‘How can I help out around here…?’
Some members, including those new here on the site, like to help out around the forum - in a welcome bid to contribute to the community here - yet are a little unsure on what to do…
Most of the information below is pretty straightforward stuff - though as this was something often asked in PMs to the site moderators - it is well worthy of inclusion in here, too. So the following is a basic overview of what I replied with when asked…
| • Simply helping others find what they are looking for… |
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Often you’ll see posts asking simple and straightforward questions - that can easily be answered by those who are familiar with the site - or know where the bodies are buried where the information / answers / assistance required in posts / threads are.
Even just pointing new members to the right direction / thread… (even if only to the ‘How do I do this on the OT.com?’ or to the relevant posts in the ‘How-To’s and Technical Discussions’ forum) can be of help to others.
Or answering any questions posted up in the ‘General Assistance’, the ‘Feedback Forum’ or in the ’ General Star Wars Questions’ thread.
^ (If answering a general Star Wars question please provide a reputable source, citation, screenshot, or quote as part of the answer)
Or simply saying ‘Hi’ and welcoming new members, and pointing any with queries in the right direction in the ‘Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within’ thread.
| • Posting up… news, articles, videos etc… |
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If you see an intriguing article online (or in print!) and think it may be of interest for discussion on here - then post it!
The same for news and insightful or informative videos or blogs - especially for the Original Trilogy - yet also the GFFA beyond… whether that be a newly reported series or film, video game, books & comics, or Disney+ news etc. Or articles and content on film preservation, film editing, and similar fan-made projects and endeavours… or even this communities’ own history. 👍
If you can, please include a screenshot / thumbnail, and official source link. Or provide a link from a quality / trusted source such as Hollywood Reporter, EW, Variety, Deadline, Wired, other trade magazines, or SWU / SWNN and other respected SW news sites. If posting up a video then please include the full title and channel, video length, and a brief description - thank you.
Yet, please… do NOT post up content from ‘The Fandom Menace’ / other toxic platforms… or clickbait / bullshit channels.
Also feel free to post up some humour & fun; memes, rare images or some Star Wars jokes or light hearted observations…
| • Project reviews and feedback… |
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Reviews are very much appreciated and valued by the project creators - helping them improve for any future versions - or for any other prospective projects.
Nobody is expecting a ‘War and Peace’ length review - or anyone to go to Dostoevsky levels of writing…
Just a few words, or a couple of lines or even paragraphs… of what you enjoyed, what you didn’t, any constructive ideas or suggestions for a future version or release; whether simple tweaks - or something on a more substantial level.
As well as mentioning any glitches or technical issues you may have come across while watching the project.
This post below may be of some assistance / interest / relevance…
Please leave some feedback for the fan projects on here - or even a review… (and join in with the discussions on this forum!)
| • Those with some technical expertise or know-how… |
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If you are proficient / experienced in technical matters and you have some spare time - then please feel free to help answer any queries asked or give relevant advice in the ‘How-To’s and Technical Discussions’ forum - or queries and advice in the four main ‘Fan Project’ forums.
This also applies for creatives in the ‘Case Covers, Disc Labels, and Fan Art’ and the ‘Script Writing and Re-writing’ forums - where members often ask for feedback or advice.
If you see someone struggling with a project… and don’t have much technical advice or expertise to offer… then even some simple encouragement, or advice to take a break - go for a walk, look around other projects to see how ‘X’ was achieved, or ask other respected or valued members here for their input, or maybe approach the issue from a different perspective - may just be the help, advice, or input they require.
| • If embarking on a lengthy or detailed post / info post / info thread… |
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Is there a topic you’d like to talk about - yet not already covered on here in a dedicated thread? Then find the relevant forum and start one… 👍 Or ask the mods / long-standing members around here if there are any standout topics not already covered / or subject threads that could benefit from more information or detail etc (or simply an update and ‘bump’)…
Even when discussing the OT since 2003, there is a lengthy list of scenes and events in the 3 films that we strangely don’t have dedicated topics on; fairly big events or curiosities in the OT story - the original Mos Eisley Cantina scene, the Battle of Hoth, Slave I, Manny Bothans and the Rebels’ plan in ROTJ, etc - in the ‘Star Wars Scenes, Dialogue, Tropes, and Meta’ category of ‘An Index & Help Thread for Original Trilogy Discussion’.
If creating a lengthy post / ‘info post’ it may be an idea to use a small image / few small images to help break up ‘the wall of text’; to simply break down the content into more ‘bite-size’ chunks of info. It may also make it easier to find or navigate to certain sections of the info post / thread - or simply just for catching the eye or passing interest.
Perhaps think about including screenshots of quotes or brief snippets from online articles (+ newspaper cuttings and magazine scans etc), links, citations, or sources etc to also help break up any lengthy ‘walls of text’ - even links other relevant threads on here - or to use as re-enforce / give credence to any points you are attempting to make? Some members like to use ‘line breaks’ to break up any differing categories or sections to break up lengthy amounts of text - or a ‘banner’ to highlight where a new category starts - or so it can be found more easily.
It is likely worth having a look around at similar / relevant detailed posts or threads from fellow members whose posts or threads have caught the eye / that you may respect or enjoy. If getting into difficulty when creating a new thread / project… simply ask around - you’ll likely receive an answer or help soon enough.
An example of a lengthy and detailed ‘info post’ that is broken up into differing categories with line breaks, spacing, and images…
📍 a few useful links for info and projects; some old, some new, some long forgotten… 📍 in ‘General Assistance’
This post below may also be of some assistance / interest / relevance for anyone creating a lengthy post or thread…
• How to post an image or video on the OriginalTrilogy•com… (plus some useful markdown guides and advice on post layouts)
| • Dealing with trolls / WUMs / bad-faith actors… |
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Stay civil - don’t stoop to their level… they’ll often try to drag you down to their level and beat you with their considerable experience or well-rehearsed agenda!
When a troll, WUM, entitled or aggressive new member on here plays their face and starts acting like a moron… let a moderator know and they’ll handle it.
If it is a simple troll or WUM (ie, “you guys suck”, “this site is the pits”, “the OT sucks”, “PT/SE/Lucas/TFM forever” and so on etc…) then feel free to give a little push back - point out what the site is about and its long history; that they’re just the latest in a long line of sad trolls and WUMs to visit his place to try to stir things up and get some attention / create some negative waves on here… and that they won’t be the last.
This is also applicable if you receive any trolling / WUM / toxic / unwanted / sledging PMs - although also alert a moderator. 👍
| • Spam or troublesome posts… |
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Occasionally the moderation staff may miss or overlook some of the considerable amount of spam that appears on here.
To help us, the site, and also the community as a whole… we ask you to please let us know if you do see any spam about the site… in this thread…
‘A thread for reporting any spam seen on the site’ in the ‘Feedback Forum’ should be of assistance.
As per the OT.com Forum Rules and Guidelines:-
Do NOT reply to, or engage with the spammer or spambot - and do NOT click on any link they post.
You can also click on the ‘Report’ button located in the bottom right of the spam post / troubling post. Thank you.
The same also applies for any ‘markdown’ posts you see on here - or any accidental double / triple / quadruple repeated posts.
| • Fed up with seeing the unnecessary ‘link requests’ posts throughout the Fan Project sections…? |
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Many OT members are annoyed with the endless and unnecessary ‘link request’ posts prevalent throughout the four main ‘Fan Project’ sections on here in recent times. Often made by newer users who haven’t taken the time to look around to see how to ask for a project - or by those who simply seemingly do not want to know - or care. Not even leaving a simple thank you, feedback, or review… nor even joining in any of the discussions on here, let alone helping others about the forum, or becoming a valued member or asset of this community. Just more and more ‘link request’ posts - and little-to-nothing else.
For anyone who wants to help change and remedy that; to try and educate or demonstrate to others on how to correctly ask for projects on here (and to also show how to become an active/contributing member on here)… then ‘copy & pasting’ the following threads in reply to any ‘link request’ posts you see on here - will be a significant help in reducing this annoying and disruptive practice - and also assist in seeing a return of more actual discussions about the fan projects themselves…
❗ The correct way of how to ask for a fan project on the OriginalTrilogy•com ❗ (Read this before making ‘link request’ posts!)
❕ Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within ❕ | Site Rules | Fan Project Rules
❕ ‘How Do I Do This?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + member FAQs ❕ | About | Help | Announcements
Please leave some feedback for the fan projects on here - or even a review… (and join in with the discussions on this forum!)
| • In general… |
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If you see a good / intriguing / star of a post or thread… comment on it. Unfortunately the site software doesn’t have the capability for a simple ‘like’ or ‘thumbs up’ - so even posting something like a basic ‘I agree’ / ‘I love this post’ / ‘I’m in full agreement’ - along with some overviews, comments or reasons why etc… goes a long way to contributing to posts you may like, agree with, find engaging, or wish to discuss further.
If you find an intriguing article online (or in print!) and think it may be of interest for discussion on here - then post it up - whether news on the Original Trilogy, articles highlighting the call for an official release of the OOT, or for Star Wars in general, a rumoured or new show in the GFFA, or about other TV/Media in general.
Or even just some humour & fun; a meme, rare image or insightful video for the OT / GFFA, some Star Wars jokes or light hearted observations…
Plus maybe a few fun posts on certain Star Wars anniversaries - 25th May, 17th November (Life Day), or 10th March…
Hopefully more and more new members will become valued members of the community on here - or simply interesting and engaging posters - and that the community here at the OT•com will benefit from all your input and contributions.
Enjoy it here - there is plenty of negativity, faux-drama, and toxicity in fandom elsewhere - after all this site and community stems from a love / appreciation for the Original Trilogy - and a wish to engage and talk about that with other like-minded fans.
