Getting ready

[a_bad_analogy]

I'm getting ready to open the community back up and start allowing pending actives.
First, we'll have a check-in, of course.

What I wanted to know is what were/are your biggest concerns regarding new people?
Should there be strict(er) guidelines put into place?
What kind(s) of things do you guys suggest?

Comments

[villalobos108]

My biggest concern is people who have no previous experience with mail exchanges, traveling journals, group art, etc. It sounds like "ooh fun!! gimme 10 journals!!!" but the reality of it bores them and they drop out immediately upon receiving.

A fair assesment.

[a_bad_analogy]

Okay, so to combat this (or try), we should probably keep requiring them to start journals before playing on any other members' journals.

How about if we request a "resume" per se - something like a web presence - membership on swap-bot; yahoo deco groups; nervousness - what have you, just something to say that they've been involved in this type of thing before?

[camkin]

well, we should definitely have new members start a journal like before.
but also, they should only be allowed to one journal at a time until they reach a certain feedback rating (if we are still going to do feedback)
once they reach that level, they have shown they are responsible and can then sign up for multiple journals.

just a thought.
also, i have a couple of journals to put back into rotation.
when can give them to people that got journals stolen previously, if they want them.
the starters have strikethroughs on their names, if i recall correctly.
i have to dig out the journals and figure our their numbers and look at the Master List.
speaking of the Master List, did you still need help maintaing it?

[duckiebills]

i think we should still have them make a journal and have it out before they can be put on any lists.. but i'm worried about all the resume stuff i mean i joined this community with not a notch on my belt of anything close to this! I am aware of the seriousness but should that really be a huge deciding factor maybe they've never even heard of this before or anything like this

[yuna177]

I agree with most of what was said here and having a little quiz sounds like a great idea. Here's a few more questions you could ask:

1- Will the shipment cost ranging from 2$ to 15$ be a problem?

2- Your beloved Journal #XY seemed to have vanished into thin air what do you do?
A) Email the 1000_Journal moderators right away because they surely know everything.
B) Post once a week on the boards asking about Journal #XY.
C) Email the last person known to have it 30 times asking to pass it on or return it.
D) Wait patiently for it to come home, because that is the risk you took when participating in the exchange.

3-How often do you post on your Livejournal?
A) Never.
B) Once a month.
C) Once a week
D) At least once a day.

Etc...

Answering a simple quiz will not only give us a little information about who they are, it will show us that they are truly committed to joining the community.

Their understanding that if I lose another book, I will lose my shit.

[sehrnett]

Or not. But I lost so many of the damn things. I want them to commit to sending them on if they're not inspired or don't think they're good enough.

[findyourwayback]

I'm worried about the resume thing too... I think it's a good idea in theory, but I'm another person who wouldn't have had anything to put on a resume and it would have been a shame if I hadn't been able to join for that reason. I like the ideas of making new members start a journal, and needing a certain amount of feedback points before multiple journals are allowed.