Modifications to new ettiquette text:

• Maybe you've started posting, and you feel like you don't fit in. Maybe you think your posts are being ignored. The good news? Most of us feel like that at one time or another. Honestly. The bad news? There's probably no easy way to fix it. Some suggestions: remember that threads like Natter move very fast, and it's impossible for everyone to keep up with everything that's said there. Also remember that there are a boatload of threads, most of which have their own subcommunities, and many of which move at slower paces. No one person belongs to every section of the board, and no one person makes all the decisions. If you still have an issue, bring it to Bureaucracy, and we'll talk about it.

• We're a very independent group here. Because of this, we react badly to anything that comes across as preaching. We also react badly when told we should modify our behavior to accommodate someone or something. But there's more good news: it's entirely possible to have a disagreement with people on the board and still remain a member of the community. No one will kick you off the board for having a different opinion. Just think before you post.

Do we want a guacamole link? Do we have text for the FAQ guacamole citation?

We should probably do a general edit/de-wordinessation of the etiquette while making these updates. It started as a short alternative to the filk text, and we've been adding things to it without cutting. I'd like to keep it at easy-skim length.

I was thinking the same thing, Lyra. Sounds like a good idea.

I consense.

(edit: about bullshit-consensing George. Not about de-wordinessing the etiquette doc, which I also agree with, but wasn't what I was posting about.)

I'd like it to be part of the FAQ/About/How-to/Etiquette chunk in the left nav (not linked from within those documents or the links page, which a lot of people will never scroll all the way through, especially in mid-discussion), and it should be labeled in a way that is not "cheesebutt" nor even, sadly, "George", but something possibly meaningful to newbs. Site history? Site culture?

A semi-related not from the etiquette page

Consistent demon-like behavior may earn a warning from the Stompy Feet.

This should say a warning from the community, or something -- because the Stompy Feet aren't the ones who decide this.

Do we have text for the FAQ guacamole citation?

Suggestion:

Q: Help, people are telling me I have guacamole on my pants ... but I looked in the mirror and there's nothing! What do I do?

A: Hold still, let me get that for you. "Tripping into the guacamole" is Buffista expression for making a newbie mistake that draws attention to yourself in a spectacularly unwanted way. It's not a fatal error, but it's embarassing for all concerned. The reference comes from this post by Allyson:

... and then we insert Allyson's text.

Suggestions for stuff to cut in ettiquette:

We talk a lot. Most of our ramblings are in the Natter threads --- if it's off-topic for another thread, that's probably where it belongs.

Change to: "Most of our ramblings are in the Natter thread, but almost any thread is fair game." And then the list of exceptions.

In the spoiler section, we could cut "This includes TV Guide-type listings, actors' contracts, etc. --- basically, anything that has not yet been broadcast belongs in a spoiler thread." and link to the spoiler info in the FAQ thread. (Which does exist, right? I'm not crazy?)

We could also possibly move the Buffista Credo to the FAQ, since that seems to be our large sprawling document.

Welcome to the Phoenix Board! If you want a more Buffista-esque look at this whole etiquette thing, crammed with filky goodness, go here

Please, someone put a period at the end of that sentence.

Suggestion:

making a newbie mistake that leads to drawing attention to yourself in a spectacularly unwanted way

Because we can all do it, no matter how long we've been here....

Because we can all do it, no matter how long we've been here....

True. Maybe we should take out the "making a newbie mistake" portion entirely, and leave the sentence as:

Tripping into the guacamole" is Buffista expression for posting in a way that draws attention to yourself in a spectacularly unwanted way.

True. Maybe we should take out the "making a newbie mistake" portion entirely, and leave the sentence as:

I think we should leave in 'mistake'. 'Cause doing so intentionally is something else entirely.