Night Owl

Topic: Some things to remember...

Hey everyone. It's really nice to see this new community growing so fast, but there are some issues going on that I think people should be reminded of.
In posting these guidelines for people to follow, I hope for less moderation and a better atmosphere in the community.

Post things in the right forum.
This is really important. I've been noticing some threads in very odd places. Seriously, some people have actually posted tech questions in the Community forum and whatnot.

Use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
I know that I might care about this a lot more than most people, but I really don't think it's too much to ask.
We have foreign members here who are learning English, and it really doesn't help when all the English speakers are barely better than them in their posts. There are people who have dyslexia or who just aren't as good as others, but mostly, it just means putting a tiny bit more effort into your posts. And it will really help you in the long run.

Think before you post!
Make sure that what you're posting is really worthwhile. Do we need a new topic because somebody's avatar looks like a character in your new film? When you've watched a film, do you really think posting "cool" will be helpful and make the director feel good?
Try to be mature as well. I'm not saying that everybody has to be all uptight and formal; everybody likes to have their fun, but if you constantly post joke images or stuff like that, people will get annoyed.

Be nice to people.
I'll make it simple: remember that other people have feelings too. There's nothing wrong with some slight teasing every now and then, but being persistently mean to certain people just because you don't like them is unacceptable.

Remember what we're here for.
This is a brickfilming site. You don't have to be an active brickfilmer, but if all you're really doing is posting in the Community forum, something is definitely wrong.
There are loads of things to do that involve the hobby: reviewing films, providing technical assistance to other members, helping people with scripts, voice acting, organizing contests, even just posting your LEGO creations.

And I got a big box of Mike & Ike Tropical from my youngest sister (who is still older and taller than me).
-Littlebrick
Night Owl's Website

An Old Ore

Re: Some things to remember...

Good post.

I'd like to also second the "use proper English" idea. I can understand writing your ideas in the fewest possible characters when sending a message on the phone, but on a forum it takes so little effort to make sure that what you write is easy to understand.

A nice rule of thumb would be "if Babel Fish can't work it out, try a little harder". (Not that Babel Fish is the be all and end all of linguistics, but it's a good baseline.)

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An Old Ore's Website

WAproductions

Re: Some things to remember...

NightOwl wrote:

Think before you post!
Make sure that what you're posting is really worthwhile. Do we need a new topic because somebody's avatar looks like a character in your new film? When you've watched a film, do you really think posting "cool" will be helpful and make the director feel good?
Try to be mature as well. I'm not saying that everybody has to be all uptight and formal; everybody likes to have their fun, but if you constantly post joke images or stuff like that, people will get annoyed.

I noticed I was doing that a bit, but have tried to cut back, and half of my contacts on MSN have blocked me because I spend the whole time correcting them.
Back to the point,

NightOwl wrote:

Remember what we're here for.
This is a brickfilming site. You don't have to be an active brickfilmer, but if all you're really doing is posting in the Community forum, something is definitely wrong.
There are loads of things to do that involve the hobby: reviewing films, providing technical assistance to other members, helping people with scripts, voice acting, organizing contests, even just posting your LEGO creations.

Has anyone else noticed that the most active forum on both; ILB/Brickfilmers.com and Brickfilms.com is the community?

And about posting in the right forum, maybe you could put descriptions under the category, although that would have to be taken up with Schlaeps about.

Last edited by WAproductions (2008-04-04 08:25:27)

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Legoman182182

Re: Some things to remember...

Okays nightOwl, Ill od ma best!

kthxbuy,

- Legoman

Shoot me. But at least for once I get to see Lech absoulutely powerless to lock this thread!! - Maronislego

SmallTimeProductions

Re: Some things to remember...

It's strange how people can't figure these things out for themselves.

Nicely done Night Owl, I hope everybody reads it.

The Skelly has a MySpace?
SmallTimeProductions's Website

Infurno

Re: Some things to remember...

Good post Nikolas,

I want to stress the importance of proper grammar and spelling. I am not a native english speaker and many people have told me that my English is really good. There is only one reason for that: brickfilms.com forum! I have learned a lot and if everybody would write "ZomG CooWWWL 11!1!!1" my english would be something like that now. Mine has improved a lot and new people will certainly appreciate this.

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Greed Status: Filming
Infurno's Website

Errol

Re: Some things to remember...

Night Owl wrote:

You don't have to be an active brickfilmer, but if all you're really doing is posting in the Community forum, something is definitely wrong.

Uh oh.  That's me.  big_smile

Errol's Website

Night Owl

Re: Some things to remember...

Well yeah, but you're Errol. And you've made some awesome films in the past.

And I got a big box of Mike & Ike Tropical from my youngest sister (who is still older and taller than me).
-Littlebrick
Night Owl's Website

Matt Gillan

Re: Some things to remember...

I don't particularly think spelling and grammar is too important on a forum that focus on a motion art.

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Night Owl

Re: Some things to remember...

They is very important on any forum, Matt. tongue

And I got a big box of Mike & Ike Tropical from my youngest sister (who is still older and taller than me).
-Littlebrick
Night Owl's Website

Dun_Fiddlin

Re: Some things to remember...

I think someone spelling somethig wrong isn't so bad as long as people can actually read what they said without having to think about it. So internet slang/mobile text speak/d00d speak = bad, the odd typo or misuse of there/their not so bad.

I'm guessing that's the general gist ?

(And yes there is a typo in there on purpose to make my point)

YouTube link = DunFiddlin

WAproductions

Re: Some things to remember...

Yeah, I had to look at the 'purpose typo' a second time to realise it was actually 'something', so I wouldn't say that you can read it without thinking about it, and as Night Owl said, it will help you in the long run.
And what is d00d?, I have never in my life heard of that, why not say dude, it uses the same amount of characters, and the only reason that people use things like; r instead of are, or u instead of you, is because there is a character limit on texts and you don't sit there all day spelling out words, but if your a fast enough at typing, it's not going to kill you to type an extra two letters in 'are'.

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WAproductions's Website

Night Owl

Re: Some things to remember...

I'll put it this way: if you're too impatient to type things out and briefly check for typos, then you won't make a very good brickfilmer.

And I got a big box of Mike & Ike Tropical from my youngest sister (who is still older and taller than me).
-Littlebrick
Night Owl's Website

Infurno

Re: Some things to remember...

Night Owl wrote:

I'll put it this way: if you're too impatient to type things out and briefly check for typos, then you won't make a very good brickfilmer.

Actually, that is more than true. Brickfilming requires pure concentration and perfection. Same is required for punctuation and correct spelling.

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Greed Status: Filming
Infurno's Website

Night Owl

Re: Some things to remember...

And with both, it becomes a lot easier if you do it long enough.

And I got a big box of Mike & Ike Tropical from my youngest sister (who is still older and taller than me).
-Littlebrick
Night Owl's Website

Rsteenoven

Re: Some things to remember...

So basically Practice Makes Perfect!

SAULGOODE MESSAGE ME (If you see this)
Rsteenoven's Website

Ogel productions

Re: Some things to remember...

Thats a good post there

My skype name is - jamsterman1
Ogel productions's Website

Dun_Fiddlin

Re: Some things to remember...

Night Owl wrote:

I'll put it this way: if you're too impatient to type things out and briefly check for typos, then you won't make a very good brickfilmer.

I like how you used a colon there instead a semi-colon smile Makes my point perfectly. Practise does indeed make perfect though.

And WA, I doubled up there on my explanation, most of the people I game with online use 'd00d' as an example of internet slang, where people instead of shortening for the sake of a text message on a phone, use numbers and the case of letters to obfuscate it and turn it into internet slang, common example being d00d (for dude), l33t (for leet/elite), and I'll stop there to save my keyboard and head.

YouTube link = DunFiddlin

maronislego

Re: Some things to remember...

I always knew there were poele in the community forum who i never met....

We get so accustomed to the things in our life-whether they're good or not-that we don't see them for what they are. It's why people behave terribly or not, why we get fat or not, etc. Sooner or later, if we don't take a fresh, "lets-pretend-its-not-normal" look at things, we may be surprised that our entire world-physically and spiritually-has become a terrible mess. -Sean Kenney
maronislego's Website

BertL

Re: Some things to remember...

+1 good one lol i liked it

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BertL's Website

Dun_Fiddlin

Re: Some things to remember...

Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

The human mind a great thing eh!

Anyway, got to go finish the decorating, my point is if it's readable and makes sense no need to get all moderator like on a person or post.

Last edited by Dun_Fiddlin (2008-04-05 15:47:39)

YouTube link = DunFiddlin

randomparrot

Re: Some things to remember...

i have a tip for anyone that doesnt notice mistakes

1.have a quick proof read
2.read the actual post you made then edit any mistakes

the cake is a lie...


but the bagel is another story
randomparrot's Website

Badgerboy

Re: Some things to remember...

Although I think you're going a little overboard with the "use correct grammar", I understand where you're coming from, Night Owl. Good guide.

I always preview my posts to make sure they look okay.

Night Owl

Re: Some things to remember...

I don't demand that everyone have perfect grammar, but I'd really appreciate a little more effort on the part of some people. That's all.

And I got a big box of Mike & Ike Tropical from my youngest sister (who is still older and taller than me).
-Littlebrick
Night Owl's Website

Dun_Fiddlin

Re: Some things to remember...

And people making a little effort I totally agree with !

YouTube link = DunFiddlin