A Random New Deviant Enters

Imagine that it is your first day at a new school and no one wants to talk to you because you are new and talk differently than they do.

Sometimes entering #devart for the first time can also be this scary, which it shouldn't be. This channel is deviantART's 'lobby'. It is at the top of the chat list and is usually the first channel a deviant will enter when they find the chat network. This article will outline some of the misconceptions of the rules and demonstrate ways to respond to the 'newbs' in a more positive way.

A Lesson on Caps and Stretching

newb101: hellllllllllllllllllllllllllloooooooooooo

The above, while maybe being mildly annoying to some, is not considered stretching. However, if the stretching was so long that it produced a scrollbar on your screen, then this would be against the rules of the channel.

newb102: HELLO ALL! WHAT'S GOING ON IN HERE??

We ask that you refrain from using "mass caps" in the channel. The above is not a mass use of caps. What is a mass use of caps, is if newb102 continued to chat with their capslock button in the on position.

Personal Information

newb103: Where are you from devARTchatter2? Are you a girl or a boy?

Newb103 asked where someone was located, which is not against channel policy. If you wish to share this information, we recommend that you give a general sense of where you are and do not give our your home address. They also asked about their gender, which is also allowed. Asking or sharing age as well as giving out personal information such as phone numbers, email addresses and Instant Messenger usernames is considered inappropriate.

A Positive Response

newb104: HELLLLLOOOOOO
devARTchatter1 is now ignoring 'newb104'
devARTchatter2 is now ignoring 'newb104'
devARTchatter3 is now ignoring 'newb104'
devARTchatter4 newb104: you're an idiot!

Now what has just happened there, is that the chatter just made four enemies and no longer feels welcome in the channel, just by saying hello. In most cases, attacking "newb104" escalates the issue.

A positive response can also make a huge difference to somebody who is spamming or rule breaking. Use of the ignore script can be confusing to a new user and if they are already frustrated, it adds to that. This ultimately ends in more work for MN@ and a less positive experience for the new user.

Leave the Moderating to the Moderators

devARTchatter4: MN@??????? why didn't you kick them???

The MN@ are in the channel to keep things safe and fun. It is in everyone's best interest that you leave the moderating to the MN@ only. This way, there isn't a group of people ganging up on one single user, which can feel threatening.

General Rudeness

We all have our bad days and bad moods, but there's no need to take it out on other people. If you do not agree with something someone has said then just ignore it, walk away for 5 minutes, or try talking to someone else instead. There's no reason to escalate things by hurling insults to other chatters, no matter who they are.

Demanding Conversation

newb105: Hello.
newb105: Will someone talk to me?
newb105: HELLO
newb105: TALK TO ME DAMNIT!!

There are no exclusive conversations in #devart. Sometimes the best way to get into a conversation is to just start. Sit back and watch, find a conversation thread or statement that looks interesting and make a comment on it to the person who made it. It usually helps if it's something you can agree with at the outset. If you go in disagreeing right from the start, people think you're flaming or trolling.

You Never Know Who You Are Talking To

Newb101 could be anyone! Someone awesome, someone famous, an upcoming staff member or volunteer, your idol even. You wouldn't send abuse to someone you looked up to, would you?

As always we ask that you follow the channel etiquette at all times when it comes to your discussions, as deviants in this room are 13+.

We were all new at one time or another. Together we can make this a fun and enjoyable place to be, make new friends and keep in touch with old ones.