Hi forum go-ers, Do0mAid here! I thought this was a good time to post this, because I've just working on the ModReports for an 1 hour+ and when I started there were 51 reports... right now theres STILL 51. Want to know why? Everytime I cleared some, more showed up D=! That doesn't happen all the time, but point is, something needs to be done!

HokiePokie made this really good guide to using the forums awhile back and asked me to post it some where. I figured the front page would be the best place. So PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE take the couple minutes to read it, maybe skim through it. It might point out a couple things you didn't think of, or didn't know about. Do your part to make the forums a little better ^_^. To be honest the guide is kind of entertaining. If any of you know HokiePokie you'll know why =P, and it looks long but there's pictures =)!

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Forum Guide

It has become pretty obvious that too many people don't know how to forum properly. So HokiePokie decided to take his time to make a guide! Just follow these 3 guidelines, and poof you're a forum genius (hopefully >.< !)

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Important Threads:

Crunchyroll Forum Rules
http://www.crunchyroll.com/showforumtopic?id=13504

Crunchyroll FAQS
http://www.crunchyroll.com/showforumtopic?id=12745
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(1.) Proper Posting Manners
A forum should be a somewhat of an orgranized place for discussions, whether they be on light or even deep subjects. A forum (or CR's forum) isn't a chatroom, so please try to avoid one or two words for a post.


In this image you see that there are posts, yet they're only just posts. Not really a discussion, and remember a forum is a place for discussion and not made people to just post. Plus when there is a discussion going on, you either join, or you don't post because you'll be interrupting the conversation, and that is being rude.

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Our great Catex (Media Moderator for Crunchyroll) has made a terrific post. It's not just a post, it's a response, and a well done one too. He carefully explains what he's talking about and is on subject. Way to be a great role model Catex! Yay!

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Another thing you shouldn't do is double post! EEEEK! There are post limits for a page, and it's really rude to hog up more than one space when they're back to back posts. Plus there is a secret that nobody knows about! I'll tell you!

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What is this!? Huh!? It's a what button!? It's a Edit button? What's that!?
This Edit button can allow you to change your post without double posting!? An advantage/drawback to this feature though is that it bumps (puts the thread back up top) when you edit, so if a post is old and it's not been posted in for 3 months, don't edit it.

It's a good idea to use proper spelling, grammar, and of course to type in full sentences. I know there are foreign people on Crunchyroll that take English as a second language, and it's really not that bad if you have a wee bit of a problem spelling and having grammar issues (even if you're not foreign.) But it's only really bad (including foreign people) when you're typing "Liek diz cuz u dink itz kewl (Like this cause you think it's cool.)" Let's face it forums are still not chatrooms, so you have no need to type in such a way (although even in chatrooms it's horrible to use.)

Another good idea is to not respond to old posts, when it's page 3/4/5+ there should already be a discussion going on. You really have no need to respond to the first post, even to thank that person, it interrupts the conversation... and looks very odd.

Hint: Get an avatar, make draw it either online or offline (then scan it of course). Download it online. Although no one wants to have the exact same avatar as someone else, putting your name on an image you didn't create isn't right. So don't complain, just get a new one and move on.


(2.) Creating a Forum Topic/Thread

It's important to know how to make a proper thread before making one! Making a bad thread can be a huge disappointment, and can be an annoyance to moderators and fellow members. We don't want that happening now do we?

So you click the "New Topic" button then you---- WAIT!!! Before you make a forum topic you must search if there are threads similar (and if you're topic is just insanely stupid, don't bother.) Common sense is also important! If you want to make a thread on let's say... "Favorite Naruto Characters" stop and consider... how popular is Naruto? VERY popular! So doesn't it make sense that someone else would have already thought to make the topic? Yes!

To find similar threads change the search to "Forum" and type in what you're looking for. It's best if you use keywords rather than just putting in "The Hypothesis of Possible Theorem #43543". Search "Hypothesis" or "Theorem #43543" or "Theorem". Remember to try several keywords. People have many ways of naming/talking about the same things. After search a few pages if you see no thread similar, this isn't a duplicate! But more than just Forum search, there is the Forum thread index!

http://www.crunchyroll.com/showforumtopic?id=5269

Although this is the general one, it gives out the links to the one for the Anime section, and the Games section. Put up your online search "CTRL+F" works for most/some people. Other ways, I don't know. Still in this case search with keywords! The advantage of using the index, is that you won't get posts, but the forum topic itself! (It also gives the link, which Forum Search technically also does)

HINT: Don't forget about stickied threads! Yes, they don't move up and down when you post, but they're still there!

Stickied posts have beside their names in that little box!

After all of this, make sure your thread ISN'T a topic about Naruto, or Bleach (sadly there are just too many of them!) That it's not a _____ VS ______ thread, and that it's PG-13. Tags in your thread like "*IMAGE INTENSIVE*" Warns users that the post has tons of images, and "*READ THE FIRST POST*" tells users to obviously read the first post. If you see a thread like this read the first post before responding! Yes, these paragraphs make it look like it takes 20 minutes, but it doesn't. It just takes 2 minutes to save trouble to mods, and you from embarrassment of a bad thread/post!



(3.) Helping out the Forums

YES! You read this simple guide, and hopefully will know how to make great forum topics that are not duplicates and aren't insanely stupid. Although you may have read it, others may not have! *shock* So what do you do when you stumble upon a thread that is a duplicate, is insanely stupid, and isn't appropriate (and also double posts, inappropriate posts, and etc?) It depends!


You can report the thread by clicking the "Report to Mod" button and typing in the reason why you reported the thread, and what rules it broke. Was it a duplicate? Was it inappropiate? Was it insanely stupid? Keep in mind when reporting a thread, report the thread starter's first post. No other post. After you've reported it's necessary to post in the thread telling the person what rules they broke, in a nice and calm manner, this also gives warnings to other members that the thread was already reported. If you're feeling EXTRA helpful, when a thread/topic is a duplicate, posting a link to the old topic is great!

Hint: When you know a thread has already been reported, don't report it. It doesn't help bring it to a mod's attention. It's a pain in the butt for a mod to manually remove 20 reports for just 1 thread. Also there's no need to restate the rules broken, unless one was missed, it just causes an unnecessary post, and just looks weird. Don't respond at all, and do not post "Where all the mods at!?" and etc, it very rude to the mods, who work voluntarily.

Now that you've done this, everything is happy happy and the forums will look like a better place (not perfect, but still better.) You've helped made the Crunchyroll forums a better place, by doing this you may also make friends on Crunchyroll that you actually talk to! Rather than random buddys, you've never talked to since the first month you've added them. I'm not perfect, but I do the best I can do, and you should too! If somehow more people follow this and somehow the forums aren't as much of a wreck as it is now, you'll notice a HUGE difference.

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Also, to the user in the screenshots, if you would like your name/avatar blocked out, I'll gladly do it. Just PM me! Also this thread will be updated whenever I feel like it's necessary, and mods are welcome to change it too.

Interesting read... hopefully it will help some people to stop making so much silly threads.

oh! and something that I have always wondered about.. you mention something about bumping a 3 month old thread, but what if you want to add something to it or something? Is it ok then? I never heard of much people getting angry about necroing a thread, but I have heard it mentioned a couple times.

Well, it depends in what the Topic is about...
If it's something that may help or just would be cool if it can be revived...i guess bumping it might be ok.

That's what i think...
And yeah, people usually forget that there is a small and pretty button called "EDIT" -.-.

I would like to quote the part about the Discussion, most of the post out there are off-topic, and it makes the Topic die =\.

Anyway, thanks for this Guide...i hope people read it so the Forum can become even better =]!!

Have a nice day~

oi finally something useful that these people can use. Read it well!!

Wow I am seriously blind.. I didn't see the Edit sign.. thanks for telling us that

Thanks for posting! Hope the Forums can get cleaner and more organized!

great post do0my, hopefully the CR community will take to this well..

Proper grammar, is a nice addition so people dont get misunderstood too easy

Haha, that was a fun guide to read. But even with all that effort and the fact this is on the front page may not change the way people post. I mean, if they're blind enough to see the search and the thread index, is there really hope?

God, sorry. I don't mean to sound like a character in Harry Potter... >.>;;

help save a mod today! read this guide!

There should be a delete message button. Some people accidently double post the same message twice or if they have a message they want to remove, they have no way of getting rid of it.

i agree, hmm, how bout a rater, lol, kinda like youtube, this is asiantube right, hehe

^ one for the suggestion thread maybe?

well, a simple tip..hehe

you must "refresh" the page before thinking of posting it again....

Very helpful guide, thanks. Just hope that those who should read this thread (forummers who dont post properly) read it otherwise it defeats the purpose!!

Hope the mods will have a better time after this. We know how hard you work. Good job!