45 replies to this topic

[KirbySaysHi]

Perhaps I should add a section to the mods directory about how to mod your noob? Like: use l33t spellings to increase the range of your flame!

And I'm kidding.

Here's my experience with this forum: it's like the early stages of a relationship, when you're still trying to figure out the other person, and mainly get them in bed. You don't want to say anything that will anger the other person, not because you don't want to upset them, but because then you won't get laid.

I remember my first post, back in the day... oh wait, it wasn't that long ago. The point is that I was overly-worried about pakeeeving people off. I always like to enter into relationships standing tall with open arms, but entering this one was more like a crawl with my fists protecting my face.

In the end, did it work? Well, we're still in the shower... up for a threesome?

About other forums in comparison to this one... Has anyone here ever been to a website where the navigation bar is on the RIGHT (the direction) side of the screen as opposed to the left? When that happens to me (whether it be because of a different language or whatever), I still stare at the left side of the page for a second, wondering what to do. Most of us are so used to a left-side nav bar because that's the way it's usually done. I think this idea can be equated to some of the new-folk practices, like reviving old topics. Maybe they walk into rooms a week later and finish off concluded conversations!

Just imagine that. It would be hilarious to see someone actually walk into a room, a few weeks later, and pick up where the conversation stopped.

I'd say the CoC is pretty ironclad and clear. Maybe rather than flame, a pm would do the trick. If they still didn't comply, then ban. And of course, the pm would have to be sent by a mod, and only by a mod.

Copy!

[Pineapple]

The staff will simply take care of any problems, and we try not to make a big deal of it.

Well, Dux, you've basically found the symptom.

Cxwq = site owner. Cant' be here 24/7, he has a life.

So, he has site co-founders; VACC, Spoon

And

Hired guns; Shindig, Talio

OFFICIAL Greeter/ spell checker (everyone forget?); Ompa

To moderate the site, and control overenthusiastic nOObage. Accounts are suspended rather than deleted, to record IP addresses and avoid multiple accounts/ re-registering after banning.

4 guys, all over 18 and immersed in school/ work/ Real Life. Ompa = busy high schooler. Can't be here all the time either.

Other members, most of which have been on for less than two years, decide to commandeer the board, and for whatever reason, declare themselves the next Talio or Shindig, and proceed to release some toxic posts, hoping to do the job for them. Some, like Cobbers, normally okay but just goes "postal".

One of the four mentioned on top, or cx himself, tells both nOOb and wannabe mod/ admin to STFU. Suspensions if necessary.

Life gets back to normal (until Christmas/ Summer break, when kids with too much free time make their way back to the forums.)

I think that this post should be front page again, perhaps edited for current times.

Granted, I find myself asking people what the difficulty is in obeying the Code of Conduct, making myself out to be a hypocrite of sorts, but I invite anyone to find any time I've flamed anyone for being dumb. I try to pour a cup of wisdom into the thread, and if the new person/ nOOb shows up with a thimble, that's how much wisdom will be retained for the future.

I say it until I'm purple in the face. NerfHaven belongs to cxwq, and if we don't like the way he runs the place, we can simply leave.


-Piney-

[gordon]

I checked this place after a few days of ignoring it and the entire recent posts list was people I'd never seen before. Four or five of them too, not just one overeager bitch.

Conclusion? Shit, I dunno.

Ah, is it Christmas holiday break for the young 'uns already?

It's seasonal. Like the common cold, it's a bitch, full of boogers 'n snot, but with time and some patience, it goes away. It just takes some endurance, some clean up, and a beer or three.

That said, I stopped drinking. Again.

...if you don't have anything important to say then don't say anything at all.  Thats mainly why I only have like 100 posts in like 4 months.

Yeah, that's why I only have like 300-something posts in about 3 years. Yeah.



-Piney-

Exactly. I entered the forums as an annoying noob last Christmas, and started coming back this Christmas. Ya know what, I'll probably ignore the forums in January once school starts, then come back next Christmas. But, this year I have tried to post less crap, and I am about to actually make a contribution with a mod write-up for a Secret Shot. I don't think anyone has ever written one like it. Anyway, back to the point. Some noobs are helpless, these I guess are under the age limmit. But, for me, nice guys like you, Uriel, and Falcon are what got me set straight. What we need is less helpless noobs, less flaming older members, and less useless posting. Wait, if we need less useless posting, then why did I type this? I didn't even read all the comments after the posted thread before commenting. Oh well, some things never change.

[LordoftheRing434]

One more thing to keep in mind is that, whether they are pesky n00bs or not, they are an asset to the Nerfing community.

Think about it; this site attracts more and more members every month. When they discover the wonder of Nerf, they share it with their friends...and they share it with their friends...and they with their's...and so on.

The point is that the demand for Nerf keeps growing. For a while, everyone thought Nerf was on its way out. And suddenly Hasbro came out with the N-Strike series. Why? We still wanted to play with plastic guns. And now just look at the attraction to our community. Members are asking for NF mods, and having Hornet problems. Sure, the posts get very annoying, but I try to see past that. I see that Nerf continues to grow. How cool is that?

Don't get me wrong; I'm quite annoyed by the recent flow of pointlessness. What I'm trying to get at is Nerf is still growing. We need to tend to our lovely site as a farmer tends his crop. Sure, we can spray our pesticides here and there, but we can't get carried away. Otherwise, we won't grow. Our number now is pretty great, but eventually we'll all wither away from Nerf. If we do our damage now, there won't be anyone to follow us.

Just a little food for thought.

~Rings

[IronRhino]

I have no idea when the last time I posted was and I bet a lot of you n00bs have no idea who I am. (unless you still check Foam Fortress, in which case I love you).

There ain't much going on in Nerf. Not very many people are innovators and those who are change minor things. As far as I know, brass is still the premiere barrel type, just as it has been the last 3 years. Because of the stagnancy, people go pretty easily. Once you learn how to mod your guns, there's not much reason to stick around. Any idiot can search nerf on google because, hey, nerf is cool. So we have lots of n00bs coming in, and lots of n00bs leaving.

Another problem with Nerf is that NH is most of the members' first forum. They don't know the netiquette. I know that my first post on NC sucked balls. I cleaned up my act pretty quick, though. People need to realize that there's a plethora of sites and old threads where you can find the answers to their questions. If that was easier for new members to understand, our n00b problem would go away. Granted, I rarely check these forums so I don't know the severity of the problem, but I can guess.

So basically, tell the n00bs to search and give them a link to some of the good nerf sites when they first sign up.

And by the way, there's no language filter J_Cobbers. Saying "5hit and #uck" makes you look like a "shithead".

Edited by IronRhino, 23 December 2005 - 02:35 PM.

[ThatWasRandom]

See, I read these forums pretty regularly.

And pretty regularly I shake my head at the idiots spamming up the boards.

I don't consider myself a "newb" by any standards, having been to several wars, which, unless I'm mistaken, is more than a lot of these idiots can say.

Heres the difference: I don't post. I'm serious. Look at my post count. I think it's around 5.

My remedy: unless you have somthing abso-fucking-lutely important, be quiet.

As I will now.

Cheers.

[The Infinite Shindig]

I think I have a new favorite member.

[LukeTheZombie]

I have no problems with any of the ways these forums are moderated. Even the n00b-Wars are entertaining.

I have to say, I miss my daily well-worded half arguments with Talio in PM's. I should have continued pushing buttons...

In closing, shape up, you damn noobs!

Edited by LukeTheZombie, 24 December 2005 - 02:58 AM.

[Rambo]

What happened to that membership moderation? I thought you had to send something to CX, or someone to be considered for membership...I will go ahead and assume that it was removed and anyone can join now. Why not do that again?

And Rings - I've had 26 in one day, but they weren't stupid nub posts.

[Ronster]

Hey, nerfers have to start somewhere.

But they should be a bit more on the wiser path and read some topics and get a feel for what the forums expectations are before they start posting.

I have been a part of this forum for half a year now and I still don't know all that much. But, looking back on some of my old posts, I have to say that I have learned a great deal and know a whole lot more.

I just think that all the n00bs should read the forum and alot of the posts before thinking about becoming members.

Edited by Ronster, 24 December 2005 - 06:17 PM.

[Illadar]

What if there was a system here to make it that new member couldn't post for a few day. The idea is that it would week out the majorate of real newbs who generally do all their dumb stuff in the first few days of their membership before they get banned or just leave. I one problem that I see with this system is that people might register just to respond to a thread, but it would force people who care to read the forums more before they can post.

[DX-Robert]

That would also punish people whom may be newly registered to this forum, but not new to nerfing and/or online forums, for that matter. Quality members could also become victims of the system and rather than wait it out, might simply leave.

I honestly think that n00b problems should be dealt with in private and that public stupidity should be ignored. That would show the level of maturity of the general membership and their willingness to play down, rather than up, a problem that should be a moot point. Then again, those whom know me know that I tend to be idealistic, championing ideas that would never work because human nature works against cool logic and reasoning. Why ignore a stupid post when it could become an "entertaining" flame war? Making rules and policies would not work in this situation. This is all mental, all attitude. And for that reason, methods are doomed to fail until the attitude itself changes, at least somewhat.

The n00b issue will most likely play out like it is destined to because people don't accept radical ideas nor accept change until it is absolutely necessary.

[Nerferc]

How about all new members have to take a general nerf knowledge test. It would be over most of the questions newbies generally ask. For example...
"What are the major barrel replacement materials. Choose all that apply.
A)Brass
B)PVC
C)CPVC
D) A kitten's liver"

They would be allowed the use of the search function. This would give them some general knowledge(Weeding down the unnecesary posts), and familiarize them with the search function.

It's an idea.

[VeggieBoy 3000]

wtf mate?

This is a really funny thread. I think I may have actually laughed at one point, but that's another matter. Anyways. There's a lot of wisdom from a few guys in here. Ther's also a lot of bullshit from people who have been here for less than a year and have hundreds of posts so they think they're cool. Piney is once again the man, as is IronRhino, as is this Duxburian guy. Shinny and CX are legit as always, and cobbers while he did go off the deep end, at least can back it up.

I don't post very often. I've been here two years. I've read the forums for almost 3... see a pattern there? I read through this entire site before I signed up. And my first post, I believe, was either an original mod or integration. Most of you kids dont even know who I am, which is cool, because I've been pretty quiet for the past year or so. Like when I posted a fairly cool gun over thanksgiving break, and got talked down to by kids who have been here a month? These are the people that ruin this place.

It's not the newest members.... nah not at all. They will always be here, and they will always make mistakes, and they will always be put in there place.

The people that ruin this place are the second tier of members, those that made it through their first month without giving up, and now think they're the shit. Oh I've been here 2 months and have 200 posts, so I am infinitely wise! No, you're not. You can't flame someone until you've been here at least a year, and have made definitive contributions, or nobody will respect you. Yes, many of you guys who think you are experienced and wise posted in this very topic! Complaining about the n00bs, thats the cool thing to do when you've been here 2 months!

Don't pretend you know shit when you don't, and don't pretend to run shit when you can't, and don't talk down to people if you can't back it up. If you are going to talk shit about someone's mod, you better have at least one or two superior mods posted up here already.

So lets see here... IF YOU HAVE BEEN HERE UNDER SIX MONTHS AND:

-you didn't read the boards for at least a month before posting
-your most frequented board is OFF TOPIC
-you have initiated a flame war
-you have talked shit to someone who's been here longer than you
-you have giddily warned a spammer that they were going to get the 9999 day special
-you haven't posted any original mods, or contributed in any other significant manner
-you have a post average of more than one per day
-you think you're better than ANYONE else on these boards
-you think you've earned everyone's respect

YOU ARE WRONG!

Yeah, there are a few exceptions, but for the most part that describes most of the members here. You're punks. You picked up nerf and thought that you are now the coolest man on earth. Last a year, last 2 years, make some contributions, go to some nerf wars. It's really easy to tell who's legit and who's not. Most of the legit people around here don't post as much, because they've been there, done that, just like rhino said. Most of the people who talk a lot don't actually say anything!

So I'm starting to ramble here, because I'm tired, and this is a stream-of-conciousness type post. This looked like a good thread to do it in so there ya go.

My 2 cents

Rock on dudes

[ambushbug]

So what do I know? I've only been here a few months, I don't post that much and I don't belong to any other forums. But in my profession (science), only peer-reviewed material is published for mass consumption. Although this ensures that all published material is relatively bullshit-free, this is a proces that takes way too long to be effective for a forum. However, another hallmark of the exchanges of ideas/opinions in science is that (barring a few "flame-like" articles), any papers that are not on point are pretty much dismissed by the community. That is, nobody cites them and an increasing number of researchers learn to ignore their work. So basically, when a researcher starts talking bullshit, other scientists are smart enough to stop listening. This phenomoenon is not (by any stretch) specific to research; it happens in music, arts and business (etc.) as well.
I'm wondering if that can apply to forums too. Sure, seeing countless repeats of pointless posts is annoying but (for a non-mod) member, it takes less time to read a stupid post than to reply to it. I'm sure most have started to figure out certain members who are less "productive" than others. I have. And, accordingly, I stop reading posts from these people. I guess I'm in agreement with Duxbarian; if we don't bother with stupid posts, then that's punishment enough. And the remedy is not in the hands of moderators but everyday members.

[The Infinite Shindig]

Two of my favorite members have a post/day average of 0.4. That's right 0.4. Notice I don't particularly care for people with very high post counts. I'll leave you guys to figure out who these two are, but in my opinion they've added a lot to the community over the years. They are great examples of the type of members we want at NerfHaven.

Happy Hunting!

[man with many guns]

I know I'm not respected around here, and I know I'm a n00b. I'm sorry for ruining the boards. I shouldn't have been such a dumb ass. I'll start posting less. I think I have contributed some with some mods, but not much.

[ompa]

-you have a post average of more than one per day

Um.. yeah.

I think it's more or less the same for most members; the initial stage with being a super-newb, then an advancement (or step down) to the level of all-mighty n00b-exterminator, then followed by the less frequent posting of people like Piney/Veggie.

Given, we all get upset with people, but there's no point in thrashing those members who think they're all high-and-mighty until they're dead; I think with enough obvious hints they'll get the idea and settle down a bit. If they don't, I doubt they'd be here for over a year anyways.

Yes, I was supposed to be the official n00b handler, but I only check the forums around once to twice a day now (excluding my hiatus when school took over everything), and it's hard to answer questions/reprimand people before someone else bites their head off.

Manwithmanyguns, while seemingly noble, a confession isn't going to help here. Act, and respect will come with it.

~ompa

[man with many guns]

Manwithmanyguns, while seemingly noble, a confession isn't going to help here. Act, and respect will come with it.

~ompa

I will try to post less, and do less of the the points that veggie brought up. I really didn't realize what I was doing, and but I do now. In case I do accdentaly gp back to being the uber n00b around here, will some one please remind me?

[drumsrock92]

In my opinion, I dont think posting less has anything to do with being a newb you could post 20 times in a day, and still not be a newb if your posts were meaningful, nobody would critisize you. Like ompa said its how you act on this website.

[Black Wrath]

This thread is all accusations, and apologies.

I left NH mostly because it slowed down to a point that I couldn't stand anymore. Nothing new was arising, just the same old "I need help with my AT2k!", and "NEW: Stefon Dartz youve never seen!". Faced with possible brain damage, I decided to take a breather.

I'll remind you all that I regularly checked the forums, up to 6 times a day for about 3 months. I stayed online for hours, looking for good topics, and replies to my own. I was interested in NH. I was into the members here, and looked past the occasional asshole who thought he owned the place.

Some will accuse me, like Infinite Shindig, of being a control hungry fuckface with no direction in life; for the sole reason that I took the reigns of idiot bashing when they were left hanging in front of me. If no one else stepped in to correct something, I did. I felt like it was sort of an unassigned duty of mine. I just felt like protecting the place I loved to visit.

Soon all of the new members poured in at once, and the moderators couldn't keep up. I was uninterested in helping because I had been talked down before. So I took a passive stance. I stopped contributing, and I stopped posting. I stopped caring. Look where we are today. I think everyone has stopped caring by a marginal value. I liked it better when new people could be told how to act by any respected member. It's a given that some loser who joined a week prior should have no say; but a 2 year 'veteran'?

I've been here for my fair share of time, and I've contributed lots of ideas and content to Nerfhaven. I started very roughly, and even had to make a new account to shake off the dust of my mistakes. I learned from my mistakes, and I rose from the ashes to become, in my eyes, a respected member of the community. You may think of that as you wish, but your opinion doesn't matter.

I'd like to point out that post count doesn't matter much either. Someone with a small post count could have contributed nothing with those posts. Someone with a large count could do the same, or the opposite. What if 500/850 posts were helpful, insightful, and valuable? I think that post count doesn't matter. Regardless of my signature, I don't care about it.

New people need to be given a chance. Cxwq believed in me once upon a time, and gave me a fresh start. He must've known that I'd become something more. He even hosts my SM5k write-up, I hope proudly. Losers like me can become winners. We've all been through the flames and curses, but it's the ones who come back from them that should be respected. A new person can make a complete ass of themselves, but when given the right direction, and a little bit of help, they can turn it all around.

I understand that Cobbers is tired of holding hands, but no one asked him to do it in the first place. No one asked me to be a relentless asshole to some people. I did it, I learned. He did it, and he has now learned. Sometimes you need to stop caring, and revaluate your position.

Christ, I've been suspended from this place by Talio. We talked it over, and now we have a mutual respect. People can come back from mistakes. It just makes you stronger. I always wanted to return here, like I have now.

But something’s never change. This place is still shaky, and the new members are still being idiotic. I don't know if there was a overpowering point to this post, but I think I may have made at least one person rethink how they feel. We were all new once. We will all be old too. We all needed second chances. We all grow and learn. This community, provided by Cx, VACC, and Spoon should be respected. You all seem to forget about them. This is a place of learning and discovery. Not a place to test out your flame-throwers on a 14 year-old still new to the internet and its forums.

If you all learned from that, this would be a happier place, and we wouldn't have people like Cobbers calling it quits.

-Cam