I have decided to write this brief post here, after reading criticism over some forums around the web regarding the hostility towards new folks here. Some could be spammers, or caps lock junkies, or whatnot. It doesn’t matter, I’m sure there are some exceptions, and it is not up for the members to judge, except report.
When a newcomer starts a thread, I either try to welcome him right after that or (when I’m late) sometimes try to make a point after it turns into a flame war. Usually to no avail, so I thought I’d rather post here so perhaps some would come to agree with me.
Many folks try out the game, then check the boards and try to get familiarized with the community before purchasing it. Now some of you might be wondering, why the hell does it concern me? I make no profit out of it - In fact, I believe it does concern all of us, and we all make a profit from it, be it financial or otherwise - especially the modding community and it’s supporters. A well treated, welcomed newcomer probably means another customer and also a good reference for other people to join us. A sixteen year old might come in asking silly questions, for instance, but he might as well have other five or six friends, who might or might not behave the same way. In the worst case, we get seven new players, Armagan gets more customers, the community gets a good reference, and more people (even publishers at some point) will come to know of M&B and their mods at a faster rate. Some of them might become a modder as well, or perhaps already is a modder from another engine or platform (yes, I mean the “you’ll never make it – you’re doomed” words whenever a low ranked member posts some mod plan with a work in progress – Some of my best researchers are recruits, simply because they do not spam, or come from other forums like TWC. A couple years ago I've purchased and started modding M&B before even making an account on the boards, when we relied on noobsaibot hex editor and several minutes to get a single model ingame. When I first announced my intentions on making a mod I was - guess what, a recruit. We can never foresee their determination from their ranks alone. It doesn’t mean anything).
It does sound pretty logical, but we still see occasional members bursting on new people. Now what is the point in going ballistic over those folks? Of course, some violate the forum rules, but that’s why the moderators are there. Still, most if not all of them (mods and admins) don’t overreact to newcomers like some oldtimers (and also a few oldtimer wannabes).
As a suggestion, if we’re not bothered to write, or think we’ll come out rude, just ignoring the thread and letting someone else do it, or quoting the violated rule in question and writing a small sentence beneath would be enough to get them on their tracks. I am not referring to those five-simultaneous-I want to annoy you-threads folks, of course, since those would deserve a report so admins can decide what to do with them themselves.
Do not get me wrong, I know it is annoying sometimes. But come to think of it, what’s more annoying? Seeing a couple new people posting silly (and hopefully ignored/locked) threads or bumping on a flame war every four out of ten times?
My statement is, let us welcome potential players and supporters, and let admins sort them out.
