I don't really know where to put this, but I feel like this involves the site, so I'm putting it here. EDIT: Also, I thought this music was fitting, considering it is Kingdom Hearts music.

 http://youtu.be/hZlaj6gQdmc&autoplay=1

 I know I'm really late on this, but I just read hatok's criticism on the newest random rule and something really bugged me that Draco pointed out that's related but doesn't involve the random rule. KH13 is a close-nit niche and it's true it does take some time to actually get into it yourself.  I've been a member for what now, a year and four maybe five months, and I've only felt like a part of the community for maybe one or two months.  I've only made real friends one or two months ago here and now that I have, I feel guilty just leaving.  I want to stay. At first I was just going to mention this in a status, but I felt that it became way too long for it and so I'm putting it on a thread.  I also wanted to put this on a thread because I felt it should reach a wider amount of people.   Okay, back to my point.  I love this site a lot, I even made a topic telling everyone how much I love it and it's people, but I really would like to point out (again) that it really is hard to just jump in and join the community.  You join the site for the latest news in Kingdom Hearts, but usually stay for the community (especially during a dry spell), but I can't help but feel that a lot of people won't stay for the community because they were never included in it in the first place.  Part of the reason is due to the established cliques in this site.  Amon mentioned in hatok's thread that at that point there weren't any cliques, but now there is.  I see it everyday, although we may be this close site everybody knows, I feel like we've separated ourselves in clearly defined lines and I admit, I've done this also.  So I wanna fix that. I wanna make it easier to jump in, which was what DC wanted.  I'm not sure if Amon actually made the topic helping newer members or not and if he did, sorry for making this topic, but if he didn't, I'd like to take the initiative and start it. So new members, I just wanna tell you, that you are definitely welcomed in the site and I'd love for it if you'd stay.  I'd like to talk to anyone who would want to talk to me and I wanna update this very first post to completely detail what our culture is all about.  Amon had the right idea to make a complete guide to KH13 and it would be very helpful if the older members can help fill this up together.  So feel free to ask questions about inside jokes and about members and this doesn't just apply to new members, I know a lot of old members lurk around because they aren't closely involved in our community and it's a shame, I'd love for them to be a part of it also. This is what I have so far.  Sorry if I stepped out of line, sorry if you didn't read this and/or felt it was annoying, but I really felt like this needed to be said.  In recent events, members were banned (due to their own fault) because they were unhappy with how the site has become.  I see members expressing this everyday and maybe uniting us all would be the best way to end these qualms.  So in a sense, I wanna welcome the old members as well.  New members and old members alike in the site should be welcomed. Again, sorry if I just made a complete ass of myself right now, just voicing my opinion.EDIT 2: So I'm gonna add this section. The Guide Section and I'd like for anyone who can contribute to post or maybe PM me so I can make this guide for everyone as best as possible.  There is currently nothing here, btw, I don't really know where to start.

 

Inside jokes

 

 

 

 

 

What else should I put?

Edited August 14, 201312 yr by Prince Sky Heart

If by 'cliques' you mean groups of members that tend to hang out with each other, isn't that normal?  I think everyone has at least one member they're a little closer with than others, or at least just pay more attention to.  Maybe I'm just not paying attention but I've never seen this practiced at the expense of others' inclusion.

 

I do appreciate the sentiment.  I understand it can be intimidating to try and wedge your way in a close-nit community.  I've been there, as shown in the link you posted, and so have a lot of users.  But, can't that same uneasiness to take the plunge be said for a lot of social situations? (Well, it's the internet, but still).  When you go to a new school or a new town or whatever, of course you're gonna be a fish out of water.  The same principle applies to an internet forum, but with the added bonus of anonymity and all the time in the world to lurk before you feel comfortable enough to actually interact.

 

From my and probably everyone else's experience, the best way to get involved and comfortable here is to just participate.  The way to get known around here--and any forum--is to just post.  Keep posting and eventually you'll get noticed by someone, maybe by one of the big shots or maybe by someone in your boat.  Getting all the little in-jokes and certain conduct takes more time, but the more you participate, the more you'll understand.  Though, I think the current in-jokes guide is severely outdated.  Many of the jokes on that list have fallen into disuse, and many of the members are either left or were banned.  The list personally didn't help me, but participating can.

 

I don't think KH13 is as newbie unfriendly as you might think.  My own personal uneasiness stemmed from how KH13 was my first forum in... a loooong time and the community isn't the same as, say, fanfiction.net or DeviantART.  According to many members here, KH13 is actually one of the friendlier KH sites around.  Most of us don't bite the newbies.  Being involved in the community is really up to the user.  I don't notice the "cliques" that you mention so you may have to enlighten me.  We get along for the most part.  The recent shitstorms don't represent the whole community, just a handful of members displeased with the site for one reason or another.

 

But if you want to unite everyone, bribing them with brownies is obviously the answer.

If by 'cliques' you mean groups of members that tend to hang out with each other, isn't that normal?  I think everyone has at least one member they're a little closer with than others, or at least just pay more attention to.  Maybe I'm just not paying attention but I've never seen this practiced at the expense of others' inclusion.

 

I do appreciate the sentiment.  I understand it can be intimidating to try and wedge your way in a close-nit community.  I've been there, as shown in the link you posted, and so have a lot of users.  But, can't that same uneasiness to take the plunge be said for a lot of social situations? (Well, it's the internet, but still).  When you go to a new school or a new town or whatever, of course you're gonna be a fish out of water.  The same principle applies to an internet forum, but with the added bonus of anonymity and all the time in the world to lurk before you feel comfortable enough to actually interact.

 

From my and probably everyone else's experience, the best way to get involved and comfortable here is to just participate.  The way to get known around here--and any forum--is to just post.  Keep posting and eventually you'll get noticed by someone, maybe by one of the big shots or maybe by someone in your boat.  Getting all the little in-jokes and certain conduct takes more time, but the more you participate, the more you'll understand.  Though, I think the current in-jokes guide is severely outdated.  Many of the jokes on that list have fallen into disuse, and many of the members are either left or were banned.  The list personally didn't help me, but participating can.

 

I don't think KH13 is as newbie unfriendly as you might think.  My own personal uneasiness stemmed from how KH13 was my first forum in... a loooong time and the community isn't the same as, say, fanfiction.net or DeviantART.  According to many members here, KH13 is actually one of the friendlier KH sites around.  Most of us don't bite the newbies.  Being involved in the community is really up to the user.  I don't notice the "cliques" that you mention so you may have to enlighten me.  We get along for the most part.  The recent shitstorms don't represent the whole community, just a handful of members displeased with the site for one reason or another.

 

But if you want to unite everyone, bribing them with brownies is obviously the answer.

First of all, the last part was funny.  Maybe I should bake some?

 

Okay off to business.  It is true that just plunging in would be best for these new members, but some members will never get to that point.  You could accuse them of being cowards and/or not being able to do it themselves, but everyone is different in the internet.  I'm sure not everyone has the courage to do it and that's the problem.  I guess what I'm trying to say is, it would be nice to have a place/thread where some of the more shy, uncomfortable members can talk to the "big shots" without being so intimidated, like you said.

Edited August 14, 201312 yr by Prince Sky Heart

This place is a masquerade.

This place is a masquerade.

I'm badass.

 

You gotta admit that much.