What should be included in a newbie welcome message?

[hilariousetc]

A while ago I asked theymos if we could implement a welcome/introductory message that is shown to all Newbies when they sign up which will include all the info they need to get started. He agreed, so I suggest we brainstorm what that should include. Ideally I think the initial message should be as concise as possible with only the most important rules being listed, but contain further links to more in depth guides and FAQs so they can do their own further research. Throwing too much info at newbies is probably overkill so let's try keep it as short and as sweet as we can.

Here's what I've got so far:

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Welcome to Bitcointalk. Before you start posting please take a short while to read through this guide. Due to anti-spam measures you will have to wait six minutes between your posts (and this includes logging in) so please use this time wisely to familiarise yourself with the rules. Additionally, to bypass some of these limits you can consider buying a Copper Membership here. A full list of forum rules can be found here, but the most important ones are listed below and breaking them will likely lead to an immediate ban:

Do not post referral links.
Do not plagiarise content or copy and paste another user's posts. Any content that is not your own should be properly quoted and a link provided to the original source.
Do not offer to sell anything illegal or such things as hacked/shared accounts.
Do not beg for money whether for personal reasons or a supposed charity.

Before posting in a sub board please take the time to read the sticky/pinned threads at the top of them as answers to the most frequently asked questions can be found there along with other helpful guides, but here are some that may interest you:

A guide for Newbies can be found here.
A guide on how to earn bitcoins and join signature campaigns and bounties can be found here.
A guide on how forum ranks, activity and merit work can be found here.

Please note: Bitcointalk is an English speaking only board and if you struggle with English or aren't fluent then you should stick to your local language sub board which can be found here.

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I'm up for this being completely re-written or adding more things in depth but I think it should be as short as possible so people actually get the gist of the most important things and can spend additional time reading into the finer details as well. As long as all the info can be found when you sign up then there should be no excuses for breaking the rules or all the same newbie threads asking how do I join a bounty or what is or how do I get merit etc etc.

Please suggest anything you think should be included.

[1714927939]

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[1714927939]

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[Jet Cash]

Merit has become such a big issue, that it might be worth including a suggestion that one shouldn't beg for merit.

[hilariousetc]

Merit has become such a big issue, that it might be worth including a suggestion that one shouldn't beg for merit.

That info is already included in the merit/rank FAQ but I suppose it could be added, but I'd prefer to keep it to only the most important things. Most new users won't have any idea about what merit even is until they've either read about it in the FAQ/rules or been here a bit and realised they either haven't got or aren't getting any. Then the begging comes in but if they'd've read the guide then they would know not to do this.

[Thekool1s]

"Before starting a new thread, Always use the "Search" feature. On most ocassion you will find plenty of threads on the same subject, But if you find none. You can create a new thread."

I believe a message like this should be mentioned too. Too many members don't use the search feature and create duplicate useless threads.

[Steamtyme]

Nice glad to see something might come out for this.

I don't care if it's my [tips] , but something covering multiposts, and trimmed quotes would be nice.

Also any way to make a one or 2 question quiz to verify they look at the message.. Like write 3rd word in second sentance. It won't prove they read it but if there account is locked until they fill in the answer they will have to open the message.

[TheBeardedBaby]

I suggest, instead of welcome message, a warning message with link to the main rules and the local rules of the section if there are any,  to appear before every post untill the user reaches jr. member.

Often people have no time to read the whole list with rules in the beginning, when they register, that's why it will be better to have a direct access to the link with the rules the first two weeks.

[edwardceng]

is it possible to put a message informing the official website of this forum is bitcointalk.org. or whatever the message is basically a message that can prevent phishing.

[LoyceV]

My suggestion:
Warning: Bitcoin transactions are designed to be permanent. Scams happen, and are not moderated on this forum. Be very careful who you trust.



Will this be sent to a new account instantly? That's what happens when I open a new Gmail account, I think it sends me even 3 emails at once. And that's not the first thing I'm going to read when I've created a new account.
My suggestion would be to either send it in parts, or send the same message again as a reminder once the user has made a few posts.

[KWH]

READ AND UNDERSTAND THE RULES
Plagiarism offenses will be banned.
Scams are not moderated, trade at your own risk
Paypal is not safe for BTC trades
Read about and understand Merit

Of course, we all know less than 10% of "new" users will read or try to understand the workings of this forum.

[hilariousetc]

"Before starting a new thread, Always use the "Search" feature. On most ocassion you will find plenty of threads on the same subject, But if you find none. You can create a new thread."

I believe a message like this should be mentioned too. Too many members don't use the search feature and create duplicate useless threads.

Maybe, and that certainly is a problem, but the search function here is shit though. Barely works or brings up what you want half of the time. People also tend to search and then necrobump threads as well with their issue when ideally it might have been better in another or a new thread completely. Damned if they do damned if they don't.

but something covering multiposts, and trimmed quotes would be nice.

Again, that's in the forum rules. Trying to keep it as short as possible, but that info is there and is their responsibility to make sure they've read them. Multiposting isn't a huge issue either.

Also any way to make a one or 2 question quiz to verify they look at the message.. Like write 3rd word in second sentance. It won't prove they read it but if there account is locked until they fill in the answer they will have to open the message.

Maybe something like this could be a good idea, but theymos would have to implement that. It could even add as another barrier to protect against bots. Maybe there could be a set of random simple questions that they have to answer where the info can either be found in the welcome message or the rules. Could be multiple choice with a drop down menu for example:

How many accounts are you allowed to have here:

One
Two
Ten
About tree fiddy
As many as you like

Are referral links permitted:

Yes
No
Only in certain boards

Maybe we can have one to weed out social justice warriors and special snowflakes:

How many genders are there:

Two
Three (including attack helicopters)
24
There is no such thing as gender as gender is a social construct
I'm offended that you're even asking

I suggest, instead of welcome message, a warning message with link to the main rules and the local rules of the section if there are any,  before every post untill the user reach jr. member.

I've suggested something like this in the community generated suggestions, and they should be sub board specific. Ie in before posting in Bitcoin Discussion: DONT POST TOPICS ABOUT THE PRICE OF BITCOIN OR YOU WILL DIE BY THE HAND OF SATOSHI, YOU CRYPTOPLEB. THEY BELONG IN SPECULATION. Or something  .

Will this be sent to a new account instantly? That's what happens when I open a new Gmail account, I think it sends me even 3 emails at once. And that's not the first thing I'm going to read when I've created a new account.
My suggestion would be to either send it in parts, or send the same message again as a reminder once the user has made a few posts.

Well that's up to theymos but it should either be displayed as soon as they've successfully signed up or linked to it in a sticky somewhere. Would prefer it being shown as they sign up because most won't bother reading it but it could also be sticked and they're just forced to read it. Could also get sent to their email and/or pop up in their messages as well. Plenty of options.

[DdmrDdmr]

Perhaps since the number one problem on the forum is spam, we should emphasized on what we consider as spam, and how that is one of the top reasons for being nuked or banned. Spam has multiple forms on this forum, but the major shape it takes is probably that of posting low quality posts that are not given some real thought, and that end up being skinny superficial one or two liners.

[hilariousetc]

Perhaps since the number one problem on the forum is spam, we should emphasized on what we consider as spam, and how that is one of the top reasons for being nuked or banned. Spam has multiple forms on this forum, but the major shape it takes is probably that of posting low quality posts that are not given some real thought, and that end up being skinny superficial one or two liners.

Again, possibly, but that's all in the other guides and rules etc. Might be too long to explain the intricacies of what is and isn't considered spam or not. Also, it's all well and good saying "no spam or low quality posts" but 80% of the forum should be nuked if that's the case. Bitcoin Discussion is probably 80% generic bullshit one/two liners churned out as fast as they possibly can over their multiple accounts. The bots and account farming going on in there is embarrassing and it's blatant to see for anyone who spends a couple of minutes reading a spam thread in there. Accounts registered with similar usernames posting one after the other in the exact same format are rife and nothing is done about it. The ones who aren't as stupid and more difficulty to spot will dwarf the ones we know about as well.

[athanz88]

I have read the OP but maybe i did miss it, if yes then forgive me in advance, but there is one thing i would like to suggest. I think it is a good idea if you include this kind of message to the newbie welcome message

If you are not a native english speaker, it is a great idea to visit your Local Board first and learn about this forum from there.

Well, i am not good with the words, but the point is to point them out to the Local Board since not all of us are native english speaker and members might come from any country. Thanks.

[hilariousandco]

I have read the OP but maybe i did miss it, if yes then forgive me in advance, but there is one thing i would like to suggest. I think it is a good idea if you include this kind of message to the newbie welcome message

If you are not a native english speaker, it is a great idea to visit your Local Board first and learn about this forum from there.

Well, i am not good with the words, but the point is to point them out to the Local Board since not all of us are native english speaker and members might come from any country. Thanks.

Maybe actually read what is written first before pointlessly suggesting things?

[SFR10]

A full list of forum rules can be found here, but the most important ones are listed below and breaking them will likely lead to an immediate ban:

You might want to consider including the permanent or temporary label for each of the mentioned cases (to eliminate/reduce the possibility of them creating threads for "perma" cases).

Please suggest anything you think should be included.

[Guide] Bitcointalk account security (the other linked guide, covers only a small portion of it).

My suggestion would be to either send it in parts, or send the same message again as a reminder once the user has made a few posts.

Would prefer it being shown as they sign up because most won't bother reading it but it could also be sticked and they're just forced to read it. Could also get sent to their email and/or pop up in their messages as well.

I like these (perhaps once a week until they reach a rank of Jr.).

[joniboini]

I have read the OP but maybe i did miss it, if yes then forgive me in advance, but there is one thing i would like to suggest. I think it is a good idea if you include this kind of message to the newbie welcome message

If you are not a native english speaker, it is a great idea to visit your Local Board first and learn about this forum from there.

Well, i am not good with the words, but the point is to point them out to the Local Board since not all of us are native english speaker and members might come from any country. Thanks.

It's already there.

Woops, already responded by hilarious.

Please note: Bitcointalk is an English speaking only board and if you struggle with English or aren't fluent then you should stick to your local language sub board which can be found here.

I think introducing Jet Cash Fit to Talk is also great. It can be written alongside hilarious post above. Something like this:

Please note: Bitcointalk is an English speaking only board and if you struggle with English or aren't fluent then you should stick to your local language sub board which can be found here. You can also visit Fit to Talk to improve your English. Fit to Talk is a community effort from Bitcointalk (made by Jet Cash) to help you improve your English.

Seems like I keep mistyping 'hilarious' name.

[Thekool1s]

People also tend to search and then necrobump threads as well with their issue when ideally it might have been better in another or a new thread completely. Damned if they do damned if they don't.

Jesus! What did we do to deserve this Damnation!

but the search function here is shit though.

Agreed! The search function should be replaced by Google search IMO. It performs way better than the default one.

[Joel_Jantsen]

There should be some information about joining bounties. Like "We don't have any problem with people joining the forum only for the sake of bounties but if we come across posts/content that violates any of our rules we may ban such accounts without explanation".

A lot of bounty hunters think bounties are a privilege and it's okay to spam the forum with unsubstantial content.

[Meraki]

How many accounts are you allowed to have here:

One
Two
Ten
About tree fiddy
As many as you like

Are referral links permitted:

Yes
No
Only in certain boards

Maybe we can have one to weed out social justice warriors and special snowflakes:

This should be the opening message for the newly created account lol.  
I think that 80-90% of newly created account are only alt account used for farming bounties.

Anyway I'd suggest that the opening message should contain links to informative guide as well as rules. And should also include a warning that CRYPTO HAS ALOT OF SCAMMER/HACKER they should protect themselves at all time.

but the search function here is shit though.

Agreed! The search function should be replaced by Google search IMO. It performs way better than the default one.

So true, +1 to the suggestion that it should be replaced by google. Because there are a lot of threads and words now in the database thus the default search system is not working accurately.

[jackg]

I think the OP could do with being paraphrased a bit if we want people to read it.

If we have a bullet point list of the unofficial official rules (pinned to the top of meta), that would be very helpful (especially since, then we can't have people saying "please mods I didn't know there were any rules here").

Like Jet Cash said,
You could put something like "in order to rank up here you need merit and activity, if you beg for merit, you risk your account being unusable and you (personally) being banned from this forum. Activity can only be increased by 14 every 14 days (refreshes every other Tuesday). If you are banned from this forum, your ban is personal and you may not use your account/make another account in the time that you're banned unless it is to appeal your ban in meta."