The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

I noticed alot of threads being ria'd for simple reasons that are either covered by faq and are just new members not knowing where to post what where. Do any acolytes browse new members or does the new member have to engage them first? If the newcomer isn't reading the faq or forum rules and conduct, then how will they know about an acolytes role on VR.I am in no way trying to insinuate or instigate anything. Just maybe new members will see this, read it and either network with an acolyte or read the faq.With the amount of acolytes I see on at any given time...I'm just curious as to who...if any acolytes approach new members to welcome and offer your expertise.

hmm, nvr really thought about that, i have nvr offered my services to new members but from now on i think i shall. thanx for bringing this up

no ty...I mean if you think about it. If they dont read anuthing...lol...how are they gonna know about you guys.I was starting to think that maybe some members just wanted the title and then I realized...I know several and they're not like that. So I decided to create the thread.

o i c. but u still do prove a pretty strong point about it. almost all new members dont read the faq. lol, i know i didnt wen i joined. lol

Lucious...my friend...I am always trying to help new people..and even several of the older members as well

when i said noty...i meant no...thank you. but yea...i doubt anyone did.

If I wasen't willing to help, i woudn't have applyed to be an acolyte, but you have a good point.
I just don't want to seem like I'm imposing "my services", but when people come to me, I try to do my best, and say, meaning what I say "any more questions, I'll be here".

i pretty much do the same as Tears

I'm not attacking anyone. Just posing a thought for what it's worth.

If they read nothing,they' learn it with their own price.

I hope this thread doesn't get out of hand. That isn't the threads intention by any means.

yes I know about the * I don't have to listen to Acolytes* from the new people...I have run into afew of them

Then it's their fault cause you're offering them help and they are refusing it.

Well, technically, they don't have to listen. If they want to be ignorant point it out to an admin. :-)

ive ran into a couple ppl like that as well

see...and that's the misconception that should be addressed...you DON'T have to...but they are there to help. If not don't get upset when you get bushwhacked for saying,posting something that merits a group laughing at or tongue-lashing.

yes I know...Im just trying to help and they act as though they don't need to listen...I ask them to read the rules...but some of them refuse

It seems like a lot of the new whelps come in with a "I'm the best and I don't need any help, **** you" attitude... And they don't read the FAQ or anything at all before posting on the forum and stuff...

That can get really annoying.

Exactly and then it begins the whining-_-

Sorry Jason...I figured going to you or another Admin...would be whining and I know you guys have enough to worry about

Depends on what's going on. If the person is being abusive or blatantly violating the FAQ, keep the messages, copy them to a message to an admin. I don't think I'd consider that whining. Make sure you give them enough rope to hang themselves with, though. LOL The roll of the Acolyte is more of a "Big Brother." If they want to take your advice, that's fine. I would definitely like to see more Aclolyte questions popping up, though. I get several messages a day asking me questions that should go to Acolytes. I try to steer them to you guys. To be honest, I don't think they really know what Acolytes are here for. And why's that? They don't read. Vicious cylce.

Yes...thats true...I always ask them to read the rules before they say or do anything else.Some comply,others snap and say they they don't have to and such

Perhaps they need to see a huge neon sign to understand what Acolytes are for...
From what I've seen Acolytes barely get any questions at all.

LOL Jason, I love your new avatar.

When I first joined up ...the first message I got was from a Acolyte offering his help and he urged me to put him on my friends list...he has been very helpful...so I beleive the new people should heed the advice of a acolyte..sure made life easier for me here at VR. I still run to him at times for advice! hehe!

Thats good to know...always good to have someone to help you when you need it

I make good thread...yay!!!
*rocks back and forth in his straightjacket*

Glad to see someone who appriciates:)

Lol, congrats Lucious :P

Yeah, no kidding, Lucios.

Might be a good idea for Aco's cruise the newbie profiles and offer assistance? What say ye? I like the idea of telling them to put your on their friends list.

I try to welcome a few newbies every day.

If you think about about...word of mouth is a powerful thing. The more people see that a site has everything from vampires to intelligent conversations and has friendly members that make you feel welcome...they want their friends to join as well and so on and so forth.

hm..that might be a very good idea. That way, they may not feel "threatened" and not feel so compelled to be agressive..And I see that I've been very lucky, because I didn't get any rude answers so far.

and especially since the main age group of vr seems to be 18-25 (according to the latest poll result)
we all know that those were the years where we couldn't be told shit. Our elders had to let us think we knew what they were teaching us.

Im 33...so I must be an elder huh lol

i offer my help to new members sometimes and i always help people with questions regarding this site no matter whether they are new or old. i also try to point them to reading the main menu

i also try to comment on forum threads if i think they are in the wrong section or when i see copyrighted images in portfolios. the members are free to ask me any time for further information

Im 31 working on 32...so...yea...we are old dude.

ha ha thanx...and yeah...I do the same thing...Im always trying to help ouy

ok, 1) thanks to everybody who made me feel older than dirt (but I admit I'm still learnig)
2) I think the bulk of the acolytes are doing a spendid job, and sholdn't force themselves on anybody, but to offer and ask to be added to a friend's list is very intelligent
3) I want ot thank Jason for his recent help with just such an abusive problem-you're a good man Jace

not force themselves red but offer help. I know sometimes I'm too proud to ask for help and well....I pay for it later.

Thats a really good point.

thank you...I try at least once per season to try an envoke an normal conversation about something...this is it people.

OK, this thread is good. I'm bumping it up.

I agree with Jason and I believe that not only us admins and team members should steer the whelps into discoverign the rules, but also everyone who has been here for a while that sees new people getting out of hand and doing things that they're not supposed to.

Lets work together to keep VR a happy place.

♥ DB

that's a good idea in theory...but would be more hassle if everyone were to "offer help". People would take it wrong and some would take it upon themselves to try and enforce their views on how or what people should say,phrase, write or comment on their own thoughts and writings.I have no problem having someone "offer" help. But when the offer is more of a "You SHOULD write this"...or "you should write it this way or that."Then the person who is giving the help comes off as arrogant and pushy...especially if a person feels the urge to correct your grammar. That would make the person very apprehensive when dealing with others who ARE trying to help.

I mean to say that the admins would wind up dealing with more redundant and ridiculous messages about nonsense.

Yeah when you tell people you SHOULD that doesn't help at all.

Also like it was asaid before,there are some people who refuse help cause they think they kno it all.

its a sensitive subject coz some people feel irritated if you offer them help or give suggestions they havent asked for.

I think that's with everyone though. I know that In a personal experience I had a person tell me I should switch around something I wrote and use their words. I found that insulting. I refuse to tell someone to change their words around because I thnk I would like it better. Especially if it's something like poetry...which is what I was told to change my poem to what they THOUGHT it should be. When people do that. That's not helping...to me that's demeaning and belittling. Never try to TELL someone what they should do. Suggest it. And don't suggest it by offering what YOU would put in.Guide them, If they don't want it. Oh well. But I think after hearing the acolytes speak that they do a damn good job.

ok. I had an idea, and I would like to know what you guys think.
How about, when welcoming someone, put something like this:

Welcome to the Rave(comment on the profile)
I am an Acolyte, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Enjoy!
There. Do you think it's too imposing? Or it maybe make the question "what the hell is an Acolyte?!"pop in their heads, and maybe get them to read something, and actually ask for help?

one drawback...you can no longer post the same comment twice...lol
but yea, thats a great idea.

Oh, but i thaught of that, and that's why I put in parethesis "comment on profile" *wink*
ok, so I'll get on with it.

The p/m acolytes could stamp something of that effect if they desired.

ahhh...so have a set greeting but with a comment part that is original with perhaps their s/n...right?
thats good

I was approached by two Acolytes on my first day, the first being Radu and the second being lordvampirio i believe *sorry at the time i was swamped with bites and messages and i didn't pay much attention*

It's good as a new member to have that sort of help, and it was inevtiably why i ended up paying a yearly memebership, i felt that doing so wasn't a waste of time.

...i find the help they offer very handy. whenever i am uncertain they come to my aid like i'm some injured faun....which is allright i guess. i get the info i need....that's all there is to it.

lucios I applaude you once again on another amazing thread ;)

Jason you SUCK!!!!!!!!! lmao
I guess everyone has decided to lay all there problems on the new admins HAHA :P
noone asks me anything since the acolyte's have shown up and I'm thankful for it lol *bounces and claps*

So umm nuthing more.. this was just basically a long winded bump to stay on the front page ;)

thank you

i do try to look at all the new members and offer my services to them and help them out whenever i can

I thank everyone for their input and willingness to help new members. It shows me that there is hope for people and not everyone is a total scumbag and that there are many,many good people out there.

now I must leave this thread in my own unique way

FUCK OFF!!!!
lmao

lol i hope they do!

LOL LuciousWolf

I suck?! (sniff) I think you hurt my feelings, Nic. Waaaahhhh!

I seem to be the token Lycan here...no matter how nice I am or how much I try to help...Im still being bitched at...the new ppl STILL say...rules...what rules...when I ask them to please remove copyrighted work and read the rules

I am not even an Acolyte and i try to help out when ever possible. I dont know all the answers but i always try to point things out, tell them how to go about something, mainly just assist in any way i can. i think people should reach out al little more

It's not your fault if some people are arrogant enough to decline help, or not take a good hint.
William Shakespear once said "Stupidity, even the Gods fear."
So, like someone already said here, if they come whining about deleted portfolios or threads, well, they were warned.

yes I agree...I know what you mean...help is always one click away

Good thread Luc!!!

I agree this is a very good thread, I think we should always seek better ways how to improve the Acolyte role...

One way is to teach eachother so when we're left to help we'd know how, so better information sharing, research as well is important, being assigned as an acolyte in itself should serve as an incentive to get more informed. I also encourage acolytes themselves to use the system to get more informed and establish channels with the rest of the acolytes when anything new comes aroundin VR.

An excellent point Yendor!

This is a very helpful thread for newbies and acolytes!!

so I will give it a bump, in hopes that it will receive more viewing.

I agree with just about everything said. take the time to teach the newbies, if they do not want the help.... than let them whine. as said before they are warned.

I know when I first joined I did not read the rules & was grounded for a week for copywrite violations-I learned the hard way but I was not bitter.I took it as a learning experience

lol lucious.....good thread....
i try to help newbies and anyone else that needs help....lol hey i even ask for help myself when needed....
actually the last few i have helped had seen my acolyte on my name and sent me pm for help...which i think is a great way for them to do it too...

Yeah you don't need to be a newbie to get help I've been here since feb and still ask for it when I need it.

maybe "newbies" dont know who or where to ask for help.i didnt

hmmm maybe when you sign up for the account there should be something said there about if you need help ask acolyte.....like it says about FAQ

I and a few other Acolytes have placed on our profiles that we are Acolyes and what that means...maybe all Acolytes should...so when the new ppl are viewing profiles...they will see it

I also came up with this idea when I greet new members with a stamp it mentioned that if they have question they can ask acolytes for help...nice touch huh? ;)

yes I agree Yender...afew Acolytes have been doing that

YendOr please hehe... yea I believe it's a very good idea :)

sorry...I type too fast

Well hmmm if someone cant read to begin with what would make me think they can read what a person messages them with?

Too lazy to read one too lazy to read another.
Forum threads if I recall correctly cannot be started by a whelp. Anyone who spends time enough to raise higher should have enough sense to follow forms and traditions rather then acting like they were still whelps.

Mew
K

I think the first thing they read ir's the comment cause it's personal.

i have been given help by them at times and i really do appresate it

yes mslefay...you have a point...but when you applied to be an acolyte was it to help only certain members or all equally.Not everyone has that common sense to know to read all the rules. For one, the age bracket for most here that are new is between 18-25(if not younger)...they're still wet behind the ears. I see an acolyte as a Guiding light for new members who wish to accept the help. But when you have an attitude of condecension and a new member sees this...it discourages them from approaching you. And I mean that with no disrespect. But I feel that if you choose to be an acolyte you then accept the reality that you WILL be dealing with some people that may be intelligently challenged. But to raise your nose in the air gives a bad taste for acolytes in the mouths of new members that haven't had the privledge of getting to know your dry humor and way of expressing yourself. Even if they do desrve to be clawed by your cat.

Hence the option of:

Request Help

It is. But if you dislike the stupidity...then why be an acolyte. Why not just help those you only want to help. I was under the impression that acolytes were a sort of "teacher" for VR. If you really are not willing to accept that people DO need help, and some need help more than others...especially being here as long as you have(being a sire) I guess what my question to you is...when you chose to be an acolyte.....what was the reason...considering you seem to hold firm the idea that "Ignorence is one thing the inability to learn another."
Or do you feel above helping who you deem incapable of learning. Or did you apply for the status. See ...if I were new and I read some of your posts in threads...and seen how you speak to some members...I wouldn't want to ask you or any acolyte a thing. Remember...people are ignorant and judge by first impression. And assume every one with that title is...for lack of a better term...an ass(not insulting you or calling you an ass) But can you understand my point?

I can understand your point ... I think.
A Teacher though rarely will go out fishing to find something a flounder to teach english too.

If someone is not seeking then nothing may be found of worth ....

I answered questions before asked of me and continue too outside of that Request Help section. The big thing is the question has to be asked.

Thats all.

But you said it yourself. They lack the common sense to ask. I only found out what an acolyte was not too long ago. Literally 2 weeks. So does that make me ignorant for not asking for help? My point is you seem to really not want to help. You seem to expect everyone to know what's going on at all times and if they don't then they're laughable and ignorant? You still haven't answered my question though...why did YOU apply to be an acolyte?

Good point MsLefaye, but...Remember that 1st day in a new highschool when you didn't know anyone, and you all were like "I gotta stay sharp, or they gonna eat me alive"...I guess that a lot of the agressive behavior comes from there too..It's a cyber space, but it's new anyway. I think that should also be taken under consideration.
I'm 30 y/old, and I'm not the rude type, and i don't get all defensive that easely, but there are a lot of younger people that, unfortunatlly are both...And a bit lazy too, I have to agree.
I'm loving this thread. Learning a lot my self.

Position of Acolyte is brand new so not surprised you just learned what it is.

Did someone have to hold your hand to explain it though?
If so did you resent it?

I certainly would have if someone did.
If I am not asking for help I do not particularly want that help. On the otherhand if I do ask a question I like being responded to....

No questioning no answering. I am not a mind reader. Perhaps the person does want everyong to see vulgarity as the only aspect of the person in his or her profile.

Makes no sense to me but since the person did not ask for my imput on it ....
I may leave my comment and say something or message or just shake my head at the stupidity and waste of time.

Just as expressing my opinion on something and then explaining and explaining and explaining yet again seems to be.

here...I'll answer your qusetion...honestly if you can answer my question honestly.

yes...someone did hold my hand to explain it to me when I asked what the title of acolyte was from an acolyte(aleks)

And no I didn't resent it.

Now...why did YOU...decide to be an acolyte. I'm asking an acolyte a question about what made them want to help people on VR.
So please feel free to "hold my hand" and use small words as so I may be able to understand the answer.

oh...and BTW...some people feel embarassed to ask for help because of attitudes such as yours.
Maybe if you would answer my question I could have a better understanding.

Sorry but I feel at this point that you better take it to private...

I agree with Yendor. I think that the point of this thread has been clearly established. At this point, things might get out of hand. If you want private answers, use the messaging system to obtain them.

Thank you for the wonderful thread, but like all good things, I think it needs to come to an end.