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| Thread: Registration |  This thread is pages long: 1 2 · NEXT» |
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Shadowcaster
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Shaded Scribe
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posted November 04, 2003 12:20 AM |
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Registration
This has likely been discussed before, and I'm sure newcomers asking about the rules is not as much of a problem now as it has been in the past, but I think that the FAQ about the rules of this message board should come up as a page in the registration process, as many other forums I have visited have done. Have registering users verify that they have read the rules before they are "sworn in" as members.
Again, if this has been discussed and/or not implemented for some reason, I am sorry. I wasn't aware of it.
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>_>
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Sir_Stiven
Honorable
Legendary Hero
banned
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posted November 04, 2003 01:30 AM |
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wow nice to know im not the only one thinking this way...
Yeah it has been discussed before as i know we had a huge n00b discussion about 15-16 months ago and this was one of my suggestions on getting em more familiar to the msg board right away. (another idea of mine was stickies which later has been implemented so i hope this can be implemented too)
But it would be nice to see this been brought up to discussion again.
Personally i would like to hear some arguments why a must read through of the FAQ shouldnt be implemented.
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Wolfman
Responsible
Supreme Hero
Insomniac
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posted November 04, 2003 01:43 AM |
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If you have to click a box to move on to the next screen, people would probably just click it to move on. Some would read it, but most wouldn't. I don't know how to fix this, but I think it would just be a waste of time. Just my humble opinion, of course.
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BountyHunter97
Famous Hero
King of all that is Chicken
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posted November 04, 2003 01:43 AM |
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well if we are going 2 do something like that then not everything should b presented, but here r some things that should be:
1)I find that many new memebers do not know how to add hyperlinks or images, there should b something that shows how to do it with an explantion
2)The penalties for misconduct ex: swearing at some1, saying something something bad about some1 etc
3)smilies icons and stuff should b explained
4)Also, like when i first joined, i had no clue what or where i could post things, like something that belonged in the tavern was in the libary, so there should b a throughoh explanation of what is posted where
5)We could add a special section 4 new members where they can look and find these things.
6)or instead or looking inside the FAQ, possibly an email could be sent with a long letter of explanation
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Wolfman
Responsible
Supreme Hero
Insomniac
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posted November 04, 2003 01:45 AM |
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Again, good idea, but realisticly how many would read that?
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Shadowcaster
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Shaded Scribe
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posted November 04, 2003 01:48 AM |
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True, most will not read the full FAQ, but a simpler, shorter version with everything a new member should know should at least be implemented, much like BountyHunter97's suggestion.
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>_>
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BountyHunter97
Famous Hero
King of all that is Chicken
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posted November 04, 2003 01:49 AM |
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good point, but i dunno, maybe have a quiz 2 join like on the rules and stuff? dunno but i find people who read it will enter HC with a bigger understanding of what is what
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Shadowcaster
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Shaded Scribe
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posted November 04, 2003 01:53 AM |
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If it outlines the basics of what many newcomers ask in a simple manner, I'm sure many will read the FAQ. The ones I usually skip over are the FAQs that cause the scrollbar to shrink to a very small size, but a short and concise FAQ could serve to draw more attention from newcomers rather than them just skipping over it.
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>_>
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Wolfman
Responsible
Supreme Hero
Insomniac
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posted November 04, 2003 01:54 AM |
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That's true, we could give it a try of course.
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Khaelo
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Underwater
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posted November 04, 2003 02:25 AM |
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Edited By: Khaelo on 3 Nov 2003
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People will say that they have read an FAQ to register, even if they haven't. I don't think the length has much to do with it -- people just see "FAQ" and figure they know it already. Unless you want to implement a pop quiz on the FAQ which a prospective member would have to ace before being allowed to join, there is no plausible way to force a person to read it
There are ways to encourage it, though. One messageboard I visited had a system where you had to fill out your information, then check off a box. The box then started a countdown of about 30 sec. or so, during which time the prospective member was supposed to be reading the terms of agreement (another document frequently ignored). If a similar system were used at HC, some people would twiddle their thumbs while the timer counted down, but others would read the FAQ just out of boredom.
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 Cleverly
disguised as a responsible adult
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Shadowcaster
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Shaded Scribe
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posted November 04, 2003 03:40 AM |
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A quiz would definitely ensure at least marginal knowledge of the FAQ, Terms of Service, and anything else newcomers should know before joining a message forum. But it might also, due to its similarities to school and the like, turn away prospective members who might otherwise have a significant impact within the community. Registration is generally a mindless process.
However, the timer idea does sound interesting, though, as you stated, many will simply wait for the timer to end. Maybe the FAQ could be in a different format, like a list of tips for posting on the forum or something of the sort. The reason, I think, that many skip over the FAQ regardless of length is because they don't like being told to do and they view the FAQ as a list of rules and restrictions. Tips are usually more widely welcomed and may actually benefit those who read them rather than just tell them what to do.
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>_>
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Khaelo
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Underwater
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posted November 04, 2003 05:15 AM |
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I agree that quizzes would discourage some potential members, but a few would brave the quiz and get in. A 15 page essay discussing the implications of the FAQ on forum behavior might be more appropriate, supplemented by a 10 page dissertation on Heroes of Might and Magic battle tactics. Working BB-code images and hyperlinks would be mandatory, of coure.  That would solve the newbie problem very quickly...
Perhaps have a timer going while making the new registratee look at a page of helpful tips? Age of Mythology has something like that...they provide tips on gameplay while the game installs.
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Cleverly
disguised as a responsible adult
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Celfious
Promising
Legendary Hero
From earth
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posted November 04, 2003 05:30 AM |
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yes like, how many times have you read "terms and aggreement" for misc software?
(probably not 1nce)
Mabey a message box that says "pls dont ask any questions without looking here first" ? Cuz the index on the faq page is enlightening of what is and what is not within the entire content.
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What are you up to
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BountyHunter97
Famous Hero
King of all that is Chicken
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posted November 04, 2003 05:39 AM |
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maybe we like dont force them 2 read it, but yet we never answer ?s, just tell em "read the FAQ"
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Shadowcaster
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Shaded Scribe
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posted November 04, 2003 05:45 AM |
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That's essentially what we do now, BountyHunter97.
I do like the idea of an alert message popping up saying "no questions may be asked" as well. That way, even if newcomers don't read the FAQ now, they always know to go back to it if they don't understand something.
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>_>
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Celfious
Promising
Legendary Hero
From earth
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posted November 04, 2003 06:21 AM |
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theer are things to get accross aswell like
Refer to [urlFAQ[/url] for awnsers.
If their not there feel free to make a question thread in the volcanic wasteland forum.
Unless you want to make/keep a simplified nonfaq thread
(dont click the links their fake)
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What are you up to
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Sir_Stiven
Honorable
Legendary Hero
banned
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posted November 04, 2003 04:44 PM |
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I believe khaelos suggestion of a countdown box is a great idea and should be implemented.
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Celfious
Promising
Legendary Hero
From earth
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posted November 05, 2003 04:45 AM |
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It's good, it is.. Um, still I wouldn't read the whole thing in 1 sitting. Somewhere with the count down box there needs to be a message telling the n00b why its there and key components that they should look at.
Give them familiarization with questions that are frequently asked & dont force the whole content (they will know where to refer with their FAQ). Mabey shorten/summarize the rules list, unless code of conduct has it all. And if so it could be above FAQ links.
Everything else is up to them. If they dont have a FAQs, why should you force them to find the awnser?
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What are you up to
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Odvin
Promising
Famous Hero
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posted November 06, 2003 12:19 AM |
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I think we shouldn't force people to read the rules. After all, moderators are here not just to give out QPs and penalties  The countdown timer is a bad idea because (1) people have different reading speed and (2) nothing can stop you from just minimizing the browser window and doing some other things meanwhile, instead of reading the rules I think that only 10% or so would read the rules then. Quiz is in my opinion a totally bad idea, since it will most probably just scare the new members...
Remember: there's no way to force people to do something on their PC remotely. None at all. So it's all a matter of pure psychology, I think. The system that exists right now is ok. The only thing that could be added on this point (not connected directly with the rules though) is to force the so-called 'account activation' when a user is sent an email message with a link which he/she must follow to proceed with registration. This will at least ensure entering proper email addresses... but not reading the rules as well.
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Valeriy
Mage of the Land
Naughty, Naughty Valeriy
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posted November 06, 2003 04:38 AM |
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When I visit a messageboard, I want to check out its features before I register, or I just want to browse it comfortably without having to provide my details. It puts me off when it says members only for pages that do not really require my registration information. I also don't like being asked lots of details that don't seem to be required. So I designed HC registration to be as simple as possible - username, password and e-mail are the only fields required, that's it. I don't want to annoy people with complex quizes or having to wait before submitting as forcing often causes rebelious reaction. I do however see some of your suggestions very applicable.
After registration, the confirmation page could contain few of the most important tips and regulations and a link to the FAQ. Also, some forum pages could contain an additional note with a link to FAQ on the top of the page until a user reaches 50 post count. What do you think?
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You can wait for others to do it, but if they don't know how, you'll wait forever.
Be an example of what you want to see on HC and in the world.
http://www.heroesofmightandmagic.com
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