Guide to Posting for Young Persons

[Dad_Scaper]

I found myself writing these words the other day and thought, before I delete them from my mailbox, I might share them here.

This is a subject that comes up from time to time and the following is just my personal Survival Guide for Young Posters, quoted from a PM, with names changed & some sections removed to protect the innocent.

I don't want to be an old fart, but I can't really help it any more than other people can help being young whippersnappers. It's very important young people feel welcome here, but it's also part of the community that we maintain pretty high expectations.

My goal in this post is really just to tag a place on the forum where I can direct the attention of future generations of young posters. I am not (repeat not) directing this at anyone on the board now, not even the fine young person to whom I originally sent it. This is just a place for me to keep it and for others to benefit, if it helps them.

Originally Posted by My PM

You are in the same position that many other young guys have been in before on this forum. You love the game and you want to be involved on the message board but you don't know how to do it. Every time you feel like you try something different you end up getting kicked in the teeth by some old fart like me.

Is that about right?

Trust me, you aren't the first. comes to mind as a guy who was in your shoes not too long ago.

Here's what you do: Read the board. Every now and then ask a question or contribute a thought, when you have a *real* question, or something that adds to a conversation.

Take care to craft your post carefully and edit it. Make sure your spelling and grammar are as good as you can make them. They don't have to be perfect, but they do have to respect the reader. You've seen how some people recently have really gotten hammered for writing gibberish - which you don't do - so you're on the right track there.

The most important thing, and maybe the hardest thing, is not to press. I hope you know what I mean. You know , right? He was in the same position as you awhile ago. He was posting in every thread & getting nagged by old farts.

Then he settled down, found his niche, and stopped posting outside his comfort zone.

There's no rush, see. This forum isn't going anywhere. Take your time.

I hope this was helpful.

Take care & happy Scaping.

[gorthan313]

Very good guide! As a former noob, I can attest to that thinking out posts helps! (Quite a bit, in fact)

[personwholives]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Dad_Scaper again.

Apparently, we live in the same threads, DS. I think that's great advice, and I'm glad you posted it here to share. Hopefully, newer visitors to this site read a few threads about conduct here before they get so annoyed they leave.

I know that not everyone has perfect grammar and spelling (especially not me), but the important bit there, try your best, respect the reader, and post meaningful content, not just noise, is really important.

Personally, I'm really glad that this community has the high quality it does, since I would probably have left by now if there wasn't anything worth reading and anyone worth talking to.

Of course, you say you're writing as an old fart. While I'm probably not in the category you would consider "young whippersnappers", I'm still not as old as you.... I don't think I'm old enough to use "whippersnapper" non-sarcastically, so I think I need to end this comment before I say it again.

It's good, though, that we have such a great community here that spans the generations, without a lot of conflict between the folks who think naturally in text speak and the folks who can't....

[wriggz]

It is odd how much focus people put on Spelling and grammar. I'm fairly dyslexic and have a real hard time with spelling due to biology. Do you know how many times some one has given me a hard time? Once, and that was in the middle of a heated thread, and I had 1000 posts under my belt.

Seriously no one is expecting perfect english here, only clear thought out posts. Do your best, and if you are only 7 and are just learning how to write well, include it in your profile so we can all say, he is only 7 cut him some slack.

[Dad_Scaper]

Originally Posted by wriggz

It is odd how much focus people put on Spelling and grammar. I'm fairly dyslexic and have a real hard time with spelling due to biology. Do you know how many times some one has given me a hard time? Once, and that was in the middle of a heated thread, and I had 1000 posts under my belt.

Seriously no one is expecting perfect english here, only clear thought out posts. Do your best, and if you are only 7 and are just learning how to write well, include it in your profile so we can all say, he is only 7 cut him some slack.

Absolutely! Just do your best. No matter how bad a person's "best" is, if a person is doing his best the readers will understand & not give him a hard time.

I'm pretty sure young 'uns are not supposed to be putting their ages on their profiles, Wriggz. I'm pretty sure that's high up there as an internet no-no.

[Kaemon Awa 123]

Wow, good job D_S, +rep.

However, I would not be suprised if I was one of those s. I just wish that I had read this earlier, when I first joined.

~KA123, hoping his 2nd rep marker graduated him of of n00bdom.

[Dad_Scaper]

At least one of the s was before your time, KA, but you are definitely an example of a fine young contributor to the site.

[Orcs Blade]

Great advice, DS. I followed it here from your signature, so it's definitely doing some good.

[flameslayer93]

Great job on this Daddy_Scaper(although reading and ing this in June is still not that great on the other hand).

+rep

[Dad_Scaper]

Thanks, flameslayer. It seems to me the quality of the posts, from everybody including newbies, is very high on this site recently.

I'm glad you like the post.

[buckeyefan837]

I'm glad I found this thread. I don't know if I'm considered a whippersnapper to you people, but I don't consider myself one anymore. I see some people singling out people (who are obviously kids) and start to judge their grammar and spelling to the point of annoyance. I don't think some adults should be so intent on "scaring away" the younger generation of HS. I don't even know if they are intentionally scaring them away as much as they are irritated by the bad spelling and grammar. I guess they need to be more flexible when it comes to allowing incorrect grammar/spelling. That's my two cents on this topic. +Rep for you Dad Scaper

[Dad_Scaper]

Thanks, buckeye, I'm glad my post helped. I think we're a pretty congenial bunch, particularly considering this is the internet.