Forum Newbies... a few thoughts + FAQ

[hummingbird]

Nobody wastes my time (okay, maybe JD ). I'm here because I want to be here. I help because I want to help. And sure, there are newbies (and vets) who rub me the wrong way but I have the opportunity to express my opinion like anyone else. There are many newbies who could use a little encouragement from the rest of us & a little help finding the information they need And, by the way, I do adore Casey & he deserves a place among the other folks you list I do agree, "you have to be willing to make growth your goal". -H

[Casey H]

How could you NOT adore this face?

[avillaronga]

Do I count as a newbie?I first joined the forum in 2004, never really posted anything but I was generally interested in the topics being discussed... well, most of the topics. There always seemed to be a couple of disgruntled people bashing Taxi and their stupid screeners and I would get really sick of reading that so I would stop reading the forum altogether. I would come back 3 or 4 months later and find the same topics, just different complainers. So I would go away again... the cycle continued until late last year when I started reading the forum more often and simply ignoring the Taxi-bashers. I was beginning to get lots of forwards at that time and found that reading the experiences of other people who were having success really helped me focus on what I needed to do to continue. The information in this forum is invaluable. I have mainly been a lurker for the past year and I only post when I truly think I have something of value to say, I usually find that other people can say what I want to say much better than I can (and English is not my first language to begin with) so I wait until someone else responds even if the topic interests me. I continue to be bothered by people who come in here and complain and then go away without realizing that the topic they're posting about has been discussed ad-nauseum already. I think people who do that really have no interest in joining a community (which this forum is) and simply find the easiest avenue to vent their frustration. There's no time to read the rules, the FAQs, or search for similar topics when there is so much anger built up inside that you'd explode if you don't write your rant soon.... I'm finding those posts easy to spot lately so I ignore them. In a way, I understand that reaction (although I don't justify the actions that sometimes result from feeling that frustration), I was angry with Taxi at one point too. I first joined in 2002, thought my music was the best, submitted 8 times got 8 returns, did not renew my membership and thought Taxi screeners had no clue what Latin music was... after the time necessary to emotionally detach myself from my work and really understand what the critiques were saying, I rejoined in November of 2005 and done much better, more importantly, I have learned a huge amount from the critiques and this forum.So, am I a newbie? Maybe but I'd like to think I'm not acting like one (except for this unnecessarily long post, of course) Antonio

[squidlips]

Well, I can't speak for anyone else but you're not a newbie to me. I sure hope the word "newbie" hasn't taken on a different connotation now. I thought it meant someone who had newly joined an activity, not at all indicative of any behavior except possibly making uneducated choices sometimes. It's beginning to sound a bit like "newbie" is now a word some use to mean something else entirely.I like newbies. We've got some really talented ones here. We're lucky that way, imho. We could have tons of truly atrocious writers (in both talent and good manners) waving their arms about and shrieking to the choir. I borrowed that last bit from Steve. He gets copyright.

[arkjack]

Anything less than four stars is a newbie.....

[avillaronga]

Quote:I sure hope the word "newbie" hasn't taken on a different connotation now. I thought it meant someone who had newly joined an activity, not at all indicative of any behavior except possibly making uneducated choices sometimes. It's beginning to sound a bit like "newbie" is now a word some use to mean something else entirely.Well, my day job is in the IT world so the word "newbie" has always had a negative connotation to me...

[drew]

Newbie isn't a dirty word here, we've made some great new friends, but a few standard noob traits will make any board a little wary. If you start out by posting your "hit" song, asking for feedback you will get some great advice and true constructive criticism. Sometimes (not all the time) with a noob the reaction is "Yeah, well.... you suck too!" because he/she didn't get the praise they were seeking. This has happened a lot on this board.Every board has a few weenies peeking around the corner waiting for a likely poster to pounce on and get their sticky weenie-ness (?) all over, that happens here as well but not very often. If you ignore weenies they go away. You do want quick responses to your posts but that just doesn't happen unless you have touched on a subject someone wants to talk about, it's that simple. I would like to see the new folks go with their own threads without feeling we should all jump in, rest assured we will be reading them and will chime in when the thread reaches the point that interests us. In other words, newbies should respond to newbies too.I read the board daily and almost never post anymore. I gave my opinion so many times the first few years on this board that others probably know what I think better than I do, so I tend to lay back and let the newer folks give their opinions. And for the last few months I don't think anyone has responded to one of my "witty opinion posts". Hey... wait a minute...... does that mean I'm one of the weenies you guys are ignoring?

[kouly]

Quote: and I don't like it when you waste Vikki's, Matto's, Dave's Zirc's, Mazz', Chits', or Squids valuable time, either. These people are AWESOME HUMAN BEINGS. They deserve your adoration, because they are doing what it is you are seeking to do. Casey, well, he's awfully busy too, but you don't have to adore him.steve Steve, I am glad you left me off that list as I do not want any adoration. I will accept common respect that should be given to anyone who is a member of this community.That aside any respected member can tell me like it is and I will not bite their head off. I am getting some thick skin grafts.

[sgs4u]

Quote: Steve, I am glad you left me off that list as I do not want any adoration. I will accept common respect that should be given to anyone who is a member of this community.That aside any respected member can tell me like it is and I will not bite their head off. I am getting some thick skin grafts. Kouly, yer already runnin Logic and using a Mac. Of course I respect you. And you've posted 146 times, I've enjoyed every one of them.(but it took me about 100 of them to figure that your avatar was a dog.) In fact, if anyone's getting peeved with me, it oughtta be the "Don," if it's perceived that my post is affecting the bottom line. I have a feeling he wouldn't mind me rattling a few chains and sabres to shake the newbs into shape. Besides, some of these nice new members haven't even gotten their first returns or critiques back yet. That's when noobie tears really hit the fan.I'm going to bake brownies with my kids.

[jchitty]

Quote:newbies hi i"m new here listen to my stuffparading aboutpick me pick meincessantlyhey check me out asking fordon't you know who I think I am? morewah the screener didn't like meattentionheyyy nice avatar, where'r you from? OK, noobs. You know who you are. All I ask is that you refrain from posting your lame suspicions of Taxi's profits, filtering methods or plans for world domination, until you have achieved at least junior membership status. Cripes it's getting crowded, because there are so many new members with great stuff to listen to (and learn from). But when the lines of questioning are about totaling Taxi's $$ take from submissions, it REALLY is a waste of my time to be bothered reading the posts. Besides, I'm not that smart, and I don't need more friends... and I don't like it when you waste Vikki's, Matto's, Dave's Zirc's, Mazz', Chits', or Squids valuable time, either. These people are AWESOME HUMAN BEINGS. They deserve your adoration, because they are doing what it is you are seeking to do. Casey, well, he's awfully busy too, but you don't have to adore him. Me, you can call a$$hole, when you need to. Avoid dumb arguments with JD1, or Shakabrah if you can. Nobody's getting paid to help you here. We just do it cause it makes our own lives better. It's pretty simple. I absolutely LOVE hanging out here. Every one of the vets knows that pretty clearly. My own learning curve about music, and my confidence in my abilities, has grown exponentially since joining. Yours will too, but you have to be willing to make your growth your goal. Not domination of Taxi, or this forum. All I'm really asking is that you contribute in a positive way, to this forum. Entertain us a bit, instead of demanding that we justify why you should hang around. Maybe we could create some kind of obstacle course, like a video game... where newbies are trained how to find answers to FAQ's they need. Ya know some kind of bullet proof, read all this section before you're even allowed to post, that is a requirement of participation in the forum. steveSteve, it is very nice of you to include me in the veteran list. I know it's your way of being inclusive, and I appreciate that. However, I still consider myself a newbie, and I think I will always feel that way, hehe. I've only been here since October of last year while the other folks have been here for years. If you were to compile the list of veterans, I think it would run as follows, and in no particular order...if some are listed last, they doesn't diminish any importance:MattoVikkiDave WaltonMazzCaseyAubAndreHoraceBCSquiddyOnofonSteve G.NomiErnestineTraveling EdWalterRock in the BoxMartinDrewGuntereven JD, hehe.(and a whole host of others I apologize if I left out)...those are the people who others depend on for valuable information because they've been with TAXI a long time. Here's why I think the veterans make the board....they dispense valuable pieces of info to folks....stuff about contracts, the screening process, the Rally, whatever have you. The have a lot of experience and knowledge behind them.While I love this place, I just don't have the experience or knowlege yet to be a veteran, hehe. But maybe in the future, I'll finally get it if Mr. L. lets me renew for a third year. Then I will rule the TAXI board with my newfound power! Bwahahahahaha!