New members, Newbies and Noobs.

In light of Lurkers: Are You Afraid to Sign Up To ATS? Don't Be. it seemed prudent to look at how we treat new members. To start the terms Newbie and Noob are frowned upon. Just thought that should be brought up first.

Grammar police- Please, this is an international site. Just because someones English isn't college level, cut them some slack. That also goes for the younger members. Maybe not an English major. Hell, their biology or physics may be WAY above par. You don't know that by ones spelling and syntax. I've been blown away from some of the contributions of the younger set.

Next. Just because you have heard a question or a theory before(ad nauseum in some cases) doesn't mean that this topic is old to the new member. Maybe they just STARTED their journey into conspiracy. Does it help a new member when we see members pile onto a new topic with, "Man, this has been done here too many times", "Proven hoax", etc. That would definitely curb my enthusiasm. Remember, If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything.

Of course then there's the problem children. The ones that aren't used to ATS standards. Swearing and such. Don't call for their heads. You probably weren't perfect when you got here either. If I found the Net and ATS now as opposed to 6 years ago, I would be banned. I didn't know. Some of these members can be shown the way and become excellent members. I've seen it more than once and THAT is extremely satisfying.

So to recap, realize that new members are just that. New. New to conspiracy? New to the Net? Possibly. Maybe. New to ATS? More than likely. Let's treat these new members with respect. We are in this fishbowl together. Don't forget that.

Very well said sir.

I couldn't agree more.

A little patience, understanding and maturity can go a long way.

Well said, i simply am unable to add a second line as it would defeat the purpose of applauding your thread.

I wholeheartedly agree with everything you stated... with the exception of the cursing. It does nothing but bring the intellectual level of whichever thread is being posted in down. Freely admitted, I'm no angel... in my day-to-day life I curse... sometimes like a sailor. On this site however I try not even to use ampersands and percentage marks to disguise what I'm saying. Should be a blanket acceptance, IMHO, that if you're going to post here, you should do it like a grownup... even if you so vehemently oppose what's being said that you run the risk of bleeding from the eyeballs...

So what is the actual probation period from "New Person" to "Reg"?

Just an FYI to the Administration, I will be requesting a thorough review at my 90 day interval (May 01, 2010), and will most likely be requesting a respectable promotion at that time.

Also I'd like to discuss ATS's Benefit Package, 401K, and Member Incentive Plan in some detail. Please keep me posted of the time after my 90 days that will be convenient for you to discuss the aforementioned.

Thank you in advance!
UberL33t

I agree with the above posters and couldn't have said it better We were all new here once on ATS, and need to show some respect and patience with the newer members. I lurked for over 3 years before I joined. Wasn't afraid to join, just thought I might not have anything to add.

To all those who are contemplating joining, I say go for it. Yes, there are those who are going have a dig at you, but there are FAR More of us who will support you.

Welcome aboard to ATS

Ive been watching and reading ATS for awhile now, and although I just signed up, I believe that most threads are typed and discussed at college levels. Which is good. Id rather read something and gain a lot of information then read it and feel like I wasted 20 minutes of my time.

Also Respect is given where it is Deserved. You respect me and Ill respect you.
Very good statements to live by.

Thanks for this thread.

Well said and it needed saying .
I carnt type or write and im worse with a pen .
Probally because i wagged english so much.
The teacher had an agenda against me because my big brother beat a teacher up
and my eldest brother thought it was fun to push a tv down the 3 storey block.i was youngest you c i got all the grief for what they did i wonder why everyone told my mum to not send me to same school because of them

Originally posted by UberL33t
So what is the actual probation period from "New Person" to "Reg"?

I am still a n00b.

Originally posted by intrepid
Next. Just because you have heard a question or a theory before(ad nauseum in some cases) doesn't mean that this topic is old to the new member. Maybe they just STARTED their journey into conspiracy.

Heh, this place is so big with SO MUCH information, there is no one here who can absorb it all. Old topics routinely become new ones to me, even after being around here for years, And the UFO forum is one place I tend to just read. It seems every time I comment or try to post something there, it has already been said or posted, as you say- ad nauseum... I can't keep up!

reply to post by MrPenny


Awww seriously 5/6/2006, I was hoping to make it to "Reg" status at least before December 2012. Now I'm never going to know what it's like.

Oh well.

You know though, there is always the slight chance that this doomsday prophecy will come and go just like the rest have thus far. Here's to striving for "Reg" status in 2013!! WooHoo!!

I do hope the sarcasm was thick enough, I have plenty more if not, I obtain it in bulk

*edit for luster

[edit on 3/17/2010 by UberL33t]

Ok, this was an excellent post. I am a new member, and I am definitely guilty as all hell as to being a jerk and somewhat closeminded (at first!). So, because of this post, I humbly offer my apologies to anyone I may/may not have offended. How it is good to be corrected sometimes and to learn from my transgression is evident that I've gained a little wisdom. That my friends, is my sole reason of being. Thanks OP.

*head down, kicks rocks*

First off hello all.
I'm new and in the introduction forum i stated my grammar and spelling may not be up to scratch but I thank the response i got and help it made me feel welcome. I have only just joined since I have been reading posts and topics for past few months and have learn a lot so again many many thanks to all ATS staff and users thank you.

reply to post by intrepid


Well said, i never thought to highly of people who try to drag the date a member registered into a debate.
Did you ever see the movie cube?

Funny, I was going to write a thread in the ATS Newbie section talking about this very thing.

I'm still gonna put it up, but I'll link this thread in there.

Well put good Sir!

~Keeper

Ah, I see we noobs finally have a spokesman

I find it refreshing when people post replies while using their own country's way of building a sentence, it keeps you sharp when you got to figure out what that person means.

Also the swearing should get them a warning, not the guillotine
If they learn from it that is.

Well anyway, nice thread and i like the message

stay sharp

Um, well shh, Ok. guilty of the newbie offense. I offer no explaInation
as I know ignorance is no excuse to the fopah. Therefore I find
myself at the mercy of this Intrepid court. Pleading guilty as charged.

Originally posted by randyvs
Therefore I find
myself at the mercy of this Intrepid court. Pleading guilty as charged.

Recognizing something in ones self is a beauty. I sentence you to beers and good feelings.

Originally posted by intrepid


Grammar police- Please, this is an international site. Just because someones English isn't college level, cut them some slack. That also goes for the younger members. Maybe not an English major. Hell, their biology or physics may be WAY above par. You don't know that by ones spelling and syntax. I've been blown away from some of the contributions of the younger set.

Next. Just because you have heard a question or a theory before(ad nauseum in some cases) doesn't mean that this topic is old to the new member. Maybe they just STARTED their journey into conspiracy. Does it help a new member when we see members pile onto a new topic with, "Man, this has been done here too many times", "Proven hoax", etc. That would definitely curb my enthusiasm. Remember, If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything.

Mate I could not agree more!!

I have had painful thoughts in the past of us (ATS) jumping all over a new member who is relatively inexperienced in conspiracy, and that young person leaving us forever....only to go on and find the holy grail or some real hard proof of a cover-up or something.

I'm a firm believer in letting new members find their place and explore conspiracy, so what if it means hearing the same story again?

Sad, I think of jkrog right now, he was amazing at doing that.

He'd come in and give you a hand, post additional info and stuff. He just wanted the message to get out there, he never tired of seeing the same stuff over and over if it meant a new soul was being informed!

Well, back on topic, good thread mate, needs to be said from time to time!

All the best, kiwi



[edit on 17-3-2010 by kiwifoot]

Well said and completely agree. I'm pretty new here (although been reading posts for a few years).

I'll try my best to be nice and stay out of the threads about religions vs athiests like the one I just dragged into and hopefully NOT get booted out for possibly being a little to forceful with my views when people try to force their beliefs as fact. But it will be a test of my patience.

Absolutely love this site and it's getting far too addictive. It's great to see a place of so much knowledge, and theories shall we say I've been so impressed by the amount of government documents, laws, policies, actions etc etc etc that you would simply not here about if this place didn't exist.

One possible suggestion for new users who may be worried or paranoid (although I'm sure NO ONE on here could be accused of that about signing up, maybe a thread on the forums about VPNs, anonymisers, proxies etc to make people feel a little safer from being identified (although obviously they only work to a certain degree).

Maybe we'd get more people chipping in then?