies at once...

It will help your posting habits if you read a thread, write a message, and post it, and then go on to the next thread.

quote>

 

Some people have four windows of Simtropolis open at once to give one word responses??   Now that's weird! 

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

who cares quote>

... now that is a fine example of spam.... this person has clearly not understood (or cares) what this thread is about and has simply made a post for the sake of it.

The comment adds nothing to this thread or the disscussion contained within it.

By the way Richard... I want to encourage you ... I have noticed that your posts in the CJ section have improved 10 fold in the last couple of weeks (since you started this thread) and that you are clearly making an effort to change your posting style and method.

For this you are to be congratulated. The community can expect or demand no more.

It is a brave thing to single yourself out in a thread like this and I hope that it not only helps you but also others who may be having similar problems, but would never start a thread like this in the first place.

There is no shame in making mistakes, it is how we learn about stuff and life in general, it is how we respond when the mistakes are made that counts.

You are doing just fine.

[IDS2 3,346]

jacky has been around longer than you, homeandaway was doing the Haw Haw (but he stopped) and they both have 2000 more posts than you. That's why they have 17 and 20. You've been here for 3 months (almost) and have made 1000 posts. That's about what I did, but I slowed down. You'll slow down too. So long as you only post in one thread at a time and it's a full comment, you can reply to as many as you want. So long as the list doesn''t go for over 3 pages.

[manman99 2]

its all about competition and popularity. Example(everything is made up)

exall33: omg he has over 2000 posts, nd look at all the attantion he getting, I have to beat him!

I want to be just like him:

Or:

hi45:why doesent anyone pay attaention to me, ik ill post more!:

When in fact your posts tell nothing really, your popularity is gained by much more things than posts. They only do it to be like everyone else, when they are the only ones posting 4 posts at a time.

For me i just usually use "quick reply" its faster and easier, cuz i dont have to wait for that stupid box, unless i have to.

[GingerBlokey 30]

Personally I would deem any post in a CJ/Off Topic/BAT topic with only one sentence spam. It really does annoy me when people do this. I have comfronted one person about it very politely and with good intentions but I wasn't happy with the reply I got.