Viewing Thread:
"The Importance Of Being ... Noobish?"

I've come here (to my computer) to discuss something which I think contributes to the ethos of the gameaday forums. That thing is being a newbie. I use the SR forums as an example because of its main pulling point, winning a free game. This is generally what attracts people to this site and henceforth, affects the first post made by a JAT. This post will usually be long winded, trying to go against the stereotyping of a noobs first post, but ending up to actually be a stereotypical first post, because everyone had the same thought. After the initial shock of being a typical newbie, the noob will then read every single post on the topic and make short snappy replies to them all ensuring everyone dismisses them as a spamming idiot. But most people underestimate the importance of the newbie to such a forum as these ones. Amongst the regulars, there is a mass hatred of posting constantly, or spamming, simply because in an online community, it is considered annoying, very much so, a matter of online etiquette. The fact that newbies reply all the time, this gives a regular, an opportunity to say something seemingly intelligent and much degredating towards the newbie, pointing out mistakes that they have made, and contributing their own point of view, getting online credit for showing the newbie that he actually doesn't know what he's talking about and by showing him what would be the more acceptable thing to say or point out. Thus, it is so that the newbie actually forms the basis of a conversation, or ruins it, because the newbies are the cogs inbetween the proper posts by the regulars and the notables that keep threads running, keeping the forums at a constant pace, and giving feedback to everything. In this case, the noobs are the fundamental cogs on which replies can be aimed at in threads.

Newbies, also play a psychological role in posting in these forums. Noobs are constantly undermined as losers, whereas most regulars are well respected, the fact that regulars tend to stick together and occasionally make a derogatory statement towards newbies, most will agree, and stick together giving, the regulars a sense of companion ship, and happiness, knowing that people agree with them. The noob on the other hand, will generally not be discouraged through this, on the contrary, they will probably just try harder to write more intelligent sounding articles, but again, most regulars will refuse to acknowledge this. Not because they think that it was a bad post, but because it wouldn't be accepted for a notable to congratulate a newbie. These kinds of forums rely on a special equilibrium between noobs, notables and regulars, like a less complicated food cycle.

Finally, the heaviest burden is placed upon the staff who decide actually win the GAD. If you spot a longish thread, chances are that the user who posted it, wants a new game. This can discourage people, because there is no heart in the article, and that the user just can't be ar*ed to earn some money. If you were to ask me what the newbies greatest achievement was, I would tell you that they are not delusional about the SR forums are. They know that they are making posts on SR to win free games, and the point is, Lots of regulars try to seem so innocent, but if they just wanted to talk about games, (not win games through topical posts) then they should just find a different gaming forum site. Newbies accept this, but when they turn into regulars, they will try to fit in with the other regulars (as the name suggests) and will be in denial about why they are on it because most regulars are.

That is why I view newbies just as important as regulars, and notables. Think about this post. It might actually make sense.

torticollis.

now i posted this. Toricollis is the one who should be banned. My torticollis was banned and now Ii have to use this when toricolllis used loads of insulting words and got me banned

now i posted this. Torticollis is the one who should be banned. My torticollis was banned and now Ii have to use this when toricolllis used loads of insulting words and got me banned

yes...

If I came here purely for the gad then I'd be posting endless amounts of long posts, fortunately my little brain doesn't have the capacity to write that much stuff.
I think that in all the time I have been on here I have conciously made 2 attempts at winning a gad, and neither of them won.

anyway I made my first online purchase from sr a couple of weeks ago ( I mainly get things from the basildon store) a nice set of altec lansing speakers ( £29.99 )

Asher D wrote:
> Yes, we all come here for GAD mainly

I have to say, this really isn't true in my case. I have won one GAD, but that was an 'accident'.

Rašta ßla§ta²°°² wrote:
> 1. No, it isn't. It's to chat to thers about anything really, and
> every now and then there are GAD attempts, but that is not it's main
> pulling point.

The site and subsites are plastered with adverts, boasting the chance to win a free game of your choice every day, the same goes for the SR magazine. Thus anyone with half a brain can come to the conclusion that the majority of new sign ups are here for that, and for that alone. Infact, while pretty much all of the regulars and notables are *now* here to chat, and to contribute to the community; you can guarantee that around 90% of them arrived here for the exact reason cited. So yes, it is the "main" pulling point.

> 2. This is also untrue. If it is, what is the point of having this
> n00b>reggie>notable system???

As a means to show the amount of time the user has spent on the forums, and how much their posts amuse / impress / interest the other users, no other reason. So sorry, but yes, newbies are just as important as any other type of user here, so long as they're productive and not spammers. if there weren't any new users signing up, there would be no community, heck - it wouldn't even exist in the first place.

Rasta, you're fast becoming a living embodiment of contradiction, try not to make a complete clown of yourself via your lacking understanding of irony.

Tort has spammed... bad. You spam... bad. Tort has a moderate grasp of the English language... good. You are a bint... bad.

Just stop your whinging when you don't have any grounds for it. Oh yes, and you have to listen to me, because I'm a regular and that makes me more important than you. ;)

*Smirks*

Anyway, Torticollis, you're not that far of becoming a regular now.

Great Post.

I joined these forums because I saw the advert for GAD in the back of a magazine. Shortly after joining I wrote a few reviews, then realised I had almost no chance of winning a game. Since then I've nearly forgotten about GAD completely. I should start thinking of that again.

Torticollis, this is perhaps the best post I have read all day. Oh, and that includes my own topics.

Sonic

night all, off to do english essay. Bloody curriculum.