relating to members - post etiquette for new and old - Announcements

The great thing about these forums is how well we've come to know each other and how comfortable we are around each other. The downside is an increasing number of instances where new members jump in and post for the first time and see their posts get flooded with inside jokes, or off-topic comments from veterans. It is already intimidating for new members and visitors peeking in, since many of us have close friendships, and they will automatically feel like outsiders unless we make them feel welcome.

Some new members or visitors may not like this place regardless of what we do, but we do not want some really great folks skipping out on this place because of these posts, both new and veteran alike. To steal a line from the forest service I think we need to be mindful of the greater good, i.e. we can't please everyone but we can be mindful of the right balance to please the majority of members.

I am asking the veterans to be more mindful of new members here. They have no idea what this place is like at first, and we need to focus on a great first impression. We already do a great job of not flaming people, or getting snotty about questions that get asked repeatedly. Most people will not be used to that, but they're likely not used to the way most of us relate to each other and joke around either. I want everyone to give newer members a chance to test out the water and feel comfortable for a while, and when we notice that they are more comfortable then it will fall into place from there.

We need to be more business-like within the RMNP categories of forums and keep the inside jokes and other humor within the off-topic/non-rmnp category of forums (click here for help on how to subscribe to the off-topic/non-rmnp forums). These categories were set up specifically so there is a place for off-topic humor and a much more laid-back approach for new and old members alike. That way, the RMNP-related forums can stay more business-like, so when any member is asking for help about the RMNP area, they get helpful and serious responses rather than a bunch of confusing inside jokes, irrelevant photoshopped pictures and other comments not related to their question.

We also want to make sure the new members are patient with the veterans here, because we are all enthusiasts of RMNP. There are so many different personalities in this community (with over 2,600 members at the point this was written), it is likely that at some point you will see a post or comment that you do not care for, agree with, or understand. Any posts that do not conform to the terms of use and are inappropriate will be removed, but if it is just another member's personality or style you do not care for, that just comes with the territory with a big group like this.

**As a side note here, I've learned that some members just aren't happy here and in my blunt opinion I think it is their lack of social skills rather than their claims of our community being a clique. I don't mean to be rude but if you can't connect here then perhaps you should look within first before blaming everyone here first. Every year, about springtime, there are new members that jump in and socialize. I don't see this to be a sign of a clique community. Everyone is welcome here. But I've learned that people with poor social skills sure cause a lot of problems here. If you're one of these people, please save yourself and everyone else lots of time, energy, and emotion and move along to, or create your own, RMNP enthusiast community.**

This is a valuable place for helping others gain knowledge about the park, and we can all enjoy sharing our fun experiences from RMNP. It is for the greater good that we are all patient regardless of whether we have been here for a day, a year, or five years. You will not find a better community centered around Rocky Mountain National Park than this one. If we can all keep these things in mind, this place will continue to expand as the great resource for information and fun that it is today. I believe we can do this without compromising the spirit of the forums.

Thanks for making this the welcoming, informative, and enjoyable place that it is Posted Image