New members

[碇 シンジン 27,431]

I been looking here and there and somewhere  and I seen that many members who register here on the forums, never post anything and be here maybe on couple hours or few weeks and after that leave.

 

I been collecting some data from this site and I seen that average about 40% of the people who create account here post the topic in the welcoming area, about 60% of the members don't post the topic and it will be unlikely that anyone will notice them unless they themselves start engaging a conversation, or maybe they can't figure out the site and how it works. 

 

What worries me is that there are over 10 000 accounts in the blank flank group if I recall correctly, maybe this site just wasnt for those people, maybe they didn't have a reason to come back here. What is the reason people come back here? What is the reason you come back here? For me it is the community here, but for these people who never embraced the community here and didn't feel welcome here, didn't get the help they needed figuring out the layout and other issues that they maybe had. They didn't have any reason to come back here again.

 

I think our job as a members of this community is to make the pony who is new here feel welcomed and part of the group here. My suggestion here is that to somehow grow the possibility of the new members coming more active in this community. DO you think it would be good if making post in the welcoming plaza would be necessary to be able to be a member here. 

 

I mean because they wouldn't make an account here if they wouldn't want to be part of the community because you can view most of the pages that have the discussion without registration, so if they wouldn't want to be a part of this site and the community here why would they create an account at all. i see that many people have created the account but maybe were too shy or didnt know where to post the ir post and because of that never engaged with the community and that can be the reason why they didn't feel they should come back here.

 

I think it would be great if we could somehow make the members who join feel more comfortable and included in the community and that way the site could grow bigger.

 

Just my thoughts thanks =)

[Pastel 7,630]

I've never introduced myself in the Welcoming Plaza, at first I didn't join to find a nice community, but just to talk about the show.

I think those members who have never posted here had other reasons than not feeling welcomed.

 

Also, I think it's a bad idea to force them to introduce themselves before allowing them to post. What if they don't want to, like me?

[碇 シンジン 27,431]

I've never introduced myself in the Welcoming Plaza, at first I didn't join to find a nice community, but just to talk about the show.

I think those members who have never posted here had other reasons than not feeling welcomed.

 

Also, I think it's a bad idea to force them to introduce themselves before allowing them to post. What if they don't want to, like me?

I see there are people who maybe don't want to post there, but I still think the welcoming plaza should be somehow highlighted and so it could be easier to find for people and it would't be too big step for people to embrace the community or redirect them into topic creating window after registration but they could cancel it.

 

or maybe add 2 buttons after you accepted the terms and conditions other is introduce yourself which takes you to the welcoming plaza into the topic creation mode and other button that you can press if you dont want introduce

 

and people maybe don't joing because of the community but the community makes them stay in the long run I think, because there are hiatuses and other stuff  that is going on 

[aoEAF2FBvC0MIo2Q 3,673]

I think our job as a members of this community is to make the pony who is new here feel welcomed and part of the group here. My suggestion here is that to somehow grow the possibility of the new members coming more active in this community. DO you think it would be good if making post in the welcoming plaza would be necessary to be able to be a member here.

If you want my opinion on this, I believe that to be putting too much stock in something that isn't really an issue to begin with. Things like these shouldn't be forced. Perhaps they didn't have much to say to begin with or don't see this place as being for them and that's perfectly OK. It's important for us as a community to be honest in the way we present ourselves so that it's the people who fit in best are the ones that end up staying rather than people with false expectations who end up maladjusted. We are not a perfect community that could accommodate everyone nor should we try to be.

 

We as bronies at our core are consumers of entertainment and among us can be creators of entertainment or of content (artists, basically) who find their place with the consumers who indulge in it. That's really all we are and have been from the start. If the Debate Pit is any indication, the further away we stray from this, the more unstable the ground we tread. 

 

TL;DR This place isn't for every-everyone and there's nothing wrong with that.

Edited July 11, 2015 by SunBurn

[碇 シンジン 27,431]

If you want my opinion on this, I believe that to be putting too much stock in something that isn't really an issue to begin with. Things like these shouldn't be forced. Perhaps they didn't have much to say to begin with or don't see this place as being for them and that's perfectly OK. It's important for us as a community to be honest in the way we present ourselves so that it's the people who fit in best are the ones that end up staying rather than people with false expectations and end up maladjusted. We are not a perfect community that could accommodate everyone nor should we try to be.

 

We as bronies at our core are consumers of entertainment and among us can be creators of entertainment or content (artists) who find their place with the consumers who indulge in it. That's really all we are and have been from the start. If the Debate Pit is any indication, the further away we stray from this, the more unstable the ground we tread. 

 

TL;DR This place isn't for every-everyone and there's nothing wrong with that.

Well it maybe isnt issue for you but it is issue for me, it is not big issue just a little thing that could I think could use some improvement

[CheeryFox 23,821]

Well...I too don't think that's a good idea to force introductions. I wouldn't mind some of those questions answered though, ooBrony. 

[NotoriousSMALL 1,984]

There's already like 9999999 people on this site, new members coming, getting bored, and leaving isn't an issue. It happens on every forum I've been on. Some people just don't get too into it. I'm pretty sure there's already a very good job of making people feel welcomed here, that isn't the problem. People just getting bored of the site is why they leave. Not everyone finds using forums fun, believe it or not.

[Jeremiah 1,586]

ooBrony has a point, but... not everyone likes forced introductions, and it is a personal thing for the user if they want to stay on the site or not, but I am ooBrony on this one.

Edited July 11, 2015 by SunsetMaster

[Azure Envy 1,092]

The current system (that is, optionally posting in the Welcome area) seems fine to me. Forcing the matter seems like it'd either turn people away or possibly increase the number of junk posts in the Welcome area. While I did post there, it's not difficult to imagine that others might not. I don't believe a first post in some other forum is any less valid than one in the welcome area.

[Sommar 1,289]

While I do appreciate your concern with the new members, I'm not too keen on your idea. I think forcing someone to do something goes against what our community stands for. It's our job as a fandom to 'love and tolerate' towards those around us. So if someone doesn't want to post in the Welcoming Plaza, then so be it. People have their reasons not to and we should respect that.

[DarkusX 69]

Well Mybe Oobrony didn't mean "force them into introduction".... perhaps he ment "Showing more friendly types of greetings and forum opinions will relief of forum struggle or newbies from happening too often so that it increases forum pop, social studies, net info studies and absolute fun"... Suggesting New comers or members for this action.... not forcing... im not even sure if we could actually force them anyway...(which I  will not recommend of course)...the new peeps fault for thinking their being forced by words....let it be. If im wrong, then let me know this post made something of value if you will.

 

Sorry if my grammer sucks... but im trying to make sense or just throwing stuff out there.

 

(This feels like a Jedi council XD)

Edited July 11, 2015 by DarkusAttractor857

[Jeric 46,854]

17,000+ members are still muffins or lower. It's the members that gave up after trying to contribute that should be analyzed. Not just blank flanks.

 

I am a member of many many many message boards. I've only introduced myself twice. Once here, and once on WoE. I actually lurked on World of Equestria for months before saying hi. I'm not shy at all ... just normally more of a reader than a contributor.

 

It is worth pointing out that my intro post here was not my first post. If I was funneled to make WP post by a poor UX design ... I would still be lurking to this day. I have more to say on this adding some thoughts to the statistics ... but I'll wait to chime in.

[Mikepokemon9 67]

I'm new here and I'm here to stay working on getting post count up so I'm not a blank flake

[Moonlight 7,287]

I'm a part of another forum where introduction posts are absolutely mandatory to be a member, and it's honestly extremely uncomfortable to deal with overall so I wouldn't recommend that. Giving them a nudge and such wouldn't be a bad idea but making it necessary is kinda unnecessary :c

 

A decent amount of members help newer ones from what I've seen and they usually make their PM box open for questions/concerns, so I believe some newer members just don't think the site is for them and that's fine. All I can really think of is more welcome posts that aren't just copy/paste ( even though it is the thought that counts c: ), some PMs to help show them around the site a bit, a friend request, and some comments on their profile just to show them that they are welcome here.

Not really much more can be done on our ends, it's up to the user to stay or leave.

[Celli 4,338]

You make a good point, Oobrony, and I know you love welcoming new people, and you're one of the friendliest members here, but I think some people might be turned off and not want to bother trying to open up and go off somewhere else.

[碇 シンジン 27,431]

 

 

A decent amount of members help newer ones from what I've seen and they usually make their PM box open for questions/concerns, so I believe some newer members just don't think the site is for them and that's fine. All I can really think of is more welcome posts that aren't just copy/paste ( even though it is the thought that counts c: ), some PMs to help show them around the site a bit, a friend request, and some comments on their profile just to show them that they are welcome here. Not really much more can be done on our ends, it's up to the user to stay or leave.

 

 

Yeah that is what I was talking about I think I worded the OP kinda weird way but  I meant that the community should be more assertive towards the new members so they can kinda fee that they already belong and  made friends. I see the welcoming plaza is doing its job, but the people who don't post there it is up to them to make the first move to get involved into the community, some people do and they get into the community but some people maybe try and cant make any friends and give up because of that.

 

These past days I been trying to add comment into every new members profile to welcome them into here and be their friend some of them made the welcoming topic after some didn't and some didnt answer at all, but it doesnt really matter because atleast they see that people are there for them. And they are not alone. I see the MLP Forums as a family and it is not a family if you leave people out. I think everyone should be welcomed one way or another.

 

Forcing welcomes is one way to do that but now that i think about it it was kinda short sided thinking and I don't think it would work on the longer time lapse very well. The current situation is good but I know many people here who don't have many friends here because people didn't embrace them I don't know how they feel about it.  But I think that everyone should be able to see how awesome the MLP forums community can really be =)<3

[Sunset's Shimmer 394]

I think, as a muffin and somewhat new-pony, that community is very important. The problem I see (and this is the reason I've left other forums before) is that, yes, if a person posts in the traditional "welcome" forums that they tend to get a response anywhere from 5-20 welcoming posts. Then I almost never see anypony communicate with them again until they reach a similar post count/ eye-catching sig/avatar as the members that have been here for a while.

To me this really alienates the new ponies that join. It's a common problem, and I see it all the time. Now, I understand that someponies may not be interested in their posts/topics, or possibly don't see them. The bulk of the issues I see though, is that once they are welcomed into the community, there is little to no support from other members... except oobrony. You like, bro-hoof my posts/updates/topics from time to time, which makes me feel somewhat welcome. You rock!

Just thought I'd add my two cents.

Edited July 19, 2015 by Shimmerlicious

[Holiday Agnaktor 1,436]

When I joined the forum, posting in the Welcoming Plaza helped a lot. I got a few friends, (like 3 of 'em,) that I otherwise never would have gotten. I'm too shy to actually reach out to people. So I think it's important to highlight the Welcoming Plaza to new users, so that everyone who might want to introduce themselves, but didn't see the Welcoming Plaza have another way of noticing. :3

[ProjectRKA 2,848]

What I think could be done is that whenever a member signs up to the forum, they get a welcoming pm from a bot that says they should go introduce themselves in the welcoming plaza. And what they can do around the forum and stuff. 

[Aleh 481]

The current system is fine tbh. 
Forcing people to introduce themselves will just annoy people. 

[Sky Knight 1,172]

When I first stumbled across this strange new land I looked around as a guest first. I tried to take in as much as I could before deciding to commit to this forum. I spent probably a week deciding if I was going to create an account here, so I wouldn't be wasting my account if I didn't like it. But after all my lurking and analyzing of the edges of this forum I decided I'd like to commit myself to this wonderful site! I have no regrets and have been very active. I have met lots of lovely, kind and awesome people since and it has been a awesome roller coaster ride! 

 

Onto the issue you're presenting, I feel the way things are currently are just fine. As someone or many have stated already that it's not for everyone. Most probably don't use a hole lot of forums to have began with and most probably just signed up because it was a place they could come to relate with others for their love of the show. I do however respect what you've said and always believe we can change things for the better! How the change will be implemented is for someone else to think up (like yourself) or if I've drank 20 cups of coffee.

 

I feel this community is perfect the way it is, I see little to no flaws. Nothing is perfect so while it does have its little hitches here and there like my Profile View counter not registering other people viewing my account it's still  a VERY well put together site for people of like minded interest in the show/franchise. I think it can cater for a great number of the bronies/fans of the fandom and I think it'll continue to keep catering and keep exploring new ways to cater further. This is a superb community and I wouldn't trade it for anything, MLP Forums is best Forums!  

Edited July 20, 2015 by Sky Knight

[Trixio 443]

I understand what you mean.However,a system organized to make people feel welcome in this forum is bound to fail if behind it there is no real and spontaneous intention to fulfill that intent.

This is also the reason why, after the welcome posts, the new users could still feel alone or unsupported.

 

In the end, I think it is a physiological phenomenon in any community, especially large ones as in the case of this forum.

 

For example,to be honest, I haven't ever felt part of this community.In my case, I think it's also because I have difficulty with the english language.For the rest, I think there are many reasons why some users don't feel entirely englobed in this community.There are those who come into this forum just to write and read opinions about the show..without regard to the concept of community.At some point he/she may feel bored and leaves the forum.There are those who enter the forum with the hope to make new friends (even if virtual) with their same passion,but for reasons not always easily explained finds himself/herself equally isolated.He/she gets bored and goes away.Then there are those who simply do not posting much because them does not have much to say..he/she gets bored and goes away. etc etc..For this reason it may be difficult to "pinpoint" an exact cause that brings some new users to disappear....and..as you can see the problem does not relate, therefore, only new users.

Without knowing a precise cause of the problem (because there is no single cause, but there are several) it is also difficult to find a solution to it........................assuming that it is a problem...because many users leave for simple reasons, not necessarily as a expression of a discomfort.

[碇 シンジン 27,431]

 

I understand what you mean.However,a system organized to make people feel welcome in this forum is bound to fail if behind it there is no real and spontaneous intention to fulfill that intent.

This is also the reason why, after the welcome posts, the new users could still feel alone or unsupported.

 

In the end, I think it is a physiological phenomenon in any community, especially large ones as in the case of this forum.

 

For example,to be honest, I haven't ever felt part of this community.In my case, I think it's also because I have difficulty with the english language.For the rest, I think there are many reasons why some users don't feel entirely englobed in this community.There are those who come into this forum just to write and read opinions about the show..without regard to the concept of community.At some point he/she may feel bored and leaves the forum.There are those who enter the forum with the hope to make new friends (even if virtual) with their same passion,but for reasons not always easily explained finds himself/herself equally isolated.He/she gets bored and goes away.Then there are those who simply do not posting much because them does not have much to say..he/she gets bored and goes away. etc etc..For this reason it may be difficult to "pinpoint" an exact cause that brings some new users to disappear....and..as you can see the problem does not relate, therefore, only new users.

Without knowing a precise cause of the problem (because there is no single cause, but there are several) it is also difficult to find a solution to it........................assuming that it is a problem...because many users leave for simple reasons, not necessarily as a expression of a discomfort.

 

I know that but I was talking only about the new members here like the topic title says. I think it is fine if they leave and get bored but I want atleast try to be their friend and get then into the community 

[Trixio 443]

I know that but I was talking only about the new members here like the topic title says. I think it is fine if they leave and get bored but I want atleast try to be their friend and get then into the community 

 

I know, and I've already answered about the new users. What you're talking about is a "phenomenon" that you can not control in my opinion. This is because there are so many reasons for which a new user signs up and not long after leaving the forum, probably without even participate in it.

As for you, you can only welcome them and then, if necessary, write them in private or on their profile and demonstrate your sincere friendly presence. More than that you can not do.

[碇 シンジン 27,431]

 

I know, and I've already answered about the new users. What you're talking about is a "phenomenon" that you can not control in my opinion. This is because there are so many reasons for which a new user signs up and not long after leaving the forum, probably without even participate in it.

As for you, you can only welcome them and then, if necessary, write them in private or on their profile and demonstrate your sincere friendly presence. More than that you can not do.

 

Yeah and I don't need to do anything more than that, I do the things the way I feel about them and this thing has been troubling me so I wanted to get it off my chest =)