[Issue 44] Before You "Send"

[Night-Sisters 2,139]

 

 

Imagine that you are standing on a stage at a podium, about to deliver a speech. The curtain is drawn, so you can't see your audience, but you know that there are hundreds, if not thousands of people out there, waiting to closely scrutinize your every word. The slightest inconsistency in logic will see you drummed out amidst jeers of laughter, or worse yet, to a sheer, icy silence. However it comes, your rejection will be concise, immediate, and complete.

Despite the danger, you've brought no notes and made no preparations because you are confident that when it comes time, your words, whatever they may be, will be right.  

You get your cue, and begin to speak.

 

Ugh. I think we can all agree that this is the stuff of nightmares. Having to stand up and out in front of a large, possibly hostile audience without any notes or pre-thought-out strategies...and give a speech?!?

No thanks. I'll pass.

Despite the apparent absurdity of this situation, a fair number of my readers choose to place themselves in a situation remarkably similar to this on a daily basis. I'm talking, of course, about posting in the forum.

Perhaps you've never spared it a thought, but every single time you hit that 'post' button and send your words hurtling through cyberspace, destination: the forum, you are placing your ideas on trial before an audience of substantial numbers.

It's a powerful ability...but one that is easily and frequently abused. 

So, with the hope that it may be useful, or at least give you something new to mull over, I present a compilation of posting advice, to be used before you hit send.  

 

 

 

1. Proofread!  

The primary, major league, number-one rule for online posting is to always, always, ALWAYS read everything twice. I can't recall the exact number of wars that have been started because some pithy piece of sarcasm was misinterpreted, but trust me, it's a lot.

Try to look at your words from all the relevant angles and make sure you're saying exactly what you mean. Y'know...post in haste, repent at leisure. Once something is on the internet, it's there, and no amount of wishing will take it back. 

This is one lesson that I learned the hard way. It is not an experience I wish to repeat.  

 

 

2. Syntax is important.

Yes, I understand this is gaming site, and that a large number of us are playing to obtain relief from the daily grind of schoolwork.

But lets face it. A properly capitalized, well-punctuated, grammatically correct line of reasoning on why Premium Accounts are a bad idea makes for a far better impression than: devs i h8 this update. You are more likely to be taken seriously if you don't clutter your writing with slang, insults, and spelling atrocities.  

 

 

3. Know your audience.

Just as you wouldn't write a dissertation on skiing and distribute it in the Sahara desert, '101 Knitting Tips' probably won't go over so well with a gaming community. Before you post - before you even start writing, you should have a clear idea of which strata of people you are attempting to reach. The old? The young? Wrekies, Pros, everybody?

You get through to different crowds differently. It doesn't do to overthink this, but keeping it in the back of your mind can help provide clarity.     

 

 

4. Your reputation is your most valuable asset.

A Dictionary Definition. 

Reputation: a widespread belief that someone or something has a particular habit or characteristic.

They come in three flavors. Positive, negative, and N/A. For better or worse, your reputation is out in front - it's your 'opening line' and can be the primary source of first impressions. 

Though it isn't something that you have absolute control over, there are certain things you can do to help maintain a good reputation. E.g. If you don't want to become known as a troll, don't troll. 

That said, be careful about judging others on reputation or hearsay alone. It's bad for business. 

 

 

5. Insults are not acceptable. 

Life ain't perfect. Sad as it might be, it's a fact that there are some not-so-nice people in this world. People who are dead set on cursing you out, trashing your self-esteem and just generally making your life as miserable as possible.

Well. Although these people might really be uneducated chipmunks who don't know a car wreck from star trek, telling them so is not helpful​.

Flying off the handle and dishing out insults is often the catalyst that pushes an already-precarious situation over the edge. It will most likely result in you getting banned.

 

 

6. A little humor goes a long way.

They say the world is a cold, harsh, dangerous place.

Alright, fine. Point taken, life is rough....but it's also pretty darn hysterical at times. Well-placed humor keeps your writing alive and interesting, and it can be used to drive a point home. (Political satire, anybody?) Hiding a few sarcastic chuckles within a post engages your readers, making them alert and interested. As a long-time bookworm myself, I can safely say that there is nothing more satisfying than getting an 'Aha! I see what you did there!' moment.

The flipside of this coin is that there is nothing worse than an overabundance of stupid jokes."Wit ought to be a glorious treat, like caviar; never spread it about like marmalade."

​As with all things, a happy medium is desirable. 

 

 

7. Listen.

If you are speaking and not listening to input from other people, then you have yourself a monologue, not a conversation. Still waters run deep, and weighing the opinions of others will leave you better prepared to appraise your own. Take the time to read what has been said before...perhaps it will influence what you write.    

 

 

8. Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.

 

 

 

And that, folks, brings us to the end of the rainbow. Is there gold? I leave that for you to decide.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 4, 2015 by Night-Sisters

[Quarks 2,255]

Well written, short, to the point, and enjoyable.

[Darren4Turbo 4,913]

I'm shy to even say a word in the microphone  :blush:.

[canadarules 1,938]

who the hell actually proof reads what they say .-.

 

 

 

 

Imagine that you are standing on a stage at a podium, about to deliver a speech. The curtain is drawn, so you can't see your audience, but you know that there are hundreds, if not thousands of people out there, waiting to closely scrutinize your every word. The slightest inconsistency in logic will see you drummed out amidst jeers of laughter, or worse yet, to a sheer, icy silence. However it comes, your rejection will be concise, immediate, and complete.

Despite the danger, you've brought no notes and made no preparations because you are confident that when it comes time, your words, whatever they may be, will be right.  

You get your cue, and begin to speak.

 

Ugh. I think we can all agree that this is the stuff of nightmares. Having to stand up and out in front of a large, possibly hostile audience without any notes or pre-thought-out strategies...and give a speech?!?

No thanks. I'll pass.

Despite the apparent absurdity of this situation, a fair number of my readers choose to place themselves in a situation remarkably similar to this on a daily basis. I'm talking, of course, about posting in the forum.

Perhaps you've never spared it a thought, but every single time you hit that 'post' button and send your words hurtling through cyberspace, destination: the forum, you are placing your ideas on trial before an audience of substantial numbers.

It's a powerful ability...but one that is easily and frequently abused. 

So, with the hope that it may be useful, or at least give you something new to mull over, I present a compilation of posting advice, to be used before you hit send.  

 

 

 

1. Proofread!  

The primary, major league, number-one rule for online posting is to always, always, ALWAYS read everything twice. I can't recall the exact number of wars that have been started because some pithy piece of sarcasm was misinterpreted, but trust me, it's a lot.

Try to look at your words from all the relevant angles and make sure you're saying exactly what you mean. Y'know...post in haste, repent at leisure. Once something is on the internet, it's there, and no amount of wishing will take it back. 

This is one lesson that I learned the hard way. It is not an experience I wish to repeat.  

 

 

2. Syntax is important.

Yes, I understand this is gaming site, and that a large number of us are playing to obtain relief from the daily grind of schoolwork.

But lets face it. A properly capitalized, well-punctuated, grammatically correct line of reasoning on why Premium Accounts are a bad idea makes for a far better impression than: devs i h8 this update. You are more likely to be taken seriously if you don't clutter your writing with slang, insults, and spelling atrocities.  

 

 

3. Know your audience.

Just as you wouldn't write a dissertation on skiing and distribute it in the Sahara desert, '101 Knitting Tips' probably won't go over so well with a gaming community. Before you post - before you even start writing, you should have a clear idea of which strata of people you are attempting to reach. The old? The young? Wrekies, Pros, everybody?

You get through to different crowds differently. It doesn't do to overthink this, but keeping it in the back of your mind can help provide clarity.     

 

 

4. Your reputation is your most valuable asset.

A Dictionary Definition. 

Reputation: a widespread belief that someone or something has a particular habit or characteristic.

They come in three flavors. Positive, negative, and N/A. For better or worse, your reputation is out in front - it's your 'opening line' and can be the primary source of first impressions. 

Though it isn't something that you have absolute control over, there are certain things you can do to help maintain a good reputation. E.g. If you don't want to become known as a troll, don't troll. 

That said, be careful about judging others on reputation or hearsay alone. It's bad for business. 

 

 

5. Insults are not acceptable. 

Life ain't perfect. Sad as it might be, it's a fact that there are some not-so-nice people in this world. People who are dead set on cursing you out, trashing your self-esteem and just generally making your life as miserable as possible.

Well. Although these people might really be uneducated chipmunks who don't know a car wreck from star trek, telling them so is not helpful​.

Flying off the handle and dishing out insults is often the catalyst that pushes an already-precarious situation over the edge. It will most likely result in you getting banned.

 

 

6. A little humor goes a long way.

They say the world is a cold, harsh, dangerous place.

Alright, fine. Point taken, life is rough....but it's also pretty darn hysterical at times. Well-placed humor keeps your writing alive and interesting, and it can be used to drive a point home. (Political satire, anybody?) Hiding a few sarcastic chuckles within a post engages your readers, making them alert and interested. As a long-time bookworm myself, I can safely say that there is nothing more satisfying than getting an 'Aha! I see what you did there!' moment.

The flipside of this coin is that there is nothing worse than an overabundance of stupid jokes."Wit ought to be a glorious treat, like caviar; never spread it about like marmalade."

​As with all things, a happy medium is desirable. 

 

 

7. Listen.

If you are speaking and not listening to input from other people, then you have yourself a monologue, not a conversation. Still waters run deep, and weighing the opinions of others will leave you better prepared to appraise your own. Take the time to read what has been said before...perhaps it will influence what you write.    

 

 

8. Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.

1. no one proofreads or cares about spelling

2. no one likes a show off

3. your audience will tell you if it hates you or not :)

4. Becoming a troll is great, everyone sees you rolling and riding dirty B)

5. insults are not acceptable but trolling is

6. humour goes a long way to going into the hole :)

7. you can not listen on in an online forum .-.

8 ok you win 1 of 8

[lukey0 27,543]

Nice

[I.Devastation 2,053]

You're writing style is so similar to my English teacher's it's scary

Nice article tho

[wow349 4]

nice article :)

[wow349 4]

You're writing style is so similar to my English teacher's it's scary

Nice article tho

lol

[sonofchrysalis3 3,719]

4. Becoming a troll is great, everyone sees you rolling and riding dirty B)

5. insults are not acceptable but trolling is

Have you read the rules recently?

 

The following things are forbidden and will lead to a temporary or permanent block in the forum (and chat):

 

Trolling in any form

[Bugs.meeny 1,013]

I think I'll think about this post before I post it.

 

Aha! You see what I did there?

 

[Penguin40 1,714]

I'm shy to even say a word in the microphone  :blush:.

I've done that tho, and I'm doing that again soon in mid-December.

 

btw night, good job!

[MandolinMarc 874]

8. Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.

I'd love to hear you elaborate on this. To be completely honest with you, I don't feel as if I'm fighting a hard battle myself. Am I unaware of it?

[LOLKILLERTOTHEDEATH 1,921]

honestly, lame again

[personia 4,036]

This gets the personia thumbs up of approval. I think the points are good and well written, although they could be expanded on a little more. Also, I would add the classic don't double post, because it always annoys people. Other then that, great work!

[snipe3000 678]

Very nicely written. I especially like the part about capitalization and not abbreviating. As you said I would take "Hey Night, your article could be a lot better by…", and giving ways they could improve, to consideration more then then "boring article", giving no input at all and no suggestions. 

 

 

As I said, nice article. Keep writing.

Edited December 5, 2015 by snipe3000

[snipe3000 678]

who the hell actually proof reads what they say .-.

 

1. no one proofreads or cares about spelling

2. no one likes a show off

3. your audience will tell you if it hates you or not :)

4. Becoming a troll is great, everyone sees you rolling and riding dirty B)

5. insults are not acceptable but trolling is

6. humour goes a long way to going into the hole :)

7. you can not listen on in an online forum .-.

8 ok you win 1 of 8

I didn't even bother to read your post BECAUSE you did not proof read or capitalize. (Do not take this as an insult, just as an answer to the first part of your post.)

Edited December 5, 2015 by snipe3000

[snipe3000 678]

This gets the personia thumbs up of approval. I think the points are good and well written, although they could be expanded on a little more. Also, I would add the classic don't double post, because it always annoys people. Other then that, great work!

This was a good post which takes into account all of the things he mentioned. Plus, I do agree it was well written.

[KillerGnat 3,135]

honestly, lame again

Seriously? Btw, you didn't put any capitals or punctuation in you post.

 

Despite what people may say, this was a truly great well-crafted piece of writing. You show skill and thoughtfulness that only a homeschooler could have ;) . You're doing the homeschooler club proud  :).

[dunes555 368]

who the hell actually proof reads what they say .-.

 

1. no one proofreads or cares about spelling

2. no one likes a show off

3. your audience will tell you if it hates you or not :)

4. Becoming a troll is great, everyone sees you rolling and riding dirty B)

5. insults are not acceptable but trolling is

6. humour goes a long way to going into the hole :)

7. you can not listen on in an online forum .-.

8 ok you win 1 of 8

Trolling is against the game and forum rules, and even fully illegal in some countries. It's closely monitored in the U.S too and you can face  legal charges of defamation, invasion of privacy or portrayal in false light.  Government agencies can get involved because they have access to the communications. It's funny to see those troll videos of pranksters and stuff, but real trolling is not acceptable.

[canadarules 1,938]

Have you read the rules recently?

 

The following things are forbidden and will lead to a temporary or permanent block in the forum (and chat):

 

Trolling in any form

i really could care less ok.. i pretty much have quit the game (probably will quit this game on new years but you will be able to contact me still on skype if you like) )

 

@dunes freedom of speech is invaded from your constitution :P might want to learn it

the fbi and cia have better things to do lke stopping terrorism than to monitor this .-.

learn child learn

Edited December 5, 2015 by canadarules

[Hex 11,520]

*-*  :blush:

[celroti 133]

I"m Mass phobia

my gf proposed me (a secret) I'm too shy

[Hex 11,520]

NS, I expect you to amaze us for a 100 articles to come! Thumbs up, well done woman! ;)

[dunes555 368]

i really could care less ok.. i pretty much have quit the game (probably will quit this game on new years but you will be able to contact me still on skype if you like) )

 

@dunes freedom of speech is invaded from your constitution :P might want to learn it

the fbi and cia have better things to do lke stopping terrorism than to monitor this .-.

learn child learn

They spend too much money on counter-terrorist operations.

[GHOST68INVINCIBLE 152]

Beautifully written well done.