logo Sign In

New Users Thread

Author
Time

The ‘Requesting Invites’ topic clearly doesn’t work well enough for newcomers to this forum. Perhaps something like this, with the title very large:

Want to get a project? Read this first!

Protocol

Welcome to the OT forums! In the interest of promoting good human-cyborg relations, there are some simple points of etiquette and protocol that you would be wise to follow here:

  1. If you are interested in a popular project such as the Star Wars Despecialized editions and don’t wish to contribute to this community, such projects are often available to download on public torrent sites.

  2. If your project of choice is unavailable publicly, create an account on these forums (Check this for some username ideas). Don’t ask for an invite or link in a project thread! See below for proper request technique.

  3. Consider reading and commenting in some threads which interest you before asking for any links or invites, so that you can get a feel for what’s happening. It is not necessary for getting links for a project or an invite, but it often helps.

  4. Most projects on this site are available from Myspleen.org. To get an invite for this, read the fist post of this thread, and post your request there. Remember to edit your post after you have an invite.

And that’s it! Be courteous and considerate and the Force will be with you.
Always.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

Author
Time
 (Edited)

A good idea that mate - will hopefully stop the usual threads getting clogged up with seemingly endless requests for links and ‘where to get them’ type questions from newly joined users on here…

 

2019 Edit…

New and newer members here who take the time to read any of the About, Help, Welcome to the OT.com; Introduce yourself in here… or the ’How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com threads… will find information on how to go about acquiring any the of the various preservations, fan edits or other projects on here that may take their interest; in accordance to the OT.com Forum Rules and Guidelines and Fan Edit / Preservation Forum Rules and FAQ, of course.

There is also some similar helpful information on the above in the pinned Index Threads - located at the top of each of the four main ‘Preservation Project’ and ‘Fan Edit’ sections on this site.
 

As has always been the case on here… a little patience and taking the time to look around and learn about how this place works - and how it doesn’t work - is key.
 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

Author
Time

Good idea, but good luck getting people to read it.

Author
Time

TV’s Frink said:

Good idea, but good luck getting people to read it.

This is the crux of the issue. If new users won’t do what regulars want them to do, we shouldn’t fight it, in fact, we should embrace it.

Author
Time

yhwx said:

TV’s Frink said:

Good idea, but good luck getting people to read it.

This is the crux of the issue. If new users won’t do what regulars want them to do, we shouldn’t fight it, in fact, we should embrace it.

So should we just accept a constant flow of requests in project threads? I know that there’s always going to be a certain percentage who will never get the message, but surely there’s a way to work on the margins to make it as easy as possible for people to follow the rules.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

Author
Time

NeverarGreat said:

yhwx said:

TV’s Frink said:

Good idea, but good luck getting people to read it.

This is the crux of the issue. If new users won’t do what regulars want them to do, we shouldn’t fight it, in fact, we should embrace it.

So should we just accept a constant flow of requests in project threads?

Sure! I mean, why not? Is there any real problem there?

Let’s face it: A certain amount of people are never going to read the rules. You can’t change people.

What we can change, however, is the system around people. Maybe what we really need to rethink is the invite system.

Author
Time

The invite system is not our system and we can’t change it.

I refuse to use invite sites because invites are silly needless protections that aren’t worth anything and only result in people coming here asking for them.

I use Mega. Links can be provided to anyone easily. The only issue is the 50GB cap on free users but you can create multiple accounts, or pay a little a month for a 200GB cap.

Author
Time

yhwx said:

Let’s face it: A certain amount of people are never going to read the rules. You can’t change people.

No but you can stop their behavior. I can’t, you can’t, but the staff can. They can delete posts and say they will do so. Our job (presumably) is to report the posts that need deletion.

(Note that I’m being hypocritical here as I usually don’t report these posts)

Author
Time

Do you think it’s worth pursuing them though. If so, why?

Author
Time

I’m not sure what you’re asking. Are you asking if I think it’s worth reporting? If so…I don’t know. It’s not like that will stop it either.

I think the only real solution is to ban everyone but me and then I can do whatever I want.

Author
Time

TV’s Frink said:

I’m not sure what you’re asking. Are you asking if I think it’s worth reporting? If so…I don’t know. It’s not like that will stop it either.

Is it worth punishing people for?

I also apologize for the lack of a question mark at the end of that first sentence.

I think the only real solution is to ban everyone but me and then I can do whatever I want.

You’d get lonely pretty quick.

Author
Time

yhwx said:

TV’s Frink said:

I think the only real solution is to ban everyone but me and then I can do whatever I want.

You’d get lonely pretty quick.

Dude loneliness is the best

Reading R + L ≠ J theories

Author
Time

Why not do what has been suggested a few times now, and have moderators approve, say, the first 10-15 posts each new member makes? That, along with this proposed thread, should eliminate the problem.

Author
Time

The unfortunate truth is that people don’t read unless forced to do so. We could sticky a new user welcome topic to the top of every page and most visitors still wouldn’t read it. It’s also important to know that we receive most first-time visitor traffic from search engines, so new users often end up directly within a popular topic rather than the index or forum pages. It’s likely they’ll sign up right there and post immediately without digging around first.

I think we’re sometimes a bit rough on new users here. I understand it can be annoying when someone shows up and asks a question that’s been answered a thousand times already, but we have a lot of content for someone new to restorations and fan edits to go through. It’s important to remember that these people are fans of the same things we are and a little help and patience are more productive than admonishment.

When ot.com was new, it had a reputation for being a welcoming environment for Star Wars fans of all kinds — from casual to rabid. It’s natural for communities to lose that “family” feel as they grow, but I’d like to think we can still be kind and helpful to new users. We’ll always have people who sign up, post once to get an invitation or link to something, and never come back, but I don’t want that possibility to drag down how we handle all newcomers.

Regarding controlling or limiting new users’ posts, I already have some automated control on the roadmap (new users can’t start new topics until they’ve made X replies to existing topics, for example), but that’s geared more toward spam control. I’d consider implementing a probationary period requiring mod approval for a new member’s first 5 posts or so.

Forum Administrator

MTFBWY…A

Author
Time

How about mod approval for the first post, no topic creation till 5 days and 5 posts, and if anyone reports any of your fist 10 posts your posts are immediately hidden pending mod action.

Author
Time
 (Edited)

^Those are very good points. I hadn’t considered new users not even seeing the Topics page. In that case, have you considered adding a page between the ‘register’ button and the sign-up form that gives some helpful info? Something as simple as this would be nice:

Welcome to our community! Before we get started, did you know:

If you’re completely new to the forums, the General Star Wars Discussion is a great place to start.

If you’re interested in a particular project, some of the most popular are available on public torrent sites, no registration required. Many smaller projects are hosted on Myspleen.org, and you can ask for an invite here after you’ve registered.

(‘Yes, I’ve got it!’ button)

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

Author
Time
 (Edited)

dahmage said:

How about mod approval for the first post, no topic creation till 5 days and 5 posts, and if anyone reports any of your fist 10 posts your posts are immediately hidden pending mod action.

Some people are a bit trigger-happy with the report button though.

Author
Time

yhwx said:

dahmage said:

How about mod approval for the first post, no topic creation till 5 days and 5 posts, and if anyone reports any of your fist 10 posts your posts are immediately hidden pending mod action.

Some people are a bit trigger-happy with the report button though.

I know, but it would only be for the first x posts.

Author
Time

NeverarGreat said:

^Those are very good points. I hadn’t considered new users not even seeing the Topics page. In that case, have you considered adding a page between the ‘register’ button and the sign-up form that gives some helpful info? Something as simple as this would be nice:

Welcome to our community! Before we get started, did you know:

If you’re completely new to the forums, the General Star Wars Discussion is a great place to start.

If you’re interested in a particular project, some of the most popular are available on public torrent sites, no registration required. Many smaller projects are hosted on Myspleen.org, and you can ask for an invite here after you’ve registered.

(‘Yes, I’ve got it!’ button)

Yes, a general welcome and link to rules etc makes sense as part of New user registration.

Author
Time

Jay said:

The unfortunate truth is that people don’t read unless forced to do so. We could sticky a new user welcome topic to the top of every page and most visitors still wouldn’t read it. It’s also important to know that we receive most first-time visitor traffic from search engines, so new users often end up directly within a popular topic rather than the index or forum pages. It’s likely they’ll sign up right there and post immediately without digging around first.

I think we’re sometimes a bit rough on new users here. I understand it can be annoying when someone shows up and asks a question that’s been answered a thousand times already, but we have a lot of content for someone new to restorations and fan edits to go through. It’s important to remember that these people are fans of the same things we are and a little help and patience are more productive than admonishment.

When ot.com was new, it had a reputation for being a welcoming environment for Star Wars fans of all kinds — from casual to rabid. It’s natural for communities to lose that “family” feel as they grow, but I’d like to think we can still be kind and helpful to new users. We’ll always have people who sign up, post once to get an invitation or link to something, and never come back, but I don’t want that possibility to drag down how we handle all newcomers.

Regarding controlling or limiting new users’ posts, I already have some automated control on the roadmap (new users can’t start new topics until they’ve made X replies to existing topics, for example), but that’s geared more toward spam control. I’d consider implementing a probationary period requiring mod approval for a new member’s first 5 posts or so.

I agree.

Author
Time

JawsTDS said:

My biggest grievance is that being incredibly open with new users allows for many to simply “hit and run”. Once they’ve procured what they came here for, they’re gone for good. I understand some people don’t want to be apart of this community, but the least they could do is stick around in the General discussion topics – there’s plenty to talk about here.

Why do you feel that people must stay in this community even if they don’t want to?

Once these hit-and-runners are gone, they have absolutely zero impact on the forum whatsoever. I don’t understand why people would have a problem with them.

Author
Time

yhwx said:

JawsTDS said:

My biggest grievance is that being incredibly open with new users allows for many to simply “hit and run”. Once they’ve procured what they came here for, they’re gone for good. I understand some people don’t want to be apart of this community, but the least they could do is stick around in the General discussion topics – there’s plenty to talk about here.

Why do you feel that people must stay in this community even if they don’t want to?

Once these hit-and-runners are gone, they have absolutely zero impact on the forum whatsoever. I don’t understand why people would have a problem with them.

yes yes yes. and the admins/mods approve. Imagine if the whole internet worked that way? I am more than happy to have the majority of the tired,huddled masses just move through this site getting the information they need, and being on their way. if everyone felt they had to contribute first, we would have even more crap posts than we already have.