CAA can be an intimidating place, especially when first starting out trying to meet people. There are strict rules to follow, inside jokes to learn, people to meet without seeming like a total n00b, and a whole huge forum to navigate. It’s a daunting task to really “become a member of CAA”.
But not to worry, I’m here to help! I’ve made some great guidelines to help ease your way into the CAA community and make your membership on CAA much more enjoyable.
I hope they are helpful.
1.Read the rules (twice). This is an important guideline for you to follow if you wish to survive on CAA. The rules were put there to keep you and everyone else on CAA safe and happy. Memorize them if you can and follow them without fail.
2. Take a tour of the board before you post. I know sometimes you’re not quite sure where that awesome thread you want to make should go. This is why it’s a good idea to get yourself familiar with how the forum is laid out before you start posting. It may take a little time, but it will be worth it in the end.
3.Type in readable text in all your posts. In other words, make an effort to not spek leik tis. Bcus its vury hrd 2 red. But really, in order to be understood correctly, make an effort to type in correct grammar. Make the Grammar Ranger proud.
4. Strive to be a peacemaker whenever possible. As dull as this may seem, this will keep your time at CAA a lot more pleasant. Granted, if you know someone is in the wrong in their opinion, you can speak up. But instead of taking the “I’m right and you’re wrong” mentality, kindly inform them that their opinion is not entirely true and give good evidence to support this. And if someone takes you help the wrong way and lashes back at you, don’t do the same, as tempting as it may seem. Getting into an ugly fight just to prove you’re “right” isn’t worth hurting other members.
5. Don’t flame. This is in the rules, I know, but sometimes what you would consider a little ember can be considered flaming. People over the internet have feelings just like you. Please don’t burn them.
6. Always reread posts before you reply. It’s a well known fact that emotions can’t be expressed very well over the internet, so before you assume something, read over the post again before you reply. Following the advice in Nate's thread will help you quite a bit in this area too: viewtopic.php?f=23&t=41269
7. Before you post a thread, look for an existing one. You may have heard this one, but it’s worth mentioning in here. As excited as you are about the new chapters of Naruto(for example), there may already be a thread where you can vent your happiness without making a new thread. Observing this guideline just keeps the forum more organized and threads easier to find.
8. Respect other people’s opinions. Yes, I know it’s hard when you can’t understand why someone doesn’t like, say, cookies, for example, but you shouldn’t get on their case about it. Just accept the fact that they don’t like cookies and in the end, it leaves more for you.
9. If you do have a problem with a member, don’t outright say it for the whole board to see. This is unsightly and makes you look worse than you actually are. If you have problems with someone, take it to PM. Or, if it’s very serious, contact a moderator about it.
10. The moderators are your friends. Honestly, they don’t bite. They’re here to help you out in any way they can if you have a problem concerning the site. Or if you have any confusion about the rules, they are there to clarify. Make sure to always respect their authority as well. They help out on the site out of the goodness of their hearts.
11. The Goof Off is just that, a place to goof off. Please don’t take anything there very seriously. It’s a place to hang out and just have fun, not to spam your heart out or start a serious discussion.
12. Getting into the CAA group takes time, be patient. Like with any friendships, they don’t happen automatically. If you don’t feel like you’re being accepted by the other members instantly, don’t worry. Be patient while you’re still a new member and getting adjusted into the group. Try to be friendly whenever possible and be always willing to listen to learn about other members.
13. The Chat is only as scary as you make it. Things can sometimes get really crazy in the chat, and if you can’t follow it very well at first, be willing to lurk and just follow the conversation that way, perhaps inserting little comments here and there pertaining to the topic. If you don’t like the chat’s topic, don’t feel obligated to stay in the chat if you don’t want to. The chat’s topic also often changes like the wind, so if you wait a bit, there will be something new to talk about.
14. Please don't gravedig threads. Check the post dates of a thread before you post in it. Avoid posting in a thread more than 2 months old unless you have something very important to add(something more than "I agree", "I don't agree", ect...). And most of the time, old threads need to remain in the depths of CAA and not brought back up to the surface.
15. And most of all, have fun. CAA isn’t suppose to be a boring place. But it’s only as fun as its members make it.
Thank you all for taking the time to read this. I hope, if anything, I helped at least one of you out in making your time at CAA a lot more enjoyable.
God bless.~
