How to Make a Good Impression

[LisaRocksYourWorld, yo]

I don't want to sound superficial, but no one likes to be the butt of jokes.  Besides the TOS, there are a few other rules of etiquette that are a good idea to follow.

¤Try to avoid talking in all ToGgLe or Netspeak.  Wut iz netspeek, u azk?  <--- There's an example.  ToGgLe iS jUsT aS BaD.  Both can put a strain on the eyes, and they just make the post diffucult to read.  

¤Personal attacks violate the Terms of Service.  Even so, there are times when people aren't being very respectful.  Try to see other people's opinions before jumping all over them.  They (Gasp!) might actually have something good to say.  Keep your debates friendly.

¤Fluff!  Don't just post "LOL" if you think something's funny.  The same goes for "^^^I agree!"  Try to have something useful to add to the post.  Don't get too hung up on this, it's just something to be aware of.  Remember, there's a Modify and Delete button on each and every one of your posts.  If there's something you forgot to add before, or want to change, you can fix it, with no time limit.

I thought this would be helpful.  If anyone has anything to add to this, please do so!

~Lisa

[Dave Herald]

FOR MODS:  Don't delete important threads!!

[Fyre]

Great job!

Also, if I  may add something, in addition to the Netspeak and Toggle, I'd like to ask people not to type in ALL CAPS. That's also very hard on the eyes, and in most cases, considered shouting, and I know I can't be the only one who doesn't like it.

Edited to say: A couple of words here and there in all CAPS is okay [or not, depending on your take on it], if you're trying to get a point across. I'm more referring to entire paragraphs or  sentences.

[Michaelangelo]

Hope I'm not breaking all these rules right here...but good idea for a thread, Lisa. *bLoWs KiSsEs* And I have to admit, Midnight's post was very amusing, albeit unintentionally. heh-heh-heh.
This is just a little thing...but like Lisa was saying, netspeak is impossible to read. A lot of people, myself included, will simply skip over a netspeak post instead of reading it...it's too hard to decipher what amounts to a new language. So if you want people to read and possibly agree with your opinions, write them 'normally.' I promise, it does a world of good.
Love,
~Mrs. Timberlake 4EVA !!!!!!!!!!!~ (haha, Mrs. Bass.)

[flowerchild615]

Good job, words to live by !!!

The Mystery Poster?

[GabiGirl23]

Oops, sorry, double post. Ignore this message!

[GabiGirl23]

These are great, because toggle, netspeak, and all caps are *very* hard to read. Like Kittenette said, I usually tend to skip over posts like that.

I also have something to add, although it might go with netspeak. Please try and use proper punctuation and capitalization. I'm not saying go overboard with grammer rules and checking your post 10 times, but it's easier to read a post that's properly punctuated and capitalized. It will also make others take your views and opinions more seriously.

[busybodies]

Apart from what was already said... stop typing whole posts in glow!!!!! It's so annoying and hard to read. I just skip over these posts, specially when they're in the current events threads.

[Maddielicious]

Good info, i just hope everyone else reads this.

OH, and i think something should be said about those too-bright-for-my-eyes colors.Those colors should be banned!   . See what i mean?

[horsesalltheway]

Another thing that annoys me is when people type the same point over and over, maybe in different wording but it's just circling around the airport when it could be summerized in like one sentence. (which by the way isn't fluff if it has a good point that hasn't already been said to it ) [glow=red,2,300]And glow! is annnnoying![/glow] Oh and another thing that would "make a good impression that I have done to the first hundred or so of my posts is go through and delete all of the pointless posts! AND don't type in colors people can't read!

[Annie]

Newbie No-No's

A lot of these have already been discussed and pointed out already, so take the time to avoid them:

1. ToGgLe
Sorry, but I'm not into reading paragraphs of ToGgLe that simply hurts my eyes. A lot of users tend to skim past posts that contain excessive amounts.

2. Netspeak
U noz wut im sayin, u no? lol.
Again, it strains the eyes, and a lot of it is hard to interpret, so don't go overboard with the stuff.

3. CAPS
Ditto with the above comments. It's fine to use it to emphasize points in a post, but writing full sentences of it can be irritating to read or look at.

4. Fluff
Not the worst newbie quality, but not the best, either. Try to contain some material in your posts.

5. [glow=red,2,300]Glow[/glow]
Glow is nice to add to an occasional post, but overdoing it is not.

6. Unreadable Colors
Colored posts are attracticve, but make sure it's readable first.

7. Marquee
Yes, it's groovy to see words move across the page, but not many users have the patience to wait for the post to come around whilst reading it. Signatures in Marquee are cool, but posts aren't.

I think that's about it. Newbies, don't think you'll be hated if you happen to carry out any of the mentioned. We'd just prefer it if you didn't.

[Roxy]

That sounds good to me. I don't like reading excessive glow, bright bright colors, netspeak, and toggle. Not very fun.

[<~Missy~>]

hey all! well thanks for the suggestions.
But, may I add? :

Please do not write whole posts in : Huge Letters ether.

[UnKnown]

I write a lot in netspeak cuz it's what i always do. I try 2 tone it down on boards. I dont think a bit of netspeak like using numbers and changing the occasional 'what' to 'wut' is that bad...but i DO think that it's a good idea to type in nice, normal, full words to better get your point across. Another thing is that no one should use excessive smileys. I've seen that happen and it takes away the importance of the text cuz all you look at are the smileys. They're cute and everything...but too much is not a good thing.
~U

[Midnight55309]

My list of bad things...

1. Don't lie about yourself. If there's things you don't want people to know just avoid those topics.

2. Don't post just to cause conflicts. It might seem great at first, but it gets old very fast.

3. Post on topic. If there's a thread about what your favorite song is, don't start talking about TV.

4. Create new threads in the right place. It will save everyone a lot of time and energy.

5. Try to be nice to everyone. If you have an "enemy" on the boards, just avoid them. Don't be starting flame wars with them.