Lots of newbies?

[Iram]

I don't think that they meant you after all, you are participating in forum's life (I also just joined rather recently before ordring my first saber in january)

Yeah, that's basically what I'm saying, I think it's great when people join and become active members in the community. I just think It's kinda selfish when they join solely for the purpose of entering the raffle (Which like Jack said, kind of lowers our -loyal members- odds of winning ) and then we never hear about them again.

Even if they make one prize tier available to only Commanders, or actual members of the community, and left the other prizes open to everyone....

Love this, and the minimum post idea.

[Darth Knox]

Yeah, that's basically what I'm saying, I think it's great when people join and become active members in the community. I just think It's kinda selfish when they join solely for the purpose of entering the raffle (Which like Jack said, kind of lowers our -loyal members- odds of winning ) and then we never hear about them again.

I really don't see it as selfish. It is one of the rules of the raffle.

[Darth Calon]

Even if they make one prize tier available to only Commanders, or actual members of the community, and left the other prizes open to everyone....

Like, for example, only Commanders can win a First Prize?

[Layana]

I'm no commander (yet) and I would even support that now.

[Iram]

I really don't see it as selfish. It is one of the rules of the raffle.

Yeah, no, I didn't mean for it to sound quite like that, I just think that if you join the forums you should be active.

[Darth Knox]

can't we all just be happy with having the same chance as winning as everyone else?

i'm a commander and use that status to set a certain tone of behaviour and language that I hope those newer to the forum will follow. however, i don't need any perks or rewards for being a commander. i think having a raffle or prizes that only commanders are eligible for would just lead to some people feeling excluded. that would go against the whole nature of the inclusive nature of the community that has developed on the forum.

obviously, this is just my opinion on the matter. as most of you are aware, i lost my job at the beginning of february and only recently got a new job. therefore I wasn't even able to enter the raffle. i don't feel the situation is unfair. that's just life. the raffle is just a fun thing that ultrasabers do. yes, it is a strategy to drive sales, because they are a business after all. there's an old saying "you can't please all the people all the time". i amend that to "you can't please all the people all the time, and it's mistake to try, for if you do you'll end up pleasing nobody".

I don't want it to sound as though i am annoyed. far from it. but let's remember that ultrsabers are under no obligation to ever do a raffle. let's just be happy that they currently do.

[Iram]

 

Sorry Knox. Didn't mean to come off as ungrateful and selfish. Wasn't trying to.
 

I just wish people would be committed

[Layana]

Knox: yeah you're right, on the other hand: just see what Drahcir's idea did... it's not quite the same but the same direction and the "older members" just love it. I totally understand them (and I am lucky to qualify there, too)

[Darth Knox]

Yeah, no, I didn't mean for it to sound quite like that, I just think that if you join the forums you should be active.

as i said in one of my earlier posts, some people just view the forum as an information resource. they come to find out information, learn what they need and then leave. is there anything wrong with that?

There are those who come for information but then discover the awesome social side to the forum and the great community we have here and decide to stay longer. but it is not one of the rules of the forum that when you sign up (whatever your reason for coming here) you have to be active.

can you explain why you think people should be active if they join the forum?

[Darth Knox]

Knox: yeah you're right, on the other hand: just see what Drahcir's idea did... it's not quite the same but the same direction and the "older members" just love it. I totally understand them (and I am lucky to qualify there, too)

don't get me wrong. i think it is INCREDIBLY generous, beautiful and wonderful thing that Drahcir is doing. however, i don't think it should be expected. I would prefer people to stay here because they want to, not because they think there is something in it for them (other than the pleasure of the company and shenanigans of the forum community).

Just thinking back a few weeks ago when we had a massive influx of new people on the forum waiting for their orders. the friendly and fun tone of forum was in danger of being crushed by new people who were frustrated and angry because they hadn't received their orders yet (even though it was still within the stated waiting time). i think most of those people have no disappeared since their sabers were delivered.

i love this forum, and am quite active on here, but the borderline bad blood that was being posted at that time almost made me decide to take a break from posting on here. i'm glad i didn't though

Sorry Knox. Didn't mean to come off as ungrateful and selfish. Wasn't trying to.
 

I just wish people would be committed

and you're not coming across as ungrateful or selfish. we can't make people stay on here. everyone has their reasons for signing up and if they only want to do it on the off chance they can win something, then so be it. that's just the way i see it (not that i'm the authority on these things!  )

[Iram]

Wow, sorry. Didn't mean to incite a quarrel. I didn't mean it like that. I'll literally go and cry now, if it'll make you happy, Knox .

You're totally right. I only thought that people who join the forums JUST so they can qualify to enter the raffle seemed a little wrong. It's sorta like making an account to use a service that you'll only use once.



Again, sorry to create such an argument

[Layana]

I didn't read that at all as "we WANT to have something EXTRA for us being there", more like: "if you join the forum, you may consider to make an effort here, even if you're just entering because of the raffle". There is and will always be a bitter aftertaste, not because someone really expects something, but it's just human and natural to ask why there is no nothing to separate active users from those just joining to win something. So it's quite the contrary, the active members stay here not because of the raffle, but because of the community, they don't expect anything, so it's bitter to see those that are expecting to win and nothing more.

[Darth Calon]

Knox, you're brought up some good "arguments". Now I'm not sure what I'd like more. I think I'd still support the rare Commander only raffle though.

[Vivectius]

I think the rewards for active forum members are things like the forum only colors, finding Drahcir's weathering service, Sedsti's shop, and such.  Sure you can see them if your only lurking, but chances are you're not doing that thorough of a search. Oh, and it's the active forum members that tend to get the new hilt designs when they're given as raffle prizes.

I have no problem with folks joining solely for the raffle.  It's what I did.  In fact, I don't think I even came back to the forums after I won for about 3 months, and even then it was a post here, a post there.  I didn't really begin to be active, probably until about 6 months after I joined, and even then most of my interaction was merely answering questions, and usually being corrected by Dauntless Seven.  I've seen people like Darth Knox, Darth Justicar, and Lord Rapine hit 500 posts and way way beyond in just a few months, where it took me almost a year.  They're simply more social people than I am, and it took me a while to become comfortable enough to be more social, and not just a question answering machine.

So yes, there will be people who signed up for the raffle that we'LE never hear from again, and there are people who are instantly active.  But there's probably a few more that we'll hear from sporadically and then see more and more.

Everyone needs to feel welcome, no matter how active they are.

[Darth Knox]

Wow, sorry. Didn't mean to incite a quarrel. I didn't mean it like that. I'll literally go and cry now, if it'll make you happy, Knox .

You're totally right. I only thought that people who join the forums JUST so they can qualify to enter the raffle seemed a little wrong. It's sorta like making an account to use a service that you'll only use once.



Again, sorry to create such an argument

i'm really sorry if you felt as though I was arguing against you. that was never my intention. i was just putting my point across (in many MANY words). and it is just MY opinion. there is no "right" or "wrong'.

I didn't read that at all as "we WANT to have something EXTRA for us being there", more like: "if you join the forum, you may consider to make an effort here, even if you're just entering because of the raffle". There is and will always be a bitter aftertaste, not because someone really expects something, but it's just human and natural to ask why there is no nothing to separate active users from those just joining to win something. So it's quite the contrary, the active members stay here not because of the raffle, but because of the community, they don't expect anything, so it's bitter to see those that are expecting to win and nothing more.

as i said before, it is one of the rules of the raffle that they HAVE to join the forum. i suppose that is why i ultimately don't have a problem with it. for those who join and are never active, it is their loss, because WE'RE AWESOME!!!!